Shakib 3rd cricketer in history to score 600+ runs in a World Cup
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has become the third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar and Matthew Hayden to score 600-plus runs in a World Cup. The 32-year-old, who scored 64 runs against Pakistan today, aggregated 606 runs and took 11 wickets in eight 2019 World Cup matches. Shakib also equalled Sachin’s record of scoring seven 50-plus scores in a World Cup.
India may see $57 billion share sales on new public holding rules
If government’s proposal to raise minimum public shareholding in listed companies from 25% to 35% is implemented, it may result in equity sales of ₹3.9 lakh crore ($57 billion), analysts said. There are over 40 state-run companies with public holding lower than 35%. Wipro, DMart and Hindustan Unilever are some of the large companies that may have to sell shares.
Pak beat B’desh as Shaheen becomes youngest to take WC 5-wicket haul
Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 94 runs to end their 2019 World Cup campaign at fifth position with 11 points. The match witnessed Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi become the youngest-ever bowler (19 years and 90 days) to take a five-wicket haul in World Cup history. Notably, Shakib Al Hasan became the first cricketer to score 600 runs in 2019 World Cup.
Scientists to trap themselves in Arctic ice for $158-mn 1 yr study
Scientists from 17 countries are preparing for a $158-million one-year-long, “largest Central Arctic expedition” where a ship will be trapped in a large piece of ice. The MOSAiC mission is aimed to study climate change as the ice drifts towards the North Pole. “So far we have always been locked out of that region…we’re going to change that,” researchers said.
Man eats 71 hot dogs to win 12th hot dog-eating contest
California’s Joey Chestnut won his 12th Nathan’s Famous July Fourth men’s hot dog eating contest by eating 71 hot dogs on Thursday. Miki Sudo won her sixth consecutive women’s title on Thursday by eating 31 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Reports claim that 71 hot dogs contain 20,590 calories, 1,172 grams fat, and 2,130 milligrams of cholesterol.
Arjen Robben announces retirement from football
Dutch footballer Arjen Robben has announced his retirement from football. The 35-year-old Dutch winger won 12 league titles in his career alongside 96 caps for his country including playing in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg. Robben won two league titles at Chelsea and one each at PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid.
BMW, Mercedes to co-develop Level 4 self-driving systems by 2024
German luxury automakers BMW and Mercedes-parent Daimler have entered into a long-term partnership to develop Level 4 self-driving cars systems with a launch planned for 2024. The cars would be able to handle freeway driving chores without human intervention, including driver assist and automated parking systems. BMW said it plans to launch a Level 3 self-driving car in 2021.
Swiggy launching own logistics service Swiggy Go: Report
Bengaluru-based Swiggy is launching its own logistics service Swiggy Go, focussed on moving parcels like documents and performing several other errands, Entrackr reported. “The new vertical is slated to begin in Gurugram from mid-August. It has already hired over 30 key and mid-level employees,” Entrackr quoted its sources. Swiggy Go will reportedly be launched in Bengaluru after Gurugram pilot.
PayU buys Singapore e-payments startup, enters Southeast Asia
South Africa’s most valuable public firm Naspers’ fintech arm PayU has acquired Singapore-based e-payments startup Red Dot Payment, marking its entry into Southeast Asian market. While the financial terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed, the deal valued the eight-year-old startup at $65 million. Notably, PayU has spent over $700 million over the last three years in funding, merger and acquisitions.
5 arrested, over ₹2 lakh seized in 2 separate raids in Goa
Police on Thursday arrested five people and seized over ₹2 lakh in two separate gambling-related raids in Goa. The first raid was conducted near Industrial Estate Karaswada Mapusa, where four people were caught accepting bids and cash worth ₹1 lakh was recovered. In the second raid near Calangute, one person was nabbed along with gambling articles and ₹1.14 lakh.
Pak officially knocked out of 2019 World Cup as B’desh cross 7 runs
Pakistan have officially been knocked out of the 2019 World Cup after Bangladesh crossed seven runs while chasing the target of 316. Pakistan needed to win the match by at least 308 runs to advance to the semi-finals. With this, New Zealand became the fourth team after India, Australia and England to qualify for the semi-finals.
Will consider opening up FDI in aviation, media: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would consider further opening up of foreign direct investment (FDI) in aviation and media including animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics in her Budget speech. She added the government will permit 100% FDI for insurance intermediaries. She also said the government would ease local sourcing norms for single-brand retail sector.
FM delivered over 2-hour-long Budget speech, didn’t pause for water
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her maiden Union Budget speech on Friday that lasted for over two hours and she did not pause to have a sip of water. It was one of the longest Budget speeches and included couplets in Urdu, Hindi and Tamil. Speaker Om Birla lauded Sitharaman after her presentation of the Budget.
Government raises foreign aid to Nepal by 40% to ₹1,050 crore
The government has raised the foreign aid to Nepal from ₹750 crore last year to ₹1,050 crore in the 2019-20 Budget, an increase of 40%. For the Maldives, the allocation was raised to ₹576 crore, from ₹440 crores in 2018-2019. The aid to African countries saw an increase from ₹330 crore last year to ₹450 crore this year.
TCS loses ₹30,400 crore in market value after Union Budget
TCS lost nearly ₹30,400 crore in market value after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to increase the minimum public shareholding level for listed companies from 25% to 35%. The IT services company currently has a public float of 28%, with Tata Sons holding the rest. If the proposal is implemented, Tata Sons would need to sell shares worth ₹57,000 crore.
Mindtree CEO, Chairman, and COO resign days after L&T takeover
Mindtree Co-Founders Rostow Ravanan, Krishnakumar Natarajan and NS Parthasarathy have resigned from the mid-sized IT company following the hostile takeover by engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The three serve as CEO, Executive Chairman, and Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer (COO) respectively. All of them have also asked Mindtree to declassify them as promoters.
Solar sailing spacecraft LightSail 2 sends 1st signals to Earth
American non-governmental, non-profit foundation The Planetary Society revealed its crowdfunded spacecraft LightSail 2 sent its first signals to Earth on July 2. LightSail 2 CubeSat, about the size of a loaf of bread and weighing 5 kilograms, is powered just by the physical force exerted by solar photons. It was launched on June 25 aboard SpaceX’s triple-booster Falcon Heavy rocket.
Pakistan can never do another Kargil: Army chief Bipin Rawat
Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday said Pakistan won’t ‘dare’ attempt to infiltrate India like it did Kargil in 1999 because it has ‘seen the consequences’. “There is no such area that we have left unguarded,” he asserted. Rawat said this during an event to celebrate 20 years of Operation Vijay, India’s limited war against Pakistan in Kargil.
S*it happens: Philippine Senator as 3-yr-old killed in drug raid
Ronald dela Rosa, a Philippine Senator who once led the country’s war on drugs, has dismissed the killing of a three-year-old girl in a drugs raid, saying “s*it happens” during operations. Police said that the girl was used as a human shield by her father, a suspected drug dealer who opened fire on them when they tried to arrest him.
