Yuvraj Singh to play for Toronto Nationals in Global T20 Canada
All-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket and Indian Premier League, has been signed up by the Toronto Nationals for the 2019 season of Global T20 Canada. The 37-year-old has played 231 T20s, scoring 4,857 runs and taking 80 wickets. Yuvraj had appeared in four matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2019, scoring 98 runs.
Who said you can’t say Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata ki Jai: LS Speaker
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday told a journalist, “Who said you can’t say ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’?”, when she questioned his speech, saying it was the first time that a Speaker began and ended his speech with ‘Vande Mataram’ slogan. Earlier, Birla had said that he would not allow chanting of religious slogans in Parliament.
Why is June 21 celebrated as World Music Day globally?
World Music Day is celebrated every year on June 21 to mark summer solstice, the longest day of the year. This was proposed by American artist Joel Cohen in 1976. However, in 1982, when French composer Maurice Fleuret discovered that one French person out of two played an instrument, it led him to bring people out on streets with music.
Pitch will miss you, but hope you recover at earliest: PM to Dhawan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish speedy recovery to Shikhar Dhawan, who was ruled out of the 2019 World Cup due to fractured thumb. “No doubt the pitch will miss you but I hope you recover at the earliest so…you can once again be back on field and contribute to more wins for the nation,” he wrote.
Nadal to play in exhibition tournament ahead of Wimbledon
World number two men’s singles player Rafael Nadal will play in Aspall Tennis Classic, an exhibition tournament played on grass every year ahead of Wimbledon. The 33-year-old, who recently won his 18th Grand Slam title will play two matches at the tournament which starts on June 25. Notably, Nadal had earlier said he won’t play on grass before Wimbledon 2019.
Coach giving us a dose of World Cup belief: Goalkeeper Sandhu
India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has said he feels that new coach Igor Stimac wants the team to qualify for the World Cup. “He believes that we can make it and that belief has rubbed off on all…the players,” the 27-year-old added. “He believes in us and wants to show how to get to next level,” Sandhu further stated.
Kristyna beats twin sister Karolina, registers career-best win
World number 112 Kristyna Pliskova defeated her twin sister and world number three Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7) at Nature Valley Classic, in their first meeting in a WTA event to register her career’s biggest win on Wednesday. “I think we played the best that we could but it was not easy for us,” Kristyna said after reaching tournament’s quarterfinals.
Future Apple Watch may have glucose meter for diabetic users
Apple Watch will soon receive improved glucose tracker support for people with diabetes, according to Kevin Sayer, CEO of glucose monitoring systems manufacturer Dexcom. Notably, Apple CEO Tim Cook was spotted wearing a glucometer that was connected to his smartwatch back in 2017. The technology giant had launched its Apple Watch Series 4 last year with an ECG monitor.
With 4 TDP MPs joining BJP, NDA now 18 short of RS majority
After four Rajya Sabha Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs joined BJP on Thursday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) now remains 18 seats short of a majority in the 245-member House. Currently, BJP-led NDA has 106 seats, while the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has 66 seats. The parties not aligned with either of them have 66 seats.
Will amend laws to make Marathi compulsory school subject: Fadnavis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the state government will amend laws to introduce strict provisions for teaching the Marathi language as a compulsory subject in all schools across Maharashtra. “We’ll initiate action against the schools not teaching Marathi,” he added. Currently, Marathi is a compulsory subject till class 8 in CBSE and CISCE board schools in the state.
Economic activity clearly losing traction: RBI Guv at MPC meet
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the Indian economy has been clearly “losing traction” and needs a decisive monetary policy to promote growth, as per the minutes of the June 3-6 Monetary Policy Committee. Das said this while voting for a 25 bps rate cut. India’s economy grew 5.8% in the January-March period, its slowest pace in five years.
Sundaram Finance acquires BNP Paribas’ stake in two JVs
Sundaram Finance on Thursday said it has agreed to acquire BNP Paribas’ entire 49.9% stake in their housing finance joint venture for nearly ₹1,000 crore. The company has also acquired the French banking group’s entire 49% stake in BNP Paribas Fund Services. The acquisition will make both entities wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Chennai-based non-bank lender.
Jet referred to NCLT after exhausting all other options: SBI
SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said lenders referred Jet Airways to the NCLT only after exhausting all options to revive the airline. “Only [one] conditional bid was received…the investor’s requirement for SEBI exemptions and resolution of creditors is possible [through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code],” SBI had said. The NCLT admitted lenders’ insolvency plea against the airline on Thursday.
Shivaji’s portrait on crop field visible on Google Maps goes viral
A portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made in a crop field in Maharashtra’s Nilanga is going viral for its visibility on the satellite view of Google Maps. As per reports, the crop art which stretches out over 2,40,000 square feet was made using over 2,500 kilograms of seeds. Artist Mangesh Nipanikar created it for Shivaji Jayanti earlier this year.
Raised in a log cabin without power, Slack CEO now worth $1.8 bn
Canadian entrepreneur Stewart Butterfield, who helped found Slack Technologies, became a billionaire after the successful IPO of his company. The CEO was raised in a log cabin without electricity and running water for the first few years of his life. The workplace communication company listed on Thursday at a valuation of $23.2 billion, making Butterfield’s 8% stake worth $1.8 billion.
1st-ever ‘song’ from rare right whale recorded, say scientists
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced scientists have recorded the first-ever ‘song’ of one of the rarest, North Pacific right whale off Alaska’s coast. The song, classified by marine biologists as an underwater call using distinct pattern of sounds, is guessed to be a mating call. The tune was first heard in 2010, which couldn’t be distinguished then.
Uttar Pradesh airstrip built for ₹311 cr being used to learn driving
Constructed in 2017 at a cost of ₹311 crore, an airstrip in Uttar Pradesh’s Marhatabad village is being used by motor training schools and individuals to learn car driving. The 3-km-long and 450-metre-wide airstrip was mooted by the Samajwadi Party government in 2014. The land was acquired from the villagers after getting approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Prince Harry & Meghan to split from joint charity with William, Kate
UK’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are to split from the Royal Foundation, the charity they shared with Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. Prince Harry and Meghan, plan to set up their own charitable foundation. Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Meghan split from the household of Kensington Palace, where Prince William and Kate live.
Oil prices jump 4.5% after Iran shoots down US drone
Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose more than 4.5% on Thursday after Iran shot down a US military drone, raising fears of a military confrontation between the two countries. The US claimed the drone was downed in international airspace while Iran said the drone was flying over southern part of the country. Notably, India imports two-thirds of its oil needs.
