SoftBank Founder Son lost $6 billion since July: Bloomberg
SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son’s net worth declined around $6 billion in just a few months, Bloomberg reported. Son’s fortune tumbled to about $13.8 billion as of Tuesday, after being at its peak at around $20 billion in July, as per Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Reportedly, Son is also facing hurdles raising capital for SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
Questions will be raised if Dhawan fails to perform vs Bangladesh: Gavaskar
Former Team India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that questions will be raised on Shikhar Dhawan if he doesn’t bat well in the next two matches against Bangladesh. “The team is not going to benefit if you’re scoring 40-45 runs from the same number of balls. He will have to think about this,” Gavaskar added.
India-Pakistan Davis Cup tie shifted to neutral venue
The Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan has been moved from Pakistan to a neutral venue due to security concerns amid tensions between the countries. India were due to play Pakistan in Islamabad on November 29 and 30. Pakistan Tennis Federation has the choice to nominate a neutral venue and has five working days to confirm their proposed venue.
India don’t need different captains for different formats: Sourav Ganguly
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said that Team India don’t need different captains for different formats. “I don’t think that is required to be even discussed now,” Ganguly said. Ganguly had earlier called captain Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the T20Is against Bangladesh, as the most important man in Indian cricket.
2 Bangladeshi batsmen vomited while batting in Delhi T20I against India
Bangladesh’s number three batsman Soumya Sarkar and one other player vomited while batting during the first T20I against India in Delhi, ESPNcricinfo reported. The match was held on a day when air quality index (AQI) levels reached 1,000 in many parts of Delhi. After the match, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had thanked both the teams for playing under “tough conditions.”
Yemen govt, separatists sign Saudi-brokered deal to end infighting
Yemen government and southern separatists signed a Saudi-brokered agreement on Tuesday to end a power struggle within the coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hailed it as a step toward a wider political solution to end the multi-faceted conflict. Yemen plunged into a civil war in late 2014.
Whatever we decide with BJP in future should be in writing: Sena
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that during a meeting of party MLAs, demands were raised that in future “Sena should have any communication with BJP in writing”. This comes amid disagreements over power-sharing between the two parties after Assembly polls. BJP, on the other hand, said, “We’re waiting for a proposal from them…doors are open 24 hours for Sena.”
Kerala IPS Association supports Delhi Police over clash with lawyers
The Kerala chapter of the IPS Association have extended their support to the Delhi Police personnel who protested against the recent clash with lawyers at Delhi’s Tis Hazari court. The statement released by the association states that they condemn the abuse of police officers by the lawyers. “Barbaric behaviour of advocates has no place in democracy,” the statement further read.
Bee-like robots that fly using soft artificial muscles created
Researchers have developed a microrobot, called ‘RoboBee’, that is powered by soft artificial muscles and can crash into walls, fall onto the floor, and collide with other RoboBees without being damaged. It is the first microrobot powered by soft actuators to achieve controlled flight. The actuators are made of dielectric elastomers, soft materials with good insulating properties.
Any amount of running linked to lower risk of death: Study
According to a study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, any amount of running is linked to a significantly lower risk of death from any cause. The researchers state that it is not clear how good running is for staving off the risk of death from any cause and particularly from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
It isn’t bad, it just wasn’t for me: Scorsese on not directing ‘Joker’
Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese said that the ‘comic-book elements of the story’ was the reason why he didn’t direct ‘Joker’. He added that he wasn’t sure as to how he would develop those elements of Joker’s character. “Joker develops into an abstraction. It doesn’t mean it’s bad art, it’s just not for me,” Scorsese further said.
ISRO also got cyber attack alert along with Kudankulam nuclear plant: Report
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was also alerted of a possible cyber attack by a malware apart from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, according to reports. The reports claimed that the National Cyber Coordination Centre received intelligence about the cyber breach by a malware, later identified as a “Dtrack”, by a US-based cybersecurity on September 3.
Ghaziabad DM imposes ₹10,000 fine on himself, staffers for wasting water
Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey imposed a ₹10,000 fine on himself and other staff members after he found that water was overflowing from an overhead tank of the collectorate building. Pandey warned all the officers and staff that such wastage of water wouldn’t be tolerated, an official said. The fine will be jointly paid by all staff and officers.
Pak’s Kartarpur video shows poster of Khalistani leaders in background
Pakistan government has released a video welcoming Sikh pilgrims to the Kartarpur Corridor and it shows posters of Khalistani separatist leaders Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Shabeg Singh and Amrik Singh Khalsa in the background. All three were killed when the Indian Army stormed Golden Temple in June 1984 in Operation Blue Star. “#Khalistan2020” can be seen written on a poster.
11,000 scientists declare climate emergency, warn of ‘untold suffering’
In a recently published paper, over 11,000 scientists declared “clearly and unequivocally” that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency. The scientists also warned that people face “untold suffering” unless there are major transformations to global society. “Despite 40 years of global climate negotiations, with few exceptions, we’ve largely failed to address this predicament,” scientists said.
52 startups in India are potential unicorns, says Nasscom report
The number of startups with a potential to achieve billion-dollar valuation, or ‘unicorn’ status, more than tripled from 15 last year to 52 in 2019, as per Nasscom’s ‘Indian Tech Start-Up Ecosystem: Leading Tech In The 20s’ report. India presently hosts 24 unicorns, third-highest globally. India has the potential to create more than 100 unicorns by 2025, the report added.
SpaceX fires up previously flown Falcon 9 rocket for Nov 11 mission
Elon Musk-led aerospace startup SpaceX successfully fired up its Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday and is targeting launch of 60 Starlink internet satellites on November 11. This will be the first time that SpaceX has attempted to fly the same Falcon 9 first stage four times. Additionally, SpaceX will also attempt to reuse a payload fairing for the first time.
WhatsApp downloads fall by 80% in India over Pegasus spyware: Report
WhatsApp downloads fell by over 80% in India between October 26 and November 3, relative to the previous nine-day period, as per data from Sensor Tower. This comes after the Facebook-owned platform had revealed that 1,400 global users were spied on by Israeli spyware Pegasus. The spyware targeted at least two dozen Indian academics, lawyers, Dalit activists and journalists.
Xerox considering $27 billion takeover of HP, reports WSJ
Xerox Holdings Corp is considering making a cash-and-stock offer for personal computer maker HP at a premium to its market value of about $27 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported. There’s no guarantee that Xerox will follow through with an offer or that one would succeed, it added. Xerox had scrapped its $6.1-billion deal to merge with Fujifilm last year.
Producer refused to pay ₹30 lakh after show got cancelled: Tinaa Dattaa
Television actress Tinaa Dattaa has revealed that a producer refused to pay her ₹30 lakh after a show went off air. “He…claimed that he ran the show in…huge loss, which is practically not possible because they had financial backing from…sponsors and advertisers,” she added. Tinaa further said they later paid her, but in small instalments, after she lodged a complaint.
Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi to star together in film after 6 years
Actor Arshad Warsi has confirmed that he and Sanjay Dutt will star together in an upcoming project by director duo Sajid-Farhad, 6 years after they worked together in the film ‘Zila Ghaziabad’. “Sanju plays the role of a blind don and I am his eyes,” Arshad said about the script. “We’ll start working on [the] film next year,” he added.
I am happy being single at 29, I call it being self-partnered: Emma Watson
Discussing the pressure of turning 30, ‘Harry Potter’ actress Emma Watson said it took her a long time but she’s happy being single. “I call it being self-partnered,” she added. Emma admitted after turning 29, she began to feel “stressed” due to outside pressure and added she never understood why everyone made “such a big fuss about turning 30”.
Queen Elizabeth will no longer wear clothes with fur: Dresser
Queen Elizabeth II’s dresser has revealed that the monarch will no longer wear clothes with fur in them. Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen stated, “As new outfits are designed…any fur used will be fake.” Animal rights group PETA UK took to Twitter and wrote, “We’re raising a glass of gin…to the Queen’s compassionate decision to go fur-free.”
‘Deep depression’ in Bay of Bengal may intensify into cyclone: IMD
India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a cyclone alert after a ‘depression’ in the Bay of Bengal intensified into ‘deep depression’. The ‘deep depression’, located 810 km south-southeast of Odisha, is expected to move towards West Bengal, as per IMD. It may intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 24 hours, as per IMD.
Violent behaviour by lawyers will not be tolerated: Bar Council
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra on Wednesday said that any violent behavior by lawyers against Delhi Police personnel will not be tolerated. This comes after lawyers, in a video, were seen assaulting a policeman outside Delhi’s Saket Court. Earlier, clashes broke out between police and lawyers over an alleged parking issue in Tis Hazari court.
Sensex surges 359 points to new high of 40,607, Nifty hits 12,000
Indian benchmark Sensex rose as much as 359 points on Wednesday to hit a fresh intra-day high of 40,607. The broader Nifty also hit 12,000 after a gap of five months. Infosys, ICICI Bank and IndusInd were among the top gainers. Shares of India’s largest jewellery maker Titan fell as much as 10% after it posted muted second-quarter earnings.
Boeing CEO gives up 2019 bonus over 737 MAX crisis
Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg will waive his 2019 bonus and decline equity grants for at least a year until the grounded 737 MAX fleet is flying again “in its entirety”, Chairman David Calhoun said. In 2018, Muilenburg received $23.4 million in total compensation, including a $13 million bonus. The 737 MAX was involved in two crashes that killed 346 people.
RCEP trade deal could provide opportunities for India’s exports: China
After India opted out of RCEP, China has said the trade deal could provide many opportunities for India’s exports. “We understand that some industries in India will have some concerns, but RCEP will also bring huge export opportunities to the Indian industry,” it said. China added RCEP includes a protection mechanism that can be used to put tariffs back on.
Even God can’t change the numbers of Infosys: Chairman Nandan Nilekani
Responding to whistleblower allegations that Infosys CEO Salil Parekh used “unethical practices” to boost profits, Chairman Nandan Nilekani said even God cannot change the numbers of the company. “We have an outstanding finance team, people of the highest integrity and they are feeling insulted by these accusations,” he added. Infosys has appointed an external law firm to investigate the claims.
UK’s AstraZeneca to distribute Sun Pharma cancer drugs in China
India’s largest drugmaker Sun Pharma on Wednesday said UK’s AstraZeneca would distribute some of its cancer treatment drugs in China, the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market. The licensing agreement has an initial tenure of ten years. The announcement comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping last month welcomed Indian investment in pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Putin proposes to replace Wikipedia with ‘reliable’ Russian version
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed replacing the crowd-sourced online encyclopedia Wikipedia with a Russian version in the country. “It’s better to replace it with the new Big Russian Encyclopedia in electronic form…It will…[have] reliable information,” he was quoted by reports. Putin was reportedly speaking at a meeting of the Russian Language Council, held at the Kremlin, Russia.
Delhi Police protest darkest day in independent India’s history: BCI
The Bar Council of India has said that the Delhi Police’s protest on Tuesday was the darkest day in the history of independent India. It demanded that the guilty police officials should be arrested within a week. The BCI alleged that the policemen remained “absent from duty, shouted slogans, used filthy language” and threatened to “smash and kill lawyers” openly.
Lawyer threatens to jump off court building in protest against Delhi Police
A lawyer in Delhi stood on the balcony of a high-rise court building and threatened to commit suicide by jumping in protest against Delhi Police after the recent clashes. Meanwhile, another lawyer poured kerosene on himself in an attempt to set himself on fire but was stopped by his colleagues. This comes after Delhi police personnel demonstration outside Police Headquarters.
Police seize red sand boa snake worth ₹50 lakh in Maha, arrest 20-yr-old
Maharashtra Police arrested a 20-year-old man after seizing a red sand boa snake, worth around ₹50 lakh in the illegal wildlife market, from him in Navi Mumbai. The police, who were acting on a tip-off, booked the accused under sections of IPC and Wildlife (Protection) Act. Reportedly, sand boas are used for making certain medicines, cosmetics and in black magic.
Lawyers shut gates of Delhi courts, seek arrest of guilty police officers
Lawyers in Delhi closed the gates of Patiala House and Saket courts and didn’t let litigants access the court premises as their protest against Delhi Police entered third day. Lawyers of all six district courts in the National Capital abstained from work. The Bar Council of India sought arrest of police officials involved in violent clash at Tis Hazari court.
25,000 S Koreans fake death by lying in coffins for life lessons Over 25,000 South Koreans have reportedly simulated their deaths by lying down in closed coffins for 10 minutes at the Hyowon Healing Centre since its opening in 2012. “Once you become conscious of death…You undertake a new approach to life,” a 75-year-old participant said. Jeong Yong-mun, head of the centre, said it aims to help people appreciate their lives.
