ATP Final 2022: Nadal eyeing on maiden title while Djokovic looking for equaling Federer’s six wins record

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November 12, 2022

ATP Final2022 Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal — Image: Twitter/@ATPTour

Spanish Tennis legend Rafael Nadal will be eyeing his maiden title while Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will be looking forward to equaling Swiss great Roger Federer’s record of six wins as some of the biggest stars of the sport lock horns during the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals 2022 at Turin, Italy from November 13 to 20.

The ATP finals will mark the conclusion of the ATP Tour this year.

As per Olympics.com, this season-ending men’s championship will feature two tournaments, one each for singles and doubles. It is only the top eight tanked single players or doubles teams from the year who get to play at this event, which is considered as the biggest event on tour after the four Grand Slams, namely Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

The current world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain will be missing the tournament due to an injury. This will leave Nadal, Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev and Taylor Fritz fighting for the singles title. Alexander Zverev, the previous year’s champion will also miss out after an injury sustained during the French Open marked the premature end of his season.

Nadal, who has the most number of Grand Slam titles (22), will be eyeing his first-ever ATP Finals title. Djokovic, playing for his sixth ATP Finals title, will be looking forward to tying Federer as the most successful player in the tournament’s history. His last title came in 2015.

Greece player Stefanos Tsitsipas, the winner of the 2019 edition of the tournament and the 2020 winner Daniil Medvedev are also playing with an aim to add another title to their cabinet.

This year’s singles event will also impact the world number one ranking as Alcaraz might lose his position to Nadal if the world number to reaches the final undefeated. Tsitsipas can also leapfrog both Spaniards if he becomes an undefeated champion during the tournament.

The tournament format divides players into two groups: Red and Green. Each player/team in a group play the others in a round-robin format.

Following this, the top two players/teams from each group make it to the semi-finals. The top seeds of the tournament are: Netherlands’ Wesley Koolhof and United Kingdom’s Neal Skupski.

ATP Finals 2022: Players, teams and groups Singles -Green Group: Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz -Red Group: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Novak Djokovic Doubles -Green Group: Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski, Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic, Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek, Thanasi Kokkinakis/Nick Kyrgios -Red Group: Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury, Marcelo Arevalo/Jean-Julien Rojer, Lloyd Glasspool/Harri Heliovaara, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut slammed Akhil Giri over remarks against President Draupadi Murmu

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PTI

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November 12, 2022

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena , West Bengal Akhil Giri,President Draupadi Murmu — Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena | Image: Twitter/@rautsanjay61

Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday slammed West Bengal minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri over his remarks against the President Droupadi Murmu and said that his party will not tolerate such statements against the Prime Minister or the President of India.

The Shiv Sena MP Raut was speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Saturday and said, “We must respect the constitutional post of the President of India.”

Akhil Giri made the objectionable remarks against the President of India on Friday while talking about West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari following an incident of unrest in the BJP leader’s Nandigram constituency over the Martyrs’ Day event.

“He (Suvendu Adhikari) says I am not good-looking. How beautiful you are! We don’t judge anyone by their appearance, we respect the office of the President of India. But how does our President look?” Giri had said while hitting out at Suvendu Adhikari.

Raut condemned Giri’s remarks and said that his party will not tolerate such statements against the President or the Prime Minister of the country.

“We (Shiv Sena) will not tolerate any kind of such statement on the PM or president. One must respect both,” he said Raut.

Raut also reacted to Uddhav faction MP Gajanan Kirtikar joining the Shinde faction. “If he (Gajanan Kritikar) says the direction of (Shinde) is right, then let’s wait for the election. It’s the people who will decide whose direction is right,” said Raut, while adding that Kirtikar’s son is still with us. Raut also spoke about the Himachal Pradesh election and said that it’s very difficult to say at this point in time as BJP is strong as BJP leader JP Nadda himself is from Himachal Pradesh, but Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has also worked very hard in the state.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Nalini Sriharan released from jail

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case Nalini Sriharan Vellore Jail — Image: ANI

Nalini Sriharan, one of the six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, was released from Vellore jail on Saturday.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the release of six convicts in the assassination of the former Prime Minister, including Nalini Sriharan and RP Ravichandran. Both had been serving a life sentence in the case.

A bench of BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna passed the order while taking into consideration the good conduct of convicts in the prison. Visuals on social media saw Nalini, the longest serving woman prisoner in India at 31 years, being taken to complete her release formalities at Vellore jail.

The convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case was spotted smiling and waving to waiting media persons as she was escorted to a police van post her release. The apex court noted that they had been behind bars for a very long period.

“Applicants are thus directed to be released unless wanted in any other case. Matter accordingly disposed of,” the bench stated in its order, granting their pleas for release.

The top court further said, “Nalini has been behind bars for over three decades and her conduct has also been satisfactory. She has a PG diploma in Computer Application. Ravichandran’s conduct has also been found to be satisfactory and he has undertaken various studies during his incarceration including a PG diploma in Arts. He has also collected various amounts for charity.”

Apart from Nalini, the other convicts in the case are Ravichandran, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, S Raja, and Shriharan.

On May 18, the Supreme Court evoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to release AG Perarivalan, who was one of the seven convicts in the assassination case. Nalini and Ravichandran had approached the apex court seeking release from prison-like fellow convict AG Perarivalan.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier recommended the pre-mature release of convicts saying that its 2018 aid and advice for the remission of their life sentence is binding upon the Governor.

Mumbai became hotspot of measles

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Web Team

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November 12, 2022

Mumbai BMC Health Staff Measles — Representative Image

The BMC’s health staff has for the last four days been going from door to door in the locality, checking children under five for fever and the tell-tale rash of measles, and urging parents to take their unvaccinated child for a shot.

Around 80,000 houses in the entire M East ward that includes Govandi, have been surveyed, said BMC health officials. But Qureshi was firm that no one had checked on her child.

In the dusty bylanes of Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, where three cousins died within a 48-hour period allegedly due to measles, the awareness about the ongoing outbreak of the contagious disease is shockingly low.

Barefoot children are either running around or huddled together to watch clips on a mobile phone, clearly unaware that measles spreads through coughs and sneezes.

Mumtaz Qureshi, mother of a toddler, told one leading newspaper, “No health officer has come to our homes. ”

Telangana: PM Modi lays foundation stone of developmental projects worth over Rs 9,500 cr

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

PM Modi 1 — Telangana: PM Modi lays foundation stone of developmental projects worth over Rs 9,500 cr 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) plant and Bhadrachalam Road- Sattupalli rail line in Peddapalli district of Telangana to the nation during the second of his two-day visit to the southern states. Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for Ramagundam Project on August 7 in 2016.

The driving force behind the revival of the Fertilizer Plant is the vision of the Prime Minister to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of urea.

The Ramagundam Plant will make available 12.7 LMT per annum of indigenous neem-coated Urea. Company of National Fertilizers Limited (NFL),

The project has been set up under the aegis of Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) which is a Joint Venture Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL).

RFCL was entrusted with the responsibility of setting up the New Ammonia-Urea Plant with an investment of more than Rs. 6300 crores. Gas to RFCL Plant will be supplied through Jagdishpur – Phulpur- Haldia Pipeline.

The Plant would ensure an adequate and timely supply of urea fertilizer to the farmers in the state of Telangana as well as in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra.

The Plant would not only improve the availability of fertilizer but will also boost overall economic development in the region including the development of infrastructures like roads, railways, ancillary industry etc.

Apart from this, the region will benefit from the development of MSME vendors for the supply of various goods for the factory.

RFCL’s ‘Bharat Urea’ is expected to provide a tremendous boost to the economy by not only reducing imports but also by giving an impetus to the local farmers through a timely supply of fertilizers and extension services.

During his address, PM Modi said, “The Rs 10000 Crores worth of development projects are going to give a boost to the agriculture & business climate of Telangana. During the ongoing global crisis, global experts agree, India is moving in direction of becoming 3rd biggest economy in the world.”

On the sidelines of the event, PM Modi also dedicated the Bhadrachalam Road- Sattupalli rail line to the nation, which has been built at a cost of around Rs 1000 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone of various road projects worth over Rs 2200 crores, namely the Medak-Siddipet-Elkathurthy section of NH-765DG; Bodhan-Basar-Bhainsa section of NH-161BB; Sironcha to Mahadevpur Section of NH-353C during the event.

Jay Shah to head Finance and Commercial Affairs committee of ICC

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will add another feather to his cap as he is slated to head the influential Finance and Commercial Affairs committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The international cricket governing body’s Finance & Commercial Affairs committee decides budget allocations for ICC events and looks after the distribution of money to member countries from the overall revenue pool.

More than a week prior to this weekend’s ICC Board meetings in Melbourne, the BCCI team, led by Jay Shah and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, arrived in Australia.

As the BCCI representative (BCCI president from 2019 to October) on the ICC Board, Shah took the seat of former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Dhumal will be a member of the chief executives’ committee.

More significantly, Shah will also be a member of the F&CA and is prepared to succeed Ross McCollum, the former chair of Cricket Ireland, who will be retiring soon, as chair of the committee at its next meeting in March 2023 as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The ICC board unanimously re-elected Greg Barclay as the Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a second two-year term as announced by the International cricket governing body on Saturday.

Barclay was unopposed following the withdrawal of Tavengwa Mukuhlani from the process, and the Board reaffirmed its full support of him to continue as Chair for a further two years.

Former Indian cricketer Roger Binny was elected as the 36th President of the Indian cricket body, BCCI, replacing Sourav Ganguly earlier in October after the 91st Annual General Meeting of the BCCI.

Notably, Binny was the only candidate to have filed a nomination for the top post and ended Sourav Ganguly’s stint as BCCI President after three long years. Jay Shah continued to serve as the BCCI Secretary. Ashish Shelar was appointed as BCCI Treasurer. Rajeev Shukla was declared as the vice president, whereas Devajit Saikia was chosen as the joint secretary. Arun Dhumal was appointed as the IPL Chairman.

7th edition of Indo-French air exercise Garuda VII culminates in Jodhpur

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

Indo-French Air Exercise 7th Edition Jodhpur IAF FASF — Image: ANI

The seventh edition of the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), ‘Exercise Garuda-VII’ concluded at Air Force Station, Jodhpur on Saturday.

The FASF participated in the exercise with Rafale fighter aircraft and A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, while the IAF contingent comprised Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA ‘Tejas’ and Jaguar fighter aircraft, read the Ministry of Defence press release.

This fighter element was complemented by the IAF’s Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C, as well as Mi-17 helicopters and the newly inducted LCH ‘Prachanda,’ added the release. Exercise Garuda-VII provided the two Air Forces with the opportunity for professional interaction and sharing of operational knowledge and experience.

With meticulous planning and execution of various phases of the exercise, personnel of the IAF and the FASF were exposed to realistic air combat simulations and the associated Combat Support Operations.

This enabled the participating contingents to engage in wide-ranging interactions, providing valuable insight into each other’s best practices, added the release.

The exercise also provided a platform for cultural exchange between the Air Force personnel of both countries.

Showcasing defence ties between both nations, IAF Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on November 8 flew in a Rafale fighter jet, while French Air and Space Force Chief General Stephane Mille flew in an Indian Russian-origin Su-30 MKI fighter jet.

In a tweet, IAF said, “Chiefs from both the #IAF & @Armee_de_lair took to the skies in one of the multi-aircraft missions flown during #ExerciseGaruda. The unique flight provided the perfect overview of the Exercise to both the Commanders.”

Speaking about the ‘Garuda VII’ exercise, IAF Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on November 8 said, “Garuda is one exercise that gives us this opportunity which exposes our pilots and crew to the best packages of the French Air & Space Force (FASF) and vice versa.”

Meanwhile, French Air & Space Force chief General Stephane Mille said, “We are here to fly together with Indian aircrew. Sometimes, with a simple act, we can do a lot. Doing this exercise, we are able to understand each other during the flight. It’s very important to be able to fly & operate together.”

WB Minister Akhil Giri apologized for his statement against President Murmu

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri Statement on President Draupadi Murmu — Image: ANI

A day after facing strong criticism from the opposition as well as from his own party, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri on Saturday apologized for his statement against the President of India Droupadi Murmu.

Akhil Giri made the objectionable remarks against the President of India on Friday while talking about West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari following an incident of unrest in the BJP leader’s Nandigram constituency over the Martyrs’ Day event.

“He (Suvendu Adhikari) says I am not good-looking. How beautiful you are! We don’t judge anyone by their appearance, we respect the office of the President of India. But how does our President look?” Giri had said while hitting out at Suvendu Adhikari.

A video of the same also went viral on social media on Friday. In his apology on Saturday, Giri said that he was sorry and regretful about what he said, and still respects the Constitution and the post of the President of India.

“I said, President. Didn’t take anyone’s name. If the President of India feels insulted about it, then I am sorry and regret what I said,” the TMC leader said in a statement. Giri said that he does not regret BJP’s reaction to his remarks.

“I don’t regret how BJP will react to this. I am not concerned about BJP. My reaction was for Suvendu Adhikari,” he claimed.

“I am also part of the Constitution. I have taken an oath and become a minister. He (Suvendu Adhikari) insulted me and said that I look like a crow. He called me a half-pant minister. This is also an insult to me. Calling me half-pant minister is insulting the whole minister panel,” he said.

Several leaders from the BJP as well as from the TMC criticized Akhil Giri for his remarks. The BJP’s West Bengal unit leaders alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government was ‘Anti-Tribal’.

BJP Union minister of tribal affairs on Saturday also condemned Giri’s remarks and said that Mamata Banerjee should sack the minister for disrespecting the President of India.

“They (TMC) cannot digest the fact that a tribal woman is now the President of India. BJP strongly condemns this. We will make sure he (TMC leader Akhil Giri) gets busted,” the Union Minister said.

BJP MP Saumitra Khan also wrote to the National Commission of Women (NCW) and demanded the immediate arrest of Akhil Giri.

“Giri’s comment against the President of India Droupadi Murmu was an insult. “This issue is not only related to women’s respect; it also reflects their thinking. And this type of thinking cannot be left in society because it is harmful to society as well as the country. I request the commission to immediately arrest Akhil Giri for this heinous act and take appropriate action against him,” Khan said in his letter.

Rahul Gandhi likely to skip Winter Session to continue Bharat Jodo Yatra

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

Congress Rahul Gandhi Bharat Jodo Yatra Winter Session of Parliament — Image: PTI

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is likely to skip the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament to continue with his party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, said party General Secretary, incharge of Communications Jairam Ramesh.

The upcoming Winter Session of Parliament is likely to be held from December 7 to December 29, this year.

There will be a total of 17 working days in the upcoming Winter Session. This will be the first session during which Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, will officiate proceedings in the Upper House.

During the Winter Session, the Congress might also select a replacement for the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, a position earlier occupied by the party’s new president Mallikarjun Kharge, who quit at the time of filing nomination for organizational election to adhere to the party policy of ‘one man, one post.

The government will be drawing up a list of Bills to be passed during the upcoming session while the Opposition will demand a discussion on pressing matters.

Jairam Ramesh further said that the Congress supports reservation in education and employment for Economically Backward Class (EWS) in all communities without disturbing the existing reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra has reached its 66th day.

Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is at its Maharashtra leg, resumed from the Shevala village of Kalamnuri in Maharashtra’s Hingoli on Saturday.

It is pertinent to mention that the Congress had claimed in its previous statement that the Yatra is the longest march on foot conducted by any Indian politician in Indian history.

Bharat Jodo Yatra is nowadays in Maharashtra after it covered the parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

The Yatra is getting support from various political parties and social organizations across the country and the response is increasing day by day.

In Maharashtra too, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) have also agreed to participate in the yatra, adding to its importance.

Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on September 7 from Kanyakumari, will cover a further distance of 2,355 km in its 3,570-km march. It will end in Kashmir next year. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement.

Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting support from various political parties and social organizations across the country and the response is increasing day by day.

Notably, all the party MPs, leaders and workers along with Rahul Gandhi are staying in containers. Sleeping beds, toilets, and ACs are also installed in some of the containers.

The arrangements have been made keeping in view the intense heat and humidity with the change of places. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles.

“BJP should make Sukesh Chandrashekhar its national president”, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

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ANI

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November 12, 2022

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Sukesh Chandrasekhar — Image: PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the BJP should make conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar its national president as he was speaking the same language as the saffron party.

During a press conference, he said the BJP had brought Chandrashekhar into its fold as a star campaigner. “The BJP demands my lie-detector test and even Sukesh Chandrshekhar makes the same demand. They speak the same language. He is fully trained to join the BJP now,” Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister went on to add, “I have heard that Modiji’s roadshows are not drawing crowds. They should bring Sukesh Chandrshekhar to those roadshows. He has so many stories of how he cheated people that the crowd will just come to watch and listen to his stories. In fact, he should be made the BJP’s national president.”

Chandrashekhar has written multiple letters to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, accusing Kejriwal and jailed minister Satyendar Jain of corruption and extortion.