CWG 2022: Javelin thrower Annu Rani captured a bronze medal

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August 7, 2022

Ace Indian javelin thrower Annu Rani captured a bronze medal for her country after finishing in the third position in the final of the women’s javelin throw final at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday.

She finished at the third position with the best throw of 60.00 m, which came in her fourth attempt. The gold medal was won by Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber, who achieved the best throw of 64.43 m in her sixth and final attempt.

Mackenzie Little of Australia gained the silver medal, who had the best throw of 64.27 m. This personal best throw of hers came in her fifth attempt.

Another Indian participating in the event was Shilpa Rani. She finished in the seventh spot with the best throw of 54.62 m in her second attempt.

India has seen three more medals in athletics today. Indian athlete Sandeep Kumar added one more bronze to India’s medal tally after finishing in the third position in the final of the men’s 10,000 m race walk at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday.

Kumar clocked the timings of 38:49.21 in the final, which is his personal best. The gold medal was won by Canada’s Evan Dunfee, who clocked the timings of 38:36.37, which is a new Commonwealth Games record and his personal best as well.

Australia’s Declan Tingay won the silver medal. He clocked the timings of 38:42.33, which is his personal best.

Amit, another Indian taking part in the event finished at the ninth position, clocking timings of 43:04.97, his season best.

Earlier, Eldhose Paul won gold and Abdulla Aboobacker Narangolintevid bagged a silver in the final of the men’s triple jump on Sunday.

Paul finished at the first position with the best jump of 17.03 m, which came in his third attempt. He performed the first 17 m jump of the final. He took home the gold medal.

Abdulla Aboobacker Narangolintevid also finished at the second position, with the best jump of 17.02 m which came in his fifth attempt.

CWG 2022 started in Birmingham from July 28 and will go on till August 8.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attended NITI Aayog’s governing council meet and raised issues of farmers including MSP.

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who attended the NITI Aayog’s governing council meeting here on Sunday, said that he raised the issues of farmers including Minimum Support Price (MSP) while adding that he was happy with the meeting.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Mann said, “Today was NITI Aayog’s 7th meeting and it was the first for me after becoming the Chief Minister. It is unfortunate that no one has come from Punjab in the last three years.

I went with detailed homework today and kept Punjab’s issues. The biggest issue was of the variety of crops.”

Chief Minister Mann said he was satisfied with the NITI Aayog’s meeting as all issues were listened to. “We are caught up in wheat and rice. Our water levels have decreased to a dangerous level. We demand MSP for farmers and demand a reformed committee as there are no stakeholders in it. I am happy with the meeting and all issues were listened to,” he said.

At the NITI Aayog’s meeting, Mann suggested holding the G20 meeting in Amritsar.

“All Chief Ministers kept their issues. Prime Minister sat with us from 10 am to around 4:15 pm and noted all points. We gave suggestions. India will be chairing G20 from December 1. I have put forth Amritsar’s name before External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as the location where all meetings can be held. We will showcase our culture in the summit,” added the Punjab Chief Minister.

India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 leaders’ Summit next year for the first time.

During its presidency of G20 or Group of Twenty, India will hold a large number of G20 events at different locations across the country, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The 7th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Cultural Centre in the national capital on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of the States and Union Territories, legislators, Lt Governors of UTs, Ex-Officio Members, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog and Union Ministers as Special Invitees.

However, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skipped the meeting. Notably, this meeting is the first in-person meeting of the Governing Council since July 2019.

The agenda of the NITI Aayog meeting includes crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses; implementation of the National Education Policy-school education; implementation of the National Education Policy-higher education; and urban governance.

CWG 2022: Indian women’s hockey team won bronze medal

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

The Indian Women’s hockey team claimed the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022 after superb win over New Zealand via a shootout in Birmingham.

In the regulation time, Salima Tete (29′) scored the goal for India, only for Olivia Merry (60′) to score a late goal for New Zealand and push the match to a shootout.

Savita made three sensational saves in the shootout, while Sonika and Navneet Kaur struck past Kiwi goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon as India pulled off a thrilling 2-1 shootout win after a 1-1 scoreline in regulation time.

With the bronze medal win, the Indian women’s hockey team ended their 16-year wait for a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

India began cautiously, holding the ball in the midfield. Navneet Kaur and Vandana Katariya penetrated the circle in the early minutes, but New Zealand defence cleared away the danger.

Nisha made a solid save after Rose Tynan made a dangerous pass inside the circle. Salima Tete almost put her team in the lead after India forced their way into the Kiwi circle through the central channel, but her shot just went wide and the first quarter ended with both teams at 0-0.

The second quarter started with India making circle penetrations from the left flank and keeping the Kiwi defence on their toes.

Navneet Kaur created a chance for India to get a shot on target but New Zealand kept their composure and cleared the ball.

A counter-attacking move was set up Rose Tynan as she struck a shot towards Alex Lukin in front of the goal. But the ball just went wide and the Kiwis missed the opportunity to score.

Salima Tete broke the shackles and found the back of the nets with a reverse hit as India entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.

New Zealand started showcasing urgency at the start of second half, and pressed deeper in India’s half.

Sonika broke into the circle from the left flanks, and Lalremsiami managed to get a shot, but was denied by a Kiwi defender.

Neha and Navneet Kaur created a beautiful chance for India to extend their lead. But the pass to Sonika in front of the goalpost just went wide.

Before the end of the third quarter, New Zealand managed to hit the ball into the nets. But India used their referral well and the goal was disallowed due to an infringement in the lead-up.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, India burst into New Zealand’s half with Sushila Chanu making threatening runs from the central channel.

Kaitlin Cotter got a shot away from an acute angle, but Indian goalkeeper Savita made a good save, only to see the ball go to Olivia Shannon. Shannon’s shot, though, went above the goalpost.

India created a string of Penalty Corner opportunities, but the Kiwi goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon continued to make the saves.

Olivia Merry scored from a penalty stroke in the final seconds of the regulation time to push the match to a shootout.

Megan Hull scored from New Zealand’s first attempt in the shootout, while Sangita Kumari missed India’s first attempt. Savita pulled off a great save as she denied Ralph Hope.

Sonika levelled the score line at the shootout as she struck past Grace O’Hanlon. Rose Tynan struck the side netting, but Navneet Kaur struck past Grace as India took a 2-1 lead in the shootout.

With Katie Doar and Olivia Shannon missing for the Kiwis, India went on to win the match in thrilling fashion to claim the bronze medal.

CWG 2022: PV Sindhu confirms medal for India; reached women’s singles final

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

Indian ace shuttler and Olympic medalist PV Sindhu confirmed another medal for her country by defeating Singapore’s Yeo Jin Min in the semifinal of the women’s singles competition at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday.

Now, a silver or gold medal is confirmed for India. She won the match by 21-19, 21-17. PV Sindhu did not have a very good start as she conceded five straight points to Yeo in the first game.

Though she later improved to gain a lead of 11-9, her Singapore opponent was giving her good competition. Sindhu kept going and held her nerves to win the first game by 21-19.

The Indian Olympic medalist carried this momentum in the second game though Yeo was always pretty much in contention.

Sindhu was leading the second game by 11-9 halfway into it. Sindhu kept getting points from then on and left behind her opponent in the second game by 21-17. With a win in this game, she sealed the match and reached the final of the women’s singles category.

Sindhu reached the semifinal by defeating Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei by 19-21, 21-14, 21-18 in the quarterfinal. The double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu defeated her opponent from Uganda, Husina Kobugabe, without much trouble as she won the match in straight games with a score of 21-10, 21-9 to book her place in the last eight of the women’s singles.

To enter the round of 16, Sindhu defeated Fathimath Nabaaha of Maldives in her round of 32 match on Thursday.

Sindhu was on fire as she swung her racquet on her way to victory within just two games. She captured the match 21-4, 21-11.

Commonwealth Games 2022 started in Birmingham from July 28 and will go on till August 8.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

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Jubel D'Cruz

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August 7, 2022

Friendship day, Friend — Image: Representative

Friendship Day is celebrated in a grand manner in India and elsewhere in the world. The noble idea of honouring friends has really caught on with the youth, and one can see the festival being enthusiastically celebrated by the youth especially, students. Friendship Day celebrations are particularly marked in schools and colleges. In tune with the spirit of the occasion, people dedicate Friendship Day festival to their best friends. Most of them choose to celebrate the entire day in the loving company of their dearest friends — boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. Recollecting sweet memories of the time spent together and catching up with their lives over a cup of iced tea or coffee is the idea of ideal Friendship Day celebration for many.

Friendship is the most valuable relationship in the life of a person. Every one of us needs a good and loyal friend to share bad or good life events, enjoy happy moments and share unbearable events of our life. A good and balanced human interaction is very necessary for the survival of everyone. Friendship is also the key to strengthening family bonds and relationships. Many times, being friends with your siblings, parents, cousins, etc. makes that relationship even stronger. Friends are also our helping hands in our times of need or whenever we are in trouble. It is rightly said that “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in August. The coming Friendship Day on August 7 might not be a big deal for many of us, but it still gives us a reason to show to our friends what they mean to us. A friendship card or a gift, a get-together or just simply hanging out in some park or restaurant goes a long way in telling our friends how much we appreciate them. Also, try contacting a friend or acquaintance whom you have not been in touch with for a long time. You will pleasantly be surprised by how good you will feel by renewing the contact. Friends can have a positive influence on us if we choose them wisely — those who hold good values, are involved in constructive activates and who are not selfish. But if your friends are distracting you from your aims or are urging you to get involved in things that you or your parents don’t approve of, it is time to part ways with them.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”

In this world, there is plenty of ego and misunderstandings among humans. But pure affection and friendships are just rare. So, be kind to yourself as well as to others too!

Centre red-flags Covid spike, drop in testing in city, state

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Web Team

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August 7, 2022

1920 coronavirus covid19 cedars sinai — Representative Image

The Union health ministry has flagged off a rising trend in Covid cases across Maharashtra and a drop in testing numbers in at least 20 districts.

The central nudge comes at a time when Mumbai is witnessing a doubling of cases: while 486 cases were registered on Saturday, the tally was 286 infections just a week ago (July 30).

The letter, signed by Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, said the week-onweek tally of cases in Mumbai has risen from 1,806 between July 22 and 28 to 2,087 between July 29 and August 5.

Pakistan: 4 people were injured including a policeman in a bomb blast in Quetta

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

At least three people including a policeman were injured in a remote-controlled blast that occurred in Quetta’s Hazar Ganji area on Sunday, media reports said.

In recent months, several cases of bomb attacks have been reported in Pakistan. The bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked near Hazar Ganji market, Police said while speaking on this recent explosion, agencies reported.

According to the police, nearby shops and parked vehicles have been damaged. Meanwhile, rescue workers rushed to the area and shifted the injured to Civil Hospital Quetta.

Pakistani security forces following the bombing has cordoned off the area to collect evidence. In a statement, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Qudus Bizenjo has condemned the attack and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

The chief minister also directed authorities concerned to tighten security in the provincial capital.

In a similar kind of incident, at least one person was killed and 11 others were injured in Quetta after a grenade exploded, media reports said, citing police.

The incident took place at Joint Road in Balochistan’s Quetta, reported by agencies.

Last week in a similar incident, three people were injured, including a policeman in a blast outside the Turbat Stadium in Quetta.

The News International quoting a police official said that the explosion took place at Airport Road of the city while a match was going on in the football stadium between two local teams.

As per agencies, the blast was followed by firing which caused panic at the stadium. Meanwhile, observing the rising incidents of attacks on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani authorities have strengthened security at all checkposts and relieved the personnel responsible for security lapses.

The police personnel posted at the check post in Arjali Nadi, where a policeman and a substitute were killed in an attack on July 16, were transferred to remote Tirah valley for negligence, according to the Dawn citing a statement issued by a district police officer in Jamrud.

The statement said that DPO Mohammad Imran along with other security officials visited different checkpoints in Bara and issued instructions to the policemen.

He also checked the security measures at these buildings. The policemen on duty were ordered to stay alert and wear both helmets and bulletproof jackets during duty timings. They were also warned against the use of mobile phones during duty timings, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Capital City Police Chief Ejaz Khan expressed displeasure over the rising incidents of terrorism in Khyber and the killing of a number of policemen in the attacks.

At least four policemen lost their lives and two more were injured in such attacks during the last three to four months.

A checkpoint in Tirah was also attacked with a hand grenade a week ago.

Earlier, a policeman was killed and four others including two other policemen were injured in a blast that occurred inside a police check post in the Mardan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported citing police officials.

Rise in online frauds, Maha cyber dept asks citizens to avoid video calls, friend requests from unknown persons

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Web Team

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August 7, 2022

The state cyber department has received several such complaints and also of people being duped under the pretext of electricity bills, through loan apps and online marketplaces, an official from the department said.

The Maharashtra cyber department has asked people to remain alert against online frauds and not to respond to video calls, friend requests from unknown persons and threatening calls from people posing as police officers.

80 injured, 17 missing in Cuba as lightening strikes was taken place at an oil storage

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

lightening-strikes — Image: Representative

Nearly 80 people were injured and 17 firefighters missing as a massive fire set off by a lightning strike at an oil storage facility raged in Matanzas city on Saturday (local time), media reports said.

According to country’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, firefighters are still trying to quell the blaze at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where the fire began during a thunderstorm Friday night, reported to agencies.

The government said later that it had asked for help from international experts in “friendly countries” with experience in the oil sector.

Moreover, the official Agency said lightning hit one tank, starting a fire, and the blaze later spread to a second tank.

In a bid to contain the fire which engulfed the nearby area, military helicopters flew overhead dropping water on the blaze. Thick plumes of black smoke billowed from the facility and spread westward more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) toward Havana.

A rigorous fire dousing operation is underway as while providing further details of it, Roberto de la Torre, head of fire operations in Matanzas, said firefighters were spraying water on intact tanks trying to keep them cool in hopes of preventing the fire from spreading.

The provincial government’s facebook page of Matanzas said the number of injured had reached 77, while 17 people were missing. The Presidency of the Republic said the 17 were “firefighters who were in the nearest area trying to prevent the spread.”

Telangana CM wrote a letter to PM; he will boycott the NITI aayog meeting chaired by PM

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ANI

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August 7, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre in the national capital on Sunday.

The meeting is the first in-person meeting of the Governing Council since July 2019.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will boycott the meeting as he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi on Saturday saying that his decision is a mark of protest against what he termed as the Centre’s alleged blatant discrimination against states including Telangana.

“I do not find it useful to attend the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog scheduled to be held on August 7 and I am staying away from it as a mark of strong protest against the present trend of the Central Govt to discriminate against the states and not treating them as equal partners in our collective efforts to make India a strong and developed country,” the letter read.

The agenda of the Niti Aayog meeting includes crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses and agri-communities; implementation of the National Education Policy-school education; implementation of the National Education Policy-higher education; and urban governance.

In the drive toward building a steady, sustainable and inclusive India, the seventh governing council meeting of the government think tank Niti Aayog is expected to pave the way for synergies towards a new era of collaboration and cooperation between Centre and states and union territories. As India commemorates 75 years of Independence, it is the need of the hour for the states to be agile, resilient and self-reliant and move towards ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ in a spirit of cooperative federalism, an official statement said.

As part of preparations for this meeting, the National Conference of Chief Secretaries was held in Dharamshala in June 2022 which was the culmination of the six-month-long rigorous exercise by the Centre and States.

The conference was chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs, along with senior officials of the Central and State Governments.

The governing council comprises the Prime Minister of India; Chief Ministers of all the states and union territories with the legislature; Lt Governors of other UTs; Ex-Officio Members; Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Full-Time Members, NITI Aayog; and Union Ministers as Special Invitees.

The statement said that the meeting is particularly important as the country enters Amrit Kaal against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of India hosting the G20 Presidency and summit next year.

The meeting would also lay emphasis on the importance of the Presidency for India for the federal system and the role that states can play in highlighting their progress at the G-20 Platform.