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Indian Football Team Picked On Basis Of Astrologer's Suggestions: Report

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A sensational claim has rocked the Indian sporting fraternity, with a report claiming that the national football team’s squad was picked by head coach Igor Stimac on the basis of an astrologer’s suggestion. Stimac is said to have shared players’ data with an astrologer, who responded by picking the names of players who were recommended for a particular day and those who should be avoided. In fact, the report claims that the head coach was put in touch with the astrologer by the All India Football Federation general-secretary Kushal Das.

Worried whether the Indian team would qualify for the Asian Cup, Das sought an astrologer’s help and put him in touch with the head coach of the team, Stimac. As names were shared by Stimac with the Astrologer, responses of “good”; “can do very well. Needs to avoid overconfidence”; “a below-average day”; “a very good day for him but might get over aggressive”; “not recommended for the day” came, as per a report in Indian Express.

The report claims that about 100 messages were exchanged between Stimac and the astrologer between May and June last year. During this period, India played a friendly against Jordan as well as three Asian Cup qualifiers, against Cambodia, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The messages, as per the report, didn’t just feature inputs over selection matters in the team but also saw Stimac discuss injury news and substitution strategies with the astrologer.

“Hi dear Bhupesh, it was a pleasure meeting you and discussing future work! I would kindly ask you to provide opinion on the following players,” one of the messages read, as per the report.

For a game against Jordan, Stimac allegedly sought advice over the selection of an attacking midfielder. After the astrologer gave his preference of selection, Stimac is said to have gone with the inputs received.

Even Kushal Das admitted that he put Stimac in touch with the astrologer.

“I met him at a meeting. He (Sharma) had worked for a lot of telecom companies and Bollywood personalities. What they presented was that astrological timings and the current phase of players can help motivate people into taking the right decisions,” Das told the paper.

“That time, I was worried if India would qualify for the Asian Cup and so was Igor, let me be very honest. It was not a comfortable situation. For me, the most important thing was that India should qualify. So I told him (Sharma) that I will put you in touch with the coach and if he likes it, he thinks your services can be utilised, he can get back to me. Igor was very convinced and they were in Kolkata throughout,” he added.

Das also revealed that the astrologer was paid INR 12-15 lakh for his services over two months.

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India

Strong bull run has further scope of upside movement in coming days

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Nifty witnessed a strong session to create history touching the psychological and important 20,000 landmark during the intraday session

Published Date – 12:35 PM, Tue – 12 September 23


Strong bull run has further scope of upside movement in coming days



New Delhi: Nifty witnessed a strong session to create history touching the psychological and important 20,000 landmark during the intraday session ending on a positive note with much upside potential visible from here on till 20,400 levels as the initial target, says Vaishali Parekh, Vice President of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher.

The broader markets have indicated tremendous strength with the ongoing strong bull run and has further immense scope of upside movement in the coming days, Parekh said, adding the support for the day is seen at 19,850 levels while the resistance is seen at 20,150 levels.

V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said the optimism regarding India’s growth prospects in a low-growth world and a fast decelerating China has triggered this rally enabling the Nifty to cross the psychological 20,000 mark.

FIIs, also, have joined the party with a buy figure of Rs 1,473 crore after five days of continuous selling in the cash market, he said, adding that the fact that FIIs have made this purchase when the US 10-year yield is at 4.29 per cent indicates that the ‘FOMO’ (Fear Of Missing Out) factor is driving their decision.

The participation of the fairly valued large banking stocks and RIL make this rally healthy even when the overall market valuation is turning expensive. Investors should avoid the frothy segments of the mid-and small-caps.

In the near-term the market is likely to consolidate around the present levels, he said. BSE Sensex is up 47 points at 67175 points on Tuesday. L&T has the strongest gains, up 3 per cent.

Hyderabad

Manchi Pustakam’s attempt to nurture Telugu reading in children

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Having majorly published translated books rather than originals, Bhagyalakshmi emphasizes that authors should focus on creating stories that cater to different age brackets.

Updated On – 10:03 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Manchi Pustakam’s attempt to nurture Telugu reading in children



Hyderabad: Amidst a rapidly evolving reading landscape where Telugu literature is hard to come by, ‘Manchi Pusthakam,’ advocates for reviving and nurturing children’s love for reading.

Nestled in a quiet corner of Hyderabad’s Tarnaka, the Telugu Publishing firm is a haven for original, translated, and bilingual children’s books in Telugu.

Registered as a trust in 2004, the publishing house is overseen by trustees K Suresh, Ravindra Babu, and S S Lakshmi, whereas Suresh’s wife, P Bhagyalakshmi, holds the position of coordinator. “Before Manchi Pustakam, we ran Bala Sahithi, initiated in 1989 with a similar intention,” Bhagyalakshmi mentions, noting that they had to discontinue as it wasn’t viable for everybody.

The wife-husband duo along with the other trustees started Manchi Pustakam only later, after familarising the public with their books through an exhibition at the Hyderabad Book Fair.

With a decade’s worth of experience and around 500 books published, the publishing house firmly upholds the belief that morals are acquired rather than taught. “We shouldn’t limit children’s interpretation by moralizing stories. By giving away stereotyped one-dimension morals, we are robbing children of their joy of reading and confining them to viewing different angles the story offers,” Bhagyalakshmi explains.

Having majorly published translated books rather than originals, Bhagyalakshmi emphasizes that authors should focus on creating stories that cater to different age brackets.

Over the years, the dedicated publishing house has introduced various strategies to motivate parents to buy Telugu books for their children. These include featuring illustrations that children can colour, along with a cover-ready paper, launching affordable book sets and other initiatives.

“Though today’s parents are acknowledging the significance of Telugu language, I urge them to encourage children to physically engage with books and make their own choices so that it fosters the reading habit,” she adds.

Manchi Pustakam primarily offers bulk orders to various organizations, exhibitions, and book fairs. Apart from children’s books, they also are into publishing books for parents and teachers. In addition, they also maintain an engaged presence on Instagram and their website ‘manchipustakam.in’.

World

Morocco earthquake death toll nearing 3000

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Search teams from various countries have joined Moroccan efforts to locate survivors after the 6.8 magnitude quake hit the High Atlas Mountains late on September 8, reducing traditional mud brick houses common in the region to rubble, Reuters reported.

Morocco has accepted offers of assistance from Spain and Britain, both of which dispatched search-and-rescue experts with sniffer dogs. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also extended aid. Algeria allocated three planes to transport rescue personnel and supplies.

In a message to the President of the House of Representatives of Morocco, the Iranian Parliament Speaker announced the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s readiness to send aid teams to the Arab country amid the deadly earthquake.

State TV reported on September 11 that the death toll had reached 2,862, with 2,562 people injured. Given that much of the quake zone is in remote areas, authorities have not provided any estimates for the number of missing.

In the village of Tinmel, almost every house was flattened, leaving the entire community homeless. The military has reinforced search-and-rescue teams, provided drinking water, and distributed food, tents, and blankets.

Mouhamad Elhasan, 59, recounted that he was having dinner with his family when the earthquake struck. His 31-year-old son fled outside but was struck as their neighbor’s roof collapsed, trapping him under the rubble. Elhasan desperately searched for his son as he cried for help, but eventually, the cries ceased, and when he reached his son, he was already dead. Elhasan, his wife, and his daughter remained inside their home and survived.

In Tikekhte, where few buildings remain standing, 66-year-old Mohamed Ouchen described how residents saved 25 people, including his sister. He said, “We were busy rescuing. Because we didn’t have tools, we used our hands.” He added, “Her head was visible, and we kept digging by hand,” Reuters reported.

RHM/PR

Middle East

US convoy transfers military equipment from Iraq to Syria

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Citing unnamed sources, Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen news channel reported that the convoy had entered eastern Syria through the Faysh Khabur border crossing in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region on Monday night.

The US military has in recent months ramped up its military presence in Syria, a country gripped by a foreign-backed militancy since 2011 which has repeatedly denounced the deployment as “illegal”.

Last month, the Pentagon sent a convoy to the bases in eastern Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province through the Al-Waleed border crossing between Iraq and Syria.

Comprised of around 50 vehicles, the convoy reached US bases in the Koniko natural gas field and al-Omer oil field on August 14.

The Pentagon claims that the deployment of its forces and equipment in Syria is aimed at preventing oil fields from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.

Damascus, on the other hand, maintains that the deployment is meant to plunder the Arab country’s natural resources.

In letters sent to the UN on Sunday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry called for an end to the illegal presence of US occupation troops and return of the country’s energy reserves and natural resources to the Damascus government.

It also put the damage inflicted on the Syrian oil and mineral sectors as a result of “acts of aggression and sabotage” by US forces and their allied terrorists at $115.2 billion. 

MNA/PressTV

Sports

Hockey: India to face Thailand in campaign opener at Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

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Asian Hockey Federation and Hockey India on Tuesday announced the schedule for the upcoming edition of the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

Published Date – 12:25 PM, Tue – 12 September 23


Hockey: India to face Thailand in campaign opener at Women’s Asian Champions Trophy



Ranchi: The Asian Hockey Federation and Hockey India on Tuesday announced the schedule for the upcoming edition of the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023.

The tournament will begin with Malaysia and Japan playing the first game, while hosts India will play the third game of the opening day (October 27) when they take on Thailand at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 will see Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, and India go into battle to lift the coveted trophy. The six-team tournament will begin on October 27 and will conclude on November 5.

All the teams are part of One Pool and the top four teams will qualify for the Semi-Finals, where the team finishing on top of the table will take on the team that finishes fourth and the teams finishing second and third will play each other to decide the Finalists. Defending Champions Japan will face a stiff challenge from Korea, the most decorated team in the history of the tournament, which have won three out of six editions of the tournament, in 2010, 2011, and 2016.

Hosts India have been in good form – particularly after the historic Bronze at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and title victory at FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2022. The hosts have also won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and were runners-up in 2018. They will begin their campaign against Thailand on October 27 and face Korea in the last match of the group stage on November 2.

President of the Asian Hockey Federation, Dato Fumio Ogura, remarked, “This is a momentous occasion for the Asian hockey community, and we are eagerly looking forward to witnessing top-notch hockey action at the prestigious Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Hockey India for hosting this event and also for their unwavering support and commitment to the development of hockey in Asia. Furthermore, I would like to express our gratitude to the state of Jharkhand for their warm hospitality and enthusiasm in hosting the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. After Chennai, we are eagerly anticipating another spectacular event with the gracious support of Hockey India.”

On the occasion, Hockey India president Padma Dilip Tirkey said, “We are proud to host another major Asian tournament and I’m sure the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 will be a great spectacle with some of the top women’s hockey teams in the world participating in the tournament. The announcement of the schedule signals the start of the final stages before the tournament and we cannot wait for this extravaganza to begin.”

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said, “Hosting the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 in Ranchi brings me immense joy. We will be competing against some strong teams and I believe this spectacle will inspire and encourage more youngsters from Jharkhand to take up the sport. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team is very capable of putting on a show for the residents of Ranchi and we can’t wait to witness some scintillating hockey.”

Business

Indian Railways achieve freight loading of 634.66 MT between April 1 and August 31-Telangana Today

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In the same period, Cement loading is 63.29 MT over 59.44 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which shows growth of 6.48 per cent

Updated On – 12:15 AM, Sun – 3 September 23


Indian Railways achieve freight loading of 634.66 MT between April 1 and August 31

Photo: ANI.

New Delhi: In terms of Freight loading, Indian Railways has achieved 634.66 MT from April 1, 2023, to August 31, 2023, compared to 620.88 MT over the corresponding period of last year and the revenue achieved is approx. Rs 1 Lakh Crore which includes revenue from the Freight segment, passenger segment and other sundry revenue.

“The loading of Iron Ore in the same period is 70.84 MT which is 15.56 per cent more than 61.30 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year. In the same period, Pig Iron and Finished Steel loading is 28.42 MT over 26.16 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which recorded a growth of 8.63 per cent. The loading of fertilizer in the same period is 24.13 MT over 22.25 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which shows growth of 8.45 per cent,” a statement from Northern Railways said.

In the same period, Cement loading is 63.29 MT over 59.44 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which shows growth of 6.48 per cent, Northern Railways said. “The loading of Container services in the same period is 34.31 MT over 32.60 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which shows growth of 5.22 per cent. The loading of POL in the same period is 20.59 MT over 19.91 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year, which shows growth of 3.41 per cent,” the statement said.

The loading of Coal during the same period is 311.53 MT over 305.39 MT achieved in the corresponding period of last year. Automobile transportation by rail has shown a growth of 26 per cent whereas earnings from automobile has shown a jump of 24.5 per cent, the statement further said.

In the month of August 23, Indian Railways loaded 126.95 MT against 119.33 MT on August 22, which shows a growth of 6.38 per cent, the statement added.

Indian Railways has witnessed approx. 48 per cent Capital expenditure utilization (Highest ever) in the first five months of this Financial Year till August 2023.

Indian Railways has made an expenditure of Rs 1,15,000 Crores till August 2023. This investment is seen in various infrastructure projects like New Lines, Doubling, Gauge Conversion and enhancing passenger amenities. The safety of the passengers is paramount in Railways. A significant sum has been invested in enhancing safety-related works. The Capex Utilization is approx. 54 per cent in comparison to the last year’s corresponding period.

Top News

Nifty Hits Fresh All-Time High In Early Trade As Markets Rally For 8th Day

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Nifty Hits Fresh All-Time High In Early Trade As Markets Rally For 8th Day

Nifty climbed 114 points to 20,110.35 — its all-time high mark. (File)

Mumbai:

Equity benchmark indices continued their winning momentum on Tuesday early trade, climbing for the eighth day running, with the Nifty scaling its fresh all-time high level.

A largely firm trend in global markets and fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the positive trend in equities in initial deals.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 412.02 points to 67,539.10 in early trade. The Nifty climbed 114 points to 20,110.35 — its all-time high mark.

Among the Sensex firms, Larsen & Toubro, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma, JSW Steel, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Axis Bank and Bharti Airtel were the major gainers.

NTPC, Maruti, Hindustan Unilever and Tata Motors were among the laggards.

In Asian markets, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong were trading in the green while Seoul quoted lower.

The US markets ended in positive territory on Monday.

“Optimism regarding India’s growth prospects in a low-growth world and a fast decelerating China has triggered this rally enabling the Nifty to cross the psychological 20,000 mark. FIIs, too, have joined the party with a buy figure of Rs 1,473 crore,” VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said.

The participation of the fairly valued large banking stocks and RIL make this rally healthy even when the overall market valuation is turning expensive, he added.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned buyers on Monday as they bought equities worth Rs 1,473.09 crore, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.39 per cent to $90.99 a barrel.

The 30-share BSE benchmark regained the 67,000 level on Monday. The benchmark jumped 528.17 points or 0.79 per cent to settle at 67,127.08. The Nifty ended at 19,996.35, reflecting a gain of 176.40 points or 0.89 per cent. The Nifty scaled the record 20,000 mark for the first time ever in intra-day trade.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Locals capture 12-feet-long python near Mir Alam Tank

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A 12 feet long python was caught at Hassannagar Rajendernagar on Monday night by local people

Published Date – 11:28 AM, Tue – 12 September 23


Hyderabad: Locals capture 12-feet-long python near Mir Alam Tank

Representational Image

Hyderabad: A 12 feet long python was caught at Hassannagar Rajendernagar on Monday night by local people.

According to the locals the python was found a little near the Mir Alam water tank by a lorry driver who informed the local people about it. A local person who is familiar with handling snakes caught the python measuring between 10 to 14 feet and handed over to the forest department officials.

The python will be released in the forest. The sight of the python moving around created a fear among the local people for a while.

However residents said that snakes are frequent spotted moving around the Mir Alam tank reservoir.

World

Pakistan: Special court allows Imran Khan to talk to his sons over phone

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The Official Secrets Act Special Court has permitted the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to talk to his sons over the phone

Published Date – 12:00 PM, Tue – 12 September 23


Pakistan: Special court allows Imran Khan to talk to his sons over phone



Islamabad: The Official Secrets Act Special Court has permitted the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to talk to his sons over the phone till September 15, reported The News International.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has been demanding to talk to his lawyers as well as his sons for a long time now. One of Imran Khan’s lawyers Sheeraz Ahmed Ranjha said that the court had ordered the jail officials to allow telephonic conversation between the PTI chief and his sons but the jail officials did not grant permission, according to ARY News.

Moreover, the lawyers of Imran Khan were also not allowed by the police to meet him at the Attock Jail, ARY News reported.

Lawyers Sheeraz Ahmed Ranjha and Gohar Ali were scheduled to meet Khan earlier this month. According to The News International, Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain issued a notice to Attock Jail Superintendent Arif Shehzad seeking a report on the implementation of the court order.

Moreover, PTI chairman Khan also approached the special court against the jail superintendent for not complying with its order directing arrangements for telephonic conversation with his sons, reported The News International.

The Toshakhana issue became a major sticking point in Pakistan’s politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Imran Khan for making “false statements and incorrect declaration,” ARY News reported.

The Toshakhana case alleged that Imran Khan did not share details regarding the gifts he retained from Toshakhana during his tenure as Pakistan’s Prime Minister, according to an ARY News report.

Later, the Islamabad Court suspended the conviction of Imran Khan and directed to release him on bail from Attock Jail. However, the special court ordered to keep Imran Khan in judicial remand in cypher case.

The hearing of cypher case, against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chief, was moved to the Attock jail. According to a statement from the law ministry, the ministry approved holding the former prime minister’s Cypher case hearing in Attock prison.

Recently, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana case, Bushra Bibi has been accused of keeping a locket, chain, earrings, two rings, and a bracelet from the Toshakhana gifts.

In addition, Bushra Bibi is accused of keeping gold, diamonds, necklaces, bracelets, gold, diamond rings, earrings and bracelets. According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the gifts were not submitted to the Toshakhana to calculate their prices.