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Australian Open enters into strategic technology partnership with Infosys

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Tech major Infosys on Monday announced a strategic three-year partnership with the Australian Open to enhance digital experience of the tennis tournament.

As the Official Digital Innovation Partner of the Australian Open, Infosys will leverage its expertise in emerging technologies like Big Data and analytics, artificial intelligence as well as virtual and augmented reality, to provide unique, innovative and engaging experiences for fans.

“We have long understood the importance of using data and insights to improve connections with our fans, players, coaches and the rest of the tennis community and we look forward to working with Infosys to change the way we all experience our great sport in the future,” Craig Tiley, Tournament Director, Australian Open, said in a statement.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to showcase how digital technologies can enhance the boundaries of this tournament, to change the way the Australian Open is watched, analysed and played,” added Salil Parekh, CEO and Managing Director at Infosys.

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually in January in Melbourne. Tickets for the tournament will go on sale on October 9.

Infosys is also the technology partner to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) till 2020.

(IANS)

Interpol issues red corner notice against Nirav’s sister

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Interpol has issued a red corner notice (RCN) against Purvi Deepak Modi, sister of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi who is wanted in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, officials said on Monday.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) the Interpol issued the RCN against Purvi Modi on the charge of money laundering, as requested by it.

In August, a special court in Mumbai had issued public summons to Nirav Modi’s sister Purvi and brother Neeshal, who are Belgian citizens, to appear before it on September 25. The court also said that if they fail to appear then their properties would be confiscated under the newly enacted fugitive offenders act.

According to ED officials, Purvi Modi and other family members of Nirav Modi were the recipients of the proceeds of the crime.

Last week, Interpol issued a RCN against Nirav Modi’s close aide Mihir Bhansali in connection with the case.

Bhansali, who was an executive in Nirav Modi’s Firestar International firm, is absconding since the probe started in the alleged $2 billion PNB fraud case.

The RCN is issued to seek the location and arrest of wanted person(s) with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.

The ED wants to question Purvi Modi and Bhansali to unearth further details of the fraud committed by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali group to cheat the Mumbai-based PNB’s Brady House branch.

The Interpol, in its notice, requested its 192 member countries to arrest or detain Bhansali so that his extradition process could begin.

The Interpol has issued a similar notice against Nirav Modi, who as well as his family and uncle Choksi left the country in January, a month before the fraud came to light.

The notice mentions Bhansali’s birth place Mumbai and gives his date of birth as November 15, 1977.

Purvi Modi’s photo is also pasted on the notice.

(IANS)

Bharat Bandh affects normal life in Tripura

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A nationwide shutdown or Bharat Bandh called by the opposition Congress, Left and other parties against the increasing prices of fuel affected normal life in the BJP-ruled Tripura on Monday.

Most markets, shops and business establishments were closed and private and passenger vehicles remained off the roads. Government offices and some banks were open but employee attendance was low.

Flights operated to-and-from Agartala while the Northeast Frontier Railways operated their trains with very few passengers.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) K.V. Sreejesh told IANS that there were no untoward incidents reported from any part of the state.

The Congress and Left parties maintained that the shutdown was total and successful while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that the people rejected the Bharat Bandh in Tripura.

Several Congress party workers were arrested for holding demonstrations in different places and creating obstacles in front of government offices.

Manipur Lok Sabha member Thokchom Meinya along with two party leaders from Assam, Wajed Ali Choudhury and Abdur Rauf, were also arrested here.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Lok Sabha member from Tripura Sankar Prasad Dutta told the media that braving the threat of ruling BJP and the state government, the state’s people unitedly observed the shutdown to protest against the rising prices of transport fuel and essentials.

The ruling BJP, however, claimed that the “people outrightly rejected the ‘Bharat Bandh’ as it did not serve their interest”.

“Normal works were done in government offices and in most places in Tripura. Ongoing process of panchayat elections was also carried out all over Tripura. As plying of vehicles was little less, government employees and other workers went to their places of work with their own arrangements,” BJP General Secretary Pratima Bhowmik told IANS.

“As a national party, BJP’s policy is always against any shut down as the party gives top priority to development and peace besides the interest of the common and poor people. Any kind of ‘bandh’ or strike affected the development and interest of the people.”

(IANS)

Strike remains mostly ineffective in West Bengal

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The nationwide six-hour strike called by the Congress and the Left Front sponsored 12-hour general strike in West Bengal evoked a lukewarm response on Monday as people came out in numbers on the streets while public transport was available in the city and suburbs amid tight security arrangements.

The Congress and its allies called the strike from 9 a.m. against the rising prices of petrol and diesel along with the depreciating rupee, the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist)-led Left Front too called the strike starting from 6 a.m. on the same issue.

However, it was business as usual in the city and suburbs where thousands of office goers hit the streets as the day progressed. The districts also remained largely active barring stray incidents in some places like Howrah district’s Dasnagar industrial area where the strike supporters tried to put up road blockades and clashed with the police.

Banks, educational institutions including schools and colleges mostly remained open while trading activities at Burrabazar in the city were more or less normal.

According to a state official, the attendance at the state secretariat Nabanna was over 95 per cent and overall attendance in state government offices was 97 per cent.

Train services in Eastern and South-Eastern Railways were largely normal though the Left Front supporters tried to block the rail tracks in Hooghly district’s Sreerampore, Kolkata’s Jadavpur station and Sealdah division’s Lakshmikantapur lines.

Additional police personnel have been deployed throughout the state to prevent any disruption or violence in connection with the strike. However, the Left Front and the Congress took out rallies in some places in support of the strike.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state supported the issues on which the shut down has been called, but opposed the strike in the state in line with the party’s stated policy against any kind of strikes.

State Minister and Trinamool’s Secretary General Partha Chatterjee had said that the government would take all measures to maintain public utility services.

State-run transport corporations are running more buses than usual to ensure that commuters are not inconvenienced, a state official said.

A special arrangement has been made with a nationalised insurance company to extend insurance benefits of up to Rs 75,000 to the owner of any vehicle, damaged by miscreants on Monday, a state official said.

The owner of the vehicle would have to file a complaint within 12 hours of the incident and will be reimbursed within 72 hours, the officer added.

(IANS)

Mixed response to all-India shutdown in Maharashtra

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The all-India anti-fuel price hike shutdown evoked a mixed response in Maharashtra on Monday, with all parties – barring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena – joining it wholeheartedly.

In Mumbai and other cities, large numbers took to the streets, railway stations, bus depots, and other public places carrying banners and placards, raising anti-government slogans, taking out processions or staging sit-in protests against the spiraling prices of petrol, diesel and gas.

However, suburban trains, BEST buses, schools and colleges functioned normally. But shops and commercial establishments downed shutters in many localities.

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam led thousands of slogan-shouting activists to stage protests outside the Andheri bus depot and later they trooped down on the railway tracks to stage a rail-blockade.

However, before they could disrupt the train services, many leaders, including Chavan, Nirupam, Manikrao Thakre, Baba Siddiqui, Suresh Shetty and others were detained.

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists also led protests in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik and others areas of the state.

In Dadar, MNS activists broke police cordons and waved black flags as the motorcade of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis zoomed past. In Andheri, they attempted to stop the Mumbai Metro Rail but there were no major dislocations in the services.

The shutdown elicited mixed response in urban centres but secured widespread support in the semi-urban and rural hinterland which have been severely hit by the fuel prices and its cascading effects.

In Aurangabad, protestors took out bullock cart rallies and filled petrol in their vehicles with droppers. Some petrol pumps in Thane, Pune and elsewhere remaind shut as a precaution.

Places like Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik, Nanded, Parbhani, Kolhapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri witnessed processions and roadside dharnas. There was stone-pelting at buses in Mumbai and Pune.

The Shiv Sena editorially attacked the Modi government for its failures on all fronts.

In edits in party mouthpieces ‘Saamana’ and ‘Dopahar Ka Saamana’, the Sena also criticized the opposition parties for “finally awakening” to the misery of the masses.

The shutdown has been supported by Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (S), RPI (G), Peasant and Workers Party, Left Parties, Swabhimani Shetkari Party, Peoples Republican Party, besides other local and regional parties in Maharashtra.

(IANS)

England lead by 154, Jadeja’s batting heroics keeps India in contest

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Alastair Cook and Joe Root took England to 114/2 with a lead of 154 runs after India rode Ravindra Jadeja’s batting heroics to post 292 in their first innings on Day 3 of the fifth and final test here on Sunday.

At stumps, Cook playing his final test match was batting on 46 while Root was on 29.

For India, Mohammed Shami and Jadeja got a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Jadeja remained unbeaten on 86 while debutant Hanuma Vihari scored 56 to help the tourists trim the lead to 40 after resuming the day on 174/6.

Brief scores: England 332 & 114/2 (Alastair Cook 46 batting, Joe Root 29 batting); India 292 (R Jadeja 86, Hanuma Vihari 56, Virat Kohli 49; James Anderson 2/54, Ben Stokes 2/56, Moeen Ali 2/50)

After NC, PDP to boycott municipal and Panchayat polls

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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday announced a boycott of the upcoming municipal and Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the government to review its decision to hold elections amid an atmosphere of insecurity.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said there was a sense of insecurity among the people of the state with the “sword of Article 35A dangling on our heads”. She said the party had unanimously decided to stay away from the electoral exercise.

“The party urges the government to review its decision to hold local body elections at this time against the will of the people and instead focus on confidence-building measures,” the former Chief Minister told reporters here after meeting her party leaders and MLAs.

“Our Party will not contest the polls as the prevailing situation is not favourable for such an exercise.

“The government is not keen on defending 35-A and insecurity has crept in the population. The party therefore urges the government to review its decision to hold polls at this time”.

A dissident PDP MLA, Javaid Beigh, who represents Baramulla Assembly, was present at the meeting chaired by Mehbooba Mufti.

But five other PDP MLAs including Haseeb Drabu, Imran Ansari, Abid Ansari, Abdul Majeed Padder and Abbas Wani did not attend the meeting.

The National Conference has already announced a boycott of the elections.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has announced that the elections to urban local bodies in the state will be held between October 1 and 5 and to the Panchayats between November 8 and December 4.

Article 35A of the Constitution prohibits outsiders from owning land and property in Jammu and Kashmir.

Trump administration to close PLO office in Washington DC

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The United States will shut the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s diplomatic office in Washington DC over the Palestinian government’s refusal to enter into US-led negotiations with Israel.

“We have been notified by a US official of their decision to close the Palestinian mission to the US,” PLO secretary-general Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Monday.

“This is yet another affirmation of the Trump administration’s policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people, including by cutting financial support for humanitarian services including health and education.”

According to a draft text of a speech seen by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, will also reportedly threaten the International Criminal Court (ICC) with sanctions if it carries out investigations into the US and Israel.

“The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel,” Bolton is expected to say in his speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington DC.

“The Trump administration will not keep the office open when the Palestinians refuse to start direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.”

Dangerous consequences after US cuts funding for Palestinian refugees (2:54)
The speech is also expected to say that the Trump administration “will fight back” if the ICC formally proceeds with opening an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US service members and intelligence professionals during the war in Afghanistan.

If such a probe proceeds, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the US, put sanctions on any funds they have in the US financial system and prosecute them in US courts.

“We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us,” the draft text said.

Deteriorating ties
The action against the PLO, which serves as the main entity representing the Palestinian people, is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration against the Palestinian leadership.

Over the past year, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, has repeatedly questioned Mahmoud Abbas’ commitment to peace and Trump’s so-called “ultimate deal”.

The Palestinian leadership, which sees East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, suspended contacts with the US, after Washington recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel late last year.

The Palestinians insist the status of the city is an issue to be negotiated between them and the Israelis.

Officials in the Gaza Strip, which has been administered by Hamas since 2007, have also previously blasted the US for its support to Israel, saying Washington has long lost its regional credibility.

The US gives Israel annual military aid of $3.1bn. Next year, that figure will increase to $3.8bn under a 10-year deal agreed by Barack Obama shortly before he stepped down as president.

While the details of Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” have not officially been released, leaks have suggested that the Palestinians would initially control the Gaza Strip and less than half of the occupied West Bank, while a Palestinian capital would be created from villages surrounding Jerusalem.

The Israelis would retain security control over the Jordan valley and have total control over Palestinian travel between the West Bank and Gaza, while a corridor will be created between Palestinian territory and Jerusalem’s holy sites.

It appears meanwhile that Palestinians would have to surrender the principle of the right of return of Palestinian refugees expelled during the creation of Israel, while the future of illegal Israeli settlements and the final border between Palestine and Israel would be decided at a later date.

Cut in funding
Monday’s announcement comes just weeks after the US said it would cut more than $200m in economic aid for the Palestinians.

Wishing away Palestinian refugees: End of US’ UNRWA aid explained
The US had planned to give the Palestinians $251m for good governance, health, education and funding for civil society in the current 2018 budget year that ends on September 30.

On Sunday, Haaretz reported that the US has also decided to cut more than $20m in foreign aid meant to support hospitals in East Jerusalem.

According to Haaretz, the hospitals treat Palestinian patients who require cancer and eye treatments.

The decision to cut funding comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where more than 160 Palestinians protesting for their right to return to the areas from which they were forcibly expelled from in 1948 have been killed by Israeli gunfire since March 30 during weeks-long demonstrations near the fence with Israel.

(Aljazeera)

Manmohan seeks opposition unity to defeat BJP

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Urging the opposition to unite in their shared desire to defeat the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday hit out at the Modi government for the crises-like all-round situation in the country due to rising fuel prices and farm distress.

Manmohan Singh said the BJP-led central government had “miserably” failed in controlling fuel prices and fulfilling the promises made to the people before the 2014 elections.

“Circumstances show that the situation has gone beyond control now. Farmers, businessmen, youth are facing crises in their respective fields. The government has failed miserably in fulfilling the promises made to common people.

“The time has come to change the party in the Centre and this will happen very soon,” he said, addressing a protest rally at the Ramlila ground here.

“The parties opposing the present government should forget their differences and come together for maintaining the unity and secular identity of the country. We need to draw the collective benefit of the unity shown (here),” he said.

The former Prime Minister along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined the protest march that started from Rajghat and culminated at Ramlila ground.

The march as part of a nationwide protest, or “Bharat Bandh”, was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders.

The former Prime Minister appreciated the presence of around 20 political opposition parties joining the Congress in the protest against the government.

He said it was a significant moment ahead of the general elections next year and “we should take advantage of this (unity) and bring about a movement” in the country.

The protest was called by the Congress and Left parties against the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel which have reached record levels.

The protest was supported by several opposition parties including the Janata Dal-Secular, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Loktantrik Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India United Democratic Front, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Aam Aadmi Party among others.

(IANS)

Bharat Bandh fails, hike in fuel prices momentary difficulty: BJP

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Calling the hike in prices of petroleum products a “momentary difficulty” due to the international crisis, the BJP on Monday condemned incidents of violence during the Bharat Bandh.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also claimed that the shutdown was “unsuccessful” because people understand the reasons why petrol and diesel prices were going up.

“Why the people of India are indifferent to Bharat Bandh? They understand the rise in fuel prices, though temporary, is because of factors beyond the control of the Indian government and ordinary indian,” Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media.

He said that in spite of some “momentary difficulty”, the people don’t support the Bandh.

“This is unnerving the Congress and other opposition parties. That is why they are resorting to violence.

“Bharat Bandh has been unsuccessful. We condemn the violence being used to instil fear among citizens across the country.”

(IANS)

The Minister said: “The petroleum need of the global world today is under severe restrictions because of non-availability and limited supply. We are not trying to justify the price hike. The NDA government has been trying its best to contain inflation. It has succeeded on numerous fronts.”

Referring to the alleged death of a girl in Bihar’s Jehanabad district during the Bandh, Prasad demanded to know who was responsible for it.

“Everyone has a right to protest but what is happening today? Petrol pumps and buses being set ablaze, putting to risk lives. A child died after an ambulance was stuck in the protests in Jehanabad. Who is responsible?”

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