ICC NAMES 4 WOMEN IN UMPIRING PANEL FOR WOMEN’S WC QUALIFIER

The ICC has named four women in a strong field of nine umpires to officiate in next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 in its continued efforts and commitment to the overall growth and development of women’s cricket.

Seasoned Kathleen Cross of New Zealand lead the group of women umpires who all have international experience and are being groomed for more future responsibilities by the ICC. tbe others are Sue Redfern of England, Claire Polosak of Australia and Jacqueline Williams of the West Indies.

Cross, who was the first woman to be named in an ICC umpires’ panel in 2014 when she was named in the Associates and Affiliates panel, is the most experienced of the four officials. The five men umpires in the 14-day tournament include Anil Chaudhary, Leslie Reifer, Raveendra Wimalasari (all from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires), Ian Ramage and Mark Hawthorne (both from the ICC Associate and Affiliate International Umpires).

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PROUD OF YOU: FREIDA PINTO TO EX DEV PATEL ON OSCAR NOD

Actor Dev Patel’s former girlfriend, actress Freida Pinto has congratulated him on earning an Academy Award nomination this year. The 32- year-old actress took to social media to give a shout-out to Dev, who has been nominated in the best actor in a supporting role category for “Lion” in 2017 Oscars. Sharing a black-and-white picture of Dev, Freida wrote on Instagram, “So proud of you, Dev!

A fine example of what hardwork, focus, humility and crazy amazing talent rewards one with. Long time coming, so well deserved! Former flames, Dev and Freida met on the sets of the Oscar-winning film, “Slumdog Millionaire” and started dating after that.The couple split amicably  after a six-year-long relationship in December 2014 @lionmov @theacademy #Oscars2017 OscarNominations2017 #bestactorinasupportingrole.”

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TRUMP PLANS MAJOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN: REPORT

US President Donald Trump is set to sign several executive orders, including one on building a border wall with Mexico, this week to crack down on immigrants – one of his central campaign promises – and could suspend immigration from some Muslim nations, media reports have said. Trump is expected to order the construction of the border wall with Mexico, the first in a series of actions to bolster national security, The New
York Times reported.

The border wall was a signature promise of Trump’s campaign to control the illegal flow of immigrants. His actions would also include slashing the number of refugees who can resettle in the US and blocking Syrians and others from “terror prone” nations from entering, at least temporarily.He could move to suspend some immigration from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, either temporarily or “indefinitely,” sources familiar with the plans that have been under consideration were quoted as saying by the ABC news.

“Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!,” Trump tweeted. He also plans to review whether to resume the once-secret “black site” detention programme; keep open the prison at Guantanamo Bay; and designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation. Trump is expected to target legal immigrants as early as this week, White House officials said, by halting a decades- old programme that grants refuge to the world’s most vulnerable people.

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PARLIAMENT PARALYSED OVER CURRENCY BAN

Parliament was paralysed over demonetisation, with Rajya Sabha witnessing a sharp clash over certain remarks by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, leaving a debate on the issue incomplete in the House which had a lively discussion on Wednesday (Nov 16).

Opposition parties, led by the Congress, created uproar in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha as soon as the Houses met for the day and it continued throughout.

The Lok Sabha could carry out business only during the Question Hour, that, too, amid the uproar, after which it was adjourned for the day minutes past 12 noon. The Rajya Sabha could not transact any business.

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EAST MEETS WEST AT INTER-FAITH GATHERING IN RISHIKESH

Faith leaders from 20 nations gathered in Rishikesh, a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River.

THE world came together for a major, high-profile inter-faith gathering in which faith leaders from the West came to learn from faith leaders from the East. Attending were dignitaries and audience members from over 20 nations.

The esteemed leaders joined forces in focusing on how to globally expand values of respect between religions as well as an appreciation for the diversity and dignity of all people. In so doing, the event highlighted the values of respect between religions and appreciation for diversity and dignity of all people.

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CASH CRISIS: RELIEF TO FARMERS, MARRIAGE PARTIES

THE Indian government on Thursday (Nov 17) lowered the exchange limit for now-defunct 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to Rs 2,000 from the existing cap of Rs 4,500, effective Friday (Nov 18) but has given a big relief to farmers ahead of the sowing season and to families planning weddings.

‘To enable larger number of people to get benefit of over-the-counter exchange of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the existing limit of Rs 4,500 will be reduced to Rs 2,000 with effect from tomorrow,’ Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters in New Delhi.

Among other measures, the government has allowed up to Rs 2.5 lakh cash withdrawal from bank account of a bride or groom or their parents for a marriage during the ongoing wedding season.

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THERESA SEEKS BUSINESS LEADERS’ HELP FOR BREXIT

British Prime Minister Theresa May has called on business leaders to help her government win back Britons disillusioned with liberal elites and globalization by forging an economy that ‘works for everyone’.

Describing the election of real estate magnate Donald Trump as US President and Britain’s vote to leave the European Union as proof that ‘change is in the air’, May said on Monday (Nov 14) that Britain should not shy away from making the case for globalization.

Instead, government and business, she said, must show the benefits of global trade and liberalism can be shared more widely, creating jobs by pressing on with her ‘new industrial strategy’ and also by encouraging companies to help communities, she said.

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TOP COURT REFUSES TO STAY CURRENCY BAN

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (Nov 15) refused to stay the Indian government’s notification demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes but asked the administration it to spell out the steps taken to minimise public inconvenience.

‘We will not be granting any stay,’ a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and D Y Chandrachud said. The remarks were made after some advocates insisted on a stay.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, however, said he was not asking for a stay on the notification but seeking answers from the government about the steps taken to remove public inconvenience.

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SHARIA COURTS UNDER LENS IN BRITAIN

For more than 30 years, sharia courts enforcing Islamic law have been operating quietly across Britain. But two official inquiries have put them in the spotlight amid accusations that they discriminate against women.

Very little is known about them, even their number, which one study by the University of Reading puts at 30, while the British think tank Civitas estimates there are 85.

Sharia courts or councils, as they prefer to be called, mainly pronounce on Islamic divorces, which today constitute 90 percent of the cases they handle. https://goo.gl/uRCaJW

BOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES SHOCKED BY TRUMP WIN

Bollywood celebrities have expressed their dismay over Republican candidate Donald Trump’s win in the US elections on Wednesday (Nov 9).

Personalities like Kabir Khan, Javed Akhtar, Radhika Apte, Twinkle Khanna among others expressed shock over Trump becoming the new President.

Trump, a former reality star, who has hosted ‘The Apprentice’, defeated Hillary Clinton in the knife-edge US Presidential elections.

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