BCCI to request ICC not to put India and Pakistan in same group for 2017 Champions Trophy after URI attack in India

The escalating tensions between neighbouring countries India and Pakistan have taken a new twist with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur set to request the ICC to not club India and Pakistan in the same group at the 2017 Champions Trophy so as to avoid the two teams from facing each other.

Despite not playing bilateral events, the arch-rivals have played each other a number of times in ICC events with the most recent coming at the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup. However, given the recent deteriorating political relations between the two countries, the BCCI has decided that it will avoid playing Pakistan even in multi-nation tournaments.

This issue was discussed on the sidelines of the Special General Meeting amid the backdrop of the Uri terror attack and the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian army.

"I will be suggesting to the ICC that looking at the current situation between both countries it is not advisable to have India and Pakistan in one group of Champions Trophy as there could be a situation like we had in India during India vs Pakistan T20 World game in Dharamshala where we had to shift the game at the last moment", Thakur said, as quoted by Indian Express.

"There could be security issues. So in order the organizers don't face problems which we did during T20 World Cup, I will be suggesting to the ICC in our next meeting in October in South Africa that it will be better if we don't have two teams in the same group", the BCCI president added.

Considering the high interest and monetary value of India-Pakistan clashes, the ICC tends to put the two teams in the same group in multi-nation tournaments to attract more spectators and sponsors. India and Pakistan are currently drawn in Group B for the Champions Trophy 2017 and are scheduled to face-off at Edgbaston on 4 June.

UPI (Unified Payment Interface) implemented in India

The much-awaited, revolutionary payment system UPI -- Unified Payment Interface, developed by the National Payment Corporation of India -- has been launched with 21 banks in India.

UPI is a unique payment solution that provides a single interface across all systems for any payment transaction, unlike the traditional NEFT/IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) transactions, where a bank account number is a must.

In a country like India where the most of the people, specifically in rural areas, are not bank-savvy, this is likely to be the best solution for cashless transactions and to promote mobile banking transactions.

Currently, the app to enable this is only for Android phones. Here are the things you should know about Unified Payments Interface:

What is UPI?

"Unified Payment Interface" (UPI) enables all bank account holders (of banks participating in UPI) to send and receive money from their smartphones with a single identifier (the virtual payments address) – without entering any additional bank account information. UPI can also be used to pay merchants who accept UPI as a payment mode.

What is the advantage of UPI Funds transfer over other fund transfer mechanisms?

The service is instant and available 24X7, even on public/bank holidays. Customers can transfer funds in simple steps by providing the virtual payment address of the beneficiary. Also, there is no pre - registration required for the beneficiary.

What is a Virtual Payment Address (VPA)?

"Virtual Payment Address" is an identifier (that takes a form of abc@pockets wherein "abc" is a unique name that you can choose for yourself) that can be uniquely mapped to an individual account using a translation service. UPI services of ICICI Bank offers customers the option to create any number of virtual addresses so that they can use the virtual address for making and receiving payments.

How can I generate a VPA?

If you are an ICICI Bank customer, you can download Pockets and assign a VPA to the "UPI" section in Pockets. If you are a Non ICICI Bank customer, download Pockets, register yourself and navigate to the UPI section. Under the UPI Section, navigate to "Add My Bank Accounts". Here, you can choose a VPA and then link bank accounts that you hold with other banks.

How do I link my other bank accounts in ICICI Bank mobile applications?

1. Please ensure that the mobile number linked to your Pockets mobile application is the same as the mobile number registered with the bank whose account you would like to link.
2. In Pockets mobile application, navigate to the UPI screen by clicking on “UPI” on the home screen. Then navigate to "Add My bank accounts".
3. Choose your VPA. You can use your existing VPA if you have already created one or create a new one.
4. On the next screen, search for and choose the bank hold an account with.
5. The next page should list the bank accounts held with the chosen bank and linked to the same mobile number.
6. Choose the account you would like to add. If you already have an MPIN, choose the option "Use Existing MPIN" and enter your MPIN associated with this bank account to complete the linking process.
7. Alternatively, choose the option "Generate MPIN". Enter your Debit Card details as directed on the next screen. You should have received an OTP from your bank at this point. Enter the OTP as well.
8. Choose your MPIN for this account. This MPIN will be used in the future for every transaction that you make on this account. Ensure you don’t reveal this MPIN to anyone else.
9. When your Debit Card details are validated with your bank, your account will be linked instantly to Pockets mobile application.

How can I transfer using a VPA?

1. Login to Pockets mobile application and click on 'UPI'.
2. Click on "Send Money using VPA (UPI)".
3. Fill out the details on the screen such as beneficiary VPA, amount and remarks. If you have multiple accounts/virtual payment addresses, you can choose the VPA you would like to debit. Click on Submit.
4. Please review the next screen carefully to ensure you have filled all details correctly.

What details do I need to either send money or request money?

You need the VPA of the beneficiary or the remitter. You don’t need any other details to initiate a transaction.

I intend to add multiple accounts from other banks to Pockets. Do I need a separate VPA for each of these accounts?

You have the choice of either linking all accounts to a single VPA. In this scenario, please ensure you appropriately tag which account you would like to use as the default account to debit and which account you would like to use as the default account to credit. Alternatively, you can assign a separate VPA for each account.

Gymnast Dipa creates history by entering Olympic final

 Dipa Karmakar created history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to enter the Olympic finals at the Rio Olympic Centre here.

The 22-year-old qualified for the final round in the individual vault final of artistic gymnastics after finishing eighth on the standings on Sunday. 

Competing in the third sub-division, Dipa had an average score of 51.665. She managed to perform her much-vaunted ‘Produnova’ vault cleanly to score 14.850 on the vault, 11.666 on the uneven bars 12.866 in balance beam and 12.033 in floor exercises.

The Tripura gymnast scored executed the ‘Produnova’ in her first attempt on the vault to 15.100 with 8.1 for execution and 7.00 for difficulty. She scored 14.6 in her second attempt with 8.6 for execution and 6.00 for difficulty. 

In uneven bars, Deepa scored 7.166 for execution and 4.5 for difficulty. In balance beam, she scored 7.566 for execution and 5.3 for difficulty while in floor exercises her scores read 7.133 for execution and 5.2 for difficulty with a penalty of 0.3.

By time she finished, Deepa was sixth in vaults and 27th overall and had to endure a nervous wait of five hours for the other two sub-divisions to finish. The top eight qualify for the final.

Dipa’s chances seemed bleak after she fell to seventh when Simone Biles of the US scored 16.050 in the vault event. She dropped another rung to eighth when Canada’s Shallon Olsen’s terrific effort of 14.950 on the vault rejiged the overall standings further.

However, with no other competitor managing to surpass her score in individual vault, Dipa managed to enter individual vault final and grab a piece of history. 

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade topped the overall standings with 58.732 overall. She scored 15.566 on the vault, 14.933 on the uneven bars, 14.2 on the balance beam and 14.033 on the floor exercise. 

The Russian duo of Seda Tutkhalian (58.207 overall) and Aliya Mustafina (58.098 overall) finished second and third respectively on the overall standings. Deepa will compete in the finals on August 14.

Sindhu quits from BJP Rajya Sabha MP, joins AAP

                                                                     

In a major political development just before the Punjab elections, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajya Sabha member Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, on Monday joined the Aam Aadmi Party.

Sidhu, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Narendra Modi government, tendered his resignation from the House of Elders.

The resignation letter has been addressed to Ansari, who is chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Ansari has accepted the resignation.

The resignation came as a big surprise to the Bharatiya Janata Party that shares power with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. The state goes to polls early next year.

His wife, who is a BJP MLA in the Punjab Assembly, too has quit to join the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

“Navjot Singh Sidhu, nominated member, resigns from Rajya Sabha,” Gurdeep Singh Sappal, OSD to the Vice President Hamid Ansari said in a tweet.

I can’t be neutral, Punjab’s interest paramount, says Sidhu

Sidhu, who put his papers as a Rajya Sabha MP on Monday, reacted to reports that he was headed to the Aam Admi Party.

Refusing to corroborate or rebuff reports, he said that Punjab’s interest was paramount.

“In the war of right and wrong, you can’t be neutral,” he said, adding, “Every window leading to Punjab is closing. I am now a mere burden and I prefer not to carry it.”

He further said that because he became MP to serve people, he couldn’t be sitting on the fence.

Aam Aadmi Party sources have said that he could be the chief ministerial candidate for AAP in 2017’s Punjab Assembly elections.

Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Convenor Sucha Singh, tweeted, “Appreciate Navjot Sidhu & Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s move, looking forward for their Welcome to AAP.”

Although a formal announcement about the Sidhus joining AAP has yet to be made, news agencies said that Sidhu is likely to meet AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal later today.

After a rather bitter relationship with the BJP, especially its Punjab unit, for the last 2-3 years, the veteran cricketer and 3-time MP from Amritsar, it appeared that a rapprochement of sorts had been arrived at with the Narendra Modi-led government nominating him to the Rajya Sabha.

However, it appears that things did not work out as expected for the BJP. Sidhu’s exit will be a major blow to the party in Punjab and will invigorate AAP in the state as it goes to polls early next year.

The cricketer-turned-politician has had a hostile relationship with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, which resulted in Sidhu not being nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

AAP welcomes move

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh told TV channels: “We welcome the resignation of Sidhu from Rajya Sabha. For other queries you have, it’s all premature.”

Sanjay Singh also said the resignation of the cricketer-turned-politician from the Upper House is seen as a “protest” against the ongoing Akali-BJP dispensation in Punjab.

“All right minded people should join this dharam yudh (righteous battle) against corruption,” the AAP leader said.

Bankers strike On 29 July ,10 Lacs Banker to strike

Chennai, July 13 , Around 10 lakh bankers across the country are expected to go on a strike on July 29 to oppose the government policies related to the banking industry, a top leader of All India Bank Employees's Association (AIBEA) has said.

At the call of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) consisting of nine unions with an employee membership of around 10 lakh workers and officials, the bankers would go on a strike opposing the anti-people banking reform policies of the central government, C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, AIBEA, said on Tuesday.

The employees of public sector banks, old private banks, regional rural banks, foreign banks and co-operative banks will participate in the strike, he said in a statement.

He said the notice for the strike was served to the Indian Banks' Association on Tuesday by the UFBU.

Hardik Patel on Bail, Hardik Patel Got Jamin

             Hardik Patel Got bail on 8-7-2016 from Custody. And in Patidar more happy by getting Bail to Hardik Patel. But noticeable is that for the 6 months he has to live outside of State of Gujarat. Here attach image is taken in Varachha minibazar Area .