CURRENT AFFAIRS: 10/17/11

Monday, October 17, 2011

Junior Tendulkar shines with an all-round performance

Mumbai:

Sachin Tendulkar's son, Arjun showcased his skills as a blooming cricketer with a powerful performance for his school team on Monday.

Star Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar might be missing in action from the ongoing ODI series against England, but his son Arjun certainly stole the limelight during a school-level cricket match in Mumbai on Monday.

India's F1 track to be unveiled today

New Delhi:

The Buddh International Circuit for India's first Formula One race will be unveiled today. With this all speculations related to the completion of the track will come to an end.

Salgaocar start favourites against EB in Super Cup

NEW DELHI: A new chapter will be added to the east-west rivalry in Indian football when I-League champions Salgaocar and last year's Fed Cup winners East Bengal face off for the Super Cup at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday. The Goan stalwarts and the Bengal icons have a knack of creating something special whenever they have gone for a knockabout. Seldom have their matches been insipid affairs.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer being out, Rafael Nadal being tired and full of self-doubt... all of these have made for a very happy Andy Murray right now.

The Scotsman was able to take his chance during the Asian Swing and so claimed three titles: the ATP 250 in Bangkok, the ATP 500 in Tokyo and ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai.

USD 15 million insurance cover for Indian GP

New Delhi:

Private sector general insurer HDFC ERGO on Monday said it will provide USD 15 million insurance cover for the first ever Formula 1 race to be held in India.

Buddh International Circuit, India's first ever Formula 1 track, will be unveiled on Tuesday.

The Greater Noida-based Buddh International Circuit is 5.14 km long and it has 60 laps. The Buddh International circuit will host first Indian Grand Prix on October 30.

James Sutherland ... going global in the hunt for Australia's next cricket coach.

Australia's next cricket coach could come from left field with officials pledging to think "outside the square" in their global hunt.

Fresh from appointing a former rugby international to a key post, Cricket Australia (CA) signalled hot favourite Steve Rixon isn't in a one-horse race for the coaching job.

Former Wallaby Pat Howard, now CA's general manager team performance, will be a central figure in the search for the next coach.

Australia launch global hunt for new coach

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia on Tuesday launched a global hunt for a new coach with chief executive James Sutherland saying they planned to think "outside the square".

It follows former rugby union international Pat Howard being appointed general manager for team performance last week -- a new position recommended by the Argus Review earlier this year.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates with teammates as they win the Constructors title following his victory in the Korean Formula One Grand Prix. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel showed no sign of letting up on Sunday, winning the Korean Grand Prix to underline his dominance of the Formula One season one week after clinching his second straight drivers' championship.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany, right, celebrated his victory in the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday in Yeongam, South Korea, as Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and Christian Horner, center, looked on.

Vincent Thian/Associated PressSebastian Vettel of Germany, right, celebrated his victory in the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday in Yeongam, South Korea, as Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and Christian Horner, center, looked on.

YEONGAM, South Korea — Sebastian Vettel may have won the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday in his usual dominating manner, taking his 10th victory of the season and the 20th of his career. And his team, Red Bull, may have won the 2011 constructors’ title thanks to that result. But all of the excitement both on track and off throughout the weekend came from another man: Lewis Hamilton.

The British driver started from the pole position and finished second, providing a stunning show of tight racing and creating for himself the kind of redemption he has been seeking for months after a fall from grace this season for the 2008 champion.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel & Mark Webber

Korean Grand Prix in 90 seconds

It may be that David Coulthard and I feed off each other's infectious enthusiasm and love of the sport but we seemed to enjoy the Korean Grand Prix more than some in the paddock and no doubt some of the audience too.

Cricket Australia insist they are "thinking globally" in their search for a new coach and have drafted in more help to aid their hunt for Tim Nielsen's replacement.

Days after appointing former Wallaby and Australian Rugby Union high performance manager Pat Howard to the new role of general manager, CA today confirmed sports management consultancy Crank Sports would assist both Howard and CA chief executive James Sutherland in the hunt for a new head coach.

Will this be acceptable to BCCI?

Keeping the objections raised mainly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Union Sports Ministry has redrafted the proposed National Sports Bill.

The Sports Minister, Ajay Maken, on Monday expressed the confidence that the BCCI would fall in line in accepting the provisions of the Bill, especially now that most of the irritants had been removed.

Maken hoping for positive from BCCI regarding new sports bill

Lucknow: Sports Minister Ajay Maken is hoping that the BCCI would have no objection to the new draft of National Sports development Bill, which could not be passed earlier in the Cabinet after some of the ministers objected to it.

"The draft of Sports Bill has been prepared afresh and I hope that BCCI will have no objection to it," Maken told reporters.

Good wife Sania Mirza is okay with talking about anything but Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Akhtar’s match-fixing controversies. “I don’t know about match-fixing and all that. I am not concerned with anything like this,” said the ace tennis player while she was in Delhi over the weekend to

felicitate the winners of the 17th

Former Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt told Southwark crown court he was 'suspicious' of a text he received from his agent. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

The cricketer Salman Butt told a court on Monday he was "suspicious" and challenged his former agent, Mazhar Majeed, over involvement in match fixing at the World Twenty20 tournament in 2010.

A text message Butt received from Majeed during the tournament was recovered from his mobile phone and put before Southwark crown court in London. Majeed texted: "Other thing, in the seventh, eighth over, one fall in each. This will only work if you score in the first two overs and no wickets."

Salman Butt says he ignored fixing requests

London: Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt told a court in London that he had ignored requests by his agent to fix cricket matches against England.

At his trial with fast bowler Mohammad Asif, Butt, 27, said he did not fulfil his duty to inform the cricketing authorities of an alleged corrupt approach by his British-based agent Mazhar Majeed.

DDCA staff protest at Kotla demanding passes for Ind-Eng ODI

New Delhi: The hankering for tickets ahead of the second India-England ODI on Sunday created quite a scene at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium where the Delhi and District Cricket Association`s own staff protested demanding passes for the match on Monday.

United hope to win against little-known Otelul

BUCHAREST: Manchester United will be without England center back Rio Ferdinand when it takes on little-known Romanian team Otelul Galati in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United is looking for its first win in this season's competition, against a side manager Alex Ferguson admitted he had "never heard of" before.

Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic reacts after their Champions League final soccer match defeat to Barcelona at Wembley Stadium in London May 28, 2011. REUTERS/Darren Staples

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Nemanja Vidic travelled with the Manchester United squad for their Champions League visit to Romania on Monday while fellow central defender Rio Ferdinand remained at home, the club confirmed on their website.

Amarnath denied entry into stadium

NEW DELHI: The selection committee meeting to announce the Indian team for the remaining one-dayers at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Monday was nearly cancelled amidst misunderstanding and drama. Newly-elected selector from North Zone, Mohinder Amarnath was not allowed to enter the stadium, delaying the meeting which was supposed to take place in the afternoon.

LAS VEGAS — The recipe for disaster in auto racing is hardly a secret. Start with a problematic racing layout, mix in a field of expert drivers with rookies and rusty ones, put millions of dollars on the line and then add speed. Lots of speed.

On Sunday, the recipe produced one of the worst crashes in the history of Indy-car racing: a 15-car smashup that left the British driver Dan Wheldon, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, dead at 33.

Statistical highlights: India V England Kotla ODI

New Delhi: Statistical highlights of the second One-day International between India and England.

India`s eight-wicket win is their biggest in terms of wickets at Feroz Shah Kotla, eclipsing their seven-wicket victory over New Zealand on November 17, 1999.

Salman Khan has surely got the Midas touch and everyone wants to count on his success. However, the Khan who is riding high on the success of his Box-Office hits still believes in helping people around. And, Salman doesn't fail to lend a helping hand to Bollywood's dream girl in her venture ‘Tell Me O Khudda’.

Take Two: Hema Malini and Esha on the sets of 'Tell me O Kkhuda'

Hema Malini and daughter Esha talk about the making of ‘Tell Me O Kkhuda' that also stars Dharmendra and their bonding on the sets

Hectic is an understatement to describe the goings-on at Hema Malini's bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai. It is almost two decades since the actor's banner H M Creations saw some action, once more under her wings. “It's very exciting. Filmmaking has changed completely. Promotions have reached a crescendo. Anything we do seems insufficient for promoting a film,” says Hema laughing.

The fiery Pooja Mishra has got everyone in Bigg Boss 5 on the edge. Now, the evicted housemate, the Rajasthani folk dancer Gulabo Sapera, has made a shocking disclosure about Pooja Missra.

Talking about everyone’s pet peeve in the house, Sapera has said in media interviews that she suspects that Pooja Missra is on drugs. And what does Pooja get high on? The incense sticks, according to Sapera.

Rising from the ashes of hooliganism and small town clan wars, comes the love story of a passion ignited by hatred.

Two people, Born to hate; destined to love.

Deepika Padukone's love story, not the much publicised one with Ranbir Kapoor but the one she ended right before that, will now make it to the silver screen in a semi-biographical film directed by Prashant Chadda. Interestingly, the actress' real life boyfriend Nihar Pandya, who she left for Ranbir, had agreed to play the lead in the project.

Deepika Padukone's wedding plans may not be on cards anytime soon but actress has already decided who to contact for her D-day. The actress, who walked the ramp as a showstopper on the third day of Will Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Monday night, feels Wendill Rodricks would be best for her.

There is a strong rumour doing the rounds that Priyanka Chopra is all set to replace Deepika Padukone in Race 2.

Deepika's schedule is too tight for the next few months, especially after she signed Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawani Hain Diwani, and so, it's impossible for her to be part of Race 2. Producer Ramesh Taurani of Tips recently posted on Twitter that the film was ready to roll.

Deepika Padukone has made more news with her link-ups than her films in her four year-old career.

After her bitter break-up with Ranbir Kapoor, the actress was briefly linked to Kingfisher scion Siddharth Mallya and the two were even publicly spotted kissing at a cricket match last year.

'Dhoom 3' release postponed to 2013

Mumbai: The release of Aamir Khan-starrer Dhoom 3 has been postponed because of production and post-production work, the producers said.

The film will now hit the theatres in 2013. The shooting begins from November-end this year.

Earlier the film was slated for a 2012 Christmas release. Since the shooting and the post-production is expected to take some more time, producer Aditya Chopra and director Vijay Krishna Acharya (also known as Victor), in consultation with Aamir, have decided to delay the release.

Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has sent a reminder to Bollywoodactor Shah Rukh Khan asking him to explain violations committed while constructing his Mannat Bunglow in Mumbai.

The reminder sent on September 13, under section 19 of Environment (Protection) act 1986 signed by secretary of MCZMA reads, "I am directed once again to request you to submit your say (statement) on the allegations in the notice by the complainant at the earliest, as you have not communicated your say...".

The haggard look at pre-release campaigns of Ra.One raises the question.

At 45, Shah Rukh Khan is looking like he is, well, 45. Which is not a bad thing unless you consider he helms glamour-driven Bollywood where the hero must always look fighting fit and young, at a time when rival contemporaries of the same age group, Aamir and Salman Khan, are miraculously looking not a day older than 30.

'Agneepath' satellite rights fetches Rs 41 crore

Mumbai: Network has bought the satellite rights for Hrithik Roshan-starrer 'Agneepath' for Rs 41 crore beating what Sony Entertainment is said to have paid for Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor's tentatively titled cop caper 'Dhuaan' (Rs 38-40 crore).

The transaction has also outclassed Star Network's reported Rs 35 crore bet on this year's Diwali release, 'RA.One', trade sources said.

Jayantilal Gada, CMD, Pen India Pvt Ltd, the agency that aids the purchase of films for Zee Cinema, justifies a hefty price tag, saying that channels study the production banner's track record on the small screen before pitching to buy the satellite rights.

Karan Johar has a reason to be happy. His forthcoming film Agneepath has fetched a satellite price of Rs 41 crore, the highest ever in the history of Bollywood.

A source told Mumbai Mirror "Agneepath is hot property in the industry today. The promos have got great response. Everybody is looking forward to seeing Hrithik Roshan playing the legendary Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, the role that Amitabh Bachchan did in the original. That's the reason the channel did not hesitate in shelling out Rs 41 crore. Even Aamir Khan's film with Reema Kagti and SRK's RA.One have fetched lesser money than Agneepath."

Shah Rukh Khan is all set to release Don 2 in December and the superstar is obviously not in the mood to invite the wrath of Bollywood's original don, Amitabh Bachchan.

If you recall, when SRK's Don opened in 2006, Big B fans were not too pleased that he was rehashing an old hit of their favourite hero. So, this time, SRK has already started waxing eloquent about Bollywood's original Don much before the sequel's release. "For me, Don is only one and that is Amitabh Bachchan. He is the Shahenshah and the only superstar of the film industry.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won the by-election to the Banswada Assembly constituency in Nizamabad district with a thumping majority of nearly 50 thousand votes at the end of counting on Monday.

Ahmedabad: Sanjiv Bhatt, known as the policeman who has become famous for taking on Narendra Modi, has been granted bail by a court in Gujarat.

"Glad that rule of law has prevailed," said a smiling Sanjiv Bhatt as he walked out of jail a little before 2 pm.

Monday, October 17, 2011

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