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Manchester United and Chelsea qualified for UEFA

group stage spots for next season's UCL that come from domestic leagues have been finalized.
group stage spots for next season's UCL that come from domestic leagues have been finalized.

With the Premier League wrapping up on Sunday and both Manchester United and Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League, all group stage spots for next season’s UCL that come from domestic leagues have been finalized. 24 of the 32 group stage spots are clinched while the final eight will come from the playoff route after round of qualifying. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

Two more spots in the group stage will go to the winner of this season’s Champions League, which you can see in August on CBS, as well as the winner of the Europa League.

In the event that the teams that win the tournaments are already qualified, we will see something similar to last season, when the third-place team in France was given direct qualification and others entered qualifying to occupy spots. 

Man United started with it’s usual line up, Bruno Fernandes and Pogba manning the midfield with Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo reduced to a bench role once again. Kelechi Iheanacho started alongside Jamie Vardy for Leicester City as they aimed to pressure United’s fragile defence, and Leicester City sure looked the most assured out of both teams at the start of the match.

The first half was filled with nervy moments but still ended 0-0 with both coaches wary that all it could take to miss out on next season’s competition could be just a silly mistake.

The Reds finished a tight first half on top and Rashford comes close with a side-footed shot that went over the crossbar, after a spinning ball by Pogba deceived James Justin.

Rio Olympics star Carolina Marine eyes on Tokyo 2021

Her most recent challenge was to stay fit during the coronavirus lockdown in Spain.
Her most recent challenge was to stay fit during the coronavirus lockdown in Spain.

Carolina Marin remembers getting up early hours of the morning to watch fellow Spaniards and badminton players Yoana Martinez and Pablo Abian compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At the time, few considered the Spanish team to be a strong force in the discipline but it fueled Marin’s aspirations to play in the “most important and special event an athlete can compete in.”

Marin went on to bag a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and, in an interview with EFE during the inauguration of the Movistar Academy Magariños in Madrid, said the thought of Tokyo 2020, which has been postponed until next year, is driving her on.

“I know that I will arrive in better form than ever,” she said. “Having got the gold in Rio, I have no doubt that I’m going for another gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Her most recent challenge was to stay fit during the coronavirus lockdown in Spain.

Carolina Marine father passes away

Spanish Badminton Federation (FESBA), Marin’s father passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

“The Spanish Badminton Federation wishes to express its regret at the death of Gonzalo Marin Perez, father of Carolina Marin. After a long period of struggle since he suffered an accident in February, Gonzalo has not been able to overcome the consequences of it, dying at dawn on Sunday, July 26,” FESBA wrote on its website in Spanish.

“The Spanish badminton extends its support to Carolina Marin and all her family in these difficult moments,” it added.

Last month, the 27-year-old Olympic gold medallist had resumed training and her eyes are set on defending her gold medal at the Tokyo Games which have been postponed by an year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Cricket World Cup Super League to begin win England-Ireland series

ICC confirmed on Monday, the kick-off start of this league will begin on July 30.

The Cricket World Cup Super League is set to begin from July 30 with the beginning of the forthcoming series between England and Ireland. ICC confirmed on Monday, the kick-off start of this league will begin on July 30. The World Cup League was first announced in 2018 along with the World Test Championship.


Earlier the start of this league was originally scheduled in May this year and set to end in March 2022 before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the dates for 3 months. The thirteen team league has also surged as the first step for the upcoming 50 overs World Cup in 2023, which will be organized in India.

Structure of Cricket World Cup Super League

The teams will march against each other for the direct qualification in the 2023 World Cup. The top seven teams will be the part of that mega event in India, while host India will seek a direct qualification to the 2023 World Cup. Last time when India hosted the World Cup in 2011, where the combined efforts of the entire team gifted the tournament to the hosts. In 2011 India also became the first team to win the title at home and now it’s like a fairy tale for the hosting nations. Throughout this league, each team will play four series at home and away. They will be awarded 10 points for each win 5 for tie and no result. All the series under this league assignment will consist of 3 matches but the teams are independent to decide the number of games they want to play. However, the additional games will not be counted for the league point.

What is the reason behind the organization of IPL in UAE?

What is the reason behind the organization of IPL in UAE?
What is the reason behind the organization of IPL in UAE?

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin from September 19th in UAE, the tournament will end on November 8th. This time the things are different, the stage is different and most importantly players will be kept under bio-secure protocol amid coronavirus pandemic.


The window of IPL is available after the cancellation of World T20I which was supposed to start in the month of November. The cancellation of World T20I was one of the biggest steps taken by ICC and the decision was taken only for the security of players. Almost 60% of the expected players who could have made in their respective international teams for the flight of World T20I are also part of the upcoming Indian Premier League. So, the move made by ICC on the World T20I is now just a room for the organization of IPL.


On Sunday a BCCI made an official statement that they are not worried about the money and the audience, as of now they just want to conduct a safe IPL for the television spectators. Currently, UAE has almost 7000 active COVID-19 cases with 90% of recovery rate UAE is leading the tally in fastest recovering countries. BCCI also had the opportunity of hosting the IPL in New Zealand, New Zealand is the only cricketing nation where coronavirus is been ripped off.


At one point BCCI pitched for the safe conduct of IPL and also intended to replicate the money-minded allegations by the various cricketing boards but on the other hand, looking onto the current scenario UAE is the biggest sports marketing nation in the entire world. The media marketing and commercialization technique of BCCI in UAE is the talking point as well.


Emirates D10 League is a dry run for IPL?


The Emirates D10 League is surging as a dry run for IPL to be organized in UAE. The league was started on July 24th and set to end on August 8. The league is played in double Round-Robin format as IPL. All matches of this league will be played at two venues Dubai International Cricket stadium and ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai. The success of this league will be like a silver lining in the dark sky for the future of IPL 2020.

Corona virus latest update: Tamil Nadu recorded 85 deaths on Sunday

Maharashtra on Sunday rossed the 9,000 mark after reporting 9,431 fresh COVID-19 cases. Now, 1,115 cases belong to Mumbai alone. India also crossed a record 50,000 cases in a day on Sunday. By this India have added one of five cases in the total Covid tally in just the last one week.

While Mumbai’s recovery rate stands at 73 per cent, 80,238 patients have been discharged so far. When it comes to the state, There are 9,08,420 people in home quarantine and 44,276 people in institutional quarantine till date.

Karnataka: The total number of cases in the State stands at 1,01,465 including 61,819 active cases and 1,953 deaths, reports ANI quoting state health department.

Tamil Nadu: recorded its highest single-day count for the fourth consecutive day with 6986 fresh cases reported in the state on Sunday. With this, the state Covid-19 tally has risen to 2,13,713. Among these, Chennai reported 1155 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 94,695.

Tamil Nadu recorded 85 deaths on Sunday, putting the state toll at 3494.

As of Sunday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 53,703. Till now, 1,29,768 males, 83,932 females and 23 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.

Delh: There were 613 more novel coronavirus cases in Delhi, taking the case count to 1,31,219 on Monday, while the toll rose to 3,853 with 26 deaths, reports PTI quoting the health department. There are 10,994 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) — down from 11,904 the previous day — and 1,16,372 patients have recovered so far, the Health Department said. As many as 11,506 COVID-19 tests, including 7,685 rapid antigen tests, were conducted in the last 24 hours. The number of tests done till date rose to 9,58,283 and the tests per million was 50,435, it said.

After AR Rehman now Oscar winner Resul opens up about bollywood gang.

Just a day after A.R Rahman said that there is “a whole gang” stopping him from working in Bollywood, Now Oscar winner Resul Pookutty has come forward to share his own experience. he said that he nearly had “a breakdown” as nobody showed interest in working with him in the bollywood industry post his win at the Academy Awards.

In response to Shekhar’s Kapur tweet, which directed at Rahman, Resul wrote, “Dear Shekhar Kapur, ask me about it, I had gone through near breakdown as nobody was giving me work in Hindi films and regional cinema held me tight after I won the Oscar… There were production houses told me at my face ‘we don’t need you’ but still I love my industry for it.”

Resul, however, said that he didn’t want to blame anyone “for not taking me in their films” as he believed he was facing the infamous “Oscar curse.”


“@shekharkapur… and much later when I discussed this with my @TheAcademy members friends they told me about #OscarCurse! It’s faced by everybody! I enjoyed going through that phase when you are on top of the world & when you know people reject you, it’s the biggest reality check!”

“I’m also not liking the direction in which the whole nepotism discussion is going. So peace! I’m not blaming anybody for not taking me in their films,” he clarified.


“I don’t say no to good movies, but I think there is a gang, which, due to misunderstandings, is spreading some false rumours. When Mukesh Chhabra came to me (for Dil Bechara), I gave him four songs in two days. He told me, ‘Sir, how many people said don’t go, don’t go to him (AR Rahman) and they told me stories after stories,'” Rahman said in his interview with Radio Mirchi.

Tweeting an excerpt from the interview, Shekhar Kapur, who collaborated with AR Rahman on his 2007 directorial Elizabeth: The Golden Age, wrote, “You know what your problem is @arrahman? You went and got #Oscars. An Oscar is the kiss of death in Bollywood. It proves you have more talent than Bollywood can handle…”



Resul says that I had gone through breakdown as nobody gave me work in hindi films.

Kerala Gold Smuggling : Cops will interrogate Air India Officials

This will be the second time crime branch is summoning top Air India officials in the case. “They will have to be summoned again since there are some missing links. We have to get more clarity on their earlier statements,” said B Anil Kumar, DSP, crime branch.


The crime branch probe into fake document case involving Swapna Suresh against an Air India officer has gathered momentum following the gold smuggling case probe. The crime branch has decided to summon Air India executive director (disinvestment) Uma Maheshwari and other ICC members to Thiruvananthapuram for their statements in the fake document case.

On July 7, at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the Custom officials had seized 30 kg of gold from the diplomatic baggage.The baggage was supposed to have food items . But later Custom officials checked the baggage after getting necessary approval from the ministry of external affairs.

Then the officials took Sarith ( former PRO at UAE consulate) into custody. Further, it was disclosed that Sarith is no longer an employee at the UAE consulate . But still after his dismissal, he continued introducing himself as PRO at UAE consulate.

While Swapna is working at KSIT in their IT department as an operations manager.

The customs officials said that they suspected smuggling syndicate had misused the name of a person who enjoys diplomatic powers.

Another senior Custom official said that the investigation will also look into the role of other employees of consulate

Ayodhya: NHAI has approved Rs 55 crore for bypass construction


Ayodhya: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved Rs 55 crore for beautification and civil construction works for this 16 km bypass. While civil construction to upgrade the existing bypass has started at Rs 35 crore since March this year.


“It was decided to divide two components with full government support. The progress of civil works is about 30%. The beautification work will start soon as the government is paying for it. The contractor can start work as soon it bags the project,” said an official.


The works were approved as Faizabad MP, Lallu Singh put the demand to highways minister Nitin Gadkari.

“The upgradation and beautification of the bypass will make the ride on this stretch fulfilling both for pilgrims who come here and for visitors as well. They will get a feel of reaching an important religious place. Several road projects have been approved and work has started around Ayodhya.”

Central government bans 47 clones of Chinese apps

Just after the last ban, sources in the Ministry tells that “the problem is with the operational ethics of certain apps. This is an ongoing process”.


The government has banned 47 Chinese apps in India. Last month 59 Chinese apps had been banned by the government to “protect national interest and security” — including the most popular TikTok app. Now, almost 50 more apps have been banned, for operating as clones of the previously banned apps.

The government had earlier banned apps including CamScanner, SHAREit, and UC Browser, among others. That ban was announced under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

The 47 apps that have been banned by the latest decision of the government were operating as the clones of the 59 apps that were banned last month, according to a tweet posted by DD News.

Some top gaming Chinese apps including PUBG Mobile may be a part of the new list of banned apps. However, the government is yet to release the details pertaining to the development.


“The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India,” the government had said in a statement on June 29.

“The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern, which requires emergency measures,” it said.


“On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government…has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices,” it said.

PM inaugurates three high-end COVID-19 testing labs in Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, July 27, inaugurated virtually three high-end COVID-19 testing labs in Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata. 

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with the chief ministers of Maharashtra, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh also took part in the event.

The coronavirus cases in India have crossed the 14.3 lakh mark. 

These new COVID-19 testing labs are believed to help bolster early detection and treatment of the virus thus, helping in rectifying its spread. 

The three can jointly test about 10,200 samples per day. Two of the labs are the first high throughput laboratories outside the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the source.

These testing laboratories have set up at National Institute of Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH) in Mumbai, the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Kolkata and the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) in Noida.

In his address, PM Modi said that death due to COVID-19 in our country is much less than the big countries because the right decisions were taken at the right time in India.

“Be it an isolation centre, a Covid-19 special hospital, a network of testing, tracing and tracking, India expanded its capabilities at a very fast pace. Today, India has more than 11,000 Covid-19 facilities and more than 11 lakh isolations beds,” PM said.

Currently, Noida has five ICMR-accredited corona testing labs. These include National Institute of Biology (NIB) at Sector-62, State Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS) at Kasna, Child PGIA at Sector-30, Jaypee Hospital at Sector-128 and Sharda Hospital at Greater Noida and Lal Path Lab.

Newly inaugurated labs will also lower turn-around-time and exposure of lab personnel to infectious clinical materials. The labs are stimulated to test diseases other than Covid as well, and post the pandemic, will be able to test for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia, Neisseria, Dengue, etc, the statement said.

Ex-Captain of Indian wheelchair cricket team work as labour because of no income

Rajendra Singh Dhami a 30 year old, former captain of Indian wheelchair cricket team and present captain of the Uttarakhand , has now work as a labourer to support his family.Rajendra is 90% disabled after he suffered with paralysis as a 3-year-old. He has won numerous awards for his performance in the cricket field.

He also has master degree in History as well as a BEd. qualifications and performance as a sportsperson, Rajendra has represented the country and continues to play for the state, he was left without a source of income during the Covid-19-induced lockdown.


The kids he coached earlier have stopped coming to him for training. Their parents said they have no money.
“Before this, I was giving coaching to wheelchair-bound children interested in playing cricket in Rudrapur. But that came to a halt. I returned to my village Raikot in Pithoragarh, where my parents live,” Dhami told TOI.

“My parents are old. I have a sister and younger brother as well. My brother used to work at a hotel in Gujarat but he, too, lost his job during the lockdown. Therefore, I decided to take up work in my village under the MGNREGA scheme,” said the cricketer. Rajendra has also toured several countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh and Nepal while leading the Uttarakhand wheelchair cricket team.


Rajendra Dhami also led the Indian side in the India-Nepal-Bangladesh triangular wheelchair cricket series in 2017.

“ Some people have come forward to help, like actor Sonu Sood who sent me Rs 11,000. There are people in Rudrapur and Pithoragarh also who have helped me a bit. But it hasn’t been enough for the family. There is no problem in doing any kind of job to earn a living. I took up the MGNREGA job because it enables me to work near my home. These are difficult times but I know I will be able to overcome them,” he said.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, daughter Aaradhya test negative for coronavirus, discharged from hospital

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya, who were undergoing treatment after testing positive for coronavirus, have now tested negative.

Abhishek Bachchan shared the information on his Twitter handle. Thanking everyone for their constant support, he wrote: “Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes. Indebted forever. Aishwarya and Aardhya have been discharged from the hospital. They will now be at home.”

https://twitter.com/juniorbachchan/status/1287697590000132103

Abhishek also added that he along with his father will still be under medical staff’s supervision. “My father and I remain in the hospital under the care of medical staff,” he mentioned.

The Bachchan family was admitted to Nanavati Hospital after testing positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month. Big B and Abhishek were hospitalised on July 11 while Aishwarya and Aaradhya’s report came positive on July 12.

The mother-daughter duo was advised home quarantine, however, a week later, Aishwarya suffered from mild ever and was instantly admitted to the hospital.

Meanwhile, after family’s coronavirus tests, their bungalow Jalsa was declared a containment zone by BMC. However, the poster was removed over the weekend.

Big B had shared the news of him testing positive for the coronavirus via his social media. This evening I tested positive for COVID 19 .. have been shifted to Hospital .. authorities informed .. family and staff tested results awaited .. all those that came in close proximity to me in the last 10 days please get yourself tested,” he had written.

Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 Grand Finale: Karishma Tanna wins glory

Television actor Karishma Tanna beat 9 other contestants to emerge as the winner of Khatron Ke Khiladi 10. She was the only female finalist against choreographer Dharmesh Yelande, Balraj and Karan Patel and at the end won the star studded adventure-reality show.

Karishma Tanna had an intriguing journey on the show. For her strong approach and performance, she was touted as Rohit Shetty’s ‘favourite student’. Being the only female finalist, she put on her strongest front sure win the final this year.

With her fighting spirit and daredevil stunts, she was always in the good books of Rohit and considered as one of the toughest competitors for other contestants. Apart from this, Karishma also entertained viewers by her romantic chemistry with Bulgarian Gorilla. The Gorilla had apparently fallen in love with the gorgeous actress.

Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 was shot in Bulgaria last year on a 40-day-schedule. It aired first on February 22, but went off air after shoots were restricted in the wake of coronavirus pandemic as the finale had not been shot. Airing of new episodes resumed earlier this month, after shoots were allowed with added precautions.

Apart from Karishma Tanna, Karan Patel, Dharmesh Yelande and Balraj, the other contestants this season were Shivin Narang, Tejasswi Prakash, Adaa Khan, RJ Malishka, Rani Chatterjee and Amruta Khanvilkar.

Prakash, who was a strong competitor since the very beginning, had to opt out of the show after facing an injury in the semi finale.

The finale of Khatron Ke Khiladi season 10 was shot last week in Filmcity.

Meanwhile, Rohit Shetty has announced the launch of a special edition, Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India. The eight-episode-series will feature past contestants and is scheduled to be aired from August 1.

Including the curtain raiser, Farah Khan will replace Rohit Shetty as the host of the upcoming special edition for two episodes since Rohit Shetty was busy due to prior commitments.


Parsi quota for covid vaccine: Cyrus Poonawalla says 60,000 vials of medicine set aside for the community

Serum Institute of India (SII)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adar Poonawalla has said that his company would “keep more than enough” doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the company for the Parsi community to which he belongs.

According to a report published in the Times of India, Adar Poonawalla’s father Cyrus Poonawalla is believed to have agreed for 60,000 vials to be kept aside for the Parsi community.

On Sunday, replying to enterpreneur Ronnie Screwvala, in which he had proposed to have a ‘special quota; for Parsis, Aadar tweeted: “Yes, @RonnieScrewvala, we will keep more than enough for the community. Our production capacity of just one day will be enough to cover every Parsi on the planet…given the size of our community!”

“On a lighter note Smiling face with smiling eyes-since Parsi’s are to be an Extinct race Smiling face with smiling eyes(though avg age of Parsi’s show otherwise) there is a lobby that as vaccine does come in there will be a special Quota under saving from extinction RaceSmiling face with smiling eyes-&why not if a Parsi is at the forefront of it @adarpoonawalla,” Screwvala had tweeted.

Earlier, a community newsletter reported that SII has agreed for the special quota following a request from former Bombay Parsi Panchayat (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Rusi Mehta.

“We are a micro minority and every Parsi is required to be saved and healthy..At present, we are only 60,000 in numbers and 40 Parsis have died of Covid,” Mehta reportedly said in a WhatsApp message to Poonawalla.

SII has tied-up with AstraZeneca to manufacture the Covid-19 vaccine candidate named Covishield being developed by Oxford University. The company is planning to manufacture as many as 1 billion doses of the vaccine for 60 countries.

No resident from Srinagar district is in terrorist ranks- IG Vijay Kumar

The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday acknowledged that no resident from Srinagar district is now in terrorist ranks or an active militant in any group.

No resident of Srinagar “the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir – is now in the militant ranks, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said on Sunday, a day after a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander was killed by security forces here.

Two militants, Khan, an occupant of Sozeith area of Srinagar, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Ranbirgarh area on the outskirts of the city in which another militant, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was also killed.

Presently, more than 140 terrorists have been encountered by the security forces in Kashmir in 2020

IG Kumar had previously also said that Srinagar city would never be militancy-free as militants from other districts of the Valley keep on entering here.