First since emergency - an election for Lok Sabha speaker | Afghanistan - the emerging giants in cricket

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Market Watch

• Indian benchmark indices ended the day at a record high with the Sensex up 712 points at 78,053.52 and the Nifty up 183.45 points at 23,721.30.
• While this shows the market is continuing its upward trend, promoters are on track to break the all-time calendar-year stock dilution record set in 2020, with shares worth nearly Rs.65,000 crore sold so far in 2024.
• The trend suggests that valuations are attractive enough for promoters to book returns on their equity, potentially signaling an impending market correction.

Historic election for Lok Sabha speaker post: INDIA bloc's K Suresh vs NDA's Om Birla

The Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc has put forward Kodikunnil Suresh for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker, triggering a historic election.?This is only the third time since India’s independence that an election for the Lok Sabha Speaker will be held.

• The first time was in 1952 (G V Malvankar proposed by Nehru vs Shankar Shantaram More proposed by A K Gopalan) and the second was in 1976 (B R Bhagat proposed by Indira Gandhi vs Jagannathrao Joshi proposed by Congress-O MP P M Mehta).
• Usually, there is a consensus is reached and parties unanimously elect a leader.?The Lok Sabha Speaker is elected by a simple majority of MPs present and voting.
• The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker is scheduled for June 26, with all parties required to file notices by noon on the deadline day.

The candidates: INDIA bloc has nominated Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-time Congress MP from Kerala. The NDA has nominated Om Birla for a second term.?

• Suresh’s nomination emphasizes ongoing tensions between the opposition and the ruling BJP-led coalition, which backs Om Birla as the Speaker.
• Rahul Gandhi indicated the opposition was willing to support the government's candidate if the Deputy Speaker’s post was given to the opposition.
• However, a disagreement over the Deputy Speaker's post led to the opposition's decision to contest the Speaker election, marking a departure from the usual consensus-based approach.

The big picture: The Speaker's role is crucial in a parliamentary democracy. They are responsible for maintaining order in the House, interpreting rules, and making important decisions on parliamentary matters.

Clip du jour

This epic video of Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib falling down after the coach asked them to slow the game down.

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Afghanistan - the emerging giants in cricket

Afghanistan secured a semi-final spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 with a crucial 8-run victory over Bangladesh. This also meant they knocked Australia out of the tournament.

• Just a few weeks ago, they beat Papua New Guinea to qualify for the Super 8 - not a major victory by itself - but the result ensured that New Zealand were effectively knocked out of the tournament.

Celebrations in Afghanistan over the semi-final qualifications:

The big picture: Afghanistan quickly progressed from Division 5 of the World Cricket League in 2008 to qualifying for their first ODI World Cup in 2015.

• The team has qualified for multiple T20 World Cups, with their first appearance in 2010. They have since become a regular fixture in the tournament.
• Their current home ground is the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, which will be the case for the next 5 years; since security concerns and the Taliban’s stance on sports has made it difficult for Afghanistan to host matches.
• One of the most significant milestones in Afghanistan's cricket journey was gaining full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017, making them the 12th Test-playing nation. They played their first Test match against India in 2018.

India connection: In 2016 Afghanistan’s home ground was Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida, India. After gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan moved its home base to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun in 2018.

• In 2019, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) requested a new home ground, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approved the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
• Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja served as a mentor for Afghanistan during the ODI World Cup 2023.

The intrigue: ???? Notably, they don’t play under the Taliban flag, but under the old flag of Afghanistan. Despite their stance on sports, the Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi congratulated the team in a video call with Rashid Khan.

ICYMI

• ?? Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh maximum security prison in the UK after striking a plea deal with the United States.
• ?? Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, is under scrutiny for allegedly discriminating against married Indian women in hiring practices.
• ?? The Bombay High Court has directed the release of the juvenile accused in the Pune Porsche crash case, revealing various legal and societal implications.
• ???? AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi's oath-taking ceremony in the Lok Sabha became a focal point of controversy after he concluded with the phrase “Jai Palestine.”
• ?? The US Olympic team, among others, plans to bring their own air conditioners to the Paris Games, challenging the event's environmental goals.
• ?? NASA astronaut Sunita Williams remains stranded in space as the return of Boeing Starliner faces indefinite delays due to various technical issues.