Sonia, Rahul Gandhi pay last respects to Sushma Swaraj
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid their last respects to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her residence in Delhi on Wednesday. Earlier, Rahul had tweeted, “I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gifted orator & an exceptional Parliamentarian, with friendships across party lines.”
Sushma ji never forgot to bring my favourite cake on my b’day: Advani
Veteran BJP leader LK Advani, while paying tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who passed away on Tuesday, said, “Sushma ji was… a fine human being. She touched everyone with her warmth.” “I do not recall a single year when she missed bringing my favourite chocolate cake to me on my birthday,” the 91-year-old added.
Deepest sympathies to India: Nepal PM on Swaraj’s demise
Condoling the demise of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said, “Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Sushma Swaraj, a senior political leader of India”. Oli added, “Heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the Government and people of India as well as to the bereaved family members.”
Saddened by demise of extraordinary woman Swaraj: UNGA President
Condoling the demise of ex-Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa described her as an “extraordinary” woman. “Saddened by the news of the passing of…an extraordinary woman & leader who devoted her life to public service. I had the honour of meeting her in my visits to India, & will always remember her fondly,” she tweeted.
She was like a mother to me: Indian man freed from Pak jail by Swaraj
Hamid Ansari, the Indian engineer former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helped bring back from a Pakistan jail in 2018, has said her demise is a “big loss” for him. “She was like a mother to me,” he added. Ansari entered Pakistan in 2012 to meet a woman he befriended online and was arrested on suspicions of being a spy.
Trump criticises Sundar Pichai, says ‘We’re watching Google closely’
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday took to Twitter to criticise Google CEO Sundar Pichai adding that he was at the White House “working very hard to explain how much he liked me”.Trump added that former Google engineer Kevin Cernekee said that Google wants to make sure Trump loses 2020 US elections. “We are watching Google very closely!” Trump added.
DMK convenes all-party meet on Saturday on repeal of Article 370
The DMK has announced an all-party meeting at its party headquarters in Chennai on Saturday in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. DMK had opposed the scrapping of Article 370, with its president MK Stalin terming it unconstitutional. The meeting will be chaired by Stalin.
OYO appoints Gaurav Ajmera as COO for India and South Asia
Gurugram-based budget hospitality startup OYO has appointed Gaurav Ajmera as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for India and South Asia region. Ajmera, an IIT Delhi alumnus, had joined OYO as the Region Head for the North in May 2015. He will be reporting to Aditya Ghosh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for India and South Asia region.
Swaraj was like my sister, tied Rakhi every year: Venkaiah Naidu
Condoling the demise of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said Swaraj was “like my sister and used to call me Anna”. “Every year on Rakshabandhan she used to tie rakhi on my hand,” he added. Naidu, along with Rajya Sabha members, also paid tribute to the veteran BJP leader before adjourning the house sine die.
Haryana to observe 2-day state mourning over Sushma Swaraj’s demise
Haryana government on Wednesday announced that the state will observe two days of mourning in honour of senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Swaraj passed away at the age of 67 due to cardiac arrest on Tuesday. Her last rites will be conducted at 3 pm on Wednesday with full state honours in Delhi.
Delhi’s only 2 women CMs died within weeks of each other
Almost three weeks after three-time Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit passed away on July 20, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away aged 67 on Tuesday night. They were the only two women Chief Ministers of Delhi and both died of cardiac arrest. Swaraj was Delhi’s first woman CM and her tenure was from October 13, 1998-December 3, 1998.
US policemen sitting on horses lead black man by rope; criticised
Two policemen on horseback in Texas, US, led a handcuffed black man down a street by a rope. Criticising the move, users on social media said that the image is reminiscent of the era of slavery. Texas police apologised for the incident but said that it was a “trained technique and best practice in some scenarios”.
Mamata pays tribute to Karunanidhi on his 1st death anniversary
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi on his first death anniversary. Mamata is also scheduled to unveil a statue of Karunanidhi at the Murasoli office of the DMK. Reportedly, DMK President MK Stalin has invited several leaders including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu for a memorial meeting for the DMK patriarch.
Lift curfew and see J&K is celebrating or mourning: Azad
Speaking on the revocation of Article 370, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that let the Centre lift the curfew, then they’ll know whether J&K is “celebrating or mourning”. Azad claimed that thousands of people were taking to streets in Kargil to register their protest against the move. On Tuesday, however, the Lok Sabha passed the J&K (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019.
Navy rescues 300 people stranded due to rains in Karnataka
The Navy on Tuesday evacuated 300 people to safety who were stranded due to incessant rains near Kadra Dam area in Karnataka. A flood-like situation has developed in various districts across the state due to heavy rains. On Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Karnataka over the next five days.
Vivendi in talks with Tencent to sell 10% stake of Universal Music
French conglomerate Vivendi announced on Tuesday that it is in talks with Chinese tech group Tencent to sell a 10% stake of Universal Music Group. The deal would give UMG a preliminary equity valuation of $33.6 billion and Tencent a one-year option to purchase another 10% stake on the same terms. The potential sale would cost Tencent $3.36 billion.
Delhi govt rejects AB InBev’s plea to temporarily lift ban: Report
The Delhi government reportedly rejected a plea by world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev to temporarily lift a three-year ban while they hear the brewer’s appeal. AB InBev has been barred from selling its products in Delhi for allegedly evading local taxes. An investigation revealed that AB InBev acquired SABMiller used duplicate barcodes on beer bottles supplied to retailers in 2016.
HSBC to pay $330 million for Belgian tax fraud settlement HSBC’s Swiss private banking arm agreed to pay nearly $336 million to settle a 2014 Belgian tax fraud case, prosecutors said on Tuesday. HSBC was charged with ‘serious and organised tax frauds, money laundering and illegal use of financial intermediaries’. The scheme could have benefited over thousand clients and cost the Belgian authorities ‘hundreds of millions of euros’, prosecutors alleged.
