Over 13,000 Maharashtra sugarcane workers got wombs removed: Panel
Over 13,000 sugarcane labourers in Maharashtra’s Beed underwent hysterectomy, an inquiry committee said. Most of the women were in the age group of 35-40 while some under 25 also underwent hysterectomy. Early marriages, lack of awareness on women’s health issues, poverty, water scarcity and absence of menstrual hygiene and toilets were cited as the reasons for the mass scale hysterectomies.
Air India bans single-use plastic starting October 2
Air India announced it will stop using single-use plastic and replace packaging with eco-friendly paper from October 2. In the first phase, the ban will come into effect on Air India Express and Alliance Air flights. In the second phase, it will be implemented in Air India flights. It added that 200-ml water bottles would be replaced by 1,500-ml containers.
NASA invites students to name its Mars 2020 rover
NASA has invited students in the US, from kindergarten through 12th grade, to name its Mars 2020 rover. NASA said it will accept essay submissions regarding the name suggestions until November 1 and judge them based on their “appropriateness, significance and originality”. The selected winner will also be invited to see the spacecraft’s launch in July 2020, NASA added.
To mark PM Modi’s Birthday, BJP to organise ‘Service Week’
The BJP will be organising ‘Seva Saptah’ (Service Week) from September 14 to 20 to mark the occasion of PM Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17. The nationwide campaign will include programmes related to social service and cleanliness. Books inspired by the life or achievements of PM Modi will be distributed by senior party leaders during different events.
Pak’s letter to UN not even worth paper on which it was written: India
Reacting to Pakistan Minister Shireen Mazari’s letter to the United Nations over the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the letter is not even worth the paper on which it was written. “We don’t want to give credence to the letter by reacting,” he added.
Jet Airways to vacate headquarters building in Mumbai in 45 days
Grounded airline Jet Airways will vacate the premises of Mumbai’s Siroya Centre building, where it is currently headquartered, within 45 days. Luckystar, the owner of the property, moved the National Company Law Tribunal asking for Jet to be evicted after the airline’s lease was terminated on June 7. Jet’s resolution professional said a settlement will soon be reached with Luckystar.
Ed Sheeran announces 18-month break from music
Singer Ed Sheeran, who has been on Divide tour for over two years, has announced that he’ll be taking an 18-month break from performing to spend time with his family. The singer announced this after concluding his tour in Ipswich, England. “It… feels like you are breaking up with a girlfriend that you have been with for years,” he said.
Akshay Kumar starrer Mission Mangal declared tax-free in Maharashtra
Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Taapsee Pannu starrer ‘Mission Mangal’ has been declared tax-free in Maharashtra. ‘Mission Mangal’ is a fictional account of ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission or the Mangalyaan launched in 2013. The film, which released on August 15, has grossed over ₹150 crore earnings in India so far.
Pak judge gets transfer order on WhatsApp, stops hearing midway
A judge of the Lahore anti-narcotics court stopped hearing midway of a case against former Law Minister Rana Sanaullah after he received his transfer order on WhatsApp. “I’ve been asked to stop from working and my services have been repatriated to the Lahore High Court,” Judge Masood Arshad told the court. The case hearing has been adjourned till September 7.
Brazil, Australia bodies criticise India’s new sugar export subsidies
Brazilian sugar industry group Unica on Wednesday said the new sugar export subsidies announced by India will prolong the current cycle of low global sugar prices. “We’re stunned by this development. India has approved a massive market distortion,” Australian Sugar Milling Council said. Another Australian body said adverse effects on sugar prices from the latest move will be felt globally.
Myanmar jails filmmaker for Facebook posts criticising military
A Myanmar court sentenced filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi to one year in prison with hard labour for criticising the military on Facebook. He’d written about the military’s role in politics and Myanmar’s 2008 constitution. Gyi was convicted under a law which bans sharing statements that might induce a soldier “to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in duties”.
Jio’s market share may jump to 45% by FY22, says India Ratings
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio could see its market share rise to as much as 45% by FY22, from 30% as of March, said India Ratings and Research, a Fitch Group unit. Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s market share will probably drop to between 25% and 27% each, the rating agency predicted. India Ratings has maintained a negative outlook for the industry.
YouTube to soon launch a separate website for YouTube Kids
Google-owned video-sharing platform YouTube has announced it will launch a separate website version of its YouTube Kids app later this week. The announcement comes amid YouTube facing a probe by US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into alleged violations of children’s privacy. Reports claimed its settlement with FTC may necessitate redirecting users aged below 13 from YouTube to a separate page.
Nestle India to replace Indiabulls Housing in Nifty from Sept 27
Nestle India will replace Indiabulls Housing Finance in the Nifty 50 index from September 27, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Wednesday. Indiabulls Housing’s shares fell more than 8% on Thursday and hit the day’s low at ₹420.80 on NSE following the announcement, while Nestle India share price gained 3% to hit the day’s high at ₹12,890 on NSE.
Deepa Malik first woman para-athlete to be conferred Khel Ratna
Deepa Malik, the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympics, was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Thursday. The 48-year-old is the first Indian woman para-athlete and the oldest sportsperson to be conferred the award. Malik had won silver medal in shot put F53 category in 2016 Paralympics.
Private equity investors exit Micromax as its valuation slumps 93%
Private equity investors have quit Micromax as the company witnessed over 93% decline in valuation from ₹21,000 crore in 2015 to ₹1,357 crore. According to RoC filings, TA Associates and Sandstone Investment have sold their stakes, close to 6.9%, for ₹93.65 crore to promoters. In 2014-15, Micromax posted revenue of ₹11,041 crore, which declined to ₹4,345 crore in 2017-18.
Didn’t mean to suggest ‘War and Peace’ is incriminating: Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court Thursday said it was aware that Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ is a literary classic. It added that it didn’t mean to suggest that the books seized from activist Vernon Gonsalves’ house were incriminating. The clarification came a day after the HC questioned Gonsalves that why he had the book “about a war in another country”.
Varnished ₹100 notes to be launched soon by RBI on trial basis
Aimed at increasing the life of currency notes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon introduce varnished currency notes of ₹100 denomination on a field trial basis. This was stated by the central bank in its annual report for 2018-19. The RBI incurred an expenditure of ₹4,811 crore on security printing during July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
Turkey may buy Russian Su-57 jets after F-35 suspension by US
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed an interest in purchasing Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets from Russia after the US suspended Turkey from the F-35 programme. Erdoğan inspected the jets during his recent visit to Russia. The US suspended Turkey from the programme over the purchase of Russian S-400 air defence system, which it says isn’t compatible with the F-35 jets.
