Ayodhya dispute mediation process to be concluded in 8 weeks: SC
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the three-member panel mediating the Ayodhya land dispute case to submit its first status report in four weeks and conclude the process within eight weeks. The mediation process will be held in Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad and will start within a week. The panel of mediators may co-opt more members, the court stated.
Dhoni deflects Jadeja’s throw with one hand to run Maxwell out
Team India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni deflected a throw with one hand onto the stumps to run Australia’s Glenn Maxwell out for 47 runs off 31 balls during the third ODI at Ranchi on Friday. Ravindra Jadeja had immediately thrown the ball towards Dhoni after Shaun Marsh punched a Kuldeep Yadav delivery towards covers and started running in the 42nd over.
Pakistan blocks media access to madrasa targeted by IAF air strikes
Pakistani security officials on Thursday prevented a Reuters team from climbing a hill to the site of a madrasa run by Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted by IAF fighter jets last week. The officials guarding the way cited “security concerns” for denying access. The news agency reported that its team could view the madrasa from 100 metres away and only from below.
Indian Air Force shares poem on air strikes in Pakistan
The Indian Air Force has shared a poem on its air strikes which suggest its Mirage 2000 fighter jets had to cross the border as Pakistan had crossed all its limits with the Pulwama attack on CRPF jawans. The poem further states the enemy wouldn’t be able to sleep at night now due to the fear of fireworks.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai reaches Mumbai to celebrate Women’s Day
US technology giant Google’s India-born CEO Sundar Pichai reached Mumbai to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 on Friday. “Happy to celebrate #IWD2019 with the India chapter of Women@Google at their ‘I Am Remarkable’ event,” Pichai tweeted. “Thank you for inspiring me with your stories about the experiences, challenges and triumphs of being women in tech,” the 46-year-old added.
MiG-21 crashes near Bikaner due to suspected bird hit, pilot safe
An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 aircraft crashed after getting airborne from Nal near Bikaner in Rajasthan on Friday afternoon. Initial inputs suggest that a bird hit caused the crash and a court of inquiry will be investigating the cause of the accident, Defence Spokesperson tweeted. The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely, it added.
Bihar jeweller claims a rat stole diamond earrings from his shop
A Bihar jeweller has alleged a “rat stole a pair of diamond earrings” from his shop, claiming the incident was caught on CCTV cameras. “I believe the rat was an embodiment of God and took the earrings to give them to Goddess Parvati on Maha Shivratri,” the shopkeeper said, adding if found, he will offer the earrings at Kedarnath temple.
Mazumdar-Shaw only Indian on Hurun’s richest self-made women list
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the Founder and Chairperson of biotechnology company Biocon, is the only Indian on Hurun’s list of self-made women billionaires in the world. With a net worth of $3.6 billion, the 65-year-old was ranked 11th in the list. China dominated the list with 51 billionaires, producing 57% of the world’s self-made women billionaires.
Anant Ambani made member of Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday nominated Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest person Mukesh Ambani, as a member of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee. Anant Ambani has been a regular visitor to the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples along with his father. The body is responsible for the management of the two shrines.
Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu starrer ‘Badla’ hits theatres
Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu’s ‘Badla’ “is another feather in the cap for Sujoy Ghosh, Amitabh and Taapsee,” wrote Times Now. “The real reason why the film comes together is the rapport between Taapsee and Amitabh,” said Times of India (TOI). India Today wrote, “The film will keep you hooked.” It’s rated 3.5/5 (Times Now, TOI) and 3/5 (India Today).
Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson’s Captain Marvel leaked online
Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson’s ‘Captain Marvel’, which released on Friday, has been leaked online by piracy website Tamilrockers. The film also stars Clark Gregg and Jude Law. Tamilrockers, which has been banned multiple times before, had also leaked ‘Luka Chuppi’, ‘Gully Boy’, ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’, ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ and ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’.
YouTube to add fact checks to searches on sensitive topics
YouTube is adding a new information panel to offer fact checks from verified partners that will appear when users search for sensitive or controversial topics to help curb the spread of misinformation. The feature will first launch in India in Hindi and English. This comes after YouTube was recently accused of recommending conspiracy theory videos spreading fake news.
Free education for girls if Cong forms govt in Odisha: Rahul
Addressing a rally in Odisha, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that if the party is voted to power, it will provide free education to all girls in Odisha. “We’ll provide ₹2,000 widow allowance and financial assistance for marriage of every poor woman,” he added. Further, Rahul also promised to ensure the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament.
Senior Gujarat Cong leader Jawaharbhai Chavda resigns as MLA
Senior Congress leader Jawaharbhai Chavda resigned from Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Friday. Chavda, a four-time MLA, represented Manavadar seat in Junagadh district of the state. His resignation comes weeks after the first-time MLA from Unjha seat of Mehsana, Asha Patel, resigned from the House and Congress and joined the ruling BJP.
Hyderabad-based software startup NowFloats raises ₹25 crore
Hyderabad-based Software as a Service (SaaS) startup NowFloats has raised over ₹25 crore in a debt round of funding, regulatory filings revealed. The round saw participation from existing investors Iron Pillar, Omidyar Network, IIFL and a new investor Wenlyn Global Group. Founded in 2012, NowFloats helps Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) digitalise by enabling app and web presence.
SC should’ve picked neutral person: Owaisi on Sri Sri as mediator
Commenting on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s appointment to the panel that will mediate the Ayodhya dispute, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, “It would’ve been better if the Supreme Court had appointed a neutral person.” Following his appointment, Sri Sri said, “Turning dreams to reality, ending long-standing conflicts…maintaining harmony in society- we must all move together towards these goals.”
UK to give diplomatic protection to woman jailed in Iran for spying
The UK will grant diplomatic protection to British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe jailed in Iran over spying allegations. The UK said that Iran’s treatment of Nazanin “fails to meet Iran’s obligations under international law and elevates it to a formal state-to-state issue”. Nazanin was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.
Chivas Alchemy aims to deconstruct the Sixth Sense
Fantasy, Love, Déjà vu, Memory & Intuition, will be imagined through the lenses of five ‘Alchemists’ as an ode to the 85-flavour-noted Chivas Regal 18 year old whisky. Curators Malaika Arora, Sudarshan Shetty, Siddharth Kasliwal, Manish Malhotra and Rahul Mishra will come together in Delhi on March 16 to interpret these through an exclusively crafted experience.
SP announces 6 candidates for polls, Mulayam to fight from Mainpuri
The Samajwadi Party on Friday released its first list of six candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest from Mainpuri, while his nephew and sitting MP Dharmendra Yadav will contest from Badaun. Samajwadi Party’s list of candidates comes a day after Congress released its first list of Lok Sabha candidates.
Digvijaya Singh’s mouth, fingers have ‘guptrog’: BJP MLA
Taking a dig at Congress leader Digvijaya Singh over ‘Pulwama accident’ tweet row, BJP MLA Gopal Bhargava said, “Unki ungliyon aur munh mein ek guptrog hai (Digvijaya has contracted venereal disease in his hands and mouth).” “Digvijaya can’t digest food until he uses his fingers on mobile phone or uses his mouth to say something against the nation,” Bhargava added.
UN rejects Hafiz Saeed’s plea to delist him as terrorist: Reports
United Nations has reportedly rejected an appeal by 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed to remove his name from a list of banned terrorists. This comes two days after Pakistan government formally banned the terror group and its affiliate Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. India reportedly provided detailed evidence against Saeed to UN.
Pak takes over Lahore headquarters of Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa
The Pakistan government on Thursday took over the Lahore headquarters of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF). The Sindh government in Pakistan took over 56 facilities being run by the JuD and FIF in Karachi and other districts. This comes after Pakistan officially banned JuD and FIF on Tuesday.
Cooperation with India should surge ahead like Ganga, Yangtze: China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said that India-China cooperation should “surge ahead like Ganga and the Yangtze giving a strong and sustained impetus to our relationship”. Adding that India and China should be each other’s partners in achieving their respective goals, Yi said, “Collectively, we must make our due contribution to Asia’s revitalisation and prosperity.”
Pak denies visa to UN team to interview Hafiz Saeed: Reports
Pakistan consulate in New York has rejected visa requests of a United Nations team to interview 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, government sources revealed. This comes after Saeed approached the UN Security Council in 2017 to delist him as a UN-recognised terrorist. As per norms, the UN conducts in-person interviews before removing an individual’s name from the list.
Pak man, who exposed honour killing of women for singing, shot dead
Pakistan’s Afzal Kohistani, who exposed a cleric for ordering the “honour killing” of five women seen singing in a viral video, was shot dead in Abbottabad on Wednesday. The 2012 video also showed two of Afzal’s brothers dancing as the women clapped. Afzal had also expressed fears of his own death as three of his brothers were killed in 2013.
Trump’s ex-campaign chief jailed for nearly 4 years for fraud
US President Donald Trump’s ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort has been sentenced to 47 months in prison for tax crimes and bank fraud. He was convicted of eight felonies, including hiding $55 million abroad, money he earned by political consulting in Ukraine. The crimes were uncovered during an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.
Businesses to be charged ₹20 for each Aadhaar verification
Businesses using Aadhaar services will have to pay ₹20 for each eKYC transaction and ₹0.5 for authentication of each transaction carried out by the entities, the UIDAI has announced. Government entities and the Department of Posts are exempted from authentication charges. The entities shall be required to deposit the authentication transaction charges within 15 days of an invoice being issued.
Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson’s Captain Marvel hits theatres
Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson’s ‘Captain Marvel’ “is a better Nick Fury origin story than a Captain Marvel origin story,” wrote Hindustan Times (HT). India Today said that the film “is largely enjoyable and definitely worth a watch”. “This script has more warmth than…’Wonder Woman’,” wrote NDTV. The film has been rated 3/5 (HT, NDTV) and 3.5/5 (India Today).
PM Modi lays foundation of Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor
PM Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone of Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor in Varanasi. PM Modi said that with the construction of this corridor, the temple complex will get direct connectivity with river Ganga. Targeting the previous government for delaying the project, he added that after Yogi Adityanath became the CM, development of Kashi is progressing efficiently.
Who is Theresa Serber Malkiel, the woman behind 1st Women’s Day?
While the first Women’s Day was observed in New York on February 28, 1909 and organised by Socialist Party of America, it was the party’s leader Theresa Serber Malkiel who first suggested it. Malkiel was an immigrant in US and started as a factory worker. She later drew attention to plight of immigrant working women and fought for equal rights.
Wistron to make Apple devices in India in ₹5,000-crore plan
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in an interview said the government has approved Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron’s ₹5,091-crore plan to make Apple devices in India. “Wistron will make latest iPhone models,” Prasad said. Further, adding that the government isn’t bothered by China offering more incentives to manufacturers he said, “Openness of India’s democratic polity…adds its own incentive”.
Over 40 Pakistani nationals granted Indian citizenship in Pune
Pune district administration on Thursday granted Indian citizenship to over 40 Pakistani nationals. District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said some of the applicants came to India around 40 years ago and as per the amendment in the Citizenship Act 1955, he gave them the citizenship. Their applications had been pending at several levels and offices for many years, Ram added.
Nirav Modi’s Alibaug bungalow destroyed using 30-kg explosives
Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Nirav Modi’s 30,000-square-foot seaside bungalow in Alibaug was demolished by Maharashtra’s Raigad collectorate with a controlled explosion using over 30 kg of explosives. Around 100 dynamite sticks were placed within and outside the bungalow for the demolition. The bungalow was built illegally and violated environmental norms, authorities said.
Warner Bros CEO accused of promoting actress post sexual relation
Warner Bros Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara is under investigation for allegedly helping 21-year-old actress Charlotte Kirk land roles in films after starting a sexual relationship. This comes after an American publication claimed it had accessed hundreds of messages exchanged between Tsujihara and Kirk after they met in 2013. The actress denied any “inappropriate behaviour” on the part of Tsujihara.
US Army accidentally disclosed data of 4,200 immigrant recruits
The US Army accidentally leaked data of 4,200 immigrant recruits meant for internal coordination to recruits, at least thrice between July 2017 and January 2018, the Washington Post said. It prompted many asylum claims by recruits, fearing punishment if sent back to their country of origin. “We acknowledged…severity of…disclosure…swift actions were taken,” a US Army spokesman told the Post.
Trains to Delhi will be on electric traction by Dec: Goyal
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that all trains coming to Delhi will be on electric traction from December 2019. The move will lower fuel bills, improve safety and increase the speed of trains, officials said. Goyal added that all mail express trains and Rajdhani trains will have bio-toilets with air vacuum cleaning system in the next 2.5 years.
Only 70 out of 119 Jet Airways aircraft operational: DGCA
A senior DGCA official on Thursday said that only 70 aircraft out of Jet Airways’ fleet of 119 are currently operational. The cash-strapped airline has been grounding its aircraft due to non-payment of dues to lessors. The airline has been told to ensure that passengers don’t suffer because of cancellations resulting from this situation, the official added.
Indian mills contract to export 2.2mn tonnes of sugar: Trade body
The All India Sugar Trade Association has said Indian sugar mills have contracted to export 2.2 million tonnes of sugar since the current marketing season began on October 1. Top importers of India’s sugar include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Somalia, it added. The Cabinet had approved incentives to encourage mills to export at least 5 million tonnes of sugar this season.
Govt to give ₹3,300 cr to help sugar mills boost ethanol capacity
The Cabinet on Thursday approved incentives worth ₹3,300 crore to help sugar mills boost ethanol production capacity. The move is expected to reduce surplus sugar output by diverting sugarcane for ethanol production, the government said. The country’s sugar mills produced 21.9 million tonnes of sugar between October 2018 and mid-February 2019, nearly 8% more than the year-ago period.
