Huawei to double salaries of all its 1.9 lakh staff worldwide for October
Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei will pay ₹2,050 crore in bonuses, and double the salaries for almost all its 1.9 lakh employees for October. The payments are a reward for helping the company cope with US sanctions, Huawei told its staff. The bonuses will go to research teams and those working to shift Huawei’s supply chains away from the US.
Vodafone says its Indian business may collapse, calls situation critical
Vodafone on Tuesday said its Indian business Vodafone Idea, in which it has a 45% stake, may be headed for liquidation unless the government relaxes demands for mobile spectrum fees. “It’s fair to say it’s a very critical situation,” CEO Nick Read said. The Supreme Court recently ordered Vodafone Idea to pay ₹28,309 crore in past dues to the government.
SL first country in South Asia to criminalise match-fixing, sports betting
Sri Lanka has become the first South Asian country to criminalise match-fixing and sports betting, with a bill setting out penalties including fines of up to $555,000 and 10-year prison terms. Prevention of Offences Related to Sports bill makes it illegal for any person connected to a sport to manipulate an event. ICC’s ACU has been investigating SLC since 2017.
Drones form ‘Ik Onkar’ in night sky in Punjab on 550th Gurupurab
Drones were used to form ‘Ik Onkar’ in the night sky at Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on Tuesday. President Ram Nath Kovind paid obeisance at Gurudwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi in the morning. Notably, India and Pakistan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9 to mark the occasion.
Pic of Assam policewomen holding babies while their moms write exam goes viral
A picture of two policewomen in Assam holding babies while their mothers wrote their exam for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) has gone viral. Sharing the picture, Assam Police wrote, “Mother is a verb. It’s something you do, not just who you are!” Reacting to the picture, a user wrote, “Humanity is still alive in some parts of this world.”
India one of world’s best sides: Mohammad Mithun ahead of 1st Test
Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mohammad Mithun on Tuesday said that Virat Kohli-led India is one of the best sides in the world. “In the past, India depended on the spin attack, however, now they have a strong pace attack too,” he added. “We are not looking for any weakness in their side, we are trying to strengthen our game,” he further said.
Singapore’s central bank makes prototype for multi-currency payments
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country’s financial regulator, has made a blockchain-based prototype that would allow payments to be carried out in different currencies in the network. The network was developed in collaboration with JPMorgan and Temasek and is undergoing industry testing. The payments network has the potential to improve cost efficiencies for businesses, MAS said.
Andhra govt, Singapore scrap Amaravati Startup Area project
The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered the termination of a 6.84-square kilometre “Startup Area” project that was to be developed at the Amaravati Capital City by a Singapore consortium. The Singapore government said the decision was mutually agreed upon. The state had said that despite all formalities being completed from its side, there was no intended development in the project.
Pune gaming startup SuperGaming raises $1.3 mn in seed round
Pune-headquartered SuperGaming has raised $1.3 million seed funding from investors including Dream Incubator and Akatsuki Entertainment Technology Fund. The social gaming startup is yet to launch the product but plans to expand it in the international market in the next 12 months. SuperGaming was founded by Roby John, Navneet Waraich and Sanket Nadhani.
Prey-size plastics are invading larval fish nurseries: Study
A study by researchers at American scientific agency NOAA and an international team of scientists has shown that several larval fish species from different ocean habitats are ingesting plastics in their preferred nursery habitat. The researchers combined field-based plankton tow surveys and advanced remote sensing techniques to identify larval fish nursery habitats in the coastal waters of Hawaii.
Free pilgrimage to Pak’s Kartarpur for senior citizens: Delhi CM
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that his government will offer free pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur under its flagship ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana’. He spoke on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary. PM Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Kartarpur Corridor, which will allow pilgrims to travel to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
More gurdwaras in Pak should be opened for Indians: Punjab CM
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said he would urge PM Narendra Modi to persuade Pakistan to grant Indian pilgrims access to historic gurdwaras, like Panja Sahib, across the border. PM Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with the Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur.
US held record 69,550 migrant children in custody in 2019
As many as 69,550 migrant children were held in the US government custody in 2019, government data showed. According to United Nations researchers, this is more children detained away from their parents in the US than any other country. Some of the children have been reunited with their families in the US and about 4,000 are still in government custody.
Indian Oil in talks with Rosneft to import Russian oil
Indian Oil Corporation Chairman Sanjiv Singh said on Tuesday that the top oil refiner is in talks with Rosneft for importing Russian oil. “We have taken very small quantities from Russia in the past which can’t be considered significant so we are trying to explore if we can increase the Russian crude volume coming to India,” Singh said.
US FAA downgrades Malaysia’s air safety rating
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Malaysia’s air safety rating to Category 2 from Category 1, restricting it from establishing new service to the US. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has asked the US agency to reassess its operations within the next year. The US government is working with CAAM to help it achieve Category 1 rating.
World’s most expensive watch sells for ₹222 crore in auction
A Patek Philippe watch has sold for $31 million (₹222.2 crore) at a Christie’s charity auction, setting the record for the highest price for a wristwatch. The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300A-010 features 20 functions and a reversible case with two dials. The watch beat the previous record set by a Daytona Rolex, which sold for $17.8 million in 2017.
First-ever Day-Night Test in India to start at 1 PM, end at 8 PM
The day’s play of the first-ever Day-Night Test in India to be held from November 22 to 26 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will begin at 1 pm and end at 8 pm. The timings were decided keeping in mind dew factor that comes into play at Eden Gardens after sunset, an official said. India will face Bangladesh in the Test.
We asked for 2 days, Governor gave us 6 months: Uddhav on Prez Rule
Addressing the media on Maharashtra situation, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that he doesn’t think any state has such a generous Governor. “We asked for 48 hours, he gave us six months. Any state with such a Governor is blessed,” Thackeray sarcastically added talking about the President’s Rule. He added that Shiv Sena will hold further talks with Congress-NCP.
6 workers believed to be Indians killed at construction site in Oman
At least six workers believed to be Indians were killed in Oman after getting buried at an excavation site of a water pipeline project. The incident took place following heavy rains in the Seeb area of Muscat. The Indian embassy in Muscat said it’s in contact with Omani authorities to ascertain facts of the incident and confirm the victims’ identities.
25-yr-old Taekwondo player shot dead by coach for rejecting marriage proposal A 25-year-old Taekwondo player was shot dead by her coach for rejecting his marriage proposal in Haryana’s Gurugram on Tuesday. The woman’s brother alleged that the accused had been harassing her since a long time. “The woman had filed a complaint against the accused earlier too. We are investigating the matter,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Preet Pal said.
