Goa Speaker Pramod Sawant sworn-in as new Chief Minister of Goa
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker and BJP leader Pramod Sawant was sworn-in as CM of Goa in a late-night ceremony, two days after Manohar Parrikar passed away after his battle with cancer. BJP ally MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar and Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai took oath as Deputy CMs of the state. Nine other leaders also took oaths as cabinet ministers.
Film on 26/11 removed from NZ theatres after mosque attacks
Dev Patel starrer ‘Hotel Mumbai’, a film based on the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, has been pulled off from theatres in New Zealand in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings. “The decision was made…out of respect for a country in mourning,” said Icon Film Distribution. All promotional activities and advertising related to the film have also been suspended.
If needed, India should forfeit World Cup final vs Pak too: Gambhir
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Monday said that the BCCI should either cut all cricketing ties with Pakistan or engage with Pakistan at every level as “there can’t be conditional bans”. “If we let go of a World Cup final, the country should be ready for it,” added Gambhir about a potential India-Pakistan final.
Who is 45-year-old Pramod Sawant, Goa’s new Chief Minister?
Ayurveda practitioner-turned-politician Pramod Sawant, who was sworn in as Goa CM on Tuesday, is known to be a dedicated RSS worker since his childhood. The 45-year-old former Goa Assembly Speaker started his political career in BJP as a youth wing leader and won from Sanquelim constituency in 2012 and 2017. He had also headed Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation.
Chowkidar for rich, not farmers: Priyanka Gandhi on PM’s campaign
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign, Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, Priyanka Gandhi, said, “Chowkidar is meant for the rich people and not the farmers.” “It is their choice what they want to add to their name,” she added, referring to BJP leaders adding ‘Chowkidar’ prefix to their Twitter names.
Intern held for killing editor whom she accused of sexual assault
A woman intern has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Thane for allegedly murdering a news portal and magazine’s 44-year-old editor, whom she has accused of sexual assault, police said. The editor had allegedly sexually harassed the woman for two years and refused to give her a promotion. She took help of the man who used to print the magazine, police claimed.
5 UP policemen convicted for custodial death of 26-yr-old man
A Delhi court has convicted five UP policemen for the custodial death of a 26-year-old man accused of robbery. The court said, “One of the reasons for custodial death is that the police feel they have the power to manipulate the evidence”. The policemen were found guilty of torture and manipulating evidence by making incorrect entries in the General Diary.
IAS officer Khemka’s integrity beyond doubt: HC to Haryana govt
Asking the Haryana government to remove ‘adverse’ remarks from annual performance report of IAS officer Ashok Khemka, Punjab and Haryana High Court said that Khemka’s “integrity is beyond doubt”. Khemka needs to be protected from the damage being done to his career, the court added. Khemka had sought to expunge the adverse remarks made by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
India lodges protest over harassment of its diplomats in Pakistan
India has issued a Note Verbale to Pakistan Foreign Ministry saying Pakistani agencies are “harassing and tailing” Indian diplomats in Islamabad again. India cited 13 instances of harassment in the month of March itself and asked Pakistan to stop such incidents and investigate the matter. The note added that the High Commissioner was being followed by two Pakistani agency personnel.
1 CRPF jawan killed, 6 injured in Chhattisgarh Naxal attack
At least one CRPF jawan was killed and six others were injured in an attack by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Monday. A team of CRPF’s 231st battalion and a state police unit were patrolling in Aranpur when an improvised explosive device exploded and the Naxals opened fire. The injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur for treatment.
Police arrest chief suspect after 3 killed in Dutch tram shooting
The police on Monday arrested 37-year-old Turkish-origin man, Gökmen Tanis, who allegedly carried out shooting in a tram in Dutch city of Utrecht. As many as three people were killed in the shooting, while five others were injured. The authorities had raised the terrorism threat to its highest level in Utrecht province following the shooting.
You’ll never hear me say terrorist’s name: NZ PM on mosque attack
Stating that the terrorist who carried out the terror attack on mosques in Christchurch sought “notoriety”, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said, “That is why you will never hear me mention his name…he will, when I speak, be nameless.” “Speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the man who took them,” she added.
Not written in anger: Manoj clarifies ‘mainstream award’ tweet
National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee has clarified a tweet, wherein he said he’s used to the fact that all his films never get a place in nominations for “mainstream awards”, despite being acclaimed internationally. “It [his tweet] was an observation. It wasn’t written in anger,” Manoj explained. He added the tweet was his resolve to do good work.
If I won’t ride on Bharti’s success, who would: Husband Haarsh
Comedian Bharti Singh’s husband, writer-producer Haarsh Limbachiyaa, in a recent interview, said that people are “quite right” when they say he is riding on his wife’s success. “I am what I am because of Bharti. And if I will not ride on her success, who would?” Haarsh said. He added that he does not see anything wrong in that.
16,000 litres of liquor seized in Delhi ahead of LS polls
Around 16,495 litres of illicit liquor have been seized in Delhi since March 10, when the Model Code of Conduct came into force, Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh has said. In addition, around 94 kg narcotics and 82 unlicensed arms have also been seized. Around 90,937 hoardings or posters have been removed from all over Delhi, Singh added.
BJD nominates Odisha farmer with 1 acre land for LS polls
BJD has announced a Self Help Group (SHG) worker, Pramila Bisoi, as its candidate for the Lok Sabha polls. Pramila, a farmer with less than one acre of land, will contest from Aska constituency. Announcing her as the candidate, CM Naveen Patnaik said, “Pramila represents Mission Shakti…she has used her leadership to create awareness on issues like sanitation, literacy, etc.”
Patidar leader Hardik Patel adds ‘Berojgar’ to Twitter handle
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders added ‘Chowkidar’ before their names on Twitter, Patidar leader Hardik Patel prefixed his Twitter handle with the term ‘Berojgar’. A Gujarat Congress member said several party workers are adding ‘Berojgar’ to their Twitter handles but an official campaign has not been launched yet. Hardik had recently joined the Congress.
Odisha govt to provide 25,000 wheelchairs at polling booths
Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar on Monday said that the state government has decided to provide 25,000 wheelchairs at polling booths for the upcoming elections. “Each booth will have two volunteers below the age of 18, either belonging to NCC or Scouts and Guides,” he added. Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held simultaneously in Odisha.
We may have lost music uploaded over 12 years, says MySpace
Social networking platform MySpace has apologised after announcing it may have lost content including songs uploaded by users over 12 years. A message on its website said, “As a result of a server migration project, any photos, videos, and audio files…uploaded more than three years ago, may no longer be available on or from MySpace”. MySpace had launched in 2003.
Shrimp-inspired 3D-printed claw that generates plasma made
A team of scientists has developed a shrimp-inspired 3D-printed robot claw, that can generate plasma underwater. The robot claw, like the pistol shrimp, creates a rapid stream of water leading to a cavitation bubble, which collapses to generate plasma. The system was ten times more efficient than other methods used to make this kind of plasma, a scientist said.
India should invest more in science: Nobel Laureate Feringa
Dutch scientist Bernard L Feringa, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, in a recent interview, said, “I would say that [the Indian] government should invest a bit more in science”. Feringa stressed it is very important to have good funding for science, technology and innovation. “I think India has so much talent,” he added.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz skips NIA summons for 2nd time
For the second time this month, All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq skipped summons by National Investigation Agency (NIA) for questioning at its Delhi headquarters in a 2017 terror funding case. Citing “threat” to Mirwaiz’s life, his counsel stated, “My client is willing…to be examined by the agency. It’s once again urged that such examination…be held at Srinagar.”
1 dead in police-protesters clash at Vedanta’s Odisha plant
At least one person died in clashes between police and protesters that emerged outside Vedanta’s aluminium plant in Odisha, the company said on Monday. The protesters reportedly belonged to displaced families and were agitating for proper rehabilitation and jobs. This comes almost a year after police opened fire on demonstrators protesting against the operation of Vedanta-run plant in Tuticorin.
Challenging govt data politically motivated: Ex-Infosys CFO
Former Chief Financial Officer of Infosys TV Mohandas Pai has said the incident of 108 economists raising concerns on “political interference” influencing government data was “politically motivated”. “I don’t think [the economists] have gone into details [regarding] what’s right and what’s wrong,” he added. Pai was among the 131 Chartered Accountants who countered the economists’ earlier claims.
Net direct tax collection crosses ₹10 lakh cr mark: Reports
The net direct tax collection figure has reportedly crossed the ₹10 lakh crore mark as on March 16, boosted by the fourth and final instalment of tax payment. The country’s entire advance tax data hasn’t come yet, reports added. The net direct tax collection during April-January stood at ₹7.89 lakh crore as against ₹12 lakh crore targeted for this fiscal.
L&T buys CCD Founder VG Siddhartha’s entire 20.4% stake in Mindtree
Larsen & Toubro has signed a deal to buy a 20.4% stake in information and technology services firm Mindtree from Café Coffee Day Founder VG Siddhartha for reportedly ₹980 per share. This gives Siddhartha an exit from the firm he backed nearly two decades ago. L&T is also expected to make an offer to buy an additional 31% Mindtree stake.
Anil Ambani thanks brother Mukesh as ₹550 cr Ericsson dues cleared
Debt-ridden Reliance Communications’ Chairman Anil Ambani, who avoided a three-month jail term after clearing remaining ₹462 crore of ₹550 crore dues of Ericsson on Monday, thanked his elder brother Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani for “standing by him during trying times”. “I and my family are grateful we’ve moved beyond the past, and are deeply touched,” Anil added.
Girls worked equally hard: Taapsee on tweet naming only male actors
Actress Taapsee Pannu has reacted to a tweet by an entertainment news website which excluded her and Kriti Sanon’s names in a tweet on ‘Badla’ and ‘Luka Chuppi’, films they have starred in respectively, and named only the films’ lead actors. “The girls in these films…worked equally hard but you didn’t have the time to write their names,” she wrote.
India won’t play the World Cup if government says so: Ravi Shastri
India head coach Ravi Shastri has said India won’t play the 2019 World Cup if the government says so amid the Indo-Pakistan tensions. “The government and BCCI know exactly what’s happening. They will take a call. If the government says it’s that sensitive that you don’t need to play the World Cup, I will go with my government,” he added.
Dead whale washes up in Philippines, 40 kg plastic found in stomach
Marine biologists and volunteers from D’ Bone Collector Museum in the Philippines said “40 kilos of plastic bags” was the “final cause” of death of a juvenile male Cuvier’s beaked whale washed ashore on Saturday. The plastic recovered from the whale’s stomach included 16 rice sacks and shopping bags. The whale reportedly died from ‘gastric shock’ after ingesting the plastic.
