Trump’s idea of selling Greenland to US is absurd: Danish PM
Greenland is not for sale and the idea of selling it to the United States is absurd, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Sunday. Trump confirmed to reporters on Sunday that he had recently discussed the possibility, though he said such a move was not an immediate priority. He added, “The concept came up and…strategically it’s interesting.”
Everything is normal in J&K, schools open, no students: Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday tweeted, “Everything is normal in J&K. Schools open, no students. Everything is normal in J&K. Internet shut down once again.” This comes after reports said that several government-run schools were reopened in Jammu and Kashmir, but not many students were seen inside classrooms. Mobile internet services were also snapped in Jammu region on Sunday.
Vodafone Idea CEO Balesh Sharma resigns
Vodafone Idea CEO Balesh Sharma has stepped down from his post due to personal reasons, the company said in a statement on Monday. He would take up a new role with the Vodafone Group, the company said. Sharma was the CEO of Vodafone Idea since the completion of the merger, and prior to that, he was COO of Vodafone India.
Yamuna to cross danger mark, CM Kejriwal says all measures in place
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the danger mark of the water level in Yamuna river was likely to be breached by evening, and requested the people living near floodplains to shift into government tents. Kejriwal said government had put all measures in place. He added that about 2,120 tents were set up, with food, water and electricity.
Was going to Harvard: Shah Faesal to Delhi HC on detention at airport
Jammu and Kashmir politician Shah Faesal today moved the Delhi High Court challenging his detention at the Delhi airport from where he was sent back to Srinagar last week. He said that he was travelling to Harvard University, Boston to pursue his academic career. He alleged that no transit remand was sought in Delhi before “illegally” taking him to Srinagar.
Team India gets additional security in WI after hoax terror threat
Team India has been provided with additional security cover in West Indies after receiving a hoax terror threat on social media. There were reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received an email of a possible attack on Team India, which it passed to the ICC and BCCI. The BCCI confirmed it was a hoax message after consulting security agencies.
Social media accounts must be Aadhaar-linked to curb fake news: TN govt
Social media profiles of users need to be linked with Aadhaar numbers to check the circulation of fake, defamatory and pornographic content as also anti-national and terror material, the Tamil Nadu government told the Supreme Court on Monday. Tamil Nadu government is facing resistance from Facebook. Facebook told the state government that sharing Aadhaar would violate the users’ privacy policy.
Amazon sent used Sony phone in iPhone box, claims UP man; FIR filed
Uttar Pradesh Police have registered a case of fraud against an Amazon delivery executive after a customer alleged he got a second-hand Sony phone instead of a new Apple iPhone he had ordered after making an advance payment of ₹58,410. “I called up…customer care and was assured they’ll resolve the issue…After waiting for several days, I approached police,” he said.
Iceland holds funeral for first glacier lost to climate change
A funeral was held on Sunday to commemorate Okjökull, the first glacier to be lost to climate change in Iceland. A plaque billed as “A letter to the future” was mounted on a bare rock in the ceremony, which warned all glaciers could get extinct within the next 200 years. The funeral was also attended by Iceland PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
Economic slowdown very worrisome, new reforms needed: Raghuram Rajan
Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has called the economic slowdown “very worrisome” and said the government needs to fix the immediate problems in power and NBFC sectors. He said the government needs to bring in a new set of reforms to energise the private sector to invest. He also called for a fresh look at the way GDP is calculated.
Wyatt first England player to score a hundred in WCSL
Danielle Wyatt became the first England cricketer to score a century in the Women’s Cricket Super League (WCSL). Representing Southern Vipers against Surrey Stars, Wyatt, who brought up her hundred in 56 balls, went on to score a 60-ball 110. “I’ve not hit a 100 for about 15 months so it’s nice to get another one!” Wyatt said.
Coutinho joins German side Bayern Munich on loan
Brazilian footballer Philippe Coutinho has joined Bundesliga side Bayern Munich on loan from Spanish side Barcelona. Bayern will pay a loan fee of €8.5 million and pay his wages. Coutinho, who joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January last year, was the third most expensive transfer in history with the fee reported at approximately €120 million.
WFI issue show cause notice to Sakshi Malik for indiscipline
The Wrestling Federation India (WFI) has issued a show cause notice to Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik for leaving the national camp without permission. Several other athletes have been expelled for the same offence. The notices have also been sent to Seema Bisla (50kg) and Kiran (76kg), who alongside Sakshi have qualified for the World Championship event.
ED summons Chidambaram for questioning in alleged Air India scam
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former Union Minister P Chidambaram in connection with its money-laundering probe in the alleged purchase of 111 Air India aircraft during the UPA regime. The case pertains to losses suffered by the national carrier due to the alleged multi-crore aviation scam and irregularities in fixing air slots for international airlines.
Dwayne Johnson gets married to long-time girlfriend
Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson got married to his long-time girlfriend Lauren Hashian in a secret wedding ceremony in Hawaii. “We do. August 18th, 2019,” the actor wrote while sharing pictures from the ceremony. The couple has two daughters together. Dwayne also has an 18-year-old daughter from his first marriage to Dany Garcia, whom he divorced in 2007.
Case filed against Shehla Rashid for spreading fake news about Army
Supreme Court lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava has filed a criminal complaint against activist Shehla Rashid, seeking her arrest for allegedly spreading fake news against Indian Army and the government. The complaint said Rashid intended to incite violence in Jammu and Kashmir. It added that her tweets were being shared on international platforms, causing irreparable injury to the reputation of India.
Cook made a good case that US-China trade war could hurt Apple: Trump
US President Donald Trump spoke with Apple’s CEO Tim Cook about the impact of US tariffs on Chinese imports as well as competition from Samsung. Trump said Cook “made a good case” that tariffs could hurt Apple more than Samsung. Tariffs on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese goods are scheduled to go into effect from September 1.
FHRAI backs restaurants’ #Logout campaign, warns Zomato and Swiggy
The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has asked Zomato, Swiggy, Nearbuy, Dineout, EazyDiner and Magicpin to find a solution to the ongoing dispute with restaurants over deep discounting. It also warned them of nationwide protest. Over 300 restaurants have started #Logout campaign to delist themselves from these platforms over highly-discounted plans like Zomato Gold.
Hotel booking platform RedDoorz raises $70 million
Singapore-based budget hotel booking startup RedDoorz has raised $70 million in funding led by Asia Partners with participation from new investors Rakuten Capital and Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and International Finance Corporation (IFC) also participated in the round. This round is the first close of a larger Series C funding, RedDoorz said.
Grofers gets $70M in Series F tranche from SoftBank at $567M valuation
Grofers has received $70 million worth tranche as a part of Series F round from SoftBank Vision Fund, valuing the grocery delivery startup at $567.34 million. This is a part of the $200-million round that was announced earlier this year by the Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank. Additionally, Grofers received around $38.5 million from its Singapore-based parent entity on July 16.
Afghanistan rejects Pak claim Kashmir issue may affect peace process Afghanistan has rejected Pakistan’s claim that the Kashmir issue could potentially affect the peace process in Afghanistan. The country’s envoy to the US Roya Rahmani described Pakistan’s claim as “reckless, unwarranted and irresponsible”. Rahmani said it was a deliberate attempt by Pakistan to justify its inaction against the Taliban and prolong the violence happening on Afghanistan soil.
