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10:12 PM

McDonald's apologises for global system outage that shut down some stores for hours

McDonald's apologised on Friday for a global technology outage that shuttered some restaurants for hours.
 

The company said the outage was caused by a third-party technology provider and was not a cybersecurity issue. It started around 12 a.m. CDT during a configuration change and was close to being resolved about 12 hours later, the Chicago-based company said.
 

“Reliability and stability of our technology are a priority, and I know how frustrating it can be when there are outages. I understand that this impacts you, your restaurant teams and our customers,” Brian Rice, the company's global chief information officer, said in a statement.
 

“What happened today has been an exception to the norm, and we are working with absolute urgency to resolve it. Thank you for your patience, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused," the statement added.

9:48 PM

Civil aviation sector: DGCA refuses to extend June 1 deadline to implement new FDTL rules

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has refused to extend the June 1 deadline for the airlines to implement the new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots. Last month, Federation of Indian Airlines — which comprises IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and SpiceJet — wrote a letter to the regulator asking it to defer the deadline by one year as about 25 per cent more pilots would be needed to implement the new norms. The airlines had said that they won’t be able to hire and train these many pilots by June 1. FDTL norms are important as they ensure adequate rest for pilots so that there is no untoward incident.

8:57 PM

Firing of employees: Tat Group's Air India lays off over 180 non-flying staff, says report

Air India has laid off more than 180 non-flying staff in recent weeks, sources said while the airline maintained that the affected people were not able to utilise the voluntary retirement schemes and reskilling opportunities.
 

The loss-making Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in January 2022 and since then, efforts are being made to streamline the business model.

An Air India spokesperson on Friday said that as part of the fitment process, employees in non-flying functions have been assigned roles based on organisational needs and individual merit.
 

"A comprehensive process has been followed to assess the suitability of all employees over the past 18 months. During this phase, there have also been multiple Voluntary Retirement Schemes and reskilling opportunities offered to employees.

8:41 PM

Centre hikes windfall tax on petroleum crude, says govt notification

The Indian government has raised its windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 4,900 ($59.15) a tonne from Rs 4,600 with effect from March 16, according to a government notification released on Friday.

8:12 PM

Political news: BRS leader K Kavitha taken into custody by ED; party alleges violation

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested BRS leader K Kavitha in Hyderabad and is bringing her to Delhi for questioning in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the Delhi excise policy scam case, agency sources said. Agency officials raided the premises of the leader in Hyderabad today morning and later arrested her. BRS leader and former Telangana minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy claimed that Kavitha was taken to Delhi on a flight at 8.45 pm. He alleged that the move was "pre-planned" and that they would protest against it. BRS working president K T Rama Rao, former minister Harish Rao and a large number of party workers gathered at Kavitha's residence and raised slogans.

6:25 PM

Ukraine-Russia war: Russian missile strike kills at least 14 people in southern Ukraine

A Russian missile strike on Odesa in southern Ukraine on Friday killed at least 14 people and injured 46 others, local officials said. A first missile struck houses and when emergency crews arrived at the scene a second missile landed, authorities said. Among those killed were a paramedic and an emergency service worker. The attack occurred as Russians voted in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule by another six years after he crushed dissent and as the war in Ukraine stretches into its third year. At least 10 houses in Odesa and some emergency service equipment were damaged in the attack, which started a blaze, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service and regional Gov. Oleh Kiper.

6:03 PM

Forex reserve live: India's forex kitty expands $10.47 bn to $636.095 bn

India's forex kitty jumped by $ 10.47 billion to $ 636.095 billion for the week ended March 8, the Reserve Bank said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the overall reserves had risen by $ 6.55 billion to $ 625.626 billion. In October 2021, the country's forex kitty had reached an all-time high of $ 645 billion. The reserves took a hit as the central bank deployed the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused majorly by global developments since last year. For the week ended March 8, the foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $ 8.121 billion to $ 562.352 billion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves increased by $ 2.299 billion to $ 50.716 billion during the week, the RBI said.

4:53 PM

BJP moves high court over PM Modi roadshow permission

The BJP's Tamil Nadu unit today approached the Madras High Court, challenging a police order denying permission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's road show in Coimbatore on March 18.

4:49 PM

Mauritius looking for investments from India, says Mauritian minister Soomilduth Bholah

Mauritian Financial Services and Good Governance Minister Soomilduth Bholah told news agency PTI that Mauritius is looking for investments from India.

4:27 PM

McDonald's outlets suffer system outage across world; ops suffer: Report

McDonald's today stated that a technology outage had disrupted operations at many of its outlets worldwide, including Japan and Australia, but ruled out the possibility of a cybersecurity incident. Many McDonald's stores in Japan stopped taking in-person and mobile customer orders because of the system disruption, a spokesperson at McDonald's Holdings Company Japan said,

4:16 PM

Electoral bonds data: Freeze BJP bank accounts, conduct special investigation, says Kharge

Congress chief M Mallikarjun Kharge today asked for a special investigation into the electoral bonds scheme and said the BJP's bank accounts must be frozen till its completion. He also raised the issue of several companies purchasing electoral bonds soon after they faced raids by central agencies such as Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department. The BJP encashed Rs 6,060 crore over five years through the Electoral Bonds Scheme.

4:05 PM

News update: ED raids BRS leader K Kavitha's premises in money laundering probe

4:00 PM

US statement on CAA 'misplaced, misinformed, unwarranted', says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson today termed the U. State Department's statement on the country's implementation of a contentious, religion-based citizenship law "misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted". Washington, in a statement earlier this week, had said it was "concerned" about the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act and defined "respect for religious freedom and equal treatment" as fundamental democratic principles.

3:55 PM

UDF, LDF destroyed Kerala's culture of spirituality, says PM Modi in Kerala

3:52 PM

PM Modi in Kerala: In the last 10 years, we have worked hard for the welfare of all citizens, says PM Modi

3:48 PM

News update: Citizenship (Amendment) Act is India's internal matter, says MEA

2:31 PM

Like 2G case, SIT needed to investigate electoral bonds case: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal

 "Like it was done in 2G case, where an SIT was made, in this case also an SIT should be constituted to probe the matter. We have to see how the law will see it now...It should also be found out who donated to the PM-CARES. It's a matter of investigation which party got how many funds,"  Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP )Kapil Sibal said.

2:23 PM

Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Delhi’s Rajghat

2:22 PM

Central government gives nod to e-vehicle policy

The Government on Friday approved the e-vehicle policy today. The minimum investment required to start production is Rs 4,150 crore. Firms have to start commercial production of e-vehicles within 3 years for setting up manufacturing facilities in India.

1:46 PM

Electoral bonds data: BJP is biggest beneficiary with donations totaling more than Rs 6,000 crore

According to information shared by the State Bank of India (SBI) with the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the biggest beneficiary of the Electoral Bonds Scheme. The saffron party's coffers were filled with donations totaling more than Rs 6,000 crore. Click here for a more in-depth report.

1:18 PM

SC adjourns hearing on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha' bail plea against ED summons

The top court has adjourned the hearing on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha's plea against ED summons in connection with Delhi excise policy case till March 19.

1:06 PM

News update: Supreme Court refuses to stay appointment of elections commissioners

The Supreme Court has listed the pleas challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, for hearing on March 21. The Chief Justice of India was dropped from the selection panel for the appointment of  election commissioners after the enactment of the act.

12:56 PM

INDIA bloc can never make Tamil Nadu developed: PM Modi

"INDI Alliance can never make Tamil Nadu developed. These people have a history of scams. The basis of these people's politics is to come to power to loot the people. On one hand there are welfare schemes of BJP, on the other hand there are scams worth crores," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a rally in Kanyakumari.

12:51 PM

India's first underwater metro train commences commercial services

The commercial operations of the India's first underwater metro train began in Kolkata with with loud cheers and claps from commuters. A train began its journey from the Howrah Maidan station on the East-West metro corridor of Kolkata at 7 am  while another started from Esplanade station at the same time.

12:44 PM

BJP's performance in Tamil Nadu will shatter arrogance of the DMK-Congress alliance: PM Modi

12:36 PM

News update: Election Commission to announce Lok Sabha polls dates tomorrow

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said that the dates for the Lok Sabha polls will be announced on Saturday at 3 PM. National and regional parties have already started announcing their candidates for the elections to the 543 Parliamentary constituencies. 

12:23 PM

PM Modi in Tamil Nadu: Incredible energy at public meeting in Kanyakumari, says PM Mod

12:21 PM

Who is 'Lottery King' Santiago Martin?

Santiago Martin-owned Future Gaming and Hotel Services is the top donor to political parties, contributing around Rs 1,368 crore to political parties between April 12, 2019 and January 24, 2024.The 59-year-old is popularly known as 'Lottery King', and has been in the news for his ties to political parties. Here is an in-depth story about the 'Lottery King'. 

11:49 AM

CAA update: Supreme Court to hear pleas for stay on implementation of Citizenship Amendment Rules today

The top court today agreed to hear pleas seeking a direction to the central government to stay the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 till the pendency of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 before the apex court. “We will hear this on Tuesday. There are 190 plus cases. All of them will be heard. We will place a full batch with the IAs (Interim applications),”  Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said.

11:46 AM

EC to upload data on electoral bonds on website before March 17

The Supreme Court today directed that registrar judicial of the court to ensure that documents are scanned and digitised. Once the exercise is complete, the original documents can be given back to ECI, the court said. The ECI will then upload it on the website on or before March 17.