Highlights of the day: Zee denies reports on reviving Sony-Zee merger talks

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9:56 PM

Audi head wants to sack chief tech officer, reports Bild

Audi Chief Executive Gernot Doellner wants to sack the company's chief technical officer, Oliver Hoffmann, the Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing sources close to the company.

9:56 PM

Microsoft develops AI server gear to lessen reliance on Nvidia

Microsoft is developing a new network card that could improve the performance of its Maia AI server chip and potentially reduce its reliance on Nvidia , according to a report in the Information on Tuesday.

9:54 PM

Shashi Tharoor conferres the "Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur" by French govt

Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP and writer, was today conferred the "Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by Gérard Larcher, Chairman of the French Senate, on behalf of the President of the French Republic, during a special ceremony at the Residence of France. The highest French civilian award came in recognition of Dr Tharoor’s tireless efforts to deepen Indo-French ties, commitment to international peace and cooperation, and as a long-standing friend of France. Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour.

9:21 PM

Virat Kohli becomes father of a baby boy

Star India batter Virat Kohli on Tuesday announced that he and his actress wife Anushka Sharma were blessed with a baby boy on February 15.
 

Kohli and Anushka are already proud parents of a three-year-old daughter Vamika.
 

"With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika's little brother into this world!," Kohli informed in an instagram post.
 

"We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time." Kohli had opted out of the ongoing Test series against England, citing personal reasons.

9:20 PM

Farmers' protest: Govt temporarily blocks 177 social media accounts, web links

he government has ordered temporary blocking of around 177 social media accounts and web links that are linked to the farmers' protest, according to sources.
 

The orders were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 14 and 19 at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 69A of the IT Act.
 

"The orders have been issued to temporarily block 177 social media accounts and web links to maintain law and order on request of the Ministry of Home Affairs," the source said.
 

Links and accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and some other social media platforms have been ordered to be blocked. These accounts can be restored after the farmers' agitation is over, the source added.

9:11 PM

US casts third veto of UN action since start of Israel-Hamas

The United States on Tuesday again vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution on the Israel-Hamas war

, blocking a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
 

Thirteen council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted text, while Britain abstained. It was the third such U.S. veto since the start of the current fighting on Oct.

7.

"A vote in favor of this draft resolution is support to the Palestinians right to life. Conversely, voting against it implies an endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment inflicted upon them," Algeria's U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council before the vote.

8:58 PM

‘Factually incorrect’: Zee Ent denies reports on reviving Sony-Zee merger talks

Zee Entertainment on Tuesday, February 20, issued a clarification, denying reports of restarting discussions with the Sony group to revive their $10 billion merger deal that was scrapped on January 22, reports Livemint. In a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, Zee Entertainment stated that the company is not involved in any negotiations on the Sony merger deal and that reports suggesting a revival of talks are ‘factually incorrect’.

8:53 PM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra reaches Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

8:49 PM

EAM Dr S Jaishankar speaks at the second CII-India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave

"Why we need a much smoother interface between our economies is that it is important for the European Union to prepare for the India that is to come."

8:46 PM

BCCI is planning to start IPL 2024 from March 22: Chairman Arun Dhumal

BCCI is planning to start IPL 2024 from March 22. IPL 2024 schedule will be announced in two halves. The schedule for the first half will be announced and then the schedule for the other half will be announced after the announcement of general election dates: IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal to ANI.

8:33 PM

The UK's Prince William appeals for an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible

Prince William, the heir to the British throne, called Tuesday for an end to fighting in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.

 

In a statement released by his office at Kensington Palace, he stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as the House of Commons prepares for a vote on that issue on Wednesday.

 

Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home,' William said.

 

It is unusual for members of the royal family to say anything about highly charged issues such as the conflict in Gaza for fear of being drawn into political debates. But William used careful language focused on universal humanity rather than taking sides.

 

His statement noted the terrible human cost since the Hamas-led October 7 attack in southern Israel and the desperate need for increased humanitarian support for Gaza. The UN is warning of growing malnourishment in parts of Gaza as little aid is allowed into the territory.

 

The prince plans to meet with aid workers active in the region and, separately, join a discussion at a synagogue with young people of different faiths who are fighting antisemitism.

7:16 PM

Samajwadi Party declares third list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls in UP

Samajwadi Party declares third list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, fields Shivpal Yadav from Badaun.

6:28 PM

Tata Steel says NCLT allowed withdrawal of scheme of amalgamation amongst Tata Steel And TRF

6:25 PM

SC verdict historic, comes at a time when country facing dictatorship, says AAP chief Kejriwal

SC has set aside Chandigarh mayoral poll result, and declares AAP the winner. AAP leader Kuldeep Kumar is set to be the new Chandigarh mayor. It is evident that the presiding officer made a deliberate attempt to deface 8 ballot papers.

6:08 PM

Rajya Sabha polls: All 6 nominees from Maharashtra, including Ashok Chavan, elected unopposed

All six candidates from Maharashtra in the fray for Rajya Sabha elections, including Congress turncoat Ashok Chavan, were on Tuesday declared elected unopposed.

 

Among the six, the BJP had fielded three nominees including Chavan, and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP one each. The opposition Congress had fielded one nominee.

 

The BJP nominees declared elected unopposed include Chavan, former MLA Medha Kulkarni, and RSS worker Ajit Gopchade.

 

The nominees of Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party are ex-Congress MP Milind Deora and Praful Patel, respectively.

 

The Congress had nominated Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore, the lone candidate from the opposition.

6:00 PM

SC seeks medical report of jailed NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Police to submit the medical report of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha who is currently lodged in Tihar jail in a case registered against him under anti-terror law UAPA.

 

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta asked Additional Solicitor General S V Raju to submit the report of the jail's medical officer within a week.

 

The direction came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Purkayastha, submitted that his client's medical condition is not good and the court should send for a report from the jail authorities.

 

"Time keeps clicking but I don't get the news. The only thing we want right now is that this court should call for medical report from jail superintendent. The man is 74-year-old and is in great difficulty," Sibal said.

 

Opposing Sibal's prayer for a report from the jail's medical officer, the ASG said he would get an appropriate report from AIIMS.

 

The top court voiced displeasure over Raju's objection and told him: "It's surprising to hear such a statement coming from you. If you don't have trust in your own officer, remove him or take action action against him. If you are so courageous, take action against your officers. This shows your incompetence and that of the administration."

5:58 PM

900, 000 houses to be provided under Abua Awas Yojana after 3 months in J'khand: CM

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Tuesday announced that nine lakh houses under the state government's housing scheme, 'Abua Awas Yojana', will be provided to needy people after three months.

 

The CM also said that his government has started receiving applications from Tuesday for pension scheme from women and people from scheduled tribe and scheduled caste who have attained the age of 50 years in the state.

 

The Jharkhand cabinet last month approved the proposal to include all women, tribals and Dalits above 50 in its old-age pension scheme. Around 18 lakh people would be benefited by the government's decision.

 

Soren was speaking at a function at Giridih stadium on the occasion of distribution of approval letters and first instalments to the beneficiaries of Abua Awas Yojana of three districtsGiridih, Dhanbad and Bokaro..

 

Under the scheme, 354, 000 beneficiaries have been identified from three districts, who would be provided houses in coming years, an official said.

 

More than 35,441 beneficiaries from three districts have been selected for the first phase of the scheme. The CM transferred Rs 106.32 crore as the first instalment of the scheme to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

5:00 PM

News update: CBI conducting searches on Ex-DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek

The CBI is conducting searches at the premises of former DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek in a corruption case, officials said Tuesday.

The 1982-batch IAS officer from Bihar cadre retired from service in 2019 and later joined a private company, they said.

4:51 PM

Congress cannot develop India, provide welfare to poor, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Udaipur

4:50 PM

India's composite culture is incomplete without cultural mosaic of NE states, says V-P Dhankhar in Arunachal

4:47 PM

Chandigarh mayor polls returning officer served notice by SC

The returning officer of the Chandigarh mayor polls has been served notice by the Supreme Court. The returning officer has been asked to respond within three weeks. The Supreme Court  today ruled that a fit case is made out for the initiation of proceedings under Section 340 CrPC against Anil Masih, returning officer of Chandigarh Mayor poll. The top court directed the registrar judicial to issue a notice to him to show cause as to why steps should not be initiated against him.

4:44 PM

Election result by presiding officer is quashed: SC on Chandigarh mayoral polls

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that 8 votes which were treated as invalid, were validly passed in favour of AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar. The court observed that counting the eight votes for him will make him have 20 votes. "We direct that the election result by the presiding officer is quashed",  the Supreme Court.said today.

4:36 PM

Chandigarh mayoral polls: SC refuses to stay election, says AAP's Kuldeep Kumar ‘validly elected’ as Mayor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will direct the recounting of votes in the Chandigarh mayoral election and ruled that eight ballots which were invalidated by the Returning Officer were valid. These eight votes were cast in favour of AAP's mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar, the court noted.

4:01 PM

Cong leader Sonia Gandhi elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan: Assembly secretary

Cong leader Sonia Gandhi elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, according to Assembly secretary.

3:37 PM

29,195 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7: Gaza health ministry

The Gaza health ministry today said that a total of 29,195 Palestinians have been confirmed killed and 69,170 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. 103 Palestinians had been killed and 142 injured in the previous 24 hours, it added.

3:32 PM

News update: Onion export ban to continue till Mar 31, says Centre

A top official stated on Tuesday that the ban on export of onion will continue till its previously announced deadline of March 31 since the centre is keen to keep prices under check. On December 8, 2023, the government had banned export of onion till March 31.

3:23 PM

One man can't hold all to ransom: Calcutta HC on TMC's Sheikh Shahjahan

The Calcutta High Court today said local Trinamool Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan "cannot be on the run" and the "state cannot support" him. The court noted that Bengal police has been unable to arrest Shahjahan despite several cases against him and an attack on ED officials. 

3:15 PM

Delhi Waqf Board case: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan not granted relief, case listed for Feb 24

Delhi's Rouse Avenue has not granted interim relief to AAP leader Amanatullah Khan in Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. The matter has been listed on February 24 for further hearing.

 

3:11 PM

SC orders recount of votes in Chandigarh mayoral polls case

The Supreme Court orders recount of votes in the case related to the Chandigarh mayoral polls. The Supreme Court noted that all invalidated eight ballots have votes were cast in favour of the AAP Mayor Candidate Kuldeep Kumar. The court also stated that it will direct that the votes at the poll shall be recounted and these eight shall be treated as valid. Thereafter, results be declared based on that, the court added.

2:59 PM

Won't arrest Wankhede in money laundering case till March 1: ED to Bombay HC

The probe agency today told the Bombay High Court that it would not arrest Sameer Wankhede, the former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB),  till March 1 in a money laundering case.