Highlights of the day: Zee denies reports on reviving Sony-Zee merger talks
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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’.
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.
Officials said on Tuesday that the CBI is conducting searches on former DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek in connection with an alleged corruption case. The 1982-batch IAS officer from Bihar cadre retired from service in 2019 and later joined a private company, they said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the election and ruled AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the ‘validly elected’ mayor.
Cong leader Sonia Gandhi elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, says Assembly secretary.
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.
Officials said on Tuesday that the CBI is conducting searches on former DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek in connection with an alleged corruption case. The 1982-batch IAS officer from Bihar cadre retired from service in 2019 and later joined a private company, they said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the election and ruled AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the ‘validly elected’ mayor.
Cong leader Sonia Gandhi elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, says Assembly secretary.
Observing that only 8 'marked' ballots were valid, the Supreme Court has ordered a recount of votes in the recently held Chandigarh mayoral polls.
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Maratha Reservation Bill tabled today which seeks to provide 10 per cent reservation to Marathas. The bill will now be taken up in the Legislative council for assent after which it becomes a law.
Swami Prasad Maurya has quit the Samajwadi Party days after leaving the national general secretary's post, India Today reported today.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday gave nod to a bill, extending reservation to Marathas above the 50 per cent mark in a special session of the state legislature.
The bill for 10 per cent Maratha quota that the Mahayuti government of Eknath Shinde approved on Tuesday is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced by the then Devendra Fadnavis government.
This is the third time in a decade that Maharashtra has introduced legislation for the Maratha quota.
Twelve days after the curbs were first clamped following violence over the demolition of an "illegal" madrasa, curfew was lifted entirely from the riot-hit Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani today morning. Curfew was lifted with effect from 5:00 am, according to an official order.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu today to unveil multiple development projects, including for education, railway, aviation, and road sectors, worth over Rs 32,000 crore. The projects are related to various sectors, including health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum, and civic infrastructure, among others. PM Modi also distributed appointment orders to about 1,500 new government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi, from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad on February 24, news agency ANI reported today citing sources. "I was really looking forward to receiving the BJNY in UP today, but unfortunately, have ended up admitted to the hospital. I will be there as soon as I am better! Meanwhile, wishing all the yatris, my colleagues in UP who have worked hard towards making arrangements for the yatra, and my sweet brother, all success as they reach Chandauli today," Priyanka Gandhi posted on X.
Criticising the West Bengal government, Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that it is unfortunate that journalists are being prevented from reporting on the atrocities committed against women in a state whose chief minister is a woman." Thakur said that coercive action against journalists is nothing new in West Bengal. The stifling of freedom of expression in West Bengal is unfortunate and amounts to the murder of democracy; the TMC government is flouting constitutional norms, Thakur added. Cops in West Bengal arrested a journalist associated with Republic TV in Sandeshkhali on Monday. The minister stated that the authorities in West Bengal are trying to cover-up the truth as to how women are feeling insecure under Mamata Banerjee's rule.
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.
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First Published: Feb 20 2024 | 9:00 AM IST
