Global Breaking News Daily Updates

Power launches new fitness challenge - lose 3 kgs & get 50% cashback

Power from Bata has recently launched its Power Fitness Challenge which offers customers a 50% cashback upon losing 3 kgs within a month. Kickstarted by the brand's ambassador, cricketer Smriti Mandhana, the challenge is being taken up by celebrities like Parvati Nair, Mimi Chakraborty among others.
read more at bata.in

Singer Lana Del Rey cancels upcoming tour after losing her singing voice

Singer Lana Del Rey has been forced to cancel her European and UK tour due to an illness. The 34-year-old revealed she has "totally lost her singing voice" and has been advised to take four weeks off from work duties on doctors' orders. The tour was scheduled to begin in Netherlands tomorrow and conclude in Germany on March 3.
read more at Daily Mail

Met man of my dreams in Tashan after breaking up with Shahid: Kareena on Saif

Kareena Kapoor Khan has said she met the "man of her dreams" Saif Ali Khan on the sets of their 2008 film 'Tashan', after she broke up with Shahid Kapoor. "A lot happened in the making of [Jab We Met] and 'Tashan'...We all kind of went our separate ways," she added. "It was all, like, really karmically connected," said Kareena.
read more at Hindustan Times

Woman shares pic of dogs, BJP spokesperson asks 'Which one are you?'; Swara replies

A woman shared a picture of dogs on Twitter, writing, "Two fallen women became she-dogs because they cooked for their husbands while on their period in their last life." BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal commented, "Which one you identify with your good self." Responding to him, Swara Bhasker wrote, "Your parents have named you after God...respect that at least!"
read more at Twitter

You called us, we are here: SC mediators to Shaheen Bagh protesters on day 2

The Supreme Court-appointed mediators Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran held the second round of talks with the Shaheen Bagh protesters on Thursday. Ramachandran began addressing the protesters saying, "Aapne bulaya hum chale aaye (You called us and we are here)." Ramachandran further said that the protesters should come up with a solution to end the roadblock and set an example.

Woman shouts 'Pakistan Zindabad' at anti-CAA rally, Owaisi snatches her mic

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday hurried to take the mic from a woman who started chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on stage at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru. He later distanced himself from the incident, saying, "The statement made by her is wrong. My party does not support it." Owaisi added, "For us, India was Zindabad and will always remain Zindabad."
read more at The Quint

MP Cong MLA threatens to "skin" BJP workers amid row over Shivaji statue

Congress MLA Vijay Chore has accused BJP of trying to disturb the harmony in Madhya Pradesh after BJP leader and former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Congress of "insulting" Chhatrapati Shivaji. Chore said Congress workers will not shy away from skinning BJP workers who try to point fingers at them. This comes after Chhatrapati Shivaji's statue was removed in Chhindwara.
read more at ANI

WeWork names Harvard graduate Shyam Gidumal as new COO

WeWork on Thursday announced the appointment of Harvard graduate Shyam Gidumal as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) under the leadership of new CEO Sandeep Mathrani. Gidumal has previously served as a partner at Ernst & Young and Boston Consulting Group. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Columbia College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
read more at Reuters

27-yr-old Indian journalist wins AFP’s Kate Webb Prize for J&K coverage

Ahmer Khan, a 27-year-old Indian freelance reporter, was named winner of the 2019 Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize on Thursday for his coverage on the ground in Kashmir during the lockdown of the region. Khan was honoured for a series of video and written reports that illustrated the impact on locals following Article 370 abrogation.
read more at The Quint

After woman dies following childbirth, relative slaps doctor in Kolkata

A relative of a woman, who died following childbirth, slapped a doctor at a hospital in Kolkata alleging medical negligence. The woman reportedly delivered the baby on Wednesday after which her health deteriorated and she died of cardiac arrest on Thursday. The hospital said that the doctor tried to explain the situation to the family and also suggested a postmortem.

Victoria's Secret criticised for dumping hundreds of bras in bin in US

Victoria's Secret has been criticised after hundreds of unworn bras were found dumped in a bin close to a closed branch of the store in Colorado. The discarded garments were found by Melanie Gelinas, who lives in the building above the store. "Wouldn’t a mum like to get a...new bra from Victoria’s Secret who’s living in a shelter?" Melanie said.
read more at The Independent

Earlier in B'wood, heroine became 'bhabhi figure' after marriage: Raveena

Raveena Tandon has said there was a trend that after actresses got married, they became a "bhabhi figure" in the Bollywood industry. Raveena was talking to Kareena Kapoor about the limited options available in the industry for female actors over the age of 40. "But now, I feel...trend has changed. Even our audiences accept...this is just another job," said Raveena.
read more at Hindustan Times

There's no way Tom Cruise would win if we had a fight: Justin Bieber

Singer Justin Bieber, who had challenged Hollywood actor Tom Cruise for a fight on Twitter, has said "there's absolutely no way" that the actor would beat him in the fight. "He's not the guy you see in movies," he added. Talking about his tweet, Bieber had earlier said, "It was just...random tweet. I think he'd...whoop my a** in a fight."
read more at PINKVILLA

My life is still the same after winning National Award: Vicky Kaushal

Vicky Kaushal, who won the National Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', has said his life is still the same after winning the award. "You're busy with work and shooting," he added. "But it's...beautiful feeling when National Award winner is pre-fixed before my name in...introduction...it takes two seconds to sink that in," said Vicky.
read more at The Quint

Baith jaiye chacha: Swara on Waris' 'We 15 cr are tough on 100 cr' remark

Swara Bhasker on Thursday took to Twitter to criticise AIMIM leader Waris Pathan after he said at an anti-CAA rally, "Remember we are 15 crore but can dominate over 100 crore." Responding to him, she wrote, "Baith jaiye chacha! If you cannot say something helpful don't say it at all! Stupid, irresponsible...highly condemnable statement!!! Such talks only harm the movement."
read more at Free Press Journal

Thought Tashan would change my career, was depressed after it flopped: Kareena

Kareena Kapoor Khan has said she was "shattered" and depressed for "almost six months" after her 2008 film 'Tashan' "bombed" at the box office. "I was like...can't believe this has happened," she said while adding that she actually thought the film was going to change her career. Apart from Kareena, the film also featured Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
read more at Hindustan Times

Indian-American Gagan Biyani's edtech startup Udemy raises $50 mn

San Francisco-headquartered online courses providing platform Udemy has raised $50 million from a single investor, Japan-based educational publisher Benesse Holdings. The investment was made at a $2 billion pre-money valuation, the company said. Udemy which offers online learning courses from business analytics to ukulele lessons was founded in 2010 by Gagan Biyani, Oktay Caglar and Eren Bali.
read more at YourStory

Thank you India: Afghan Prez as India wishes him on his re-election

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has thanked India for "fully supporting" the country's democratic process after India congratulated him for his re-election. India remains committed to working with the new government in the fight against "sponsored terrorism", the Ministry of External Affairs said. Ghani won 50.64% votes as per the poll results announced by the Independent Election Commission.
read more at ANI

Six found trapped in illegal underground tobacco factory in Spain

Spanish Police and Interpol found 6 workers trapped inside an underground illegal tobacco factory, that includes a cannabis farm, beneath a mountain village in Spain. The factory was discovered by the police after the generator providing oxygen to workers stopped functioning and they began to pound the door for help. The generator wasn't replenished after the operations' masterminds were arrested.
read more at Reuters

Syria kills 2 Turkish troops a day after Turkey warns of military operation

Two Turkish soldiers were killed and five others were wounded in airstrikes by the Syrian government forces in Syria's Idlib province on Thursday. A day earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that a Turkish military operation in Idlib was a "matter of time". Turkey backs the rebels that control Idlib while Syrian government is fighting to control the province.
read more at Reuters

Coronavirus outbreak reduced China's carbon emission: Study

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland said that the coronavirus outbreak has reduced China's carbon emissions by at least 100 million metric tonnes over the past two weeks. It accounted for 6% of global emissions at the same time last year. The virus has killed over 2,000 people and infected 74,000 others in China.
read more at Deccan Herald

Lesotho PM to step down after facing charge of murdering first wife

Lesotho Police said that 80-year-old PM Thomas Thabane will be charged with the murder of his late wife and former first lady Lipolelo. PM Thabane, citing old health, announced on the radio that he will step down at the end of July. Thabane's current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, was charged this month with ordering the murder of Lipolelo in 2017.
read more at Reuters

18th-century ceremonial crown returns to Ethiopia from Netherlands

An 18th-century ceremonial crown returned to Ethiopia from the Netherlands on Thursday. Sirak Asfaw, an Ethiopian who had arrived in the Netherlands as an asylum seeker, found the crown in the suitcase of a visitor in 1998. Asfaw didn't want to return the crown to the then Ethiopian government and kept it hidden in his house for over two decades.
read more at Twitter

IRCTC hits all-time high at ₹1,976, rises 500% over IPO price

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) shares hit a 52-week and an all-time high of ₹1,976 in early trade on Thursday. The stock soared about 500% from its IPO price of ₹320 and 200% from its listing price of ₹644 in four months. IRCTC was listed on the Indian stock exchanges on October 14, 2019.
read more at Livemint

Westinghouse, NPCIL to sign deal for nuclear reactors during Trump's visit

US firm Westinghouse is expected to sign a new agreement with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India for six nuclear reactors during US President Donald Trump's visit next week, an official said. The agreement will lay out timelines and address concerns over India's nuclear liability law. In 2019, US agreed to build six plants in India to strengthen bilateral security.
read more at Reuters

Heroes do it too, why point fingers only at women? Raveena on plastic surgery

Raveena Tandon, during her appearance on Kareena Kapoor's show, said it's "hypocritical" that only actresses are accused of undergoing plastic surgery or getting Botox. She added, "What do these people think, that heroes don't do these things? Our heroes do it too, why point fingers at women only?" She further questioned if heroes have discovered some "eternal fountain of youth".
read more at Hindustan Times

Priyanka becomes 1st Indian actor to reach 50 mn followers on Instagram

Priyanka Chopra on Thursday became the first Indian actor to reach 50 million followers on Instagram. Earlier this week, India cricket captain Virat Kohli, who currently has 50.2 million followers, became the first Indian to reach 50 million followers on the platform. Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone is the third most followed Indian with 44.2 million followers.
read more at Hindustan Times

'Ice volcanoes' erupt on Michigan beach; video surfaces

A video of 'ice volcanoes' erupting on the Oval Beach in America's Michigan has surfaced on the internet. "They form as water is pushed under the ice sheet and as the pressure builds up, the water shoots out through holes in the ice," winter weather expert Tom Niziol said. "If it's very cold, that spray freezes up," he added.
read more at Daily Mail

India's 1st coronavirus patient discharged from Kerala hospital

India's first coronavirus patient, a medical student who had returned from Wuhan in China, was discharged from Government Medical College hospital in Thrissur, Kerala on Thursday. She would be kept under home quarantine for 14 more days before being declared totally cured, said officials. Two other students in Kerala were discharged earlier after they too tested negative for the virus.
read more at Deccan Herald

Former IPL player Luke Pomersbach living in his car, facing theft charges

Former Australia cricketer Luke Pomersbach, who has represented KXIP and RCB in IPL, is currently living in his car and evading arrest for theft. The 35-year-old has been accused of stealing a bicycle from outside a shopping centre and 10 packs of pre-mixed spirits from a liquor shop. Pomersbach hasn't played professional cricket since 2014.
read more at CricTracker

Samsung confirms it mistakenly sent notification reading just '1' to Galaxy users

Samsung has confirmed it mistakenly sent a push notification containing just the digit '1', with another '1' below it, to Galaxy phone users. "The notification was inadvertently sent to a limited number of Galaxy devices," said Samsung as it apologised for the mistake. The confirmation came hours after several confused users shared screenshots on social media of receiving the notification.
read more at The Next Web

2 SAP employees test positive for H1N1 in B'luru, company shuts all India offices

German software group SAP on Thursday said it had shut down all its offices in India for sanitisation after two employees in Bengaluru tested positive for the H1N1 swine-flu virus, Reuters reported citing a company statement. SAP offices in Bengaluru, Gurugram and Mumbai have been temporarily closed. All employees have been asked to work from home until further notice.
read more at Reuters

CPI calls on 'progressive forces' to protest against Trump's visit to India

CPI General Secretary D Raja on Thursday urged the "progressive forces", civil society groups and other political parties to protest against US President Donald Trump's visit to India on February 24. Raja said, "It's a matter of serious concern that the Government of India instead of pursuing an independent foreign policy is succumbing to the pressures of US imperialist power."
read more at The New Indian Express

I've said multiple times that we're not a perfect company: OYO's Ritesh Agarwal

OYO's CEO Ritesh Agarwal, in an interview with Skift, talked about the startup's challenges including hoteliers' complaints. "One of the things I have said multiple times is that we don't claim to be — and we are not — a perfect company," he said. He added that OYO would remove pricing control if hotels give up on minimum revenue guarantee.
read more at Inc42

VP Naidu speaks in 22 languages on Int'l Mother Language Day, video surfaces

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday spoke in 22 national languages at an event to mark International Mother Language Day. "When we protect and promote mother tongues, we protect and promote linguistic and cultural diversity also," he said. Knowledge of Indian languages must be made compulsory for recruitment up to a certain level in government jobs, he added.
read more at Twitter

Doesn't stand to reason: India as China opposes Shah's Arunachal visit

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral part of India" and objecting to the visit of an Indian leader to any state in India "doesn't stand to reason". This comes after China, in a statement, said it "firmly opposed" Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh as it "violated China's territorial sovereignty".
read more at Twitter

UK MP Abrahams came without valid visa, sent her back 'badi izzat se': Govt

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Thursday said, "UK MP Debbie Abrahams had come to India without a valid visa so we sent her back badi izzat se (with due respect) from Delhi Airport." "There is a sustained campaign from her side against India," Kumar further said about Abrahams.

In a first, Muslim, married man to be made pontiff at Lingayat Mutt in K'taka

In a first, a 33-year-old Muslim man, who is married and has three daughters and a son, is set to become the pontiff of a Lingayat mutt in Gadag district of north Karnataka. Diwan Sharief Rahmansab Mulla, who will be incepted on February 26, said, "Nobody asked me to do it, the almighty came in my mind and guided me."

AGR issue unprecedented crisis for telecom industry: Airtel's Sunil Mittal

Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal has said that the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) issue is an "unprecedented crisis for the industry". This comes after Mittal met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and suggested cut in taxes and levies for the sector. Airtel is committed to complying with SC order on AGR dues and will make balance payment "expeditiously", Mittal added.

Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal to tie the knot on April 15: Reports

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal will tie the knot in Delhi on April 15, as per reports. The ceremony will be an intimate affair and it will be followed by a court marriage and a reception, reports added. There will be four major functions including the wedding and reception in Delhi, followed by receptions in Lucknow and Mumbai, said reports.
read more at Hindustan Times

Laal Singh Chaddha is gonna be best work of Aamir and mine: Kareena

Talking about her upcoming film 'Laal Singh Chaddha', Kareena Kapoor said that the film will be her and Aamir Khan's best work. She further said that the way it has been adapted from 1994 American film 'Forrest Gump', people are going to be proud. Directed by Advait Chandan, 'Laal Singh Chaddha' also features Sharman Joshi and Mona Singh.
read more at PINKVILLA

Media that insults must pay the price: China on reporters' expulsion

Defending the revocation of press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters, China said that media entities who insult China must pay the price. The announcement came after the WSJ published a column titled "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia". China denied that expulsions were linked to the US classifying Chinese state-owned media entities as foreign embassies.
read more at The New Indian Express

World's 1st robot citizen Sophia wears saree during Kolkata visit

World's first robot citizen Sophia arrived in Kolkata for a technology-based interactive session, donning a red-and-white traditional Bengali saree. Sophia talked about how it would be like to eat 'mishti doi' and that her favorite place in Kolkata is Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's house. She also interacted with the students about their upcoming exams.
read more at Hindustan Times

UCLA not to use facial recognition on campus after student backlash

UCLA won't go forward with a facial recognition programme, and will prohibit the technology's use on campus after backlash from student groups and privacy advocates. The university reportedly would've used the technology to screen individuals from restricted campus areas and to identify anyone flagged. The proposal had earlier faced criticism in a town hall meeting on campus with 200 attendees.
read more at TechCrunch

Elon Musk bought Tesla shares for $10 million on Valentine's Day

Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought the company's shares for $10 million on February 14, filings revealed. Musk bought 13,037 shares at an average of $767 each that raised his holding in the company to 34.1 million shares or 18.5%. Tesla's share price closed at a record high of $917.42 on Wednesday.
read more at Bloomberg Quint

CCI allows FabHotels to join probe against OYO, Go-MMT

The Competition Commission of India has approved FabHotels' request to join probe against Goibibo, MakeMyTrip and OYO, accused of alleged anti-competitive practices. The CCI in its order said it's satisfied that it's necessary to allow FabHotels present its opinion in the matter. In October, CCI had ordered an investigation on a complaint of the agencies destroying competitive pricing in market.
read more at Inc42

Trump says 70L to attend Gujarat roadshow even as official claims 1L

In a recent video, US President Donald Trump said 70 lakh people will be present on the Ahmedabad roadshow route on February 24. However, Ahmedabad's Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra, in an earlier tweet, said at least one lakh people will be there during the 22-km long roadshow. Notably, Ahmedabad's total population, as of Census 2011, was over 55 lakh.
read more at The New Indian Express

Brutal torture of Dalits in Rajasthan horrific, sickening: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that the recent video of two young Dalit men "being brutally tortured in Nagaur, Rajasthan is horrific & sickening" and urged immediate action. Meanwhile, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, "Seven accused have been arrested...we will ensure that the victims get justice". The two men were allegedly beaten up on the suspicion of stealing money.
read more at The Financial Express

2 dead after passenger train derails in Australia

Two people were killed when a passenger train heading from Sydney to Melbourne derailed near Wallan town in Australia on Thursday. Several other passengers were left injured with one being airlifted to a hospital in Melbourne. Australian transport authorities said that there were around 160 passengers onboard the train at the time of the incident.
read more at Reuters

Australia launches national inquiry into bushfires

Australia has launched a national inquiry into the recent bushfires that killed over 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Australia PM Scott Morrison said a six-month Royal Commission will investigate the country's preparedness to natural disasters. It will also consider establishing new powers for the federal government to declare a state of emergency for faster response to fires.
read more at Free Press Journal

Suspected gunman who killed 9 found dead with mother in Germany

A 43-year-old suspected far-right extremist who killed nine people at two shisha bars in Western Germany killed himself and his 72-year-old mother at his apartment, authorities said. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said that there are signs that the suspected gunman had acted out of racism. Some of those killed in the attack are of Turkish origin, reports said.
read more at Reuters

Kishore Biyani-led Future Lifestyle to raise over ₹600 cr from promoters, IFC

Future Lifestyle Fashions, led by Kishore Biyani, is set to raise over ₹600 crore from promoters and International Finance Corporation (IFC) to pay back debt and buy more stake in subsidiaries. The company will also raise an additional ₹400 crore in multiple tranches within a period of one year. Future Lifestyle Fashions owns over 300 stores in over 90 cities.
read more at The Financial Express

Where was Shekhar's outrage when he ignored our script of Mr India? Javed

After filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said he wasn't consulted about the 'Mr India' trilogy, Javed Akhtar, one of the writers of the original film, has said no one is legally bound to do so. Criticising Shekhar, he added, "Where was his sense of creative outrage when he had disregarded the bound script of Mr India that we had given?"
read more at Hindustan Times

Federer reveals he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, to miss French Open

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has revealed that he recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Switzerland. "As a result, I will unfortunately have to miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Open," the 38-year-old wrote on Twitter. "I can't wait to be back playing again soon, see you on the grass!" he added.
read more at Twitter

Botswana cricketer Shameelah Mosweu denied Australia visa for ‘flight risk’

Botswana's 24-year-old cricketer Shameelah Mosweu has been denied visa to Australia because Department of Home Affairs believes she is a "flight risk". Mosweu is a University student in England and has represented Botswana in nine T20 internationals. She was invited to represent FairBreak Global XI, a team comprising female cricketers from 10 countries, in a T20 match at Bradman Oval.
read more at CricTracker

Pujara responds after Australian pacer Hazlewood jokes about mankading him

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara took to Twitter to respond after Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood joked that he has "saved mankad dismissal for Pujara on the flat wicket of Melbourne Cricket Ground". "Thanks for the heads up Josh, I might have to include it in my preparation," wrote Pujara. Pujara scored 521 runs in his last Test series in Australia.
read more at CricTracker

FB spokesperson 'doubts' claim of Zuckerberg getting armpits blow-dried by staff

A Facebook spokesperson has responded to a book's claim that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asks communications team staff to blow-dry his armpits before speeches to eliminate anxiety sweat. Liz Bourgeois said, "I doubt this is true, and if so, it would've been at our communications team's request." She added, "But surely anyone who's ever worn a grey T-shirt can relate."
read more at Daily Mail

We 15 crore are tough on 100 crore: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said that 15 crore Muslims are tough on 100 crore Hindus if they come together. Purportedly referring to Shaheen Bagh protest, Pathan added, "They say we have sent our women in the front. Only lionesses have come out and [they're] sweating." "We have to take azadi and that which isn't given must be snatched," Pathan said.
read more at ANI

Tharoor backs Sandeep Dikshit as he criticises Cong for not finding new chief

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has supported former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit after the latter criticised the Congress leadership for failing to find a new president of the party. Tharoor said that what Dikshit said openly is what dozens of party leaders are saying privately. Tharoor asked the Congress Working Committee to hold elections for the new chief.

Nirbhaya convict schizophrenic, can't identify mother after head injury: Lawyer

Nirbhaya case convict Vinay Sharma's lawyer has told a Delhi court that he is suffering from mental illness and schizophrenia and sought better treatment for him. He added that Vinay failed to recognise his mother after a head injury. The court listed the matter for February 22 and directed the Tihar Jail authorities to file a reply in the matter.

Driver, conductor killed in accident were commended for saving passenger's life

VD Gireesh and VR Baiju, the bus driver and conductor who died in an accident in Tamil Nadu, had received an appreciation letter for saving an epilepsy patient's life in 2018. They'd taken the woman, who was experiencing seizures aboard the bus, to a hospital. They had deposited the fees and Baiju had stayed there till the woman's family arrived.
read more at The News Minute

What are the features of Trump's 'Marine One' helicopter that arrived in India?

US President Donald Trump's official helicopter 'Marine One', that arrived in Gujarat on Wednesday, is equipped with standard military anti-missile countermeasures and can accommodate up to 14 passengers. Its cabin noise is reduced to the extent that the President can speak in normal tone. Marine One often flies with five identical helicopters acting as decoys for security purposes.
read more at Livemint

SC order on permanent commission to women very enabling: Army Chief

Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on Thursday termed the Supreme Court judgment on permanent commissioning of women "very enabling". In its verdict, the SC directed that women officers in the Army be granted permanent commission and command postings. "The Army has been championing gender equality and the SC judgment will give us clarity in moving forward," General Naravane said.
read more at The Quint

Ex-Punjab DIG, 4 others get 8 yrs in jail for driving 5 of family to suicide

Former Punjab DIG Kultar Singh and four others were sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday, while DSP Hardev Singh was sentenced to four years imprisonment for abetting the suicide of five members of a family in 2004. Before taking their lives, the family had accused their four relatives and the two police officers of extortion and criminal intimidation.
read more at Zee News

Telangana official criticises state-run power firm on Facebook live; suspended

D Koteswara Rao, an official working with the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL), was suspended for 'dereliction of duty' after his Facebook live video criticised the power company. According to the suspension order, Rao had gone live on Facebook "without obtaining permission from the management". In the video, Rao had alleged corruption by certain engineers.
read more at The News Minute

My internship at Tata Motors was a total waste of time: Ratan Tata

In an interaction with Humans of Bombay, Ratan Tata called his internship at Tata Motors during the beginning of his career "a total waste of time". "I was shuffled from department to department...nobody actually told me what to do," said Tata. "I guess, I was looked at as a family member, so no one said anything to me," he added.
read more at ThePrint

It's good when young actors look up to seniors for inspiration: Govinda

On being asked about his views after Varun Dhawan said he admires him, Govinda said it's always good when young actors look up to seniors for inspiration. "We used to do that too when we were young," he added. He further wished "all the best" to Varun, who'll be seen in the remake of his 1995 film 'Coolie No 1'.
read more at Hindustan Times

Difficult to get solo release: Vicky on 'Bhoot' clash with 'Shubh Mangal...'

Vicky Kaushal, while talking about the clash of his upcoming film 'Bhoot: Part One- The Haunted Ship' with Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan', said that it's difficult to get a solo release. He added that since Bollywood makes more films than the number of Friday's in a year, clashes are bound to happen. "Good thing is...both...films are...different," said Vicky.
read more at PINKVILLA

CAA, NRC could disenfranchise Indian Muslims: US panel

A US government panel said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in conjunction with the National Register of Citizens could lead to widespread disenfranchisement of Indian Muslims. It added, "There are fears that this law is part of an effort to create a religious test for Indian citizenship." It further said the Indian government instituted a violent crackdown against anti-CAA protesters.
read more at ANI

No one likes to sit outside: Rahane on Rishabh Pant

Speaking about India's wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said, "[N]o one likes to sit outside but whatever your team needs on a particular game, you have got to accept that." "It's important to accept whatever you are going through. Be positive, try and learn as many things as possible from any of the players," Rahane added.

PCB suspends Umar Akmal pending anti-corruption investigation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday suspended Umar Akmal for breaching its 'Anti-Corruption Code' with immediate effect. Akmal will not be able to play for defending champions Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2020 and will not be able to take part in any cricket-related activities pending an investigation that is being carried out by PCB's anti-corruption unit.

India's growth is no longer entirely dependent on metros: HomeLane CEO

Interior design solutions platform HomeLane's CEO Srikanth Iyer said that the growth in India is no longer entirely dependent on opportunities available in metropolitan cities. He added more Indians were going "back to their roots" with a hope to start their own startup and build solutions in their cities. Government's initiative for startups helped establish favourable circumstances, Iyer said.
read more at Livemint

PolicyBazaar appoints Sarbvir Singh as CEO, Co-Founder as group CEO

PolicyBazaar appointed former Managing Partner at WaterBridge Ventures, Sarbvir Singh, as its new CEO with Yashish Dahiya, Co-founder of PolicyBazaar, as group CEO. Singh will be reporting to Dahiya, The Economics Times reported. Sarbvir has previously served as the finance head of teleshopping and e-commerce portal HomeShop18 and as managing director of Capital18, an investment arm of Network18.
read more at Entrackr

Volkswagen CFO to leave the car company in mid-2021: Reports

Volkswagen AG Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter will leave by mid-2021 after the carmaker agreed not to extend his contract by the next five years, reports said. Sixty-year-old Witter's contract was due to expire by the end of 2020 but was renewed only till mid-2021. Witter joined VW in 1992 and has been at the company throughout his professional career.
read more at Reuters

Government makes crop insurance schemes voluntary for farmers

The government on Wednesday made its crop insurance schemes voluntary for farmers with existing crop loans or those willing to take new ones. The Union Cabinet approved the revamping to address the existing challenges in the implementation of crop insurance schemes, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said. Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday termed the decision as "retrograde".
read more at Deccan Herald

Centre won't touch Article 371: Amit Shah on Arunachal Statehood Day

The Centre will not touch Article 371, which grants temporary, transitional and special provisions to six North Eastern states, Home Minister Amit Shah said. Misinformation was spread after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir that Article 371 will also be abrogated, Shah added. The Home Minister was speaking in Arunachal Pradesh on its 34th Statehood Day.
read more at India.com

India bigger carbon emitter than China: US Prez candidate Bloomberg

During a Democratic presidential primary debate, US presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg said that India is a bigger carbon emitter than China. He added, "It is an enormous problem. Nobody is doing anything about it." Bloomberg further said that it was ridiculous for the US to leave the 2015 Paris climate agreement and that the country should rejoin it.

SBI Cards' ₹9,000 cr-IPO to open on March 2

SBI Cards and Payments Services, the credit card arm of State Bank of India, will float its initial public offering on March 2, with an aim to raise up to ₹9,000 crore. The company is planning to issue fresh shares worth ₹500 crore and offer up to 130.5 million shares for sale. The bidding process will close on March 5.
read more at Reuters

Hinduja Group, Cerberus looking to buy stake in Yes Bank: Report

Hinduja Group in partnership with private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is looking to put in a bid for Yes Bank, reports said. Representatives from both the companies had met the Reserve Bank of India earlier this month. Till now, Tilden Park Capital Management, Oak Hill Advisors and Silver Point Capital have submitted non-binding expressions of interest documents.
read more at Livemint

Researchers successfully create first 3D map of novel coronavirus

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday announced they have successfully created the first 3D atomic-scale map, or molecular structure, of the novel coronavirus. The breakthrough would support researchers to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs to combat the virus. So far, coronavirus has claimed over 2,000 lives in China.
read more at Livemint

Got frustrated by sexualisation, insults: Millie Bobby Brown on 16th birthday

'Stranger Things' actress Millie Bobby Brown, who turned 16 on Wednesday, shared a clip showing headlines about her, some of which read, "Millie Bobby Brown criticised for adult style" and "The truth about Millie Bobby Brown". "There are moments I get frustrated from...inappropriate comments, sexualisation, and unnecessary insults," she wrote. "Let's focus on what needs changing," Millie added.
read more at Hindustan Times

Apna Time Aayega has 'gaali-galauj', I deserved a better defeat: Kesari lyricist

Lyricist Manoj Muntashir, who had earlier vowed not to attend award shows after his song 'Teri Mitti' from 'Kesari' lost the Best Lyrics Filmfare Award to Gully Boy's 'Apna Time Aayega', said he deserved a "better defeat". Stating that he first heard 'Apna Time Aayega' when his 8-year-son was singing it, Manoj added, "My first reaction was...he has learnt...gaali-galauj."
read more at Koimoi

Naxals blow up school building in Bihar, leave behind anti-CAA pamphlets

In Bihar's Gaya district, Naxals blew up a school building where a CRPF contingent was stationed till recently and left behind pamphlets denouncing the CAA-NPR-NRC and the "fascist BJP government". The hand-written pamphlets urged people to "unite against draconian measures like CAA, NPR and NRC" and questioned "occupation" of school buildings by security forces, Gaya SSP said.
read more at Deccan Herald

What goes around comes around: Shastri recalls his debut in Wellington

India head coach Ravi Shastri took to Twitter to recall his Test debut which he made 39 years ago in Wellington, where India-New Zealand first Test will take place. Shastri wrote, "They say what goes around comes around. Tomorrow, Same day same ground same team same city I made my Test match debut 39 years ago. Unreal. #LoveTestCricket #NZvsIND #Wellington."
read more at Twitter

Samsung Galaxy phone users worldwide get notification that reads just '1'

Samsung Galaxy phone users across the world reported receiving a push notification from Samsung's 'Find My Mobile' app that simply reads '1' with another '1' below it. Several users took to social media and Samsung's community page to report about the notification, believed to have been sent accidentally by Samsung. Tapping the alert does nothing beyond closing the notification shade.
read more at The Financial Express

BJP MLA's son allegedly beats Revenue Inspector in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Surendra Singh's son Hazari Singh has been accused of thrashing a Revenue Inspector over the transfer of one of the Booth Level Officers (BLO) in Ballia. The incident took place after the official expressed his inability to transfer the BLO. However, Hazari Singh denied the allegations and said that the official had misbehaved with him.
read more at ANI

Govt team held hostage over rumours of 'NRC survey' in Greater Noida

A government team of five-six officials was allegedly held hostage by residents in a Greater Noida village after they were mistaken for surveyors "collecting information for the National Register of Citizens". The officials were conducting an economic survey on behalf of the state government. Police said a case has been filed against 41 people.

If Nirbhaya fails to get justice, no victim will be able to get it: Her mother

Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Wednesday said that if her daughter fails to get justice then no other victim of crimes like rape and murder would be able to get justice. She added, "I want to ask you the date is decided but when will she get justice? The court talks about the rights of convicts...but not about my suffering."
read more at Zee News

UK MP denied entry into India has links with Pakistan's ISI: Reports

UK MP Debbie Abrahams, who was denied entry into India, has links with Pakistan's spy agency ISI, reports quoting Indian intelligence sources said. The ISI has been in touch with Abrahams through Raja Najabat Hussain, who is the chairman of JK Self Determination Movement International, reports added. Notably, Abrahams visited Pakistan after being denied entry into India.
read more at Times Now

Nationalism equated with Hitler's Nazi ideology these days: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that the word 'nationalism' is misunderstood these days and it's better to use alternative terms for 'nationalism'. Bhagwat said that during his recent visit to the UK, he was told that some English words don't mean what they traditionally meant. Bhagwat added that 'nationalism' is often equated with a 'Nazi' or 'Fascist' ideology nowadays.
read more at Zee News

600 witnesses record statements in Gargi College molestation case: Report

A fact-finding committee conducting an independent probe into the alleged molestation of students at Delhi University's Gargi College fest on February 6 has recorded and examined the statements of over 600 witnesses, a report said. A preliminary probe by the committee revealed lapses in security at the fest. It also said the college had underestimated the number of participants there.
read more at The New Indian Express

Couple in Hyd bites constable who went to serve them non-bailable warrant

A police constable in Hyderabad was allegedly bitten by a man and his wife when he visited their residence to serve a non-bailable warrant in connection with an old case. The couple attacked him and bit him on his ears, hands and legs. Police have registered a fresh case charging the couple with physical assault on an officer on duty.

Indian cleaner held in Dubai for allegedly stealing 86 watches worth ₹16 crore

A 26-year-old Indian cleaner has gone on trial for allegedly stealing 86 watches worth over ₹16 crore from a watch and jewellery shop in Dubai where he worked. Two Pakistani cousins, both fugitives, are on trial in absentia for possession of the stolen watches. The accused dropped watches in the dustbin to smuggle it outside the shop later.
read more at Times Now

17-yr-old climate activist Wijohn to contest polls against NZ PM Ardern

The Green Party in New Zealand has nominated 17-year-old climate activist Luke Wijohn to contest against PM Jacinda Ardern for the upcoming general elections in September. Wijohn said that action on climate change and social inequality will be two main points of his campaign. Wijohn, who'll turn 18 next week, gained prominence after organising the 'School Strike 4 Climate' marches.
read more at Reuters

Prince Harry, Meghan to end their royal duties on March 31

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will return to the UK from Canada for engagements at the end of February and end their royal duties on March 31. Prince Harry and Meghan had announced that they would step down as senior royals and work to become financially independent. They will be represented via their UK foundation from April 1.
read more at The New Indian Express

L Brands set to sell Victoria’s Secret at $1.1 billion valuation

L Brands is about to close a deal to sell 55% stake in Victoria's Secret to private-equity firm Sycamore Partners at $1.1 billion valuation, reports said. It may sell the remaining 45% stake in a separate company, which will include Victoria's Secret's Pink chain. The CEO of L Brands, Leslie H Wexner, is expected to step down from the position.
read more at Livemint

Ananya Panday to star opposite Vijay Deverakonda in his debut B'wood film

Dharma Productions on Thursday announced their new project, a "pan-India venture", starring Bollywood actress Ananya Panday and South actor Vijay Deverakonda. This will mark Deverakonda's debut in Bollywood which will be directed by Puri Jagannadh who has directed more than 25 Telugu films. "Couldn't be more excited...looking forward to a super fun time on the set," Ananya tweeted.
read more at The Quint

Why should I be known by his name?: Taapsee on comparisons with Ayushmann

On being compared with Ayushmann Khurrana, Taapsee Pannu said that he is doing fabulous work but added, "Why am I supposed to be known by his name?" This comes after producer Tanujj Garg on Twitter called Taapsee "Bollywood's female version of Ayushmann". She replied to him, "What about...Bollywood ki pehli Taapsee Pannu?" to which he commented, "Woh toh ho hi."
read more at Koimoi

Tabu to recreate song 'Ami Je Tomar' in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2': Reports

Actress Tabu will reportedly recreate Vidya Balan's 'Ami Je Tomar' dance sequence in the upcoming Anees Bazmee's film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'. As per the reports, Tabu is "really excited and looking forward to it". The film is scheduled to release on July 31, 2020, 13 years after the first instalment 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' was released in 2007.
read more at India.com

S Korea reports first death of person infected with coronavirus

South Korea on Thursday reported the first death of a person infected with the new coronavirus in the country. The country also reported over 22 new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 104 cases. Majority of the new infections were traced back to a church, which was attended by an infected person, in Daegu city.
read more at Reuters

Google plans to move UK users' accounts outside EU's jurisdiction

Google is planning to move its UK users' accounts out of European Union privacy regulators' control. The accounts will be placed under the US jurisdiction instead. "Nothing about our services or our approach to privacy will change, including how we collect or process data, and how we respond to law enforcement demands for users' information," Google said.
read more at Reuters

CCI has no proof against Amazon, Flipkart offering deep discounts: Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court has said that the Competition Commission of India's claim that Amazon and Flipkart entered into exclusive deals with smartphone manufacturers were based on allegations. CCI had ordered an investigation against the e-commerce platforms after a complaint by Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh alleging practices such as deep discounts. Amazon said the probe was 'untenable in law'.
read more at Entrackr

India ranked 131 out of 180 nations in WHO 'child flourishing index'

India ranks lower than 130 other countries on measurements of children's survival, health, education and nutrition, factors taken into account in the World Health Organisation's 'child flourishing index'. The report additionally states that every country in the world has levels of excess carbon emissions that will prevent younger generations from a healthy and sustainable future.
read more at The Lancet

Bacteria on ISS no more dangerous than earthbound strains: Study

Analysing the two species of bacteria that have colonised the potable water dispenser aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a new study suggests that they are no more dangerous than closely related strains on Earth. The bacteria have persisted in the water dispenser, that was installed in 2009, despite periodic flushing with an extra-strength iodine cleaning solution.
read more at Phys

Man held for 'offensive' Facebook post on UP CM Yogi Adityanath

A man was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida for allegedly sharing a Facebook post deemed "offensive" against CM Yogi Adityanath, officials said on Thursday. A complaint was filed by a local resident after which the accused, identified as Chand Quraishi, was arrested. In 2019, two were arrested in UP for allegedly making objectionable comments on social media against Adityanath.
read more at Deccan Herald

Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh sabotaged mutual trust: China

China has "firmly opposed" Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh on the occasion of 34th Statehood Day, saying it violated China's "territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust". China urged India to stop taking "any action that may further complicate border issue", the country's Foreign Ministry said. China has claimed that Arunachal Pradesh is part of south Tibet.

Wanted to be a woman Army officer, but was concerned by attitude towards them: Gul

Actress Gul Panag, an Army officer's daughter, has praised the Supreme Court's judgement in favour of permanent commission to women officers in Army. "I was determined to become a woman officer. But, I...noted with concern the condescending attitude when I was 13...towards...women officers," she said. Gul added the "battle has just begun" and there's still a long way to go.
read more at The Quint

Haasan, Kajal were 10 secs away from being crushed: Designer on accident on set

Costume designer Amritha Ram has revealed that she, Kamal Haasan and Kajal Aggarwal had a narrow escape during the accident wherein a crane collapsed on 'Indian 2' set. "Literally ten seconds away from being crushed...[Fortunately,] Kamal sir, Kajal and I who were right under are safe," she tweeted. Three people died and several others were injured in the accident.
read more at Zee News

All it took was a fraction of second to stay alive: Kajal on accident on film set

Actress Kajal Aggarwal took to Twitter to mourn the demise of 3 people on the set of her film 'Indian 2' after a crane collapsed during shooting. "In so much shock, denial, trauma from the monstrous crane accident last night. All it took was a fraction of a second to stay alive and type this tweet," she wrote.
read more at Pinkvilla

UP priest with tumour on face worshiped as reincarnation of Lord Jambavantha

An Uttar Pradesh priest born with a facial tumour is worshipped by local villagers, who believe him to be an incarnation of Lord Jambavantha. The 32-year-old, who lives with his children and visually impaired wife, said, "I tried visiting many hospitals but no one could find me a proper cure, I almost exhausted my savings."
read more at Daily Mail

2 elderly passengers from coronavirus-hit Japan cruise ship dead: Reports

Two passengers, a man and a woman in their 80s, from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have died, reports said. The two Japanese citizens were earlier taken off the ship, which had been quarantined since February 3. Over 620 of the ship's 3,700 passengers have been infected with the coronavirus.
read more at Reuters

I don't see that as hate at all: Manjrekar on how he handles 'hate tweets'

After being asked by a user during a question-answer session on Twitter how he handles hate tweets against him, cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said, "I don't see that as hate at all." He added, "It's the unbounded passion that fans have for the game...This passion...also makes Indian cricket a billion dollar industry in which people like me make a living."
read more at CricTracker

Williamson criticises World Test Championship points system, calls it unfair

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has criticised the points system used for the World Test Championship wherein a team gets a maximum of 120 points irrespective of the length of the series. "Some teams playing five, some teams playing two...difference in countries...there's just heaps of different parts to it that don’t quite make the points of equal measure," he added.

UK woman thanks Elon Musk after Tesla car saves 8 lives, Musk responds

A UK-based woman thanked Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter after Tesla car's brakes automatically turned on as a tree came crashing down on road during Storm Dennis and saved her, her boyfriend and her mother's lives. She also informed Musk that the car saved five other people's lives who were coming from the other side in another Tesla car.
read more at Twitter

Larry Tesler, the computer scientist behind 'cut, copy and paste', dies at 74

American computer scientist Larry Tesler who worked at Apple, Amazon, Yahoo and Xerox and created computerized cut, copy and paste, passed away aged 74. Tesler, who was recruited by late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and worked at Apple for 17 years, was a major contributor to key Macintosh software. Born in New York, Tesler studied computer science at Stanford University.
read more at Livemint

Indian man comes from New Zealand to immerse dog's ashes in Ganga

Pramod Kumar who hails from Bihar's Purniya district and has been living in New Zealand for the past 40 years, came to India to perform the last rites of his dog named Lykan. The dog had died in New Zealand and Kumar cremated him there as per Hindu tradition. He then brought Lykan's ashes to India to immerse in Ganga.
read more at Zee News

IIT-Madras professor hides cellphone in women's toilet to secretly record students

An assistant professor of IIT-Madras has been arrested after he allegedly hid a cellphone inside women's washroom in the campus. The issue came to light when a 30-year-old PhD student found the phone inside the washroom with its camera mode on. "Immediately, she rushed outside, locked the men's bathroom from outside and called the security guard," police said.
read more at The New Indian Express

Screwdriver dipped in petrol put into Dalit man's private part for stealing money

Rajasthan Police on Wednesday arrested seven persons for allegedly beating up two Dalit youths on the suspicion of stealing money from a two-wheeler agency. A video of the incident shows one of the victims, who has his pants pulled down, held to the ground and a man inserting a screwdriver dipped in petrol inside his private part.

Melania Trump to visit Delhi govt school to attend 'happiness class': Reports

US First Lady Melania Trump will visit a Delhi government school to attend a 'happiness class', a curriculum introduced by the AAP government. CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Education Minister, are likely to welcome the First Lady at the school. The curriculum involves meditation, storytelling and activity sessions to encourage mental health well-being.
read more at Zee News

Delhi government to enrol 17,000 entrepreneurs for its schools

The Delhi government is going to enrol 17,000 entrepreneurs as volunteers to help set the "entrepreneurial mindset" amongst school students. "Our entrepreneurs' recollection of their journey will help students learn from real-life experiences," Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said. "The Delhi government will be giving out seed money of ₹1,000 to each student for their field project," Sisodia added.
read more at Zee News

SC rejects Uphaar fire victims' plea to enhance jail term for Ansal brothers

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition by families of 59 who died in a fire at Delhi's Uphaar Cinema in 1997. The petitioners wanted the SC to enhance the jail term for the convicts Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal. The SC in its 2015 verdict had let off Sushil and Gopal with a fine of ₹30 crore each.

Put ₹100 in answer sheet: UP principal advises students appearing for Boards

A school principal in Uttar Pradesh's Mau has been arrested after he was caught on camera giving tips to students on cheating in board exams. "Don't leave any answers. Just put a ₹100 note in the answer sheet...the teachers will blindly give you marks," the principal had said. He also said students can talk among themselves and write the papers.
read more at The Quint

Suspect in German shooting that killed 9 found dead at home

German police on Thursday said that the suspect, who killed at least nine people in two shooting incidents in Hanau, was found dead along with another body at his home. "There are currently no indications of other perpetrators," police said. The police also added that investigations into the identity of the victims and the suspected perpetrator are ongoing.
read more at The Quint

Scientists explain how grapes produce sparks when microwaved

Scientists combined thermal imaging with computer simulations of electromagnetic fields to explain the production of sparks from microwave-irradiated grapes. The team found that the microwave's energy doesn't build up inside the grape, but instead it gets directed from both grapes to the same spot, creating an electromagnetic field between them, that supercharges the electrolytes to create plasma.
read more at AAAS

'Shubh Mangal...' not specifically about homophobia: Hitesh Kewalya

Hitesh Kewalya, director of 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan', said in an interview that the film is not specifically about homophobia or homosexuality. "It's about the feeling of love, and we want everyone to come to the theatres and experience it," he added. Kewalya further said that the idea of the film came up after he finished writing 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'.

Was preparing my speech since 2016: Taapsee on winning Filmfare award

Taapsee Pannu, who won Best Actress (Critics) award at the 65th Filmfare Awards, said that she had been preparing her speech since 2016. "It took time...I finally got it. What do I say? I've been preparing my speech...never got the chance to say it," she added. "I had not prepared a speech this time around," Taapsee further said.
read more at PINKVILLA

Box-office hasn't changed the way I see my films: Aanand L Rai on 'Zero'

Producer and director Aanand L Rai, while commenting on the box-office failure of his 2018 film 'Zero', said box-office collections haven't changed the way he sees his films. "Every film is like a chapter...I've gone silent after every film...tried to learn my lessons," he added. Rai further said that his next film 'Atrangi Re' is not going to be "safe".
read more at Hindustan Times

Players may look for exit: Messi on City's 2-yr Champions League ban

Speaking about the effects of Manchester City's two-year-ban from the Champions League, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi said, "There are many players who may look for an exit or perhaps not." "It is surprising because nobody thought that such a thing could happen... The Champions League is very attractive so two years without playing it is screwed," Messi added.
read more at Times Now

FC Goa 1st Indian club to secure AFC Champions League group stage spot

FC Goa on Wednesday became the first Indian football team to secure a berth in the group stage of the AFC Champions League. The club secured the spot in the continent's top-tier club competition after beating Jamshedpur FC 5-0 in the ISL. Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have played in the Asian Club Championships in the past.
read more at Times Now

Nice to be back playing in South Africa: Steve Smith

Returning to South Africa for the first time after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, former Australia captain Steve Smith said, "It's nice to be back playing in South Africa." "The last time I was here things didn't end overly well, but I've also got really fond memories of playing here," Smith added about the ball-tampering scandal.
read more at Times Now

Will send notice to BJP's Amit Malviya, Rao over 'ISI mole' remark: Digvijaya

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said he will send defamation notice to BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao and Amit Malviya for accusing him of being "ISI mole". "If that's the case then...why have I not been arrested?" he added. Earlier, Rao said that there is a "connection emerging between Congress' idea of Hindu terror and LeT and ISI's 26/11 strategy".
read more at ANI

16 Pak army men killed as Baloch Liberation Tigers attack military camp

At least 16 personnel of the Pakistani Army were killed in an attack by Balochistan Liberation Tigers on an Army post in Singsila. They reportedly also seized all weapons and ammunition of the army men and set the army camp on fire. As per reports, the fighters said two army vehicles were also destroyed in the ambush.
read more at ANI

Vodafone Idea pays ₹1,000 cr to telecom dept towards dues: Report

Vodafone Idea has paid ₹1,000 crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in AGR dues, days after it cleared dues worth ₹2,500 crore, reports said. Vodafone owes the government a total of over ₹50,000 crore in AGR dues. Vodafone Idea was the worst hit by the Supreme Court's order that asked telcos to pay ₹1.4 lakh crore in AGR dues.
read more at Livemint

72% mutual fund investments are powered by UPI: Groww

With over 5 million users, investment platform Groww is making investments in mutual funds simpler. In 2019, Groww introduced the UPI payment option resulting in more than 72% investors choosing the mode on the platform. Backed by Sequoia India and Mukesh Bansal, Groww is set to introduce stock investments in addition to the existing mutual funds.
read more at Groww

Kartik Aaryan is the new brand ambassador for Flying Machine Jeans

India's iconic jeanswear brand Flying Machine has signed up Kartik Aaryan as its new brand ambassador. Alok Dubey, CEO of Arvind Lifestyle Brands said "Kartik Aaryan is immensely popular with youth and truly represents the brand persona of being The New Cool besides being quirky, witty and very versatile with his fashion choices. This makes it a great collaboration."
read more at NNNNOW

I've lost 3 of my colleagues: Haasan on death of 3 people on his film set

Following the death of 3 people on the set of Kamal Haasan's film 'Indian 2' after an accident, the actor tweeted, "Today's accident was...horrific...I've lost 3 of my colleagues." "The grief of the families who lost them would be immense. I share their grief as one of them," he added. A crane had collapsed on the set during shooting.
read more at Twitter

Spielberg's 23-yr-old daughter reveals she's a pornstar, says 'dad supports me'

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg's adopted 23-year-old daughter Mikaela has revealed she's working as a porn star and added that she recently broke the news to her parents via FaceTime. She said they have been supportive of her career choice. Mikaela further described herself as a "sexual creature" and said she was eager to find a way to "capitalise on her body".
read more at Daily Mail

Container comes off truck and hits passenger bus in Tamil Nadu, 19 killed

At least 19 people have been killed after the state-run bus they were travelling in collided with a container that had come off a truck coming from the opposite side in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore. The container was carrying tiles and some passengers are still feared trapped under debris. The bus had 48 seats, all of which were booked.
read more at The Quint

Family threatens to take 'Jal Samadhi', says house is flooded since 3 months

A family in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur said they'll take 'Jal Samadhi' as their house has been flooded due to a blockage in a nearby water stream since the past three months. Jashpur DM said they are working on the family's complaint. "Their area has become low-lying due to some constructions. We're deliberating upon what to do about it," the DM added.
read more at ANI

Four 5-star hotels in Mumbai get threat mail from 'Lashkar-e-Taiba'

Mumbai hotels The Leela, Sea Princess, The Park and Ramada on Wednesday received threat email, with its sender claiming to be a member of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, a police official said. The hotels were thoroughly checked and nothing suspicious was found, the official added. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad also checked the hotels but found nothing suspicious.

Nirbhaya convict bangs head on wall to hurt himself in jail days before hanging

Vinay Kumar Sharma, one of the death row convicts of Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, attempted to hurt himself by banging his head against a wall in his cell on February 16, a Tihar Jail official said. He sustained minor injuries as a result, the official added. All the four convicts are scheduled to be hanged on March 3.
read more at Deccan Herald

Woman on way to conduct cleanliness drive falls off cliff at Pune fort, dies

A 20-year-old woman trekker, Siddhi Sunil Kamte, died after falling off a cliff during a trek at Pune's Hadsar fort on Wednesday, police said. She was trekking with 35 others and they were supposed to conduct a cleanliness drive at the top to mark Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary, an official said. While trekking, Kamte lost her balance and fell.

Kolkata university Dean, locked in campus for 6 days, escapes as students sleep

Kolkata's Presidency University Dean Arun Maiti left the campus on early Wednesday morning after being gheraoed by a section of students for over six consecutive days. Maiti escaped around 3 am while the 30 agitating students were sleeping in the corridor. Students had sought immediate handing over of under-renovation wards of Hindu Hostel and proper sanitation facilities for girls' hostel.
read more at The New Indian Express

Delhi man killed after 50 bullets fired at his car from another car

A man travelling in his Scorpio car was killed by unknown assailants, who fired at least 50 bullets at his vehicle in Delhi on Wednesday night. The man was recently released from jail in attempt to murder case. "We believe the attackers too were travelling by a Scorpio...It seems to be the fallout of a gang war," police said.
read more at Hindustan Times

What's your salary & could you live on ₹12k a month? Woman asks Putin

During Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Saint Petersburg, a Russian woman asked him how much he earns and whether he could live on her income of $170 (around ₹12,000) a month. "I think it's very hard," Putin said according to Russian media reports. The woman, who lives on disability benefits, also asked Putin to pose for a photo.
read more at Hindustan Times

Trump offered pardon to Assange if he denied 2016 Russia leak: Lawyer

US President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he denied Russia leaked emails of his 2016 election rival Democratic party's campaign, Assange's lawyer told a London court. As per reports, the lawyer said that Trump conveyed the offer through former US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Trump's press secretary denied it stating "president barely knows" Rohrabacher.
read more at Hindustan Times

8 shot dead after gunmen attack 2 hookah bars in Germany

At least eight people have been killed and six injured after gunmen opened fire at two hookah bars before fleeing in a dark-coloured car in Germany's Hanau on Wednesday night. While a man was arrested, two police units are searching for unknown number of perpetrators who fled the scene. Police said the motive of the attack is unclear yet.
read more at Daily Mail

Brazil senator shot after he intervenes to stop police protest

Brazilian senator Cid Gomes was shot on Wednesday as he tried to intervene to stop a strike by military police demanding higher salaries in Ceara. Gomes, who is a former governor of the state, was hit by two bullets as he reportedly tried to ram an excavator machine to a barricade that separated his group from the masked police officers.

Scent of romantic partner can improve sleep: Study

A new psychology research from the University of British Columbia has suggested that the scent of a romantic partner can improve sleep. The researchers found that those study participants who were exposed to their partner's scent overnight experienced better sleep quality, even though their partner was not physically present. The study observed sleep efficiency improvement of over two per cent.
read more at UBC

I was in my teens when I met Terence, today I'm judging a show with him: Malaika

Malaika Arora has said that she was learning dancing when she was in teens at choreographer Terence Lewis' academy and added that today she is judging a show with him. Recalling her audition days, Malaika said, "When I started...faced...rejections...that never let me down." "I started modelling at 17...today...in the position to judge a show," she added.
read more at Free Press Journal

Shah Rukh and Rajkumar Hirani's film to be about immigration: Reports

Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani are reportedly collaborating for a movie based on the topic of immigration. "It will be a light-hearted film. But would have a deep dramatic core to it. Most importantly, it is something Shah Rukh has not done before," reports added. Rajkumar Hirani and SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment will co-produce the film, reports claimed.
read more at Bollywood Hungama

Understood the meaning of patriarchy after I started working: Taapsee

Taapsee Pannu has said that she understood the meaning of patriarchy after she started working in the films. "If the father says you cannot go out...have to be in the house by 8 pm because guys can't control themselves...realisation that this is not okay comes after...questioning," she added. "You've to ensure...people start to recognise change...through your work," Taapsee further said.
read more at Free Press Journal

20-yr-old US rapper Pop Smoke shot dead in home invasion

US rapper Pop Smoke was shot dead during a home invasion at California's Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, police said. American record label Republic Records tweeted, "We're devastated by...loss of Pop Smoke [he was 20]....our prayers...go out to his family...as we mourn this loss." Reportedly several masked men, one armed with a gun, broke into Smoke's house and shot him dead.
read more at Free Press Journal

Producer Ramesh Taurani files police complaint against fraud

Producer Ramesh Taurani has filed a complaint against alleged fraud at Mumbai's Khar police station. Reportedly, the fraud happened when "a person or group of people" called aspiring actors to audition for a music video, claiming it would be produced by Tips Industries Ltd of which Taurani is the Managing Director. "It's disgusting...misusing my name for...personal benefit," Taurani said.
read more at Zee News

UK tells its citizens not to leave quarantined cruise ship in Japan

UK Foreign Office told its citizens to stay onboard the quarantined cruise ship in Japan. There's a chance that people who disembark will not be able to join evacuation flight, it added. The passengers may face administrative or logistical problems, reports said. The office further said it's planning an evacuation flight from Tokyo to the UK as soon as possible.
read more at The Guardian

TikTok launches feature in UK to let parents control what their kids view

TikTok has introduced a new feature called 'Family Safety Mode' that will link the parents' accounts with their teen kids, in a bid to take more control over what content they see. Parents will also be allowed to limit or completely disable direct messages for their children. They can also take charge of how long their children use the app.
read more at Engadget

Digital adoption platform startup Whatfix raises $32 mn led by Sequoia

San Jose-based digital adoption platform Whatfix has raised $32 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital. Whatfix's existing set of investors including Eight Roads Ventures, Fidelity International, F-Prime Capital also participated in the round. Founded in 2013 by Khadim Batti and Vara Kumar, Whatfix helps companies adopt software application.
read more at YourStory

Pacific Ocean plankton have thinner shells due to acidification: Study

A new study has found after conducting nano CT-scans of selected equatorial Pacific Ocean planktonic foraminifera, that all modern specimens had up to 76% thinner shells than their historic counterparts. The study points out that the thinning of the shells is a result of the increasing acidification of the Pacific Ocean.
read more at Nature

Palaeontologists identify new Jurassic amphibian

A group of Russian and German palaeontologists have described a previously unknown genus and species of prehistoric salamanders, whose remains were found in a Russian quarry. Based on the data obtained, the palaeontologists created 3D reconstructions of the vertebrae and described their internal structure. The structure proved to be very similar to that of the large stem salamanders.
read more at PLoS Medicine

US Navy researchers monitoring changing Arctic using sound

US Naval Research Laboratory scientists have developed ice-tethered acoustic buoys to monitor the acoustic and oceanographic environment in the changing Arctic region. The buoys have been placed in the Arctic region to perform ocean acoustic tomography, a technique that uses sound waves to image sections of ocean temperature and current.
read more at Phys

3 dead, 10 injured after crane collapses on set of 'Indian 2' near Chennai

At least three people died and around 10 others were injured after a crane collapsed on the set of Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil-language movie 'Indian 2' during the shooting near Chennai, ANI reported. Injured persons have been shifted to a hospital. As per reports, the accident happened while the set was being erected.
read more at ANI

Bowler once gave away 77 runs in just one over

Wellington's Bert Vance conceded 77 runs in an over in a first-class match against Canterbury on February 20, 1990. Canterbury needed 95 to win in two overs and to encourage them to go after the target and lose wickets, Vance bowled a 22-ball over, including 17 no-balls. Interestingly, only five legitimate deliveries were bowled as umpires lost track of proceedings.
read more at Cricket Country

Brendon McCullum hit Test cricket's fastest ton in his last match

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum scored Test cricket history's fastest-ever century off 54 balls in his career's last match before retirement, against Australia on February 20, 2016. McCullum broke Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq's joint record, who scored a century each off 56 balls. Further, McCullum is the only player to make 101 consecutive Test appearances from his debut.
read more at Cricket Country

Government buys drones, specialist equipment to avert new locust attack

Government is buying drones and specialist equipment to monitor the movement of locusts and spray insecticides to control a new outbreak that could destroy crops, officials said. Earlier this year, authorities were able to bring swarms of desert locusts under control. However, locust outbreak in Pakistan has again raised concerns about the safety of crops like wheat and oilseeds.
read more at Livemint

Using helmets connected to bikes by Bluetooth to stop theft: Bounce

Bengaluru-based bike rental startup Bounce said it is using helmets connected to the bikes by Bluetooth to stop the theft of helmets by users. These helmets ensure that a Bounce user can't end a trip without returning the helmet, the startup said. Earlier this month, images showing destroyed Bounce bikes and people using stolen helmets with Bounce branding went viral.
read more at Deccan Herald

How will the UK's new points-based immigration system work?

Potential migrants will have to score 70 points under the immigration system to qualify for a UK visa. A job offer from an approved sponsor and a job at a 'required skill level' carry 20 points each. Migrants will be awarded 20 points for holding a PhD in a STEM subject or if there's a shortage in a particular occupation.
read more at Reuters

65-yr-old clerk jailed for stealing ₹121 crore meant for the poor in Denmark

A 65-year-old clerk has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison after she was found guilty of stealing over ₹121 crore of Danish government funds intended for the poor. Britta Nielsen was accused of diverting funds to her own accounts over a 25-year period until 2018. Nielsen admitted at her trial that the money had become an addiction to her.
read more at Reuters

Income Tax Dept fixes bug that could have let attackers hack its website

The Income Tax India website has fixed a security flaw that would have allowed any individual to hack and get control of the website. The vulnerability, which existed in Microsoft SharePoint, would have allowed attackers to run arbitrary code on the server to affect the website control. It was reported to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team on February 12.
read more at The Next Web