National News
TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran named new Tata Sons chairman
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), was on Thursday named the chairman of Tata Sons, two months after the promoter of India’s biggest conglomerate removed Cyrus Mistry from the post. The decision was taken at an unscheduled board meeting today.
BJP releases first list of candidates for Punjab and Goa Polls
Health Minister J P Nadda today released the Bharatiya Janata Party's first list of candidates for the upcoming Punjab and Goa Assembly polls. BJP made official the names of 17 candidates from Punjab and 29 from Goa at a press briefing in the national capital.
Election Commission censures Sakshi Maharaj over his population boom remarks, issues warning
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sakshi Maharaj, who last week blamed Muslims for population boom, was on today censured by the Election Commission but and has been let off with a warning. Censuring Sakshi Maharaj, the Commission warned him of stern action for any further violation of the MCC.
RSS hits back at ‘mentally unstable’ Rahul Gandhi, says he has lowest IQ in Nehru-Gandhi family
A day after Rahul Gandhi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of destroying the core spirit of India, the RSS today hit back at the Congress vice-president by saying that he was mentally unstable. Reacting to Rahul’s remarks, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha said that the Congress vice-president has the lowest intellectual level in the Nehru-Gandhi family.
SC rejects plea to allow Jallikattu, says ‘can’t deliver verdict before Pongal’
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea to allow the bull-taming sport Jallikattu held in Tamil Nadu during Pongal festivities every year. The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty in 2014 that has been continuously opposed by political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Second Scorpene class submarine INS Khanderi launched
The second Scorpene class submarine, INS Khanderi, was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai today in the presence of MoS for Defence Subhash Bhamre. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba was also present on the occasion when the submarine was separated from the pontoon on which it was assembled.
International News
France backs India on proscribing Masood Azhar, calls for ‘decisive’ action against LeT, JeM
France today supported India’s demand for proscription of JeM chief Masood Azhar by the United States Security Council (UNSC). Not only that, France also came out openly against Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen and called for “decisive action” against all such groups “targeting” India.
India’s missile programmes ‘a threat to regional peace’, says Pakistan
Pakistan has informed member states of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) that India’s missile programmes was posing a danger to regional peace and stability. Additional Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told a visiting MTCR delegation that the introduction of destabilizing systems by India such as missile defence programmes and inter-continental ballistic missiles are not in the interest of peace and stability in South Asia.
Saudi Arabia hikes India's annual Haj quota to 1.70 lakh, biggest increase in 29 years
In the biggest expansion in last 29 years, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has increased India's annual Haj quota from 1.36 lakh to 1.70 lakh. The Saudi authorities had five years ago slashed quotas for foreign pilgrims coming from each country by 20 per cent in view of safety of the devotees as they undertook expansion of Grand Mosque there.
Rex Tillerson opposes blanket ban on Muslims entering US
Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, has said that he is not in favour of imposing a blanket ban on Muslims entering the United States. Tillerson, however, asserted that the US must win the war against Islamic terrorists not just on the battlefield, but in the war of ideas as well.
Business News
In USA Amazon is selling shoes, shoelace metal hoops bearing a likeness to Tricolour
Canadian arm of E-commerce giant Amazon today pulled back Indian flag themed door mats after a warning from external affairs minister Sushma Sawaraj that India will not issue visa to its officials, but in USA they are still selling shoes, and shoelace metal hoops bearing a likeness to the Indian Tricolour .
Shut down SBI branches till cash flow improves, says bankers' union
A bankers' union has asked SBI to shut down its branches till the supply of cash gets normalised so the staff are not put to risk to face the ire of banking public. "We have suggested to the SBI management to down the branch shutters till the supply of cash gets normalised. It is better to close down the branches for some time than the staff face the ire of the public for no fault of theirs," said Senior Vice President of the AIBOC.
Pay Rs 600 cr before Feb 6 or go back to jail, SC tells Sahara chief Subrata Roy
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy to deposit Rs 600 crore before the Securities and Exchange Board of India by February 6 or go to jail. The court said “too much indulgence has already been given to Sahara which is more than any other litigant.”
Cyrus Mistry files contempt petition at NCLT against Tata Sons for calling EGM
Outset Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry's investment firms have filed a contempt of court petition with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) against the salt-to-software conglomerate for calling an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) to remove former as a Director on its Board.
Entertainment News
Here’s the first look from Madame Tussauds Delhi, to be open in June
This piece of news will definitely make movie buffs smile. World famous wax museum Madame Tussauds will soon be making its debut in India. Some of the pictures of the wax studios were unveiled today. One among them was of Megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
David Guetta’s Bengaluru concert cancelled, authorities cite ‘safety concerns’
Grammy award winner David Guetta’s music concert scheduled for Thursday night in Bengaluru has been cancelled with the organisers citing “law and order situation” in light of the alleged molestation on New Year’s Eve as the reason. The DJ, 49, is on a four-city tour which was expected to begin from Bengaluru and then move to Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi.
On-screen ‘Dangal’ girls Sanya and Fatima ruled, off-screen SRK turned them foes
The off screen bonding of actresses Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra turned out to be wonderful on the silver screen in ‘Dangal’. But, someone has created tiff between the two, and its none other than the superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Sports News
Never thought would captain India in all three formats: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli on Wednesday expressed his happiness at the prospect of leading India in all three formats of cricket, terming it "surreal". Kohli, the Test skipper, succeeded M.S. Dhoni as the limited overs team skipper recently after the Ranchi-born cricketer stepped down. He will lead India in the first of the three-match ODI series against England here on Sunday.
Did ousted BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke try to scare England to abandon tour?
Days after the Supreme Court ordered an overhaul in the top brass of the Indian cricket administration body, it has emerged that former BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, who was rendered ineligible as an office-bearer after his ouster from the Board, had called up the president of the England Cricket Board (ECB) Giles Clarke, allegedly informing him about “problems” over hosting the limited-over series.
