After full-blown chaos, MCD’s Standing Committee to be re-elected on Monday

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After full-blown chaos, MCD’s Standing Committee to be re-elected on Monday

Following ruckus for the third straight day, the House of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was on Friday adjourned till Monday morning with Mayor Shelly Oberoi announcing that re-election to pick the Standing Committee members will be held at 11 am on February 27.

All hell broke loose on Friday after Oberoi stalled the recounting of votes for electing the members of the all-powerful MCD Standing Committee following objections raised by AAP.

It was free for all in the MCD House with BJP and AAP councilors trading blows at each other, showing scant disregard for the sanctity of the House.

Protesting against the Mayor’s decision to stall the recounting process, BJP councilors started breaking mikes, tearing ballot papers, and even damaging the polling booths amid sloganeering.

“The poll to elect the members of the Standing Committee will be held on February 27,” Oberoi said amid sloganeering by councilors from both sides in the House.

“Today is a most unfortunate day. The House’s reputation was not taken care of. Before the Standing Committee election, we heard BJP’s demands and made sure that they were met. But when the counting started and they (BJP) realized that they are losing, BJP councilors created a ruckus,” Oberoi said while addressing the media after the House was adjourned.

“They have not just targeted me, but other women councilors were also targeted. They are not just disrespecting the House, but the Chair of the Mayor too. Today, I want to appeal to the BJP to accept defeat,” said Oberoi.

AAP leader Atishi said, “I appeal to the BJP to accept the mandate of the people of Delhi. The people have thrown them away and let AAP run the show. If the Mayor is not safe, how can the other women feel safe?”

On BJP’s allegations, Atishi showed a video and said, “You can see all the videos chronologically and you’ll see who started the ruckus. AAP councilors who were standing up, I was trying to back them off. After this presser, we will go to the Kamla Market police station and file an FIR against the BJP for the ‘murder attempt’ on a women councilor of AAP.”

Oberoi later tweeted: “Requested an urgent appointment with the @DelhiPolice Commissioner tomorrow regarding the attack on me by BJP Councillors in the MCD House.”

Earlier, Oberoi had said while stalling the recounting process that one party is ready for the process, while the other is not.

“So I am stopping the recounting process,” Oberoi said.

Women’s T20 World Cup: Hosts South Africa march on to final with thrilling win over England

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Women’s T20 World Cup: Hosts South Africa march on to final with thrilling win over England

South Africa edged England in a thrilling semifinal to reach their first-ever ICC Womens T20 World Cup final with a six-run win here on Friday.

Tazmin Brits’s 68 set South Africa up for a commanding total of 164 for four, as she combined for a 96-run opening stand with Laura Wolvaardt, with no bowler safe from an onslaught.

England looked to respond in the same vein, racing to 50 runs before wickets regularly halted their progress, Brits taking four catches in the performance of a lifetime.

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight tried to steer England home, but they could not deny South Africa a place in the showpiece on home soil.

Brits and Wolvaardt showed none of the nerves on display against Bangladesh just three days ago as they set the tone for a run-fest. The duo started patiently, but flicked the switch for Charlie Dean’s first over, the fifth of the innings, as the off-spinner was dispatched for a 75-meter six by Wolvaardt, the first maximum of the day, as Dean conceded 14.

Brits survived an LBW shout in the 13th over, with replays showing the delivery from Dean had hit the opener’s glove before hitting her hip. The next over brought two milestones, Wolvaardt’s earned her fifty off 42 balls with a boundary but was out three balls later as she edged a ballooning catch to Dean to end the first-wicket partnership at 96 and give Sophie Ecclestone the breakthrough.

Brits just kept going, however, smoking a six back over Sarah Glenn’s head to bring up South Africa’s hundred as the leg-spinner was taken for 18 runs in the over.

Just as the talented Ecclestone was needed to dismiss Wolvaardt, an impressive catch from Katherine Sciver-Brunt was required to undo Brits, the veteran bowler running around to her left and diving to dismiss Brits for 68 from 55 balls.

Ecclestone delivered again in her final over removing Chloe Tryon for three as she pulled a shot straight to Nat Sciver-Brunt before Nadine de Klerk departed for a duck two balls later.

But while Ecclestone had reined South Africa in again, conceding only three, Katherine Sciver-Brunt released any momentum, coughing up 18 runs, including a five-run no-ball off her last over as South Africa set 165 to win.

England showed they were more than up for the fight as Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley’s fifty partnership arrived after only 28 balls, Dunkley heaving Nonkululeko Mlaba for three fours in a row to bring up the half-century.

She was first to fall for South Africa as Shabnim Ismail forced Wyatt into a splice which Brits held onto as Dunkley departed for 28 from 16.

While Brits’ first catch was steady, her second was incredible as she dived and reached the ball just in time to send Alice Capsey back to the hutch for a duck and leave England teetering at 55 for two at the end of the powerplay.

Despite having Nat Sciver-Brunt alongside her, Wyatt led the charge as her partner struggled to find the gaps, a fact that became all the more worrying when Wyatt became Brits’ third catch of the innings as she went for 34.

Natalie Sciver-Brunt was living dangerously, successfully overturning an LBW decision before being dropped by Tryon on 17, but the close shave seemed to fuel her as she found her rhythm scooping Ismail for back-to-back fours.

Just as soon as she found her form, she was gone, Brits taking another catch as Natalie Sciver-Brunt departed for 40 with England needing 34 from 24 balls.

Amy Jones lasted only three balls, Ecclestone two, and Katherine Sciver-Brunt only one as Ayabonga Khaka took three wickets in her final over.

With 13 needed off the last over, Ismail equaled Anya Shrubsole for most wickets in a T20 World Cup with the wicket of Knight, but the real prize came three balls later as South Africa sealed their place in the final on Sunday where they will meet holders Australia.

Brief scores:

South Africa 164/4 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 68, Laura Wolvaardt 53; Sophie Ecclestone 3-22) beat England 158/8 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 40, Danni Wyatt 34; Ayabonga Khaka 4-29, Shabnim Ismail 3-27) by six runs

PVL 2023: Tensions high as Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers face off in Kerala derby

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PVL 2023: Tensions high as Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers face off in Kerala derby

The stage is set for the highly-anticipated Kerala Derby match between Calicut Heroes and Kochi Blue Spikers to take place in the second season of the Prime Volleyball League (PVL).

The two teams, based out of Kerala, will be facing each other on Saturday in front of a jam-packed Kochi crowd at the Regional Sports Centre, Kochi. The anticipation is high among fans for the Kerala derby and among players, there is much excitement as well.

“We know Kochi and Calicut Heroes have a sporting rivalry because they are the local teams in Kerala. It is a crucial game for both teams. More than winning or losing, this game we want to give the fans a good game. Because, Kerala people have been waiting for this match for a long time,” Calicut Heroes Universal Jerome Vinith said.

On being asked if he would be feeling any pressure, Vinith said: “We do not feel pressure, in fact, we are feeling quite good. We know a lot of fans will come and it will give us more energy. We like to play these kinds of matches.”

Without revealing too much about their strategies, Jerome spoke on the areas that his team has been focusing on ahead of the crucial encounter. “We are not changing our strategies but we are focused more on the reception of the ball. We are also watching our opponents closely, how they have been playing, and what are their strengths. That is what we have been working on,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kochi Blue Spikers captain Vipul Kumar spoke on the upcoming encounter and said that his side has to win in front of the home fans.

“We have been training with Calicut Heroes’ strengths in mind. We will not be heading into the match worrying about whether we will go to the playoffs or not, but we know we have to win the match at any cost. We have to deliver at our home ground in front of our fans. We have to give our maximum efforts and we are planning according to that,” he said.

Despite the pressure of the contest, Vipul further added that he will look forward to enjoying the support from the crowd.

“There is always the pressure of a derby game. But as players, we have to be mentally strong and know how to handle the pressure. We will definitely win this match,” he said.

“The crowd will be completely full. The fans in Kerala are known for their entertainment and they make a lot of noise. We will enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the match,” Vipul signed off.

The winner will definitely get the bragging rights after winning the honors on the stage rivalry.

ISRO receives test crew module for human space mission

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ISRO receives test crew module for human space mission

The Indian space agency on Friday received the first simulated crew module (SCM) structure assembly for the first test flight of its human space mission – Gaganyaan.

In a tweet, the Indian Space Research Organisation said: “Today, ISRO received Simulated Crew Module (SCM) Structure Assembly for the Gaganyaan project. This first indigenous SCM is developed by VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) and realized by Manjira Machine Builders Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad.”

According to the ISRO, the SCM that was delivered on Friday was an unpressurized crew module. It simulates the shape, outer mold line, and interfaces of major systems like parachute systems and pyros of the actual crewed mission configuration.

The SCM will be used in test rocket missions to validate crew escape systems and other subsystems.

“Actual Crew Module is a pressurized capsule that accommodates the astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission,” the ISRO added.

The space agency plans to fly a test rocket later this year.

President Draupadi Murmu is an inspiration for all of us, say women gamers at Skyesports Grand Slam 2023

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President Draupadi Murmu is an inspiration for all of us, say women gamers at Skyesports Grand Slam 2023

The Honorable President of India, Draupadi Murmu’s presence at the India Gaming Show (IGS) during the country’s first-ever all-female Valorant event organized by Skyesports recently created a long-lasting impact on the female gaming community.

Skyesports, one of the leading Esports tournament organizers in India, had orchestrated the all-female Windows 11 Skyesports Grand Slam, powered by AMD, featuring the top 3 all-women teams from India competing for glory. The event happened at the JetSynthesys Gaming Arena in the IGS.

The Hon’ble President discussed the scope of women empowerment in the gaming industry whilst also understanding the ways and means to develop the sector more inclusively with Rajan Navani, Founder and CEO of, JetSynthesys and also Shiva Nandy, Founder, and CEO, of Skyesports.

“I feel really great. First of all, this is the first all-female VALORANT LAN. Thanks to Skyesports for organizing such a great event and bringing me a chance for us to play on stage. And yes I am feeling fabulous, first LAN and it’s in our pocket,” said Grace Esports’ Meow16k after becoming the Champion of the tournament who got an opportunity to showcase her skill in front of the Hon’ble President.

According to the report Gaming: Tomorrow’s Blockbuster’ by TeamLease Digital, the Indian gaming industry is estimated to grow by 20% to 30% by 2023 and create approximately two lakh jobs by 2024.

The interactions with the Honorable President were equally an opportunity to remember for the gaming girls who are now motivated to make a mark for themselves not only in gaming but in life too.

“It was really exciting to meet our Hon’ble President Shrimati Droupadi Murmu at the India Gaming Show 2023. The Indian gaming and esports industry is in its golden age currently with huge growth opportunities in store.”

“Skyesports has always aimed at ensuring gender parity in the Esports industry by organizing all-female tournaments and I am grateful for this chance to showcase what we’ve built as it motivates us to push harder and contribute to developing India’s gaming and esports industry in a much more inclusive manner.”

“While India is slowly becoming a big player in the global games and tech market, we will be here to support that growth trajectory and put the country on the world map,” said Nandy.

The Tournament was an initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and supported by the Government of India. “The Hon. Droupadi Murmu’s inspiring presence at the CII’s Indian Gaming Show 2023 was a reminder of the immense potential of India’s gaming and esports industry.”

“The show highlighted the brilliant minds driving this revolution and the enthusiasm of the millions of gamers in India. Skyesports has revolutionized the gaming industry with the Windows 11 Grand Slam receiving an overwhelming 5 million views across two days. Remarkably, female gamers have made their mark in gaming and esports, bringing in a new level of enthusiasm and excitement to the Indian gaming community,” concluded Navani.

Air India to add over 4200 cabin crew, 900 pilots in 2023

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Air India to add over 4200 cabin crew, 900 pilots in 2023

Air India has planned to hire over 4200 cabin crew trainees and 900 pilots in 2023 as the airline adds new aircraft and rapidly expands its domestic and international operations.

Earlier this month, Air India announced a mega order to purchase 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus to support its growth plans. It has already announced plans to lease 36 aircraft of which two B 777-200LR have already joined the fleet.

The cabin crew, who will be recruited from around the country, will undergo a 15-week program imparting safety and service skills and will be coached to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata group culture. The training programme will include extensive classroom and in-flight training at the airline’s training facility in Mumbai as well as familiarisation flights.

Notably, between May 2022 and February 2023, Air India hired over 1900 cabin crew. Over 1,100 cabin crew have been trained in the last seven months (between July 2022 and January 2023), and in the past three months, approximately 500 cabin crew have been released for flying by airline.

Commenting on the hiring plans, Sandeep Verma, Head – Inflight Services said, “With a sizeable aircraft order that was announced earlier in the month, more flights on international and domestic networks and re-alignment of domestic routes with AIX connect, cabin crew will play a decisive role in shaping the present and future of the Air India group. The addition of fresh talent will also accelerate the pace of cultural transformation at Air India, which is an integral part of our Vihaan.AI transformation program. We are also looking to step up hiring more pilots and maintenance engineers.”

After 69 years as a Government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022. The present management at Air India is driving the five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI to establish itself as a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.

Apple orders OLED panels from Samsung, LG for next iPad models

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Apple orders OLED panels from Samsung, LG for next iPad models

Tech giant Apple has reportedly ordered OLED panels from LG Display and Samsung for its upcoming iPad Pro models, which are expected to launch next year.

The iPhone maker has placed orders for the development of 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch OLED panels from the display companies, reports MacRumors, citing sources.

Apple has not yet decided on the order volume of OLED displays for the iPad Pro, although it might equally split the order between LG Display and Samsung.

The company currently offers a 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro and an 11-inch iPad Pro with a traditional LCD display, the report said.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Samsung and LG were preparing their factories for mass production of the first iPads with OLED displays which are expected to be “hybrid” panels.

Meanwhile, in December last year, Samsung was reportedly prioritizing the development of special two-stack tandem OLED panels that will be used in certain iPad models in 2024.

Two-stack tandem OLED panels include two layers of pixels instead of one and this hybrid technology is likely to offer higher brightness and longer life than existing OLED panels which are used in smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs, and laptops.

ITF Women’s 25K tournament to showcase best of women’s tennis in Bengaluru

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ITF Women’s 25K tournament to showcase best of women’s tennis in Bengaluru

Top-ranked women’s tennis players from across the world will battle it out for the crown at the ITF Women’s 25K tournament in both the singles and doubles categories, starting from February 26 here at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence.

The tournament is the premier event sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and will be hosted under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), and Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).

The qualifying rounds will be played on February 26-27 with the main draw set to begin on February 28.

Ankita Raina, World No. 245, and World No. 265 Karman Kaur Thandi will be the top-ranked Indian women to feature in the tournament. Playing alongside them will be two younger players who train at the PBI — CSE tennis academy, Sahaja Yamalapalli, and Soha Sadiq.

Vivek Kumar, Founder of Padukone – Dravid Centre of Sports Excellence said: “A tournament of this calibre helps women tennis players of our country gain the much-needed ITF points to climb up in the world tennis rankings. Not only do they gain crucial points, but it also benefits them financially as they save on the travel costs which they would have spent to commute to foreign countries to play in ITF tournaments.”

“We welcome Padukone  Dravid Centre of Sports Excellence and Vivek Kumar as the hosts for this tournament. They have excellent facilities and it will be a great experience for the participants. I wish Indian players the best of luck and hope they make the best of this opportunity to impress the fans with some brilliant performances,” said Maheshwar Rao, IAS, Honorary Secretary, KSLTA.

With Sania Mirza’s retirement closing the chapter on our country’s most decorated female tennis player, it is time for the new generation of women tennis players to succeed at the world stage.

New Zealand creates new recovery visa to support cyclone, flooding rebuilding

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New Zealand creates new recovery visa to support cyclone, flooding rebuilding

New Zealand has created a new Recovery Visa category to help bring in the additional specialist workers needed to support rebuild efforts in the wake of cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland flooding, the country’s worst natural disasters in decades.

“The Recovery Visa means overseas specialists needed to support the recovery efforts can come here immediately,” Immigration Minister Michael Wood said on Friday.

In the short term, experts such as insurance assessors, infrastructure and utilities engineers and technicians, heavy machinery operators, and debris removal workers are needed, Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

“The visa covers the mix of workers needed for clean-up and recovery, including construction workers,” he said, adding applications opened on Friday and the visa will last for up to six months.

The fee will be refunded for successful applicants, making it free for those who come here.

Recovery Visa applications will be prioritized by Immigration New Zealand, with the aim of processing an application within a week of receiving it, he said.

Similar visa pathways were used for the responses to the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, the Minister said, adding global workforce shortages mean the visa may not see as many applicants as in the past.

New Zealand declared a state of national emergency on February 14, the third time in the country’s history, due to the devastating weather event which caused widespread power outages, flight cancellations, and school closures on the North Island.

India will become world’s third largest economy soon: Rajnath

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India will become world’s third largest economy soon: Rajnath

India will become the third largest economy in the world in the next few years, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed on Friday.

“The day is not far when our country will emerge as the third largest economy in the world. At least international reports suggest that India will attain that position in the next four to five years,” the defense minister said while addressing the convocation ceremony of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore- founded Visva Bharati University at Bolpur-Santiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

The Union Minister said being a former teacher of physics with a college in Uttar Pradesh, whenever he attends any function of any educational institution, he prefers speaking in the tone of a teacher rather than a minister or a politician.

“When I was on my way to this great university on Thursday evening, I was constantly thinking of what I can offer to the meritorious students of this university that will ultimately benefit them,” he said.

The Gurudev-founded university, which has been a pathfinder in the education sector of the country, will continue to do so in the coming days as well, he said.

“Just as the streams of the River Ganges and its branches are scattered over vast areas, similarly Visva Bharati University will spread the streams of knowledge throughout the world. This is such an institution which has both the Indian and global spirit at the same time, This great institution founded by Gurudev has shown the way of exchange of global knowledge,” Singh said.

However, there were moments of chaos before the beginning of the convocation ceremony on Friday. Several posters slamming university vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty, were found in areas around the convocation ceremony venue. There was another round of commission when the security persons refused to allow a section of the alumni of the university to enter the venue.

On Thursday evening, there was tension within the campus after the university security persons and the district police foiled an attempt by Democratic Students’ Association to screen the controversial BBC documentary ‘India-The Modi question’.

PM Modi terms Yediyurappa’s farewell speech ‘inspirational’

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PM Modi terms Yediyurappa’s farewell speech ‘inspirational’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the spirit and farewell speech of former chief minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member B.S Yediyurappa in the Karnataka Assembly.

“Being a karyakarta (active member) of BJP, I felt that this speech (by Yediyurappa) is inspirational. The speech imbibes the ethics of the party. This will definitely give inspiration to other party workers,” Narendra Modi stated on his social media handle.

He also shared the post by BJP Karnataka’s social media handle containing Yediyurappa’s speech.

On February 22, the former CM declared on the floor of the House that he will never contest elections in the future and that this would be his last session. “This is my last speech. You can also consider this as my farewell speech. I have already declared that I won’t contest elections. I will not come back to this session,” an emotional Yediyurappa reiterated.

He was participating in the discussion on the budget and stated that in political circles, opposition parties are claiming that Yediyurappa is sidelined and neglected. “I have not been neglected either by the BJP or by the Prime Minister,” he maintained.

The party has given him good opportunities, he asserted, adding that he will work for the party until his last breath. “BJP has also given me an opportunity to become Chief Minister four times. It is not possible to silence Yediyurappa. We will come back to power,” he stated.

BJP is coming to power in the state for sure, he said. “I will take up a state-wide tour. After this session, I will go across Karnataka. I will have to convey to the people the schemes of the BJP. The ruling BJP government has given more programs than any other government,” Yediyurappa stated.

Gujarat FM presents Rs 916 cr surplus budget for 2023-24

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Gujarat FM presents Rs 916 cr surplus budget for 2023-24

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai on Friday presented a Rs 916.87 crore surplus budget for 2023-24.

Revenue receipts are expected to be Rs 2,07,709.88 crore, while revenue expenditures are likely to be Rs 1,98,671.58 crore, according to the state estimate.

Against the capital income of Rs 85,630.89 crore, expenditure is estimated at Rs 97,902.61 crore, resulting in a capital deficit of Rs 12,271.72 crore. The total plan layout is Rs 3.01 lakh crore.

To meet the aspirations and basic necessities of the state’s urbanites, the state government has set aside Rs 19,685 crore for the urban development department, which will carry out developmental projects.

The state government has allocated Rs 14 crore for the construction of 15 cyber crime police stations in order to address the significant challenges posed by cybercriminals.

The state government has decided to provide funding for private hospitals to purchase the newest technology, allocating Rs 115 crore for this purpose. The government is going to invest in new medical colleges that are coming up in a public-private partnership pattern.

The overall budget allotted for health and family welfare is Rs 15,182 crore.

Through the road and buildings department, the state intends to build mass transit systems, flyovers over railroad tracks, and provide affordable housing for 15 lakh families.

There are 71 lakh ration card holders under the NFSA scheme, and to provide them with food free of cost or at a subsidized rate, the state government has allocated Rs 671 crore. The total budget allocation for foods, civil supplies, and consumer affairs will be Rs 2,165 crore.

For the coming fiscal year, the state government has allocated Rs 5,580 crore for social welfare and the justice department; Rs 43,615 crore for education; Rs 3,410 crore for tribal development, and Rs 2,538 crore for employment and skill development.

The allocation for the power and petrochemical sectors is Rs 8,738 crore, while the allocation for roads and buildings is Rs 20,642 crore, of which Rs 2,808 crore is allotted to the Chief Minister for Rural Roads.

For industry and mining, the budget allocation is Rs 8,589 crore.

‘Bullet train is national project’, SC declines to entertain Godrej’s plea for higher compensation

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‘Bullet train is national project’, SC declines to entertain Godrej’s plea for higher compensation

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea by Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd for higher compensation for its 9.69 acres of land for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project. The apex court said the project is of national importance.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, that the court is not willing to entertain the petition.

The bench said, “Much water has flown, possession has been taken over of the land…and the construction has already commenced.”

Rohatgi repeatedly questioned the validity of the order. The bench replied that it will not entertain the company’s petition.

The Chief Justice told Rohatgi, “Your compensation should not be Rs 264 crore, it should be Rs 572 crore…you have all the remedies now”, and it would be like putting a gun to pay the compensation.

The bench further told Rohatgi, “it is only a question of money. It is a national project…”

After hearing arguments, the top court said if any application for enhancement of compensation is filed, it should be decided within six weeks.

The top court also granted liberty to the company to seek legal recourse for enhancement of the compensation.

The company’s plea challenged validity of the Bombay High Court judgment passed earlier this month, dismissing a petition filed by the Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd challenging the Maharashtra government’s grant of Rs 264 crore in compensation for the land.

The Godrej Group had challenged the award and compensation of Rs 264 crore by the Deputy Collector on September 15, 2022, for acquiring 39,252 sq m (9.69 acres). The company said initially Rs 572 crore was offered and filed the writ petition, also challenging the provisions of the law.

However, the high court, in the decision on February 9, described the bullet train project as “of national importance and public interest” and dismissed the petition. The high court said it did not find any illegality in the award or in the “decision taken by the appropriate government in granting extension to make an award by exercising powers under the first proviso to Section 25 of the Fair Compensation Act.”

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) is the pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the project, which passes through Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra is being executed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL).

Amazon to join ONDC with logistics, SmartCommerce services

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Amazon to join ONDC with logistics, SmartCommerce services

Amazon on Friday announced that it will integrate its logistics network (from pickup to delivery) and SmartCommerce services with the government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

This will be Amazon’s initial collaboration with ONDC as the company continues to explore other potential opportunities for stronger integration between the two in the future.

“We are excited about the opportunities to mobilize Amazon’s industry-leading infrastructure and technology, including logistics, and small business digitization tools, to help the ONDC accelerate its objectives. We remain committed to being a catalyst for India’s digitization efforts throughout the economy,” Manish Tiwary, Country Manager, India Consumer Business, Amazon India, said in a statement.

Moreover, the company said that the integration will provide greater technical support to the seller community and further empower small businesses, also it will benefit crores of consumers with wider choices.

The integration would be a significant step towards the ONDC’s goal of democratizing e-commerce nationwide.

“We are happy that Amazon has a definite roadmap to being a part of the ONDC network and is taking its first step in coming in as the logistics partner in the ONDC network which is a globally pioneering idea established with a view to democratizing digital commerce in India, and we also hope that the buyer and seller platforms are onboarded as early as possible,” T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC, said in a statement.

Amazon has consistently leveraged technology and innovation on behalf of Indian customers and sellers, and has digitized over 4 million small businesses and kirana stores in India, giving them access to cutting-edge technology for online selling, the company mentioned.

The e-commerce giant has over 11 lakh sellers with more than 50 percent coming from tier 2 cities and below in the country. The company also plans to digitize 1 crore small businesses by 2025.

ONDC, a Ministry of Commerce initiative, will enable sellers to tap this massive market by offering an equitable and secure platform that integrates multiple sellers, buyers and logistics players.

Shah Rukh Khan to shoot for Salman’s ‘Tiger 3’ in April

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Shah Rukh Khan to shoot for Salman’s ‘Tiger 3’ in April

After Tiger made a roaring appearance in ‘Pathaan’, Shah Rukh Khan too will be seen making a cameo in Salman Khan’s upcoming ‘Tiger 3’ film.

A source said: “Watch out for Pathaan’s entry in Tiger 3! As the super-spies start crossing over in each other’s films, which are part of the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe, expect twists and surprises that deliver outstanding entertainment value to audiences in theatres!”

The source added: “Shah Rukh will shoot for Tiger 3 by April end and the shoot is expected to be in Mumbai. Details of this shoot is being kept completely under wraps but expect fireworks when the two super spies meet again in Tiger 3.

“Salman told SRK in Pathaan that he was going on an important mission so Pathaan will meet Tiger during this mission.”

‘Tiger 3’ is directed by Maneesh Sharma. The film also stars Emraan Hashmi and Katrina Kaif. The film is a part of YRF’s spy universe.

WhatsApp now lets users report status updates on iOS beta

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WhatsApp now lets users report status updates on iOS beta

Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new feature, which will allow users to report status updates, on iOS beta.

The beta testers will see a new “Report” option in the status updates, reports WABetaInfo.

With the new feature, users can report any status update that might violate the Terms of Service, which will then be sent to the moderation team.

Also, the feature makes sure that the messages, media, location sharing, calls, and status updates are all protected by end-to-end encryption on all devices.

This means that the content of the messages and private calls will remain inaccessible to anyone, including WhatsApp, Meta, or any third-party proxy provider.

The new feature is useful as it will make the platform safe and secure for all users.

The ability to report status updates is available to some beta testers after installing the latest beta version of the application, and it is expected to roll out to more users over the coming days, the report said.

Last month, WhatsApp was reportedly working on this feature for Android beta.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the messaging platform announced that it was rolling out new features coming to its status, including ‘Voice Status’, ‘Status Reactions’, and much more.

British-Indian boy extends support to Ukrainian kids in Poland

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British-Indian boy extends support to Ukrainian kids in Poland

A 10-year-old British-Indian boy is on a humanitarian mission to Poland to support children who have gone through a year of violence, fear, loss, and tragedy in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Milan Paul Kumar from Bolton, Greater Manchester, traveled all the way to Krakow in Poland to meet war-displaced Ukrainian children and give them books, colors and stationery items.

A recipient of the Diana Award 2022, Milan washed cars with Greater Manchester Fire Service last year and donated the money he earned to FirstNews Ukraine Schools Appeal.

“I am at Bolton Ukrainian center. It’s been a year since Russia invaded… What happened to Ukrainian children? I am going to Poland to find my answers,” Milan tweeted at the start of his humanitarian journey at the Ukrainian Centre in Bolton.

Milan said he undertook the journey as he wanted Ukrainian children to know that they “still have our support”.

Milan was accompanied by his parents, who made arrangements for his journey along with several other organizations.

Upon his arrival, he was invited by Wiaczeslaw Wojnarowskyj, General Consulate of Ukraine in Krakow.

“Thank you Wiaczeslaw Wojnarowskyj, General Consulate of Ukraine, for the invitation. An honor and privilege to meet with you in Krakow,” Milan said.

He met the Consulates of Ukraine and Romania and visited a newly-built school for 120 Ukrainian children.

At the Meeting Point integration center, run by the Zustricz Foundation, Milan met Ukrainian preschool children who were attending art classes run by Ukrainian and Polish educators.

He thanked the Tesco staff and the National Literacy Trust, as well as authors, who donated huge amounts of stationery and books to be given to the Ukrainian children.

“Most importantly, I have made lots of new friends who I will visit again,” Milan said.

He was awarded the ‘British Citizen Award 2021’ for raising funds to support children and families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He had written and self-published his book, ‘COVID Christmas Parade’, to raise money for the National Literacy Trust to support children whose education was affected by the pandemic.

According to Unicef, more than 400 children have been killed and hundreds more injured, while some 7.8 million children have been impacted due to the war.

The UN agency says it needs $1.1 billion to address the immediate and longer-term needs of 9.4 million people, including 4 million children, both inside and outside Ukraine who remain deeply impacted by the war in Ukraine.

Indian banks will give bonds to keep-up capital levels: CARE Ratings

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Indian banks will give bonds to keep-up capital levels: CARE Ratings

As credit off-take improves, Indian banks may expect to be issued bonds to keep up their capital levels and help their advances while the cost of funds — borrowings and deposits will be raised, said CARE Ratings.

“To give assistance to credit-off take, Banks may be anticipated to reveal their liability franchise by raising deposits and capital. The market is facing lower liquidity and upraised inflation, therefore borrowing value for deposits and The price of increasing capital are estimated to improve,” the credit rating firm said in an announcement.

The banks are raising their borrowing rate for security deposits and ideas for bonds issue. Further, advantageousness is also estimated to assist the capital prop of the banks.  altogether, the scheduled commercial banks (SCB) will be well-capitalized in the coming term as estimated.

All SCBs are keeping their Captial Adequacy Ratio (CAR) greater than the low required level for Q3FY23. The average CAR and Common Equity Tier 1(CET-1) ratio of the SCBS observed an increase in Q3FY23 compared with Q3FY22 and Q3FY21, the reports noted.

Because a higher pre-provisioning operating profit (PPOP) growth contrasted with lower growth in provisions, According to CARE Ratings, the net profit of SCBs grew by 45 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) to Rs 0.65 lakh crore in Q3FY23.

The net interest income growth and stability in non-interest income helped PPOP to grow by 28.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 1.30 lakh crore in Q3Y23. Meanwhile, provisions rose by 9.1 percent to Rs 0.38 lakh crore.

Public sector banks’ net profit rose by 64.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 0.29 lakh crore in Q3FY23, meanwhile private sector banks’ grew by 32.2 percent y-o-y to reach Rs 0.35 lakh crore in Q3FY23, the report added.

Return on Assets of SCBs improved by 28 bps y-o-y to 1.23 percent. At present, banks are in a better position after navigating the Covid period and managing mounted NPAs.

Healthy credit growth, improvement in asset quality, and lower growth in provisions due to lower incremental slippages and reduction in restructuring books are expected to generate healthy net profit growth.

5 yrs of ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’: Kartik thanks fans for giving ‘Sonu’ a place in their hearts

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5 yrs of ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’: Kartik thanks fans for giving ‘Sonu’ a place in their hearts

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, whose latest film ‘Shehzada’ released on February 17, has looked back at his film ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’ on its fifth anniversary. The actor shared a sweet throwback on the occasion.

Taking to his social media, Kartik on Thursday shared the climax scene of ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, and further added a glimpse of the extremely popular friendship song, ‘Tera Yaar Hoon Main’ from the film, marking its five years.

As he re-lived the memories of the film, he wrote in the caption: “5 years ago, this day turned into Friendship’s Day. And Sonu became an inseparable part of our lives. Thank you Sonu ko apne dil se lagaane ke liye #5YearsOfSonuKeTituKiSweety.”

Meanwhile, ‘Shehzada’, which also stars Kriti Sanon, is the official remake of Allu Arjun’s Telugu blockbuster ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’.

The film also stars Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Ronit Roy, Rajpal Yadav, Ankur Rathee, and Sunny Hinduja.

On the work front, Kartik will be next seen in ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’, ‘Aashiqui 3’, and Kabir Khan’s next untitled film.

Canada launches new small modular reactor funding programme

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Canada launches new small modular reactor funding programme

The Canadian government has launched a new funding programme to support research and development of the country’s small modular reactor (SMR), the next generation of nuclear technologies.

The new programme will provide 29.6 million Canadian dollars ($24 million) over four years to develop supply chains for SMR manufacturing and fuel supply and security to support the crucial elements necessary for Canada’s SMR industry to thrive, according to a statement issued by Natural Resources Canada.

It will also fund research on safe SMR waste management solutions to ensure that SMRs, and the waste they generate, will be safe now and into the future, the statement added.

On February 6, 2023, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada had a similar fund programme to support university applicants in their efforts to address waste generated from SMRs and develop SMR supply chains, the statement said.

Last year, through an inter-provincial Memorandum of Understanding, the provincial governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Alberta put forward a nuclear plant that will transition them toward SMRs with the first 300-megawatt plant to be built in Darlington, Ontario, by 2028. The project would support Canadian efforts to become a global SMR technology hub in a market estimated to be 150 billion Canadian dollars ($120 billion) per year by 2040, Xinhua news agency reported.

SMRs, which are nearly 300 megawatts or less, have a smaller footprint and a shorter construction schedule, compared to traditional nuclear-generating stations. Energy experts said there is no path to bringing the world’s carbon emissions to zero by 2050 without nuclear.

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