11:21 Anil Ambani guilty of contempt, to be jailed if he fails to pay Rs 453 crore :
In a big setback for Anil Ambani, the Supreme Court today held Reliance Group chairman and its two directors guilty of contempt for willfully not paying Rs 550 crore to Ericsson. Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson had filed three contempt plea in the Supreme Court for not clearing its dues.
A bench of Justices RF Nariman and Vineet Saran, however, asked RCom and Ambani to purge the contempt by paying Rs 453 crore to Ericsson in four weeks in addition to a Rs 118 crore amount lying with the court. Failing this he will have to serve three months of jail term. Additionally, the apex court has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on the three RCom entities. This will also have to be deposited within four weeks or the directors will spend a month each in jail.
The court rejected Rcom and Ambani’s unconditional apologies saying they had shown a cavalier attitude to the administration of justice.
11:14 Sarang’s split manoeuvre and a salute to Sitharaman : The five-day Aero India Show begins in Bengaluru in the shadow of the tragic collision of two Surya Kiran jets and the death of one of the three pilots. ‘Sarang’, the helicopter aerobatic team of the IAF, perform during the show ends its performance with a split manoeuvre after saluting Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
10:47 PM to meet Saudi prince today under shadow of Pulwama attack:
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accorded a ceremonial reception with a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was received by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prince, shook hands with PM Modi and vigorously patted Modi’s hand.
The prince, MBS as he is popularly known, will meet Modi later today, with his business mission under threat of being overshadowed by soaring tensions between India and Pakistan. The crown prince was greeted at the airport last night by Modi, who gave his traditional bear hug for honoured guests.
The prince arrived from a two-day stay in Pakistan amid tensions between the two countries over the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-base Jaish-e-Mohammad group.
10:43 PM to meet Saudi prince today under shadow of Pulwama attack: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accorded a ceremonial reception with a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was received by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prince, shook hands with PM Modi and vigorously patted Modi’s hand.
The prince, MBS as he is popularly known, will meet Modi later today, with his business mission under threat of being overshadowed by soaring tensions between India and Pakistan. The crown prince was greeted at the airport last night by Modi, who gave his traditional bear hug for honoured guests.
The prince arrived from a two-day stay in Pakistan amid tensions between the two countries over the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-base Jaish-e-Mohammad group.
10:22 Day 6: Curfew relaxed for three hours in Jammu : Authorities on Wednesday relaxed for three hours curfew in Jammu city where it was imposed following violence in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack.
Curfew was clamped in entire Jammu city on Friday after massive anti-Pakistan protests and sporadic incidents of violence broke out over the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir which left 40 CRPF personnel dead on February 14.
On Monday, curfew was relaxed for two hours in the jurisdiction of three police station areas of Jammu from 2 pm to 5 pm.”Relaxation has been given in curfew in Jammu city between 8 am to 11 am today,” Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar told ANI. A review of the situation will be carried out later today, he added.
Kumar also said that all educational institutions in Jammu will remain closed today. Authorities have also warned of strict action against those who upload fake, inflammatory posts and pictures on social media. — ANI
10:09 Tipu Sultan’s commander: Lost in history, found in fiction: This is not Tipu Sultan’s story, but of one of his commanders, although the ruler of the kingdom of Mysore is briefly present. “I want to live in anonymity far away from the palace and the harem,” the tired nawab says just before he orders the commander to set off with battle-weary soldiers to defuse, tactfully, a conflict between two religious communities.
10:06 Cong strengthens team Priyanka, Jyotiraditya, appoints 6 AICC secretaries : Congress has appointed six AICC secretaries for Uttar Pradesh with three each being given the responsibility of UP East and UP West.As per orders of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Rana Goswami, Dhiraj Gurjar and Rohit Chaudhary have been appointed as AICC Secretaries for UP West and were attached with General Secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Zubair Khan, Kumar Ashish and Bajirao Khade have been appointed as AICC Secretaries for UP East and attached with General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
With the announcement of these names, Congress has chosen a blend of experienced and low-key faces of the organisation to serve as the secretary for both regions of the politically significant Uttar Pradesh.
Designated in Scindia’s team, Rana Goswami hails from Assam and has worked in Uttar Pradesh before as well. Similarly, Zubair Khan hailing from Rajasthan and a former MLA from state’s Ramgarh constituency has also worked as convener secretary in Bundelkhand region. — PTI
10:00 Sensex jumps over 250 points; metal stocks rally: The BSE benchmark Sensex rallied over 250 points in early trade Wednesday as metal, banking and realty stocks soared amid sustained buying by domestic institutional investors.
Positive cues from other Asian markets too buoyed mood on Dalal Street. The 30-share index was trading 269.24 points, or 0.76 per cent, at 35,621.85. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 74.40 points, or 0.70 per cent, to 10,678.75.
The Sensex had settled 145.83 points lower at 35,352.61 in the previous session, while the Nifty had fallen 36.60 points to 10,604.35. Top gainers in the Sensex pack on Wednesday include ONGC, Vedanta, Yes Bank, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, L&T, Tata Steel, HDFC, Reliance and Bharti Airtel, rising up to 2.12 per cent.
On the other hand, HCL Tech, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and M&M were the losers, falling up to 0.76 per cent. — PTI
09:25 Bernie Sanders already missed his chance, says Trump:
Senator Bernie Sanders, who announced his presidential bid on Tuesday, has already missed his chance to enter the White House, President Donald Trump said even though he wished him well.
“Bernie Sanders is running. Yeah, that’s right. Personally, I think he missed his time,” Trump told reporters at the White House hours after the US Senator from Vermont announced his second presidential bid.
In 2016, he had lost the Democratic presidential primaries to Hillary Clinton.
Trump said he likes Bernie Sanders because of his views on trade.
“I like Bernie because he is one person that, you know, on trade, he sort of would agree on trade. I’m being very tough on trade. He was tough on trade. The problem is he doesn’t know what to do about it. We’re doing something very spectacular on trade,” he said.
Wishing Sanders well, Trump said it will be interesting to see how he does.
“I think what happened to Bernie maybe was not so nice. I think he was taken advantage of. He ran great four years ago, and he was not treated with respect by Clinton. That was too bad. I thought what happened to Bernie Sanders four years ago was quite sad as it pertains to our country. So we’ll see how he does,” he said.
So far, about a dozen Democratic candidates have entered the race to the White House. The next presidential elections are scheduled to be held in November 2020. Indian American Senator from California Kamala Harris is currently in lead among other Democratic presidential aspirants.
Former US Vice President Joe Biden is also likely to enter the race soon. — PTI
09:17 Tremors in Delhi as 4.0 magnitude earthquake hits western UP:
Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas on Wednesday morning after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake was reported in western Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district and another one in faraway Tajikistan in central Asia.
According to United States Geological Survey, an earthquake of 4.6-magnitude struck Tajikistan at around 7:05 am.
Soon after, an earthquake was reported from Kandhla in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, 90 km from Delhi.
09:03 UN Secy Gen calls on India, Pak to exercise maximum restraint:
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to take “immediate steps” to deescalate tension that soared after 40 Indian security personnel were killed in an attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama.
“The Secretary General stresses the importance for both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalation, and his good offices are always available should both sides ask,” the UN Chief’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Tuesday at the daily press briefing.
Dujarric was asked about a meeting Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN has sought with the Secretary General and also about Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi saying the UN must step in to defuse tensions between the two nations.
“…Looking at the situation in general between India and Pakistan, we’re deeply concerned at the increase in tensions between the two countries in the wake of the attack on Indian security personnel on 14 February in Pulwama,” Dujrraic said.
He said Pakistan’s mission at the UN requested for the meeting with the Secretary General.
“We have seen press reports of a letter having been delivered to the UN. As far as we’ve ascertained, none has been received as of this very minute,” he added.
Last week, Guterres had “strongly” condemned the terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, calling for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.
“We strongly condemn today’s attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the government and people of India,” Dujarric had said at the daily press briefing last Thursday.
Dujarric said, “We of course wish a speedy recovery to those injured and call for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.” — PTI
08:36 Trump describes Pulwama attack as ‘horrible situation’:
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday described as a “horrible situation” the Pulwama terrorist attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed, in which 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were killed, and said he was getting reports on it and would issue a statement.
The February 14 attack has led to escalation of tension between India and Pakistan and Trump told reporters at the Oval Office of White House that it would be “wonderful” if the two South Asia neighbours get along.
“I have watched. I have got a lot of reports on it. We will have comment (on it) at an appropriate time. It would be wonderful if they (India and Pakistan) get along,” he said in response to a question.
“That (the terrorist attack) was a horrible situation. We are getting reports. We will have a statement to put out,” Trump said.
Following the terrorist attack, his National Security Advisor, John Bolton, has supported India’s right to self-defense.
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Bolton, and the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders in separate statements have asked Pakistan to immediately take action against the JeM and its leaders and end support to terrorist safe haven.
The security personnel were killed when a JeM terrorist rammed an explosive-laden car into a vehicle carrying them. — PTI
08:27 Pulwama attack: Indian Americans to protest outside Chinese, Pak missions in US:
The Indian American community will hold peaceful protests outside the Pakistani and Chinese diplomatic missions in the United States over the Pulwama terrorist attack, alleging China provides tacit support to Pakistan which uses non-State actors against its neighbours.
A candlelight protest will be held outside the Pakistan Consulate in Chicago after which the protesters will march to the Chinese consulate on Thursday, February 21, the organisers have said.
The main objectives of the protest, according to the organisers, are to “expose the barbaric nature” of Pakistani terrorism and to wake up the world against Pakistan- and China-supported terrorism, a media release said.
The next day, the Indian Americans in New York and New Jersey area would hold another peaceful protest outside the Pakistani consulate in Manhattan, New York.
“It is time that the United States and rest of the world speak in unison against Pakistani establishment’s continued support to terrorists in recruiting, training, arming, finance and providing safe haven,” eminent Indian American Dr Bharat Barai said in a statement.
Billions of dollars of US aid to Pakistan have done little to curb the terror outfits in Pakistan, he rued.
Forty Indian paramilitary personnel were killed on February 14 when a JeM terrorist rammed his explosive-laden in car in a vehicle carrying the jawans.
“This is not an act of terrorism but act of war. Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for this. Time has come to take decisive and ruthless action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity,” said New York-based Jagdish Sewhani, the president of the American India Public Affairs Committee.
“The Indian community is deeply pained by this mindless barbaric act. We are grieving for our slain soldiers and at the same time we want Pakistan to take strict actions against the terrorists,” said a local Republican leader from Illinois J D Diganvker.
“We want the world community to take note. We all know terrorism has no place in the world today and we want the world to urge Pakistan to respond with stringent actions,” he said, adding the protestors plan to submit memorandums to the Pakistani and Chinese consulates in Chicago.
It is time to declare Pakistan a terrorist State and isolate it completely — both economically and militarily — until it mend its ways, demanded community organiser Nirav Patel. — PTI
00:26 BJP’s way of treating allies has changed: Uddhav:
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday evening that he decided to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party because of the saffron party’s changed way of dealing with its allies.
Thackeray was speaking to Sena workers at his residence in Mumbai.
On Monday, Shiv Sena and BJP, the sparring ruling allies, announced that they would contest the coming Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections together.
“I experienced the change in the way they treat people, hence I decided to join hands with the BJP,” Thackeray said.
He also reiterated that the BJP’s proposal that chief minister will be from the party which will send more MLAs to the assembly was not acceptable to the Sena.
“I want to see a Sena chief minister and I will work for it,” he said.
“I have already won in the treaty, now we should win the real battle of election,” Thackeray said. — PTI
Source: Rediff