February 2020

‘We had opportunity to ask most critical questions’: German envoy on J-K visit Germany’s ambassador to India, Walter Lindner, spoke to Hindustan Times on his impressions during the two-day trip to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) organized by the Government of India for 25 global ambassadors earlier this week. In August, the Centre revoked the special status of J&K and decided to bifurcate the state into two Union territories –J&K and Ladakh. You just returned from a trip to India’s newest Union Territory (UT), J&K, organized by the Government of India to counter global criticism of some administrative and security measures it...

GoAir appoints former Jet Airways executive Vinay Dube as CEO MUMBAI : Wadia Group-controlled GoAir on Friday said that it has appointed former Jet Airways (India) Limited executive Vinay Dube as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the airline. “As the CEO, Vinay will report to the Chairman, Managing Director and the Board. He will be responsible for the management of the airline and also for meeting the goals and long term growth objectives of the company,” the airline said in a statement. Source: Livemint

Entire industry moving towards zero broking model: Ashishkumar Chauhan, BSE New Delhi: While the zero brokerage model is catching up fast in the retail equity broking industry, Ashishkumar Chauhan, head of one of the leading stock exchanges raised concerns on the sustainability of earnings for the industry. “Entire broking is going towards zero brokerage model. The margin has collapsed close to zero in terms of trading,” Ashishkumar Chauhan, managing director and CEO of BSENSE 0.77 % on Saturday said addressing the audience at ANMI’s International Convention in Delhi. Source: The Economic Times

Shankar Sharma says he will never touch LIC as an investor. Here’s why Veteran investor Shankar Sharma said he would stay away from the initial public offer (IPO) of state-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), blaming the government for making it absorb public sector undertaking’s unsold issuances. “I would never touch LIC as an investor. The government sold their unsold items to LIC and now they are selling the owner of those unsold items to us,” Sharma, Co-founder, and Chief Global Strategist, First Global said on Saturday at ANMI’s Internationa .. Source: The Economic Times

Vidya Balan supports Kabir Singh; says its does not glorify the character While interacting with students at her alma mater, St. Xavier’s College, Vidya Balan said, “Sometimes I watch films even if they are not keeping it to my beliefs. Over the years, I have matured as a person. Previously it used to be all black or white for me but today, I understand. I will give you an example of the film Kabir Singh. There was a huge uproar when Kabir Singh released and people questioned how the film could glorify a character as Kabir Singh, who is absolutely disrespectful and violent...

Justice Dharmadhikari of Bombay HC resigns citing personal reasons In a shocking move, Justice Satyaranjan C Dharmadhikari, the most senior judge after the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, told an advocate appearing before him on Friday that he had demitted his office, and that he had resigned.  Advocate Mathews Nedumpara told The Hindu that when he was mentioning a matter before Justice Dharmadhikari in the morning, the latter said, “I cannot grant you any relief as today is my last day”. Mr. Nedumpara asked, “Is your lordship being elevated?”. Justice Dharmadhikari then said, “I am demitting my office”. He later...

U.S. blacklists Sri Lankan Army Chief citing killings and abuses The United States has blacklisted Sri Lanka’s Army Chief, Shavendra Silva, for human rights violations including extrajudicial killings during the last phase of the country’s civil war in 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 14. “The allegations of gross human rights violations against Shavendra Silva, documented by the United Nations and other organisations, are serious and credible,” Mr. Pompeo said in a statement. The sanctions imposed on February 14 by Washington bar Lt. gen. Silva and his family members from entering the United States. Lt. Gen. Silva’s...

Democrat Pres Candidate Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Takes a ‘Meme’ Turn In an attempt to break the Republic’s ‘extremely social’ campaign for US President Donald Trump, Democrat candidate Mike Bloomberg has come up with a ‘marketing, communication and advertising’ strategy that is in a way ‘extremely internet and social native.’ Bloomberg, who is currently a candidate in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 United States presidential election, has gone the Gen Z way to link up with some of biggest meme makers on the Internet to create sponsored posts, which will be promoting the Bloomberg campaign. Source: News18.com

Indian-origin Alok Sharma appointed UK business minister Indian-origin Alok Sharma was on Thursday named the new UK minister in charge of the crunch UN climate talks to be hosted by Britain this November. Agra-born Sharma, promoted to the post of Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle, will take charge of the crucial summit ‘COP26’ as its former president was removed amid controversy just weeks ago. Claire Perry O’Neill, a former energy minister, had openly criticised Johnson soon after her sacking, saying the UK prime minister “doesn’t really get” climate...

US Senate votes to restrain Donald Trump from attacking Iran The US Senate voted Thursday to restrain President Donald Trump from attacking Iran, with eight members of his Republican Party bucking their leadership to agree. The resolution, which requires Trump to seek explicit authorization from Congress before further hostilities with Iran, passed in similar form in the Democratic-led House of Representatives. But it faces a near-certain veto from Trump after it goes back through the House. Source: Hindustan Times