Day: November 9, 2023

Qatar verdict on 8 ex-Navy men issue, Appeal filed; India got 2nd consular access to 8 Indians: MEA

Manish Kumar

India has got second consular access to the eight Navy veterans who were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on November 7, the Ministry of External Affairs said.  The judgement is confidential and has been shared with the legal team.   An appeal has been filed in this regard. We are also in touch with Qatari authorities,”  Congress leader Manish Tewari reacted “No Judgement of any Court of Law & that to sentencing 08 Retired Senior Naval Personnel of a ‘friendly foreign country’ to death can be confidential.  The charges…

Madras HC strikes down Tamil Nadu govt’s ban on online rummy, poker

Manish Kumar

The Madras High Court has restricted Tamil Nadu’s online gambling law to only games of chance.   The state can however make rules to regulate the time spent or age limits for skill-based games  India’s real-money gaming industry associations have welcomed Madras High Court’s verdict.  AIGF claims to have over 100 members including skill-gaming companies and game developers across all formats and genres.    Landers said this decision is a step in the right direction and will generate more certainty among investors and the gaming community at large, thereby providing…

AI regulation: Sets of “best practices” for AI governance are emerging but Who Will Write the Rules!

Manish Kumar

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a label that can cover a huge range of activities related to machines undertaking tasks with or without human intervention. Our understanding of AI technologies is largely shaped by where we encounter them, from facial recognition tools and chatbots to photo editing software and self-driving cars. If you think of AI you might think of tech companies, from existing giants such as Google, Meta, Alibaba, and Baidu, to new players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. Less visible are the world’s governments, which are shaping the…

India remains a strategic partner for the US, is free to decide on its stance On Any Particular Crisis: White House

Manish Kumar

India, which remains a strategic partner for the US, is free to decide on its stance on any particular crisis or contingency around the world, including in the Middle East, the White House has said.  The remarks came in response to a question if the US sees any role for India in resolving the Middle East crisis given that New Delhi has good relations with both Israel and Palestine.  This position is in line with what a senior State Department official said earlier this month, where he stressed that India…

Supreme Court asks high courts to speed up disposal of criminal cases against MPs, and MLAs while hearing a PIL

Manish Kumar

SC tells high courts to form a special bench for fast disposal of criminal cases against MPs, MLAs  The court is hearing a PIL that seeks to keep convicted MPs or MLAs away from elections.   At present, a convicted lawmaker is barred from polls for six years after serving the jail term.  The Supreme Court issued a slew of directions to set up special benches by chief justices to monitor such cases.  Criminal cases against lawmakers are tried by a separate court, MP/MLA court, which is attached to district courts.…

50,000 People Flee as Israel Troops Push on Gaza, Target “Hamas Structures”

Manish Kumar

50,000 people move from north to south Gaza Strip, Israel says  Israeli airstrike near hospital in Jabalia refugee camp  Qatar mediates in talks over humanitarian pause, source says.  Israeli forces and Hamas militants appeared to be battling at close range in Gaza City.  Thousands of civilians fled south to avoid being trapped in the heart of the conflict.  The Israeli military said its troops had advanced into the heart of Gaza City, Hamas’ main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the Islamist group said its fighters…

Piyush Goyal to meet Tesla’s Musk amid market entry talks

Manish Kumar

Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal will meet Tesla chief Elon Musk in the United States next week as the two sides look to advance the U.S. carmaker’s plan to enter the South Asian market.  Tesla and India have been in talks for several months with the US carmaker open to setting up a factory but also keen to get lower import taxes for some of its high-end vehicles.  This meeting is to ensure that talks between India and Tesla “are moving in the right direction,” the source added.  Prime Minister…

PM Modi and other senior BJP leaders visit Lal Krishna Advani’s residence, wish him on 96th birthday

Manish Kumar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani on his 96th and extended greetings.  PM Modi described Lal Krishna Advani as “a beacon of integrity and dedication who has made monumental contributions that have strengthened our nation”.   Union Home Minister Amit Shah also wished the 96-year-old leader on his birth anniversary and said that he is “an eternal source of inspiration” for all BJP workers.  “Advani ji, with his tireless hard work and organizational skills, worked to nourish the party and build workers”- Amit Shah added. …

Preparations underway for ‘artificial rain’, a ban on entry of app-based taxis from other cities to curb air pollution in Delhi

Manish Kumar

Delhi environment minister said that preparations are underway to implement the ‘artificial rain’ project presented by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.  scientists conveyed that ‘cloud seeding’ could only be attempted if there were clouds or moisture in the atmosphere.  The success of artificial rain depends on specific meteorological conditions, such as the presence of moisture-laden clouds and suitable wind patterns.  “In India, research on artificial rain is ongoing, but it has not made significant progress so far.” the Director-General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.  The Delhi…

Tiger 3: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif’s film crosses 1 lakh tickets mark in advance bookings

Manish Kumar

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s Tiger is all set to become one of the biggest hits of 2023 and its advance ticket sales figures are clearly vouching for it. At national chains for Day 1, Tiger 3 has sold over 1 lakh tickets so far with still three complete days left for its release. Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif‘s much-awaited film Tiger 3 is all geared up to arrive in theatres on Diwali, November 12. The makers of the film opened ticket windows for advance bookings on November 5, a week ahead…