State :
Tamilnadu :
60 road junctions in city to become pedestrian-friendly
- The Chennai Corporation plans to improve pedestrian facilities at 60 road junctions in the city. The civic body has identified consultants to study the junctions and identify the challenges faced by pedestrians. “The work is estimated to cost 100 crore. Non-motorised transport across the junctions will improve,” said an official.
IFS officer crematedwith State honours
- The body of Conservator of Forests and Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve S. Manikandan, 45, who was killed by a wild elephant in the reserve forests in Mysuru, was cremated with full police honours including a 21-gun salute in his home town Cumbum
Run to create awareness on rare disorders
- The Halo Wings run, organised for raising funds for patients with lesser-known disorders was held at Anna University in the city
Governor offers worship at Rameswaram temple, visits Kalam’s house
- Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who was on a one-day visit to Rameswaram on March 5 , offered worship at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, visited the ‘House of Kalam’, the residence of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Arichamuni, the south-eastern tip of Dhanushkodi.
Kerala :
Scientific study for conservation of Vellayani lake
- The lack of scientific study had bogged down conservation efforts, experts pointed out during a discussion organised by CISSA and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.Document to be finalised for release on World Wetlands Day .
Former Kerala High Court judge D. Sreedevi passed away
- Justice (Retd.) D. Sreedevi (79), a former judge of the Kerala High Court and former chairperson of the Kerala State Commission for Women, passed away this morning after a brief illness.
Bodybuilder in hijab, the head-turner at Mr. Kerala
- Quite a few were shocked when Majiziya Bhanu was announced the winner in the women’s category of the Mr. Kerala competition in Kochi . The 23-year-old posed in a hijab, probably the only woman in the State to do so. And, it was her first time in such a contest.
Kanataka :
Forest fires in Kodagu, Turahalli, and Lakkavalli
- According to the RFO of the area, Varun Kumar, it could have been an accidental fire. “It was ground fire. There is habitation in the surrounding areas. Such fires are common in summer,” he said. The fire was noticed around 5.30 p.m. and was doused within half an hour, according to officials .
State government set on protecting syncretic nature of Bababudan Dargah
- The State government has opposed the demand to declare the Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swami Dargah near Chikkamagaluru as an exclusively Hindu place of worship, accepting the report submitted by an expert committee headed by Justice Nagamohan Das. With this, the government has confirmed that the cave shrine will retain its syncretic nature as a dargah venerated by both Hindus and Muslims .
Andhra Pradesh :
Andhra Pradesh govt. will continue to press for SCS: Governor Narasimhan
- “Assets were allocated to the two successor States on the basis of their geographical location, debt liabilities were distributed commensurate with the population and income on the basis of the geographical location of the sources (of income),” Mr. Narasimhan said.
India :
Now, cars of President, Vice-President to have number plates
- In an affidavit filed before the High Court, the Ministry said, “The offices of the President of India, Vice President, Governors and Lieutenant Governors in the country and Secretary (Ministry of External Affairs) have been asked in a January 2, 2018 letter to ensure that all the vehicles used by the President/President’s Secretariat, Vice President/Vice President’s Secretariat, Governor/ Lieutenant Governors/ or their officers/secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs be registered, if not done, and that they display registration mark as per the rules”.
CBI to probe ‘leak’ of questions of Staff Selection Commission exam: Rajnath Singh
- Job aspirants have been protesting outside the Commission’s office in New Delhie since February 27, seeking a CBI probe into the issue.
- “We have accepted the demands of protesting candidates and have given orders for a CBI inquiry. The protests should stop now,” Mr. Singh told the media.
K.M. Joseph is ‘senior-most High Court Chief Justice’
- As reports gain currency about the government’s reluctance to elevate Uttarakhand Chief Justice K.M. Joseph to the Supreme Court citing the seniority principle, a highly placed source in the apex court points out that Justice Joseph is indeed the senior-most High Court Chief Justice now.
World :
Day Zero: Scare tactics, science and solutions
- The City of Cape Town has come under significant criticism from civil society and concerned residents for its response to the worst drought the city has experienced in 100 years. Most notably are the accusations levelled against the City for its Day Zero predictions and preparations.
- Day Zero is Cape Town’s imminent doomsday, the date the taps may run dry and residents begin queuing for water.
Indian Embassy telephone lines in US spoofed
- Indian Embassy telephone lines have been spoofed by fraudsters in the US to cheat people for money, according to an advisory issued by mission which warned against entertaining any suspicious calls.
China hikes military budget by 8.1%
- China on March 5 vowed to target a growth rate of around 6.5% in 2018 that would lift 10 million people out of poverty — in tune with establishing a strong military force.
U.S. trying to interfere in our presidential poll: Russia
- Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that Moscow had thwarted more than 400 foreign spies last year and on March 5 called on the FSB, the domestic intelligence agency, to act to block further foreign attempts to obtain political, economic and military information.
Fraudsters fake calls from Indian embassy in U.S.
- Officials said phone spoofing was a fairly easily accessible technology, that can be used from anywhere in the world. Indian missions in London and Frankfurt also issued similar advisories in the last two years.
Business :
6,000 staff unpaid: Aircel
- Salaries for more than 6,000 employees of Aircel have remained unpaid since the beginning of February. The telecom operator does not have funds to pay its employees, or water and electricity bills.
- The debt-laden firm has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), seeking to appoint an interim resolution professional (IRP) at the earliest to ‘ascertain economic safeguards’.
Infosys gives stock incentives to top team
- “The exercise price will be the par value of shares,” Infosys said. According to the vesting schedule, Mr. Parekh will get 84,768 units as a one-time grant over a period of two years. The rest will accrue to him as annual grants over a period of three years.
Rupee gains 9 paise against dollar in opening trade
- The rupee firmed 9 paise to 65.08 against the dollar in opening trade today after the greenback came under pressure as US President Donald Trump’s comments raised concerns of a global trade war.
Sports :
Anand clinches Tal Memorial rapid chess title
- World rapid champion Viswanathan Anand continued his fine run in the faster version of the game and annexed the Tal Memorial rapid chess title here after an easy final round draw against Boris Gelfand of Israel .
Warner-de Kock fracas overshadows Australia’s win
- Australia needed just 22 balls and 20 minutes of play on the fifth day at Kingsmead to secure a 118-run triumph over South Africa in the first of the four-match series on March 5. The visitors required a single wicket to secure success after South Africa resumed on 293 for nine, chasing an improbable victory target of 417.