MMRDA officials involved in graft, says French co

French engineering firm Systra accuses senior Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials of corruption and stalling payments. Systra claims undue favours were sought and payments suspended, prompting it to seek diplomatic intervention. The MMRDA labels the allegations baseless and has issued termination notices, citing contractual violations. Systra has taken the matter to Bombay High Court, alleging continued financial pressure tactics.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma: Old guard, new fire

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to form in the ICC Champions Trophy, with Kohli scoring his 51st ODI century against Pakistan, proving his fitness and determination. Rohit, rediscovering his touch, contributes quick runs. Their performances, lauded by teammates and rivals alike, affirm their importance to the Indian team despite recent struggles.

Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes Bay of Bengal

India skips vote on Ukraine resolutions as US faces setback in UNGA

On the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, India abstained from two UN General Assembly resolutions calling for peace and Ukrainian sovereignty. The US abstained from voting on its own resolution after European amendments altered the text. France and the UK might still influence the outcome in the Security Council.

BTech student, 17, raped while returning from college

A 17-year-old BTech student in Muzaffarnagar, UP was raped after being offered a bike lift while returning from college on February 21. The main accused, Himanshu, along with his friends, took her to a secluded spot and assaulted her. A police complaint was filed after the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents.

Khunti horror: 18 boys held for gang-raping 3 tribal girls, molesting 2

Three minor tribal girls were raped and two others were molested by several minor boys in Rania block, Khunti. The crime occurred on Friday night when the girls were returning home from a marriage-related function. Police detained 18 minor boys and conducted medical tests. A case has been registered under relevant sections. The incident is reminiscent of the 2018 Kochang gang rape.

Sensex slips below 75k mark, logs lowest level in 8 months

The Sensex dropped for the fifth consecutive session, closing at an eight-month low of 74,454 points. Weak global sentiment and substantial foreign fund outflows affected the market. IT, telecom, and metal stocks led the decline, while the broader Nifty also fell significantly. Despite the selloff, optimistic forecasts suggest potential recovery.

FTA talks on: India, UK eye social security pact

India and the UK have resumed discussions on a free trade agreement, including social security and investment. India is open to reducing tariffs to foster competitive business relations. Both sides aim for a balanced and mutually beneficial deal, prioritizing quality over speed, with a focus on business visas for students.

Leopard stalks Etawah village in search of cub

Students at a government school in Etawah mistook a leopard cub for a kitten and locked it in a classroom. The cub was rescued and taken to Etawah Lion Safari. Villagers later spotted the mother leopard and heard its growls. Forest officials advised caution and patrolled the area to ensure safety.

New CEC to chair meet on modern poll management

The Election Commission, chaired by new chief commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, will convene with state CEOs on March 4-5. The conference will address modern election management issues, including IT architecture enhancement and social media reach. CEOs will also present their action plans based on thematic discussions.

Five kids plan blast to target teacher, injure nine-year-old

Five Class VIII and IX students planned a sodium blast targeting a teacher at a Chhattisgarh school, injuring a 9-year-old girl instead. Police detained four students based on CCTV footage and identified the online purchase of sodium. Investigations continue, focusing on gaps in online chemical sales.

Post-RGK, Didi hikes doctors’ stipends by up to Rs25,000

CM Mamata Banerjee announced pay hikes for junior and senior doctors at state-run hospitals and increased the private-practice distance cap. She urged doctors to ensure a minimum of eight working hours and senior doctors to not leave crucial tasks to juniors. The CM addressed these expectations during her first conclave with health professionals.

PM Modi picks 10 heavyweights to lead fight against obesity

PM Modi has nominated 10 influential people, including J&K CM Omar Abdullah, businessman Anand Mahindra, and actor Mohanlal, to join a campaign against obesity. Modi encouraged the use of less cooking oil to improve health and invoked the nominees to further extend the initiative by nominating others.

UN adopts resolution demanding withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine

French firm levels graft charges against MMRDA, seeks diplomatic intervention

French engineering firm Systra accuses senior Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials of corruption and stalling payments. Systra claims undue favours were sought and payments suspended, prompting it to seek diplomatic intervention. The MMRDA labels the allegations baseless and has issued termination notices, citing contractual violations. Systra has taken the matter to Bombay High Court, alleging continued financial pressure tactics.