Author: Mike Harrison

The organisation claimed there were serious flaws in the floating of the tender, and said it was completely against the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act and Rules Arappor Iyakkam, a Chennai-based organisation, has raised serious doubts about the tender practice adopted by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) for procuring more than 20 lakh tonnes of imported coal at a cost of ₹1,330 crore.Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, claimed there were serious flaws in the floating of the tender norms through the introducing of new clauses, and said the tender was completely against the Tamil Nadu…

Jaishankar said India ensured that basic needs were very effectively addressed even during the COVID-19 lockdown. Describing terrorism as one of the gravest threats to humankind, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the bodies dealing with human rights should realise that terrorism can never be justified, nor its perpetrators ever equated with its victims.Speaking at the high-level segment of 46th session of Human Rights Council, Mr. Jaishankar said terrorism is a crime against humanity and violates the most fundamental human right namely the right to life.“Terrorism continues to be one of the gravest threats to humankind,” he…

Tharanga, 36, enjoyed more success in ODIs, making 6951 runs at an average of 33.74 in the 235 matches he played since his debut against West Indies in August 2005 Veteran Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga on Tuesday announced his retirement from international cricket after a career spanning 15 years and during which he also enjoyed a brief stint as captain.Tharanga, 36, who was at the helm from July to November in 2017, last represented the national team during its tour of South Africa in 2019.”I have decided to retire from international cricket,” Tharanga wrote on his Twitter handle.” Tharanga…

The rupee slipped from the day’s highest level but managed to eke out a marginal gain of 3 paise at 72.46 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on February 23, tracking muted domestic equities and stronger greenback against key rivals.At the interbank Forex market, the local unit opened at 72.36 against the U.S. dollar and witnessed an intra-day high of 72.31 and a low of 72.46.It finally ended at 72.46 a dollar, registering a rise of 3 paise from its previous close.On Monday, the rupee had settled at 72.49 against the American currency.Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength…

Labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur in her bail plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court has claimed that she was severely beaten up at a police station after her arrest by the Sonipat police last month. The 23-year-old activist, hailing from Punjab’s Muktsar district, has also claimed that her medical examination was not conducted in violation of section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.Ms. Kaur is currently lodged in Karnal jail in Haryana. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday had adjourned the hearing on her bail plea and posted the matter for February 24. In the bail…

Pitching the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a connectivity booster, Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Colombo on a two-day visit beginning on Tuesday, said Pakistan would find “ways and means to enhance trade and connectivity” with Sri Lanka.“Pakistan is part of the One Belt and Road initiative of China, and CPEC is one of its flagship programmes. And it means connectivity,” he said hours after his arrival. The CPEC, Mr. Khan said, would help enhance Sri Lanka’s connectivity “right up to Central Asia”, while trade ties would bring Pakistan and Sri Lanka “closer together”.Mr. Khan is the first head of…

The court order came just after the migrants were transported to a naval base where three Myanmar military ships were waiting to take them home A Malaysian court on February 23 ordered a halt to the planned deportation of 1,200 Myanmar migrants to hear an appeal by two human rights groups, which say the migrants included refugees, asylum seekers and minors.The court order, following a legal bid by Amnesty International Malaysia and Asylum Access Malaysia, came just after the migrants were transported to a naval base where three Myanmar military ships were waiting to take them home.“In light of the…

U.S. on February 22 crossed the grim milestone of 5,00,000 COVID-19 deaths The U.S. has said it is looking forward to an “overarching” memorandum of understanding to enhance health partnership with India and asserted that the cooperation between the two countries on COVID-19 builds on decades of successful collaboration in health and biomedical research.The U.S. on February 22 crossed the grim milestone of 5,00,000 COVID-19 deaths. With 28,184,218 coronavirus cases and 5,00,172 deaths due to the disease so far, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, America is the worst-affected nation.“We look forward to an overarching MoU to enhance health cooperation…

The helmet-wearing French duo shared the news Monday in an 8-minute video called ‘Epilogue’. Grammy-winning electronic music pioneers Daft Punk have announced that they are breaking up after 28 years.The helmet-wearing French duo shared the news Monday in an 8-minute video called Epilogue. Kathryn Frazier, the band’s longtime publicist, confirmed the break up for The Associated Press.Daft Punk, comprised of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, have had major success over the years, winning six Grammy Awards and launching international hits with One More Time, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and Get Lucky.Bangalter and de Homem-Christo met at a Paris school…

Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico. The wife of Mexican drug kingpin and escape artist Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was arrested at an airport in Virginia on international drug trafficking charges, the Justice Department has said.Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, was arrested at Dulles International Airport on Monday and is expected to appear in federal court in Washington on Tuesday.She’s accused of helping her husband escape from a Mexican prison in 2015 and was also “engaged in planning yet another prison escape” before Guzman…