Top stories on 21 February in a capsule

STORY OF THE DAY

Kamal Haasan launches his new party 'Makkal Needhi Mayyam'

Kamal Haasan began his political innings by announcing the name of his party - Makkal Needhi Mayyam (People’s Justice Party) - from a grand stage in Madurai. “This is your party. This is the party of the people. I am just a part of it. I see the faces of a lot of leaders in the crowd here,” he says. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also present for the event along with Tamil Nadu AAP party chief. Kamal Haasan started the event by hoisting party flag in the presence of about 15,000 supporters. 

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EPFO reduces interest rates to 8.55% from 8.65 in 2016-17

Employees provident fund organization (EPFO) on Wednesday reduced interest rates to 8.55% for 2017-18 as against 8.65% for the year 2016-17. The retirement fund manager, which pays to more than 50 million customers, cut its rates to the lowest in five years. The rate cut, announced after a meeting of the central board of trustees (CBT), was the best the body could offer in the “current uncertain” market conditions, labour secretary M. Sathiyavathy told reporters. The minister also launched the EPFO's UAN-AADHAAR linking facility for the convenience of the members using EPFO link in UMANG mobile application. This is in addition to existing facility on the website of the EPFO.


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No 13-digit numbers for retail mobiles

Hours after media reports claimed about change in the 10 digit mobile numbers into 13 digit mobile numbers, the government came out with a clarification that there will be no such change. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday said that there was no such proposal for mobile numbers. It claimed that the 13-digit system was in fact issued for machine-to-machine (M2M) SIM cards used for direct communication among electronic devices. It rubbished reports that claimed that normal retail mobile numbers would also be shifted to 13-digit mobile numbers. The 10-digit mobile numbers scheme will stay for retail mobile numbers.

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Ex-Gujarat Police Chief PP Pandey discharged by court in Ishrat Jahan case

A special CBI court, on Wednesday, allowed the discharge plea of retired Gujarat DGP P P Pandey in Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case. Pandey was heading the state crime branch when Ishrat, a 19-year-old girl based in Mumbra near Mumbai, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar, were killed in an alleged encounter with the police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on 15 June 2004. The Gujarat police had claimed they had terror links and had plotted to kill then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Pandey is the first accused to be discharged in the case. He spent 19 months in jail before being let out on bail in February 2015. He had claimed that none of the 105 witnesses examined by the court had named him and he had no "direct or indirect involvement in the case".

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Ex-PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif banned from leading his party

Pakistan's Supreme Court has disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as head of his party. Sharif was ordered to step down as prime minister last year amid corruption allegations. However, he has denied the allegations. The order overturns a change in the law by Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz that allowed the former premier to lead the party despite being legally banned from holding public office. He is currently on trial in an anti-corruption court following an inquiry into his family finances. A verdict is due next month.

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Private hospitals make 1700% profit by overcharging medicines, diagnostics: NPPA

According to the latest reports by National Pharma Pricing Authority (NPPA), four private hospitals in the Delhi and NCR area overcharge patients on medicines and diagnosis, bringing up the profit margin to over 1700%. The report, analyzing the bills of four major hospitals says that the hospitals have been extensively charging both the customers and the manufacturers. A report by Deccan Herald said an IV set was sold at Rs 5 to the distributor, Rs 8 to the hospital, was sold for an MRP of Rs 115. Further reports from Moneycontrol shows the highest purchase price was 1737 percent on three-way stopcock bi-valves, which the hospitals purchase for Rs 5.77, but the MRP is Rs 106.


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Police detains second AAP MLA for assaulting IAS officer

Fresh trouble cropped up for the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday when another MLA Amanatullah Kahn was detained. Khan, who is charged with allegations of assaulting Delhi Secretary Chief Anshu Prakash, surrendered himself at Jamia Nagar Police Station saying, “I have done nothing wrong.” As of now, two AAP MLAs are in judicial custody after Officer Anshu Prakash had alleged that he was beaten up by the legislators on Monday night at the CM’s residence. Meanwhile, the medical reports of Prakash confirm marks of physical assault on his body. The medical certificate released by Aruna Asaf Ali Govt Hospital says Prakash has 'bruise over the lower lip and mild swelling behind both ears.'

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Woman to lead Indian IT industry for the first time ever

For the first time in India, the Indian Information Technology industry will get its first female lead. The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) will be led by Debjani Ghosh, an Intel Corp. veteran from April, 30 years since its formation. After a two-decade career at the U. S. chipmaker, most recently as managing director for South Asia, Ghosh will lead the trade body that represents global leaders in software outsourcing from Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. to Infosys Ltd, she is all set to lead this $167 billion industry.

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Punjab CM meets Justin Trudeau and Canada's 'Khalistani sympathiser' minister

Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau and his team on Wednesday met Punjab’s CM, Amrinder Singh, and Navjot Singh Sidhu, among others. Interestingly, Amrinder Singh met Trudeau’s defense minister whom he had refused to meet last year, calling him a ‘Khalistani Sympathiser’. "I raised the issue of Khalistan as it is the primary issue, as there is money coming in from various countries including Canada," Captain Amarinder Singh said after meeting the Canadian PM. Earlier today, Trudeau and his family visited the Golden Temple and performed ''Seva" or service by rolling chapatis in the communal kitchen there. 

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