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Quint Digital Media Limited to now have Adani Group as a minority stakeholder

Gautam Adani’s Adani Group has decided to acquire a minority stake in Quintillion Business Media Pvt Ltd. The Billionaire tycoon is all set to invest in Raghav Bahl-led leading digital business news platform in India.

India’s only digital-based news platform to be listed on the stock exchange, Quint Digital Media Limited is now looking forward to having the Adani Group as an investor. On Tuesday, Quint said that it has entered into a binding term sheet with the Adani Group via its media subsidiary, Adani Media Ventures (AMV). However, the proposed transaction is only for Quintillian Business Media (QBM) and does not include other platforms like The Quint, Quintype Technologies, The News Minute and Youth ki Awaaz owned by Quint Digital.

Sanjay Pugalia, CEO, Adani Media Ventures Limited said, “I have had the privilege of working with QBM’s talented, credible and diverse team. This relationship between AMV and QBM marks a strong beginning of Adani Group’s foray into Indian media.”

Commenting on the new path charted by his company, Pugalia said, “Adani Media Ventures intends to lead the path for new age media across different platforms. The adoption of technology and the increased ability of our nation to consume information has dramatically transformed the way media is expected to disseminate authentic information. This is exactly what Adani Media Ventures aims to do.”

The CEO of QBM Anil Uniyal said, “We are delighted to welcome the Adani Group as an investor in QBM. Given the proven execution record of the Adani group, their support to fulfil the ambitions of QBM will lay the foundation for accelerating the growth of the business and scale of QBM’s high-quality content for the Indian audiences”

QBM is a business and financial news company that covers content based on the Indian economy, international finance, corporate law & governance and business news, amongst others through its platform Bloomberg Quint. It is learnt that the Adani Group is set to close the transaction after completing customary due diligence and definitive documents. Earlier in November 2021, Quint Digital had announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Quintillion Business Media.

‘Zelenskyy regime using civilians as human shields against advancing Russian troops’: ASEAN Centre expert at MGIMO University

Dr Victor Sumsky, a leading expert at the ASEAN Centre in Moscow State Institute of International Relations(MGIMO) University in Russia, has alleged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s regime is using civilians as human shields to prevent the forward movement of the advancing Russian army.

The remarks were made by Dr Sumsky on Times Now, where he accused the Zelenskyy regime of unleashing a propaganda offensive to paint Russia as a villain and hinder the pace of progressing Russian troops.

When asked about reports stating that the Russian army has been attacking civilians in Ukraine, Sumsky rejected them, saying that it was a part of the Zelenskyy government’s effort to tarnish the reputation of Russia by disseminating misleading information. “Zelenskyy has made it a point to use civilians as human shields against advancing Russian troops. These are tactics used by terrorists across the world,” Victor Sumsky said.

It is worth noting that Zelenskyy has said that his government will provide weapons to anyone who wants to fight and has asked people to be ready to support Ukraine in city squares. In the wake of the invasion, Zelenskyy had tweeted that the Ukrainian government will provide arms and ammunition to civilians willing to fight against the Russian forces. Zelenskyy had also stated that his government will lift sanctions against any citizens who take up arms in defence of the country as part of the territorial defence.

Earlier today, an Indian student became a casualty of the ongoing crisis in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, following heavy shelling from Russian forces.

“With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

Nearly 20,000 Indian students, most studying medicine, have been stuck in Ukraine. The Indian government has started an evacuation operation named ‘Operation Ganga’ for the stranded Indian students. Several special flights have been running from Poland, Romania, and Hungary to bring the students home.

Russia launches ‘military operations’ against Ukraine

On Thursday (February 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin announced limited military operations against Ukraine. In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the special operation to be conducted in East Ukraine.

Putin had added explicitly that Moscow did not plan on occupying Ukraine. He said the military action he announced would seek to “demilitarise” and “denazify” Ukraine and came in response to threats from Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s border guard agency, the Russian military entered the country from neighbouring Belarus. The Russian forces crossed Belarus to enter Ukraine from the North, said Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Northern border forces in Ukraine have come under attack by Russian troops.

Poland steps up to help Indian students fleeing Ukraine: Here is how decades ago, an Indian Maharaja had sheltered Polish children during WWII

In 1941, When World War II broke out, a large number of Polish people were packed and drawn as labour in Soviet Russia after the Red Army invaded Poland. When Germany attacked USSR and the British recognised Poland as a nation, some Polish refugees in Soviet Russia successfully fled to many parts of the world freeing from the Russian operation. During a long journey of thousands of kilometres in the warmer areas of the global south, many Polish children were left undernourished and dehydrated, while many of them lost their lives.

After being refused by many landlocked countries over the shelter, a flock of over a thousand children arrived in India through the passage of Iran and Afghanistan. This time too they were denied permission in Bombay by the then British Governor. Realising the brevity of the situation, The Polish Consulate in Bombay launched a public awareness campaign in India about the plight of Jewish refugees in Europe and started to work behind the scenes to arrange for these Polish orphans from Siberia to travel to India. A ray of rope came from the princely state of Nawnagar from where the Maharaja had heard the plight of Polish refugees. His conviction to help the refugees from Poland was such that he fought with the British Government and pressured them to allow him to grant refuge to the Polich children.

It was Maharaja Digvijaysinghji Ranjitsinghji Jadeja, a newly knighted ruler from the small state of Nawanagar in Gujarat who opened his doors and his heart to the unsettled Polish people. Soon arrangments were made for the refugees to board a ship that was landed in the Rosi port in his province. The flock of around a thousand Polish orphans between 2 to 17 years of age entered Navnagar and a camp for them was established at Balachadi. To many of the children who lost their parents in the World War, this Maharaja from Gujarat became their ‘Bapu’.

“You may have not have your parents, but I am your father now,” Maharaja Jadeja said while welcoming his new guests to his state. Soon, efforts were made to take care of their bare necessities and the Maharaja went ahead to take care that their Polish sensibilities were being preserved. When a group of children complained about the spicy Indian food which they were not accustomed to, Maharaja hired seven Polish chefs to cook for the children. Permanent dormitories were constructed for the children wherein they enjoyed their own space, food and medical care.

The Maharaja of Jamnagar with his adopted Polish children in Nawnagar. Image Credits: Wiki Commons

When Maharaja Digvijaysinghji realised that the education of these children had taken a toll with their exodus, Polish teachers at the camp taught the children in their native language. It is learnt that ‘Jam Sahib’ as he was affectionately called, transformed a large guest house at Balachadi into a full-blown school with benches and tables. While the efforts of Digvijaysinghji are a true epitome of the ancient Indian saying ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (World is a one-family), he paved was for a ‘little-Poland’ in Balachadi upon which a documentary film produced by the Polish embassy in India has been made by the same name.

Today, the legacy of Maharaja Jadeja is resonating on the brink of the Russia-Ukraine tussle, which is touted to be the prelude to a probable world war. When Indian students were stuck in crisis-hit Ukraine, the Polish administration allowed Indian nationals to enter their territory who were fleeing from war-torn Ukraine. While India has launched Operation Ganga to rescue Indian students from the neighbouring countries of Ukraine, visuals of Indians being taken care of by the Polish administration made their way to the media.

Much like the erstwhile Maharaja, this time, Indian children found their way in dormitories opened by Poland. Basic necessities like food, water and medicines were provided by the Polish administration for students. The embassy of Poland in India announced that Indian students are in safe hands until rescue operations are completed to the fullest.

Today, the humanitarian underpinnings of the relationship between in India and Poland are underlined by a quote by Mark Twain – “that History doesn’t repeat itself, but It often rhymes” When once interviewed by a Polish magazine, Jam Sahib said, “Maybe there, in the beautiful hills beside the seashore, the children will be able to recover their health and to forget the ordeal they went through. I sympathise with the Polish nation and its relentless struggle against oppression.”  

Skwer Dobrego Maharadzy or Square of the Good Maharaja in Warsaw, Poland

Poland has also announced that Indian students in Ukraine can cross the border into Poland without any visa and they will be helped.

Poland to this day is grateful to the Maharaja for his gesture. In Warsaw’s Ochota, a park goes with an unusual name, “Skwer Dobrego Maharadzy” which means Square of the Good Maharaja. They say geopolitical interests are always strategic, but it is often values and principles upheld in difficult times like these which pay the way for brotherhood among nations for years to come.

Naveen died in shelling, efforts to bring mortal remains initiated by Karnataka CM: Reports

The Indian student Naveen who lost his life on March 1 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, was out of the shelter to buy something from a nearby store. News agency ANI quoted Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka SDMA, saying, “We have confirmed from MEA the unfortunate demise of Naveen Shekharappa in Ukraine. He was from Chalageri, Haveri. He had left for a nearby store to buy something. Later his friend got a call from a local official that he (Naveen) has died.”

Visuals show massive blast resulting in Naveen’s death

Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, TV9, shared the visuals of the blast that claimed Naveen’s life. According to the TV9 report, Naveen was standing in a line for food outside Governor’s house city hall. A Russian individual grabbed the phone found near the body and took it to Indians, which helped identify Naveen. The mortal remains have been shifted to the local morgue. Around 3000-4000 Indian students are stuck in Kharkiv.

Karnataka CM initiated efforts to bring back Naveen’s mortal remains

As per ANI, Karnataka Chief Minister Bommai has initiated efforts to bring back the mortal remains of Naveen at the earliest. Karnataka CMO officials said, “Naveen Shekharappa, a Haveri district student died in Ukraine. CM Bommai spoke with his father. All efforts will be made to bring back Naveen’s body to India. The CM said that the matter is being negotiated with foreign ministry officials.”

YouTube blocks Russian channels RT and Sputnik in Europe for promoting ‘Kremlin based agenda’ amid ongoing war in Ukraine

In the midst of the ongoing war in Ukraine, YouTube has blocked the channels connected to Russian state-backed media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik across Europe effective immediately. The two channels have been called out of spreading misinformation and Kremlin based agenda calling Russian invasion as a ‘special operation’.

YouTube in its statement said that the company was observing the situation in Ukraine very closely. “It’ll take time for the systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action,” the company operated by Alphabet Inc’s Google, said on Tuesday.

This is a day after the European Union took an unprecedented step and announced that it would ban Kremlin based media outlets named Russia Today and Sputnik. “The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, as well as their subsidiaries will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war and to sow division in our Union. So we are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe,” said the EU’s president, Ursula von der Leyen in a statement.

European Commissioner in Charge of Internal Market Thierry Breton and the values and transparency commissioner, Vera Jourova spoke to the CEOs of Google and YouTube urging them to step up efforts against Russian propaganda. Russia Today has 4.66 million subscribers while Sputnik has 322k subscribers on YouTube.

Earlier the day, social media platforms like Facebook, Tiktok and Microsoft also exercised ban on the two outlets. Nick Clegg, Vice President of Global Affairs at Facebook parent Meta said that the company had received requests from various governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media. “Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time”, Clegg said.

Meanwhile, Microsoft dropped RT’s news apps from its smartphone app store and announced that it would not display any RT or Sputnik content on its Microsoft Start news feed and MSN.com. It further has pushed the sites down in Bing search results.

On February 26, the micro-blogging site Twitter had also paused advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety. It had also paused certain tweet recommendations for people in war-torn Ukraine and Russia to prevent the dissemination of abusive content.

It is pertinent to note that Russia Today and Sputnik have followers of millions on social media platforms. According to the reports, the two media outlets have made attempts to justify Russia’s decision of invading Ukraine. They have framed Russia’s invasion as a response to Ukrainian aggression and called it as a ‘special operation’.

On February 24, Russia launched attacks on Ukraine from the neighbouring country Belarus. The Russian forces crossed Belarus to enter Ukraine from the North and crashed attacks on border units, border patrols, and checkpoints using artillery, heavy equipment, and small arms.

Arms found hidden in a closed house, 2 hand grenades, 22-25 used cartridges recovered by Gurugram police, investigation on

On Tuesday, March 1, top police officers and armed personnel conducted a search operation following intelligence that a huge cache of illegal arms and ammunition were stashed in an abandoned building near a CNG petrol pump in Gurugram Sector 31, where three people were hacked to death a day earlier. The search was conducted based on a tip-off received at around 9.45 am on Tuesday.

According to reports, two hand grenades, 17 training bombs and around 22 to 25 used cartridges were reportedly recovered from the abandoned house in Sector-31 of Gurugram. Senior officials at the spot said that the grenades were neutralised at about 1.30 pm.

“We are yet to find out where these grenades were transported from and how they ended up in the house. We will contact the ordnance factory regarding the details of hand grenades,” said Rajeev Deswal, deputy commissioner of police (crime).

The Gurugram police acted in the early hours of Tuesday after receiving information through a Tweet that a large stockpile of weapons was lying in a residence in Sector 31. After receiving the information, the NSG team was informed about the same. Within no time, senior police officers, including DCP (East), DCP (Crime), officials from the Crime Branch and Sector 40 police station reached the spot and surrounded the abandoned residence from all sides. Bomb Disposal Squad and the Dog Squad was called in.

Virender Vij, DCP Gurugram (East), said, “We had received information about the presence of ammunition in an unoccupied house in Sector 31. The bomb disposal squad and several police teams have launched an operation. The bomb disposal squad is following protocol and only after their probe is complete, we will be able to ascertain any details. We are checking with HUDA officials about the ownership of the house.”

Meanwhile, security around the area has been tightened. The Gurugram police have cordoned off the area and told residents in the neighbourhood to vacate their homes. The road leading to the house has also been closed to traffic. Investigators stated that they are reviewing the area’s CCTV footage and questioning residents.

The house is reportedly just a few metres away from a CNG pump whose three employees were hacked to death using sharp weapons in the early hours of Monday. The deceased were identified as Bhupendra, Pushpendra and Naresh, all natives of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the preliminary investigation, the accused had cut off the power to the petrol station, rendering 14 CCTV cameras inoperable. According to police, at least Rs 10 lakh in cash was left untouched in a safe in the room where the murders took place, implying that personal animosity was the motive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s requests for ‘immediate membership’ of the European Union stands rejected: Details

In a major setback to the aim of Ukraine to join the European Union, the 27-member EU has rejected the country’s President’s request for quick membership. This follows after the president formally requested that Ukraine join the EU by signing a membership application on Monday.

On Monday, Zelenskyy requested a special procedure, claiming that it would assist other European states to stand together and offer Kyiv a stronger footing in dealing with the ongoing confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.

Between the existing members of the European Union, there was a clear division over the admission of Ukraine in the bloc. While more than six nations have expressed support for Ukraine’s membership, Germany and France have stated that it will not be possible to do so soon. The officials in the bloc have cited lengthy procedures behind the rejection of this request.

On February 28, Zelenskiy, the President of Ukraine requested to the EU “for the immediate accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure.”

“Our objective is to be among all Europeans and, above all, to be on an equal footing. That seems reasonable to me. I am confident that we are deserving of it,” in a video speech that was posted on social media, he remarked.

These developments come as the Russia-Ukraine crisis shows no signs of abating. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the special operation to be launched in East Ukraine in a televised address.

Ukraine: One Indian student killed in shelling in Kharkiv, MEA confirms

Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, an Indian national was killed in shelling in Kharkiv. The development was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

In a tweet, the MEA spokesperson informed, “With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family.”

He further added, “Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.”

Times Now journalist Komal Gautham informed that the deceased has been identified as one Naveen from Karnataka. His friends said they had left for the train station to leave for Lviv to reach the western border,” she tweeted. His parents have now reached out to the Russian embassy in Chennai.

Nearly 20,000 Indian students, most studying medicine, have been stuck in Ukraine. The Indian government has started an evacuation operation named ‘Operation Ganga’ for the stranded Indian students. Several special flights have been running from Poland, Romania, and Hungary to bring the students home.

Kharkiv is a big Ukrainian city in the Eastern region where intense fighting has been going on between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Earlier on Thursday (February 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin announced limited “military operations” against Ukraine. In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared for the special operation to be conducted in East Ukraine.

Putin had added explicitly that Moscow does not plan to occupy Ukraine. He said the military action he announced would seek to “demilitarise” and “denazify” Ukraine and came in response to threats from Ukraine.

Former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci, suspected of having links to Al Qaeda, declines Tata Sons’ offer to be new Air India CEO

Former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci has declined Tata Sons’ offer to be the new chief executive officer of Air India, days after his Air India, days after he was accused of having links with terror outfit Al Qaeda following his appointment to lead the debt-laden airlines bought out by the Tatas.

“I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative,” said Ayci in a statement cited by Bloomberg, adding that his appointment to the position was ‘coloured’ by the Indian media.

Ayci was appointed to preside over Air India by Tata Sons on February 14, and he was expected to join the airline on or before April 1, according to a press release.

However, soon after the announcement of Ayci’s appointment as the head of Tata’s recently acquired Air India, allegations of his connections to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda came to the fore. In the light of serious allegations levelled against him, the Ministry of Home Affairs was to carry out a thorough background check of Ilker Ayci.

Ilker Ayci’s links to Turkey and Al-Qaeda

Ayci has been a close aide of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Notably, the Turkish President is a close supporter of Pakistan and often stands against India on the International platform. Turkey is currently in the Grey List of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), just like Pakistan, over the allegations of terror funding.

Ayci has been connected to Erdogan since 94 when he became Mayor of Istanbul. At that time, Ayci was appointed his advisor. Ayci was later appointed as the chairman of Turkish Airlines and had resigned from the post in January 2022.

Apart from his association with Erdogan, according to a report in Atalayar in 2020, Ayci, who was the former chairman of the Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT), had promoted private investments and ventures by Yasin al-Qadi, the former alleged Al-Qaeda financier. As per the report, Ayci had met al-Qadi in Cengiz Aktürk’s personal office. Aktürk was also a suspect and trusted member of al-Qadi.

Al-Qadi, an Egypt-born Saudi national, was singled out by the United States Department of Treasury and the United Nations Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee for alleged links to financing terrorist groups. Sanctions were applied against him, and his assets were frozen by several investigating agencies. However, his name was later removed from the blacklist after several courts had cleared his name.

From caste consensus to development: What Amit Shah said praising Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh votes

In a recent interview with the Indian Express, Home Minister Amit Shah has heaped praises on Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath as the Assembly Elections 2022 are in progress. While praising Adityanath for his commendable leadership to the state, he highlighted that good governance, development and the democratic credentials of the party will increase its winnability in the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Amit Shah did not mince any words while counting the achievements of the Yogi government. “UP got 30 medical colleges…we will see to it that every district has one. The state has two AIIMS while a research centre for Japanese encephalitis has also been constructed. The BJP government has built 10 new universities, opened 77 new colleges. Our government has also reconstructed and redeveloped 1.40 lakh colleges across Uttar Pradesh.” he added

In 2017, when BJP set out to contest the assembly elections without a CM face, it was riding big on the Modi wave against the incumbent administration led by Akhilesh Yadav. Five years later, Yogi Adityanath has emerged as a name synonymous with the brand of Uttar Pradesh.

Talking about the merits of the double-engine ki sarkar (driven by Modi and Yogi), Shah added, “This time, our strength has improved. Modiji is still there. Along with him, we have what the Yogi government has done for Uttar Pradesh in the last five years. There are many more advantages to the BJP. So, I consider ourselves stronger.”

The BJP’s master strategy to bring caste consensus under the umbrella of Hindutva has been talked about much during the election season. While the BJP chants “Jaati dharm se uth kar badaya hai Samman, sabse Pehle Garib Kalyan” in its election rallies, it also faces cracks within its consolidated OBC vote. Talking about this the HM added, “No caste group has drifted away from us. Some leaders have walked away. In Uttar Pradesh, no one can claim ownership of votes of any particular community. Every voter decides individually.”

On the contested issue of the job sector, Amit Shah added, “Do not look at the job sector like Communists, who consider only government jobs as employment. This is not correct. There is a difference between jobs and employment. We have improved the employment situation. It’s natural that people talk about jobs. But you have to understand the difference – there are so many startups, we have improved the e-marketing opportunities,”

Amit Shah has also underlined that no major loss has been faced by the BJP with the exit of some senior leaders in UP. He added that the candidates have been changed but the strategy hasn’t while calling the drifting away of leaders a ‘normal’ exercise in electoral democracy.

When asked about the Samajwadi Party’s symbol (cycle) being linked with terrorism in a rally by PM Modi, he refuted, “How can you deny the fact that he (the Akhilesh government) released those who were charged under anti-terrorism laws, and that the Allahabad High Court intervened?”

He stated categorically that the BJP doesn’t call any party anti-national. “But if any party indulges in supporting anti-nationals, we will expose them. It’s our responsibility. If any government withdraws cases against terrorists, we will call it anti-national,” he specified.

While concluding, he heaped praise on the Yogi-led government stating that his party is confident of a victory in UP. “Yogi Adityanath has led an exemplary life and he has done great work on law and order. It has improved so well in Uttar Pradesh and it has become an election issue.” From Governance to infrastructure to welfare, he committed to having fulfilled 92 per cent of the promises made in the 2017 manifesto.