Highlights of the day: Zee denies reports on reviving Sony-Zee merger talks

Zee Entertainment on Tuesday, February 20, issued a clarification, denying reports of restarting discussions with the Sony group to revive their $10 billion merger deal that was scrapped on January 22, reports Livemint. In a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, Zee Entertainment stated that the company is not involved in any negotiations on the Sony merger deal and that reports suggesting a revival of talks are ‘factually incorrect’.SC has set aside Chandigarh mayoral poll result, and declares AAP the winner. AAP leader Kuldeep Kumar is set to be the new Chandigarh mayor. It is evident that the presiding officer made a deliberate attempt to deface 8 ballot papers.Officials said on Tuesday that the CBI is conducting searches on former DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek in connection with an alleged corruption case. The 1982-batch IAS officer from Bihar cadre retired from service in 2019 and later joined a private company, they said.The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the election and ruled AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the ‘validly elected’ mayor.Cong leader Sonia Gandhi elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, says Assembly secretary.Observing that only 8 'marked' ballots were valid, the Supreme Court has ordered a recount of votes in the recently held Chandigarh mayoral polls.The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Maratha Reservation Bill tabled today which seeks to provide 10 per cent reservation to Marathas. The bill will now be taken up in the Legislative council for assent after which it becomes a law.Swami Prasad Maurya has quit the Samajwadi Party days after leaving the national general secretary's post, India Today reported today.The Maharashtra government on Tuesday gave nod to a bill, extending reservation to Marathas above the 50 per cent mark in a special session of the state legislature.The bill for 10 per cent Maratha quota that the Mahayuti government of Eknath Shinde approved on Tuesday is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced by the then Devendra Fadnavis government.This is the third time in a decade that Maharashtra has introduced legislation for the Maratha quota.Twelve days after the curbs were first clamped following violence over the demolition of an "illegal" madrasa, curfew was lifted entirely from the riot-hit Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani today morning. Curfew was lifted with effect from 5:00 am, according to an official order.Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu today to unveil multiple development projects, including for education, railway, aviation, and road sectors, worth over Rs 32,000 crore. The projects are related to various sectors, including health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum, and civic infrastructure, among others. PM Modi also distributed appointment orders to about 1,500 new government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi, from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad on February 24, news agency ANI reported today citing sources. "I was really looking forward to receiving the BJNY in UP today, but unfortunately, have ended up admitted to the hospital. I will be there as soon as I am better! Meanwhile, wishing all the yatris, my colleagues in UP who have worked hard towards making arrangements for the yatra, and my sweet brother, all success as they reach Chandauli today," Priyanka Gandhi posted on X.Criticising the West Bengal government, Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that it is unfortunate that journalists are being prevented from reporting on the atrocities committed against women in a state whose chief minister is a woman." Thakur said that coercive action against journalists is nothing new in West Bengal. The stifling of freedom of expression in West Bengal is unfortunate and amounts to the murder of democracy; the TMC government is flouting constitutional norms, Thakur added. Cops in West Bengal arrested a journalist associated with Republic TV in Sandeshkhali on Monday. The minister stated that the authorities in West Bengal are trying to cover-up the truth as to how women are feeling insecure under Mamata Banerjee's rule.

Highlights of the day: Zee denies reports on reviving Sony-Zee merger talks

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Explore News