February 19: Top news at 1 pm    

Former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir remains critical

This news bulletin published earlier today reported that ANI News reported that former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir had died; ANI News has apologised for that tweet, clarifying that Justice Kabir remains critical. However, not just ANI but several news outlets tweeted the news.

Justice Kabir is undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital. He is been suffering from a kidney ailment and is on life support system.

UP elections: 28% turnout till midday, polling peaceful

Over 28% votes were cast till noon on Sunday in the 69 Assembly constituencies, considered ruling Samajwadi Party stronghold, that figure in the crucial phase-III of the staggered Uttar Pradesh elections. Besides BSP supremo Mayawati, Home Minister Rajnath Singh with his family cast their votes in Lucknow, while Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav voted in Saifai (Etawah). Singh's Lok Sabha constituency Lucknow and SP strongholds Kannauj, Mainpuri and Etawah figure in this round. Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur, Unnao, Barabanki and Sitapur are among the 12 districts where these Assembly seats are spread. The fate of 826 candidates in this phase will be decided at 25,603 polling booths by 2.41 crore voters, including 1.10 crore women and 1,026 persons belonging to third gender category. The next four phases of polling will be held on February 23, 27 and on March 4 and 8.

Trump goes after media at Florida rally

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to speak to Americans "without the filter of fake news" and vowed to expose the "dishonest media" as he returned to campaign mode less than a month after assuming the office. The rally in Florida, similar in style to the ones during his presidential campaign, came on the back of an aggressive press conference in which Trump embarked on a lengthy tongue-lashing of the media. He also defended the achievements of his presidency so far, insisting that a spirit of optimism was sweeping the US. A visibly frustrated and agitated Trump vowed to never let the media "get away with lies". "I will do whatever I can that they don't get away with it," he told around 9,000 supporters packed into an airport hangar in Melbourne, Florida.

Buying jewellery over ₹2 lakh in cash to attract 1% TCS from Apr1

Cash purchases of jewellery will attract 1% (tax collected at source) from April 1 if the amount exceeds ₹2 lakh, as against the current threshold of ₹5 lakh. Once the Finance Bill 2017 is passed, jewellery will be treated on par with general goods which attract 1% TCS on cash purchase of above ₹2 lakh.

The Bill seeks to do away with the threshold of ₹5 lakh on jewellery purchases for applicability of TCS because the Union Budget 2017-18 has proposed to ban cash dealings of over ₹3 lakh and make violations punishable with a penalty of an equivalent amount to be paid by person receiving the cash.

FIR filed against Stalin, DMK MLAs, MPs

An FIR has been filed against DMK working president M K Stalin, his party MLAs, MPs and cadres for holding a protest at Marina Beach against the alleged attack on him and his MLAs during the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday. Police said an FIR has been filed against them for unlawful assembly and violation of public order. "DMK staged the protest without obtaining prior permission as required under law", a senior police official told PTI.

Besides Stalin, 63 MLAs, three MPs and several DMK cadres who participated in the protest have been named in the FIR, he said. Several DMK workers had blocked vehicular traffic and indulged in stone-pelting in different places in the state to protest the alleged attack on Stalin.

With inputs from NH National Bureau.