Malaysian PM says Flight MH370 crashed in Indian Ocean
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced late Monday night that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 "ended in the southern Indian Ocean". The news was greeted by anger and disbelief from the families of the 239 passengers, especially upon learning that the search of the crash site had been called off by Australian authorities due to inclement weather. Outrage continued as news surfaced that some relatives were first notified of the news by an SMS message from Malaysia Airlines that said, " We have to assume beyond all reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and none of those on board survived."
Election Commission issues show-cause notice to Sharad Pawar over "vote again" remarks
Agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar has been issued a show-cause notice about his recent comments at a rally close to Mumbai. The politician was heard asking his supporters to vote for the NCP twice, once in their hometowns and a second time at the place in which they live. The EC has asked Pawar to explain the remarks by 5 pm on March 26.
Consumers safe from gas price rise, at least for a few months
The Election Commission has asked the government not to announce or implement an impending rise in gas prices since the matter is being considered by the Supreme Court. The central government planned to raise gas prices as global rates have almost doubled from $4.2 per million British thermal units to $8.3. The increase was opposed by the Aam Aadmi Party, which filed an FIR about an alleged conspiracy to raise gas prices, naming Petroleum minister Veerappa Moily and Mukesh Ambani among others as conspirators. The EC said that the price hike should be deferred because if a new government is elected, it may want to readjust the rates according to their own findings.
Supreme Court bars Aadhar information from being shared
On Monday, the Supreme Court barred the government and the Unique Identification Authority of India from sharing any biometric data without the permission of the ID holder. The courts also said that no services or benefits could be withheld if a citizen does not possess an Aadhar card.
Ukraine troops instructed to leave Crimea
As Russian forces continued to take over military bases all over Crimea, Ukraine ordered members of their armed forces to pull out of the peninsula. The decision was made when Russia took over a marine base in Federoposia, supposedly the last Ukranian outpost in the Crimean peninsula. As the Crimean crisis grows, the US has threatened to place tighter sanctions on Russia while the G8 have voted Russia out, cancelling the summit that was supposed to take place in the country this year.