In a bold move, a Delhi-based app developer purchased the domain name "jiohotstar.com" and tried to negotiate a deal with Reliance, hoping to use the profits to fund his studies at Cambridge. However, after being denied by Reliance, the developer shared updates on social media, revealing that the company has threatened legal action. This news adds to the speculation surrounding a possible merger between Jio and Disney's Hotstar platform, which has recently been approved by the Competition Commission of India. In the midst of this, Nita Ambani is rumored to be the chairperson of the newly formed entity, further solidifying Reliance's dominant position in the Indian OTT space.
The main opposition leader of India's Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, has sparked controversy by leaving the country during a crucial time in the upcoming general elections. With less than five weeks until the first vote is cast, Gandhi has flown to the United Kingdom to deliver a lecture at Cambridge University. This is not the first time Gandhi has prioritized foreign trips over election campaigns, causing concern among voters and party members.
Prime Minster Justin Trudeau pays tribute to Brian Mulroney's impressive career and contributions to Canada after the former prime minister and Conservative leader passed away at the age of 84. Mulroney is remembered as a passionate and ambitious politician, businessman, and family man who left an indelible mark on the country.
Three Indian American students, including Sadhana Lolla and Ishan Kalburge, have been chosen to be part of the 2024 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars, an award given to 55 academically excellent and socially committed individuals. Lolla will focus on promoting bias-free and ethical artificial intelligence solutions, while Kalburge will study how the human brain perceives uncertainty. They will be joining a diverse group of scholars at the University of Cambridge, where they will undertake one-year master's degrees or PhDs.
Climate justice and Palestinian solidarity groups staged a sit-in at Cambridge University's Maxwell Centre to protest the institution's partnerships with arms and fossil fuel companies, including BAE Systems, Boeing, BP, and Schlumberger. The activists criticized the University's claims of taking action against the climate crisis while having ties with companies that contribute to it, such as those involved in producing weapons used by the Israeli military in Gaza.
Cambridge city councillors have welcomed the government's proposal to require local authority planning permission for short-term holiday rentals, such as Airbnb. The new law would establish a mandatory national register and require property owners to seek permission before listing their property as a holiday home. Lib Dem councillors in Cambridge have been advocating for this reform since last October, citing concerns about the impact of short-term rentals on the housing stock and surrounding neighborhoods.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Cambridge, MA on Wednesday and announced a $100 million federal investment into women's health research. The funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and is the first major deliverable of the White House's Initiative on Women's Health Research. Biden was joined by political leaders and officials, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who noted that the funding was the result of successful lobbying efforts by the Bay State's Capitol Hill delegation.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, will take a break for the former Congress chief to fulfill his commitments at Cambridge University and attend important meetings in New Delhi. This comes after already planned rest days on February 22 and 23. The yatra will resume on February 24 and continue through two states before Gandhi visits a temple in Ujjain.
At a recent council meeting in Cambridge, controversial ordinance No. 1232, which would give the city the power to appoint and remove individuals to a non-city governed board, was tabled indefinitely. This is not the first time the ordinance has been tabled, with no second reading or public hearing taking place at previous meetings. The proposed ordinance has drawn attention from the nonprofit Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc., which believes the ordinance is targeting them.