WION Morning News brief, February 8, 2018

WION Morning News brief, February 8, 2018

Maldives

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Top five stories of the day

US calls on Maldives to restore rights of people and institutions

The United States today called on Maldives President Abdulla Yameen to ensure the proper functioning of the Parliament and restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people and institutions in the country. "The US calls on President Yameen, the army, and police to comply with the rule of law, implement the Supreme Court's lawful ruling, ensure the full and proper functioning of the Parliament, and restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people and institutions of Maldives," a State Department spokesperson said.

Supreme Court to start final hearings in Ayodhya case today

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The Supreme Court is likely to commence hearing today on a batch of cross-petitions challenging 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict that had divided the disputed Babri Masjid-Ramjanambhoomi site between the Nirmohi Akhara, Lord Ram deity and the Sunni Waqf Board. Today's hearing assumes significance in the wake of the rejection by a special bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the vehement submission by Sunni Waqf Board and others that the pleas be heard after the next general elections.

Amazon's market value on verge of beating out Microsoft

Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday was on the verge of ending the day with a stock market value higher than Microsoft Corp's for the first time, as the online shopping behemoth weathered the recent turmoil on Wall Street. Amazon's stock was down 1.14 percent, bringing its market capitalization to $690.4 billion, while software maker Microsoft's 1.83 percent fall depressed its market capitalization to $690.3 billion.

Ahead of Olympics face-off, Mike Pence vows new North Korea sanctions

US Vice President Mike Pence vowed tough new sanctions against North Korea and called it the world's most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, two days before he is due to attend the winter Olympics, along with two of the North's most senior officials. Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

2000 Red Fort attack: Suspect granted bail

A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted bail to Bilal Ahmad Kawa, a suspect in the terror attack at the Red Fort in 2000. Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma granted bail to Ahmad, asking him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of like amount. The special cell of Delhi and Gujarat police's anti-terror squad arrested Bilal Ahmed Kawa, the man behind the Red Fort attack, last month.