WION news brief, January 17, 2018

The Allahabad High Court issued a contempt notice to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi on Tuesday over the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat.

The notice was issued after Joshi failed to respond to a representation given by a petitioner seeking a ban on the release of the film because it "promoted" Sati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara — in his home state Gujarat today.

The Israeli PM will be the third international leader to be hosted in Ahmedabad in a span of over three years ever since Modi became PM in May 2014.

Both the Prime Ministers will start off the day by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, where they would reach after conducting a roadshow.

The fate of Falcon 9 rocket powered by EIon Musk's SpaceX which blasted into space on Sunday is unknown after US officials refused to confirm if they had lost contact with the military satellite.

US media widely reported this week that the rocket was probably lost even as US spokesmen in the Pentagon declined to comment due to the "classified" nature of the mission.

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho has retired from professional football at the age of 37, according to his agent and brother Roberto Assis on Tuesday (16th January).

His brother Roberto Assis said in a column for Brazil media outlet O Globo and revealed plans for farewell tribute events following the 2018 World Cup.

Kamal Haasan will announce his political party's name on February 21 at Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram and begin a state-wide tour the same day.

The tour will be held in phases. He will begin the journey from Ramanathapuram -- his hometown -- and later visit people from the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Sivagangai.

It will mark Haasan's official entry into politics about which he has been making overtures since last year.