The German Justice ministry is planning to frame a new law that will force social networking sites to curb fake news and hate speech.

According to a report in DW on Tuesday, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas revealed details of a new law that will force social networks to publish a quarterly accountability report.

The report will include information on the number and qualifications of employees responsible for deleting and blocking content that breaches Germany's hate speech and slander laws.

Under the new law, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks will be required to offer users "an easily recognisable, directly reachable, and constantly available" complaint process for "prosecutable content".

According to the new law, prosecutable content includes libel, slander, defamation, incitement to commit a crime, hate speech against a particular social group, and threats.

That will trigger social networking sites to take a prompt action by immediately checking the complaints and delete all illegal content within seven days.

"Violating these regulations could lead to a fine of up to $5.3 million for the individual employee responsible for the complaint procedure, and up to the same amount for the company itself," the report quoted the bill drafted by the Justice Ministry.

"The self-commitments of the companies led to initial improvements. But these are not sufficient. Too few comments are deleted. And they're not being deleted quickly enough," Maas was quoted as saying.

During a test conducted in January-February this year, the Justice ministry found that that Facebook only deleted 39 per cent of offensive content reported by users, while Twitter fared even worse, with only 1 per cent of content reported by users deleted.

The test was conducted by the child protection organisation Jugendschutz.net.

"Hate and incitement endanger cohesion in our country and are poison for society. It's unacceptable that companies make huge profits from social networks and at the same time slink away from their responsibility in fighting messages of hate." Manuela Schwesig, Family Minister, was quoted as saying.

Three militants convicted by military courts in Pakistan were executed on Wednesday at a high security prison in Punjab province, an official said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the militants were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including attacks on armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

The military courts, in their two-year tenure, handed over a total of 161 death sentences of which 21 have been executed so far.

Australian cricketers visited Yuwa, an NGO based in the city, that provides a platform through team sport for young women to gain confidence to make a change in their world.

The players took time out from their preparations for the third Test of the Tour of India, which begins here tomorrow, to engage with some inspiring young girls who hail from Jharkhand.

The girls who are part of Yuwa are rewriting their script – and it all starts with sport and education.

Australian players spent time in small groups hearing firsthand from the girls the challenges they have faced to get to where they are now with the help of Yuwa.

All 81 students from the school then gathered to share their experiences in sport and how it has benefited them before engaging in some light-hearted competition between the players and the senior girls' soccer team.

The event was managed in partnership with the Australian High Commission in India.

The Centre has asked state governments to ensure that all individual bank accounts are seeded with Aadhaar and Mobile numbers, Union Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha said on Wednesday.

Sinha was speaking during a meeting chaired by him to review the growth of digital payments and status of Aadhaar seeding with Union secretaries and Chief Secretaries of various states via video conferencing.

He asked the state governments to ensure that target are achieved, officials spokesman said.

To promote digital payment mode across the Country, the state governments were requested to ensure that all individual bank accounts are seeded with Aadhaar and Mobile numbers, he said.

For the purpose, role of District Magistrates and banks was highlighted with instructions to monitor on regular basis, the progress, so that this important task is completed by March 31, the spokesman said.

Emphasis was laid to prioritise holding of digital camps & melas in the districts to achieve the targets of seeding.

It was informed that unless individual bank accounts are not seeded with Aadhaar and Mobile Number, the government will not be able to transfer entitled benefits through DBT under various schemes to the beneficiaries.

The banks were advised to utilise existing banking channels and other media communication channels to inform the account holders in regard to Aadhaar and Mobile number seeding, the spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B R Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, IT, Sanjeev Verma and other officers of the state government also participated in the meeting.

Sharma briefed the Union Cabinet Secretary on the progress of Aadhaar enrolment and status of connectivity and reach of internet, mobile and banking in the state.

To fast track completion of Aadhaar enrolment process in J&K, the Chief Secretary requested the Union Cabinet Secretary to support the state government in eliminating dark spots viz-a-viz connectivity and to also take up with the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), the issues regarding re-starting of Aadhaar generation by the vendors for the left out population.

In yet another disturbing news for online privacy advocates, a media report has claimed that Google's mobile messaging app Allo can reveal your search history to friends and those you message.

Allo lets users include Google Assistant in conversations. Google recently announced plans to make Assistant available on Android phones.

According to a Re/code report late on Tuesday, Allo "has been found to be capable of "sharing users' past Google searches with contacts, without being prompted to".

Described as a technical glitch, the report claimed that this Allo's behaviour could have big privacy implications.

The discovery was made by Re/code's Tess Townsend who was using Allo to chat to a friend.

"In the middle of our conversation, my friend directed Assistant to identify itself. Instead of offering a name or a pithy retort, it responded with a link from Harry Potter fan website Pottermore. The link led to an extract from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series," he wrote.

"But the response was not merely a non sequitur. It was a result related to previous searches my friend said he had done a few days earlier, Townsend further wrote.

"It didn't come from any of my search history, since I had not viewed any Harry Potter-related websites in the days before our conversation. We also did not mention Harry Potter in our text exchange until Assistant brought it up," the report added.

In a response, Google said: "We were notified about the Assistant in group chats not working as intended. We've fixed the issue and appreciate the report."

Allo has recently been criticised by privacy advocates because it does not use end-to-end encryption by default as WhatsApp does.

According to a report in The Independent, Google Assistant is supposed to request permission from a user before sharing personal information in an Allo chat, but the privacy feature doesn't appear to always work.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden had issued a warning about Allo after its launch.

"What is #Allo?" he tweeted. "A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request."

A day after it surged to a 16-month high on higher expectations of bold reforms, the rupee made a positive start — though muted — by rising 9 paise to 65.73 against the dollar today, backed by foreign inflows.

Selling of the US dollar by exporters and banks and its weakness overseas gave the rupee an upperhand, dealers said.

Further, a higher opening in the domestic stock market fuelled rupee uptrend, they added.

Yesterday, the rupee had jumped a massive 78 paise to end at 65.82, a nearly one-and-a-half year high, amid expectations that BJP's emphatic victory in Uttar Pradesh will embolden the government to go for more reforms.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose by another 26.22 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 29,468.85 in early trade today.

British Prime Minister Theresa May gave her first reaction to the passing of the Brexit bill, saying it marked a defining moment for the country.

"This will be a defining moment for our whole country as we begin to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world," Efe news quoted May as saying while addressing MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

May said Brexit would work for the whole of Britain. "We will be a strong, self-governing global Britain with control once again over our borders and our laws."

The decisions of both Houses of Parliament to agree to the crucial bill opens the door for May to officially start the process of Britain leaving the European Union.

May gave no precise indication of when she will trigger Article 50, the mechanism to start the exit process, instead she said it would be by the end if this month, adding Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth would be given in the next few days.

May said Brexit remains on track with the timetable she set out 6 months ago, telling MPs she will return to the Commons before the end of the month to notify when she has formally triggered Article 50 and begun the process through which Britain will leave the EU.

Mining minister in the outgoing Samajwadi Party (SP) government Gayatri Prajapati, accused in a gang rape case, was arrested in Lucknow on Wednesday, police said.

Absconding since February 27, the minister apparently came under pressure after two of his sons were detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday. The minister was very close to SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

He unsuccessfully contested the state assembly elections in 2017 from Amethi, a seat he won from in 2012. Six other accused in the same case have already been held. 

In February the Supreme Court had ordered the state police to lodge an FIR against the minister.

The gang rape victim had accused the minister's henchmen of terrorising her and her daughter in a Delhi hospital. Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Javeed Ahmad said, Gayatri was being tracked for some time and that he was constantly changing location.

US President Donald Trump paid $38 million in taxes on more than $150 million in income in 2005, the White House said on Tuesday.

The White House released some details of Donald Trump's tax return hours ahead of an anticipated news report, as the American cable and satellite television network MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said she has obtained part of Trump's 2005 tax forms and prepared to discuss the document on her Tuesday night show, Xinhua reported.

"Before being elected President, Trump was one of the most successful businessmen in the world with a responsibility to his company, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required," the White House said.

"That being said, Trump paid $38 million even after taking into account large scale depreciation for construction, on an income of more than $150 million dollars, as well as paying tens of millions of dollars in other taxes such as sales and excise taxes and employment taxes and this illegally published return proves just that," the White House said.

Leicester City continued to defy expectations in the UEFA Champions League, beating ten-man Sevilla 2-0 in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie on Tuesday night, edging the Spanish side 3-2 on aggregate.

The match was eventful as it involved some cracking goals, a red card and a penalty miss all in the span of 90 minutes!

Interim boss Craig Shakespeare sent out his best possible XI, a virtual given considering the Premier League champions were chasing a 1-2 deficit from the first leg. Jamie Vardy’s goal in Seville had given them hope, however, for they knew if they got an early goal, the pressure would well and truly be on the Spaniards.

And take the lead they did, via an unlikely source in captain Wes Morgan. Riyad Mahrez swung in a free kick from the right and it came straight to the burly defender, who was tightly marked at the far post but somehow managed to get a leg on the ball, giving Leicester a lead against the run of play in the 27th minute.

For Sevilla had utterly dominated the opening exchanges, with  Manchester City-loanee Samir Nasri testing Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s reflexes as early as the third minute with a powerful shot from an acute angle. 

As things stood, Leicester were through on the away goals rule, but didn't want to sit back on their lead and started to grow into the game and finished the first half the stronger of the sides.

The second period, however, began in the same vein as the first, with the away side asserting control over proceedings and very nearly equalised when Sergio Escudero’s swerving shot from distance beat Schmeichel but clattered against the bar.
Sevilla were knocking on Leicester’s door and just as they looked like they would be able to overwhelm their English opponents, the Foxes delivered a sucker punch. Marc Albrighton scored a well-taken volley from inside the box in the 54th minute after a Mahrez cross had been headed into his path. The midfielder calmly chested the ball and scored what was only his second goal of the season but what just may be the most important of his career.

Samir Nasri then lost his head to get sent off after a scuffle with Jamie Vardy to seemingly consign Sevilla to an exit from the continental completion but they were given a reprieve in the 79th minute by match referee Daniele Orsato when he awarded a 79th minute penalty.
Steven Nzonzi stepped up to take the spot-kick but Schmeichel guessed the direction and made a brilliant save to ensure the tie would not go into extra time.

A bittersweet pill for former manager Claudio Ranieri of course, who oversaw their monumental Premier League triumph last year and was in charge of the team for the first leg. Whether his players initiated a revolt or not, some credit must be given to the affable Italian.

The Foxes are a dangerous team and very much the dark horses as they join the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and other big names in the last eight of Europe’s elite competition.

In what promises to be an entertaining encounter, Monaco have to overcome a two-goal deficit against Manchester City in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie on Wednesday at the Stade Louis II Stadium.

City had to dig deep to beat Monaco 5-3 in the first leg and with both sides showing obvious defensive frailties, another goal-fest is on the cards.

The million dollar question is, who will run out winners on the night? At the moment, City have a slight advantage but this is the UEFA Champions League and after a certain Spanish side’s heroics last week, nothing is impossible.

Monaco

The French principality side gave a good account of themselves in the first leg at the Etihad and were perhaps unlucky not to have scored a couple more. Their team possess a vibrant attack, perhaps among the most underrated in Europe at the moment.

And their form domestically has been outstanding this season, ahead of the mighty PSG in the Ligue 1 rankings and coach Leonardo Jardim will urge his side to take advantage of the home support from the very first minute on Wednesday.

However, as their almost-cavalier approach proved in the first leg, all-out attack does leave them exposed and against a City side not short of firepower, that wouldn't be the wisest decision.

Star striker Radamel Falcao suffered an injury scare on the weekend, but should be fit to lead the line and he along with Kylian Mbiappe will be the main goal threats for the home side on the night. Giving them support from the wing will be the fleet-footed Thomas Lemar and between the three of them, they can easily overturn Monaco’s deficit in the tie.

Defender Kamil Glik is the only Monaco player suspended for the tie and Gabriel Boschilla and Guido Carillo are both expected to miss out due to injury. 

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola isn’t doing too badly in his debut season with cash-rich Manchester City, contrary to media reports. City are third in the Premier League, have reached the FA Cup semifinals and are in pole position to make it to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

Despite the absence of injured striker Gabriel Jesus, City are going great guns at the moment, at least in the striking department.

Their defence, however, is a different story and one which doesn't make for easy reading. Conceding three goals at home in a European tie is unacceptable and may well come back to haunt the Sky Blues as they bid to assert their dominance in a competition which still feels like the final frontier for them.

If they can keep Falcao and co relatively quiet on Wednesday, the tie will be theirs but then again it is easier said than done.

Apart from Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan remains the only City player on the casualty list.

Super Stat: Monaco have scored a mind-boggling 84 goals in Ligue 1 this season, the highest by any club across the five top leagues in Europe!

The Karnataka government on Tuesday credited input subsidy of Rs 671 crore to the bank accounts of 9.68 lakh farmers whose kharif crop was devastated due to the severe drought in this fiscal.

"In addition to Rs 450 crore from the central government, the state government released Rs 221 crore as compensation to farmers for the loss of the kharif crop in 2016-17 due to drought," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the occasion.

The subsidy amount was transferred directly into the farmers' accounts from the state treasury account under the 'Parihara' programme, using in-house software.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the movement to make Uttar Pradesh the "best state" had begun in 2014 and it received a big boost on March 11, a reference to the BJP's resounding poll victory.

In a series of tweets posted in response to comments made by some followers, he also said that everyone has to work together to take India to new heights.

"…I can say that development today has become a 'Jan Andolan' (mass movement)," Modi tweeted in response to a comment.

"When UP develops, India develops. Movement towards making Uttar Pradesh 'Uttam Pradesh' (best state) began in 2014 & received a big boost on 11th March," Modi added in response to a comment by another follower on Twitter who was taking a dig at those questioning his track record as the Prime Minister.

He was clearly referring to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results declared on March 11, in which the BJP got three-fourths majority in the 403-member Assembly.

"We are respected globally due to 125 crore Indians, who have shown their strengths & capabilities," the Prime Minister said in response to another comment.

In reply to another comment, he said, "Absolutely. Happy to be the 'Pradhan Sevak' (prime servant) for each and every Indian.

The movement of goods between the traders of Jammu and Kashmir and PoK came to halt today in the wake of mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan on LoC posts in Poonch district of the state, particularly Chakan-Da-Bagh based Trade facilitation Centre.

Guns fell silent today after the two-day long intermittent ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops, which resorted to shelling of 82 mm mortar bombs and firing by small and automatic weapons on army posts and civilian areas in Poonch district, forcing army troops give befitting reply on Sunday and Monday.

"There was no firing and shelling today. Silence prevailed along LoC," an army officer said.

"The LoC trade between India and Pakistan has come to halt following ceasefire violation. There was no LoC trade today," a senior police officer said.

On the India side, trucks carrying goods and fruits reached the LoC crossing point on Poonch-Rawalakote road between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir but the doors of the gate were not opened from other side and there was no response from Pakistan side.

"Trucks loaded with material from Poonch side reached LoC point, Pakistan side did not respond," an officer of cross-LoC trade said, adding that the trucks returned back following no response from that side.

The LoC trade is unlikely to take place tomorrow too.

Cross LoC travel between Poonch-Rawalakote was suspended yesterday following heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops in Poonch, particularly on Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Chakan Da Bagh, which suffered damage in the shelling by Pakistan troops.

Over 20 trucks from each side are allowed to cross the LoC everyday as part of the trade which takes place between the two sides on barter system for four days a week between Tuesday-Friday.

As a precautionary measure, middle schools along LoC in some areas remained closed.

Five persons were killed and one man was injured in separate road mishaps in the district, police said on Wednesday.

In the first incident, two motorcycle-borne persons were yesterday killed and one was injured near Anauda village when an allegedly speeding canter hit their bike from behind, they said.

Narsingh (28) alias Brij Mohan and Kulli (25) died on the spot, while Sanjiv was injured in the incident. They were going to their in-laws houses to celebrate Holi, police said.

The canter driver managed to escape, they said.

In a separate incident, a car yesterday hit the scooter, two men were riding on, from behind following which the two-wheeler rammed into a tree near Tentigaon, police said.

Zamil (28) and Ashok (24) died on the spot while the car driver managed to escape, they said.

Pankaj (35) was yesterday killed when a tractor hit his scooter in Krishna Nagar police outpost area, police said, adding that the tractor driver escaped from the spot.

Google on Wednesday dedicated a Doodle to celebrate the 140th anniversary of official Test cricket, remembering the first Test match played between England and Australia in 1877.

The first official cricket Test match in history began on this day in 1877 between an established English team and a newly-formed Australian squad at the Melbourne Cricket ground. It finished in a 45-run win for Australia.

The hosts batted first and the first ball was bowled by Alfred Shaw to Charles Bannerman, who went on to become the first centurion in Test by scoring 165 when he retired hurt with a right hand index finger injury.

England, however, squared the two-Test series by winning the next game at the same venue by four wickets.

"Today's Doodle hits the deck with a light-hearted rendering that captures the spirit of sportsmanship and the inaugural Test match," Google said.

"Mustachioed and muscle-bound, the batsmen, bowlers and opposition fielders spring into action, never losing sight of the red ball," it said.

Nitin Dwarkadas Kapur, a brother of Bollywood actor Jeetendra and husband of Telugu actress Jayasudha, committed suicide by jumping off his flat at Andheri, police said here late Tuesday.

Police filed an accidental death report soon after the incident around 2 p.m.

Visiting Mumbai for treatment for depression for over a year, Nitin, 58, was staying at Sea Glimpse Apartment's 6th floor flat in the upmarket Four Bungalows area with his sister.

For the past few weeks, he was under treatment at the Kokilaben D. Ambani Hospital, Versova.

On Tuesday afternoon, he went to the building terrace and jumped down to his death.

His family living in Hyderabad has been informed.

Police said nothing suspicious has been found so far in the case.