LIVE: India walked the talk during pandemic, says PM at Raisina Dialogue

Latest News: Prime MInister Narendra Modi is addressing the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship programme on geopolitics via video conference

3:33 AM

Biden proposes summit with Putin after Russia calls US 'adversary' over Ukraine

US President Joe Biden called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to reduce tensions stirred by a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border and proposed a summit of the estranged leaders to tackle a raft of disputes.
 

The White House and the Kremlin reported only the second conversation between the two since Biden took office in January, after Western officials urged Moscow to end the build-up and Russia, in words recalling the Cold War, said its "adversary" should keep US warships well away from the Crimea region.
 

Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and fighting has increased in recent weeks in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russian-backed separatists in a seven-year conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people.
 

In a sign of concern about tensions spinning out of control in the Ukraine crisis, Biden phoned Putin to propose they meet in a third country while underlining US commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 

"President Biden also made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to Russia's actions, such as cyber intrusions and election interference," the White House said in a statement.
 

9:56 PM

Efforts on to stop me from campaigning: Mamata at rally after end of ban

Minutes after the 24-hour ban ended, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Tuesday that efforts are on to stop her from campaigning and asserted she is a street fighter and won't be cowed down by the "intimidation tactics" of the BJP.
 

Banerjee, who earlier in the day had conducted a 3.5-hour long dharna against the EC's decision to prohibit her for campaigning for 24 hours, said the people of the state would take a call on stopping her from campaigning whereas the saffron party leaders can campaign.
 

"BJP can campaign and I am not allowed to campaign. I will not say anything people of Bengal will take call on it. They are watching everything," she said while addressing a rally here.
 

Asserting that she has been a street fighter and won't be cowed down by such "intimidation tactics" of the saffron camp, the feisty TMC boss said "efforts are on by the BJP and its agencies to stop her from campaigning".
 

"The BJP wants to stop me from campaigning as they have sensed defeat," she said.
 

The Election Commission had barred Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours from Monday 8 pm for her remarks against the central forces and a statement which had alleged religious overtones.
 

9:55 PM

Nath, Digvijaya did not keep promises: Scindia in bypoll rally

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday accused Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh of not fulfilling promises made to the people of Madhya Pradesh during their 15-month rule.
 

Speaking at a bypoll rally in Damoh, Scindia said the duo had promised to waive off farm loans and reduce power bills, both of which remained unfulfilled when the Congress government fell in March last year.
 

He said the Kamal Nath government had brought about a "lockdown" on development, and had made Vallabh Bhavan, the state secretariat, into a base of corruption.
 

A "transfer industry" was being run instead of setting up industries to provide jobs to the people of the state, Scindia, who joined the BJP last year from the Congress, alleged.
 

The bypoll in Damoh, to take place on April 17, was necessitated after Rahul Lodhi, who is the BJP candidate this time around, resigned from the Assembly and Congress in October last year.
 

9:53 PM

Turkey to host Afghan peace talks later this month

Turkey announced Tuesday that it will host a 10-day peace conference in Istanbul between Afghanistan's warring sides later this month.
 

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said the conference will gather representatives of the Taliban and of the Afghan government, as well as Turkish, Qatari and UN officials who are co-organizing the meeting.
 

The conference will be held between April 24 and May 4, the ministry said.
 

The surprise announcement came after a Taliban spokesman said Monday the religious militia would not attend a peace conference that had been tentatively planned to take place in Turkey later this week, putting US efforts for a peace plan in jeopardy.
 

Time is running out on a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan in keeping with a deal the Trump administration made with the Taliban more than a year ago.
 

US President Joe Biden has said he is committed to ending America's longest war, but the United States is reportedly looking for a three- to six-month extension.
 

8:12 PM

LIVE: We hold this planet merely as trustees for our future generations, says PM Modi

While we may be used to having “Plan A” and “Plan B”, there is no Planet B. Only Planet Earth. And so, we must remember that we hold this planet merely as trustees for our future generations, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

8:12 PM

LIVE: Despite many constraints, India supplied vaccines to over 80 countries, says PM Modi

We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

8:10 PM

LIVE: India tried to walk the talk during the pandemic, says PM Modi

During this pandemic, in our own humble way, within our own limited resources, we in India have tried to walk the talk. We have tried to protect our own 1.3 billion citizens from the pandemic. At the same time, we have also tried to support pandemic response efforts of others, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue.

8:09 PM

Why can’t we cooperate to address problems that threaten the entire humanity? asks PM Modi

The right questions should have been: Why do we have famines and hunger? Why do we have poverty? Or, most fundamentally, Why can’t we cooperate to address problems that threaten the entire humanity?, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

8:08 PM

Wrong questions were asked after two world wars, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

But, under the shadow of the two Wars, they were aimed at answering only one question. How to prevent the Third World War? says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

8:05 PM

The horrors of the First and Second World Wars compelled the emergence of a new world order: Modi

The horrors of the First and Second World Wars compelled the emergence of a new world order. After the end of the Second World War, over the next few decades, many structures and institutions were created, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue.

8:02 PM

This edition taking place at a watershed moment in human history, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

7:57 PM

Latest LIVE: World was underprepared when pandemic struck, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

Latest LIVE: World was underprepared when pandemic struck, says PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

7:29 PM

Watch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at Raisina Dialogue

7:11 PM

Latest News LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Raisina Dialouge shortly

Latest News LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Raisina Dialouge shortly

6:41 PM

Latest News: Traders lose business worth Rs 46,000 cr amid curfews, curbs

Retail and wholesale businesses across the country have taken a hit of Rs 46,000 crore in the last 10 days amid curfews and partial lockdowns across several states.

 

According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), retail businesses have taken a hit of Rs 32,000 crore, while wholesale businesses have suffered a loss of Rs 14,000 crore.

 

Nearly 60 per cent of consumers are avoiding visits to markets due to the daily steep rise of Covid cases, the traders' body said in a statement.

 

In Maharashtra, there has been a loss of business about Rs 10,000 crore in the retail segment, while that in the wholesale segment stood at Rs 4,000 crore. (IANS)

6:31 PM

West Bengal: ITBP troops engaged in various pre-poll marches ahead of fifth phase of polls

5:58 PM

Negotiations on India-EU trade deal to resume next month: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said resumption of formal negotiations on India-EU trade deal during the leadership summit next month would help further strengthen ties with the European Union.

 

The negotiations between India and the European Union on a free trade agreement have been stalled since May 2013, when both sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues, including data security status for the IT sector. The negotiations with the 27-nation groupingwere launched in June 2007. Read here

5:43 PM

Latest News LIVE: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to address the state at 8:30 pm

Latest News LIVE: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to address the state at 8:30 pm

4:53 PM

Latest News: US futures fall on report US will halt J&J vaccine

US stock futures turned lower and Treasuries erased losses after a report that the US will seek to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccines amid health concerns, potentially dealing a blow to efforts to reopen the world’s largest economy.
 

Futures on the S&P 500 fell and small cap contracts lost almost 1% after the New York Times reported that Federal health agencies on Tuesday will call for an immediate pause in use of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine to investigate safety issues over blood clots. (Bloomberg)

4:28 PM

Assam polls: Grand Alliance urges EC to maintain transparency during vote counting

The Congress-led 'Mahajoth' or Grand Alliance of opposition parties in Assam on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission urging it to maintain transparency and impartiality during the counting of votes on May 2.

 

The alliance, comprising the Congress, AIUDF, BPF, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, RJD, Anchalik Gana Morcha, Adivasi National Party and Jimachayan Peoples' Party, urged the EC to direct all the returning officers to furnish table- wise details of officials engaged in the counting of votes to all the contesting candidates. (PTI)

3:57 PM

Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Islampur of Uttar Dinajpur

3:54 PM

Latest News: On dharna against EC's campaign ban, Mamata takes to painting

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who on Tuesday sat on a dharna to protest the 24-hour ban imposed by the Election Commission, took to canvas and made colourful paintings.

 

Mamata, who arrived at the Mayo road venue in the morning and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi statue, turned to paints and canvases and produced at least two paintings while sitting on her wheelchair.

 

The Trinamool Congress chief is staging the dharna as a mark of protest against what she called the EC's "unconstitutional decision" to bar her from campaigning for 24 hours in the ongoing assembly polls in the state. EC's order came after Mamata's remarks against the central forces and a statement which had alleged religious overtones. (ANI)

3:46 PM

Delhi HC reserves order on WhatsApp plea challenging CCI order for probe into privacy policy

3:36 PM

BJP national president JP Nadda holds a roadshow in Khandaghosh, Bardhaman.

3:29 PM

WhatsApp'd new privacy policy would lead to excessive data collection: CCI to Delhi HC

WhatsApp'd new privacy policy would lead to excessive data collection, stalking of consumers for targeted advertising and therefore an alleged abuse of dominant position: CCI to Delhi HC

3:28 PM

Latest News: Bitcoin hits record high before Coinbase listing

Bitcoin hit a record of $62,741 on Tuesday, extending its 2021 rally to new heights a day before Coinbase's share listing in the United States.

 

The largest US cryptocurrency exchange's listing on the Nasdaq on Wednesday is considered a landmark victory for cryptocurrency advocates.

 

The world's biggest cryptocurrency, which has growing mainstream acceptance as an investment and a means of payment, rose as much as 5 per cent on Tuesday.

Smaller rival Ethereum also reached a record high of $2,205. (Reuters)

3:23 PM

Latest News: EC warns Suvendu Adhikari for March 29 speech

Election Commission of India has warned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over a speech delivered by him on March 29, for which he had filed a reply on April 9.

 

The Election Commission has advised him to desist from using such statements while making public utterances when Model Code of Conduct is in force.

 

An order from the EC stated, "Whereas, the Commission has issued a notice dated April 8 to Suvendu Adhikari, candidate of BJP from 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituency for violation of provisions contained in clause (2) and (3) of Part 1 of 'General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates' during ongoing General Election to Legislative Assembly of West Bengal." (ANI)

3:17 PM

Latest News: EC notice to Dilip Ghosh, seeks explanation for statement on Sitalkuchi incident

The Election Commission has issued a notice to West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday over his remark on the killings of four men at Sitalkuchi in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district and asked him to clarify his stance on the issue by 10 am on Wednesday.

 

This development comes after Ghosh's remarked that there will be a "Sitalkuch-like incident everywhere".

 

Violence erupted at a polling booth at Sitalkuch in Cooch Behar during the fourth round of polling in West Bengal. The ruling TMC alleged that Central Forces opened fire twice at a polling booth where people were casting their votes, killing four party workers. (PTI)

3:13 PM

Latest News: Grab to unveil world's biggest SPAC merger, valued at nearly $40 billion

Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab Holdings will announce as early as Tuesday a merger with US-based Altimeter that will value Grab at nearly $40 billion and lead to a public listing, four people told Reuters.

 

The merger, which will be the biggest blank-check company deal ever, underscores the frenzy on Wall Street as shell firms have raised $99 billion in the United States so far this year after a record $83 billion fundraising in 2020.

 

Singapore-based Grab's agreement with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) backed by Altimeter Capital includes a $4 billion private investment in public equity (PIPE) from a group of Asian and global investors including Fidelity International and Janus Henderson, the sources said. (Reuters)

2:44 PM

India's belief is that world is a family: Jaishankar at Raisina Dialogue