LIVE: ED gets Manish Sisodia's remand till March 17 in excise policy case

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9:25 PM

Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves New Sports Policy 2023

9:24 PM

Nirav Modi claims he has no funds to pay UK court fines

Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India to stand trial on fraud and money laundering charges, has claimed that he has no funds and is resorting to borrowing money to pay the court-ordered legal costs amounting to more than 150,000 pounds.

 

6:29 PM

Meeting to review of H3N2 Influenza virus

Held a meeting to review rising cases of H3N2 Influenza virus. Advisory issued to States to be on the alert and closely monitor the situation. Govt of India is working with States & extending support for public health measures to address the situation: Union Health Minister

 

6:06 PM

OYO Founder Ritesh Agarwal's father dies after fall from Gurugram high-rise

Oyo Rooms founder Ritesh Agarwal's father Ramesh Agarwal died after falling from a high-rise in Haryana's Gurugram this afternoon, police said, according to NDTV. They received information from DLF security at around 1 pm that a person had fallen from the 20th floor of DLF's The Crest society in sector 54, Gurugram.
 

"He was taken to Paras Hospital for treatment. A team along with SHO sector 53 visited the place of occurrence. During inspection of place of occurrence, the fallen person was identified as Ramesh Parsad Agarwal. He was brought dead to Paras Hospital," police said. His body was handed over to the family after autopsy.

2:58 PM

India global example of using technology for making available efficient services: VP Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that India is a global example where "we have used technology for making available efficient services to the people".

"Technology enables accessibility and reduces out of pocket expenditure for citizens," he said at the second International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA) 2023 here.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was also present on the occasion.

2:50 PM

Centre announces 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in BSF recruitment

The Centre has announced 10 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers in vacancies within the Border Security Force (BSF).

For this, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015, which has come into effect from Thursday.

The notification issued by the MHA on March 6, added that the upper age limit will be relaxed by five years for the candidates of the first batch of ex-Agniveers in the recruitment of constables.

2:36 PM

Lies on migrant workers a fallout of call for opposition unity against BJP: Tamil Nadu CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has alleged the "lies spread" regarding the attacks on migrant workers in the state was a fallout of his recent call for opposition unity to dislodge the ruling BJP at the Centre next year and blamed the saffron party functionaries for doing so.

In his "Ungalil Oruvan" question and answer series, the chief of the ruling DMK asserted no migrant worker in the state has been assaulted as alleged.

2:07 PM

Long Covid much less likely after Omicron infection: Study

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is much less likely to lead to long Covid than the variant circulating at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, new research shows.

 

The study found that healthcare workers infected with the original wild-type virus were up to 67 per cent more likely to report symptoms of long Covid than those who hadn't had Covid-19.

1:59 PM

Centre's portal asking farmers to mention caste for fertiliser purchase: Oppn tells Maha Assembly

Opposition members on Friday alleged in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that farmers in Sangli district of the state were being asked to mention their caste on a Union government's online portal for the purchase of fertilisers, prompting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to assure rectification in the system.

Shinde said the central government will be asked to remove the column on the portal where farmers are required to mention their caste.

1:44 PM

Bizman Arun Pillai moves application in Delhi court retracting statements given to ED

Arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Friday moved an application before Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court seeking to retract his statements given to the central agency in the excise policy case.

 

The court on Tuesday sent Pillai to the ED custody till March 13 after the agency arrested him late night on Monday post questioning him for hours in the case.

1:30 PM

Unidentified caller threatens to blow up BKU leader Rakesh Tikait: Police

An unidentified person has threatened to blow up Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait and his family if he does not disassociate himself from farmer protests, police said on Friday.

 

They said Gaurav Tikait, son of Rakesh Tikait's brother and BKU president Naresh Tikait, has filed a complaint that he has received a phone call from an unidentified person who has threatened to target Rakesh Tikait and his family members with a bomb if he does not stay away from farmer agitations.

1:14 PM

R K Singh launches portal to ensure availability of power amid peak season

Union Power Minister R K Singh has launched a portal to ensure greater availability of power during the peak demand season at a price higher than the ceiling of Rs 12 per unit by certain category of sellers.

 

The central government has launched a High Price Day Ahead Market (HP-DAM) and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP), a power ministry statement said.

12:57 PM

India, US ink MoU on semiconductor supply chain, innovation partnership

India and the US on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on semiconductor supply chain and innovation partnership during the Commercial Dialogue 2023 here, the commerce ministry said.

 

On the invitation of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo visited Delhi between March 7 and 10.

12:37 PM

BJP holds protest against Delhi govt over liquor policy

Several BJP leaders, including South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, and party workers on Friday held a protest here against the Kejriwal government's now-scrapped liquor policy.

 

They were raising slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanding his resignation.

12:23 PM

Employees demonstrate in front of gates of govt offices in Bengal demanding hike in DA

Demonstrators picketed before the gates of state government offices and educational institutions demanding hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) as the day-long strike called by some organisations of West Bengal government employees began on Friday.

 

Demonstrators squatted in front of the gates of state government offices like Writers Building, Bikash Bhavan, Khadya Bhavan, Swastha Bhavan, and Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

12:01 PM

India reports 440 new Covid cases, one death; active tally rises to 3,294

India recorded 440 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,294, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

 

The death toll stands at 5,30,779 with one death reported by Rajasthan, one by Karnataka and one fatality reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

11:29 AM

I&B Minister Anurag Thakur says NYT 'spreading lies' about India

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday accused The New York Times of "spreading lies" about India, describing an opinion piece published in it on the freedom of press in Kashmir as "mischievous and fictitious".

 

"New York Times had long back dropped all pretensions of neutrality while publishing anything about India. NYT's so-called opinion piece on freedom of press in Kashmir is mischievous and fictitious, published with a sole motive to spread a propaganda about India and its democratic institutions and values," Thakur said on Twitter.

11:14 AM

Expansion in both permanent, non-permanent categories of membership in UNSC absolutely essential: India

India has said the expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council is "absolutely essential to ensure that voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions find their due place at the world body's top organ.

 

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, also said the expansion of both categories is the only way to bring Security Council's decision-making dynamics in line with contemporary geo-political realities.

11:06 AM

Over 300 people on Texas-Mexico cruise ship fall ill: CDC

More than 300 people fell ill while on board a cruise ship from Texas to Mexico, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

 

At least 284 of the 2,881 passengers and 34 of the 1,159 crew members fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea aboard the Princess Cruises ship between February 26 and March 5, Xinhua news agency quoted the CDC as saying.

10:51 AM

Assam: Opposition members disrupt Guv speech over Maha MLA's 'dog meat eating' remark

Opposition legislators on Friday disrupted Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's speech in the assembly over a Maharashtra MLA's remarks about purported dog meat eating habits of people of the northeastern state.

 

Kataria had to restrict his speech to 15 minutes on the first day of the budget session, as the opposition MLAs stood up and shouted slogans, seeking to know what action has been taken against the legislator.

10:36 AM

Women to be given 7.5% interest rate under Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme: PM Modi

Women will be given a 7.5% interest rate under Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme. PM Awas Yojana has also empowered women who are homemakers. This budget has the vision of building unicorns in Self Help Groups: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

10:26 AM

ED conducts searches at multiple locations in Delhi, Bihar in alleged land for jobs scam

Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches at multiple locations in Delhi and Bihar, in connection with alleged land for job scam: Sources

 

Recently, CBI questioned RJD chief Lalu Yadav in the  case in Delhi

 

 

10:25 AM

India moving forward with the vision of women-led development: PM Modi

In the last 9 years, India is moving forward with the vision of women-led development and taking it to the global stage. Women-led development is one of the significant topics at the G20 summit: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

 

 

10:25 AM

Women's involvement in every field has increased, says PM Modi

Women's involvement in every field has increased in  country. Many fields are showcasing the power, decision-making ability of women. Nari Shakti is playing crucial role in increasing speed & scale of India's progress: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

10:19 AM

Mamata Banerjee urges Centre to allow poppy cultivation in West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the Centre to allow poppy cultivation in the state, insisting that delicacies prepared with its seeds are integral to the Bengali cuisine.

 

Banerjee said 'posto' or poppy seeds are costly as it is cultivated only in a few states.

10:01 AM

Australia wants to cooperate with India to build relationship in culture, economic relations: PM Albanese

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said that Australia wants to cooperate with India and build a relationship in culture, and economic relations as well as in the area of security.

 

Addressing a press conference after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan here this morning, the Australian PM thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a very warm welcome in India and said that the two countries are partners and building that partnership even stronger each and every day.

9:39 AM

Trump may be charged in connection with hush money paid to adult film star

Throwing a huge question mark over the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump may be criminally charged in connection with hush money he allegedly paid to silence Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, who said she had an affair with him, according to news reports.

 

A city prosecutor has "signalled" Trump's lawyers that he could face criminal charges in the 2016 incident, The New York Times reported on Thursday evening citing unnamed sources.

9:26 AM

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway important project, will contribute to Karnataka's growth: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was an important connectivity project that will contribute to Karnataka's growth trajectory.

The expressway is set for inauguration soon. Modi tagged a tweet by Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari who said the construction of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which encompasses a portion of NH-275, entails the development of four rail overbridges, nine significant bridges, 40 minor bridges, and 89 underpasses and overpasses.

9:17 AM

China's Parliament endorses Xi's leadership for rare 3rd five-year term

China's Parliament on Friday unanimously endorsed an unprecedented third five-year term for President Xi Jinping.

 

Xi, 69, was re-elected by the once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as its leader in October last year, becoming the first Chinese leader after the party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond the two five-year terms.

9:05 AM

Indo-American Vedant Patel to serve as US State Dept's interim spokesperson

Indian American Vedant Patel will be serving as the interim spokesperson of the US State Department, as Ned Price is going to step down this month.

 

According to the announcement made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Patel will take over the position of interim spokesperson.