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10:55 PM

6.8 magnitude quake rocks Afghanistan, strong tremors felt in Pakistan

9:43 PM

Russia wants Chinese business to replace Western firms, Putin tells Xi

Moscow is ready to help Chinese businesses replace Western firms that have left Russia over the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday during talks at the Kremlin. Speaking on the second day of Xi's state visit to Moscow, Putin also said the two leaders had discussed the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would ship Russian gas to China.

 

9:43 PM

Chinese peace proposals can be used in Ukraine when West and Kyiv ready, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Chinese peace proposals could be used as the basis for settling the conflict in Ukraine when Kyiv and its Western allies are ready, the RIA news agency reported.

 

Putin, who was speaking after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow, said the two leaders had paid great attention to Beijing's peace proposals during a one-on-one meeting.

9:42 PM

Locals of a Jalandhar village claim Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh's presence in their village on Mar 18

9:40 PM

IAF's Mirage 2000 takes part in Exercise 'Cobra Warrior' for the first time in Waddington, UK

6:26 PM

Punjab Police recover car that Amritpal Singh used to escape; four arrested for helping him escape

The Brezza car, in which Amritpal Singh fled, has been recovered by the Police. He was helped by four people, said Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.

 

Punjab police on Tuesday shut down a drug de-addiction centre run by 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh in the State's Amritsar district.

 

The facilty was operating in Jallupur Khera in Amritsar.

 

Gurmukh Singh, the caretaker of the centre said, "Police arrived here and conducted a search. They asked us to shut down the centre. Seventy people who had arrived to receive treatment were sent back."

 

The caretaker claimed that the police had found nothing at the centre and that only de-addiction treatments were given at the facility.

 

"Amritpal used to come here, and people came to treat their problems. Nothing wrong is going on here and whatever is being said about the place is all wrong," the caretaker said.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, the international borders with Nepal, Pakistan among others were alerted after the Centre circulated a message to the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) considering the possibility that Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh might flee the country.

 

The MHA has asked chiefs of both the BSF and the SSB to direct their forces deputed on the international borders to be on alert amid the ongoing hunt against the pro-Khalistani Amritpal Singh whose hunt entered the fourth day on Tuesday, said top government sources.

6:07 PM

Punjab Police release few pictures of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh

6:04 PM

World Bank to assist Kerala in waste management projects

4:24 PM

Excise Policy Scam: CBI tells the court that Sisodia's bail can risk evidence collection

CBI tells the court that Delhi's ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia dealt with an 'unprecedented' 18 ministries, he may not be a flight risk but definitely a risk for evidence destruction.

 

4:14 PM

ABVP holds protest against Hyderabad govt over Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak issue

4:02 PM

On camera, Amritpal Singh Seen in SUV crossing toll plaza in Punjab

Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, wanted by the Punjab police, is seen in the front seat of a car at a toll plaza, in security footage from Saturday that surfaced today in the middle of a massive manhunt, reported NDTV. Amritpal Singh was last seen escaping in a Mercedes SUV. The security footage from a toll booth in Jalandhar shows him in a Brezza. Sources say Amritpal Singh changed cars, and then changed his clothes in the Brezza. He swapped his traditional religious clothes for shirt and trousers and also switched his turban before making his getaway in a bike. Thousands of policemen and security personnel have been looking for the Khalistani leader for four days. More than 120 people have been arrested but Amritpal Singh has eluded the police so far. The Punjab and Haryana High Court today slammed the Punjab police and questioned how Amritpal Singh had given them the slip repeatedly. "You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing. How did Amritpal Singh escape?," the High Court asked the Punjab government. The court called it an intelligence failure. The court's remarks come amid the Punjab Police action against the Khalistan leader and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.

2:55 PM

Punjab govt not afraid of taking measures to curb criminal activities: Kejriwal

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the Punjab government was not afraid of taking stringent measures to curb criminal activities in the state.

His comments came after Punjab Police launched a major crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit Waris Punjab De'.

2:48 PM

India will continue to face terrorism, internal security challenges; security forces united: Army Chief

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said India will continue to face terrorism and internal security challenges in the future and the security forces of the country will "unitedly" tackle them.

He was speaking after inaugurating the All India Police Commando Competition organised by the federal contingency force National Security Guard (NSG) at its garrison in Manesar here.

2:32 PM

NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt tells high court: Lawyer

Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, claimed a lawyer.

During a hearing on the habeas corpus petition seeking the preacher's production in court, Justice N S Shekhawat also pulled up the state government over Amritpal Singh giving police the slip on Saturday and called it an intelligence failure.

2:18 PM

Won't let anyone disturb peace in Punjab: CM Mann on Amritpal crackdown

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday said his government will take strict action against anyone who tries to disturb the state's peace and harmony, days after the police crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

Police on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'. The preacher, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

2:01 PM

India not looking to increase air traffic rights for UAE, says Scindia

India is not looking at increasing air traffic rights for the United Arab Emirates, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

The UAE has urged India to increase the maximum number of seats between the two countries by 50,000 a week but Scindia said, "at this point we're not looking at increasing it".

1:30 PM

Delhi excise policy: BRS leader Kavitha writes to ED, says she is submitting phones to agency

BRS leader K Kavitha Tuesday said she has submitted the phones used by her so far to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as she appeared for questioning before the agency in the Delhi excise policy linked money laundering case.

In a letter to the ED, the 44-year-old MLC daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said "These phones are submitted without prejudice to my right and contentions and larger contentions whether a woman's phone can be intruded, in the teeth of her right to privacy".

1:25 PM

CM Kejriwal levelling allegations on Centre, PM to hide own mistakes: BJP

The BJP in Delhi slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, accusing him of creating a row over the city government's budget for "cheap publicity" and to hide his own mistakes.

Addressing a press conference here, working president of the Delhi BJP Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal was levelling allegations on the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to divert attention from the corruption charges faced by the city government.

12:56 PM

CM Mann to take action against ex-Punjab DGP over PM's security breach

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against several police officers including the state's top cop over security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Punjab in January 2022.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings for the major penalty against Sidharth Chattopadhyay, the then DGP Punjab, Inderbir Singh, the then DIG, Ferozepur Range and Harmandeep Singh Hans, the then SSP Ferozepur over the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach in Punjab in January 2022, said an official letter by the Government of Punjab.

12:42 PM

ED-CBI for Opposition leaders, no interpol for Mehul Choksi, says Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Centre after the Interpol dropped fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi Mehul Choksi's name from its Red Notice list.

"ED-CBI for the opposition leaders but Modiji's Mehulbhai got relief from Interpol. If he can paralyse the Parliament for his dear pal, how can he refuse help to a an old friend whom he helped flee the country five years ago."

12:12 PM

Imran asks chief justice to allow him to appear virtually for proceedings

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has requested the country's chief justice to allow him to join court proceedings through a video link in cases lodged against him, claiming he could be killed if he deposes physically.

In a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial on Monday, the embattled PTI chief also urged him to club the cases registered against him.

12:00 PM

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm amidst uproar

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday after MPs from treasury benches created uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's democracy remarks.

Opposition members too were on feet after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected 11 notices under Rule 267 to suspend the schedule business of the day and take up issues related to the Adani Group of companies.

11:43 AM

Indian reports 699 new Covid cases, 2 deaths; active tally rises to 6,559

India logged 699 new cases of coronavirus, while the active cases increased to 6,559, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The death toll increased to 5,30,808 with two deaths. While one death was reported by Odisha, another was reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity was recorded at 0.71 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.91 per cent.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,96,984).

11:31 AM

Trump failed to disclose gifts worth $250,000, including $47K from India

Former US President Donald Trump has failed to disclose gifts worth USD 250,000 given to the First Family by foreign leaders which included USD 47,000 worth of gifts by Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then President Ram Nath Kovind and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath, a partisan democratic Congressional committee have alleged in a report.

The report is titled Saudi Swords, Indian Jewelry, and a Larger-than-Life Salvadoran Portrait of Donald Trump: The Trump administration's Failure to Disclose Major Foreign Gifts.

The report presents preliminary findings from Committee Democrats' ongoing investigation into former President Trump's failure to disclose gifts from foreign government officials while in office, as required by the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act.

 

11:16 AM

Guterres asks G20 for pact to hold down warming amid food crisis warnings

As a panel of UN experts warned that India's food production could see a massive fall if global warming went unchecked, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he was asking the G20 for a pact to keep warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade.

"In India, rice production can decrease from 10 per cent to 30 per cent, whereas maize production can decrease from 25 per cent to 70 per cent assuming a range of temperature increase from 1 degree centigrade to 4 degrees centigrade," a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said on Monday.

10:53 AM

Ukrainian military hints hitting Russian cruise missiles in occupied Crimea

Ukraine's military intelligence agency reported what appeared to be a brazen attack late Monday on Russian cruise missiles being transported by train in the occupied and illegally annexed Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula.

The region's Russian-appointed governor reported an incident in the area of the same Crimean town, Dzhankoi in the northern part of the peninsula, though he did not mention cruise missiles as an attack target.

10:23 AM

Vandalism at Indian Consulate absolutely unacceptable, says White House

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said vandalism at Indian Consulate in San Francisco is "absolutely unacceptable" and is condemned by the US.

"We certainly condemn that vandalism, it's absolutely unacceptable. State Department's diplomatic security service is working with local authorities to properly investigate. State department will work on infrastructure perspective to repair the damage," Kirby said.

9:43 AM

India will have more than 140 mn air passengers in FY 2024: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel Jyotiraditya M Scindia highlighted the various aspects of the development of the Indian aviation industry while addressing the CAPA India's Aviation Summit 2023 on Monday.

Addressing the event, Scindia said that there was a time when the airports were devoid of a single passenger and here, we are today when we have already crossed figures of 4.56 lakh domestic passengers in a day.

9:38 AM

Ten active cases of Covid-19, two of H3N2 influenza reported in Jharkhand

The number of active Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand has reached 10, while two active cases of H3N2 influenza have also been reported.

Keeping this in view, the state Health Department has alerted all the districts and blocks to take steps along the lines of Test-Track-Treat, to stop the spread of infection. Health workers have been asked to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour by wearing masks, maintaining hand hygiene etc.

9:27 AM

4.5 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines' Litayan

An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale struck 25 km west of Litayan, Philippines on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia.

The earthquake occurred at 02:43:27 (UTC+05:30) and hit Litayan, Philippines on Tuesday, at a depth of 592.5 km, the USGS informed.