Latest LIVE: Russia launches huge wave of missile strikes across Ukraine

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

9:18 PM

With grass in their mouths Pulwama widows seek justice from Rajasthan govt

9:15 PM

Australian PM Anthony Albanese meets Mumbai's dabbawalas, see pics

9:10 PM

CAQM rolls back preventive actions under Stage 1 of GRAP in Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday rolled back preventive and restrictive actions under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan, which have been in force since October 5 last year, amid a forecast of continuous improvement in Delhi's air quality in the coming days, the PTI reported.

 

7:00 PM

Air India Express has zero tolerance for such behaviour: AI Express spokesperson on cabin crew gold sumggling

6:48 PM

India is our top-tier security partner, says Australian PM Anthony Albanese

5:23 PM

Indian Army installs a 100-ft high national flag at Doda, Jammu & Kashmir

4:37 PM

Atishi gets Education, PWD, Power, Tourism; Bharadwaj gets Health, Water and Industries, Urban Development

3:39 PM

Meghalaya CM congratulates newly elected assembly speaker Thomas A Sangma

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma congratulates newly elected assembly speaker Thomas A Sangma 

3:28 PM

Satellite photos suggest Israel airstrike on Syria airport

A suspected Israeli airstrike targeting Aleppo International Airport in Syria again tore multiple craters on its runway, satellite images analysed by The Associated Press showed Thursday. A United Nations official separately has criticised the attack for hindering earthquake relief for the hard-hit, war-torn nation.

 

The attack on Aleppo airport comes as Israel previously struck the airfield as part of an Israeli campaign to disrupt Iranian weapons transfers to the country. Those attacks have continued despite ongoing political turmoil in Israel and as Iran's nuclear program edges closer to enriching weapons-grade levels of uranium as negotiations over it have fallen apart.

 

2:57 PM

Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis presents Shinde govt's maiden Budget in Assembly

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Finance Minister, on Thursday presented the Eknath Shinde-led government's first budget for the year 2023-24 in the state Assembly.

Fadnavis started reading out the budgetary allocations in the Lower House of the state legislature at 2 pm. He read out the budgetary provisions from an iPad instead of a conventional paper document.

This is for the first time that Fadnavis presented the state budget as he holds the finance portfolio. During Fadnavis's tenure as the chief minister between 2014-19, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhir Mungantiwar was the finance minister.

2:49 PM

Ind vs Aus 4th Test: Australia reaches 149/2 at tea against India

Australia reached 149 for two at tea against India on the opening day of the series-deciding fourth Test here on Thursday.

Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith were batting on 65 and 38, respectively, at the tea break.

Earlier, Smith won the toss and opted to bat first.

2:27 PM

PM Modi condoles death of veteran actor and director Satish Kaushik

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of veteran actor and director Satish Kaushik, who passed away early Thursday.

In a tweet, Modi said, "Pained by the untimely demise of noted film personality Shri Satish Kaushik Ji. He was a creative genius who won hearts thanks to his wonderful acting and direction. His works will continue to entertain audiences. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."

Kaushik passed away at around 1 a.m in the national capital, after he suffered a massive heart attack. He was 66.

2:07 PM

Two-thirds of Afghan people will need humanitarian aid, says UN envoy

Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that 28 million people, accounting for two-thirds of the war-torn nation's population, will need life-saving humanitarian assistance this year.

The humanitarian need will cost $4.62 billion, the single-largest country appeal ever, Otunbayeva told a Security Council meeting.

Almost half of the Afghan population -- 20 million people -- are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity, she said, adding that 6 million people are one step away from famine-like conditions.

1:46 PM

India must prepare to curb volatility risks of international rupee: RBI deputy gov

India needs to gear up to manage the inevitable volatility that will emerge in the foreign exchange market as the country progresses further towards internationalisation of the rupee, a deputy governor at the Reserve Bank of India said recently.

An international currency is one that is freely available to non-residents, essentially to settle cross-border transactions, and in the case of the rupee, this will be achieved by promoting the currency for import and export, without any limits.

But, that will make the rupee more reactive to global events and that would increase outflows, increasing volatility.

1:33 PM

President Murmu on day-long visit to Amritsar, pays obeisance at Golden Temple

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the city for the president's day-long visit.

Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, the president paid obeisance at the Temple and listened to 'kirtan'.

1:26 PM

J P Nadda to visit poll-bound Karnataka today, PM Modi on March 12

Ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka is aiming to galvanise its workers across the state with the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party's National President J.P. Nadda.

While Nadda is arriving in the city this evening, PM Modi's visit is scheduled for March 12.

Upon his arrival, the party's national president will participate in Vijay Sankalp Yatra in K.R. Puram locality. He will also hold a roadshow and address a public rally at the K.R. Puram Government College Grounds.

1:17 PM

Air India Express cabin crew held for gold smuggling in Kochi airport

An Air India Express flight cabin crew has been arrested by the Customs for allegedly smuggling over 1.4 kg gold through Cochin International Airport near here, official sources said on Thursday.

The crew of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi Air India Express flight was apprehended by the Customs sleuths, who recovered the gold that was wrapped around his hands on Wednesday. Air India Express said the arrested crew has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. The airline said it has zero tolerance for such behaviour and will be taking stern action against the individual including termination of service following receipt of the report from the investigative authorities.

12:49 PM

Satish Kaushik death: Delhi Police carrying out routine proceedings under CrPC Section 174

Delhi Police is carrying out routine proceedings under CrPC Section 174 (Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc). The aim is to ascertain if the demise occurred under mysterious circumstances or if the person died of unnatural causes: Delhi Police

12:31 PM

BJP getting rattled by series of lectures: Tharoor, Gogoi defend Rahul

The Congress on Thursday while defending Rahul Gandhi's lectures in the UK attacked the BJP, saying that the party was rattled.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "It is embarrassing to see the entire BJP machinery including senior ministers, media channels and unofficial spokespersons getting rattled by a series of lectures by @RahulGandhi. All the Indians living in the UK who have attended these events have been extremely positive."

The BJP has continued its attack on Rahul Gandhi while Congress has defended his statement on every issue.

12:19 PM

Maharashtra: Fire guts Dombivali godowns with perfumery items, clothes

A massive fire broke out in a godown storing perfumery materials in Dombivali MIDC in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Thursday, an official said.

Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Avinash Sawant said the fire started at 2 am and was doused completely at 8:30am, though there was no report of injuries to anyone.

11:52 AM

We expect Afghan territory should not be used for sheltering, training and financing terror acts, says India

India has said it expects that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training or financing of terror acts, specifically terrorist individuals and entities proscribed by the UN Security Council.

As a contiguous neighbour and long-standing partner of Afghanistan, and given our strong historical and civilisational linkages to the Afghan people, India has direct stakes in ensuring the return of peace and stability to the country, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said on Wednesday.

11:32 AM

ED questions Manish Sisodia for second time in Tihar jail in excise policy case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Thursday began the second round of questioning of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia at the Tihar Jail here in connection with its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy, officials said.

The federal probe agency had recorded the statement of the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for the first time on March 7 for about five hours.

Sisodia is currently lodged in judicial custody after the CBI arrested him on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22.

11:20 AM

Stalin wrote to PM Modi out of fear, says Tamil Nadu BJP chief on CM's support to Sisodia

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister MK Stalin for extending support to AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who is currently in jail in Delhi excise policy case, stating that the CM is afraid that Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) scam will be opened and out of fear he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to media persons, Annamalai said, "It's a very strange situation. Congress appreciated that Manish Sisodia, who is the corrupt person in the Delhi liquor scam case, has gone to jail but their alliance partner DMK didn't sign that common letter and instead, they sent a separate letter. So he [Stalin] is afraid and out of fear he has written one more letter accusing the Central government agencies of misusing their power and arresting Manish Sisodia."

10:54 AM

India reports 379 new Covid cases, one death; active tally rises to 3,177

India logged 379 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases rose to 3,177, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The death toll stands at 5,30,776 with one fatality reported by Maharashtra, the data updated at 8 am stated

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,89,072).

10:37 AM

Modi, Albanese arrive ahead of India-Australia Test match in Ahmedabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Thursday morning reached the Narendra Modi stadium here and took a round of the massive sports arena on a golf car before the start of the fourth Test match between India and Australia.

Modi and Albanese handed over Test caps to their respective team captains Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith.

10:26 AM

EU considers sending more military support to Ukraine as war rages on

European Union (EU) defence ministers discussed the idea of sending further military support to Ukraine, at an informal meeting in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

"There was increasing consensus around the table that the EU needs to act in order to provide the Ukrainians with more ammunition," Sweden's Minister for Defence Pal Jonson said in a video released after the meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.

10:09 AM

Haryana CM Khattar, other politicians condole demise of Satish Kaushik

Veteran actor-director Satish Kaushik known for his immense contribution to the Indian Film industry passed away on Wednesday.

Actor Anupam Kher informed about the sudden demise of Kaushik on Thursday early morning in a tweet in Hindi.

Kher wrote, "I know "death is the ultimate truth of this world!" But I never thought in my dreams that I would write this thing about my best friend #SatishKaushik while alive. Such a sudden full stop on a friendship of 45 years!! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH! Om Shanti!"

9:51 AM

Col Geeta Rana becomes first woman officer to command EME unit near China border

After the Indian Army recently cleared women officers for command roles, Colonel Geeta Rana of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers has become the first woman officer to take over command of an independent field workshop in the Eastern Ladakh sector with China.

"Colonel Geeta Rana of Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers has become the first woman officer to take over command of an Independent Field Workshop in a forward and remote location in Eastern Ladakh", Indian Army officials from Fire and Fury Corps tweeted.

9:19 AM

Actor Satish Kaushik's postmortem to be done at Delhi hospital today

Bollywood actor and director Satish Chandra Kaushik's postmortem will be done at Deen Dayal Hospital in Delhi on Thursday.

The Bollywood actor passed away earlier this morning and his body was bought to Deen Dayal Hospital at 5:30 am and has been kept in Deen Dayal Hospital's mortuary.

Kaushik's postmortem will be done at 11 am.

9:10 AM

4.7 magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan's Fayzabad

An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 occurred 285 km East-northeast of Fayzabad, Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

Taking to Twitter, NCS said, "Earthquake of Magnitude:4.7, Occurred on 09-03-2023, 07:06:38 IST, Lat: 38.22 & Long: 73.47, Depth: 107 Km, Location: 285km ENE of Fayzabad, Afghanistan."

This is the third earthquake within 8 days.