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11:15 PM

Mumbai Indians crush Gujarat Giants by 143 runs in WPL opener

Mumbai Indians thrashed Gujarat Giants by 143 runs in a completely one-sided match as the much-anticipated inaugural Women's Premier League began here on Saturday.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led the way with a scintillating 30-ball 65 as Mumbai Indians scored an imposing 207 for five in the opener.

In reply, Gujarat Giants were all out for a paltry 64 in 15.1 overs.

10:52 PM

Indian Army to get jetpack suits for efficient surveillance along borders; trials held in Agra

In a bid to strengthen the surveillance capabilities along the border areas, including borders with China, the Indian Army would be soon equipped with 'jetpack suits'.

 

The testing and demonstration of the jetpack suits made by British company 'Gravity Industries' were held recently at the Army Airborne Training School (AATS) in Agra.

 

Richard Browning, the founder of Gravity Industries, gave a demo of the jetpack system to the Indian Army.

 

The Indian Aerospace Defence News (IADN) shared a video on Twitter showing the Gravity Industries founder flying over a water body, road and fields in Agra.

10:26 PM

Sale of gold jewellery hallmarked with 6-digit code to be permitted from April 1

Sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts hallmarked with only a six-digit alphanumeric HUID -- union identification number -- will be permitted from April 1, the government said on Saturday.

This means the sale of old hallmarked jewellery with four logos without HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number will not be allowed after March 31.

A decision in this regard was taken after due consultation with stakeholders on January 18 in a bid to safeguard the interest of consumers, the consumer affairs ministry said in a statement.

10:21 PM

US, Indian navies hold sixth meeting on aircraft carrier technology

With India’s military still undecided about whether to build a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2), or to make do with its two current 45,000-tonne carriers – INS Vikramaditya bought from Russia, and the first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1), called INS Vikrant, which was built in Cochin – experts from the Indian and US navies met in Delhi last week to discuss cooperating on aircraft carrier technology. READ MORE...

9:47 PM

BJP president Nadda meets ex-Australian PM Abbott

BJP president J P Nadda met former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott at the party headquarters here as part of its "Know BJP" initiative to engage with leaders and diplomats of different countries among others.

In a separate meeting, he also interacted with a select group of foreign policy experts, politicians and members of parliament from various countries.

The BJP said a documentary was shown to them based on the history, struggles, successes, ideology and contribution of the Bharatiya Janata Party and BJP governments in nation-building.

9:29 PM

FM Sitharaman underplays lack of consensus on Ukraine at G20 Ministers' meet

Two days after the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting failed to adopt a joint communique owing to differences on the Ukraine crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday underplayed similar differences which had cropped up during last month's G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG).

Addressing the Raisina Dialogue event, Sitharaman, while describing India as an attractive destination for global businesses, highlighted the rule of law among other factors as an important aspect.

Calling the rule of law an understated factor, Sitharaman said: "We have an elected democratic system, a well-established common law and also courts. Systems exist and there is transparency. Here, you can speak against the government and the Prime Minister... and nobody picks you up and makes you disappear. None of that happens."

9:10 PM

Govt soon to launch seed traceability system: Narendra Singh Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday said the government will soon launch a seed traceability system to ensure the availability of good quality seeds to the farmers.

"This will curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector," Tomar said addressing a two-day Indian Seed Congress organized by the National Seed Association of India here in the national capital.

Farmers will benefit from its launch and the people doing good work in the seeds sector will also get help, an official statement quoted Tomar having said at the event.

9:00 PM

Govt recommends State Drug Controller Authority to cancel manufacturing licence of Marion Biotech

8:35 PM

IMD forecast rain, hailstorms over western, central India in run-up to Holi

Rajasthan and large parts of western and central India are expected to witness thundershowers and hailstorms over the next few days in the run-up to Holi. The festival of colours will be celebrated across the country on March 7 and 8.

The weather office has forecast thundershowers and hailstorms from Saturday till Wednesday due to two successive extra-tropical weather systems over the region.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the western Himalayan Region is also likely to witness isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall on Saturday and Sunday. It notified that Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat light to moderate thunderstorms from March 4 to 8.

8:08 PM

Deadline to opt for higher pension for EPS members retired before 1st Sep 2014 ends Saturday

Deadline for opting for higher pension for members of Employees Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS) who retired before September 1, 2014, ended on Saturday.

However, other members of the EPS can apply for higher pensions till May 3, 2023, a labour ministry statement said.

"The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) closed the options on 4th of March 2023 for the retired EPS members (prior to 01.09.2014 and whose options were not considered earlier). It has received 91,258 online applications from this category of employees as on March 4, 2023."

8:01 PM

Govt not in 'crazy rush' to sell everything: FM Sitharaman

The government is not in a "crazy rush" to sell everything and it will continue to have a presence in four strategic sectors, including telecom, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

In strategic sectors, a bare minimum presence of the existing public sector commercial enterprises at the holding company level will be retained under government control. The remaining enterprises in a strategic sector will be considered for privatisation or merger with another PSE or for closure.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, the minister said that the country will have government-owned professionally run companies in four broad strategic sectors.

7:31 PM

Covid vax effective against highly contagious XBB variant: CDC

Covid-19 vaccines and boosters are effective against the highly transmissible sub-lineages of Omicron -- XBB and its subvariant XBB.1.5 -- the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

First seen in August, XBB.1.5 now accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all Covid-19 cases reported in the US, the CDC said.

According to officials, a "bivalent" booster that targets both the initial strain of the virus and the original Omicron variant, would be more protective than the original "monovalent" vaccine as the virus continues to evolve, the USA Today reported.

The latest CDC study found that, despite the mismatch in variants, the booster remains protective against XBB.

7:15 PM

NDMC releases draft policy to regularise unauthorised cellular towers in Lutyens' Delhi

The New Delhi Municipal Council has prepared a draft policy to regularise scores of unauthorised cellular towers in Lutyens' Delhi, officials said on Saturday. There are around 240 unauthorised cellular towers. Out of these, 140 are located on government buildings and the rest on private buildings, an NDMC official said.

The draft policy aims to modify the rules for the installation of communication towers by cellular and basic telecom operators on rooftops and ground bases within the premises and in the area under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

There are four main aspects of the policy -- regularisation of unauthorised towers, increase in one-time tower installation fee, renter fee for towers situated on NDMC buildings (no change), and process to install new towers.

7:10 PM

Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms

Pressure mounted Saturday on Ukrainian troops and civilians hunkering down in Bakhmut, as Kyiv's forces tried to help residents flee the beleaguered eastern city amid what Western analysts say may be preparations for a Ukrainian withdrawal.

A woman was killed and two men were badly wounded by shelling while trying to cross a makeshift bridge out of Bakhmut on Saturday, according to Ukrainian troops who were assisting them.

A Ukrainian army representative who asked not to be named for operational reasons told The Associated Press that it was now too dangerous for civilians to leave the city by vehicle, and that people had to flee on foot instead.

6:53 PM

Monitoring committee to ensure investment pledges translate into action: Andhra Pradesh CM

The Andhra Pradesh government will form a monitoring committee consisting of the Chief Secretary to ensure that investment pledges announced at the Global Investors' Summit translate into real action, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Saturday.

After signing agreements worth Rs 11.8 lakh crore on the inaugural day on Friday, the Andhra Pradesh secured investments worth around 1.2 lakh crore on the concluding day of the summit today, totaling more than Rs 13 lakh crore with the potential to create more than six lakh jobs.

Deals were struck in as many as 20 sectors through 353 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

6:33 PM

FSSAI asks states, UTs to deploy mobile testing vans to check milk quality in view of Holi

Food regulator FSSAI has asked states and Union Territories to deploy mobile testing vans to check quality of milk and milk products considering higher demand during upcoming Holi festival.

 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said in a statement that it has "directed states/UTs to deploy Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) mobile food testing vans, to check adulteration of milk and milk products considering the ensuing festive season of Holi."

 

The authority has requested the Commissioner of Food Safety of all states/UTs to carry out testing of at least 10 samples of milk and milk products per FSW on a daily basis to tighten vigilance against milk adulteration.

6:09 PM

EAM S Jaishankar, Ali Sabry discuss Sri Lanka's economic recovery

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday held wide-ranging talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart M U M Ali Sabry focusing on facilitating Sri Lanka's economic recovery as well boosting bilateral trade.

 

India extended financial assistance worth around USD 4 billion to Sri Lanka, including lines of credit for purchases of food and fuel, last year when it was reeling under a severe economic crisis.

 

New Delhi also provided guarantees to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country secure a USD 2.9 billion bailout package.

5:50 PM

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat moves defamation complaint against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat has filed a defamation complaint against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for alleged defamatory remarks.

The Delhi's Rouse Avenue court listed the matter for Monday.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal has listed the matter for the statement of witnesses for the complainant Shekhawat on Monday.

5:18 PM

NIA attaches properties of Hizbul Mujahideen militant in J&K's Kupwara

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday attached properties of a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant, who was killed last month in Pakistan, in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The properties of Bashir Ahmad Pir, a resident of the Babarpora area of Kralpora in the north Kashmir district, was attached by the agency as part of the action against the militants operating from Pakistan, they said.

The officials said Pir, a self-styled commander of the outfit, was shot dead in Rawalpindi on February 21.

4:56 PM

Parts of Kochi engulfed in smoke after waste plant fire

Irritating smoke hung over parts of Kerala's industrial capital, Kochi, early on Saturday after the civil authorities failed to douse a huge fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram waste treatment plant near here two days ago, official sources said.

 

The worsening air quality situation in the coastal city prompted the Kochi corporation authorities to seek the help of the Indian Navy to douse the fire.

 

In a tweet, a Defence spokesperson said the Navy was committed to extending all possible help to bring the situation under control.

4:43 PM

Massive fire broke at Brahamapuram waste plant in Kochi

4:41 PM

World's first 'bamboo crash barrier' installed on Maharashtra highway

In a unique achievement, the world's first 200-metre long bamboo crash barrier has come up on the Vani-Warora Highway in Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra, officials said on Saturday.

The bamboo crash barrier in Nagpur has been christened as 'Bahu Balli' and underwent rigorous testing at various government-run institutions on different parameters.

These included tests at the National Automotive Test Tracks in Pithampur, Indore, it secured the Class 1 in the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee, and has been given accreditation by the Indian Road Congress.

4:15 PM

EAM Dr S Jaishankar meets Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister MUM Ali Sabry

4:00 PM

H3N2 flu virus on rise, Indian Medical Association advises against antibiotic use

Several patients have reported a rise in flu cases with symptoms including high grade fever and persistent cough, said the Indian Medical Association on Saturday, while cautioning against use of antibiotics.

The mounting infections are due to the H3N2 influenza virus, which lasts between five to seven days, the association said in a statement on Twitter, noting that it is seasonal.

Recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also shows that H3N2 - a sub-type of the influenza virus - has been in wide circulation for the last two-three months.

3:56 PM

Investors' summit deals will create 6 lakh plus jobs: Andhra Pradesh CM

Andhra Pradesh has garnered investment pledges worth Rs 13,05,663 lakh crore with a potential to create 6,03,223 jobs during the two-day Global Investors Summit (GIS), said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, he said 352 agreements were signed in 20 sectors, out of which the energy sector stood out through 40 deals and pledges worth Rs 8.84 lakh crore with a job creation potential of 1.9 lakh, he said.

"In the IT & ITES sector, 56 MoUs were signed, amounting to Rs 25,587 crore of investments and will generate employment for 1,04,442 people. In the tourism sector, 117 agreements have been inked for an investment to the tune of Rs 22,096 crore, that will create employment for 30,787 people, said Reddy.

3:31 PM

Court extends former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia's CBI remand till March 6

Court extends former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia's CBI remand till 6th March

3:19 PM

AAP protests outside Rouse Avenue Court against Sisodia's arrest

Aam Aadmi party leaders and workers on Saturday protested outside the Rouse Avenue Court demanding the release of jailed former chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Hundreds of party workers gathered before Sisodia's appearance outside the Rouse Avenue court which is just few metres from the party office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.

Sisodia was given five-day CBI custody in the Excise Police case which ended on Saturday and he was brought back to the court. The workers raised slogans like 'Manish Sisodia ko riha karo' (release Manish Sisodia).

2:58 PM

Delhi airport becomes transshipment hub for export cargo from Bangladesh

Delhi airport is now a transshipment hub for export cargo from Bangladesh to other countries and the first batch of transhipment cargo will leave for Spain on Sunday.

The airport's operator DIAL said the cargo transshipment via Delhi will cost manufacturers and suppliers significantly less as compared to other routes.

2:42 PM

Delhi Court to hear Manish Sisodia's bail plea on March 10

Delhi Court fixes March 10 for hearing in the bail plea of arrested former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Court issues notice to CBI on Sisodia's bail plea

2:38 PM

4-member probe team to visit TN: Bihar CM on 'attack' on migrant labourers

Amid pressure from Opposition over alleged attacks in Tamil Nadu of migrant workers from Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said that a four-member team will visit the southern State to take stock of the situation.

"As soon as I got to know though newspapers, I directed officials to look into the matter. They talked with the Tamil Nadu government and reported that a team should be sent from here," Nitish Kumar said, adding that the four-member team will look into the matter in detail.