LIVE: Farmers' stir may continue till December, says Rakesh Tikait

BJP announces 63 candidates for third, fourth phase of Bengal polls

2:57 AM

Exit polls: Defeats for Merkel's party in 2 German states

Exit polls are pointing to defeats for Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right party in two German state elections.

 

Sunday's votes for new state legislatures in the southwestern states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate kicked off an electoral marathon that culminates in a national election Sept. 26. The national vote will determine who succeeds Merkel.

 

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union faced a challenging task against two popular state governors from rival parties on Sunday.

 

Exit polls for ARD and ZDF television indicated that those governors' parties -- the environmentalist Greens in Baden-Wuerttemberg and the center-left Social Democrats in Rhineland-Palatinate -- were set to finish well ahead of the CDU.

 

Amid discontent over a sluggish start to Germany's vaccination drive, and with coronavirus restrictions easing only gradually, Merkel's Union bloc has been hit over the past two weeks by allegations that two lawmakers profited from deals to procure masks early in the coronavirus pandemic.

2:56 AM

Army jawan arrested for leaking confidential info to Pakistan agent: Officials

An army jawan was arrested for allegedly leaking confidential information to a Pakistani agent, an intelligence official said on Sunday.

 

The 22-year-old jawan, Akash Maharia, is a resident of Sikar district of Rajasthan and is posted in Sikkim.

 

He came in contact with a Pakistani intelligence agent through social media and shared confidential information with him, the official said.

 

He said the accused was arrested Saturday night following interrogation by intelligence agencies.

8:49 PM

One govt job for each family, six LPG cylinders per year: AIADMK manifesto

Ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Sunday released its election manifesto in which it promises at least one government job to every family in the state, according to ANI. The party manifesto was released by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other senior leaders here in the state capital.

8:40 PM

Night curfew imposed in Latur amid Covid-19 spike in Maharashtra

As Maharashtra witnesses a fresh spike of COVID-19 cases, the Latur district administration on Sunday imposed a night curfew between 8 pm and 5 am to contain the spread of the virus in the district, according to ANI. According to the order released by the officials, all weekly markets will remain shut till March 31. However, emergency services have been exempted.

8:18 PM

Farm laws: Businessmen running Union government, claims Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh SinghTikait on Sunday said the Union government was being run by businessman who were cashing in on hunger by snatching away land, according to PTI. He was addressing a farmers' rally in Rewa against the Centre's three agri marketing laws.

7:53 PM

Delhi govt calls on corporates to promote EV policy

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who is leading the 'Switch Delhi' campaign since last two months, on Sunday invited the corporate sector to raise awareness and promote electiric vehicle policy in the national capital, according to IANS. "The Delhi government aims to further capitalise on the positive response received from several sections and now we will involve corporates to be a part of the campaign. I appeal to this segment to switch to EV cabs to facilitate the travel of their employees," Gahlot said.

7:32 PM

West Bengal Assembly Polls: Amit Shah holds roadshow in Kharagpur

6:24 PM

At least 4 people shot dead in Myanmar anti-coup protests

At least four people were shot dead during protests in Myanmar on Sunday, as security forces continued their violent crackdown against dissent following last month's military coup, according to the Associated Press. Two of the victims were killed in Yangon, the country's largest city. One of them was shot in the head and another was shot in the abdomen, according to local media covering the demonstrations in Hlaing Thar Yar Township.

 

6:10 PM

Accident, not attack that left Mamata injured, says EC

The Election Commission on Sunday ruled out any attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her campaign in Nandigram Assembly constituency on Wednesday evening, saying it was an accident that resulted in her injuries, according to IANS. The poll panel said it could not find any significant pointers to suggest any pre-meditated or planned attack on Banerjee' convoy and contended that there was lack of coordination between security arrangements by the police headquarters and local Superintendent of Police due to frequent changes to the Chief Minister's programme.

5:47 PM

Cong releases list of 86 candidates for Kerala polls

The Congress on Sunday released its first list of 86 candidates for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections, according to PTI. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy will contest from Puthuppally, while Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala has been fielded from Haripad Assembly constituency.

5:20 PM

UK's Buckingham Palace to get law firm to conduct Meghan bullying probe: Report

UK's Buckingham Palace plans to hand over an investigation into allegations that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, may have bullied staff during her time as a frontline royal with Prince Harry in Britain to external investigators, a UK media report said on Sunday, according to PTI. 

4:50 PM

Antilia scare: Sachin Waze remanded to NIA custody till Mar 25

4:33 PM

DMK MLA Saravanan joins BJP, second legislator to switch to Saffron camp

Weeks before assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, DMK legislator P Saravanan joined the BJP here on Sunday, protesting what he called the 'dominance' and 'silent torture' by the district-level officer-bearers of the Dravidian party, according to PTI. Saravanan, representing Tirupparankundram constituency in Madurai region, is the second DMK MLA after Ku Ka Selvam (Thousand Lights constituency here) to join the BJP ahead of the April 6 assembly polls.

4:11 PM

CAA not election issue in Assam; people will vote logically, not emotionally: State BJP chief

Assam BJP chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass on Sunday claimed that the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act is not an issue in the upcoming assembly elections in the state as people will vote logically, not emotionally, according to PTI. In an interview, the senior ruling party leader said that people are convinced that not a single foreigner can illegally settle in Assam as long as the BJP is in power in the state.

3:53 PM

Antilia security scare: NIA produces Waze before Mumbai court

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday presented police officer Sachin Waze before a court here in connection with a probe into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis house in Mumbai, according to PTI. Waze was brought to the court in south Mumbai after being taken to a local hospital for his medical examination, an official said.

3:34 PM

BJP to contest 115 seats in Kerala

3:26 PM

Sir Vivian Richards thanks PM Modi for India providing Covid-19 vaccines to Caribbean nations

West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards and former greats Richie Richardson and Jimmy Adams on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing coronavirus vaccines to the Caribbean region, according to PTI. In a video message, Richards described India's assistance as a kind gesture and said the region is looking forward to continued relationship with India.

3:03 PM

Govt committed to protecting honour of Assam: Rajnath Singh

2:48 PM

In some days, it'll be decided who will run Assam for the next 5 years: Amit Shah

2:33 PM

Puducherry: Ruckus at Congress meeting after party leader raised DMK flag

2:18 PM

EC concludes injuries sustained by Mamata Banerjee not result of attack: Report

The Election Commission has ruled out that there was any attack on West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee that led to her injuries, sources in the poll body said on Sunday, according to PTI. After reviewing the reports sent by its two special poll observers and the state government, the Commission concluded that Banerjee sustained injuries due to lapse on part of her security in charge.

2:09 PM

DMK will continue to fight against CAA, says Stalin

DMK chief M K Stalin on Sunday said his party would continue to urge the union government to scrap the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and confer citizeship on Sri Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps in India, according to PTI. In an addendum to the party manifesto unveiled on Saturday, he said DMK had all along opposed the CAA and campaigned against it and he even ran a campaign in Tamil Nadu collecting one crore signatures pressing for scrapping the law.

1:59 PM

WB polls: TMC workers raise slogans against Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram

1:48 PM

No govt communication ever threatened social media platforms' staff of jail term: IT Ministry

The government has never threatened employees of any social media platform, such as Twitter, of jail term, the IT Ministry has said, according to PTI. Reacting to reports that alluded to Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter employees being threatened with jail term, the Ministry said social media platforms are "obliged to follow the laws of India and the Constitution of India, just like all other businesses in India have to."

1:30 PM

Bihar: RLSP to merge with JDU

1:28 PM

AAP will make Delhi world-class city if voted to power in next MCD polls: Pathak

The Aam Aadmi Party will focus on making Delhi clean and a world-class city if it comes to power in the municipal polls due next year, party leader Durgesh Pathak said. Having won the municipal corporation bypolls, the Arvind Kejriwal led party is now focusing on consolidating its position in the civic bodies. Pathak, who is the party's in-charge of municipal corporations, said there is a feeling on the ground that the Arvind Kejriwal government must be given an opportunity in municipal corporations. The municipal corporation polls of Delhi are due in 2022.

1:20 PM

Quad leaders: Committed to free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region

The leaders of the four-nation Quad have reaffirmed that they are striving to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is accessible, dynamic and governed by international law and bedrock principles such as freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes, and free from coercion, sending a clear message to China which is flexing its muscles in the region and beyond. In an opinion piece in The Washington Post after holding the first Leaders' Summit of Quadrilateral alliance on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga asserted that all countries should be able to make their own political choices, free from coercion.

1:11 PM

Probe into Ambani security scare: NIA seizes Innova car

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the recovery of a vehicle laden with explosives from outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai, on Sunday seized a white Innova car, a police official said. It is not clear if it was the same Innova that was following the explosives-laden Scorpio before the latter was parked near Ambani's residence in south Mumbai on February 25. According to the police official, the Innova, having Tardeo RTO's registration number 'MH 01 ZA 403' and 'Police' written on its rear windshield, was brought to the NIA's office on Pedder Road here with the help of towing van, hours after the arrest of Mumbai police offier Sachin Waze in connection with the case.

1:02 PM

Puducherry: Ruckus ensued during Congress Election Committee

12:50 PM

US Secretary of Defence to tour Asia, focus on strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific countries

Following the first-ever virtual summit of the top leaders of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) on March 12, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin informed that he has arrived at the US Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii on Sunday to begin his Asia tour from Monday. "Great to be back in Hawaii. Tomorrow, I kick off a week of meetings with my @INDOPACOM leadership, as well as my counterparts in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and India. We have many important issues to discuss to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," tweeted Austin. He will be visiting three nations - India, Japan and South Korea in the Indo-Pacific region to discuss the strengthening of existing partnerships and alliances there, read the US Department of Defense release.