Highlights of the day: Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs

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9:54 PM

Inspired by Gandhi, Mandela; see you soon outside: Sisodia in letter from Tihar jail

AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter from the Tihar jail to the people of his Assembly constituency, comparing his plight with the atrocities committed by the British against freedom fighters and asserting his commitment towards education for children. The former Delhi deputy chief minister, who has been arrested in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, also expressed hope that he will be out of jail soon. "Will meet you soon outside. The British rulers also had the arrogance of power and sent people to jail in false cases," Sisodia said, adding that Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, who spent many years in prison, were his inspiration. A court here is scheduled to hear Sisodia's bail plea on Saturday.

8:31 PM

4.7 magnitude earthquake hits New York, New Jersey

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the New York City region on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, shaking buildings and surprising residents in an area that rarely experiences notable seismic activity.

8:31 PM

Russian personnel expelled from Nato headquarters, Stoltenberg tells Bild

Several Russian personnel have been expelled from Nato headquarters in recent months amid espionage claims, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told Germany'sBild tabloid in an interview released on Friday. "We realized that they were carrying out activities that were not actually diplomatic work, but intelligence work,"Stoltenberg was quoted as saying by Bild. There was no immediate comment from Nato.

6:17 PM

Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs

Indian broadcaster Zee Entertainment said on Friday it has initiated a 15 per cent cut in its workforce as the company is in the middle of a slew of cost-cutting measures.

4:44 PM

Delhi excise case: Court allows CBI to interrogate BRS leader K Kavitha in Tihar jail

 A Delhi court today permitted the CBI to interrogate BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in the Delhi liquor policy case, in Tihar jail. Kavitha was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged scam on March 15.

4:38 PM

Tie-up with BJP after elections depends on how they treat us, like to be Agri Minister: Kumaraswamy

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has state that he is sincerely working for NDA's better prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the continuation of tie-up with BJP, after the elections, will depend on how his party and its leaders are treated. Kumaraswamy also added that given an opportunity he wants to be the agriculture minister, in the event of NDA coming back to power at the Centre.

4:35 PM

Voted for CAA in Parliament because Meghalaya was exempted: Tura MP Agatha Sangma

Agatha K Sangma, the incumbent Lok Sabha MP and National People's Party candidate for Tura, today stated that she supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Parliament since Meghalaya was exempted from its provisions. Despite facing criticism from opposition parties for her stance, Agatha asserted that since the CAA does not apply in Meghalaya, there is no cause for concern.

4:29 PM

ECI identifies 266 LS seats with lower voter turnout; says 'one size fits all' approach won't work

The poll body today stated that it has identified 266 parliamentary constituencies, including 215 in rural areas, with low voter turnout and is planning targeted intervention to increase voting percentage in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

4:26 PM

2 officers dismissed by Israeli military over drone strikes on aid workers

Israeli military dismisses 2 officers over drone strikes on aid workers, citing rules of engagement violations, reports news agency AP.

4:16 PM

Work done in 10 years just an appetiser, main course yet to come: PM Modi at Churu rally

Underlining the work done by his government in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stated it was just an "appetiser" and the main course is yet to come. PM Modi also accused the Congress of insulting the Army and dividing people and said this represented the "identity" of the opposition party. He was addressing a rally in Churu, his second election rally in Rajasthan in three days.

Addressing a rally in Churu, his second election rally in Rajasthan in three days, 

3:04 PM

Will allow 'temporary' opening of aid routes into Gaza, says Israel

Israel said today that it would allow "temporary" aid deliveries into famine-threatened northern Gaza, hours after the United States warned of a sharp shift in its policy over Israel's war against Hamas militants.

3:02 PM

One dead, one injured in blast during suspected making of country-made bomb in Kerala's Kannur

One person was killed and another seriously injured in a blast near Panur in this north Kerala district in the early hours of Friday, police said. The incident took place at around 1:00 am, and the opposition Congress alleged that the blast happened during the manufacturing of country-made bombs.

2:58 PM

AAP wrote multiple letters to EC over BJP's 'objectionable' posters, but no action was taken: Atishi

Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) after she was served a show-cause notice today, asking if it was a "subsidiary organisation" of the BJP. The notice was issued to her over her remarks that the BJP had approached her to either join the party or be prepared to be nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate within a month.

2:53 PM

Delhi High Court seeks Centre's stand on plea by NGO against FCRA cancellation

The Delhi High Court today sought the stand of the central government on a plea filed by NGO Environics Trust challenging its order cancelling its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). "The petitioner has approached this court challenging an order dated March 4, 2024 cancelling the registration under FCRA. Issue Notice. Reply be filed in four weeks," Justice Subramonium Prasad said.

2:50 PM

DJB money laundering case: Delhi court issues notice to ED on bail plea of accused person

The Rouse Avenue court today issued notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on a bail plea moved by CA Tejinder Pal Singh, accused in the Delhi Jal Board money laundering case. Special judge Bhupinder Singh issued notice to ED on the bail application of Tejinder Pal Singh and directed him to file a reply. The matter has been listed on April 8 for a hearing. The probe agency filed a charge sheet against four people.

2:40 PM

Only 12 women candidates in fray in Sikkim Assembly polls

Though they constitute nearly 50 per cent of the voters but there are only 12 women candidates out of 146 nominees in the fray for the Sikkim Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Himalayan state, news agency PTI reported today.

2:34 PM

India to stop importing urea by end of 2025: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya

India will by the end of 2025 stop importing urea as a massive push for domestic manufacturing has helped bridge the gap between supply and demand, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated today.

2:13 PM

Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case: SC grants bail to activist Shoma Kanti Sen

The top court has directed that Shoma Kanti Sen shall keep the GPS of her mobile phone active round the clock during bail period. 

1:19 PM

ED has seized assets worth more than Rs 1 trillion in 10 years, says PM Modi

Probe agency Enforcement Directorate alone has seized assets worth more than Rs 1 trillion in ten years, PM Modi said at an election rally in Rajasthan's Churu. 

1:13 PM

SC stays Allahabad HC order that declared UP Madarsa Education Act 'unconstitutional'

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Allahabad High Court order that declared UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 'unconstitutional'.

12:56 PM

EC issues notice to AAP leader Atishi over statement on BJP's 'poaching' bid

The Election Commission of India today issued a show-cause notice to Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi, asking her to back with facts her statement that the BJP approached her to join the party. The saffron party moved the commission earlier against her claim that the party reached out to her through someone close and asked her to join it.

12:11 PM

News update: Congress to abolish contractualisation of regular jobs in govt

The promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls released on Friday include a right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs are among others. The manifesto, titled ‘Nyay Patra', was released at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

12:03 PM

Congress to abolish application fees for government examinations and government posts

12:00 PM

India tops list of doping offenders in 2022: WADA anti-doping report

India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The report revealed that out of 4,064 samples collected from Indian athletes (including urine, blood, and athlete biological passports), 127 individuals tested positive for banned substances, constituting 3.26 per cent of the sample size.

11:57 AM

Will bring a law to recognize civil unions between LGBTQIA+ couples: Congress

11:45 AM

Congress releases manifesto for Lok Sabha polls 2024

The Grand Old Party's election manifesto focuses on unemployment and promises socio economic caste census.

11:32 AM

News update: Collection of postal votes for 85-year-olds carried out in Tamil Nadu's Erode

Officials are carrying out collection of postal votes for 85-year-olds and differently-abled persons in Tamil Nadu's Erode parliamentary constituency. Polling on Erode seat for Lok Sabha polls is set to be held in the first phase on April 19.

11:08 AM

Our place has been taken by BJP: Congress leader Harish Rawat

"Unless we develop the hunger for power within ourselves, our place has been taken by BJP, at every level. It is not a matter of national level or provincial level, even at the village level, even at the locality level, their party workers have taken our place, unless we oust them from that place unless we remove them, how will we be able to be the leaders of our locality?," Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat said.

11:06 AM

Will meet you soon outside: AAP leader Sisodia in letter from Tihar Jail

AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter from Tihar Jail to the people of his assembly constituency, comparing his plight with the atrocities committed by the Britishers against freedom fighters. The former deputy chief minister, who has been arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case, also expressed hope that he will be out of jail soon.

11:05 AM

AAP's Sanjay Singh alleges conspiracy against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

AAP leader Sanjay Singh stated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) forced Manugunta Reddy and his son into providing false statements against CM Arvind Kejriwal. He pointed out that their six statements have been deemed unreliable documents.