LIVE: Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot ends the daylong fast

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10:58 PM

"XBB1.16 variant able to evade immune system, upcoming four weeks crucial," warn Experts

7:51 PM

TMC to appeal to EC to reconsider withdrawal of national status

Before it explores legal options against the withdrawal of its national party status, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will file a formal appeal with the Election Commission to review its decision, its leaders said Tuesday. The Election Commission on Monday withdrew the national party status of the TMC, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

7:39 PM

IMF trims India's growth forecast to 5.9% for current fiscal year

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday that it expects India's economy to grow 5.9% in the current fiscal year though it warned that turmoil in the financial system will hurt global growth.

In its World Economic Outlook, the IMF forecast global real GDP growth at 2.8% for 2023 and 3% for 2024, marking a sharp slowdown from 3.4% growth in 2022 due to tighter monetary policies.

6:46 PM

Nitish Kumar leaves for Delhi, may meet non-BJP leaders

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left for Delhi on Tuesday amid speculation that the JD(U) supremo will meet leaders of non-BJP parties in a bid to forge an alliance to take on the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to party insiders, Kumar is likely to meet RJD boss Lalu Prasad and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

5:47 PM

Indian, Sri Lanka Navy participates in maritime operations

Indian Navy Ships INS Kiltan and INS Savitri participated in multifaceted maritime operations with Sri Lanka Navy Ships SLNS Samudura and SLNS Vijayabahu from April 6-8, said Indian Navy.

 

The highlights included tactical manoeuvres, helicopter operations, Maritime Interdiction Ops, Joint Special Forces operations, gunnery firing exercises, and a Search & Rescue exercise.

5:47 PM

Indian, Sri Lanka Navy participates in maritime operations

Indian Navy Ships INS Kiltan and INS Savitri participated in multifaceted maritime operations with Sri Lanka Navy Ships SLNS Samudura and SLNS Vijayabahu from April 6-8, said Indian Navy.

 

The highlights included tactical manoeuvres, helicopter operations, Maritime Interdiction Ops, Joint Special Forces operations, gunnery firing exercises, and a Search & Rescue exercise.

5:33 PM

HDFC Bank says it will raise $6 billion in debt over next one year

Indian private lender HDFC Bank Ltd said on Tuesday it would consider raising debt of 500 billion rupees (about $6 billion) over the next one year. The bank will discuss the fund raise at its board meeting on Saturday, when it is also due to report earnings for the January-March quarter.

4:51 PM

New data protection bill to be introduced in Monsoon session of Parliament: Centre tells SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday a new data protection bill is ready and will be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament in July, as the apex court heard a matter related to privacy concerns of social media users. Attorney General R Venkataramani told a Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph the bill will address all the concerns raised in the present petitions.

4:50 PM

Khalsa is uniting and not dividing, says Indian Ambassador to US

Khalsa, was created on Baisakhi day, by Guru Gobind Singh for uniting & not dividing...The Khalsa flag which flies over Akal Takht and Nishan Sahibs is a flag of unity, peace and universal love, don't insult the flag. Sikhism is a religion of inclusion, brotherhood: Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to US

 

4:03 PM

BJP will win 12 of 14 LS seats in Assam and return to power: Shah in Dibrugarh

"BJP will win 12 out of 14 seats in Assam in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister for the third time with more than 300 seats," says Union Minister Amit Shah at the foundation stone laying ceremony for BJP Dibrugarh office.

3:16 PM

India to see 'normal' monsoon rainfall despite El Nino conditions: IMD

In a relief for the agriculture sector, India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. The IMD prediction comes just a day after a private forecasting agency, Skymet Weather, predicted "below-normal" monsoon rains in the country.

2:13 PM

TMC's Luizinho Faleiro quits as Rajya Sabha MP

Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has tendered his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament, party sources said on Tuesday. Long being sidelined from the party affairs in Goa, Faleiro was being nudged by the TMC leadership to resign from the Rajya Sabha.

12:43 PM

Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet sent to Dibrugarh prison

Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was on Tuesday sent to a prison in Assam's Dibrugarh, police said. Papalpreet Singh, who is considered to be Amritpal's mentor, was nabbed in Amritsar district on Monday and detained under the National Security Act.

12:07 PM

VD Savarkar's birth anniversary to be celebrated as 'Swatantraveer Gaurav Din'

The birth anniversary of VD Savarkar on 28th May will be celebrated as "Swatantraveer Gaurav Din" by the Maharashtra govt. Govt to organise several events to spread & propagate Savarkar's thoughts: CM Eknath Shinde

 

11:39 AM

TN govt issues notification to ban, regulate online gaming in state

Tamil Nadu government issues gazette notification on the bill to ban online gaming and regulate online gaming in the state. Governor RN Ravi granted his assent to the bill yesterday.

11:25 AM

Sachin Pilot begins fast for action against corruption during BJP government

Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot at Shaheed Samark in Jaipur begins his daylong fast calling for action on alleged corruption during the previous BJP government in the state.

11:05 AM

Cong will join hands with all like-minded political parties to defend Constitution: Sonia Gandhi

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said with the Narendra Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states, her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution.

In an Op-Ed in "The Hindu", Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy.

10:51 AM

Karnataka Cong chief alleges JD(S) candidate Narayanaswamy intimidating voters in Gandhinagar constituency

A complaint has been lodged by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Legal Cell with Election Commission alleging that JD(S) candidate, V Narayanaswamy of Gandhinagar assembly constituency is collecting voter cards of locals & intimidating voters in the constituency.

9:55 AM

Arvind Kejriwal to address AAP workers today

9:50 AM

PM Modi pays homage to social reformer Jyotirao Phule

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to noted social reformer Jyotirao Phule, recalling his towering contribution to social justice and empowering the downtrodden.

The 19th century reformer, who came from a backward caste, worked tirelessly for the empowerment of deprived communities and was joined by his illustrious wife Savitribai Phule in the cause, especially promoting education among women.

9:22 AM

Make globalization more transparent: FM Sitharaman in US

India is not seeking to reverse the benefits of globalization, but is asking that it be made more transparent, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Monday.

"It's not to say that we have to reverse the benefits of globalization. It is more to say, make globalization more transparent," Sitharaman told a prominent American think-tank Peterson Institute for International Economics in response to a question.

9:15 AM

EAM Jaishankar launches 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' in Uganda

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda's Kampala.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Uganda, appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

"Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures. The conservation of Varanasi's heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications," he said.
 

9:02 AM

India demands global condemnation of Pakistani drone delivery of weapons to terrorists

New Delhi has called for international condemnation of Pakistan sending weapons across the international border to terrorists operating in India.

"We are facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons using drones, which cannot be possible without active support from the authorities in control of those territories," India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj told the Security Council on Monday.

8:28 AM

Free Trade Agreement negotiations are going on with United Kingdom, EU and Canada: Nirmala Sitharaman

8:27 AM

China military says it's 'ready to fight' after drills near Taiwan

China's military declared Monday it is "ready to fight" after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese president's trip to the US last week.

 

The "combat readiness patrols" named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier.

 

"The theater's troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts," it said Monday.

8:27 AM

India will be third largest economy by 2027-28, says Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday while addressing the Indian diaspora community in France said that India will become the third-largest economy by 2027.

 

"Now we are the 5th largest economy. By 2027-28, we will be the third-largest economy in the world. India is a 3.5 trillion-dollar economy today and will become a 30-35 dollar trillion economy by 2047 when we celebrate 100 years of independence," said Goyal.

 

The Minister said that exports were USD 676 billion last year. "We had a target to reflect the sentiment of young and enthusiastic Indians. In the 75th Year of Independence, we crossed USD 750 billion in exports," he said.

8:26 AM

Sachin Pilot firm on holding fast against graft, Cong says it would amount to anti-party activity

PTI sources close to Pilot said both he and Randhawa spoke over the phone but the AICC in-charge of the state had not asked the former deputy chief minister to call off the fast.

They said his fight is against graft under the Vasundhara Raje regime and not targeted at anyone else.

 

The PTI sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting on the Adani issue of alleged corruption, likewise Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable.

 

PTI sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a "maun vrat" and not speak against the government

 

8:24 AM

Muslims in India doing better, Sitharaman rebuts Western 'perception'