News Highlights: Landslide reported near Himachal's Manikaran Gurudrawa; 6 dead

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10:48 PM

Myanmar's earthquake death toll jumps to more than 1,000 as more bodies are recovered from rubble

The death toll from a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar jumped to more than 1,000 as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country's second-largest city. The country's military-led government said in a statement that 1,002 people have now been found dead and another 2,376 injured, with 30 others missing.

10:04 PM

India, US may focus on goods sector in first phase of trade agreement

India and the US are likely to focus on goods in the first phase and services in the next tranche under the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), as per a PTI report. Both sides have aimed at concluding the first phase by by fall (September-October) of this year.

9:41 PM

Landslide reported near Himachal's Manikaran Gurudrawa; 6 dead

A landslide triggered by a storm in Himachal's Kullu district on Sunday left six people dead and as many injured after a huge tree fell on several vehicles near Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, officials said. Medical teams, police and revenue officials are present at the spot and coordinating rescue and relief operations, Kullu's Sub Divisional Magistrate Vikas Shukla told reporters at the spot.

9:12 PM

Gudi Padwa celebrated with traditional fervour in Thane; Dy CM Shinde carries palanquin

Thousands of citizens took part in the 'Nav Varsh Swagat Yatra' in Thane to mark Gudi Padwa on Sunday, with the ceremonial palanquin being carried by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde among others.

8:11 PM

Prez to attend closing ceremony of 90th yr of RBI's commemoration on Apr 1

President Droupadi Murmu will visit Mumbai from March 31 to April 1, her office said on Sunday. President Murmu will reach Mumbai on the evening of March 31 and on the next day, she will grace the closing ceremony of the commemoration of the 90th year of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), it said in a statement.

8:02 PM

Andhra CM Naidu launches P4 'poverty eradication' programme

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday launched the poverty eradication' programme - P4-Margadarsi Bangaru Kutumbam'. P4 or Public Private People Partnership aims to uplift underprivileged families with the support of affluent individuals from society.

7:07 PM

Tsunami warning issued after strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits near island country of Tonga

A strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Tonga, prompting a tsunami warning for the Pacific island country. The US Geological Survey said the temblor hit about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the main island in the early morning hours of Monday local time.

6:04 PM

Shah meets NDA leaders at Nitish Kumar's residence

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday discussed the strategy for assembly polls, due later this year, with NDA partners in the state. The meeting was held at 1, Anne Marg, the official residence of the chief minister, who heads the JD(U) and will run for a fifth consecutive term in office in the forthcoming elections.

5:27 PM

Naxalism got encouragement for decades due to Congress' policies: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Naxalism got encouragement for decades in Chhattisgarh and other states due to policies of Congress. Addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district, Modi said the situation is rapidly changing and a new era of peace is setting in Naxal-affected areas.

5:04 PM

Govt to release 2 TMC water from Bhadra dram for standing crops, drinking: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that the government has decided to release 2 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Bhadra reservoir between April 1 and 5 to allow water flow in the Tungabhadra canals for crops and drinking water in Kalyana Karnataka region.

4:53 PM

1 killed, 7 injured as Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derails in Odisha

One person was killed and 7 others injured as an express train derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district, said officials. Eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway Ashok Kumar Mishra said.

4:12 PM

AAP accuses BJP govt of halting 'farishtey' scheme

The AAP accused the BJP-led Delhi government of discontinuing the 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme, which provided free medical treatment to road accident victims in private hospitals.

3:47 PM

Afspa extended to 8 districts of Nagaland for 6 months

Afspa extended to eight districts of Nagaland, 21 police stations areas in five other districts of state for 6 months, said MHA. Afspa extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and 3 police station areas in the state for six months, said MHA.

3:21 PM

Bengaluru-Kamakhya Express derails in Odisha, seven injured

Seven individuals sustained injuries when an express train derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, according to officials. The incident occurred at 11:54 AM near Nirgundi, close to Manguli, when eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express went off the tracks, as per East Coast Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, Ashok Kumar Mishra. Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi confirmed that the injured passengers were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

3:08 PM

Adani Green Energy Ltd operational RE capacity reaches 14,217.9 MW

Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) on Sunday operationalised 480.1MW renewable energy projects at Khavda in Gujarat which took its total operational RE capacity to 14,217.9 MW.

 

According to a filing by the company, AGEL through its various wholly-owned stepdown subsidiaries, commenced power generation from the projects on March 30.

 

With commissioning of these plants, AGEL's total operational renewable generation capacity has increased to 14,217.9 MW.

3:02 PM

SC rejects plea to direct Punjab and Haryana govts to control stubble burning

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea by an activist seeking directions to the Punjab and Haryana governments to take strict measures to control stubble burning, citing that the application does not offer any particulars.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan observed, "Moreover, when this court has passed several orders on the issue of stubble burning and is still seized of the matter, we do not want to encourage different parties to file applications for intervention and directions, only for the sake of it. The application is accordingly rejected."

2:53 PM

Iron ore production rises 4% to 263 MT in Apr-Feb

2:41 PM

Fifty Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district

Fifty Naxalites, including 14 carrying total bounty of Rs 68 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, reported PTI citing police.

2:40 PM

Israel's Netanyahu to visit Hungary April 2 despite ICC warrant: Statement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Hungary on April 2, his office announced on Sunday, defying an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

1:27 PM

PM Narendra Modi visits Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited's ammunition facility in Nagpur.

1:17 PM

USGS says a 5.1 magnitude aftershock has hit 13 miles northwest of Mandalay in Myanmar

12:56 PM

Protesting ASHA workers to cut their hair to intensify agitation in Kerala

The ASHA workers protesting outside the Secretariat here have announced that they will intensify their agitation by staging a 'hair cutting demonstration' on Monday as their stir enters 50th day.

 

As the government has not made any favourable decision, a section of protesters launched an indefinite hunger strike at the protest venue here last week.

 

Mini S, one of the leaders of the protesting ASHA workers, criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday for remaining silent about their agitation and said they would not backtrack from the stir until the government accepts their demands.

 

"The CM is concerned even about animals, birds and other creatures in the wake of the heat wave warning in the state. But, he has not uttered any word on these ASHA workers who have been protesting under scorching sun for the last 50 days," she told reporters here.

 

She said she had cut her hair several times before but it is for the first time that she is doing it as part of a protest.

 

"Not just me, ASHA workers who arrive here from several districts will cut their hair as part of the protest. It will become a significant episode in the agitation," the leader added.

12:42 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveils schemes and projects worth over Rs 800 crore in Bihar

12:06 PM

InterGlobe Aviation faces Rs 944 crore tax penalty

The Income Tax Authority has passed an order imposing a penalty of Rs. 944.20 crore for the Assessment Year 2021-22.

11:56 AM

UAE conducts urgent medical evacuation of 188 injured people, family members from Gaza

The 24th evacuation flight has arrived in the United Arab Emirates at dawn on Friday - in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) - carrying 81 injured people and cancer patients from the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children.

 

The patients departed from Ramon airport in Israel via Karam Abu Salam crossing to receive medical treatment in the country's hospitals, accompanied by approximately 107 family members.

 

The urgent evacuation is in line with the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide medical treatment for 1,000 Palestinian children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip in the UAE's hospitals.

 

Upon the plane's arrival, medical teams initiated the process of transferring the critically wounded and injured patients whose cases required immediate medical attention. The remaining cases and family members were transferred to the Emirates Humanitarian City, where they will be staying.

11:46 AM

Our festivals show unity in diversity in country: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that various festivals being celebrated today and to be observed in the coming days are a pointer to the spirit of unity pervading India's diversity and asked people to continue to strengthen this feeling.

 

Speaking in his monthly Mann ki Baat broadcast, Modi said various states are celebrating their traditional new year on Sunday and many others will be celebrating in the coming days.

 

Other festivals, including Eid, are being celebrated, he said, greeting people on these festivals.

 

He noted that summer vacation in schools will also fall in a few weeks and said the long days of summer are a time for students to develop new hobbies and polish their skills.

 

He urged those offering various activities for students to use the hashtag of "myholidays" and students and parents to share their experiences with "holidaymemories" hashtag.

11:45 AM

Security team of Nepal's ex-king Gyanendra downsized

The Nepal government has downsized the security team deployed for former king Gyanendra Shah, a day after pro-monarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital turned violent.

 

The number of security personnel at the Nirmal Niwas, the private residence of the ex-king, has been reduced from 25 to 16 after Friday's protests, during which protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set vehicles on fire and looted shops.

 

Two persons, including a TV cameraman, were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters, who were demanding the reinstatement of a Hindu monarch.

 

The government has also reshuffled the team of security personnel deployed for the ex-monarch, Home Ministry sources said.

 

The government has also increased vigilance on the activities of the former monarch, the sources said.

11:45 AM

Taiwan receives first long-awaited F-16C/D Block 70 Jets from US

Taiwan on Friday received the first of its long-awaited 66 F-16C/D Block 70 jets from the US during a delivery ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's factory in the US's Greenville, South Carolina, Taipei Times reported on Sunday.

 

According to Taipei Times, Taiwan's Deputy Minister of National Defence Po Horng-huei and Representative to the US Alexander Yui attended the event.

 

US Representative William Timmons also expressed pride in supporting Taiwan's air defence capabilities, sharing a photo of the ceremony on X.

 

"We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan's air defence capabilities," he said, taking to X as quoted by Taipei Times.

 

The F-16C/D Block 70 jets delivered to Taiwan have similar capabilities to those of the F-16Vs after upgrades, as per the Taipei Times. The jets will be assigned to Taiwan's newly formed 7th Tactical Fighter Wing, which will focus on defending the eastern region of the island.

11:37 AM

Ukraine destroys 65 out of 111 Russian-launched drones in overnight attack

Ukrainian air defences destroyed 65 out of 111 drones launched by Russia during an overnight attack, Kyiv's air force said in a statement on Sunday.

It added that another 35 drones were "locationally lost" without causing damage, typically a reference to electronic jamming, but that damage was reported in the Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa and Donetsk regions.

11:31 AM

India deploys specialised HDRA team to earthquake-hit Myanmar under Operation Brahma

As part of India's commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, a specialised rescue team from the 50 (I) Para Brigade was deployed to Myanmar under Operation Brahma on Saturday after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday.

 

A 118-member team comprising medical and communication units air-landed at Naypyitaw International Airport in Myanmar on Saturday. The operation is being led by the Commander of the 50 (I) Para Brigade, according to the Indian Army.

 

Upon arrival, the contingent was welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, alongside the Defence Attache and Naval Attache of Myanmar.

 

Following the unloading of critical supplies and equipment, the team then relocated to a harbour area 45 minutes from the airport.

 

The expansion of the operation began on Sunday morning with the reconnaissance party, consisting of one officer and one Junior Commissioned Officer, inducted into Mandalay, 160 miles north of the current base.