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9:18 PM

New Zealand PM, several foreign ministers to participate in Raisina Dialogue

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, foreign ministers of at least 18 countries, top executives of several global firms and foreign policy experts will converge in the national capital next week for the annual Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Luxon are scheduled to jointly inaugurate the 10th edition of the conclave to be held from March 17 to 19.

 

In a first, a delegation including a senior security official from Taiwan is expected to participate in the deliberations, reflecting growing cooperation between the two sides in the last few years, people familiar with the matter said.

 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will be among the high-profile foreign dignitaries to speak at the conference, officials said. His visit to India comes as the US is stepping up efforts towards a temporary ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict.

 

Foreign ministers of Slovania, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Moldova, Georgia, Sweden, Slovak Republic, Bhutan, Maldives, Norway, Thailand, Antigua and Barbuda, Peru, Ghana, Hungary and Mauritius will also attend the conference.

7:10 PM

Low-key Holi celebrated by the majority Meitei community in violence-hit Manipur

The Holi festival, celebrated on Friday by the majority Meitei community in violence-hit Manipur, was low-key for the second year in a row.

One of the biggest festivals of the community, Holi or Yaosang is held for five days in the northeastern state and it officially commenced on Friday evening with the burning of straw huts built at Shri Govindaji temple complex in Palace Compound and at a few other localities.

 

Like the previous year, the event has been restricted to religious activities associated with the festival and community sports events.

 

No entertainment programmes such as the nightly cultural dance would be held, according to organisers.

 

Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, rendering at least 250 people dead and thousands homeless.

6:07 PM

Friday prayers conclude in Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid amid tight security

Friday prayers concluded peacefully in Sambhal's Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid amid tight security, an official said.

 

Ulemas and mutawallis had fixed the time for 'Jumma Namaz', extending it by about an hour to 2:30 pm, because of Holi.

 

District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said both Holi and the Namaz concluded peacefully.

 

He said tight security arrangements were made in view of Holi and the Friday prayers. Personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Provincial Armed Constabulary and the local police remained fully alert. Surveillance was also conducted through drones.

4:48 PM

No decision taken yet on closing new universities: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday told the Legislative Assembly that a decision will be taken on the closure or continuation of new universities established in the state, during the previous BJP government, based on the findings of the cabinet sub-committee.

 

He said Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar headed cabinet sub-committee tasked with reviewing the status of public universities in the state, is yet to submit its report to the government.

 

The chief minister said this in the Assembly when BJP MLA and former Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan sought discussion on the issue under an adjournment motion.

 

"We are not closing...seven new universities that were opened by them (BJP). We will not close any university. Whether to continue them or not a cabinet sub-committee has been formed headed by the Deputy Chief Minister. They have not yet given the report," Siddaramaiah said.

4:31 PM

Ordnance factory employee nabbed by UP ATS for spying for Pak's ISI

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an employee of an ordnance factory in Ferozabad for allegedly sharing confidential and sensitive information to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, after falling into a honey trap, a senior officer said on Friday afternoon.

 

The accused has been identified as Ravindra Kumar.

 

According to Additional Director General (ADG) UP ATS Nilabja Choudhary, the accused, working at the Ordnance Factory in Hazratpur, district Firozabad, was called to ATS headquarters in Lucknow and arrested following a detailed interrogation.

 

The official further added that the accused, Kumar, passed the sensitive defence-related documents to a woman handler identified as 'Neha,' a Pakistani intelligence operative.

2:07 PM

Telangana tunnel collapse: Search ops underway to locate 7 missing persons

The search operation to locate seven persons trapped inside the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel here continued at a rapid pace for the 21st day on Friday. Rescue personnel from state-run miner Singareni Collieries along with rat miners have been carrying out excavation at the points which have been identified as possible sites of the missing persons.

2:05 PM

Marijuana worth Rs 6.2 cr seized in MP's Morena district, one held

At least 30 quintals of ganja worth Rs 6.2 crore smuggled from Odisha were seized from a truck in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, police said on Friday. The vehicle heading to Delhi was intercepted near Savitapur under the Civil Lines police station area on Thursday night, Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurab said.

1:15 PM

Hurriyat chief placed under house arrest, barred from congregational Friday prayers

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was on Friday placed under house arrest and not allowed to offer the congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid here, officials said. Mirwaiz, who is Kashmir's chief cleric, was kept in detention at his residence in Nigeen area of Srinagar, they said. The Hurriyat chief was scheduled to visit Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta locality to offer the congregational prayers. He delivers a speech at the historic mosque on Fridays.

 

12:58 PM

There will be earthquake in NCP (SP), Jayant Patil to join NCP: Sena minister

Satish Bhosale alias Khokya, a close aide of Maharashtra BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, was brought to Beed on Friday morning after his arrest in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, officials said. A team of Beed police that took Bhosale's custody in Uttar Pradesh arrived at the Chhatrapati Sambajinagar airport early in the morning, an official said.

12:40 PM

Goa celebrates Holi, prayers offered to Goddess Mahalaxmi

The coastal state of Goa rejoiced in Holi celebrations on Friday morning, blending tradition with modernity as locals and domestic and international tourists joined the festivities. Azad Maidan, an open space in Panaji city, turned saffron with hundreds of revellers playing the festival of colours. As part of the tradition, Panaji Shigmotsav Committee prays before Goddess Mahalaxmi before starting the celebrations.

12:32 PM

Maharashtra BJP MLA's close aide Bhosale brought to Beed from Uttar Pradesh

Satish Bhosale alias Khokya, a close aide of Maharashtra BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, was brought to Beed on Friday morning after his arrest in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, officials said. A team of Beed police that took Bhosale's custody in Uttar Pradesh arrived at the Chhatrapati Sambajinagar airport early in the morning, an official said. Bhosale was then taken to Beed by road, he said.

11:47 AM

DMK regime presents Budget 2025-26 in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin-led DMK regime on Friday presented its Budget 2025-26 in the Assembly, a full-fledged exercise ahead of the state election next year, and made big allocations for its flagship welfare schemes which include the fare-free bus travel scheme for women. Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Assembly as the main opposition AIADMK walked out after attempting to raise alleged graft in state-run liquor corporation TASMAC as the Enforcement Directorate has held searches related to the state-owned company.

11:23 AM

Centre directs IIM Rohtak Board to suspend or send director on leave

Facing graft allegations, IIM-Rohtak director is set to be either suspended or sent on leave by the institution's board following directions from the government. The director, sources said, has also been asked to stay away from the IIM campus or rented area of IIM Rohtak until further orders. The Union Ministry of Education on Thursday asked the Board of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Rohtak to either suspend institute Director Dheeraj Sharma or send him on leave till the completion of probe against him over alleged misappropriation of funds.

 

10:59 AM

Second judge orders Trump administration to rehire probationary workers let go in mass firings

A judge in Maryland has blocked for now the mass firings of probationary federal workers and ordered thousands of fired probationary workers to be reinstated, marking the second decision of its kind in a day. The order from US District Judge James Bredar came late on Thursday in a lawsuit filed by 19 states and the District of Columbia against multiple federal agencies alleging the mass firings are illegal.

10:44 AM

American Airlines plane catches fire in Denver, passengers evacuated

An American Airlines plane caught fire after landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday, prompting slides to be deployed so passengers could evacuate quickly. Flight 1006, which was headed from the Colorado Springs Airport to Dallas Fort Worth, diverted to Denver and landed safely around 5:15 pm after the crew reported engine vibrations, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.