Live: Russia extends military drills; West worries invasion imminent

Live news updates: India on Sunday advised its citizens 'whose stay is not deemed essential' to leave Ukraine temporarily.

9:32 PM

Centre's week-long celebrations on S&T achievements begin Tuesday

India's achievements in the field of science and technology and participation in futuristic mega science projects will be the highlight during week-long celebrations beginning Tuesday.

 

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh will launch the commemoration, titled 'Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate', which will be held simultaneously at 75 locations across the country to bring to the fore stories of scientists responsible for the country's strides in the sector.

 

The event, part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, would display the country's scientific legacy and technology prowess that has helped find solutions to defence, space, health, agriculture, astronomy, and other sectors, an official statement said.

 

A science and technology mega expo, National Science Book Fair will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the national capital.

9:24 PM

Karnataka sees 1,001 Covid cases, 18 deaths

COVID-19 cases in Karnataka declined from 1,137 cases on Saturday to 1,001 cases on Sunday while 18 deaths took place today. These took the total infected and fatalities till date to 39,36,586 and 39,795, said the State Health Department.

 

A bulletin said 1,780 people were discharged. The total recoveries were 38,84,120 so far.

 

Active cases stood at 12,634. Bengaluru urban district reported 485 infections and 12 deaths. Other districts too had fresh cases: 93 in Tumakuru, 51 in Belagavi, 48 in Mysuru, 46 in Ballari and 42 in Kodagu.

8:38 PM

US convinced Putin has mind made up on Ukraine: Kamala Harris

US intelligence on Russia’s intentions toward Ukraine and a potential invasion within days is solid, Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Sunday. “Putin has made his decision. Period,” Harris said as she prepared to return to the U.S. from two days of high-level meetings at the Munich Security Conference. She was speaking before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s interview to CNN.

8:17 PM

USA will use every opportunity for diplomacy to dissuade Putin, says Blinken

Until the tanks are actually rolling, we will use every opportunity to see if diplomacy can dissuade Russia’s Putin from invading Ukraine: USA’s Antony Blinken.

8:02 PM

Russia on the brink of an invasion of Ukraine: Blinken

Everything that we are seeing suggests that we are on the brink of an invasion of Ukraine: USA’s Antony Blinken

 

7:46 PM

Russia extends troop drills near Ukraine as violence spikes

Russia extended military drills near Ukraine's northern borders Sunday amid increased fears that two days of sustained shelling along the contact line between soldiers and Russa-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine could spark an invasion.

 

The exercises, originally set to end Sunday, brought a sizable contingent of Russian forces to neighbouring Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north. The presence of the Russian troops raised concern that they could be used to sweep down on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

 

The announcement came from the defense minister of Belarus, who said the two countries would continue testing the response forces.

 

Western leaders warned that Russia was poised to attack its neighbour, which is surrounded on three sides by about 150,000 Russian soldiers, warplanes and equipment. Russia held nuclear drills Saturday as well as the conventional exercises in Belarus, and has ongoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea.

7:28 PM

63% voter turnout in Punjab till 5 pm

Sixty-three per cent of over 2.14 crore voters in Punjab turned out on Sunday till 5 p.m. to elect 117 members of the Assembly amid minor skirmishes and snags in EVMs, officials said.

 

"The voter turnout was 63 per cent with chances of the final figures likely to increase over 70 per cent. Rural areas saw high percentage of polling compared to urban ones," an electoral officer told IANS. The Malwa region, which has the highest number of 69 seats, saw the highest poll percentage compared to Doaba and Majha regions.

 

Except some incidents of minor clashes, no major poll-related violence has been reported in the state so far. Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders in the fray. The polling will be conducted till 6 p.m. and the counting of ballots will take place on March 10.

7:09 PM

Pakistan govt considers borrowing people's gold

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is considering a proposal to borrow gold biscuits and bars from the people to increase foreign exchange reserves that are dipping despite the country taking $5 billion loans in the past three months from bilateral and multilateral creditors, PTI reported citing local media report.

6:47 PM

Delhi logs 570 new cases of Covid-19

Delhi recorded 570 new cases of Covid-19 and four deaths from the disease, said the state government on Sunday. Positivity rate is at 1.04 per cent, referring to the number of tests that turn out positive for the disease.

5:34 PM

British Queen tests positive for Covid-19

Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms. The palace said Sunday that the 95-year-old British monarch will continue with light duties. The queen has received three jabs of coronavirus vaccine, the AP reported.

4:40 PM

India advises all citizens leave Ukraine temporarily

India advises all citizens "whose stay is not deemed essential" to leave Ukraine temporarily amid fear of Russian invasion. The advisory come from the Indian embassy in Kyiv.

3:48 PM

SP used fear to retain power: PM Modi

"People of Hardoi have seen those days when these people had given a free hand to those using 'katta' (illegal gun) and those in 'satta' (power)," Prime Minister Narendra Modi says at election rally, alluding to the time when the Samajwadi Party governed Uttar Pradesh.

3:41 PM

Indian delegation to visit Pakistan in March for talks on river water sharing

A 10-member Indian delegation will visit Pakistan March 1-3 for the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission, the Jal Shakti Ministry said on Sunday. n a first since the signing of the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries, three female officers will also be part of the Indian delegation, which will be advising the Indian Commissioner on various issues during the meeting, the official said. The agenda for the meeting is being finalised between the two countries, officials told PTI.

3:11 PM

Opposition parties will get befitting reply on March 10: Modi

Political parties who used to stop our festivals for appeasement politics will get people's response in votes on March 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tells election rally in Hardoi, referring to day votes will be counted after elections in five states.

3:08 PM

Some political parties sympathetic to terrorists: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at an election rally in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh. He refers to the 2008 serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, says some political parties are sympathetic to "such terrorists". A court in Ahmedabad on Friday gave the death sentence to 38 convicts for their roles in the blasts.

2:43 PM

UP, Punjab voter turnout update

2:09 PM

Actor Sonu Sood asked to stay indoors in Moga constitutency

The Indian Express reports the authorities have asked actor Sonu Sood asked to stay indoors in Punjab’s Moga, where his sister Malvika is a candidate, after the Akali Dal complained that he was roaming across booths and trying to influence voters. “A flying squad team has been deputed outside Sood’s house,” returning officer Satwant Singh told the newspaper.

2:04 PM

Election will re remove BJP from UP: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking to reporters in Saifai at Etawah, said the BJP government in UP will be voted out.  “People are unhappy with the BJP and this time, the elections are about removing them from Uttar Pradesh. They (BJP) are anxious that people are angry with them, and hence, their language and behaviour have changed,” he said.

1:01 PM

Punjab polls: Deputy CM Randhawa visits Gurudrawa, prays for success of party

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa casts his vote at a polling booth in the Dera Baba Nanak area of Gurdaspur on Sunday.

After voting he said, "I have come to vote after paying a visit to Gurudrawa. I pray that the voting is carried out peacefully and we (Congress) achieve success. The atmosphere has been really nice so far," said Randhawa while talking to media.

Voting for 117 constituencies in Punjab is underway amid tight security.

In Punjab, over 2.14 crore voters will decide the fate of 1304 candidates who are in the fray from 117 constituencies.

There are 2,14,99,804 voters in Punjab who are eligible to exercise their franchise on Sunday. He said that there are 1304 candidates--1209 male, 93 women and two transgenders are in the fray in 117 constituencies spread across 23 districts of the state.

The state is witnessing a multi-corner contest this time with Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress party as key players.

The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

12:56 PM

Over 21% voter turnout in first four hours of voting in Uttar Pradesh

An average 21.18 per cent voting was recorded in the first four hours of polling in 59 Assembly constituencies spread across 16 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

According to the data shared by the Election Commission, the average polling percentage till 11 am was 22.67 per cent in Hathras, 24.32 per cent in Firozabad, 22.54 per cent in Kasganj, 24.30 per cent in Etah, 24.46 per cent in Mainpuri, 19.64 per cent in Farrukhabad, 22 per cent in Kannauj, 19.84 per cent in Etawah, 18.53 per cent in Auraiya, 19.86 per cent in Kanpur Dehat, 16.79 per cent in Kanpur Nagar, 21.66 per cent in Jalaun, 19.11 per cent in Jhansi, 25.80 per cent in Lalitpur, 23.30 per cent in Hamirpur and 23.50 per cent in Mahoba.

As many as 627 candidates are in the fray in this phase, in which over 2.15 crore people are eligible to vote.

The districts where polling is being held are Hathras, Firozabad, Etah, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur and Mahoba.

The Karhal assembly seat, from where Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is contesting, is also going to the polls in this phase. The BJP has fielded Union minister S P Singh Baghel from the seat.

Sunday's polling will also seal the fate of the Samajwadi Party chief's uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who is contesting from his traditional Jaswantnagar seat.

Among the prominent political leaders who cast their votes on Sunday are Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav, Ramgopal Yadav, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and UP minister Satish Mahana.

12:40 PM

People will have to vote carefully to bring change in Punjab, says Sidhu

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Friday that the voters will have to vote carefully to bring change in Punjab as the state has lost one generation to terrorism and the other to drugs.

He said this while interacting with media in Amritsar.

"We have lost one generation to terrorism and another to drugs. Now, people will have to vote carefully to bring about a change in Punjab," said Sidhu while talking to the media.

Sidhu remarked that in the elections, on one side is the 'mafias' of families of Captain Amarinder Singh and Prakash Singh Badal who 'licked Punjab like termites' for their personal interests and on the other side are people who love the state and want to change the system.

"People will vote in large numbers to bring about change," he added.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is facing SAD's Bikram Singh Majithia, AAP's Jeevanjyot Kaur and BJP's Jagmohan Singh Raju in Amritsar (East).

 

12:31 PM

Akhilesh slams BJP govt over deteriorating law and order in UP

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday slammed the BJP government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

After casting his vote at a polling booth in Saifai, the SP chief, citing the incident where a woman constable was kidnapped and found dead in the drain, alleged that women were most unsafe in Uttar Pradesh.

"A businessman's son was kidnapped in Agra and killed days later. Was the UP CM sleeping? Will he be able to fix responsibility and punish the culprit? He could not even join the expressway in Gorakhpur. Baba CM does not want to do or see any good," said Akhilesh, targetting Yogi Adityanath.

Yadav further slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for sharing fake pictures for showing development in the state.

"The strictest action should be taken against any terrorist. Making allegations by BJP before elections, BJP runs on strategy. Baba Chief Minister had come to Etawah, he had shown a fake picture. When the development was to show in Uttar Pradesh, who brought it by stealing China's photo," the SP chief said after voting in Jaswantnagar.

"Baba remained Chief Minister for 5 years. Why did you not give the facility to your medical college that PGI has? Who is responsible? The development of Saifai is not for a day. Baba CM doesn't have to do any work, don't have to see any good work," he added.

He further said that BJP will be eliminated from Uttar Pradesh and claimed that SP will hit a century in the first two phases.

"BJP going to be eliminated. Farmers of Uttar Pradesh won't forgive them. We have hit a century in the first two phases and even in this phase SP and alliance would be ahead of everyone else," said Yadav.

He further urged people to vote historically in the third phase too.

"The higher the vote, the stronger the democracy. Vote historically in the third phase too!" tweeted SP President after he cast his vote.

12:29 PM

From Mandap to polling booth: Newly-wed bride casts vote in UP's Firozabad

After her marriage last night, a newly-married woman cast her vote in her wedding attire at the Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Julie is a resident of the Hanumangarh area in the Firozabad district. She cast her vote at polling booth number 305 at Hanumangarh Laxmi Convent School in the Firozabad assembly. She was accompanied by her husband, Kapil, who had also come in his wedding attire.

The couple got married last night. In the morning, before departing to her in-laws house, Julie chose to exercise her franchise.

In the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh polls, 59 assembly seats across 16 districts are going to the polls on Sunday. As many as 627 candidates are in the fray. Over 2.16 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 25,794 polling places and 15,557 polling stations in the third phase of Assembly elections.

Subsequent phases are taking place on February 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

12:27 PM

Punjab reports 17.77% voter turnout till 11am

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 17.77 per cent at 11 am on Sunday in the ongoing Assembly elections.

According to the Election Commission of India, Sri Muktsar Sahib witnessed the highest voter turnout of 23.34 per cent followed by Fazilka (22.55 per cent) and Malerkotla (22.07 per cent) till 11 am.

Pathankot recorded the lowest percentage of voter turnout of 12.44 per cent. Further, while Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar saw 13.15 per cent voter turnout.

Jalandhar reported 14.30 per cent voter turnout, Ludhiana recorded 15.58 per cent while Moga registered 16.29 per cent polling.

Meanwhile, Hoshiarpur recorded 18.88 per cent while Kapurthala recorded 16.03 per cent. Mansa recorded 19.75 per cent. Moga recorded 16.29 per cent.

Assembly polls for electing 117 assembly seats in Punjab will be held on February 20. The results will be declared on March 10.

In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats, ousting the SAD-BJP government, which had been in power for 10 years.

12:17 PM

Two sitting corporators of Lucknow Municipal Corporation in UP poll battle

In the poll fray from the state capital, two sitting corporators of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and an ex corporator exude confidence that they have an edge over other candidates as they are armed with a better understanding of the ground situation and problems facing locals.

Among the sitting corporators of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, BJP's Rajneesh Gupta is contesting from Lucknow Central.

Gupta is a four-time corporator from Yahiyganj ward in the state capital.

Mamta Chaudhary, who is contesting the assembly election from Mohanlalgnj assembly constituency on a Congress ticket, is a corporator of Malviya Nagar ward.

Former corporator from Motilal Nehru Nagar Charanjeet Gandhi is in the poll fray from Lucknow Cantonment seat on a SP ticket. His wife is currently the corporator from Motilal Nehru ward.

Speaking to PTI, Chaudhary said, "If a corporator becomes an MLA, he/she knows the ground situation of the locality and the entire neighbourhood, and can hence solve the problems of the people."

"The biggest problem in Mohanlalganj is that none of the previous state governments had built a women's degree college. As a result of this, the education of girls has suffered. This is despite the fact that the local MP from Mohanlalganj is from the BJP," she said.

11:45 AM

Mayawati urges UP voters to oust ruling party for false promises on jobs

As the third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh is underway, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati urged the people to vote out the ruling party for giving false promises of providing them employment.

In a series of Tweets, BSP chief said that to get rid of all kinds of false promises of the BJP, it is necessary that the ruling party should be changed.

In another tweet, she said, "ruling party's wrong policies which made the poor people more poorer, should not be trusted anymore and that BSP should be trusted."

Mayawati added, "the biggest failure of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is not being able to provide employment to the people. In fact, the employment opportunities that were there were also snatched away from the people"

She added, "the biggest responsibility of the government in current time is to give livelihood opportunities to the people."

Polling in 59 constituencies for the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections began at 7 am on Sunday.

 

11:31 AM

Punjab polls: 4.8% voting till 9am, Fatehgarh Sahib tops with 6.94% turnout

An average voter turnout of 4.80 per cent was recorded till 9 am in Punjab on Sunday.

Voting for 117 Assembly seats in the state was underway amid tight security arrangements.

Polling started at 8 am and will continue till 6 pm.

A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, are in the fray for the high-stake electoral contest.

Counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Among many places, Amritsar recorded a voter turnout of 4.14 per cent till 9 am, Barnala 6.70 per cent, Fatehgarh Sahib 6.94 percent, Fazilka 6.61 per cent, Malerkotla 8.01 per cent and Muktsar 6.21 per cent.

Queues of voters could be seen at the polling stations in the morning. Many youngsters were exercising their franchise for the first time.

11:18 AM

Phase-3 clearly shows Akhilesh Yadav will become CM: Shivpal Singh Yadav

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) (Lohiya) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav on Sunday said that the third phase of the state assembly elections has made it clear that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will become the chief minister.

Yadav was interacting with the media after casting his vote in Etawah district on Sunday.

He said that the Samajwadi Party and its allies will form a government with an overwhelming majority.

Yadav's party, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) is an ally of the Samajwadi Party in the elections.

In the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh polls, 59 assembly seats across 16 districts are going to the polls on Sunday. As many as 627 candidates are in the fray. Over 2.16 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 25,794 polling places and 15,557 polling stations in the third phase of Assembly elections.

Subsequent phases are taking place on February 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

10:56 AM

Punjab polls: Priyanka urges people to vote in large numbers for 'honour of Punjabiyat'

As the Assembly elections in Punjab are underway, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday urged the people of the state to vote in "large numbers" for the "honour of Punjabiyat".

Polling in the single-phased assembly polls is underway on 117 seats of Punjab.

"For Punjab, for the honour of Punjabiyat, vote in large numbers," read Priyanka's tweet roughly translated from Hindi.

The Congress leader further said that each vote cast for "peace, security and prosperity" will be important for the betterment of Punjab.

"Sisters and brothers of Punjab, stability and development complement each other. Every vote given for peace, security and prosperity will play an important role in the betterment of Punjab with new thinking," she said.

Voting for 117 constituencies for Punjab Assembly elections began at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security.

In Punjab, over 2.14 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,304 candidates who are in the fray from 117 constituencies.

The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

10:51 AM

Voters will give befitting reply to those dreaming of dividing Punjab: Sunil Jakhar of Cong

Congress leader Sunil Jakhar on Sunday said that the people of Punjab will give a befitting reply to those dreaming of dividing the state.

He exercised his franchise at polling booth number 126-128 in Panjkosi, Assembly constituency Abohar, district Fazilka.

"I am confident that the voters of Punjab will give a befitting reply to those dreaming of dividing and ruling in Punjab," Jakhar told ANI.

Voting for 117 constituencies for Punjab Assembly elections began at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security.

In Punjab, over 2.14 crore voters will decide the fate of 1304 candidates who are in the fray from 117 constituencies.

There are 2,14,99,804 voters in Punjab who are eligible to exercise their franchise on Sunday. He said that there are 1304 candidates--1209 male, 93 women and two transgenders are in the fray in 117 constituencies spread across 23 districts of the state.

The state is witnessing a multi-corner contest this time with Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress party as key players.

The counting of votes will be done on March 10.