LIVE: ED gets Manish Sisodia's remand till March 17 in excise policy case

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

12:01 PM

India reports 440 new Covid cases, one death; active tally rises to 3,294

India recorded 440 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,294, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

 

The death toll stands at 5,30,779 with one death reported by Rajasthan, one by Karnataka and one fatality reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

11:29 AM

I&B Minister Anurag Thakur says NYT 'spreading lies' about India

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday accused The New York Times of "spreading lies" about India, describing an opinion piece published in it on the freedom of press in Kashmir as "mischievous and fictitious".

 

"New York Times had long back dropped all pretensions of neutrality while publishing anything about India. NYT's so-called opinion piece on freedom of press in Kashmir is mischievous and fictitious, published with a sole motive to spread a propaganda about India and its democratic institutions and values," Thakur said on Twitter.

11:14 AM

Expansion in both permanent, non-permanent categories of membership in UNSC absolutely essential: India

India has said the expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council is "absolutely essential to ensure that voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions find their due place at the world body's top organ.

 

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, also said the expansion of both categories is the only way to bring Security Council's decision-making dynamics in line with contemporary geo-political realities.

11:06 AM

Over 300 people on Texas-Mexico cruise ship fall ill: CDC

More than 300 people fell ill while on board a cruise ship from Texas to Mexico, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

 

At least 284 of the 2,881 passengers and 34 of the 1,159 crew members fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea aboard the Princess Cruises ship between February 26 and March 5, Xinhua news agency quoted the CDC as saying.

10:51 AM

Assam: Opposition members disrupt Guv speech over Maha MLA's 'dog meat eating' remark

Opposition legislators on Friday disrupted Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's speech in the assembly over a Maharashtra MLA's remarks about purported dog meat eating habits of people of the northeastern state.

 

Kataria had to restrict his speech to 15 minutes on the first day of the budget session, as the opposition MLAs stood up and shouted slogans, seeking to know what action has been taken against the legislator.

10:36 AM

Women to be given 7.5% interest rate under Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme: PM Modi

Women will be given a 7.5% interest rate under Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme. PM Awas Yojana has also empowered women who are homemakers. This budget has the vision of building unicorns in Self Help Groups: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

10:26 AM

ED conducts searches at multiple locations in Delhi, Bihar in alleged land for jobs scam

Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches at multiple locations in Delhi and Bihar, in connection with alleged land for job scam: Sources

 

Recently, CBI questioned RJD chief Lalu Yadav in the  case in Delhi

 

 

10:25 AM

India moving forward with the vision of women-led development: PM Modi

In the last 9 years, India is moving forward with the vision of women-led development and taking it to the global stage. Women-led development is one of the significant topics at the G20 summit: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

 

 

10:25 AM

Women's involvement in every field has increased, says PM Modi

Women's involvement in every field has increased in  country. Many fields are showcasing the power, decision-making ability of women. Nari Shakti is playing crucial role in increasing speed & scale of India's progress: PM Narendra Modi at post-budget webinar on women empowerment

 

10:19 AM

Mamata Banerjee urges Centre to allow poppy cultivation in West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the Centre to allow poppy cultivation in the state, insisting that delicacies prepared with its seeds are integral to the Bengali cuisine.

 

Banerjee said 'posto' or poppy seeds are costly as it is cultivated only in a few states.

10:01 AM

Australia wants to cooperate with India to build relationship in culture, economic relations: PM Albanese

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said that Australia wants to cooperate with India and build a relationship in culture, and economic relations as well as in the area of security.

 

Addressing a press conference after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan here this morning, the Australian PM thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a very warm welcome in India and said that the two countries are partners and building that partnership even stronger each and every day.

9:39 AM

Trump may be charged in connection with hush money paid to adult film star

Throwing a huge question mark over the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump may be criminally charged in connection with hush money he allegedly paid to silence Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, who said she had an affair with him, according to news reports.

 

A city prosecutor has "signalled" Trump's lawyers that he could face criminal charges in the 2016 incident, The New York Times reported on Thursday evening citing unnamed sources.

9:26 AM

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway important project, will contribute to Karnataka's growth: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was an important connectivity project that will contribute to Karnataka's growth trajectory.

The expressway is set for inauguration soon. Modi tagged a tweet by Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari who said the construction of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which encompasses a portion of NH-275, entails the development of four rail overbridges, nine significant bridges, 40 minor bridges, and 89 underpasses and overpasses.

9:17 AM

China's Parliament endorses Xi's leadership for rare 3rd five-year term

China's Parliament on Friday unanimously endorsed an unprecedented third five-year term for President Xi Jinping.

 

Xi, 69, was re-elected by the once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as its leader in October last year, becoming the first Chinese leader after the party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond the two five-year terms.

9:05 AM

Indo-American Vedant Patel to serve as US State Dept's interim spokesperson

Indian American Vedant Patel will be serving as the interim spokesperson of the US State Department, as Ned Price is going to step down this month.

 

According to the announcement made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Patel will take over the position of interim spokesperson.