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12:32 PM

Security stepped up outside ED office ahead of march by MPs on Adani issue

The Delhi Police on Wednesday implemented increased security measures outside the Enforcement Directorate's office after leaders of opposition parties called for a protest march from Parliament House to the probe agency's headquarters here, officials said.

A senior police officer said that the adequate security arrangements have been made outside the ED office on Wednesday in view of the protest march.

12:07 PM

Delhi's AQI falls to poor category, maximum temperature at 34 degrees: IMD

The air quality in Delhi slipped to "poor" category on Wednesday while the city's minimum temperature settled at 16.3 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, according to an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin.

Partly cloudy sky is expected during the day and the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 34 degrees Celsius, it forecast.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 202, which falls in the "poor"category.

12:03 PM

No question of apology: Kharge on BJP demand over Rahul's remarks in UK

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said there is no question of an apology over Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the UK and that those demanding so must answer on Prime Minister Narendra Modi "humiliating" the people of the country with his comments abroad.

 

The BJP and several senior ministers have been demanding an apology from Gandhi over his "democracy under attack" remarks in the UK.

 

"I would like to ask a question to the people demanding an apology (from Rahul Gandhi) that (what about) when Modi ji went to five-six countries and humiliated the people of our country and we were told by him that being born in India is a sin," Kharge said.

 

11:44 AM

Delhi court grants bail to Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti & other

Delhi court grants bail to ex-Railway Min Lalu Prasad Yadav, ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi, their daughter-RJD MP Misa Bharti & other accused. Court noted that CBI filed the chargesheet without arrest.

 

Court directed every accused to furnish Rs 50,000 personal bail bond & a like amount surety.

11:15 AM

Leaders of several opposition parties march to ED office on Adani issue

Leaders of several opposition parties on Wednesday decided to take out a protest march from Parliament House to the ED office here and hand over a complaint to the probe agency on the Adani issue.

 

The leaders met in the office of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament House complex to coordinate their joint strategy on the issue.

11:12 AM

Land for job scam case: Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti reach Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi

Land for job scam case: Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti reach Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi

10:55 AM

US recognises McMahon Line as international boundary between China, Arunachal Pradesh

The United States recognises the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh, according to a bipartisan Senate resolution which sees Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

At a time when China continues to pose grave and gathering threats to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, it is critical for the United States to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our strategic partners in the region, especially India, Senator Bill Hagerty, who along with Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a resolution in the Senate, said.

10:38 AM

Rahul Gandhi has returned to Delhi, likely to attend Parliament today: Congress

Rahul Gandhi has returned to Delhi today from abroad. He is likely to attend Parliament today: Congress Sources

10:36 AM

4.7 magnitude earthquake hits China's Hotan

An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 on the Richter scale struck 263 km south-south-east of Hotan, China on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

Hotan is a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region in Western China.

The earthquake occurred at 02:32:21 (UTC+05:30) and hit Hotan, China on Wednesday, at a depth of 17 km, the USGS informed.

10:26 AM

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari gives suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha on Adani row

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Wednesday gave a suspension of business notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, demanding discussion on the Adani Group issue.

The notice submitted by Pramod Tiwari, read, "I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for 15 March 2023".

9:52 AM

Do something, do something big, says US President Joe Biden on gun control

The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.

Do something. Do something big, he implored.

I'm determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.

9:40 AM

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif sees 'more burden' on masses as country scrambles to secure IMF deal

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said he sees "more burden" coming on the already inflation-hit public as Pakistan scrambles to secure the International Monetary Fund's conditions for reviving the stalled USS 1.1 billion loan tranche.

Pakistan's economy is in dire straits. The country is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF).

9:25 AM

West Bengal teachers' recruitment scam: ED arrests TMC's Santanu Banerjee

Trinamool Congress (TMC) youthwing leader Santanu Banerjee was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the teachers' recruitment scam and was produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Kolkata, which remanded him to the ED custody till March 24.

"Santanu Banerjee was acting as a conduit to facilitate the illegal qualification and appointments of primary teachers, Group 'C' & 'D' staff of schools of the government of West Bengal in lieu of money. Banerjee was in cahoots with (another TMC youthwing leader) Kuntal Ghosh, who is presently in judicial custody for the said illegal activities," the ED said in a statement.

9:06 AM

ED arrests four in Andhra govt's 'Siemens Project' money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said that they have arrested four persons in a case related to "diversion and misutilisation of funds worth crores of rupees" of the Andhra Pradesh government disbursed for implementation of the 'Siemens Project'.

Through the 'Siemens Project', the Andhra Pradesh government aimed to provide advanced software and technical skills to the youth.

9:05 AM

MCD to use drones to survey industrial area properties for tax assessment

In a first, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will use drones to survey properties in the city's industrial areas for tax assessment, officials said on Tuesday.

This will help in verifying details submitted by residents of their properties while paying tax, an MCD official said.

The MCD has invited bids to conduct a drone-based survey through an agency for the purpose of tax assessment. The last date to submit a bid is March 16.