5:08 PMGeneral Manoj Pande to receive Param Vishisht Seva Medal from President today
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande to receive Param Vishisht Seva Medal today from President Ram Nath Kovind today
4:50 PMEU pledges nearly $1.6 bn in humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees
The European Union has pledged to increase humanitarian assistance to Syrians up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.58 billion) for 2022 and to allocate an equal amount following year, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday.
On Monday, the sixth European Union's Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region kicked off in Brussels, with the purpose of harnessing international support for Syrians who keep facing dire humanitarian crisis both in Syria and abroad. The core pledging event is taking place on the conference's final day on Tuesday during the EU ministerial meeting.
4:24 PMRupee recovers 12 paise to close at 77.32 against US dollar
Snapping its two-day losing streak, the rupee appreciated 12 paise to end at 77.32 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, supported by a rebound in regional currencies and fall in crude oil prices.
However, weak domestic equities and persistent foreign fund outflows restricted the gains, forex traders said.
At the interbank forex market, the rupee opened strong at 77.27 against the greenback and moved in a range of 77.20 to 77.45 in the day trade. The rupee finally ended at 77.32, 12 paise higher than its previous close.
In the previous session, the rupee had slumped 54 paise to close at a record low of 77.44 against the US dollar.
4:09 PMSri Lanka's Speaker asks President to reconvene Parliament this week
Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker on Tuesday requested embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconvene the House this week to discuss the current situation amid unprecedented violence and widespread protest against the government over the country' worst economic crisis in decades.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardene said he had telephoned President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with his request.
Parliamentary officials said the President will be required to reconvene Parliament ahead of its scheduled date of May 17 as there is no Prime Minister and a government currently.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.
3:54 PMSri Lanka gives emergency powers to military, police after clashes kill 7
Sri Lanka gave emergency powers on Tuesday to its military and police to detain people without warrants, after a day of clashes that killed seven people and injured more than 200, in violence that prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign.
As the Indian Ocean nation battles its worst economic crisis in history, thousands of protesters had defied curfew to attack government figures, setting ablaze homes, shops and businesses belonging to ruling party lawmakers and provincial politicians.
3:41 PMSC seeks Centre's reply on protecting citizens from sedition cases till it re-examines law
The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Centre to apprise it about the views on the issue of protection of interest of citizens till the colonial-era penal law on sedition is reconsidered by an appropriate forum.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submissions of the Centre that said it has decided to "re-examine and reconsider" the sedition law by an appropriate forum and sought the response to a suggestion whether the filing of sedition cases in future be kept at abeyance till re-examination.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that he would take instruction from the government and apprise the bench on Wednesday.
We are making it very clear. We want instructions. We will give you time till tomorrow. Our specific queries are: one about pending cases and the second, as to how the government will take care of future cases..., said the bench.
It sought a response on the issue saying if future cases can be kept at abeyance till reconsideration is over.
3:30 PMIndia supportive of Sri Lanka's democracy, stability, economic recovery: MEA
India on Tuesday said it is "fully supportive" of Sri Lanka's democracy, stability and economic recovery, a day after the island nation's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit amid massive protests in the country over the government's handling of the economic crisis.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "India will always be guided by the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka expressed through democratic processes."
He was responding to media queries on the developments in Sri Lanka.
"As a close neighbour of Sri Lanka, with historical ties, India is fully supportive of its democracy, stability and economic recovery," Bagchi said.
He also mentioned the assistance India provided to help Sri Lanka deal with the economic crisis.
3:17 PMRussia pounds Odesa as civilian bodies uncovered elsewhere
Russia pounded away at Ukraine's vital southern port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, as they announced they found the bodies of 44 civilians in the rubble of a building in the northeast that was destroyed weeks ago.
The bodies were found in a five-story building that collapsed in March in Izyum, about 120 kilometers from the city of Kharkiv, which has been under sustained Russian attack since the beginning of the war in late February.
This is another horrible war crime of the Russian occupiers against the civilian population! said Oleh Synehubov, the head of the regional administration, in a social media message announcing the deaths.
Izyum lies on a key route to the eastern industrial region of the Donbas, now the focus of Russia's war in Ukraine. Synehubov did not say specifically where the building was.
Earlier, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles a day earlier from the air at the crucial Black Sea port of Odesa, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said.
3:07 PMCoal-based power generation rises by over 9% in April
Coal-based power generation registered 9.26 per cent rise at 1,02,529 million units (MU) in April as compared to the year-ago period.
This comes amid the country facing power crisis.
The thermal power generation was 93,838 MU in April 2021, according to official data.
"Coal-based power generation has registered a growth of 9.26 per cent in April 2022 as compared to April 2021 and growth of 2.25 per cent as compared to March 2022," it said.
The thermal power generation in April also grew 2.25 per cent when compared to 1,00,276 MU in March, it said.
The overall power generation last month increased 11.75 per cent to 1,36,565 MU against 1,22,209 MU in the year-ago period, it added.
The coal ministry had earlier said that the current power crisis is mainly on account of sharp decline in electricity generation from different fuel sources and not due to non-availability of domestic coal.
2:47 PMDelhi HC grants bail to Ex-Religare CEO in connection with siphoning of over Rs 2,300 cr
Delhi HC grants bail to Ex-Religare CEO Krishnan Subramanian in connection with siphoning of over Rs 2,300 cr
2:44 PMPM Modi congratulates new South Korean Prez
PM Modi congratulates new South Korean Prez, looks forward to bolstering ties between countries
2:40 PMSri Lanka's fleeing ex-PM, family take refuge at naval base
In the wake of the widespread violence in Sri Lanka that left five people dead, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family on Tuesday took refuge at a naval base in Trincomalee after leaving Colombo under heavy security.
Rajapaksa, his wife Shiranthi, and their youngest son Rohitha and his family, left the Prime Minister's official residence, Temple Trees, early Tuesday morning on board an Air Force helicopter and have now taken refuge at the heavily guarded naval base, an informed military source said.
Reports have also revealed that Rajapaksa's second son, Yositha, who was also the former Prime Minister's Secretary, and his family had left the country on Monday.
Following Rajapaksa's resignation on Monday and the ensuing violence started by the pro-government protesters, the anti-government denonstrators surrounded Temple Trees and tried to forcibly enter the premises.
Military were rushed to his protection and the police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the violent mob.
2:40 PMRly launches 'baby berths' for passengers travelling with kids
To make train journey more comfortable for passengers travelling with infants, the railways has fitted foldable "baby berths" on the side of lower main berths of the Lucknow Mail as part of a pilot project.
Based on the feedback of passengers on the "new product", plans will be drawn to expand the concept to other trains, officials said.
The "baby berth", which are hinged to the lower main berths, can be folded and secured with a stopper when not in use. It has been is aligned the main berth.
2:39 PMHold consultations with states on issue of identification of minorities: SC to Centre
The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the Centre taking different stands on the issue of identification of minorities, including Hindus, at the state level and directed it to hold consultations with the states on the issue within three months.
In supersession of its earlier stand, the Centre had on Monday told the apex court that the power to notify minorities is vested with the Union government and any decision in this regard will be taken after discussion with states and other stakeholders.
The Centre had in March said that it was for the states and Union Territories (UTs) to take a call on whether or not to grant minority status to Hindus and other communities where they are less in number.
2:04 PMOur cultural world is poorer with demise of Shiv Kumar Sharma: PM Modi
Paying tributes to renowned santoor player and music composer Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the cultural world is poorer with the musician's demise.
Sharma popularised santoor at the global level, and his music will continue to enthral the coming generations, Modi tweeted.
The classical musician died here on Tuesday morning following a heart attack. He was 84.
"Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji. He popularised the Santoor at a global level. His music will continue to enthral the coming generations. I fondly remember my interactions with him. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," Modi said.
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