Highlights of the day: Govt approves Rs 1,179.7 cr for women safety scheme

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6:16 PM

21-year-old farmer dies in clash with Haryana security personnel

A 21-year-old farmer was killed and a few others injured following a clash between security personnel and protesting farmers at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmer leaders said this was the first death in clashes since the 'Delhi Chalo' march began on February 13.

6:06 PM

'INDIA' finalises seat sharing pact in UP, Cong to fight on 17 seats

Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande says, "I am delighted to tell you that it has been decided that in Uttar Pradesh the INC will contest on 17 seats and the remaining 63 seats will have candidates of INDIA Alliance - from SP and other parties."

6:02 PM

Jubilant Foods expects Rs 1,000 crore business from Popeyes

QSR chain operator Jubilant Foods Ltd (JFL) expects its fried chicken brand Popeyes to cross Rs 1,000 crore in sales in the next 3-4 years, its CEO and MD Sameer Khetarpal said on Wednesday. Besides, JFL, which is also a master franchisor of Domino's, is expanding its reach and is expected to have around 3,000 outlets in the medium term.

5:35 PM

UP has become paper-leak Pradesh: Congress slams BJP

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the "dangerous trend" of paper leaks and asserted that all such examinations should be conducted again with the age limit raised for those appearing for them. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said Rahul Gandhi is continuously raising the issue of paper leaks during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the state.

5:05 PM

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav signals seat-sharing talks with Congress nearly complete

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday suggested seat-sharing discussions with the Congress - for Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats - were nearly completed.

4:58 PM

Coal India may exceed capex target of Rs 16,500 cr for FY24

The Centre today stated that the state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) is likely to exceed its capex target of Rs 16,500 crore for the current financial year. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.

"As we navigate through the current fiscal year of 2023-24, both CIL and NLCIL are on track to exceed their capex targets yet again... both CIL and NLCIL will exceed their annual capex targets, further bolstering India's economic growth trajectory," the coal ministry said in a statement.

4:56 PM

Youth Congress workers march to gherao Rajasthan CM's residence

Cops today employed water cannons and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesting Youth Congress workers, who were demanding the re-employment of people working under the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra scheme. Weeks after coming to power in Rajasthan, the BJP government dumped the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra scheme, a flagship programme of the previous Congress regime.

4:52 PM

God was speaking through the Chief Justice of India: Delhi CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a day after the Supreme Court (SC) overturned the January 30 Chandigarh mayoral election victory. "There is so much sin that Lord Krishna has decided to interfere himself. It was no coincidence that cameras captured their [BJP] sins in Chandigarh's mayoral election... The way the Supreme Court has given its verdict, it seems God was speaking through the Chief Justice of India [CJI]," Kejriwal said.

2:51 PM

Mephedrone 'meow meow' worth over Rs 2,000 crore seized in Delhi, Pune

Following raids in Pune and New Delhi, cops have seized 1,100 kg of synthetic stimulant drug mephedrone (MD), estimated to be worth more than Rs 2,000 crore. Three people have been arrested in this connection and detained two others. Mephedrone, also known as "meow meow", is a synthetic stimulant substance banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

2:43 PM

India, Greece agree to expand cooperation on migration, mobility, and trade

Besides ramping up their overall cooperation in the areas of trade, defence production and to combat terrorism, India and Greece agreed today to firm up a migration and mobility agreement soon. Strategic cooperation figured prominently during discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

2:38 PM

News update: President Droupadi Murmu condoles demise of iconic radio host Ameen Sayani

2:21 PM

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says tie-up with Congress is on

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday stated that he has no dispute with Rahul Gandhi and he has no problem in forging an alliance with the Congress.

2:17 PM

BJP slams Bengal police over "Khalistani" slur row

The BJP on Wednesday claimed that Bengal police was "more interested in being a political player than policing". The party also accused the officer of violating the Calcutta High Court order that allowed Suvendu Adhikari to visit Sandeshkhali. The BJP took jabs at the Bengal police after reports emerged its Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari used "Khalistani" slur against a Sikh IPS officer during a face-off between BJP workers and police near Sandeshkhali island. In a post on X, Bengal BJP said state police officers had reduced themselves to "doormats" of Trinamool.

2:11 PM