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Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

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			Indian broadcaster Zee Entertainment said on Friday it has initiated a 15 per cent cut in its workforce as the company is in the middle of a slew of cost-cutting measures.</div>
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		The top court today stayed the Allahabad High Court order that declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, unconstitutional. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud issued a notice to Centre, and the Uttar Pradesh government on the plea challenging the high court order.</div>
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	The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied the allegations reported in the UK-based newspaper The Guardian that accuses India of orchestrating targeted killings in Pakistan to eliminate terrorists. Calling it &quot;false and malicious anti-India propaganda,&quot; the MEA said that targeted killings in other countries were &quot;not the government of India&#39;s policy&quot;.&nbsp; The Guardian&#39;s report stated&nbsp; it is based on evidence given by Pakistan and interviews with intelligence officials from both sides of the border.<br />
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		External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday dismissed a senior UN official&#39;s recent remark on electoral polls in India, saying that he does not need the global body to tell that the elections in the country should be free and fair. The&nbsp; comments came in response to a query regarding a spokesperson for UN Secretary General statement that they hope that in India, everyone is able to vote in a free and fair atmosphere. The minister, who was here to campaign for his ministerial colleague and BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the Lok Sabha polls, also stated that the UN official made the comment on the Indian elections last week in response to a &quot;very loaded question&quot; during a press briefing at the UN.</div>
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	US President Joe Biden effectively gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an ultimatum for an &quot;immediate&quot; ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and reach a hostage deal &quot;without delay&quot;, in what was Washington&#39;s strongest response to its ally since the war broke out on October 7 last year. Israel has been facing international criticism after its airstrikes killed seven food aid workers, including a dual citizen of the US and Canada, in Gaza.</div>

Highlights of the day: Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs

Business Standard

Highlights of the day: Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs | India News - Business Standard

Enforcement Directorate attaches Rs 31-cr worth Ranchi land 'belonging' to Ex-Jharkhand CM Soren

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	The probe agency has attached 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi allegedly owned by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren as part of a money laundering investigation against him and his associates. The ED had filed a charge sheet against the 48-year-old JMM leader and four others -- Bhanu Pratap Prasad, Raj Kumar Pahan, Hilariyas Kachhap and Binod Singh -- on March 30 before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here.</div>

Liquor worth Rs 98.52 crore seized in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar LS constituency

The Karnataka Excise department has seized liquor worth Rs 98.52 crore from Chamarajanagar constituency in Mysuru Rural district. The Income Tax (I-T) department and the Static Surveillance Team (SST) have also seized cash worth Rs 3.53 crore

False, Malicious: Ministry of External Affairs dismisses report on targeted Pak assassinations

The MEA has denied the allegations reported in the UK-based newspaper The Guardian that accuses India of orchestrating targeted killings in Pakistan to eliminate terrorists.&nbsp;

4.7 magnitude earthquake hits New York, New Jersey

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the New York City region on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, shaking buildings and surprising residents in an area that rarely experiences notable seismic activity.

Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs

Indian broadcaster Zee Entertainment said on Friday it has initiated a 15 per cent cut in its workforce as the company is in the middle of a slew of cost-cutting measures.

Delhi excise case: Court allows CBI to interrogate BRS leader K Kavitha in Tihar jail

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	&nbsp;A Delhi court today permitted the CBI to interrogate BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in the Delhi liquor policy case, in Tihar jail. Kavitha was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged scam on March 15.</div>

Tie-up  with BJP after elections depends on how they treat us, like to be Agri Minister: Kumaraswamy

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	JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has state that he is sincerely working for NDA&#39;s better prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the continuation of tie-up with BJP, after the elections, will depend on how his party and its leaders are treated. Kumaraswamy also added that given an opportunity he wants to be the agriculture minister, in the event of NDA coming back to power at the Centre.</div>

Voted for CAA in Parliament because Meghalaya was exempted: Tura MP Agatha Sangma

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	Agatha K Sangma, the incumbent Lok Sabha MP and National People&#39;s Party candidate for Tura, today stated that she supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Parliament since Meghalaya was exempted from its provisions. Despite facing criticism from opposition parties for her stance, Agatha asserted that since the CAA does not apply in Meghalaya, there is no cause for concern.</div>

ECI identifies 266 LS seats with lower voter turnout; says 'one size fits all' approach won't work

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	The poll body today stated that it has identified 266 parliamentary constituencies, including 215 in rural areas, with low voter turnout and is planning targeted intervention to increase voting percentage in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.</div>

2 officers dismissed by Israeli military over drone strikes on aid workers

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	Israeli military dismisses 2 officers over drone strikes on aid workers, citing rules of engagement violations, reports news agency AP.</div>

Work done in 10 years just an appetiser, main course yet to come: PM Modi at Churu rally

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	Underlining the work done by his government in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stated it was just an &quot;appetiser&quot; and the main course is yet to come. PM Modi also accused the Congress of insulting the Army and dividing people and said this represented the &quot;identity&quot; of the opposition party. He was addressing a rally in Churu, his second election rally in Rajasthan in three days.</div>
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	Addressing a rally in Churu, his second election rally in Rajasthan in three days,&nbsp;

Will allow 'temporary' opening of aid routes into Gaza, says Israel

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	Israel said today that it would allow &quot;temporary&quot; aid deliveries into famine-threatened northern Gaza, hours after the United States warned of a sharp shift in its policy over Israel&#39;s war against Hamas militants.</div>

One dead, one injured in blast during suspected making of country-made bomb in Kerala's Kannur

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	One person was killed and another seriously injured in a blast near Panur in this north Kerala district in the early hours of Friday, police said. The incident took place at around 1:00 am, and the opposition Congress alleged that the blast happened during the manufacturing of country-made bombs.</div>

AAP wrote multiple letters to EC over BJP's 'objectionable' posters, but no action was taken: Atishi

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	Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) after she was served a show-cause notice today, asking if it was a &quot;subsidiary organisation&quot; of the BJP. The notice was issued to her over her remarks that the BJP had approached her to either join the party or be prepared to be nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate within a month.</div>

Delhi High Court seeks Centre's stand on plea by NGO against FCRA cancellation

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	The Delhi High Court today sought the stand of the central government on a plea filed by NGO Environics Trust challenging its order cancelling its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). &quot;The petitioner has approached this court challenging an order dated March 4, 2024 cancelling the registration under FCRA. Issue Notice. Reply be filed in four weeks,&quot; Justice Subramonium Prasad said.</div>

DJB money laundering case: Delhi court issues notice to ED on bail plea of accused person

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	The Rouse Avenue court today issued notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on a bail plea moved by CA Tejinder Pal Singh, accused in the Delhi Jal Board money laundering case. Special judge Bhupinder Singh issued notice to ED on the bail application of Tejinder Pal Singh and directed him to file a reply. The matter has been listed on April 8 for a hearing. The probe agency filed a charge sheet against four people.</div>

Only 12 women candidates in fray in Sikkim Assembly polls

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	Though they constitute nearly 50 per cent of the voters but there are only 12 women candidates out of 146 nominees in the fray for the Sikkim Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Himalayan state, news agency <em>PTI</em> reported today.</div>

India to stop importing urea by end of 2025: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya

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	India will by the end of 2025 stop importing urea as a massive push for domestic manufacturing has helped bridge the gap between supply and demand, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated today.</div>

Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case: SC grants bail to activist Shoma Kanti Sen

The top court has directed that Shoma Kanti Sen shall keep the GPS of her mobile phone active round the clock during bail period.&nbsp;

ED has seized assets worth more than Rs 1 trillion in 10 years, says PM Modi

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	Probe agency Enforcement Directorate alone has seized assets worth more than Rs 1 trillion in ten years, PM Modi said at an election rally in Rajasthan&#39;s Churu.&nbsp;</div>

SC stays Allahabad HC order that declared UP Madarsa Education Act 'unconstitutional'

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	The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Allahabad High Court order that declared UP Board of Madarsa Education Act &#39;unconstitutional&#39;.</div>

EC issues notice to AAP leader Atishi over statement on BJP's 'poaching' bid

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	The Election Commission of India today issued a show-cause notice to Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi, asking her to back with facts her statement that the BJP approached her to join the party. The saffron party moved the commission earlier against her claim that the party reached out to her through someone close and asked her to join it.</div>

News update: Congress to abolish contractualisation of regular jobs in govt

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	The promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls released on Friday include a right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs are among others. The manifesto, titled &lsquo;Nyay Patra&#39;, was released at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.</div>

Congress to abolish application fees for government examinations and government posts

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		Congress Party manifesto: We will abolish application fees for government examinations and government posts. Due to widespread unemployment, as a one-time measure of relief, the amount due including unpaid interest as on 15 March 2024 in respect of all student educational loans&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/3pUpS3z6wM">pic.twitter.com/3pUpS3z6wM</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1776134157976166627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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India tops list of doping offenders in 2022: WADA anti-doping report

India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The report revealed that out of 4,064 samples collected from Indian athletes (including urine, blood, and athlete biological passports), 127 individuals tested positive for banned substances, constituting 3.26 per cent of the sample size.

Will bring a law to recognize civil unions between LGBTQIA+ couples: Congress

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		Congress Party manifesto: After wide consultation, Congress will bring a law to recognize civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, says Congress <a href="https://t.co/dpk1J1kxPm">pic.twitter.com/dpk1J1kxPm</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1776133796007698909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Congress releases manifesto for Lok Sabha polls 2024

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	The Grand Old Party&#39;s election manifesto focuses on unemployment and promises socio economic caste census.</div>

News update: Collection of postal votes for 85-year-olds carried out in Tamil Nadu's Erode

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	Officials are carrying out collection of postal votes for 85-year-olds and differently-abled persons in Tamil Nadu&#39;s Erode parliamentary constituency. Polling on Erode seat for Lok Sabha polls is set to be held in the first phase on April 19.</div>

Our place has been taken by BJP: Congress leader Harish Rawat

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	&quot;Unless we develop the hunger for power within ourselves, our place has been taken by BJP, at every level. It is not a matter of national level or provincial level, even at the village level, even at the locality level, their party workers have taken our place, unless we oust them from that place unless we remove them, how will we be able to be the leaders of our locality?,&quot; Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat said.</div>

Will meet you soon outside: AAP leader Sisodia in letter from Tihar Jail

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	AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter from Tihar Jail to the people of his assembly constituency, comparing his plight with the atrocities committed by the Britishers against freedom fighters. The former deputy chief minister, who has been arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case, also expressed hope that he will be out of jail soon.</div>

AAP's Sanjay Singh alleges conspiracy against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

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	AAP leader Sanjay Singh stated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) forced Manugunta Reddy and his son into providing false statements against CM Arvind Kejriwal. He pointed out that their six statements have been deemed unreliable documents.&nbsp;</div>

Highlights of the day: Zee to layoff 15% of workforce in a bid to cut costs

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

Enforcement Directorate attaches Rs 31-cr worth Ranchi land 'belonging' to Ex-Jharkhand CM Soren

Liquor worth Rs 98.52 crore seized in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar LS constituency

False, Malicious: Ministry of External Affairs dismisses report on targeted Pak assassinations

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