LIVE: Stay alert, be prepared for Covid management, HM says to states

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11:17 AM

Sisodia writes to PM Modi from jail, raises questions on his education

11:12 AM

Telangana SSC paper leak case: BJP president Sanjay Kumar released from jail after securing bail

Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar who was arrested in a case related to class X exam paper leak was release from jail after a court in Hanumakonda granted him bail on Thursday night.

 

Sanjay Kumar, a Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was named as the prime accused in the case relating to the alleged circulation of Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper in groups of an instant messaging app.

 

10:47 AM

Twitter to show 50% less ads to paid Blue subscribers

In order to woo more users, Elon Musk-run Twitter will now show at least 50 per cent less ads to Blue subscribers, along with a boost in their visibility on the platform.

The micro-blogging platform has implemented the new tool on both 'For You' and 'Following' tabs.

"As you scroll, you will see approximately twice as many organic or non-promoted Tweets placed in between promoted Tweets or ads. There may be times when there are more or fewer non-promoted Tweets between promoted Tweets," according to the company.

The feature, however, does not apply to advertisements shown in profile replies, promoted accounts and trends, and promoted events on the Explore page.

The company has also prioritised rankings in conversations and search for Blue users, who pay $8 a month.

10:35 AM

Daily Covid cases cross 6000-mark in India, positivity rate at 3.39%

India has logged 6,050 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in 203 days, while the active cases have increased to 28,303, according to Union health ministry data updated on Friday.

 

On September 16 last year, 6,298 cases were recorded.

 

The death toll has increased to 5,30,943 with 14 deaths -- three reported from Maharashtra, two each from Karnataka and Rajasthan, one each from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and one was reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

10:23 AM

PM Narendra Modi recalls Christ's sacrifice on Good Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the occasion of Good Friday.

 

He tweeted, "Today on Good Friday, we recall the spirit of sacrifice Lord Christ was blessed with. He withstood pain and suffering but never deviated from his ideals of service and compassion. May the thoughts of Lord Christ keep inspiring people."

10:23 AM

PM doesn't understand importance of education: Jailed AAP leader Sisodia in letter to people

Jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter addressing the people of the country, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand the importance of education.

In the letter which was posted on Twitter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy said, "It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated."

"(Narendra) Modi does not understand science... Modi ji does not understand the importance of education," Sisodia claimed in the letter, alleging that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years.

10:18 AM

PM Modi to visit Hyderabad on April 8, to launch projects worth over Rs 11k Cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana besides flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express here on Saturday.

 

In a brisk visit to the city, Modi will also participate in a public meeting at Parade Ground here, official sources said.

 

He will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, near here and five National Highway projects. He will also lay the foundation stone of redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station and dedicate to the nation other development projects related to the Railways.

10:02 AM

J-K administration to set up Emergency Operation Centers in 20 districts

The Jammu and Kashmir's administration has decided to set up state-of-art Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) in all 20 districts to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters as it falls in earthquake zone 1V and V and is highly prone to flood damage, according to a government statement.

The process of construction of the EOC has been started in Budgam district which will have a complete disaster management plan under National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2019 and it will be implemented in all districts.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NDMA, Government of India for the implementation of an Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) to coordinate disaster calls in Dial No 112.

9:51 AM

US asks countries to repatriate North Koreans illegally working abroad

The US, Japan and South Korea urged countries to repatriate North Korean workers illegally sent abroad to earn cash for Kim Jong Un’s regime, as Pyongyang appears to be easing Covid-based border restrictions that left them in limbo.

 

The nuclear envoys of the three countries issued a statement after a meeting in Seoul on Friday saying the workers were sent abroad in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and nations that host the laborers could be aiding in illegal activity.

 

“UN Member States are required to repatriate all DPRK laborers earning income in their jurisdictions,” Kim Gunn, of South Korea, Takehiro Funakoshi of Japan and the US pointman for Pyongyang, Sung Kim, said in their statement, referring to North Korea by its formal name. They expressed deep regret that North Korea “continues to ignore the hardship of its people” as it builds its nuclear weapons program in defiance of UN resolutions.

9:47 AM

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to address third Seva Samagam in Jaipur today

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat will address the third Seva Sangam in Jaipur on Friday, where more than 3000 delegates are expected to participate.

The Seva Sangam will be inaugurated by Bhagwat along with Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal and Balyogi Umesh Nath Maharaj.

Seva Sangam will include 3,000 representatives of more than 800 voluntary service organizations from 45 provinces and 11 regions of the country, Sewa Bharti general secretary Renu Pathak said at a press conference on Thursday.

9:39 AM

US job growth expected to moderate but remain at brisk pace in March

The US economy likely continued to churn out jobs at a brisk clip in March even though the labor market is losing its luster as Federal Reserve interest rate hikes dampen demand.

 

The Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday, which is also expected to show the unemployment rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent and moderate wage gains last month, is likely to be welcomed by officials at the U.S. central bank as they contemplate whether to halt their fastest rate hiking cycle since the 1980s. The report will be published at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) on a day when most financial markets are closed for the Good Friday holiday.

9:31 AM

Sri Lanka forex reserves jump to $2.69 bn in March on IMF Aid

Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves grew in March to the highest in over a year after the South Asian nation clinched a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.

 

The stockpile increased to $2.69 billion from $2.22 billion in February, according to data released by the central bank on its website. The reserves include a swap facility from the People’s Bank of China equivalent to about $1.4 billion, which helped lift reserves to a previous high of $3.14 billion in December 2021, even though it has conditions on usability.

9:27 AM

China sanctions Reagan library, others over Tsai's US trip

China is imposing sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other US- and Asian-based organisations in retaliation for the closely watched meeting this week between the US House Speaker and Taiwan's president.

The Reagan library was the site of the rare high-level, bipartisan meeting Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted this week for talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The meeting came as US-China relations have sunk to historic lows and as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen. China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as an attempt to raise Taipei's global status, and thus an infringement on Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island.
 

9:25 AM

Hamas condemns Israel over strikes near Lebanon's Tyre

Islamist group Hamas condemned Israel's aggression against Lebanon in strikes near the southern city of Tyre, in a statement issued early on Friday.

 

"We strongly condemn the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon in the vicinity of Tyre at dawn today," it said.

 

The Israeli military, for its part, said it had attacked targets belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon and stepped up strikes in the Gaza Strip, following rocket attacks against Israel launched from Lebanon on Thursday.

 

9:15 AM

China aircraft carrier 'Shandong' engages in drills near Taiwan after Tsai, McCarthy meet in US

Amid a high-profile meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, China's aircraft carrier Shandong engaged in a drill near Taiwan on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.

The Shandong carrier immediately drew attention off the East Coast when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned home after meeting the US House Speaker.

Quoting Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, Al Jazeera reported that the aircraft carrier was located 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Taiwan's east coast. The carrier was being watched by Taiwanese warships at a distance of five to six nautical miles, he subsequently informed.