Latest News: President Kovind Appoints Justice PC Ghose as Lokpal
Catch all the latest news and updates of the day here.
Catch all the latest updates here.
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Rampur Police Arrest Man For Duping of Rs 72 Lakh
Rampur Police arrested a man, Praveen Kumar - a resident of Haryana - for duping another man to the tune of Rs 72 lakh in the name of Insurance in Himachal Pradesh. Further investigation is underway, search for rest of the accused is underway.
(Source: ANI)
Indian-American Couple Held Guilty of Human Trafficking
An Indian-American couple from California – Satish Kartan and Sharmistha Barai – has been found guilty to the charges of forced labour of foreign nationals from India and Nepal.
Residents of Stockton in California, Satish Kartan (45) and his wife Sharmistha Barai (45) took advantage of overseas workers, forcing them to work without pay, physically abusing them and threatening them of negative repercussions if they tried to leave, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband said.
The Indian-American couple faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. The sentencing is scheduled for 6 June.
(Source: PTI)
One of 7 Indians Abducted in Afghanistan Returns
The Ministry of External Affairs has said one of the seven Indians abducted in Baghlan province of Afghanistan has safely returned.
Militants had abducted seven employees of an Indian company KEC in May 2018 in Bagh-e-Shamal village.
"We are grateful to the Afghanistan government for their support in securing the release and repatriation of the Indian national," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday, 18 March.
"We continue to work closely with the Afghanistan government for safe and early return of the remaining six Indian nationals," it added.
The Indian employees were kidnapped when they were travelling to an area where the company has a contract for an electricity sub-station.
(Source: IANS)
Pak Violates Ceasefire in Akhnoor and Sunderbani
Pakistan violated ceasefire in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors at about 2245 hours last night by resorting to shelling with mortars and firing of small arms. Indian Army is retaliating. The ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Akhnoor sector continued throughout the night till early morning today.
(Source: ANI)
BSE Sensex Rises in Early Trade, Rupee Opens Marginally Higher Against US Dollar
The rupee edged 2 paise higher to 68.51 against the US dollar in early trade today ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meet.
While the benchmark BSE Sensex rose 83.10 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 38,178.17 in early trade, NSE Nifty 50 rose as much as 0.34 percent to trade above 11,500.
Besides the greenback's weakness against some currencies overseas, increased selling of the American currency by exporters as well as banks supported the rupee, forex dealers said.
A higher opening in the domestic equity market influenced the currency's movement, they added.
On Monday, the domestic unit had surged by 57 paise to close at an over seven-month high of 68.53 against the US dollar, also marking a sixth straight session of gains, driven by sustained foreign fund inflows and narrowing trade deficit.
On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,823 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,269 crore Monday, provisional data showed.
(Source: PTI)
NSA Ajit Doval attends the 80th CRPF Anniversary Parade in Gurugram
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval attends the 80th CRPF Anniversary Parade in Gurugram as the chief guest today. He also paid tribute to the 40 CRPF men who were martyred in a terrorist attack last month on 14 February. He offered support to the families of the martyred men.
“I want to pay tributes to the brave 40 CRPF jawans who sacrificed their lives in Pulwama for the country. The country hasn't forgotten it and it will never forget it,” Doval said.
Death Toll from Indonesia Floods, Mudslides Rises to 89
The death toll from flash floods and mudslides triggered by torrential downpours in Indonesia's easternmost province has risen to 89, with dozens of others missing, officials said today.
Floodwaters and landslides destroyed roads and bridges in several areas of Papua province's Jayapura district early Sunday, hampering rescue efforts. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the worst-hit area from the flooding was Sentani subdistrict, where tons of mud, rocks and trees from a landslide on a mountain rolled down to a river that burst its banks, sweeping away residents.
He said 89 bodies had been pulled from the mud and wreckage of crumpled homes by Tuesday.
Another 159 people were injured, including 84 who were hospitalised, many with broken bones and head wounds.
(Source: PTI)
Dalit Teen Gang Rape: All Accused Arrested
Two persons who were among the five men accused of raping a 17-year-old Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarenagar district have been arrested, police said today.
The teenager was allegedly raped by five youths at Phulat village in Khatauli administrative area on Sunday, 17 March, and recorded a video of the incident, a police officer had said.
A case has been registered and three accused were arrested earlier, the police had said.
(Source: PTI)
Suresh Prabhu Calls for Emergency Meeting on Jet Airways
Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed civil aviation secretary to hold emergency meeting on Jet Airways situation.
(Source: PTI)
Guj Govt Declined Sanction to Prosecute Ex Cops: CBI to Court
The Central Bureau of Investigation today told a special CBI court that Gujarat government has declined sanction to prosecute retired police officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin in the alleged fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others.
After going through a letter submitted to the court of special CBI judge J K Pandya by CBI lawyer R C Kodekar, the court said that sanction to prosecute the former officers, who were accused in the case, under section 197 of the CrPC, was declined by the state government.
The defence lawyers then sought permission to file an application to drop proceedings against the two former police officers.
The court granted the request and asked them to file an application on 26 March.
(Source: PTI)
Omar Demands 'Exemplary Punishment' in J&K Teacher's Custodial Death
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday demanded a time-bound investigation into the custodial death of a school teacher in Jammu and Kashmir and exemplary punishment to those responsible for the death.
"I had hoped custodial deaths were a thing of our dark past. This is an unacceptable development & must be investigated in a transparent, time bound manner. Exemplary punishment must be handed out to the killers of this young man," Abdullah tweeted.
Rizwan Pandit, 28, who was arrested in connection with a terror case, died in a police custody during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, an official said.
Awami League Leader Shot Dead in Bangladesh
Unidentified assailants gunned down a local leader of the ruling Awami League in front of his family in the southeastern Bangladesh today, a day after seven election and security officials were shot dead while returning from a remote polling centre.
Suresh Kanti Tanchangya, Bilaichhari upazila president of the Awami League, was gunned down around 9:30 am in Alikhong area in Rangamati district, police said.
He, along with his family, was coming to Bilaichhari on boat this morning, they said.
(Source: PTI)
IT Dept to Attach Properties of BSP Chief Mayawati's Close Aid
Income Tax department to attach properties of Netram, reportedly a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati. IT department will attach around 20 properties related to Netram. The properties are situated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Noida.
(Source: ANI)
Venezuela Suspends Oil Exports to India
Venezuela has suspended oil exports to India, the Azeri energy ministry said in a statement today following a meeting with the Venezuelan oil minister and president of state-run oil company PDVSA, Manuel Quevedo.
OPEC and other oil ministers are gathering in Baku, Azerbaijan.
China Says Dalai Lama's Successor Has to Be Approved by It
China today rejected the Dalai Lama's assertions that his successor could be from India and a nominee by Beijing would not be respected, saying the next spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has to be approved by the Communist government.
China's response came after the 83-year-old Nobel peace laureate told a news agency on Monday that it was possible that once he dies his incarnation could be found in India and and warned that any other successor named by China would not be respected.
(Source: PTI)
China Calls 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack 'Notorious'
China has described the 2008 Mumbai killings as "one of the most notorious terror attacks" for which Pakistan was blamed.
The statement was made in a white paper called "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang" released by the Chinese government on Monday, 17 March.
In the chapter "International Counter-terrorism Exchanges and Cooperation", the white paper bracketed the Mumbai attack with the 2005 London bombings that killed 52 people, the Paris 2015 attack which left 132 dead and the 2017 Sinai mosque attack that killed 235 people.
(Source: IANS)
Two Cattle Smugglers Arrested in J&K's Kathua
Two alleged cattle smugglers were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district and 16 animals were rescued from their vehicles, police said today.
The two vehicles carrying the cattle were intercepted in Chadwal area on Monday, they said.
A case has been registered against the duo under relevant sections and further investigation is underway, they said.
(Source: PTI)
Court Defers ED's Plea Seeking Interrogation of Altaf Fantoosh to 20 March
National Investigation Agency court has deferred the hearing of Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking interrogation of Altaf Fantoosh, son-in-law of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others in a terror funding case.
The case will be heard on Wednesday, 20 March. The ED also sought to question Zahoor Watali & Naval Kishore Kapoor.
(Source: ANI)
Services on Hyderabad Metro Corridor-Iii to Begin on 20 March
The Metrorail link to Hi-Tec City,the IT hub of Hyderabad is all set for launch on 20 March with Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan flagging off the train operations.
The awaited 10 km stretch (Ameerpet to Hi-Tec City) of Metro Rail Corridor-III will be launched by the Governor at 9.15 am at Ameerpet Metro station.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has complained to Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar that the launch of Metro services amounts to violation of the model code of conduct in place for the Lok Sabha elections.
(Source: PTI)
CSMT Bridge Collapse: Court Sends Auditor to Police Custody till 25 March
Neeraj Desai, auditor who had conducted the audit of the foot overbridge that connected to Mumbai's busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station which collapsed on 14 March, was produced in Mumbai's Esplanade Court.
The court sent auditor Neeraj Desai to police custody till 25 March.
Speaking to ANI, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said that there should no blame game over the bridge collapse.
"If there is a fault in structural audit then it is serious. We will take corrective measures."
(Source: ANI)
ED Attaches 13 Assets of Hizb Chief Syed Salahuddin in Terror Funding Case
The Enforcement Directorate attached 13 assets located in Jammu and Kashmir in a terror funding case against Hizbul Mujahidden chief Syed Salahuddin.
(Source: PTI)
Many Feared Trapped After Building Collapsed in K'taka District
Several people are feared to be trapped after an under-construction building collapsed in Karnataka's Dharwad district. Search and rescue operations are underway. More details awaited.
(Source: ANI)
Police Forces in Chhattisgarh Eliminate a Naxal Commander
40th Battalion of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) along with the Chhattisgarh police and HAWK force eliminated a 48-year-old female naxal commander Jamuna in district Rajnandgaon.
(Source: ANI)
Delhi Metro Services Will be Closed Till 2.30 on Holi
Metro services will not be available till 2.30 pm on 21 March due to Holi, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
In addition, Metro feeder bus services will also not be available till 2pm and will run as per schedule thereafter, it said.
On the day of the 'Holi' festival (March 21), Metro services will start from 2.30 pm on all lines of Delhi Metro including Airport Express Line, the DMRC statement said.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev Resigns
After three decades in office, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned on Tuesday.
(Source: AFP)
Court Allows ED to Send Extradition Request for Sterling Directors to Albania
A Delhi court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to send extradition requests to Albania for two directors of a Gujarat-based pharma firm in a Rs 8,100-crore money laundering case.
The ED told the court that as per reliable sources, the accused – Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara, both directors of Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) – have obtained the citizenship of Albania and non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were issued against them earlier this year.
Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana submitted that extradition requests needed to be certified by the court.
(Source: PTI)
Central Railway Orders Dismantling 5 Bridges in Mumbai
Central Railway to dismantle foot-over-bridges (FOBs) at Bhandup, Kurla, Vikhroli, Diva and Kalyan Junction stations.
Earlier, Central Railway had floated tender to distmantle the foot-over-bridges in the aftermath of the overbridge collapse that connected to Mumbai's busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station.
President Kovind Appoints Justice PC Ghose as Lokpal
Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose appointed as India’s first Lokpal by President Ram Nath Kovind.
President Kovind also appointed Justice Dilip B Bhosale, Justice P K Mohanty, Justice Abhilasha Kumari and Justice AK Tripathi as judicial members of the committee.
Dinesh Kumar Jain, Archana Ramasundaram, Mahender Singh, and Dr IP Gautam were appointed members.
(Source: ANI)
Police Registers Case Against 8 Sabarimala Karma Samithi activists
Pamba police have registered case against eight Sabarimala Karma Samithi activists for allegedly attacking a woman enroute to Sabarimala Temple along with her family members.
According to the police, the activists had asked her for proof of age.
(Source: PTI)
US to Designate Brazil as "Major Non-Nato Ally", Says Trump
US to designate Brazil as "major non-NATO ally", says US President Donald Trump.
(AFP)