Latest News: Congress Stakes Claim to Form Government in Goa

Catch all the latest news and updates here.Air India in the UK confirmed on Friday that it would be suspending all flights to and from Birmingham Airport from Saturday due to “extraordinary circumstances” involving the closure of Pakistan’s airspace.The Indian national carrier said that its daily flights to India from London Heathrow remain unaffected as the New Delhi and Amritsar services in and out of Birmingham will be grounded until further updates.“The flight cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, namely closure of Pakistan airspace and resultant impact which is beyond the control of Air India,” said Debashis Golder, Regional Manager – UK and Europe.(Source: PTI)The Indian Coast Guard ships Vikram and Shoor doused a major fire on board a ship, Sagar Sampada – carrying around 30 crew and 16 scientists – late last night off the Mangaluru coast in Karnataka.The ship is now being brought back to Mangaluru port, reported ANI.Two armed naxals were neutralised in an encounter with troops of 198 Battalion CRPF and Andhra Pradesh Police in Pedabayalu of Visakhapatnam district earlier this morning.One CRPF personnel was injured and later shifted to hospital. The encounter has concluded.The US and two other permanent Security Council members, France and Britain, are believed to be in intense "good faith" discussions with China to arrive at a "compromise" on the UN designation of Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.And if that effort does not end up in the formal designation of Azhar, the three permanent members are planning to soon move a resolution for his listing in the most powerful wing of the UN which would be preceded by an open debate on the issue, according to people familiar with the matter.On Wednesday, China blocked for the fourth consecutive time a resolution at a UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar, head of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group, as a global terrorist. The proposal was moved by the US, France and the UK.(Source: PTI)Congress MLA Prakash Chandra Behera from Odisha’s Salepur resigned from the primary membership of Congress party.He has sent his resignation to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, reported ANI.An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 on the richter scale hit Nicobar Islands region at 9.43 am today, reported ANI.President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Padma Bhushan award upon ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan and mountaineer Bachendri Pal, and Padma Vibhushan upon folk singer Teejan Bai, among others.Beijing has adequate information that there are groups in Pakistan working against China, ANI quotes sources as saying on China’s move to block India's bid to designate JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in the United Nations Security Council.One arms and ammunition supplier, Amar Lal from Punjab, has been arrested and 2,000 live cartridges have been recovered from his possession, ANI quotes DCP of Delhi Crime Branch as saying.Five people, including two women and a child, were killed and eight were injured when a car skidded off a road and fell into a deep gorge in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said.(Source: PTI)Delhi: Special CBI court discharges all the accused in a Coal block case against Bajrang Ispat Ltd after the court found no solid ground to proceed in the case.(Source: ANI)A notice has been issued against Haridwar mayor Anita Sharma for violating model code of conduct and she has been asked to file a reply by 18 March. Sharma had reportedly put up boards containing her name, on an e-rickshaw on which she travelled across city, on 14 March.(Source: ANI)The Congress has announced candidates for eight out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.The party has fielded state Congress working president and former MLA A Revanth Reddy from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat. Besides A Revanth Reddy, the other candidates in the state list are former MP Ramesh Rathod (Adilabad-ST), A Chandra Sekhar (Peddapalle-SC), Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), K Madan Mohan Rao (Zahirabad), Gali Anil Kumar (Medak), Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (Chevella) and former MP Porika Balram Naik (Mahabubabad-ST).(Source: PTI)Balabhadra Majhi, BJD MP from Nabarangpur (Odisha) who had recently resigned from the party, is likely to join BJP, news agency ANI quotes sources as saying.BJP MP Shyama Charan Gupta joins Samajwadi Party. He will be contesting Lok Sabha Elections from Banda constituency in Uttar Pradesh.(Source: ANI)Delhi's Patiala House Court directs Tihar jail authorities to produce CCTV record of 13-17 February of Jail No.7 on the allegations of torture and humiliation levied by alleged middlemen Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland deal. Next date of hearing in the matter is 19 March.(Source: ANI)At least 100 people are missing in parts of eastern Zimbabwe hit by the peripheral effects of tropical cyclone Idai which has lashed Mozambique, a local lawmaker said.Thousands of people have been affected, power cut off and major bridges are flooded in parts of the Manicaland province which borders Mozambique.(Source: AFP)Jammu and Kashmir: SPO Khushboo Jan of Shopian district's Vehil village succumbed to injuries after being shot at by unidentified assailants at her house.(Source: ANI)Sitting MP from Tezpur constituency in Assam, Ram Prasad Sarmah, resigns from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reports ANI.Brief exchange of fire at Kulgam; area has been cordoned off, ANI quotes Jammu and Kashmir Police as saying. More details awaited.The next BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting will be held on 18 March, ANI quotes sources as saying.The Congress has staked claim to form government in Goa. Leader of Opposition and Congress legislature party leader in Goa, Chandrakant Kavlekar, has written to the Governor, urging him to dismiss the BJP-led government which is in "minority" & call "single-largest party - Congress - to form government".(Source: ANI)Delhi BJP has written to the Election Commission of India, requesting it to "appoint a Special Observer for the mosques, especially in Muslim dominated areas, so that political/religious leaders cannot spread hatred among people to influence elections."Goa BJP has called for a meeting of its MLAs in Panaji office today.(Source: ANI)Prakash Ambedkar, of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) said, “I spoke to Asaduddin Owaisi today and he agreed to field a candidate from Aurangabad. The name will be declared by AIMIM. We requested him to fight from Mumbai also.He'll confirm about Mumbai within two days or we'll contest on all the seats.Ambedkar added, “We requested them (AIMIM) to contest one seat in Mumbai (North Central) where Poonam Mahajan is the sitting MP. They said they would consider it. After their decision, we will announce on rest of the seats (11).(Source: ANI)The family of Farhaj Ahsan says he has died while undergoing treatment. Ahsan was injured in shootings at mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, 15 March.(Source: ANI)The All India Minorities Youth Federation earlier today held a protest in Kolkata against terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.(Source: ANI)The Special Olympics World Summer Games 2019 is underway in Abu Dhabi and Rishabh Jain from New Delhi won a gold medal in 1000 meter roller skating.He says, "I came to Abu Dhabi for the 1st time, it was biggest challenge for me. I'm feeling really happy.”(Source: ANI)The Election Commission of India has fixed a timeline for the release of the manifesto by political parties. Manifestos for both single and multi phase elections shall not be released during prohibitory period, as prescribed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.The provision will, henceforth, be applicable and implemented as a part of the Model Code of Conduct for all future elections.(Source: ANI)Mumbai: A Dadar foot overbridge to be temporarily closed for strengthening work with effect from 17th March 2019. Staircase to stay closed for 13 days and the ramp for 90 days.(Source: ANI)Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah hold Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting with Assam leaders.(Source: ANI)Apna Dal’s Krishna Patel faction joins Congress alliance for two Lok Sabha seats- Basti and Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Pankaj Niranjan Singh Chandel, son-in-law of Krishna Patel, has taken membership of the Congress(Source: ANI)Odisha: Kajal Nayak, a 27-year-old transgender person, would contest from the Korei Assembly seat in Jajpur district as the candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the upcoming state elections.(Source: ANI)Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, Prime Minister of Republic of Guinea, arrives in Delhi.(Source: ANI)Five thatched huts gutted into fire in Mattodi village in Shivamogga, Karnataka . More details awaited.(Source: ANI)After his meeting with BJP, BJP MLA & Deputy Speaker of Goa Assembly, Lobo said, “Leadership in Goa won't change. Till Parrikar is here, only he will remain the Chief Minister and no one has made the demand to replace him.”(Source: ANI)Lok Sabha Speaker and Indore BJP MP Sumitra Mahajan today wrote to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath saying she is giving up on the facilities including vehicles and security personnel provided to her as part of protocol, in view of the model code of conduct.(Source: ANI)

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