LIVE! Curfew in Rajasthan city over communal tension

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Sat, 02 April 2022

Curfew in Rajasthan city over communal tension

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22:43 97 schools to open next month in Assam tea gardens: Himanta

For the first time, government high schools are being set up in tea gardens with 97 of them scheduled to start academic session next month, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

To augment the academic environment in the tea gardens, the state government decided to set up 119 model high schools in these areas, Sarma said while addressing the teachers and principals of these newly-built schools at an orientation programme.

Of these 119 schools, 97 have been completed and the academic session will start on May 10, he said.

The remaining schools will be functional by the next academic year, the chief minister said.

These schools will be later upgraded to the higher secondary level, he said.

Sarma claimed that it was for the first time since Independence that high schools were being set up by the government in tea garden areas, as per an official statement.

The state government is going to set up another 81 model high schools in tea garden areas and these will be upgraded to higher secondary levels, he added.

Apart from mid-day meals, the government is also planning to provide breakfasts to students at these schools, Sarma said. -- PTI

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21:32 Curfew in Rajasthan city over communal tension

Curfew was imposed in Karauli city of Rajasthan after communal tension broke out there following stone-pelting at a motorcycle rally passing through a Muslim-dominated area on Nav Samvatsar, the first day of the new year under the Hindu calendar on Saturday, officials said.

Over 25 persons were injured in the stone-pelting, leading to communal clashes, necessitating the imposition of the curfew and deployment of the additional police force, they said.

The curfew has been imposed in the city. An additional police force has also been deployed to maintain law and order, Karauli district magistrate Rajendra Singh Shekhawat said.

Terming the situation in the city as tense but under control, he said some incidents of arsons too took place at several places.

Over 25 people suffered injuries.

Of them, five to seven are under treatment.

One injured person was referred to a Jaipur hospital in critical condition while the rest were discharged after primary treatment, the police control room said.

It said a rally was being taken out and when it passed through a Muslim-dominated area, some miscreants pelted stones at it, leading to an eruption of communal clashes in which a few two-wheelers and shops were torched.

Police officers, including Bharatpur IGP Prashan Kumar Khamesra and Karauli SP Shailendra Singh rushed to the spot and an additional police force was deployed to control the situation, the PCR said. -- PTI

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20:33 Ban paragliding in Himachal's Kangra to continue: Authorities

The Kangra district administration has decided to continue the ban on paragliding until it is convinced that the operators meet all safety parameters.

The activity remains suspended since March 10 after the deaths of two people in an accident at the Bir Billing paragliding site.

Deputy commissioner, Kangra, Nipun Jindal on Saturday said, paragliding will be carried out under the supervision of security personnel in Bir Billing and Indrunag near Dharamsala in Kangra.

All requisite documents, including the pilot's registration for paragliding, will be checked by the security personnel and paragliding will be allowed only on the completion of the required documents.

All relevant information will also be listed in a register.

During a meeting convened to determine the parameters for safe paragliding here, Jindal also said that the rates for paragliding have been fixed in Dharamsala and Bir Billing through local technical and regulatory committees.

Further, he said, no parking zones have been marked at the landing site and that log books for paragliding pilots will also be mandatory so that they do not cross the threshold set on the number of flights per day. -- PTI

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19:56 More transmissible Covid variant found in UK

A new COVID mutant 'XE' has been found in the UK, the World Health Organisation has said in its latest report and noted that it may be more transmissible than the BA.2 sublineage of COVID-19.

XE is recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages of COVID-19.

"The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and over 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since," the WHO said.

"Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 per cent as compared to BA.2, however this finding requires further confirmation. XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported," it added.

The United Kingdom has reported 637 cases of XE and experts said it has shown a variable growth rate. According to UK Health Security Agency, its new analysis has examined three recombinants known as XF, XE, and XD.

"Of these, XD and XF are recombinants of Delta and Omicron BA.1, while XE is a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2," it said in an update. -- ANI

Police on Saturday arrested the manager of a private college in connection with the Class 12 English exam question paper leak case, taking the total number of arrests to 35.

Deputy superintendent of police, Rasda, Shivnarayan Vaishya identified the arrested man Bhanu Pratap Singh.

"He is accused of sharing the leaked question paper. His role in leaking the question paper is also being looked into," the DSP said.

Meanwhile, local mediapersons have been staging protests against the police and the district administration condemning the arrests of three journalists -- Ajit Ojha, Digvijay Singh and Manoj Gupta -- in connection with the case.

When asked, Superintendent of Police, Ballia, Raj Karan Nayyar told PTI, "The arrests of all the accused have been made based on the FIRs lodged in the case and by by following due legal process. Anyone who doesn't agree with the action is free to take legal recourse."

He, however, declined to reveal any information on the evidence the police have gathered against the journalists.

Digvijay Singh, one of the arrested journalists, is seen in a viral video raising slogans against the district officials, saying that he is being "hounded" by the administration for reporting the paper leak. -- PTI

Shivpal Singh Yavad and Mulayam Singh Yadav

18:20 Akhilesh's uncle Shivpal starts following Modi, Adityanath on Twitter

Sulking socialist leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saturday started following Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma on Twitter, further fuelling speculation about strains in the Samajwadi Party-led opposition alliance.

With the latest additions, Yadav now follows 12 Twitter handles, which include the Dalai Lama, the President of India, the Prime Minister's Office and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office.

Yadav had contested the recent Assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party symbol.

But he skipped the Opposition alliance's meeting earlier this week and took oath on March 31.

He later went to the chief minister's residence in Lucknow, fuelling speculation of his changing sides.

The latest development is seen as yet another step of the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia chief in quitting the opposition alliance and cross over to the BJP.

"There should be something new in the New Year. On Saturday (the first day of the Hindu New Year), Shivpal Ji started following (on Twitter) Modi, Adityanath and Dinesh Sharma," Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia spokesperson Deepak Mishra said on Saturday. -- PTI

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18:09 India sees warmest March in 122 years

India recorded its warmest March in 122 years with a severe heat wave scorching large swathes of the country in the month, the India meteorological department said on Saturday.

The weather department attributed the unusual heat to the lack of rainfall due to the absence of active western disturbances over north India and any major system over south India.

The country as a whole recorded a rainfall of 8.9 mm, which was 71 per cent less than its long period average rainfall of 30.4 mm.

It was also the third-lowest precipitation in March since 1901 after 7.2 mm in 1909 and 8.7 mm in 1908.

"Over the country as a whole, the average maximum temperature (33.10 degrees Celsius) recorded in March 2022 is the highest ever in the last 122 years," the IMD said in a statement.

In March 2010, the country had recorded a maximum temperature of 33.09 degrees Celsius.

The Met department said the country's average mean temperature of 26.67 degrees Celsius in March was the second highest after 26.671 degrees Celsius recorded in March 2010.

The countrywide average minimum temperature of 20.24 degrees Celsius in March was the third highest in 122 years after 20.26 degrees Celsius in 1953 and 20.25 degrees Celsius in 2010. -- PTI

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17:45 8 wagons of goods train derail in Maharashtra, route affected for 4 hours

Eight wagons of a freight train derailed on Saturday morning at Daulatabad yard in Maharashtra's Aurangabad city, resulting in rail traffic on the route being affected for nearly four hours, an official said.

The derailment took place at around 8am and the track was cleared only after four hours, he said.

He said South Central Railway has run special trains on the Jalna-Mumbai and Jalna-Pune routes to ferry stranded passengers of the over one dozen trains that were affected due to the derailment. -- PTI

Muhammad Azam Khan

17:32 Waqf properties encroached by Azam Khan returned to royal family

In a setback to senior Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Muhammad Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board has taken possession of several waqf properties from him and handed them over to Rampur's royal family.

Khan is currently lodged in Sitapur jail in over 100 cases pertaining to theft, criminal intimidation, fraud and encroachment.

Shia Waqf Board chairman Ali Zaidi told PTI on Saturday that after the formation of the SP government in the state in the year 2012, many waqf properties 'encroached' by the then Waqf Minister Azam Khan have been returned to the original owners after due investigation.

He said this decision was taken in the last meeting of the board held on March 31.

Zaidi said that during his tenure, Khan had illegally encroached on seven 'alal aulad' (succession-based) waqf properties of the royal family, including the fortified mosque and an 'imambara' the house or court of imam).

Azam Khan did this by directing Wasim Rizvi, the then chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, and made an outsider Wasim Khan the caretaker of these properties.

Once this was done, Azam Khan demolished the Shaukat Ali Bazar built on these properties in May 2013 despite a stay order by the court. -- PTI

Stating that India has shown its strength in design, development and operation of helicopters in the 5 tonne category, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said in order to become a global leader there is a need to progress in the design of 10 tonne Indian multirole helicopter.

Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Chetak helicopter in Hyderabad, Singh said according to an estimate, there is a demand for more than 1000 civilian helicopters in India, and an equal number of helicopters in the military sector which indicates a huge potential in the chopper market.

He said external conditions have impacted on the serviceability of India's critical weapons and equipment and therefore, efforts for self-sufficiency continues to be the need of the hour. -- PTI

AK Modgil

16:53 Notice to 1K MP govt staff with more than 2 kids

A show-cause notice has been issued to government teachers and employees seeking an answer for having more than two children in the Bhopal district of Madhya Pradesh, said AK Modgil, district education officer of Vidisha city.

"We have issued show-cause notices to them. Many are now citing reasons like the rule was not mentioned in their appointment letter, the childbirth was not deliberate or they have given their third child," Modgil said.

He said, in 2000, the Madhya Pradesh government specified that if any employee will have a third child born after January 26, 2001, then those employees will not be eligible for the job.

The education department official said that the administration did not inform the employees about this rule.

"A circular issued by the Madhya Pradesh government in the year 2000 specified that if any government employee had a third child born after January 26, 2001, then they'll be ineligible for the government job they are posted at. Every appointment letter post-January 26, 2001, specified the rule," the DEO said. -- ANI

The Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu unit president and K Annamalai has been given Y security in the wake of heightened threat perception by the ministry of home affairs while he is aggressively seen working to raise the footprint of the party in the state.

The 'Singham' fame former IPS officer is allegedly facing threats from Maoists and religious extremists.

The Union home ministry on Saturday ordered the 'Y' security by the Central Reserve Police Force for Annamalai.

The move has come on the back of three petrol bombs having been hurled at the party's headquarters in Chennai in February this year.

"The CRPF is requested to provide 'Y' category security cover to K Annamalai in Tamil Nadu, over and above the security cover provided to him by the state police, till further review, under intimation to this ministry," an official statement read.

As many as three petrol bombs were hurled at the Tamil Nadu BJP headquarters 'Kamalalayam' at T Nagar in Chennai in February this year. Annamalai had demanded that the National Investigation Agency should probe the incidents of throwing bombs, besides alleging a larger conspiracy.

The BJP leader Karate Thiagarajan had blamed the Tamil Nadu government for the alleged bomb attack at the state party office.

Annamalai, the policeman-turned-politician took charge of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit in July 2021.

A former IPS officer from Karnataka cadre, he joined the BJP in August 2020 after quitting civil services. -- ANI

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Bajwa on Saturday said that all disputes with India should be settled peacefully through dialogue, saying Islamabad continues to believe in using diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, to keep the 'flames of fire away from our region.'

Gen Bajwa said this at the last day of the two-day Islamabad Security Dialogue' conference that brought together Pakistani and international policy experts to discuss emerging challenges in international security under the theme Comprehensive Security: Reimagining International Cooperation.

The chief of the army staff said that with one-third of the world in the Gulf region and elsewhere involved in some sort of conflict and war, it is important that we keep the flames of fire away from our region.

Pakistan continues to believe in using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir dispute and is ready to move forward on this front if India agrees to do so, Gen Bajwa said.

His proposal for peace with India had a wider meaning as he indirectly suggested to have some sort of trilateral dialogue involving India, Pakistan and China to create an inclusive peace, as he said that apart from the Kashmir dispute, the India-China border dispute is also a matter of great concern for Pakistan and we want it to be settled quickly through dialogue and diplomacy.

"I believe it is time for the political leadership of the region to rise above their emotional and perceptual biases and break the shackles of history to bring peace and prosperity to almost three billion people of the region," Gen Bajwa said.

He, however, said that the adamant behaviour of the Indian leaders was a hurdle. -- PTI

Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary in Sri Lanka on Saturday has supplied 6,000 metric tonne of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board, to help ease the power crisis in the island country which is witnessing acute power cuts.

The consignment of fuel is part of $500 million oil line of credit extended by India.

"Standing with #Srilanka!!! @LankaIOCPLC supplied 6000 MT of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board today," the high commission of India in Colombo posted on Saturday.

The island nation is reeling from the worst economic crisis since its independence.

Triggered by a lack of foreign exchange, apart from fuel shortages and power outages there is also a severe shortage of essential commodities like cooking gas, food and medicines.

Petrol and diesel have are not been available in many places since Thursday.

Moreover, trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange had to be restricted for half to two hours.

Non-essential employees in the office have been asked to work from home till further notice, in a bid to save fuel.

On Friday, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a nationwide public emergency, after protestors angry over shortages of fuel and other essential commodities gathered outside his residence clashed with police.

At least 10 people were injured including journalists.

Sri Lanka's economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector. -- ANI

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15:21 AIR launches weekly programme for job seekers, students

The All India Radio on Saturday launched a weekly interactive programme for job seekers and students preparing for various competitive examinations.

The first episode of the 30-minute programme, Abhyaas, will air on 100.1FM GOLD at 9.30 pm on Saturday, the AIR's news services division said in a statement.

The programme has been launched with an aim to reach out to students and job seekers preparing for various competitive examinations, it said.

"The first episode of Abhyaas for competitive examinations, to be on air on 100.1 FM GOLD at 9.30 pm on Saturday, is on modern history," it said.

Listeners can also access the programme 'on Twitter at @airnewsalerts or on airnewsofficial YouTube Channel and on the NewsonAir App.'

The public broadcaster said the programme will be in Hindi and it will be broadcast every Saturday from 9:30 pm to 10 pm.

"The weekly interactive programme will include segments like explainers, factfile, examination calendar and question of the week with a musical break," the AIR said, adding, "A prominent academician will respond to the listeners' queries." -- PTI

India's foreign exchange reserves dipped by $2.03 billion in the week ended March 25, recording a sharp drop for the third consecutive week, as the Reserve Bank of India intervened in the currency markets by way of dollar sales to prevent a slide in the value of rupee amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to the RBI's weekly statistical supplement, the country's forex reserves dipped by $2.03 billion to $617.648 billion during the week ended March 25.

This is the third consecutive weekly fall in the country's forex reserves.

The forex reserves had slipped by $2.597 billion and $9.646 billion in the previous two weeks, respectively.

In the last three weeks for which the data is available the country's forex reserves have slumped by nearly $15 billion.

For the week ended March 11, India's forex reserves had slumped by $9.646 billion, the sharpest decline in nearly two years.

The decline in the country's forex reserves coincides with the week during which the rupee hit an all-time low.

The Indian rupee plunged to a record low of 77.02 against a US dollar on March 7.

For the week ended March 18, the forex reserves had dipped by $2.59 billion.

The forex reserves have slumped mainly due to a sharp drop in foreign currency assets.

The foreign currency asset, which is the biggest component of the forex reserves, slumped by $3.202 billion to $550.454 billion during the week ended March 25.

The foreign currency assets had slumped by $11.108 billion in the week ended March 11 and again by $703 million in the week ended March 18. -- ANI

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14:33 Kolkata-bound IndiGo flight develops snag during take-off, grounded

A Kolkata-bound flight was grounded at the Ranchi airport on Saturday after it developed a technical snag while taking off, officials said.

The 72-seater IndiGo flight with 62 passengers on board was to take off around 9 am, they said.

"The air-conditioner of the plane developed a snag and it stopped working. So, the flight was grounded for repair works," Ranchi airport director Vinod Sharma said.

Alternative arrangements were made for the passengers, he said. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday inaugurated a cross-border railway network, a power transmission line and launched India's RuPay payment card in Nepal after they vowed to significantly expand the bilateral ties in wide-ranging talks.

The two sides also inked four pacts to expand cooperation in areas of railways and energy.

In his statement to the media, Deuba said the boundary issue between the two countries was discussed and he urged Modi to resolve it through the establishment of a bilateral mechanism.

Modi said the friendly ties between India and Nepal are unique and such a relationship is not seen anywhere else in the world.

He said India has been and will continue to remain a firm companion in Nepal's journey for peace, prosperity and development.

Modi said the joint vision statement between the two sides on power cooperation will prove to be a blueprint for future cooperation in the sector.

He said it was agreed on the greater participation of Indian companies in Nepal's hydropower development plans. -- PTI

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14:06 25 Rohingya Muslims detained in JK's Ramban

The Jammu and Kashmir police detained 25 Rohingya Muslims in the Ramban district of the Union Territory and were sent to Hiranagar holding centre on Friday, said officials on Saturday.

Police officials said that these Rohingya Muslims were detained on Friday and their documents are being verified.

At present, they have been sent to the holding centre in Hiranagar town of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir.

"A total of 25 Rohingyas were detained by the Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday from Ramban, their documents are being verified. They have been sent to a holding centre in Hiranagar," the police said.

Earlier, on March 6 last year, 169 illegal immigrant Rohingyas were sent to the above-mentioned holding centre, following which the government had to conduct the process of nationality verification to pave way for their deportation. -- ANI

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13:25 Puducherry remains Covid-free for 3rd straight day

The union territory of Puducherry continued to remain coronavirus-free as no fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours and the number of active cases remained nil, a senior health department official said on Saturday.

No fresh fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Saturday and the death toll remained at 1,962, director of health G Sriramulu said in a release.

As 375 samples were tested during the last 24 hours and no fresh case surfaced, he said, adding there were no active cases in the Union Territory.

Puducherry remained COVID-19 free for a third straight day. Sriramulu said the test positivity rate was also zero and the fatality and recoveries remained 1.18 per cent and 98.82 per cent respectively.

He said the Department has so far tested 22,28,934 samples and has found 18,73,876 out of them to be negative.

Sriramulu said that the overall case load remained at 1,65,774 and the cumulative recoveries stood at 1,63,812.

The Health Department has so far administered 16,43,782 doses which comprised 9,53,466 first doses, 6,75,892 second doses and 14,424 booster doses. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held extensive talks with his visiting Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba covering various key facets of close neighbourly ties between the two countries.

Deuba, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a three-day visit.

"A renewed opportunity to deepen the special ties of friendship and cooperation between our two countries," external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter ahead of the Modi-Deuba talks.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Deuba on Friday evening.

It is Deuba's first bilateral visit abroad after becoming prime minister in July last year for a fifth time following a spell of political turmoil in Kathmandu. -- PTI

Actor Rajkummar Rao on Saturday said he has been a victim of a fraud where his PAN card was misused to take a loan on his name.

The 37-year-old actor claimed because of this fraud, his credit score was affected and asked the officials at Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited to look into the matter.

"#FraudAlert My pan card has been misused and a small loan of Rs.2500 has been taken on my name. Due to which my cibil score has been affected. @CIBIL_Official please rectify the same and do take precautionary steps against this," Rao tweeted.

The official Twitter account of CIBIL is yet to reply to the actor. On the work front, Rao will be seen in films like Hit, Monica, O My Darling and Bheed, all expected to release this year. -- PTI

Seven key Bills, including "The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill" and "The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill", have been listed on the agenda of the Rajya Sabha for the last week of the ongoing Budget session.

Six of the seven Bills listed on the agenda of the Rajya Sabha have already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

'The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022,' passed by the Lok Sabha last week, proposes to authorise the police to take measurements of convicts and accused for the purposes of their identifications and investigations in criminal matters to preserve records.

Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah is slated to pilot 'The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022', which proposes the unification of the three municipal corporations.

The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by a voice vote while various amendments moved by the Opposition MPs were rejected.

The four other Bills are 'The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022', relating to Tripura, 'The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022', pertaining to Uttar Pradesh, 'The Indian Antarctica Bill, 2022', and 'The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities Amendment) Bill, 2022.' -- ANI

Hollywood star Jim Carrey has said that he is 'fairly serious' about taking retirement from acting after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

The 60-year-old actor said he has done 'enough' and will consider stepping away or taking a break from the movies following his reprisal of the villainous Robotnik in the upcoming sequel.

"Well, I'm retiring. Yeah, probably. I'm being fairly serious. It depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break," Carrey said in an interview with Access Hollywood.

The star added that he enjoys his "quiet life" and painting.

"I really like my quiet life and I really like putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life and I feel like and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists I have enough. I've done enough. I am enough."

Carrey is not new to extended acting breaks as last year's Sonic the Hedgehog marked his first major role in a studio movie since the 2014 sequel Dumb and Dumber To.

In between, the actor featured in the independent films The Bad Batch and Dark Crimes.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also features actors Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, James Marsden and Natasha Rothwell. -- PTI

Kalpana Kotagal

11:26 Biden nominates Indian-origin woman attorney and certified public accountant to key admin positions

United States President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Indian-origin civil rights attorney Kalpana Kotagal and certified public accountant Vinay Singh to key administration positions.

Kotagal is the nominee for Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission while Singh has been nominated as Chief Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the White House said on Friday.

Kotagal, who is the daughter of immigrants from India, is a partner at Cohen Milstein, a member of the firm's Civil Rights and Employment practice group, and co-chair of the firm's Hiring and Diversity Committee.

She is the co-author of the seminal legal template Inclusion Rider'.

Kotagal is also a diversity, equity and inclusion expert, and represents disenfranchised people in employment and civil rights litigation involving issues related to Title VII, Equal Pay Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, the White House said.

Indian-American Impact, nation's leading civic Indian American and South Asian organisation, welcomed the nomination of Kotagal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

India and Australia on Saturday signed an economic cooperation and trade agreement under which Canberra would provide duty free access in its market for over 95 per cent of Indian goods such as textiles, leather, jewellery and sports products.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement was inked by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan in a virtual ceremony, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.

This is truly a watershed moment for India-Australia relations, Prime Minister Modi said.

Morrison added that the pact will further deepen Australia's close ties with India.

The agreement will help in taking bilateral trade from USD 27 billion to USD 45-50 billion in the next five years, Goyal said.

Australia is offering zero duty access to India for about 96.4 per cent of exports (by value) from day one. This covers many products which currently attract 4-5 per cent customs duty in Australia.

Labour intensive sectors which would gain immensely include textiles and apparel, few agricultural and fish products, leather, footwear, furniture, sports goods, jewellery, machinery, electrical goods and railway wagons.

Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India, while New Delhi is Canberra's 9th largest partner. Bilateral trade in goods and services stood at USD 27.5 billion in 2021.

India's goods exports were worth USD 6.9 billion and imports aggregated to USD 15.1 billion in 2021.

Major exports by India to Australia include petroleum products, textiles and apparels, engineering goods, leather, chemicals and gems and jewellery.

Imports mainly include raw materials, coal, minerals and intermediate goods. -- PTI

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11:08 Russia accuses Ukraine of striking its fuel depot

Russia has accused Ukraine of a fire that broke out at a fuel depot in Belgorod, a Russian city near the Ukrainian border, even as war continues to rage in Ukraine and both countries are in the midst of peace talks to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Russia said the fire was caused by an airstrike from Ukrainian helicopters. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, however, told CNN it had no information about the incident. When asked whether it was Ukraine who had carried out the attack, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, echoed the same sentiment and said that he could not verify it.

The Russian Ministry of Defence on Friday stated that two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters carried out an attack on a fuel storage facility in southern Russia.

"On April 1, at about 5:00 a.m. Moscow time, two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters entered the airspace of the Russian Federation at extremely low altitudes. Ukrainian helicopters launched a missile attack on a civilian oil storage facility located on the outskirts of Belgorod. As a result of the missile hit, individual tanks were damaged and caught fire," Russian MOD spokesperson Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

UK Defence Ministry said in the latest intelligence update that oil tanks at a depot in Belgorod mean probable loss of fuel and ammunition supplies to the Russian forces.

The update further suggested that the Friday strike at the depot will likely add more strain to Russia's already stretched logistic chains.

Meanwhile, Russian troops are "slowly but noticeably" moving out of the north of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Friday.

"The occupiers are withdrawing forces in the north of our country. The withdrawal is slow but noticeable. Somewhere they are expelled with battles. Somewhere they leave positions on their own," Zelenskyy said.

He also urged Ukrainians to remain cautious in the north as troops withdraw.

10:55 India records 1,260 new Covid cases, 83 deaths

India's virus tally rose to 4,30,27,035 with 1,260 fresh cases being reported in a day, while the number of active infections further declined to 13,445, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday.

The death toll from the pandemic climbed to 5,21,264 with 83 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The active cases count comprised 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent, the health ministry said.

A reduction of 227 cases has been recorded in the number of active COVID-19 cases in a span of 24 hours, the data showed.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.24 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.23 per cent, according to the health ministry.

10:20 Prices of commercial LPG in 4 metros

Liquefied petroleum gas prices for commercial cylinders were hiked by Rs 250 while the domestic LPG cylinder rates were kept unchanged.

Here are the prices of commercial LPG in four metros.

Actor Will Smith on Friday announced that he has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, days after he slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars.

"I have directly responded to the Academy's disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," Smith's publicist told ANI.

The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home, he said.

Smith, in a statement, said he was "heartbroken" over the incident and "betrayed the trust of the Academy."

"I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work," Smith stated.

"I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate," he added.

Smith had previously apologized to the academy and to Rock.

A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the Oscars.

Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage after he got miffed at the latter's joke directed at his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

The ongoing war in Ukraine that has displaced millions of people is a result of the aggression of the Russian leadership and its president Vladimir Putin, the White House has said.

"This is a war of aggression by the Russian leadership, by President Putin that has left millions of people displaced, homeless; has targeted civilians, hospitals and other innocent people across Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Friday.

"We know who the aggressor is; that is President Putin and Russia. And beyond that, I do not have any comment on military tactics," she said.

The official, however, refrained from commenting on the Russian statement that an apparent attack by Ukraine on one of its fuel depots is making it harder for Russia to stay engaged in the talks to end the war.

"We have seen those reports. We are not in a position to comment on the Kremlin's statements. I would note Ukraine has not made any statements or confirmation of these reports," she said.

"I would also note that this is a war that President Putin started -- a brutal war with Russia's forces continuing to bombard cities across Ukraine and commit terrible acts of violence. We have seen the people of Ukraine fight valiantly in the face of unprovoked Russian brutality, but there is one aggressor here, and that is President Putin and the Russian military at his direction," Psaki said.

In Tampa for the Central Command change of command ceremony, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Putin's invasion of his sovereign neighbour is unprovoked and unjust.

"And the Ukrainians are fighting bravely to defend their lives, democracy, and their freedom," he said.

Earlier, Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with his British counterpart Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss, during which the two diplomats emphasised the continued importance of transatlantic unity to support Ukraine, and coordinate further swift and consequential actions against those who support Putin's war of choice on Ukraine.

"The two discussed the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting and developing additional possible actions to ratchet up our response to Putin's continued assault on the Ukrainian people," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said. -- PTI

Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the Mumbai cruise drug case involving Aryan Khan, died of a cardiac arrest in his rented apartment in Mahul area on Friday.

Advocate Tushar Khandare, who was representing him, confirmed Prabhakar's demise.

Prabhakar Sail was an independent witness who claimed that Narcotics Control Bureau officials made him sign nearly 10 blank papers and he also claimed that he overheard a phone conversation about Rs 25 crore extortion.

Petrol and diesel prices were on Saturday hiked by 80 paise a litre each, taking the total increase in rates in the last 12 days to Rs 7.20 per litre.

Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 102.61 per litre as against Rs 101.81 previously, while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 93.07 per litre to Rs 93.87, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.

Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local taxation.

This is the 10th increase in prices since the ending of a four-and-half-month long hiatus in rate revision on March 22.

In all, petrol prices have gone up by Rs 7.20 per litre. -- PTI

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday issued an extraordinary gazette declaring a public emergency in the island nation with effect, local media reported.

The Gazette has been issued considering the prevailing situation in the country and in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community, Daily Mirror reported. It further reported that Sri Lankan President has issued the gazette under the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act. No. 8 of 1959. Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act, No.28 of 1988.

Moreover, Sri Lanka has also imposed a police curfew in Western Province for six hours.

"Police curfew will be in effect within the Western Province from midnight until 6.00 a.m. April 2 (tomorrow)," Police Spokesperson said, according to Daily Mirror.

Several protestors gathered outside the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday as the island nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis.

The protest was staged over the government's failure to address the existing issues in the island nation. The protesters clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana.

After the protest, at least ten people were injured including journalists.

Sri Lanka's economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a food, fuel, power and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance. -- ANI

An aerial view of Chernobyl nuclear power plant/Reuters

00:16 IAEA chief to head mission to Chernobyl

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi said Friday that he would head an assistance and support mission to Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant 'as soon as possible' to help ensure the facility's safety.

Grossi tweeted on Friday that the mission "will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to Ukraine."

He also told a press conference in Vienna later on Friday that the IAEA mission would be in Chernobyl "very, very soon."

The IAEA chief has just returned from his recent visits to Ukraine and Russia, during which he held discussions with officials on both sides about ensuring the security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities.

The IAEA said on Thursday that the agency had been informed by Ukraine that Russian forces, which had been in control of the Chernobyl plant, were leaving the facility and had transferred control of the plant to Ukrainian personnel.

At Friday's press conference, Grossi said he had not discussed with Russian officials why Russian forces left Chernobyl.

Grossi said the IAEA was still unable to confirm reports that Russian forces were contaminated with radiation at the Chernobyl plant.

He added that the general radiation level around the plant was "quite normal."

"There was a relatively higher level of localized radiation because of the movement of heavy vehicles at the time of the occupation of the plant, and apparently this might have been the case again on the way out," he said. -- ANI

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was on the way to attend a function in North 24 Parganas district on Friday, returned from midway after complaining of uneasiness, a Raj Bhavan official said.

Dhankhar was travelling by car to Matua headquarter Thakurnagar, a little over 60 kms from Kolkata, to attend Baruni Mela.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke to Dhankhar over the phone and enquired about his health, he added.

A team of doctors from the state-run SSKM Hospital and a private hospital attended to the governor at the Raj Bhavan, the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Matua community online on the opening day of the fair on Wednesday. -- PTI

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