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Mon, 08 March 2021
Biden to address US on Thursday on Covid

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23:44   Biden to address US on Thursday on Covid
US President Joe Biden will deliver a primetime address on Thursday to mark one year since the start of the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced.

The speech will be Bidens first primetime address since becoming US president, and Psaki said he will use the speech to once again pay his respects to the more than 500,000 Americans who have died of coronavirus.

Biden will also likely tout his $1.9 trillion relief bill, which the Senate passed on Saturday. The House is expected to approve the bill tomorrow, and Biden could sign it as early as tomorrow night.

Psaki described the relief package as one of the most consequential and most progressive pieces of legislation in American history.
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23:36   Lockdown in 11 hotspots in Thane city from March 13 to 31
A lockdown between March 13 and 31  was declared on Monday in 11 hotspots in Thane city by the civic administration, officials said.

The order, issued by Thane Municipal Commissioner Vipin Sharma, said the decision was taken due to rise in COVID-19 cases in these areas in the past few days.

It said all restrictions that were in place during the nationwide lockdown declared earlier would be in force during this time as well.

As on Monday morning, the caseload of Thane district was 2,69,845, including 6,302 deaths.

-- PTI
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23:19   BJP's central leadership to decide on Mithun Chakraborty's role in TN polls
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief L Murugan on Monday said that the central leadership of the party will decide about campaigning by actor Mithun Chakraborty in the poll-bound state.

"It depends on the central leadership whether Mithun Chakraborty will campaign for Tamil Nadu polls or not," Murugan said. 

Chakraborty joined the BJP at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Sunday.

While joining BJP, Chakraborty said his dream came true by sharing a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I had never imagined that I will be sharing the dais where the biggest leader of the biggest democracy our beloved PM Narendra Modi is about to speak. I always had a dream to work for the poor, downtrodden. Now, it is seen as being fulfilled," he said at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.

Chakraborty, 70, was a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress for two years. He resigned from the position in 2016 citing health reasons after his name surfaced in the Saradha ponzi scam.

-- ANI
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22:49   2.26 crore vaccinated against COVID-19
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 2.26 crore with 16,96,588 jabs being given till Monday evening, the Union Health Ministry said.
 
A total 16,96,588 vaccine doses were given till 9 pm on Monday, the fifty-second day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
On Monday, 14,30,954 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 2,65,634 healthcare workers and frontline workers received 2nd dose of vaccine according to provisional report, the ministry said, adding final reports would be completed for the day by night.
The 14,30,954 beneficiaries who got the first dose include 10,33,480 beneficiaries aged over 60 and 1,78,257 aged between 45-60 with specified comorbidities, according to the data.

Cumulatively 2,26,85,598 vaccine doses have been administered in the country, according to the provisional report till 9 pm. 

-- PTI
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22:08   Vaccinated people may meet without masks: CDC
Fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials.

The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low-risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the guidance on Monday.

The guidance is designed to address a growing demand, as more adults have been getting vaccinated and wondering if it gives them greater freedom to visit family members, travel, or do other things like they did before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world last year.

"We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love," said CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky, in a statement.

The CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people continue to wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 30 million Americans -- or only about 9 per cent of the US population -- have been fully vaccinated with a federally authorised COVID-19 vaccine so far, according to the CDC.

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22:05   JEE Mains results announced, 6 candidates score perfect 100
Six candidates scored perfect 100 in engineering entrance exam JEE-Mains, results of which were announced on Monday, according to officials of the National Testing Agency.
 
The perfect scorers are Pravar Kataria and Ranjim Prabal Das from Delhi, Guramrit Singh from Chandigarh, Saket Jha from Rajasthan, Sidhanth Mukherjee from Maharashtra and Ananth Krishna Kidambi from Gujarat.
According to officials, NTA scores are normalised scores across multi-session papers and are based on the relative performance of all those who appeared for the examination in one session. 
"The marks obtained are converted into a scale ranging from 100 to 0 for each session of examinees. NTA score is not the same as the percentage of marks obtained," a senior official said. 
The National Testing Agency had conducted the February session examination from February 23 to 26, 2021. The exam was conducted at over 800 centres in 331 cities, including nine centres abroad -- Colombo, Doha, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore and Kuwait.

-- PTI
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21:50   Batla House case: Convict to appeal judgment
Hours after the conviction of accused Ariz Khan by a Delhi court in the Batla House Encounter case, his lawyer MS Khan said he will challenge the judgment in a superior court. 

"I am yet to go through the judgment being away from Delhi. However, I would add that the entire material was not free from doubt, the story of the prosecution has many holes but the court has delivered its verdict convicting my client and one has to bow to it. But I am going to challenge it in a superior court as I am hopeful that one day justice will prevail," Khan said.

A Delhi court on Monday convicted Ariz Khan, who was arrested in February 2018 in connection with the 2008 Batla House encounter case.

Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav convicted Ariz Khan under Section 186, Section 333, Section 353, Section 302, Section 307 and Section 174 A IPC and provision of arms act.

The court said that Khan and others had intentionally murdered Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, an encounter expert, and caused hurt to Head Constable Balwant Singh and Rajbir Singh.

Khan is allegedly associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. He was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police after a decade of allegedly being on the run.

According to Delhi Police, Khan was at the spot during the Batla encounter but managed to escape during the encounter on September 19, 2008, in Delhi's Jamia Nagar, in which two Indian Mujahideen terrorists were killed and as many arrested.

Senior Public Prosecutor AT Ansari represented Delhi Police.

-- ANI
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21:25   75th Independence Day will celebrate spirit of freedom struggle: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that this year's Independence Day celebration will celebrate the spirit of the freedom struggle.

"This year's 75th Independence Day will celebrate the spirit of freedom struggle and reflect the feeling of sacrifice. In this, there should be a tribute to the martyrs of the country and a resolve to build an India of their dreams. It will have a glimpse of the pride of Sanatan India and the glow of modern India as well," PM Modi said in Hindi while speaking at the committee meeting to mark 75 years of India's Independence. 

"We have to celebrate the festival of 75 years of independence while taking along 130 crore countrymen with us. Public participation is the basic spirit of this event," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel held the first meeting on the commemoration of 75 years of India's Independence titled 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav'.

India is going to celebrate its 75th Independence Day this year.

On January 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021's first Mann ki Baat had appealed to the countrymen to write about freedom fighters and stories of their struggle to mark the country's 75th Independence Day this year.

-- ANI
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21:11   India-Pak ceasefire:No violence at LoC in 1 week
In a positive development, more than a week after India and Pakistan agreed on "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire, the pact continues to be followed on the ground with no signs of violation. 

Officials from the Indian sides are upbeat even as violence has reduced at the Line of Control, something that comes as a major relief to civilians on both sides.

We are living in peace and happiness. We want both nations to maintain a ceasefire. Our children can play without fear of bullet or shells, said Ghulam Nabi, a villager.

On February 25, Indian and Pakistani militaries issued a rare joint statement. The statement that was issued simultaneously said, "both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 February 2021."

The statement came after Indian and Pakistani Director Generals of Military Operations or DGMOs achieved an understanding on February 22 during a "hotline" talk. During the talks, both sides "reviewed" the situation along the Line of Control.
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20:31   CBI begins vaccinating its officials against COVID-19
The CBI on Monday started anti-COVID-19 vaccination of its officials with its acting director Praveen Sinha taking the first shot, officials said.
 
The agency continued its investigations and prosecution process during the pandemic even though over 680 officials, about nine per cent of the total staff, contracted the virus while working on various cases and four officials succumbed to the deadly disease.
After getting nod from the ministry of health, several senior officers led by Sinha took the jab on the first day of the process.
The vaccination drive will continue on different days, CBI spokesperson R C Joshi said.
"CBI offices in various states and union territories have also been advised to get the COVID-19 vaccination of officers and staffs done in coordination with local authorities," he said.

-- PTI
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20:18   Maha improves Covid tally with 8,700 cases
After reporting over 11,000 cases for two days, Maharashtra on Monday logged a significant slump in Covid-19 cases with 8,744 infections.

Maharashtra on Sunday had added 11,141 new infections, taking the tally to 22,19,727 while 38 deaths pushed the toll to 52,478, the state Health department said. 

On Friday and Saturday, the state reported 10,216 and 10,187 cases, respectively.

Maharashtra Health Minister on Monday called the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the state alarming even as he mentioned that the state may be looking at a partial lockdown if things get worse.
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19:58   42,848 defence personnel tested Covid positive: Govt
A total of 42,848 personnel of tri-services have tested positive for Covid-19 till date, said Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik. 

The number of Covid-19 positive cases in the Indian Army have been 32,690 and the fatality rate stands at 0.24 per cent till date, Naik said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. 
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19:29   U'khand CM in Delhi amid rumours of his sacking
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat arrived in New Delhi on Monday to meet top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders amid speculation that the party is mulling a change of leadership in the hill state.

Two central leaders, BJP vice president Raman Singh and general secretary Dushyant Singh Gautam, are learned to have submitted their report to party president J P Nadda on their return from the state where they had gone to speak to senior state BJP leaders.

The party leadership has not made any official communication regarding the development in Uttarakhand except Gautam saying that Singh and he had gone there to plan events to mark the state government's fourth anniversary and then its last year before the assembly polls early next year.

A section of state leaders are reportedly miffed with Rawat's leadership and are of the view that the party's electoral prospects under him may not be very bright.

The party may also go for a cabinet reshuffle in the state, sources said.

Rawat was named the chief ministerial candidate by the BJP after it stormed to power in 2017, winning 57 of 70 seats in the state assembly.   -- PTI
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19:20   Owaisi, Dinakaran join hands for Tamil Nadu polls
Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen has formed an alliance with T T V Dinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam on Monday for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

AIMIM will contest three Assembly constituencies including Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri and Sankarapuram.

Elections to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2. -- ANI
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18:46   Mamata to file nomination on Wed, Suvendu on Fri
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will file her nomination papers from the Nandigram seat on March 10, while her rival and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Suvendu Adhikari will do the same two days later, as the stage is set for the Battle Royale in the constituency.

After the release of the party manifesto on Tuesday, the Trinamool Congress supremo would leave for Nandigram in the evening and file her nomination papers the next day, party sources said.

She would then attend a workers' meet and return to Kolkata on March 11.

Adhikari, whose name was announced as the BJP candidate from the seat on Saturday, will file the nomination on March 12.

"After filing nomination papers, he will address a rally there," BJP leader Kanishka Panda said.

Nandigram, the cradle of the anti-land acquisition movement that catapulted Banerjee to power in 2011, will witness her once protege Suvendu Adhikari taking on her on April 1, in the second of the eight phases of polling.

For 50-year-old Adhikari, the contest in Nandigram will be a fight for his political survival as he had vowed to defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes in the seat or quit politics.

Adhikari won the Nandigram seat in the 2016 assembly election, while another TMC candidate emerged victorious from the constituency in 2011.

The former minister had quit the TMC and resigned from the assembly last year to join the BJP after having differences with the state's ruling party.

On the other hand, Banerjee will contest the Nandigram seat for the first time after relinquishing the Bhowanipore constituency in Kolkata, from where she had won twice.

The TMC supremo has rented a house in Nandigram and will campaign from there.

Elections in Bengal, poised to be a stiff contest between the TMC and the BJP, will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

Votes will be counted on May 2.   -- PTI
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18:30   Soldier found dead near LoC in J-K; suicide suspected
A soldier was found dead near the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, an Army official said on Monday.

The official said Gunner Trived Prakash, posted at Kachhal, was found dead due to fire from his service weapon, at sentry post on March 7.

"The circumstances and reason of his death are being investigated," the official said.

The official clarified that the jawan's death did not occur due to any ceasefire violation.   -- PTI
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17:55   Gainers and laggards as Sensex pares gains
The BSE gauge Sensex on Monday settled 35.75 points or 0.07 per cent higher at 50,441.07. 

On the Sensex chart, L&T, ONGC, HCL Tech, NTPC, Axis Bank and Infosys were major gainers (graphic alongside). 

On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, IndusInd Bank, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Auto and HDFC twins emerged as top laggards.
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17:50   Abdullakutty is BJP candidate for Malappuram LS bypoll
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday named its national vice president AP Abdullakutty as the candidate for the bypoll to Malappuram Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora had on Sunday said that the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-poll will be conducted along with the Kerala assembly polls in 140 constituencies in the state. 

Abdullakutty was earlier sacked from the Congress for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

"The BJP's landslide victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections is the affirmation of the people's faith in Modi's vision and policies," read the social media post that got him into trouble. 

Abdullakutty was also suspended from the CPI-M in 2009 for praising Modi who was then the chief minister of Gujarat. Later, he joined the Congress and was elected to the Kerala assembly in 2011. 

The election for 140-member Kerala assembly in 14 districts will be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will be on May 2. 
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17:43   Something fishy: Uddhav on NIA taking over probe
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the NIA taking over the case of a vehicle laden with explosives being found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai suggests something was "fishy". 

Thackeray said governments come and go, but the official administrative machinery remains the same and one needs to trust it. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case following orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs, an official spokesperson said on Monday. 

The agency is in the process of re-registering the case, the spokesperson added. 

On Sunday, the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) registered the FIR against unidentified persons on the order of the state home department under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy).

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said in the Assembly on Monday that state police were capable of solving the case of auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran's death and the recovery of the explosives-laden car near Ambani's residence. Hiran, the purported owner of the vehicle, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on Friday. 

 Thackeray said, "We had handed over the case of the vehicle laden with explosives and the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiran to the ATS. The NIA taking over the case shows something was fishy." The ATS will continue to conduct its probe into Hiran's death, the CM said. He said the opposition does not have faith in the state machinery and wanted to show it doesn't function. "If that is so, why is it demanding that the state government reduce taxes on fuel?" the chief minister asked. -- PTI
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17:36   Women-led development taking place under PM: Smriti
Union Textiles and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the narrative has shifted from women's development to women-led development.

She also stated that now women not only lead change for themselves but also for other women, adding that for the first time Gender Inclusion Fund was introduced into the National Education policy. 

"Under PM's leadership, the narrative has shifted from women's development to women-led development. We now lead change not just for us but also for other women. Because of this, for the 1st time in National Education policy's history, we have Gender Inclusion Fund", said the Union Minister while addressing a gathering of women MPs and journalists on the occasion of International Women's Day.

She further said, "There are still skies to touch. Our flag and Constitution are one despite being from different political ideologies."
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17:09   Fight between me & BJP in all 294 seats: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "spreading lies and canards" against the TMC government, and said voters, this time, would witness 'Didi versus BJP' fight in all 294 constituencies of the poll-bound state. 

Taking a dig at Modi over inclusion of his picture in COVID-19 vaccination certificates, she said the "day wasn't far when the country will be named after him". 

Asserting that she will return to power for the third consecutive time in Bengal, the feisty TMC boss said, "The fight is between me and the BJP in all 294 seats." 

 "They (BJP leaders) will come to Bengal only during elections and spread canards and lies. He is lecturing us on women's safety. What is the situation of women in BJP-ruled states? What is the situation in Modi's favourite Gujarat? "The prime minister has named a stadium after him. He has put his photographs on COVID-19 vaccination certificates. A day will come when the country will be named after him," Banerjee, who led a rally in Kolkata on the occasion of International Women's Day, stated. 

Rebutting the PM's claim that women do not feel safe in Bengal, she said, "Had that been the case, they wouldn't have been able to move around freely at night."

Hitting out at the PM, Banerjee also said that Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should shift focus on BJP- ruled states, including 'model state' Gujarat, "where, media reports suggest, four rapes and two killings have been recorded every day over the past two years." 

 The TMC rally, which commenced in College Square area in central Kolkata, concluded near Dorina crossing, five kilometres away. Senior party leaders Chandrima Bhattacharyaa and Mala Roy joined the march.
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17:01   TMC leaders join BJP
TMC MLAs Sonali Guha, Dipendu Biswas, Rabindranath Bhattacharya, Jatu Lahiri and TMC candidate from Habibpur Sarala Murmu join BJP in presence of West Bengal party president Dilip Ghosh, BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Mukul Roy.
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16:48   Denied poll ticket, 2 TMC MLAs join BJP
Denied poll ticket, sitting Trinamool Congress MLAs Rabindranath Bhattacharya, Sonali Guha join BJP. 

Reports say, Guha has had a conversation with BJP leader Mukul Roy in the matter. 

Guha, a four-time MLA from Satgachia in South 24 Parganas, was once a member of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's innermost circle. The TMC has announced the candidature of Mohan Chandra Naskar from that seat.
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16:26   Sensex makes it to 50K, Nifty below 15,000
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty eke out gains on Monday after two sessions of decline as investors snapped up energy, IT and pharma shares. After fighting multiple bouts of volatility during the session, the BSE gauge Sensex settled 35.75 points or 0.07 per cent higher at 50,441.07. 

Intraday, the index rose as much as 667 points, but pared most of its gains tracking weakness in global markets. The NSE Nifty ended with a gain of 18.10 points or 0.12 per cent at 14,956.20.

 On the Sensex chart, L&T, ONGC, HCL Tech, NTPC, Axis Bank and Infosys were major gainers. On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, IndusInd Bank, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Auto and HDFC twins emerged as top laggards. In other Asian markets, equities suffered losses amid sustained volatility in view of concerns over rising bond yields. -- ANI
Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rahul Gandhi in 2018
Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rahul Gandhi in 2018
16:05   Scindia could've become CM with Cong: Rahul
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia could have become chief minister with the Congress but has become a backbencher in the BJP, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday.

According to sources, while speaking to the Youth Wing of the party about the importance of Congress organisation, Gandhi said, "He (Scindia) would have become the Chief Minister had he stayed with Congress but Scindia has become a backbencher in the BJP. Scindia had the option to strengthen the organisation by working with Congress workers. I told him - One day you will become the Chief Minister. But he chose another route." 

Sources further informed that Gandhi further said, "Write it down, he will never become Chief Minister there. He will have to come back here for that."

He also instructed the Youth party workers to fight the ideology of RSS and not be afraid of anyone.

Scindia had resigned from the Congress party and joined the BJP in March last year. -- ANI
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16:00   Cousins in love with same girl kill themselves
Two cousins suspected to be in love with the same girl allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train in Rajasthan's Bundi district, police said on Monday. The incident took place near Gudla village on Sunday night and they have identified as Mahendra Gurjar (23) and Devraj Gurjar (23), residents of Keshavpura village under the Dablana police station in Bundi district, police said. 

 Area SHO Lakhanlal Meena said both had got a name, Asha, engraved on their arm. Pictures and details in their mobile phones suggest that both were in love with the same girl, he said, adding that whereabouts of the girl are yet to be ascertained. Prima facie, the two cousins committed suicide. However, no suicide note has been recovered, the SHO said. Police handed over the bodies to family members and lodged a case under Section 174 of the CrPC, he said. PTI
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15:56   COVID-19: Singapore to start vaccinating migrant workers
Singapore will start vaccinating migrant workers against COVID-19 as part of its national immunisation strategy, starting with 10,000 people living in the country's five largest dormitories. 

 This batch of 10,000 workers have never been infected by COVID-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday, announcing the vaccination programme for the migrant workers. 

 The migrant workers, which include a huge number of Indians, make up about 90 per cent of Singapore's COVID-19 tally, which stands at 60,046. The death toll is 29. The packed dormitories housing the foreign labourers were the biggest infection clusters during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in the island last year. Infections among the foreign workers have fallen in the past few months, with no new cases reported on most days, according to a report by Channel News Asia. Workers who have received both doses of the vaccine would be subjected to a lower frequency of testing, ie., every 28 days, instead of the current 14-day cycle, the Channel reported. Vaccinations will progressively be made available to all other migrant workers, the MOH said.
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15:13   Woke, rich and unemployed
'Nikhila Chawla (name changed) is 25. She is a post graduate who carries very stringent views on gender equality and patriarchy. She is vocally politically far left. But is unable to find a job that earns anything, let alone sustain her lifestyle that befits the daughter of a rich Mumbai doctor. Chawla totally fails to see the contradiction of her woke views, her expensive habits and her reality. Two generations ago her situation would not have been an issue, since an arranged marriage would have solved the income problem. But this age cohort grew up with the new ideas of liberation and are sensitive to issues of gender and patriarchy but see absolutely no conflict on being dependent on the father's income and wealth. Of being a 'comrade' while sipping sparkling water at the latest happening hub in town that she does not pay for.' 

Personal finance writer Monika Halan on the thin sliver of population accounting for just 8% of the 286 million households that benefitted the most in relative terms from India's 1991 reform and whose indulgence towards their children has had very different outcomes than imagined, here.
A crowd gathers during the Batla House encounter
A crowd gathers during the Batla House encounter
15:08   Batla House: IM man convicted for killing cop
A Delhi court on Monday convicted Ariz Khan, allegedly associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, for the murder of Delhi police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and other offences in connection with the 2008 Batla House encounter. Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav said the evidence produced by the prosecution duly proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge said that it was duly proved that Ariz Khan and his associates caused murder of police official and fired gunshot on the police official. 

The court will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on March 15. Inspector Sharma of the Special Cell of Delhi was killed during the 2008 Batla House encounter in Jamia Nagar in south Delhi. 

A trial court in July 2013 had sentenced Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Ahmed to life imprisonment in connection with the case. His appeal against the trial court's verdict has been pending in the high court. Ariz Khan had fled from the spot and was declared proclaimed offender. He was arrested on February14, 2018 and faced the trial.
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15:02   It's an all-women team at Delhi airport ATC ops today
An all-women team takes charge of ATC operations at Delhi's IGI airport "Since a few years, we're working towards offering equal opportunities to women. We're recruiting around 25-30% women in different fields,"says Chairman, Airports Authority of India.

"It's a great experience working with the women's team at IGI Airport tower. It's a stressful job where you've to take many quick decisions. Many facilities provided to us keeping in mind that females are working equally hard as the men," Shilpam Ratan, Manager, ATC, Delhi Airport
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14:57   NIA to probe bomb threat to Ambani home
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will investigate the case relating to the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai. 

The NIA is in the process of re-registering the case, it says.

The case is being re-registered since the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had registered an FIR for alleged criminal conspiracy, murder, and attempts to destroy evidence in the Mansukh Hiren death case.

The investigation of Mansukh Hiren death case will remain with the ATS and the case related to the recovery of explosives in a car near Mukesh Ambani's house will be probed by NIA, clarifies ATS.
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14:45   Budget session may conclude before polls: Sources
The budget session of Parliament is likely to be cut short and may conclude before the first phase of elections on March 27, while the two Houses will resume their normal timing of 11 am onwards from Tuesday, sources said.
   
Several parties had requested that the session, which was originally scheduled to continue till April 8, be curtailed due to the five assembly elections being held in eight phases till April 29.
 
While Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu announced the new timings for the Upper House on the first day of the second part of the Budget session, sources said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will make a similar announcement later in the day. 
A final decision on curtailment of the session will also be taken by Birla, who met floor leaders of various parties on the matter earlier in the day. -- PTI
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14:36   RS adjourns for the day without transacting business
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any legislative business amid an uproar by Opposition members who were demanding a discussion on the rising fuel prices.
   
The House was first adjourned for about an hour till 11 am and then again till 1 pm as opposition parties created an uproar over its demand to hold a discussion on the steep rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.
 
The Chair, however did not concede to their demands.
 
When the Upper House re-assembled at 1 pm, it was again adjourned till 1.15 pm and then till 1.30 pm. This time, Vandana Chavan, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for the day.
 
Meanwhile, the Upper House will meet at its normal hours of 11 am to 6 pm from Tuesday. The timings were changed to 9 am to 2 pm from last year's monsoon session due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The revised timings continued during the first leg of the budget session.
 
Before adjourning the proceedings, Chavan said: "On the request received from many members from various parties, Hon Chairman has decided that from Tuesday, that is tomorrow, March 9, 2021, the sitting of Rajya Sabha will commence from 11 am to 6 pm as per usual timings of the House."
 
The members will be seated in the chamber and the gallaries only with some distancing, Chavan said, adding that details of the sitting plan would be intimated to the party members later in the day.  -- PTI 
The jute folder that the PM tweeted
The jute folder that the PM tweeted
13:42   Buy jute from Bengal, PM tweets ahead of polls
PM Narendra Modi bats for jute products ahead of the do-or-die West Bengal elections. 

The PM tweeted, "I am surely going to use this  handmade Jute File Folder from West Bengal. Made by tribal communities of the state, you all must have a jute product from West Bengal in your homes!  #NariShakti."

The jute folder pictured alongside costs Rs 222 and was purchased online from Tribes of India, a govt of India, website promoting Indian handicrats. 

The Narendra Modi government is also considering raising the Minimum Support Price on Jute ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal in what would be the latest move as part of a continued outreach to farmers in the state.

The jute industry, once a huge revenue earner for West Bengal is a sorry state of decay and neglect. 
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13:33   First Lady gets vaccinated
First Lady Savita Kovind received her first vaccination dose at the Army R&R Hospital today. The President was vaccinated on March 3. 
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13:27   President's pat for Kiran Bedi as lt-governor of Puducherry
President Ram Nath Kovind has presented Kiran Bedi, former lieutenant governor of Puducherry with a baton decorated with the emblem of the Indian Republic, as a memento. 

In a letter addressed to Bedi, Kovind said, 'The method of discharging your constitutional duties evoked respect and appreciation from all. You ensured that the dignity of the position you held was maintained during your tenure and the invaluable contributions made by you revolved around the welfare of the people of Puducherry.' 

Further, he said, 'Your demeanour, achievements and attitude have been a source of inspiration to innumerable people in our country. I sincerely wish you a healthy and long life.'
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13:25   We have highest respect for women: SC
"We have the highest respect for women," a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde observed on Monday and said the reputation of the judiciary is in the hands of its lawyers, the "Bar". 

The observations by the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, were made while it was hearing a case of a 14-year-old pregnant rape victim seeking a nod to abort the foetus of almost 26 weeks. 

The comments -- on International Women's Day -- come in the wake of recent criticism against the Supreme Court that it had asked a rape accused in another case whether he would marry the victim, who was a minor when the crime was committed. 

CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat had written to the chief justice asking him to withdraw his remarks reportedly made during the March 1 hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of the accused. 

Several women's rights activists, eminent citizens, intellectuals, writers and artistes had also penned an open letter to the chief justice demanding an apology and retraction of the remarks. It was stated earlier that the apex court's query asking a rape accused whether he would marry the victim was based on 'judicial records' containing an undertaking from the man that he would marry the minor girl, a relative, after she turns 18 years of age.

Referring to the earlier case, the bench said on Monday, "We do not remember any case of marital rape was before us ...We have the highest respect for women." 

"Our reputation is always at the hands of bar," the top court observed. The view was endorsed by lawyers appearing in the case. Lawyer V K Biju, appearing for the petitioner in the case listed on Monday, said a section of the people is tarnishing the institution and some kind of mechanism is needed to deal this.

The Bar Council of India had backed the Supreme Court and asked activists who had written to the CJI to withdraw his remarks to not "scandalise" the highest judiciary and take "political mileage" of its proceedings. In the March 1 observations, the bench headed by Bobde was hearing a plea filed by the accused, serving as a technician in Maharashtra State Electricity Production Company Ltd, who had moved the apex court against a Bombay High Court February 5 order cancelling his anticipatory bail. 

The bench, also comprising Justices Bopanna and Ramasubramanian, had asked the accused, Are you willing to marry her? If you are willing to marry her then we can consider it, otherwise you will go to jail, observed the bench. We are not forcing you to marry, it said. The man's lawyer said the accused was initially willing to marry the girl but she had refused and now he was married to someone else. PTI
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13:10   Allotment of bonus shares not taxable, holds K'taka HC
Information: Kind courtesy CA (Dr) Raj Chawla:

1. No TDS u/s 195 on amount paid to foreign suppliers for use or re-sale of shrink wrapped software. Engineering Analysis Centre Of Excellence (P) Ltd Vs CIT (SC).

2. NRI facing double taxation even after DTAA relief can furnish specified information electronically in Form NR by 31.3.21. CBDT Circular 2 of 3.3.21.

3. Karnataka high court has held that the allotment of bonus shares is not taxable as income from other sources. This is because when a company allots bonus shares, it does not result in any change in the capital structure of the company. Also, when a shareholder receives a bonus share, the value of the original share that it holds reduces pro-rata.

4. Aadhar-based authentication of 18 services including learner's licence, licence renewal, duplicate license so that applicants do not need to visit regional RTO offices.

5. GSTN enabling the option to withdraw Nil Refund applications. GSTN has notified the upcoming changes in GSTR-1 Table-12. Tax-payers with turnover between Rs 50 cr and Rs 100 cr are enabled for testing on Sandbox.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
13:04   Oppn rejects TMC's demand for adjournment of Parl due to Assembly polls
Three main opposition parties - the Biju Janta Dal (BJD), Shiv Sena, and the Samajwadi Party - have rejected the Trinamool Congress' demand for adjournment of the Parliament session as five states are poll-bound. BJD's floor leader Prasanna Acharya in the Rajya Sabha rejected the TMC's request for adjournment of the second part of the Budget session.

"Elections are being held in five states, not all over the country. This is the budget session of Parliament, it is very important. The budget has to be discussed in the House so I don't think this session should be outrightly closed because constitutional requirements have to be performed. I don't see any logic in postponing the session due to elections," he said.

Earlier in the day, TMC MPs Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay urged Chairman Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the Budget Session of Parliament in light of the Assembly elections taking place in five states across the country.

"Due to the ongoing intensive election preparations in the State, the Members of Parliament from the All India Trinamool Congress would find it difficult to attend the second part of the Budget Session beginning from March 8, 2021," O'Brien wrote in his letter.

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI, "Budget session has been decided only after consultation with all these parties. I believe that the Chairman is competent enough to make a decision."

"The session may not be postponed but it could be curtailed. The winter session was postponed in name of COVID-19 because a discussion was not wanted in the House. So there is a lot of genuine demand here that elections are going on in the states. If the presence of everyone is necessary, a decision should be taken keeping that in mind," she added.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
12:52   86.25% new COVID cases in 6 states: Govt
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are the six states that cumulatively account for 86.25 per cent of the new coronavirus cases reported in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Monday. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 11,141, followed by Kerala with 2,100 and Punjab with 1,043 new infections, the ministry said. 

The Centre is regularly holding high-level review meetings with the states and Union territories showing a surge in new daily cases and the health secretary is also holding weekly review meetings, it said.

"Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been reporting a surge in the COVID daily new cases. They cumulatively account for 86.25 per cent of the new cases reported in the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement. The Centre has recently rushed high-level public health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab to assist in COVID-19 control and containment measures in view of the recent spike in cases, it added. 

The central government said it had already deputed high-level teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir to support them in their fight against the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. 

"These teams interact with the state/UT authorities and get a firsthand understanding of the challenges and issues being faced by them so as to strengthen their ongoing activities and remove bottlenecks, if any," the ministry said. 

It said eight states and Union territories -- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana -- were displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases. They have a weekly positivity rate more than the national average of 2.29 per cent. 

Maharashtra has the highest weekly positivity rate with 11.13 per cent, the government said. The number of active cases in the country reached 1,88,747 on Monday and it is 1.68 per cent of the total infections.
Representational image
Representational image
12:46   Maharashtra: Tiger run over by train in Gondia
A tiger was killed after being run over by a goods train in Maharashtra's Gondia district on Monday morning, a forest official said. The incident took place around 8 am between Gongli and Hirdamali railway station on Balharshah-Gondia route in the district located in the state's Vidarbha region, he said.

Hiradamali station master alerted forest officials about the incident. Forest personnel rushed to the spot, located around 100 km from Nagpur, and sent the carcass for an autopsy, the official said. On March 3, two sloth bears were run over by a passenger train near Gangajhari railway station in Gondia, officials earlier said. PTI
Sarala Murmu
Sarala Murmu
12:32   TMC changes candidate unhappy with seat
The TMC on Monday decided to replace Sarala Murmu, its candidate for Malda district's Habibpur assembly constituency, with Pradeep Baskey, amid speculation that she might join the BJP after allegedly being denied a seat that she desired. 

A senior TMC leader said the party nominates a candidate for a particular constituency "based on his or her winning possibility and not personal desires". 

A statement issued by the TMC said, "This is to inform that the candidate for Malda District's Habibpur Assembly Constituency, Sarala Murmu, had to be replaced due to her ill health. 

Pradeep Baskey will be contesting the upcoming Assembly Elections from this constituency." 

Murmu is all set to join the BJP despite getting ticket from Habibpur Assembly Constituency.

This is the first case of candidate replacement in the run-up to the political do-or-die contest for both the TMC and the BJP. PTI
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12:22   Maha sets up women-only vaccine centres for today
On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the Maharashtra government on Monday set up five COVID-19 vaccination centres in each district of the state exclusively for inoculating women. These centres will remain operational only for the day, a health official said. 

Women willing to take the vaccine can go to these centres during the day, he said. "Every district has set up five such centres today. However, there are 19 such centres in Thane district due to higher demand there. There are 189 such centres in the state exclusively for vaccinating women," the official said.

Maharashtra on Sunday added 11,141 new cases of coronavirus, taking the tally to 22,19,727. The state has so far reported 52,478 deaths due to the viral infection, as per official figures. PTI
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12:04   When you don't trust cotton masks...
Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Rajya Sabha MP, wears a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter mask to the Parliament.   "The efficiency of this mask is 99.7%, which means very little particulate matter goes into your body. This mask is designed by former MP Vishweshwar Reddy," he says.
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11:28   Rahul to address Youth Congress meet today
Ahead of upcoming Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address the national executive meeting of Indian Youth Congress office-bearers in the national capital on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, Youth Congress National President Srinivas B V said: "Indian Youth Congress is all set to organize National Executive meeting 2020-21 at IYC HQ." 

The Election Commission of India on February 26 announced the schedule for upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Polling will be held between March 27-April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2
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11:06   Stormy start at Budget session 2.0 in Parliament
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament was off to a stormy start today, with the Rajya Sabha being adjourned at 10.02 am, minutes after Question Hour began.

Congress MPs raised slogans demanding a debate over the rise in fuel prices in the past many weeks.

The two Houses met today amid a scorching Assembly polls campaign, continuing farmer protest, and, most importantly, spiking petrol, diesel, and LPG prices. At least one party, the Trinamool Congress, has sought an adjournment because key state elections are only a few weeks away and MPs may not be able to attend.

Although in the past few days, petrol and diesel rates have remained largely unchanged, they've been rising continuously over the many weeks.  

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday appealed to members to be present in the House, observe debates, and enrich their knowledge.
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10:41   Fresh snowfall, rain in parts of Himachal Pradesh
The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received light to moderate snowfall, leading to a dip in temperature of two to four degrees Celsius. Manmohan Singh, IMD Director of Himachal Pradesh on Monday said that Khadrala, tehsil Rohru received 10 cm snow. 

Mandi district will receive heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms in the next 24 hours and a yellow alert has been issued for other places. Singh further stated that the state will again witness heavy rainfall from March 10. A fresh western disturbance is very likely to affect the western Himalayan region and the adjoining plains of Northwest India from the night of March 9, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

The weather forecasting agency further predicted fairly widespread rain and snow along with thunderstorms, lighting, hailstorm over the western Himalayan region during March 10 and 11.  -- ANI
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10:24   Sensex rises 500 points, Nifty reclaims 15K
The BSE gauge Sensex rallied over 270 points and the NSE Nifty reclaimed the key 15,000-level in early trade on Monday, tracking a robust recovery in global shares. 

The 30-share Sensex was trading at 50,679.19, showing a rise of 273.87 points or 0.54 per cent. Likewise, the broader Nifty was quoted at 15,015.05, up 76.95 points or 0.52 per cent. 

 On the Sensex chart, ONGC, NTPC, Axis Bank, M&M, HDFC Bank and SBI were major gainers climbing as much as 4.3 per cent. Of the Sensex shares, 21 traded in the green. 

 In other Asian markets, equities staged a strong recovery after witnessing panic sell-offs for a couple of sessions as investors cheered the US Senate passing a USD 1.9 trillion stimulus bill for COVID-19 relief package. Investor worries also subsided after the rise in bond yields steadied and the US labour department reported stronger-than-expected jobs data for February. 

 Meanwhile, global crude oil benchmark Brent Futures rose 1.49 per cent to USD 70.73 per barrel. On Friday, the Sensex had dropped by 440.76 points or 0.87 per cent, and the Nifty had ended lower by 142.65 points or 0.95 per cent. On a weekly basis, however, the Sensex had gained 1,305.33 points or 2.65 per cent and the Nifty added 408.95 points or 2.81 per cent.
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10:20   Women join farmers' protest at Tikri
And in the real world, women from Punjab reach Tikri on Delhi-Haryana border to join the ongoing farmers' protest. "We urge the Central government to roll back the three black laws," a woman protester says.
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10:16   Men's Day too, says BJP MP
BJP's Rajya Sabha MP the danseuse Sonal Mansingh has other concerns: "I demand that International Men's Day should also be celebrated."
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10:15   IWD: Sena MP bats for 50% reservation for women
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, in Rajya Sabha speaks on the occasion of International Womens Day: "24 years ago, we proposed a 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament. Today, 24 years later, we should raise this to 50 per cent reservation for women."
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10:05   18,599 Covid cases, 97 deaths in 24 hours
India reports 18,599 new COVID-19 cases, 14,278 recoveries, and 97 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases: 1,12,29,398 Total recoveries: 1,08,82,798 Active cases: 1,88,747 Death toll: 1,57,853.
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09:48   Royals had concerns about son's skin colour: Meghan
In an interview with American talk show Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle revealed that members of the British royal family expressed concern to her husband Prince Harry about the potential skin colour of the couple's first child.

Meghan said that her son Archie was denied a royal title and royal protection and that there were "concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he is born."

In her sit-down interview with Oprah, which is aired on Sunday, Meghan said the palace decreed that Archie would not have any title, a move she says was "different from the protocol."

"They didn't want him to be a prince... which would be different from protocol, and that he wasn't going to receive security," the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah.

She added, "we have in tandem the conversation of, 'He won't be given security. He's not going to be given a title.' And also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born."

An astonished Oprah asked Meghan who made that comment, with the 'Suits' actor declining to answer, saying the revelation would be too damaging.

Regarding the conversations, which Meghan was not part of, Oprah asked, "Because they were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem? Are you saying that?"

Meghan responded, "I wasn't able to follow up with why, but that--if that's the assumption you're making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one, which was really hard to understand, right?"

Later in the interview, Oprah pressed Harry on the issue, asking him who was behind the comment. "That conversation I'm never going to share. It was awkward. I was a bit shocked," he said. 

He also said that the conversation happened early in his romance with Meghan. "That was right at the beginning: What will the kids look like?'"

When Harry and Meghan were married in May 2018, Queen Elizabeth gave them the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 
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09:25   Denied ticket by, TMC MLA Sonali Guha to join BJP
Sonali Guha, once a close aide of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and a four-time MLA of the party, on Sunday said she will join the BJP, two days after being denied a ticket for the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal.
Guha told reporters she was requested by BJP national vice president Mukul Roy to join the saffron party at its Hastings office here on Monday.
"I have been asked by Mukulda to come to the Hastings office tomorrow at 1 pm and will join the BJP there," she said.
The former deputy speaker of the West Bengal assembly iterated that she had never thought such a day would come in her life but was compelled to take the decision.
The MLA from Satgachia alleged that she was not given due respect in the Trinamool Congress.
"I had given all my efforts for the TMC. 'Didi' (Mamata Banerjee) and others know that very well. I will now devote myself equally to the new party," she said.
Guha had broken down on Friday immediately after getting the news that she was not being given the Trinamool Congress ticket this time.
"I was not informed about the decision and not taken into confidence," she said.
Several TMC leaders have quit the party in recent months to join the BJP as the saffron party mounts an aggressive all-out campaign to end Banerjee's 10-year-old reign in the state.
Elections to 294 assembly seats in West Bengal will be held in eight phases, beginning on March 27. 

Votes will be counted on May 2. -- PTI  
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09:13   Will fight against farm laws even if it takes 100 month: Priyanka Gandhi
"Let alone 100 days, even if it takes 100 months I will stand in support of the farmers," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Sunday as she slammed the government over the three Central farm laws accusing it of "insulting" the tillers.
 
The Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh has been holding 'kisan panchayats' in western parts of the state recently and has been attacking the government over a range of issues from farm laws to rise in price of cooking gas, petrol and diesel.
"The farmers have been struggling for 100 days. More than 200 farmers have been martyred. It was the responsibility of the government to go to the farmers and talk to them," she said in a tweet in hindi and shared pictures of her addressing a large gathering at the 'kisan panchayat' in Meerut on Sunday.
"The BJP government made fun of the martyrdom of the farmers, insulted the farmers," she alleged.
Priyanka Gandhi urged people to stand with the farmers' struggle and to take the movement to the villages.
"I promise you, let alone 100 days, even if it takes 100 months, I will stand in support of the farmers," she said.
As the farmers' protest against the Centre's new farm laws completed 100 days, the Congress on Saturday had said the period was a "black chapter" in India's democracy for the treatment meted out to the protesters and also marked 100 days of the ruling BJP's "arrogance".
Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
The government has denied allegations that it was trying to put an end to the MSP and the mandi system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured farmers that the MSP would continue.
Farmer leaders have already made it clear that they would not settle for anything less than the repeal of the farm laws. -- PTI 
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08:26   2nd part of Parliament's budget session from today
The second part of the budget session of Parliament is set to begin from Monday but its duration is likely to be curtailed as most top politicians would be busy campaigning for assembly polls taking place in March-April.
As of now, the session will conclude on April 8.
Sources said parties across the board support curtailing the session in view of polls in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. However, an official decision is yet to be taken.
The main focus of the government in the second part of the session is to get various demands of grants for the financial year 2021-22 passed along with the Finance Bill which carries various tax proposals.
Besides these mandatory agendas, the government has listed various bills for passage in the session.
Some of the bills listed by the government include the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, Electricity (Amendment) Bill, and Crypto currency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill.
The part two of the session is taking place at a time when political parties have their focus on elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
Senior leaders of various parties, especially the regional ones, are likely to skip most of the House sittings to focus on campaigning.
The first part of the Budget session started on January 29 with the President's address to joint sitting of both houses of Parliament. The address was boycotted by over 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, in support of the demand of the protesting farmers for the repeal of the three farm laws.
The Union budget was tabled on February 1.
Thereafter, House proceedings were washed out for four consecutive days over the opposition's demand for separate discussion on farm issues. To compensate the session's lost time, the House sat till midnight for several days. -- PTI 
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08:11   Farooq Abdullah pitches for thaw in Indo-Pak ties
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are praying that the recent agreement between India and Pakistan on ceasefire holds as it will bring them some relief.
 
Peace is in the larger interest of the region, he said.
"Hostilities on borders bring only agonies and miseries to the dwellers, halt agriculture and economic activities, and impact the way of life of every segment of society," Abdullah said while addressing NC workers in Udhampur.
On February 25, India and Pakistan announced that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors "in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders".
Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are praying for the success of this measure as it will bring them some relief.
Both the countries are spending a substantial portion of their budgets on defence procurement, thus compromising on the welfare of their poor populations, he said.
Peace is in the larger interest of the region, especially as the people of the two countries have been yearning for good relations, he added.
Invoking the words of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that "you can change your friends but not your neighbours", Abdullah said either the two countries can grow their friendship and prosper, or continue the enmity but then there will be no prosperity.
According to a joint statement issued by India and Pakistan on February 25, the two sides reiterated that the existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.
On the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, Abdullah said it is not just a Kashmir-centric issue and much more important for the regions of Jammu and Ladakh.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister exhorted the NC cadre to reach out to people and work for their betterment.
The strength of the National Conference comes from the people, who are the real fountainhead of power, which is not to rule but to serve the masses, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion, he said.
Abdullah said people's massive support for the NC despite numerous challenges reflects their deep faith in the party which has always cherished the pluralistic ethos that has been the force that binds regions and religions.
"We have to maintain, sustain and promote this spirit for making Jammu and Kashmir a better place to live in," he said. -- PTI 

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