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Centre issues warning against rising Covid cases in states
Amid a resurgence of Covid cases in China and US, the government today warned five states to not let their guard down. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in his letter to states, said that few states are reporting a higher contribution to India’s daily new Covid cases. “Given that...
Alternatives to Russian arms ‘too expensive’, US told
India is optimistic about talks next week with the US on military cooperation even as the Biden administration becomes more vocal in rebuking New Delhi over its reluctance to criticize Russia’s war in Ukraine, people familiar with the matter said. Recent public statements from Washington warning India about consequences...
CBI to challenge court relief to Ex-Amnesty India chief
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will challenge the Delhi court’s order setting aside the lookout circular issued against Aakar Patel, former Amnesty India chief, sources said. The central probe agency will file an appeal against the CBI court order this morning, the source added. Patel tweeted last evening...
UN suspends Russia from Human Rights Council
The United Nations General Assembly today suspended Russia from Human Rights Council after killings in Ukraine’s Bucha, reports news agency AFP. Evidence of civilian killings in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv — which Ukraine has blamed on Russian troops, allegations denied by Moscow — have shocked the world...
Russia admits ‘significant’ troop losses in Ukraine
Russian troops have suffered “significant losses” in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, while rejecting allegations of a massacre in the town of Bucha as “a well-staged insinuation”. In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, he said the military casualties were “a huge tragedy for us” but did...
India sends another 76,000 tonnes fuel to Lanka
As Sri Lanka goes through a severe economic crisis, India is providing fuel to Colombo so that it can meet some of its immediate needs and help stabilise its domestic economy. In the past 24 hours, at total of 76,000 tonnes of fuel were delivered to Sri Lanka and...
Ladakh power grid ‘hacked’ by Chinese state hackers
Chinese state-sponsored hackers targeted Indian electricity distribution centres near Ladakh in recent months, a report by private intelligence firm Recorded Future said on Wednesday, in a new potential flashpoint following a months-long military standoff between the two countries in the region. ”In recent months, we observed likely network intrusions...
Tharoor wants India to be more outspoken on Ukraine
Former Union Minister and career diplomat Shashi Tharoor today suggested that India should be a “little more outspoken” at the United Nations “as we have been on the Bucha tragedy”. While the country has a “duty” to look to its own interests, on balance is a permanent seat in...
Ex-Amnesty India chief stopped at Bengaluru airport
Former Amnesty International India Chief Aakar Patel was stopped from boarding a flight to the US at Bengaluru Airport today. Patel in a series of tweets said that he was put on the exit control list in connection with a case filed against Amnesty India International by the Central Bureau...
Lankan emergency off as govt sinks into deeper crisis
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect, even as the government struggled to quell protests amid the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades. The ruling coalition lost its majority in Parliament after at least...
Lanka Opposition spurns offer to join govt, protests continue
Sri Lanka’s opposition dismissed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s invitation to join a unity government as “nonsensical” and instead demanded his resignation over the country’s worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines. The Lankan President has named four ministers to maintain the legitimacy and stability of Parliament until a full Cabinet...
Biden calls for war crimes trial against Russia
President Joe Biden on Monday called for a war crimes trial over the alleged atrocities against civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, and said he wants more sanctions imposed on Russia. Calling President Vladimir Putin “a war criminal” and the killings “a war crime,” Biden told reporters there should be “a...
Entire Lankan cabinet quits as protests refuse to abate
All ministers of the Sri Lankan cabinet have resigned in the wake of the mass agitation against the policies of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Protesters have been demanding the resignation of the Rajapaksa family as they defied a curfew to take to the...
Haridwar hatemonger back in action, now in Delhi
Haridwar hatemonger Yati Narsinghanand — out on bail more than a month ago — today delivered another hate speech in national capital Delhi. The provocative speech, where he reiterated the call for use of weapons against Muslims, was delivered at a religious function in Burari, northeast Delhi, on Sunday....
Imran names US diplomat involved in conspiracy
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday named senior US diplomat Donald Lu as the person who was allegedly involved in the “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government through a no-confidence vote tabled by the Opposition. Addressing a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders here after the National Assembly...
Imran Khan calls elections; No-trust motion dismissed
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today asked the Governor to dissolve the national assembly and announced fresh elections ahead of an expected no-trust motion. In his address, Imran Khan asked the people of Pakistan to “Get ready for elections”. “The conspiracy to take down this government has collapsed,” he...
Sonia, Akhilesh, Yechuri on stage at Stalin’s Delhi office
Leaders of opposition parties including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah came on one stage at the opening of the DMK’s office in Delhi on Saturday. Leaders from the TMC, TDP, CPI, BJD and SAD were...
CJI stresses need for CBI to regain credibility and trust
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana today said the Central Bureau of Investigation, through its “actions and inactions” have often raised “questions on its credibility”. Speaking at a function of the Central agency, he also suggested that the need of the hour is to “reclaim social legitimacy and public...
