China done with most airline crash search, working on preliminary report

 China has completed the main search and rescue work at site of a China Eastern Airlines crash that killed 132 people last week and plans to complete a preliminary report

China has completed the main search and rescue work at site of a China Eastern Airlines crash that killed 132 people last week and plans to complete a preliminary report within 30 days of the event, an aviation official said on Thursday. A final report into the crash of the Boeing 737-800 will be completed and made public after the investigation is concluded, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) safety head Zhu Tao told reporters. Under international rules, a 30-day report must be lodged with U.N. aviation agency ICAO but it does not need to be public. A final report is due within a year of the crash, though sometimes it can take longer.

Jharkhand government to take over wholesale, retail sale of liquor

 The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved four major amendments in the excise policy related to rules of wholesale and retail sale of liquor and other related cases.

The Jharkhand government is all set to take over the wholesale and retail sale of liquor in a bid to push revenue collection to Rs 3,000 crore annually from the current Rs 1,800 crore in three years, an official said. The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved four major amendments in the excise policy related to rules of wholesale and retail sale of liquor and other related cases. The state excise and prohibitions department has earlier roped in an agency to prepare a roadmap to boost the sale of liquor.

What are carbon credits?

 Investors happily bid adieu to another profitable financial year. Environmentalists too were a relieved lot as the concept of carbon credits was gaining ground. Find out more about carbon credits

Winters are no more pleasant for people living in Delhi and NCR. The entire region is engulfed in smoke emanating from fires dotting the region. Burning the stubble is far more convenient and cheaper for farmers instead of plucking the crop from the roots. Several steps to wean them away proved futile. But now, a novel initiative is showing some promise. Indian Agricultural Research Institute is teaming up with a private firm to build a marketplace for trading in carbon credits by Indian farmers.

While carbon credit trading in agriculture is a nascent field in India, it can provide an alternative source of earning to farmers. With this, the farmers would be able to claim carbon credits for a host of practices such as not burning paddy straw, not ploughing land, and laser levelling of land. But, what exactly are carbon credits? Let us find out. Let us first understand carbon market mechanisms. As the UNFCCC explains, when a country sets a limit, or cap, on its greenhouse gas emissions, it creates something of value. That something is the right to emit.

BCCI spells terms for IPL media rights, sets base price at Rs 32,890 cr

 Rights will be sold through four categories and interested parties have to bid separately for each.

India’s cricket board has set a combined base price of Rs 32,890 crore for the media rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) under four packages, seeking to double the amount from the last five-year rights cycle ending in 2022.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, in the previous cycle, sold IPL media rights for Rs 16,348 crore. This year’s IPL season has 10 teams—two more than last year—and 74 matches. The board seeks to garner Rs 100 crore per match, the Economic Times reported. Media network Star India paid Rs 16,347.5 crore in 2017 to win IPL media rights for five years, competing in a consolidated bid. This time there will be four categories and interested parties have to bid separately for each.

The first category, with a base price of Rs 49 crore per game, is for television rights in the Indian subcontinent, The New Indian Express website quoted an IPL 2022 governing council member as saying. The television rights base price means each season will bring the BCCI at least Rs 3,626 crore. For a five-year period, it comes to Rs 18,130 crore. Category II is for digital rights, which has a base price of Rs 33 crore per game.

Russia launches Eurobond rouble buyback offer on looming $2 bn bond payment

 Russia has offered to buy back dollar bonds maturing next week in roubles in a move seen by analysts as helping local holders of the $2 billion sovereign issue receive payment

Russia has offered to buy back dollar bonds maturing next week in roubles in a move seen by analysts as helping local holders of the $2 billion sovereign issue receive payment, while also easing the country’s hard-currency repayment burden.

The finance ministry offer on Eurobonds maturing on April 4, Russia’s biggest debt payment this year, follows Western moves to tighten sanctions against the country over its invasion of Ukraine and to freeze Moscow out of international finance. Moscow, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation”, says Western measures amount to “economic war”. In response, it has introduced countermeasures and has demanded foreign firms pay for Russian gas in roubles rather than dollars or euros.

The bonds – issued in 2012 – would be bought at a price equivalent to 100% of their nominal value, the ministry said its statement. Buying back bonds will reduce the overall size of the outstanding bond when it matures on April 4. However, it was not immediately clear if the amount the government would buy back was limited or what would happen to holdings of creditors that would not tender their bonds.

Talks show Russia may be ready to 'make steps forward': Ukraine envoy to UN

 Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said the new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are showing that Moscow may be ready to move forward.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya on Tuesday (local time) said the new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are showing that Moscow may be ready to move forward. He made these remarks at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

“Today’s negotiations in Istanbul have demonstrated that Russia may be ready to make steps forward, although it is still a long way to a sustainable ceasefire and comprehensive de-escalation,” Kyslytsya said. He said that the signing of the Treaty on the Security Guarantees for Ukraine will only be possible after the withdrawal of all Russian armed units to locations as on February 23, 2022.

“Since the beginning of invasion Russia have lost more than 17000 military personnel, more than 1700 armoured vehicles, almost 600 tanks, over 300 artillery systems, 127 planes and 129 helicopters, almost 100 rocket launcher systems, 54 air defence systems and 7 ships,” he added. On Tuesday (local time), the latest round of peace talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations kicked off at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul…Read More

Huge fire at Sariska tiger reserve, IAF choppers deployed to put out blaze

 Over 200 people and two Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service to control a wildfire spread over 10 sq km of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan’s Alwar, officials said on Tuesday.

Over 200 people and two Indian Air Force helicopter were pressed into service to control a wildfire spread over 10 sq km of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan’s Alwar, officials said on Tuesday.

The fire had started on Sunday evening and was brought under control on Monday. A few hours later in the evening, the forest fire flared again and was continuing till Tuesday evening. The Forest Department asked people of nearby villages not to enter the forest area. The officials said no tiger is stuck in the affected area and their movement is being monitored. The Sariska reserve has 27 tigers, they added. Earlier looking at the situation, the district administration sought air assistance from the IAF, which deployed two Mi-17 V5 helicopters to control the fire.

Sariska Field Director R N Meena said the forest staff, nature guides and local people are engaged in efforts to control the fire but they are facing difficulties due to hilly terrain, he said. The fire on hills has been partially controlled, Meena added. District Forest Officer (Sariska) Sudharshan Sharma said the helicopters have made eight rounds till Tuesday evening. The fire has spread over 10 sq km area and efforts are being made to control it. “The area under fire is at a height due to which there are difficulties in firefighting,” he said.

Imran Khan loses majority as MQM strikes deal with opposition

 The PTI government lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament following the late-night development ahead of the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan on March 31.

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government received a major blow by the key ally and the main coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) after it struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM and PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan,” tweeted PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The PTI government lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament following the late-night development ahead of the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan on March 31. The joint opposition has 177 members of the national assembly after the ruling coalition partner MQM-P decided to part ways with the Imran Khan-led government that has left with 164 MNAs. Notably, in order to make the no-confidence motion against the prime minister successful, the joint opposition requires the support of 172 MNAs.

Ukraine war: US deploys 6 Navy aircraft to bolster NATO defences

The US Pentagon says it is deploying six Navy aircraft that specialise in electronic warfare and about 240 Navy personnel to bolster NATO defenses in Eastern Europe.

The US Pentagon says it is deploying six Navy aircraft that specialise in electronic warfare and about 240 Navy personnel to bolster NATO defenses in Eastern Europe. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says the EA-18G Growler aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state were scheduled to arrive Monday at Spangdahlem air base in Germany, where they will be stationed. They are not intended for use in Ukraine, he said. Meanwhile, a senior U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. intelligence assessments, said there has been little change in the situation on the ground in Ukraine.

The senior defense official said Russian forces largely remain in defensive positions in the area of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and they are making little forward progress elsewhere in the country. The official said the U.S. believes Ukrainian troops have retaken the town of Trostyanets, south of Sumy, in eastern Ukraine. The official said the U.S. continues to see Russia prioritizing operations in the Donbas region and de-emphasising ground operations in the Kyiv area, but the Pentagon believes it’s too early to know whether this reflects a change in Moscow’s strategic goals.

7 Indian-origin persons charged in million dollar insider trading scheme

 The SEC’s complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, charges each of the defendants with violating antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act.

Seven Indian-origin persons have been charged by federal authorities with insider trading in a scheme through which they made over a million dollars in illegal profits. Hari Prasad Sure, 34, Lokesh Lagudu, 31 and Chotu Prabhu Tej Pulagam, 29, are friends and worked as software engineers at Twilio, a San Francisco-based cloud computing communications company, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday.

The complaint said Sure tipped his close friend Dileep Kumar Reddy Kamujula, 35, who successfully traded in Twilio’s options. Lagudu similarly tipped his girlfriend Sai Nekkalapudi, 30 with whom he lived, and he also tipped his former roommate and close friend Abhishek Dharmapurikar, 33. Pulagam tipped his brother Chetan Prabhu Pulagam, 31. ..Read More

Bharat Bandh: Kerala govt issues 'dies-non' order hours after HC directive

 Hours after the Kerala HC directed the Left administration in the state to take steps to prevent its employees from abstaining from duty as part of strike, the government on issued a ‘dies-non’ order.

Hours after the Kerala High Court directed the Left administration in the state to take steps to prevent its employees from abstaining from duty as part of the two-day nationwide strike, the government on Monday issued a ‘dies-non’ order. Chief Secretary V P Joy, in an order, said the “unauthorised absence of employees participating in the bank strike will be treated as dies-non”, under Rule 14 A of Part 1 of Kerala Service Rules.

As per Rule 14 (A) of Part I of Kerala Service Rules, the period of unauthorised absence of an officer on account of participation in a strike shall be treated as dies-non (no work, no pay). The order also said no leave of any kind will be granted to government employees unless there is sickness of the individual or relatives like wife, children, father and mother. The order also said the district collectors, heads of departments, district police chiefs, etc. will take action to “give protection to those not on strike and to ensure unhindered access to government offices and institutions” and to avoid overcrowding in front of the gates of the offices…Read More

Omicron variant wipes out Delta completely in Tamil Nadu Covid cases

 A report of the state public health department said that 68.4 per cent of all whole-genome sequenced samples were of the BA.2 variant while 15.2 per cent were of the BA.1.1 variant.

The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public health in a statement said that the Delta variant of Covid-19 is now totally replaced by the Omicron variant in the state. The report of the state public health department said that 68.4 per cent of all whole-genome sequenced samples were of the BA.2 variant while 15.2 per cent were of the BA.1.1 variant. The other variants are BA.1 (10.3 per cent ), B.1.1.529 (6 per cent), and BA.3 (0.05 per cent). The whole-genome sequenced samples did not have any Delta variant, the statement said. Interestingly in January 2022, while the Omicron variant represented 92 per cent of the samples, 4 per cent were of Delta and the rest were of other variants.

Much of China's Shanghai locked down as mass Covid-19 testing begins

 China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as part of its strict Covid-19 strategy, amid questions over the policy’s economic toll on the country.

China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as part of its strict COVID-19 strategy, amid questions over the policy’s economic toll on the country. Shanghai’s Pudong financial district and nearby areas will be locked down from early Monday to Friday as citywide mass testing gets underway, the local government said.

In the second phase of the lockdown, the vast downtown area west of the Huangpu River that divides the city will then start its own five-day lockdown Friday. Residents will be required to stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints to ensure there is no contact with the outside world. Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended. Already, many communities within the city of 26 million have been locked down, with their residents required to submit to multiple tests for COVID-19….Read More

Afghan schools, universities lose 60% students amid humanitarian crisis

 The owners of private schools and universities in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul have complained that they have lost 60 per cent of their students amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.

The owners of private schools and universities in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul have complained that they have lost 60 per cent of their students amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. This comes as the new educational year has just begun across Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press. The owners said that the ongoing humanitarian crisis and economic situation in the country have adversely affected the livelihood, thus most of the families have changed their children to study in public schools, Khaama Press reported. Meanwhile, owners of private universities in Afghanistan also complain about the number of students quitting studying.

Earlier, the Taliban regime issued a decree banning female students above grade six from participating in their classes. The girls were further told to stay home until the Islamic Emirate announces its next decision. Dozens of female students in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul took to the streets demanding the Taliban regime to withdraw its decision to ban girls from attending school above the sixth grade. Chanting the slogans of “education is our absolute right,” the protestors called for the reopening of schools for girls in grades 7-12 across Afghanistan, Tolo News reported.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar assaulted by deranged man on the outskirts of Patna

 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Sunday physically assaulted by a mentally unstable person who came within striking distance on the outskirts of the city, dodging the security cordon.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Sunday physically assaulted by a mentally unstable person who came within striking distance on the outskirts of the city, dodging the security cordon. According to a statement issued by the district administration, the chief minister was attacked by 32-year- old Shankar Kumar Verma alias Chhotu, a resident of Abu Mohammadpur locality in Bakthiyarpur township of Patna district. Kumar was in Bakhtiyarpur as part of a public outreach programme which has led him to tour areas falling under the now abolished Lok Sabha constituency of Barh, which he had represented a number of times.

Incidentally, the chief minister, whose roots lay in adjoining Nalanda district, was born and brought up in Bakhtiyarpur where his father was a freedom fighter and a successful Ayurveda physician. At the time of the incident, the CCTV footage of which has gone viral on social media, Kumar was paying floral tributes to Pandit Sheelbhadra Yaji, a legendary freedom fighter and a former Rajya Sabha member who was known to be a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose….

Around 17 lakh people visited India Pavilion at Dubai Expo: Anurag Thakur

 Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that around 17 lakh people visited the Indian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that around 17 lakh people visited the Indian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020. The information and broadcasting minister is in Dubai to participate in the Indian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020. “People have gathered in huge numbers to witness India Pavilion at Dubai Expo. People are excited to watch Indian exhibitions including Yoga, Ayurveda, tourism, textile, cosmic world, and cinema world. Around 17 lakh people have visited India Pavilion,” Thakur told ANI.

Talking about the fuel price hike amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, he said, “The ongoing Ukraine crisis is affecting many sectors in the World. Its impact can be seen on the economies of several countries. Oil prices have not only increased in India but across the globe. Govt has taken numerous steps regarding this.” “World has gone through a crisis where India provided free COVID-19 vaccines to 180 crore people and also distributed free food grains to over 80 crore people for 2 years. The decision of extending this for another 6 months will be a huge support for people in India,” Thakur said.

US, allies call on Taliban to revoke ban on girls' education in Afghanistan

 Condemning the Taliban’s decision not to reopen secondary schools to Afghan girls, the United States and its allies have called on the group to revoke its decision.

Condemning the Taliban’s decision not to reopen secondary schools to Afghan girls, the United States and its allies have called on the group to revoke its decision. A joint statement issued by Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union has condemned the Taliban’s decision on March 23 to deny so many Afghan girls the opportunity to finally go back to school.

“The Taliban’s action contradicted its public assurances to the Afghan people and to the international community,” read the statement, adding that the decision came after months of work by the international community to support teacher stipends based on an expectation that schools would be open for all, with the higher interest of Afghan students and teachers in mind.

“We call on the Taliban urgently to reverse this decision, which will have consequences far beyond its harm to Afghan girls. Unreversed, it will profoundly harm Afghanistan’s prospects for social cohesion and economic growth, its ambition to become a respected member in the community of nations, and the willingness of Afghans to return from overseas,” added the statement…Read More

Ukraine, Russia conduct first prisoner swap since Moscow waged war on Kyiv

 Ukraine and Russia have conducted the first prisoner swap since Moscow waged its war on Kiev on February 24, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said here

Ukraine and Russia have conducted the first prisoner swap since Moscow waged its war on Kiev on February 24, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said here Ten Ukrainian prisoners-of-war held by the Russian military were released in exchange for 10 Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, Xinhua news agency quoted Vereshchuk as saying in a Facebook post. Besides, Ukraine handed over 11 civilian Russian sailors, who were rescued from a sunken ship near Odessa to Russia in exchange for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors, she added. “Under terms of exchange, the rescue ship itself will also be returned to Ukraine and will be sent to the port in Turkey.”…

Railways needs Rs 3 trn yearly investment to meet India's aspirations: Govt

 The Railways will need to target revenue of Rs 3.5 lakh crore and an investment of Rs 3-lakh crore every year to meet the country’s aspirations, the government told the Rajya Sabha

The Railways will need to target revenue of Rs 3.5 lakh crore and an investment of Rs 3-lakh crore every year to meet the country’s aspirations, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. During a discussion on the working of the ministry, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attacked opposition members and past governments, alleging they only talked about vision and preparing concept notes, but did not take any action to implement them.

The minister said that to meet the aspirations of the country, its citizens and the future generation over the next 10 years, the Railways will have to target to ferry 1,000 crore passengers every year from about 800 crore currently, and increasing the cargo load from 140 crore tonne to 300 crore tonne.

“If we won’t do it then we will never be able to cross-subsidize passenger fare,” he said. Vaishnaw said the cost of passenger fare and services comes to around Rs 1.16 per kilometre but railway charges only 48 paise per kilometre and around Rs 62,000 crore social obligation subsidy is given on passenger fares…Read More

Airtel prepays Rs 8,815 cr of spectrum dues to reduce interest expenses

 This is the second such prepayment by Airtel in the last three months and comes on the back of strong cash flow generation, equity infusion and borrowing at significantly lower interest rates

Bharti Airtel has prepaid Rs 8,815 crore of spectrum dues to cut down on interest expenses. The dues pertained to spectrum acquired in 2015 and payments for same were due in FY2027 and FY2028, the telecom company announced on Friday. This is the second such prepayment by the company in the last three months and comes on the back of strong cash flow generation, equity infusion and borrowing at significantly lower interest rates.

“Over the last four months, Airtel has cleared Rs 24,334 crores of its deferred spectrum liabilities much ahead of scheduled maturities. These liabilities carried an interest rate of 10 per cent,” it said. After the latest payment, Airtel has balance spectrum dues of around Rs 67,000 crore and adjusted gross revenue dues of Rs 25,000 crore.

“Airtel continues to focus on financial flexibility via its capital structure including optimising cost of financing and capitalising on all opportunities of significant interest saves like this prepayment,” the company said in a statement. In December it had prepaid its entire liability of Rs 15,519 crore from its 2014 acquisition of 128.4 MHz spectrum. At that time Airtel had said the prepayment would help it in saving Rs 3400 crore annually in interest expenses.

No-trust vote against Imran Khan will follow Constitution rules: Speaker

 Over the no-trust motion against Pakistan PM Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said that he would run the assembly’s proceedings in accordance with the Constitution.

After opposition parties levelled allegations against Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser for siding with Prime Minister Imran Khan over the no-trust motion, Qaiser in his defence said that he would run the assembly’s proceedings in accordance with the Constitution. /Taking to Twitter, Qaiser wrote: “I, as the custodian of the National Assembly of Pakistan, will fulfil my constitutional obligations and will proceed in accordance with Article 95 of the Constitution and rule 37 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007,” reported Geo TV.

In conversation with media in Islamabad, the speaker had said, “I will follow the law; I am still in consultation with the NA secretariat about summoning the session and it will be called in line with the constitution.” Pakistan Opposition leaders on Monday slammed the National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser for “violating” the Constitution for delaying in conducting voting on no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Rape even by husband is rape: Karnataka HC refuses to drop case against man

 Equating sexual assault by a husband on his wife with rape, the Karnataka high court (HC) has refused to quash proceedings against a man accused of alleged rape by his wife.

Equating sexual assault by a husband on his wife with rape, the Karnataka high court (HC) has refused to quash proceedings against a man accused of alleged rape by his wife. “A man is a man; an act is an act; rape is a rape, be it performed by a man, the ‘husband’, on the woman, ‘wife’,” said Justice M. Nagaprasanna on Wednesday.

The single judge bench of the Karnataka HC was hearing a case filed by a woman against her husband for treating her as a ‘sex slave’ ever since they were married. The husband has been accused of forcing his wife into unnatural sex in the presence of their daughter too. Referring to exceptions in IPC Section 375 that says “Sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape,” Justice Nagaprasanna said, exempting a husband for his acts, destroys the Right to Equality which is the soul of the Constitution.

Ukraine crisis: India abstains from vote on Russia's UNSC draft resolution

India abstained in the UN Security Council on a vote on a draft resolution by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine on Wednesday.

Ukraine Crisis: India abstained in the UN Security Council on a vote on a draft resolution by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine on Wednesday. Permanent and veto-wielding Council member Russia had called for a vote in the 15-nation Security Council on its draft resolution that demands that civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children are fully protected, calls for negotiated ceasefire for enabling safe, rapid, voluntary and unhindered evacuation of civilians, and underscores the need for the parties concerned to agree on humanitarian pauses to this end.”

Russia and China voted in favour of the resolution while India was among 13 countries who abstained. India had previously abstained on two occasions in the Security Council and once in the General Assembly on resolutions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is visiting the United Nations and addressed a Security Council briefing on Cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States chaired by Council President UAE…Read More