MS Dhoni News Live Updates: Dhoni steps down as Chennai Super Kings captain, Jadeja set to be his successor ahead of IPL 2022 – The Economic Times

Param Bir Singh probe transferred to CBI by SC

The Supreme Court Thursday transferred to CBI the investigation against former police commissioner Param Bir Singh over the allegations of misconduct and corruption. A very murky affair is going on amid echelons of power on who should investigate the matter, a bench of Justices S K Kaul and M M Sundresh said. The apex court said a thorough investigation is required to regain faith of people in the state police.

Prices rise after Russia requires gas payment in roubles

British and Dutch wholesale gas prices extended gains on Thursday morning on concerns that Russia’s President Putin’s move to seek payment in roubles for gas sold to “unfriendly” countries would exacerbate the region’s energy crunch. The British gas price for day-ahead delivery rose by 24 pence to 270 pence per therm by 0954 GMT, while the within-day contract was up 10.5 pence at 262.5 p/therm.

Fire at Delhi pandal doused

A fire broke out at a wedding venue in northwest Delhi’s Rohini area on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The fire department received information regarding the blaze at 1.48 pm following which 12 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said. The fire inside the ‘pandal’ was doused around 3.30 pm. One person, who received a minor injury, was given first aid, officials said.

Massive fire at Delhi wedding pandal

12 fire engines are currently at the location, dealing with the flames

NATO aims to up ‘costs’ for Russia to halt Ukraine war

NATO leaders pushed Thursday to raise the cost for Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine by bolstering weapons supplies to Kyiv and strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank. US President Joe Biden is looking to boost unity and ramp up sanctions on Moscow at a day-long string of summits in Brussels as the West responds to the Kremlin’s bid to upend the post-Cold War balance.

Russian ambassador says Poland has blocked embassy’s bank accounts

Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw said on Thursday that Poland had blocked the embassy’s bank accounts for allegedly financing “terrorist activity”, RIA news agency reported. Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

MS Dhoni steps down as Chennai Super Kings captain

Ravindra Jadeja is set to succeed him as the team’s skipper; he will be only the third captain in CSK history, after Dhoni and Raina.

North Korea tests long-range missile

North Korea fired a suspected long-range missile toward the sea Thursday in what would be its first such test since 2017, according to its neighbors’ militaries, raising the ante in a pressure campaign aimed at forcing the United States and other rivals to accept it as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions. The launch, which extended North Korea’s barrage of weapons tests this year, came after the U.S. and South Korean militaries said the country was preparing a flight of its biggest-yet intercontinental ballistic missile.

Stoltenberg to extend NATO term by one year amid Ukraine war

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is set to extend his term as head of the alliance by another year due to the war in Ukraine, Norwegian broadcaster TV2 and daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources. Stoltenberg’s current term expires on Oct. 1 and he had been due to take up a post as central bank governor of his native Norway by the end of 2022. When asked on Wednesday whether he would stay on at NATO, Stoltenberg said any such decision was up to member-countries to make.

Ukraine urges West to take ‘serious steps’ in trio of summits

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Western nations gathering in Brussels on Thursday to take “serious steps” to help Kyiv fight Russia’s invasion, as an unprecedented one-day trio of NATO, G7 and EU summits got underway. The hectic day of summitry, aimed at maintaining Western unity, kicks off at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where the transatlantic defence alliance’s leaders will agree to ramp up military forces on Europe’s eastern flank. But, while leaders promised to step up support for Ukraine, EU diplomats played down expectations of major new sanctions on Russia, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeated that the alliance will not send troops or planes to Ukraine.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets PM Modi. He is expected to call on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal post his meeting with the PM.

Petroleum Minister defends govt over fuel price hike

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the prices of LNG in the international market has gone up by “more than 37 per cent” if compared from April 2021 to February 2022, because of “an unsettled condition and military action in one part of the world following the Covid crisis”. “Whereas, our increase at the bunk has been only five per cent,” he told the House during Question Hour in Lok Sabha. As far as the LPG price, which are based on Saudi CP (Contract Price), is concerned, it has has gone up by 285 per cent from April 2020 to March 2022, and the hike has been 37 percent the the last six months alone, he said. “So, I just want to place these facts before the members and this August House, so that they understand what the international situation today is,” he said. In spite of all that, the government is making “every effort to make sure that the consumer at the point of consumption get fuel at an affordable price”, he added.

Ruckus is Delhi assembly, BJP members marshalled out

A war of words erupted between AAP and BJP members in the Delhi assembly on Thursday after a legislator of the ruling party, Somnath Bharti, alleged that the BJP and the RSS were opposing the installation of a high-mast tricolour in his constituency.Opposition BJP also called legislators of the AAP part of the “tukde tukde gang” as members of both parties entered the Well of the House. Speaker Ram Niwas Goel directed that BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta and Jitendra Mahajan be marshalled out of the House.

Strikes kill 4 near Lugansk: Ukrainian official

At least four people were killed, including two children, and six wounded from overnight strikes in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the Lugansk region said Thursday. Sergiy Gayday said “unfortunately, the number of victims could be considerably higher,” accusing Russian forces of using phosphorus bombs. Other officials in the region have made similar claims in recent days, which AFP has been unable to immediately verify.

Maruti Suzuki India re-designates Hisashi Takeuchi as MD and CEO

Ukraine Live: 87 residential buildings damaged in Kyiv since Feb 24

As per Kyiv City State Admin, Russian attacks have also damaged 10 private houses, 12 schools, & 6 kindergartens in the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

West Bengal CM meets kin of Birbhum violence victims

No Mandi tax on wheat exports from Madhya Pradesh: CM

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told ANI that mandi tax will not be imposed on wheat exported from the state. He further said that the state govt will provide all possible facilities to the exporters. “Exporters can buy wheat from mandis or farmers directly. Railway board has assured to provide racks for wheat export”.

Ukraine Live: UK PM says pressure could be applied to Putin’s gold reserves

Britain and its western allies will increase the economic pressure on Russia and are looking to see if more can be done to prevent President Vladimir Putin from accessing his gold reserves, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday. Ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels, Johnson told LBC Radio that Putin had already crossed a red line and that he should appear before the International Criminal Court. “We need to do more,” he said. “And so we need to do more economically. Can we do more to stop him using his gold reserves for instance, in addition to his cash reserves?”

Congress moves NHRC on Birbhum incident

Indian Youth Congress has moved NHRC against alleged violation of human rights of residents of Baktui village of Birbhum, West Bengal, demanding an independent investigation in the matter.

Ukraine Live: Ukraine says Russian landing ship destroyed

Ukraine’s navy on Thursday reported destroying Russia’s large landing ship, Orsk, near the port city of Berdyansk. A short Facebook statement about the ship was accompanied with photos and videos of fire and thick plumes of smoke in the port. The Russian military has not commented on what happened to the ship. Berdyansk has been under Russian control since Feb. 27.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to meet PM Modi shortly

He will call on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after the meeting

Just In

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, General Secretary BL Santosh and BJP UP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan meeting underway, ahead of UP legislative party meeting, according to ANI.

TDS on Digital assets

The Central govt is likely move an amendment to finance bill to say all virtual digital assets to be covered irrespective of whether they are capital asset or not.

Govt to clear the air on levy of TDS on virtual digital assets

The Centre is likely to move an amendment to the Finance bill to clear the air on levy of TDS on virtual digital assets. Govt to move amendment in finance bill to say no set off against any loss or cost in case of virtual digital assets Amendment to say only the rate prescribed for VDAs to apply and not rate under any other provision.

SC sets deadline for Covid claims

Supreme Court sets 60-day deadline for claims for deaths upto March 28, 2022, and 90 days for future claimants to claim Rs 50,000 ex gratia compensation.

Kerala CM to meet PM Modi to seek clearance for the SilverLine project

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has reached Parliament. He is expected to meet PM Modi to seek clearance for the SilverLine project. Congress is opposing the project.

Supreme Court allows Centre to probe fake ex-gratia claims on the death of kin due to COVID-19

The apex court said the Centre can verify 5% of claims in four states which had a wide difference between number of claims and recorded deaths. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala.

NSE scandal

Special CBI Court denies bail to Anand Subramanian, former advisor to ex NSE chief Chitra Ramkrishna in NSE co-location scandal–Bureau

Ukraine Live Updates

The U.N. General Assembly votes Thursday on a resolution backed by over 90 countries that blames Russia for the escalating humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and demands an immediate halt to hostilities, especially attacks on civilians and their homes, schools and hospitals. Russia has denounced the resolution as “anti-Russian” and accuses its supporters of not really being concerned about the humanitarian situation on the ground, saying they want to politicize aid.

Russia’s economy in January grew 6.6%

The Russian economy expanded by 6.6% in January on an annual basis after growing by 4.3% in December, the economy ministry said on its website on Thursday.

Russian stock market will partially reopen today

There will be heavy restrictions on trading Thursday as the exchange opens to prevent the kind of massive selloff that took place on Feb. 24 in anticipation of crushing financial and economic sanctions from Western nations. The reopening of the Moscow exchange has only minimal significance for investors outside Russia and scant economic impact compared with barrage of U.S.-led sanctions and withdrawals by foreign corporations.

Nepal PM to visit India next month: Report

According to a report of The Kathmandu Post, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will be coming to India on a 3-day official visit from April 1-3.

Ukraine Live: Japan considers doubling humanitarian aid, loans

The Japanese government is considering extending additional humanitarian aid of $100 million to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, on top of the $100 million in assistance Japan has already announced, public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday. The government is also looking into doubling emergency loans to Ukraine to $200 million and dispatching Self-Defence Force medical officers to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland and other neighbouring nations, NHK said. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he plans to unveil Japan’s new support measures for Ukraine at a G7 summit meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels on Thursday.

Parliament Watch

RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha moves Zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over Revision of Minimum Wage

AAP ups ante over MCD polls

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has given a zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha over postponement of MCD elections in Delhi

Sensex tanks over 540 points in early trade

Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 540 points in opening trade on Thursday, tracking losses in banking and financial stocks amid a weak trend in global equity markets. The 30-share BSE benchmark was trading 546.31 points lower at 57,138.51. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 154.5 points to 17,091.15. From the 30-share pack, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, HDFC, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance and Axis Bank were the major drags in early trade. In contrast, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, ITC, TCS and Tata Steel were among the gainers.

Covid Update

The last 24 hours saw a total of 6,61,954 COVID-19 tests being conducted in the country and so far, over 78.49 crore tests have been done.

Equity indices open in red, Sensex plunges by 294 points

Equity indices opened in red on Thursday with Sensex plunged by 294.19 points and Nifty down by 77.00 points. The 30-scrip BSE Sensex was down by 294.19 points or 0.51 per cent at 57390.63 at 9.27 am. The 50-scrip NSE Nifty was trading at 17168.70 at 9.27 am, down by 77.00 points or 0.45 per cent.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) achieves order value of Rs 1 lakh crores for FY 2021-22.

India reports 1,938 fresh COVID19 cases

As per Union Health Ministry, 2,531 recovered in the last 24 hours but 67 persons lost their lives due to Covid. Meanwhile, active Covid case in the country further decline to 22,427 (0.05%) while daily positivity rate is now at 0.29%. So far, 4,24,75,588 persons have recovered from Covid while total death toll stands at 5,16,672.

After PNG, CNG prices hiked today

Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has hiked the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Delhi by Rs 1 per Kg to Rs 59.01 per Kg. The new price will come into effect from today, March 24.

China Plane Crash Update

Recovery crews are now searching for the second black box. A first black box found on Wednesday was the cockpit voice recorder based on an early assessment, a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) official told reporters. The recording material appeared to have survived the impact in relatively good shape, and was being sent to Beijing for analysis, the official said. Flight MU5735 was en route from the southwestern city of Kunming to Guangzhou on the coast on Monday when the plane suddenly plunged from cruising altitude at about the time when it should have started its descent before landing.

Former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti passes away, PM offers condolences

Here’s how much you will pay now for PNG

PNG price hiked

Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has hiked the price of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) in Delhi by Rs 1 per standard cubic meter (SCM) to Rs 36.61 per unit. The new price will come into effect from today, March 24.

Suspense continues over Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to India

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi supposed to come to India for a two-day visit starting today (March 24-25). However, there is no official comment yet on his visit to India. If the visit takes place notwithstanding India’s strong reaction to Wang’s remarks on Kashmir recently, then it will be the first trip by a senior Chinese leader to India after the eastern Ladakh military standoff began in May 2020.

Just In

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today, March 24.

Ukraine Live: Russia setting up defences outside Kyiv

A senior US defence official said Wednesday that Russian ground forces appear to be digging in and setting up defensive positions between 15-20 kilometers (9-12 miles) outside Kyiv, as they continue to make little to no progress moving toward the city center. The official said that, instead, Russian troops are exerting more energy and effort in the eastern Donbas region, specifically in Luhansk and Donetsk. The official said the U.S. is seeing Russia prioritize the fight there, in what could be an effort to cut off any Ukrainian troops in those areas and prevent them from moving west to defend other cities.

7,000 to 15,000 Russian troops dead in Ukraine, claims NATO

NATO estimated on Wednesday that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine, where fierce resistance from the country’s defenders has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought. By way of comparison, Russia lost about 15,000 troops over 10 years in Afghanistan.

1st female US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, is no more

Madeleine Albright, a child refugee from Nazi- and then Soviet-dominated eastern Europe who rose to become the 1st female U.S. secretary of state and a mentor to many current and former American statesmen and women, has died of cancer, her family said Wednesday. She was 84.

US accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine

Russian military forces, led by President Vladimir Putin, have committed war crimes in Ukraine by hitting civilian targets and have unleashed unrelenting violence that has caused death and destruction across the war-torn country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. On February 24, Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

Putin asks ‘unfriendly countries’ to purchase Russian oil, gas in rubles

In an effort to prop up the value of the ruble that plunged post the massive sanctions imposed on Moscow by the US and European countries over the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced that the “unfriendly countries” must use rubles to buy the Russian oil and gas. Putin said, “I have made a decision to implement in the shortest possible time a set of measures to switch payments for … our natural gas supplied to the so-called unfriendly countries to Russian rubles,” reported New York Times.

Ukraine Live: Zelenskyy calls for ‘unrestricted’ NATO aid

Speaking on the eve of the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the alliance to provide “effective and unrestricted” support to Ukraine, including any weapons the country needs to fend off the Russian invasion. “We ask that the alliance declare that it will fully assist Ukraine to win this war, clear our territory of the invaders and restore peace in Ukraine,” he said late Wednesday during his nightly video address to the nation. He appealed to Western countries to stay united in the face what he says are Russia’s efforts to “lobby its interests” with “some partners” to bring them over to its side.

Urban body elections in Odisha today

Around 40.5 lakh voters across 109 towns will vote to decide the fate of more than 6400 candidates in urban body elections in Odisha today.

US to impose new sanctions against Russian politicians, oligarchs

US President Joe Biden will unveil new sanctions against Russian politicians and oligarchs during a series of summits in Brussels on Thursday, according to a media report. The US President will also discuss NATO’s force posture on its eastern edge and contingency plans for the potential use of chemical or nuclear weapons by Russia, reported CNN citing a statement by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who was aboard the flight as Biden headed to Europe.Speaking on the new sanctions to be imposed against Russia, Sullivan said that during a G7 meeting, Biden and fellow leaders will “agree on an initiative to coordinate on sanctions enforcement” aimed at disallowing Russian efforts to evade existing sanctions. Biden will also “announce a package of sanctions designations tomorrow that relate both to political figures and oligarchs,” said US national security adviser.

India abstains from voting at UNSC on Russian resolution over Ukraine

Of the 15 members of the UNSC, two countries voted in favour of the resolution while the rest 13 members countries, including the United States, abstained from the vote. While India and UAE joined the West in abstaining from the vote, China was the only country, barring Russia, to vote in favour of the resolution. Amid the lack of nine votes in favour, the resolution failed to pass in the UNSC.

Britain giving Ukraine thousands more missiles

Britain has already sent more than 4,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. Now it will donate 6,000 more missiles comprising anti-tank and high-explosive weaponry. The U.K. government also says it is providing some 4 million pounds ($5.3 million) in emergency funding to the BBC World Service to counter disinformation in Russia and Ukraine.