Breaking News, April 9 | HIGHLIGHTS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church in Delhi.

The single-day count of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra went up by 246 in the last 24 hours to reach 788 on Sunday with one fatality, as per state health department data. The new additions raised the cumulative tally of the cases in the state to 81,49,929 and the death toll to 1,48,459. Maharashtra reported 926 COVID-19 cases and three fatalities on Friday and 542 on Saturday.

Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said on Sunday that the government would follow the Supreme Court's observations on the proposed new Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), amid objection from the Opposition and the civil society groups. He said the decision to delay the tabling of the bill in parliament was based on requests made by various organizations for more consultation. "So that they would have more time to go to the Supreme Court if they wished to do so,” Rajapakshe said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church in Delhi. 

Police have booked gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen and son Ali in a forgery case linked to the murder of Umesh Pal, the key witness in the murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal. The FIR was registered on Saturday at Dhoomanganj police station here in which two more persons -- Mohammad Sabir and Rakesh alias Nakesh alias Lala -- have been named, the Prayagraj police said in a statement.

The Delhi Tourism department will organise its first three-day bougainvillea flower show at Garden of Five Senses in Saket from April 14, officials said on Sunday. Bougainvillaea flowers of different varieties will be on display during the show, the tourism department said, adding they organises various fairs and festivals to promote tourism in the national capital.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the state next year. "Our party's role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJP's 'bhagva' (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state," he said while addressing a press conference here. The Lok Sabha election as well as the Maharashtra Assembly polls are due next year.

At least three persons, including a two-year-old child, have died after consuming "poisonous" mushroom in Golaghat district of Assam, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place in Merapani locality of the district, where members of five families consumed the mushroom on April 2, a senior police officer said. "Three of the same family died after eating mushrooms. Hemanta Barman (2) died last night after his mother Tarali Barman (23) and father Prafulla Barman (24) predeceased him on Thursday and Friday, respectively," he said.

A Dalit woman who was allegedly raped and set afire by a man in Rajasthan's Barmer was cremated by her family members on Sunday following assurances of help by the administration, while a BJP delegation visited her residence. The 30-year-old woman, a mother of two, suffered around 50 per cent burns and died at a government hospital in Jodhpur late Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India did not believe in conflict between ecology and economy but gave importance to coexistence between the two. Protection of wildlife was a universal issue, Modi said, launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which endeavours to protect and conserve big cats.

Two traffic policemen have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 14,000 from a transporter in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Sunday. The two policemen from the traffic department of the Thane city police have been arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act, inspector Shivraj Bendre said.

A meeting of senior Congress leaders regarding the selection of candidates for the Karnataka elections will be held at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence this evening. Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend this meeting. Congress is yet to announce the names of candidates for 58 seats.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan visited an Air Force Station and forward areas in North Bengal along with GOC, Trishakti Corps on April 8 and 9. He reviewed the progress of infrastructure development and operational & logistics preparedness in the area. The CDS also interacted with the troops deployed in the remote areas and appreciated their high morale and professionalism, informed Defence Ministry.

He also visited the Headquarters of Trishakti Corps at Sukna where he was briefed on the operational situation along the Northern borders in Sikkim. He commended the formation for ensuring force preservation while also reaching out to assist the civil administration and local population in times of natural disasters like the recent avalanche in East Sikkim. CDS asked the formation to focus on training hard and remain vigilant at all times. He also emphasised that soldiers must keep themselves abreast with latest trends in information technology, emerging cyber threats and counter measures.

PM Narendra Modi met the Bomman-Bellie couple, the main stars of the Oscar Award-winning documentary "The Elephant Whisperers".

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis offer prayers at Ram Lala temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka: PM Narendra Modi launches the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) and releases a commemorative coin on the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared some pictures from Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi feeds an elephant at Theppakadu elephant camp.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis receive a warm welcome as they arrive in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Theppakadu elephant camp.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to our church today and we are excited about it. I think it's for the first time that a Prime Minister is coming to a church, said Fr. Francis Swaminathan, St Thomas Catholic Church, Delhi.

"Lord Ram's blessings are with us and that is why we have got the symbol of bow and arrow," said Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde as he leaves for Ayodhya from Lucknow.

"I am very happy that I am going to Ayodhya to take blessings from Lord Ram," said Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will also visit Ayodhya today.

COVID19: India reports 5,357 new cases in 24 hours; the active caseload stands at 32,814.

A lawyer and his wife were killed when a truck rammed into their car in Deoband area here, police said on Sunday. The accident took place on Saturday night when Manoj Singhal (50) and his wife Anju (47) were on their way to Muzaffarnagar from Budhana, they said. The bodies have been sent for postmortem. The truck driver is absconding.

Jammu and Kashmir: Some suspicious movement was observed along LoC in the Poonch sector last night. Search operation is going on. More details awaited.

BN Chandrappa appointed as Working President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect, informed Congress.

A 'jatha' of Sikh pilgrims leave from Amritsar  for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan for Baisakhi celebrations. We received visas for 1052 people. They will also visit Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and other Gurdwaras in Pakistan," said Partap Singh, Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Delhi: CRPF DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen pays homage to the fallen heroes on the occasion of CRPF Valour Day.

Karnataka: In a setback for Amul, Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association decides to use only Nandini milk to "support the state's farmers".

Uttar Pradesh: Posters welcoming Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde put up in Ayodhya city as CM Shinde will arrive here today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the way to the Bandipur and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves, informed PMO.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Easter. "Happy Easter! May this special occasion deepen the spirit of harmony in our society. May it inspire people to serve society and help empower the downtrodden. We remember the pious thoughts of Lord Christ on this day," he said in a tweet.