Breaking News, March 18 | LIVE UPDATES

The BJP on Friday announced four candidates for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from different states and for the by-polls for the Lok Sabha and the assemblies from West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra. The BJP has fielded Agnimitra Paul for the Lok Sabha by-polls from Asansol in West Bengal against TMC candidate and former union minister Shatrughan Sinha. Paul is the MLA from Asansol South assembly constituency and general secretary of the West Bengal BJP.

The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on 'The Kashmir Files' saying while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a "stain on Kashmiriyat", the movie was far from the truth as the film makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy. 

Taking a break from political activities, leaders of different parties in West Bengal took part in ‘Dol Jatra’ or Holi festivities on Friday. Senior TMC leaders such as Firhad Hakim, Sujit Basu, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Santanu Sen and Chandrima Bhattacharya were seen playing with colours in their respective localities.

A stampede like situation was created in front of the Shree Jagannath Temple here on Friday as a large number of people gathered there to witness a ritual in which the sibling deities are decked in gold jewellery on the occasion of Dola Purnima. 
The incident occurred when the huge crowd gathered before the Lion's Gate attempted to barge into the 12th-century shrine after breaking barricades to have a glimpse of the deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - in "Suna Besha" (golden attire), officials said.

The Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab will induct ministers into the cabinet on March 19. The swearing-in ceremony of Mann's cabinet will be held at Punjab Raj Bhawan on Saturday at 11 am. 

The West Bengal government will roll out the inoculation drive for children in the 12-14 years age group from March 21 even though the programme was launched across the country on Wednesday, an official said. The launch of the vaccination drive for children in the state got delayed as "the administration received the standard operating procedures from the Centre late", he said.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government in Maharashtra will last a full term and retain power in the 2024 Assembly elections, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said here on Friday. Raut's comments came a day after former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that as in neighbouring Goa, the BJP will return to power in Maharashtra on its own in the next elections.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that her country should consider imposing an oil embargo on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. In a security policy speech Friday, she said it was important to take a stance and not remain silent due to economic or energy dependency. “Even if it's difficult, including on questions now with regard to oil or other embargoes,” said Baerbock. Germany receives about a third of its oil from Russia and half of its coal and natural gas.

An education department officer in Assam was arrested by CID on Friday on charges of corruption, police said.

The Goa Crime Branch on Friday said it has arrested a Hyderabad-based man and rescued three women, including a television actress, after busting a prostitution racket at Sangolda village near Panaji.

With an aim to prevent arms transportation in the Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to import vehicle scanning machines from the US, officials said.

The Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) is an advanced version of the scanning system which is not based on X-Ray and it can monitor all vehicles entering in the union territory.

Noting that life is returning to normal after two years of the COVID-19 onslaught, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called on people on Thursday to celebrate the festival of Holi together. 

At least 25 persons were injured in a 'Jallikattu' competition held at Manganampatti village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

2 Uzbekistan women arrested for illegally entering Madhubani, Bihar via Nepal. They have Nepalese visa, not Indian visa; part of racket, involved in immoral activities; were living in Delhi for over 2 months &were returning to Nepal when nabbed, said Prashant Sharma, DSP Phulparas.