Highlights: Centre hikes DA by 4% to 42% for central govt employees

Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced on Friday that the government has extended the subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana for another year. The government has also decided to increase the MSP for jute by €300

The Union Home Office on Friday extended disturbed area status in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland by six months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958. Read more

India would like to see action, more than just assurances, the foreign ministry said on the vandalism of Indian missions in various countries by Khalistanis, adding it hopes foreign governments will take action and prosecute those involved. Continue reading

About 3,600 people were evacuated from buildings in the crowded Kowloon district of Hong Kong on Friday as firefighters battled a blaze at a warehouse, Reuters reported.

A new Supreme Court bench will hear a series of petitions on March 27 against the acquittal of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed an indictment against notorious mobster criminals Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar and 12 others who have ties to the outlawed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and several other pro-Khalistan terrorist groups. Nexus cases it investigates.

North Korea on Friday claimed it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone capable of triggering a “radioactive tsunami” as it blamed recent US-South Korea exercises for a worsening regional security situation, AFP reported.

Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha after being convicted of defamation.

More than 16,000 counterfeit Indian banknotes (FICN) have been seized in Gujarat over the past two years, the state government told the Legislative Assembly on Friday, PTI reports.

Police in Delhi on Friday arrested opposition MPs who were protesting against Vijay Chowk and calling for an investigation by the GPA into the Adani group affair.

The Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) plans to introduce caps on its debt and equity exposure to companies, two sources said, to reduce risk concentration following criticism of its investment in Adani Group companies. Continue reading

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, on Friday denied a media report earlier this week that investors from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were planning to invest in the company in a multi-billion dollar funding round, Reuters reports

China on Friday threatened “serious consequences” after the US Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea for the second straight day, in what Beijing called a violation of its sovereignty and security, the AP reports.

Congress will take to the streets on Friday to protest the defamation conviction of leader Rahul Gandhi, party officials said a day after a magistrate court sentenced Gandhi to two years in prison, Reuters reports.

Navy Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar paid a two-day visit to the Defense Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington on March 22-23, 2023 and encouraged students to be the “drivers of change,” reports ANI.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said: “The public should use security and laws effectively when problems arise. Lately some people have spread false propaganda that women are not safe in Kerala based on isolated cases. Promoting things that are wrong is not a good trend.”

Sensex loses 123.03 points to 57,802.25 in early trade; Nifty falls 61.1 points to 17,015.80.

“Shurlaeva Daria, a citizen of Russia, has filed a complaint for $20,000 because she was scammed. Three men are said to have duped the victim by posing as criminal police officers. Case registered under sections 419, 420 and 34 of the IPC at Tughlak Road Police Station. An investigation has been launched,” Delhi police told ANI news agency on Friday.

World Bank presidential candidate Ajay Banga has tested positive for COVID-19 during routine tests in New Delhi. Continue reading.

A drone strike in eastern Syria has killed a US contractor and injured five soldiers, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said she will file a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged “Surpanakha” comment in Parliament in 2018.

“Unidentified thugs threw acid at a 36-year-old woman who was standing with her son in Bharat Nagar area, acid splashes also fell on her son. Personal enmity likely reason for attack. Investigation underway,” Delhi police told ANI news agency on Thursday.

A 5-year-old boy was made a child police officer after the death of his father, who was a police officer. “Raj Kumar Rajwade was a police officer who died in an accident. Today his son Naman Rajwade was appointed child police officer,” Bhavna Gupta, SP told ANI.

Accenture Plc on Thursday lowered its annual revenue and profit forecasts and said it would cut about 2.5% of its workforce, or 19,000 jobs.

World Athletics Friday voted to ban transgender women from women’s events, Reuters reported.

The Karnataka government has proposed to the center to introduce legislation into the constitution to increase SC/ST reservation in education and government agencies.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the US Congress amid growing security concerns and potential Chinese government influence over the company.

Another suspected associate of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh was arrested in the national capital, police said on Thursday. Delhi Police and Punjab Police detained Amit Singh, an insurance agent, from Tilak Vihar on Tuesday.