Commuters may face traffic jams due to farmers' protest on Wednesday, police said.
In morning, a huge jam was already witnessed at Delhi-Haryana's Singhu border as farmers started gathering there, according to reports.
The Delhi Police said it will be keeping a strict vigil at the Tikri, Singhu, and the Ghazipur borders, as well as railway and metro stations and bus stands.
"We have stepped up security at all three borders. However, we are not shutting any border or route but vehicle checking will take place," an officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram said force is already deployed at the Delhi-Haryana border. "We are keeping a tab on the situation in the wake of this call given by the farmers."
Another officer said, "We had temporally removed barriers for commuters at the Singhu and the Tikri borders. The deployment of police and paramilitary personnel is still there and (they) will ensure strict, round-the-clock vigil."
Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at railway and metro stations and bus stands as the farmers would also be coming in public transport like trains and buses.
"Section 144 is already imposed in Delhi. We will not allow any gathering or assembly anywhere here," the officer said.
Security has been mounted at ISBT Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan.
"No one will be allowed to breach the law," the officer said.
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), the two umbrella bodies that are spearheading the farmers' agitation, had on Sunday called on farmers across the country to reach Delhi on Wednesday.
The call was made by farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
The two have also called for a four-hour countrywide 'rail roko' agitation on March 10 in support of several of their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.
The leaders said the sacrifice of a farmer will not go in vain and their struggle will continue until their demands are met.
A 21-year-old farmer was killed and a few others injured following a clash between security personnel and protesting farmers at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border last month.
The protesting farmers have been pitching their tents at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security forces.
They began their march on February 13 but were stopped by the security forces, which led to clashes at the borders.
Source : Farmers Protest: Commuters must prepare for traffic jams, say police; security mounted
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ISRO chairman S Somanath has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer on the day of the launch of India's Aditya L1 solar mission but he said he was "completely healthy now".
In an interview with Tarmak Media House, Somanath said he underwent an operation to remove the growth in his stomach, followed it up with chemotherapy and was now completely cured of the disease.
"I am completely healthy now," he said.
He said he realised that there were some health issues during the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission last year but was not very clear about it.
It was during a scan on the day of the Aditya L-1 launch that he gained a clue about his condition.
"After the launch, I underwent further tests in Chennai, confirming the presence of a cancerous growth in my large intestine. Following this diagnosis, I underwent surgery and chemotherapy", the space veteran said.
Asked about the reaction of his family members to the diagnosis, he said, "Undoubtedly, they would have been shocked. But now, I perceive cancer and its treatment has a solution. There is a message that it is not incurable."
He sought advice from family members who had overcome similar challenges, which helped alleviate his concerns.
"I was uncertain about complete cure at the time I was undergoing the process," he admitted, highlighting the nature of his battle against cancer.
Somanath said he would be undergoing regular checkups and scans, but he was now completely cured and has resumed duties.
He said after spending four days in the hospital for surgery, he resumed his duties.
He said that he will now undergo annual check-ups.
"No, I do not experience any pain now. I have no pain now. It was simply a growth. They detected it and had it removed," he said in the interview for the WriteTake programme of the media outlet.
He said that he continued his responsibilities even during his diagnosis and treatment period.
Source : Diagnosed with cancer on day of Aditya L1 mission launch, cured now, says ISRO chief
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Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Wednesday said he has not resigned as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh even as his government risks losing majority after some Congress MLAs cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls.
"I am a fighter. I hail from a humble family. We will win this battle and also prove a majority in the Vidhan Sabha," he told mediapersons here.
Six Congress MLAs voted in favour of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday with sources claiming they are "disappointed" with the working style of Chief Minister Sukhu.
The Congress government in the state faces an existential crisis after the six MLAs cross-voted.
Source : As his govt faces turbulent time, Sukhvinder Sukhu says he has not resigned
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Indian security and anti-narcotics agencies on Wednesday said they have seized 3,300 kg of drugs in the highest-ever offshore capture till date and arrested five foreigners from a dhow in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the joint operation by the Navy, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Gujarat Police a "historic success" and a testament of his government's "unwavering commitment to making our nation drug-free."
The operation was undertaken in the Arabian Sea along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with the Navy saying on X that it deployed its P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, a warship and helicopters to apprehend the "suspicious dhow carrying almost 3,300 kg of contraband (3,089 kg of Charas, 158 kg of Methamphetamine and 25 kg of Morphine)."
"This seizure of drugs is by far the largest in terms of quantity, & was possible through #collaborative efforts of #IndianNavy's #missiondeployed assets with the NCB," the Navy social media handle post said.
The NCB in Delhi said the joint team of agencies "busted yet another international drug trafficking network and effected the highest-ever offshore seizure (by quantity) in the country."
The five people arrested from the boat are suspected to be either Iranian or Pakistani nationals. No documents of nationality have been recovered from them, a senior NCB officer said. The official did not specify the cost of the contraband.
In international market, one kg of charas is priced at Rs 7 crore.
A senior official of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) said a large quantity of different types of drugs, including charas (hashish), was seized from a boat during the mid-sea operation off the state coast.
Based on a specific tip-off, the operation was conducted in the Arabian Sea near the IMBL, he said.
Home minister Shah, in his post on X, said pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a drug-free Bharat, the agencies have achieved the grand success of making the biggest offshore seizure of drugs in the nation.
Source : Record 3,300 kg narcotics seized from boat off Gujarat coast; 5 foreigners arrested
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Kylian Mbappé was kept quiet as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain needed a penalty from substitute Gonçalo Ramos seven minutes into stoppage time to scrape a 1-1 home draw with Rennes.
It was Mbappé's first home game since telling PSG he is leaving the club at the end of the season. Coach Luis Enrique told fans to start getting used to life without PSG's 244-goal, all-time record scorer.
"It's very simple, sooner or later, when it happens (that he leaves) we must get used to playing without Kylian," Luis Enrique said on Sunday.
"When I want to select him I will (and) when that's not the case, same thing."
Ramos came on for 21-goal league top scorer Mbappé midway through the second half, and scored from the spot after a video review ruled that goalkeeper Steve Mandanda had fouled him.
That decision came after another video review overturned a penalty and ruled that Ramos had not been fouled in the 84th minute.
Mandanda made two fine saves for Rennes, which scored through Amine Gouiri's excellent solo goal in the 33rd minute.
The lively forward ran at the defense from some 30 meters out, skipped past Vitinha, put the ball through Danilo's legs and then beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with the outside of his foot.
PSG only just avoided its second league defeat this season, which was at home against Nice in September.
The draw cut PSG's big lead to 11 points over second-place Brest. Improving Rennes is in seventh place.
In Sunday's late game, veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as ninth-place Marseille beat struggling Montpellier 4-1 at Stade Velodrome.
The visitors scored in the fifth minute through midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari after Marseille defender Samuel Gigot botched a clearance.
Goals from forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Aubameyang put Marseille ahead at the break, and Aubameyang grabbed his second goal from the penalty spot in the 62nd after Ndiaye was fouled. The fourth goal was an own-goal late on from defender Falaye Sacko.
The win must have felt strange for Marseille's new coach Jean-Louis Gasset. The 70-year-old was born in Montpellier, played 10 years for the club as a gritty midfielder, twice coached the club and his father was one of its founding members.
In the lunchtime match, American forward Folarin Balogun scored early and missed a late penalty before his teammate Takumi Minamino reprieved him with an injury-time goal as Monaco won 3-2 at Lens to move up to third place.
Source : PSG needs stoppage-time penalty to draw with Rennes
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England legend Alastair Cook has lauded Joe Root for his Bazball-defying century in the fourth Test and also drew an expected parallel with India captain Rohit Sharma while praising him.
The 33-year-old Root rediscovered his old touch as he looked in control during his unbeaten 122, which resurrected England to 353 in their first innings after they were left tottering at 112 for 5 in the morning session on day 1 of the ongoing fourth Test in Ranchi.
"When you see someone go through a little trouble, it's always great to see them out the other end. When great players don't score runs it's only a matter of time until they do," Cook told TNT Sport after day 1 on Friday.
"What Joe Root did today (Friday) was go back to basics. This is a clip of someone with the shots you'd expect Joe Root to play (Cook was speaking while a video of Root's innings was being played). All the talk about the reverse scoop being unusual, this is a very typical Joe innings.
"Slightly slower than normal but the tempo and his rhythm of batting is what makes him stand out. When he's in fine flow he's got such a nice easy way about him, Rohit (Sharma)-like. Pure and utter class, great player of spin and he has all the options covered."
Root, one of the best batters in world cricket, had faced flak after his reverse lap against Jasprit Bumrah cost England dearly as they were bundled for 319 while chasing 445 in the third Test.
It was his first century in the five-match series following scores of 29, 2, 5, 16, 18, 7 in his last six Test innings.
"Root has played beautifully today. It has been a very different Root to what we have seen in the series, one who has been playing with control...It has been very un-Bazball, for those who like the entertainment, but very effective," Cook, a former England skipper, said.
"It was a very emotionless Root. It will be interesting to see what he says about this hundred, given all of the stuff that has gone on before, the talk about his shot selection and the way he has played. Great players respond and he has responded with runs."
Source : England vs India: Pure and utter class, Rohit-like: Cook praises Root for un-Bazball knock
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Lionel Messi had two Real Salt Lake defenders on either side of him, two more a few yards in front of him. He quickly tapped the ball away from them all with his left foot, to a spot where only teammate Robert Taylor could reach.
Moments later, Inter Miami had the first goal of the Major League Soccer season.
Taylor's goal in the 39th minute set the tone, Diego Gómez added an insurance score in the 83rd minute and Inter Miami — to start Messi's first full season with the club — opened the 29th season of MLS with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night.
Messi was in midseason form, darting through and around defenders, almost giving the sellout crowd what they wanted to see by nearly scoring on a free kick and then a corner kick midway through the first half.
“I think the eyes of the world are on Inter Miami, and I'm hoping that they're able to deliver on that and whatever expectations people have,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who was at Wednesday's match. “Mostly, I'd just like his experience to be good, the experience of the team to be successful, how they're positioned both here in the league but also around the world. That's the story that I think is most important to us.”
Messi had 11 goals in 14 total matches with Inter Miami last season, leading the team to a Leagues Cup championship — its first-ever trophy — shortly after he stunned much of the soccer world by signing a 2 1/2-year contract worth around $150 million. He appeared in only six MLS matches in 2023, scoring once. Injuries slowed him late in the 2023 season and Inter Miami, which was way out of the postseason picture when Messi joined last summer, didn't make the MLS playoffs.
But the craze surrounding him is not fading. The lines for fans to buy his jersey, which was MLS' top-seller last year and has a new sponsor design this year, was out the door of the team store. He had the assist on the first goal and set up Luis Suarez — one of his former Barcelona teammates, like fellow Inter Miami stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba — with the pass that Suarez turned into the assist on Gómez's goal.
“I'm so happy,” Suarez said.
They looked every bit like a contender. That wasn't the case in the exhibition season.
Inter Miami started its season with an international preseason tour with seven matches in five different countries — netting roughly 25,000 miles of travel, a total of eight goals, multiple apologies to refund-seeking fans after Messi missed a game in Hong Kong because of injury, and just one win.
But they completely controlled the first half of Wednesday's match against a team that comfortably made the Western Conference playoffs last season. Messi even flicked the ball around Salt Lake defender Andrew Brody who was injured and down near the top of the penalty box late in the half, weaving around him with ease. Brody was able to stay in the game.
“If anybody had been skeptical about what this team can do, I think the first half showed them,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said.
Source : Lionel Messi gets an assist, Inter Miami opens MLS season with 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake
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Daily commuters between Delhi and Gurugram have been facing massive traffic jams on Wednesday after protesting farmers announced to continue their 'Delhi Chalo' agitation.
Delhi Police, along with their counterpart in Gurugram, have made elaborate arrangements to stop the farmers from entering the national capital by putting up road blockades at different borders.
The move led to traffic chaos at places like Rajokri border, Sarhol border, Delhi-Gurugram Highway (NH-48) and Delhi-Bahadurgarh Highway during the official hours from 7 am to almost 11 am.
Several videos were shared online of hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic jam at Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Bahadurgarh roads due to the restriction of movement.
Multi-layered barricades have been put up at several locations.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has beefed up security in the national capital on Wednesday and directed its personnel to ensure strict vigil at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders after the protesting farmers announced to continue their 'Delhi Chalo' agitation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram said there was sufficient deployment of the force besides paramilitary personnel at the Delhi-Haryana borders.
"Our motive is not to disturb traffic. Our main motive is to ensure safety, security and law and order. Deployed teams are checking all the vehicles to ensure that farmers do not enter the national capital," said the DCP.
The protesting farmers rejected the Centre's proposal to buy pulses, maize and cotton crops through government agencies at minimum support price (MSP) for five years and announced to continue with their agitation.
In the fourth round of talks with the farmer leaders on Sunday, a panel of three Union ministers proposed that government agencies would buy pulses, maize and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. The farmer leaders rejected the proposal saying it was not in favour of the farmers.
Delhi Police officials said security personnel deployed at the three borders were on Tuesday asked to stay on alert. They said commuters might face traffic congestion.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the "Delhi Chalo" march.
Protesting farmers and Haryana police personnel clashed at the Punjab-Haryana border near Ambala on February 13.
The two border points of Delhi and Haryana - Tikri and Singhu - are sealed with the heavy deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces and multi-layered barricades of concrete and iron nails. Two lanes of the Ghazipur border have also been shut with multi-layer barricades and deployment of police personnel.
Another officer said the Delhi Police was prepared to stop the farmers at the Delhi borders. Security personnel have been directed to not allow even a single protester or vehicle to enter Delhi, he said, adding that mock security drills were conducted.
The Delhi Police has already stocked up 30,000 tear gas shells.
Source : Farmers' protest: Commuters face massive traffic jams on Delhi-Gurugram roads
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Legal guarantee for MSP will not make Indian farmers a burden on the budget but ensure that they become drivers of GDP growth, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday as he claimed that "lies" are being spread that the MSP guarantee is not feasible under the government's budget.
In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi claimed that ever since the Congress resolved to provide legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), "Modi's propaganda machinery and media friendly to him have spread a barrage of lies on MSP".
"Lie -- It is not feasible to provide legal guarantee for MSP in the budget of the government of India. Fact -- According to CRISIL, giving MSP to farmers in 2022-23 would have resulted in an additional burden of Rs 21,000 crore on the government, which is only 0.4 per cent of the total budget," Gandhi said in his post.
In a country where bank loans worth Rs 14 lakh crore have been waived and corporate tax exemption of Rs 1.8 lakh crore given, why is even a little expenditure on farmers irking them, he asked.
With the legal guarantee for MSP, investment in agriculture will increase, demand will increase in rural India and farmers will also get confidence in growing different types of crops, which is a guarantee of the country's prosperity, Gandhi argued.
Source : Legal guarantee for MSP will make farmers drivers of GDP growth, says Rahul Gandhi
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Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Monday said that the party-backed independent candidates, who won the February 8 elections, will join the Sunni Ittehad Council.
The Sunni Ittehad Council is an alliance of Islamic political and religious parties in the Muslim-majority country which represents followers of the school of Sunni Islam.
"Our candidates in the National Assembly, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies will join the Sunni Ittehad Council," Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said.
Though independent candidates backed by the party won the maximum number of seats in Parliament, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) - have announced that they will form a coalition government after the February 8 elections resulted in a hung Parliament.
The winning independent candidates had to join a party within 3 days after the notification of the results.
The post-poll alliance by the PML-N and the PPP could mean that PTI will not be able to form the next federal government, prompting Khan's party to allege that the two rival parties were trying to steal the people's mandate with the help of the powerful establishment.
Source : Imran Khan's party says independent candidates, who won Feb 8 elections in Pakistan, will join Sunni Ittehad Council
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