Crimea with over 96 per cent votes moves to join Russia, as the
West readies for sanctions against it.
- US
President Obama today meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to
push stalled peace process in West Asia.
- Security forces arrest one terrorist at LoC in
Poonch district.
- In the T-20 World Cup, India take on Srilanka in a warm up
match this evening.
[]><><><[]
Crimea will formally apply to join Russia
today, after voting to split from Ukraine as Europe prepared to hit
Moscow with a wave of sanctions
in the worst East-West stand-off since the Cold War. According to Crimea
Election Chief, an overwhelming 96.6 per cent of voters on the mostly
Russian-speaking peninsula chose to secede from Ukraine in yesterday's
referendum.
There was sharp international condemnation of the vote. The European
Union
said, the referendum was illegal and illegitimate and its outcome would
not be
recognised. Foreign Ministers of the European Union 28 member-states are
to
hold an emergency meeting in Brussels.
Aftermaths of yesterday's referendum on the future of Crimea and the
possible
sanctions against Russia
will become the dominant issue at a conference. The EU followed the US,
Britain,
France, Italy, and NATO
in declaring its refusal to honor the results of the referendum.
US President Barack Obama phoned his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin yesterday and told him the vote under duress of
Russian military intervention, would never be recognised by the United States
and the international community.
[]><><><[]
Following hints of fresh sanction against Moscow, oil prices rose in Asia
today. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery,
was up 23 cents to 99.12 dollar in mid-morning Asian trade, and Brent North Sea
crude for May gained 11 cents to over 108 dollar.
Investors are worried that potential sanctions
against Russia
could disrupt gas and oil supplies from the country. More than 70 per cent of Russia's gas and oil exports to Europe pass
through Ukraine.
[]><><><[]
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
will meet US President Obama at the White house today. Ahead of the talks
Israeli and Palestinian sides are engaged in a war of words over Israel’s
demands to recognize it as a Jewish state before any peace deal is signed.
"Barack Obama and Mahmoud Abbas meeting comes at a time when US is
trying to give a push to revive the stalled peace process in West
Asia. A deadline of 29th of April has been set for the Israeli and Palestinian
sides to agree upon on a framework to restart the stalled direct peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any deal with the
Palestinians unless they recognise Israel as the Jewish state and give
up their refugees' right of return. The Palestinians have rejected the demand
saying it would deny their historical narrative and put breaks on the right of
their refugees to return to homes they fled from or were forced out of during
the 1948 war which led to the creation of Israel. Atul Tiwary, AIR
News."
[]><><><[]
A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was arrested by the
security forces when he was trying to infiltrate along the Line of Control in
Poonch district. Police said, his arrest is a major breakthrough in exposing a
major link between terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and its Over Ground Workers
in Poonch district. Police sources said the operation was successfully carried
out in a surgical manner while avoiding any collateral damage.
The arrested ultra has been identified as Muhammad
Ishaq alias Munna, a resident of Village Digwar Terwan in Poonch district. An
AK-47 Rifle, two magazines, over 55 rounds of ammunition and an Improvised
Explosive Device (IED) were recovered from his possession. He had crossed over
to PoK for arms training in 2011.
[]><><><[]
Rain lashed many parts of the Kashmir Valley
today while authorities in Bandipora district of north Kashmir
have issued an avalanche warning. The Meteorological department in Srinagar has warned of
heavy rainfall or snowfall along with hailstorm and thunder squall at few
places over the next 24 hours. He said there would be an increase in rainfall
activity in the state over the next few days.
Meanwhile, authorities in Baramulla district of
north Kashmir have evacuated 21 families to
safer places in view of the land slides in the area.
[]><><><[]
In Kochi,
sitting MP and Union Minister of State for Food and Public Distributions Prof.
K. V. Thomas filed his nomination papers for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha
Constituency today. BJP State General Secretary AN Radhakrishnan has also filed
his nomination from Ernakulam.
[]><><><[]
In Puducherry, the Election Commission has
started using all modes of communication to educate people for voting. Rallies
and Door-to-Door Campaigns are being carried out to ensure 100 per cent voting
in the forth coming Lok Sabha Elections. Besides modern technologies, the
Election Commission has started using the century old method of street plays to
educate the voters. These street theatre performers will be travelling from village
to village and popularise the importance of voting. These plays form a part of
Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation campaign and this will
go on upto 6th April.
[]><><><[]
In Assam, Election Commission
appointed Excise Observer Santosh Mishra will arrive in Guwahati today to take
stock of the steps being undertaken to prevent use of liquor to lure voters.
Our correspondent reports that he will take stock of the situation through
video conferencing with all district heads and senior excise officials.
"190 Flying Squads and 175 Static Surveillance teams have already
been pressed into service to keep an eye on distribution of all kinds of liquor
in Assam.
Over 12 thousand 500 liquor seized cases have been registered in the state. The
first phase of polling will be held on 7th of next month in five seats.
Political activities are on to woo the voters. MANAS PRATIM SARMA, AIR NEWS,
GUWAHATI."
[]><><><[]
Three Congress supporters sustained bullet
injuries in a clash with ruling TMC supporters in West
Bengal's Malda district today. The clash took place when the
Congress supporters were engaged in wall painting for their candidates for the
ensuing Lok Sabha poll. The rival supporters clashed on the site for wall
painting and they hurled bombs and fired bullets in which three Congress
members were hurt and admitted to the Malda medical college hospital. Malda
district superintendent of police Rajesh Yadav said, a strong contingent of
police force is stationed in the area and the situation has been brought under
control.
[]><><><[]
In Odisha, a joint operation by the Special
Operation Group District Voluntary Force and BSF has busted at least six Maoist
camps in Navrangpur district. Stating this in a press conference Inspector
General of Police Yaswant Jethwa said that police have also recovered a huge
cache of arms and ammunition from the jungle bordering Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
He said due to the combing operation, a big untoward incident planned by the
Maoists of Chhattisgarh has been averted.
[]><><><[]
Holi, the festival of colours is being celebrated
across the country today with great enthusiasm. Our correspondent reports, it
is time for music, fun and madness as Holi is reaching its
crescendo in every nook and corner of the National Capital.
"People have plunged into the battle of gulaals and water balloons
with frolic and fight with colours occurring in open streets and parks, outside
temples and buildings. They are distributing sweets and chocolates and visiting
community places and malls to celebrate the festival. Doctors have a piece of
advice for the citizens to celebrate the festival with natural colours made
from fruits and flowers. With Pratyush Ghosh, Zakir Malik, AIR News, Delhi."
In Mathura,
the whole stretch from Holi Gate to the Dwarkadheesh temple is witnessing the
Holi fervour. From Goverdhan to Barsana, Nand Gaon and Gokul-Mahavan across the
river Yamuna, the mood is festive and Holi celebrations are in full flow.
"With bright sunshine, the mustard
fields also look in full bloom, adding to the mood of Holi today. The Holi festivities
have gripped Mathura, the land of Kanha
with colours and devotional prayers in temples dotting the region. Vrindavan
temples are enveloped in colourful clouds of gulal. Saffron colour made from
fragrant flowers were sprinkled on the devotees. While in Lucknow, the colours of joy galore and the
mood is set to just one thing; the celebration with ecstatic feelings and to
share the heartfelt sentiments with each other without any inhibition.
Merajuddin, AIR NEWS, Lucknow."
In Dubai
also, Holi is being celebrated among the large expatriate Indian community.
People from different walks of life are meeting and greeting each other in Dubai and different parts of the West
Asia region.
[]><><><[]
The News Services Division of All India Radio in
its weekly Live Phone-in programme "PUBLIC SPEAK" today will bring
you a discussion on "Holi - A symbol of communal harmony." This can
be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 9.30 to 10.05 p.m.
Listeners can ask questions to the experts sitting in our Studio on telephone
number: 011: 2331-4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.
[]><><><[]
In Uttar Pradesh, the construction of world's
tallest temple in Mathura,
the birthplace of Lord Krishna started today. It will be a 700 feet high skyscraper
spread over an area of 5.5 acres and also have 70 floors. The International
Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCON, which is carrying out the project,
hopes to complete the work in the next 5 years.
Our correspondent reports that the project will
cost more than 300 crore rupees and ISKCON is hoping to raise the money from
the devotees.
[]><><><[]
Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard
today assisted in the repatriation of 140 Indian fishermen and 31 fishing boats
after they were freed by the local courts last week. According to a press
release by the Sri Lankan Navy, 116 fishermen and 26 boats were handed over to
the Indian Coast Guard Ships 'Abheek' and 'Rajtharang' at the International
Maritime Boundary Line off the coast of Kankasanthurei.
24 Indian fishermen and 5 boats were handed over to the Indian Coast Guard Ship
'Rajkamal' in the seas near Mannar.
[]><><><[]
In Pakistan, at least 12 people were
injured in clashes with police during rallies and demonstrations held in Dera
Allahyar and other towns of Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts in Balochistan
yesterday in protest against alleged desecration of Holy Quran in Larkana. The
angry mob set on fire a number of shops in Usta Mohammad town of Jaffarabad. Protests were
also held in Dera Murad Jamali and other towns and cities of Balochistan. A
large number of people led by local religious leaders tried to attack Hindu
temples and Gurdwaras. They also tried to enter Hindu localities, but police
foiled their attempts. Police fired in the air to stop the protesters from
attacking a temple in Dera Allahyar.
Security has been beefed up in and around temples
and Gurdwaras and police started patrolling Hindu and Sikh localities.
[]><><><[]
In Pakistan, unknown militants fired
rockets at a NATO container in the Khyber tribal region’s Shagai area
yesterday. No casualties were reported in the incident. Meanwhile, a van of a
cement factory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshera district was blown up in a
remote control bomb attack and a police mobile passing nearby was also damaged.
[]><><><[]
"Italy's Flavia Pennetta today
captured the biggest title of her career, as she stunned second seed Agnieszka
Radwanska to win the Indian Wells Open Tennis tournament at California. In the
Women's Singles finals this morning, ailing Radwanska lost to twentieth seed
Pennetta, in straight sets, 2-6, 1-6. Radwanska went into the match as a
favourite, but was unable to give her 100 per cent, because of a knee injury
that severely restricted her movement. World Number Two Novak Djokovic has
lifted the Men's Singles trophy, beating Swiss Roger Federer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Federer still leads 17-16 to Djokovic, having beaten the Serb in the semifinals
at Dubai two
weeks ago. With today's result, Djokovic will remain No. 2 in the world, while
Federer will rise three spots to No. 5 in the upcoming ATP Tour rankings.
And in the ICC Twenty-20 Cricket World
Cup, Ireland
will meet Zimbabwe, and Netherlands
will clash with UAE in the Group-B qualifier matches today. Team India
will take on Sri Lanka in their first warm-up
game at Mirpur this evening. In the day's other warm-up game, New
Zealand will play Pakistan. In the tournament, India has been placed in
Group-II alongside Pakistan, Australia,
and the West Indies, while Group-I comprises England,
New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. India will take on
Pakistan on Friday
in its first Group match at Mirpur. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, FOR AIR NEWS."
[]><><><[]
Sri Lankan batting stalwart
Mahela Jayawardene will retire from Twenty-20 Internationals after the
conclusion of the ongoing T-20 World Cup in Bangladesh. International Cricket
Council announced the news of Jaywardene's decision on Twitter. The decision
came a day after another Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara announced quitting
the shortest format in the international circuit after the Twenty-20 World Cup.
