LIVE: Taliban officially bans all foreign TV series in Afghanistan

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• Mar 18, 2022 01:05 PM IST

  Taliban officially bans all foreign TV series in Afghanistan

  The Taliban has officially banned the broadcasting of all foreign TV series in Afghanistan. As reported by Russian news agency Sputnik, there is no film industry in Afghanistan, and no other shows that can replace the foreign ones. 

• Mar 18, 2022 12:44 PM IST

  Saudi Arabia extends Ukrainian’s visas on humanitarian grounds

  Saudi Arabia has issued a royal directive to extend Ukrainian tourist and business citizens’ visas on humanitarian grounds. Reportedly, the vias will be extended without any fees or fines. 

• Mar 18, 2022 12:42 PM IST

  Shanghai pushes mass Covid tests amid surge 

  The Chinese commercial hub – Shanghai is conducting mass Covid-19 testing as China witnesses a massive surge in cases. 

• Mar 18, 2022 12:16 PM IST

  Moderna seeks EUA for 2nd booster shot

  Amid the surge in covid-19 cases across the world, Moderna Inc on late Thursday sought emergency use authorization for a second Covid-19 booster shot from the US health regulators. 

• Mar 18, 2022 11:52 AM IST

  ISKCON temple in Bangladesh vandalized

  ISKCON Radhakanta temple in Bangladesh’s Dhaka has been vandalized on March 17. 

• Mar 18, 2022 11:51 AM IST

  Vivek Agnihotri gets ‘Y’ category security cover

  Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri – director of ‘The Kashmir Files’ gets ‘Y’ category security cover – deployment of four to five armed commandos in close proximity. He will be protected by the CRPF during his stay or travel all over India. 

• Mar 18, 2022 11:12 AM IST

  TN budget: ₹3,384 crores allocated for water management

  The Tamil Nadu Assembly has allocated ₹3384 crores for water management in the state.

• Mar 18, 2022 10:56 AM IST

  Indian-American Ro Khanna named to NSC on Emerging Biotechnology

  Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has been named to National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.

• Mar 18, 2022 10:22 AM IST

  Union Health Secretary writes to states/UTs on Covid strategy

  Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries (Health) of all States/UTson Covid-19 strategy. 

  He emphasized that there should be a continued focus on the five-fold strategy – Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID Appropriate Behavior.

• Mar 18, 2022 09:07 AM IST

  Australian PM Scott Morrison extends Holi greetings to Indian Australian community

  Australian PM Scott Morrison extended Holi greetings to the Indian Australian community. In a message, he wrote, “Holi holds even more meaning this year. As we reach the end of a 2nd pandemic year, we can be thankful for the many things that have sustained us -our family, community & faith.”

• Mar 18, 2022 08:54 AM IST

  India’s Covid cases consistently drop, new deaths at 149

  India records a consistent decline in the daily Covid cases with 2,528 new infections in the last 24 hours. According to the data, 149 new Covid deaths have been reported. 3,997 people have been discharged in the past 24-hours. 

• Mar 18, 2022 08:51 AM IST

  PM Modi extends wishes on Holi 

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people of the country on the occasion of Holi. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Wishing you all a very Happy Holi. May this festival of colors, a symbol of mutual love, affection, and brotherhood, bring every color of happiness in your life.”

• Mar 18, 2022 07:32 AM IST

  US lawmakers urge India to speak out against Russia’s attacks in Ukraine

  Following a bipartisan call with Ambassador of India to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, US lawmakers urge India to speak out against Vladimir Putin’s targeting of civilians in Ukraine.

• Mar 18, 2022 06:57 AM IST

  Taliban suspends operations of insurance companies in Afghanistan

  The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has suspended operations of insurance companies in the war-torn country until further notice, a report by Khaama Press said. 

  According to an official letter sent to insurance companies, the Taliban said that the spirit of insurance is under discussion in the Science Academy of Afghanistan to decide whether (insurance) is against Islamic practices or not. 

• Mar 18, 2022 06:18 AM IST

  Srinagar: 15 arrested for pelting stones at security forces post-encounter

  Fifteen people have been arrested for pelting stones at security forcesafter an encounter in Srinagar in which three militants were killed. 

  “A large unruly mob assembled from adjacent areas of Shankerpora Wanabal carrying ‘lathies’ and stones in their hands and pelted stones on the deployed staff. In order to disperse the mob smoke shells had to be used,” the Srinagar Police said in a statement on Thursday. 

• Mar 18, 2022 06:03 AM IST

  South Korea to end Covid-19 curbs despite record spike in cases

  South Korea will end all restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 despite a record spike in daily infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), South Korea leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days.