Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced he is closing the border with Brazil on Thursday night as a row over foreign humanitarian aid continues.

The embattled leftist leader went on TV to say that he was also considering shutting the border with Colombia to stop the opposition bringing in relief.

He denies any crisis and calls the aid delivery plans a US-orchestrated show.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is leading a convoy to the Colombian border from the capital Caracas.

Mr Guaidó declared himself interim leader during anti-government protests last month and is recognised by dozens of foreign states, including the US.

Scuffles broke out and tear gas was fired when the convoy of buses and cars was briefly stopped by security forces on a road near Mariara, west of Caracas, but they later moved on.

The Home Ministry has approved entitlement of air travel to all personnel of Central Armed Police Forces, CAPFs. The Ministry approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of CAPFs. 

The decision will immediately benefit approximately 7 lakh 80 thousand personnel of the CAPFs in the ranks of Constable, Head Constable and ASI who were otherwise not eligible earlier. This includes journey on duty and journey on leave, that is while going on leave from Jammu and Kashmir to home and return.

This facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs that have been steadily extended in all sectors by the Home Ministry to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and from home on leave.

In Jammu and Kashmir Sector, it may be recalled that Air Courier Service for CAPFs jawans was approved for the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector. Subsequently, the Service was extended to cover Delhi-Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Jammu and  Jammu-Delhi sector in December 2017. 

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the Narendra Modi-led central government has decided to stop its share of eastern rivers water flowing to Pakistan in the wake of the deadly Pulwama terror attack.

“Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Sri Narendra Modi ji, Our Govt. has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from Eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab,” Gadkari tweeted.

A ministry official, however, has clarified that Gadkari has only reiterated what he has been saying in the past. “He is talking about diverting India’s share of Indus water which was going to Pakistan – and he has always been saying this,” the official said.

Gadkari said the construction of dam has started at Shahpur- Kandi on Ravi river. “Moreover, UJH project will store our share of water for use in J&K and the balance water will flow from 2nd Ravi-BEAS Link to provide water to other basin states,” he added.

Top trade officials from the US and China have started their latest, and possibly the last round of talks in Washington to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal before their self-imposed deadline of 1st March. The Chinese delegation is led by Vice- Premier Liu He, while US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin chaired the talks on behalf of the US. 

During the two-day talks, China is expected to announce a large purchase of US agricultural and energy products. Beijing will propose buying an additional 30 billion US dollars annually of American farm products such as soybeans, corn and wheat.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during in  December last year had agreed to temporarily pause their trade war and arrive at a trade deal by 1st March.

The Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir has received the season's heaviest snowfall yesterday. The nearly 10 inch thick snow disrupted normal life in Leh. Air services were also suspended due to snowfall. MeT office has forecast a cloudy sky for today. AIR correspondent reports that, in the wake of season's heaviest snow fall in Ladakh the district administrations of Leh and Kargil have reviewed the preparedness for any eventuality. Leh Hill Council CEC Jamyang Tsering Namgyal held emergency meeting with key district officials to make sure that food essentials and fodder for animals are in reach of every village.  The traffic is restricted on the high passes in Leh. To avoid accidents, controlled blasts at avalanche prone areas on higher reaches were also considered.  People are advised to clear the snow on rooftops and on trees to avoid any damages.  While the power and water supply mechanisms , health services are on caution, the SDRF is put on high in the district in case of rescue and relief operations are required. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India Korea relations have reached to new heights. In a one to one talk with Korean President Moon Jae In in Seoul, Prime Minister Modi said that Special strategic partnership between both the countries is very significant not only for India but also for the world. Referring to last week's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, President Moon said that terrorism is a menace against civilization and humanity and it can not be justified.

Later, a delegation level talks was also held between the two leaders. The two countries signed seven MoUs in different fields including Communication and Trade and Industry.

Addressing a Joint press conference with the South Korean leader, Mr Modi expressed his gratitude to President Moon for his condolences on Pulwama Attack and support against terrorism. Mr Modi said, MoU signed between the two countries will further take forward counter-terrorism agenda.

Mr Modi said, defence sector is an important part of our growing partnership with South Korea and induction of K-9 Vajra artillery gun in Indian Army ia an example of this.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has urged the international community to co-operate actively with India in bringing the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism to justice. In a statement, the 15-nation body, which also includes China, strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel last week. The UNSC members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Indian people and the government, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured.

The UNSC termed the attack as heinous and cowardly. The condemnation also named the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed which claimed responsibility for the attack. The UNSC reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The member countries underlined the need to hold accountable those behind these reprehensible acts and bring them to justice.

Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had strongly condemned the attack and called for those behind it to be brought to justice. The international community had also extended its condolences and support to India in the fight against terrorism.
In a major boost to India's efforts to get Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar on the list of global terrorists, France is expected to soon move a proposal at the UN to ban him. The proposal, when moved, will be fourth such bid at the UN in last 10 years. 

Bollywood film producer and father of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, Rajkumar Barjatya, has passed away in Mumbai. The news was tweeted by his production house Rajshri Films’ official handle. He is survived by son Sooraj and wife Sudha.

Associated with some of the biggest hits in the history of Hindi films, Rajkumar Barjatya inherited the baton of Rajshri Films from his father Tarachand Barjatya and passed it on to son Sooraj. Films like Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo (2015), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994) and Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) are among some of the ventures he produced. 

The Supreme Court Thursday appointed its former judge, Justice D K Jain as the first ombudsman for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A bench comprising Justices S A Bobde and A M Sapre said: "We are happy that by consent of the parties and the suggestions, the name of retired Justice D K Jain has been agreed to be appointed as the ombudsman in the BCCI.

"We accordingly appoint Justice (retired) D K Jain as first ombudsman in the BCCI

Shares of public sector banks (PSBs) jumped up to 19 per cent on Thursday after the finance ministry announced infusion of Rs 48,239 crore in 12 such lenders in this fiscal to help them maintain regulatory capital requirements and finance growth plans.

Corporation Bank zoomed 18.82 per cent, United Bank 14.88 per cent, UCO Bank 13.70 per cent, Bank of Maharashtra 10.84 per cent, Allahabad Bank by 10 per cent, Central Bank of India 10 per cent and Indian Overseas Bank 9.84 per cent on BSE. 

Andhra Bank jumped 8.76 per cent, Punjab National Bank 7.94 per cent, Syndicate Bank 6 per cent, Bank of India 5.13 per cent and Union Bank of India gained 4.96 per cent.

Corporation Bank is the biggest beneficiary of this round of capital infusion with Rs 9,086 crore of funding, followed by Allahabad Bank with Rs 6,896 crore.

Further, Rs 4,638 crore and Rs 205 crore will be provided to Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra, respectively.

Punjab National Bank will get Rs 5,908 crore, Union Bank of India Rs 4,112 crore, Andhra Bank Rs 3,256 crore and Syndicate Bank Rs 1,603 crore.