1:30 pm

Hong Kong faces commuter chaos after rare train collision

A train collision disrupted services in Hong Kong on Monday, threatening commuter chaos during rush hour in the heart of the Asian financial hub, authorities said.

The rare disruption on a network used by nearly 6 million people every weekday brought services to a halt between the stations of Central and Admiralty, rail operator MTR Corp. said.

“The repair will take quite a long time and the service between Central and Admiralty ... will not be available for the whole day,” its operations director, Lau Tin-shing, told a news briefing.

An investigation into the incident has begun, although the trains carried no passengers at the time of the collision during the trial run of a new signal system. The drivers of both trains were taken to hospital, the network operator added, urging commuters to use other forms of travel or different rail routes.

12.30 pm

Priyanka reaches out to voters on river route

Congress leader, Priyanka Gandhi Vadr interactions with party workers during a boat ride from Prayagraj (Allahabad) to Varanasi on the Ganga. | Photo Credit: Rajeev Bhatt

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday kicked off her party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh on Monday by offering prayers at the Lette Hanuman temple near Sangam.

During her three-day visit, Ms. Priyanka will cover a distance of 100-km by boat in Ganga from Allahabad to Varanasi — the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hopping from one temple to another.

Her Ganga cruise is being seen by political observers as an effort to navigate her party out of a nearly three-decade long wilderness in the state.

The Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh offered prayers on the banks of Sangam -- a confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

11.15 am

Flash floods, earthquake in Indonesia kill dozens

Indonesian police and soldiers search for residents who need assistance at a flooded neighborhood in Sentani, Papua Province, Indonesia, Monday, March 18, 2019. | Photo Credit: AP

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by downpours tore through mountainside villages in Indonesia’s easternmost province, killing at least 58 people, disaster officials said. An earthquake triggered a landslide that hit a popular waterfall on the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok, killing at least two and damaging hundreds of homes.

Floodwaters and landslides destroyed roads and bridges in several areas of Papua province’s Jayapura district following days of torrential rains, hampering rescue efforts, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman, said Sunday.

10.00 am

Andreescu beat Kerber to lift Indian Wells title

Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a backhand against Bianca Andreescu of Canada during their women's singles final on day fourteen of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. | Photo Credit: AFP

Young Canadian Bianca Andreescu was proclaimed champion at the Indian Wells Masters, after she overcame the German Angelique Kerber, who was eighth seeded, 6-4, 3-6 and 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes.

It is the first time ever that a player who received a wildcard entry to the tournament leaves with the title, reports Efe news.

Thiem edges Federer

In the men's event, Roger Federer came out playing like his legendary self. Dominic Thiem needed a set to adjust to what he was seeing across the net. Thiem went on to beat Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and win the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, denying Federer a record sixth title in the desert.

“It just feels unreal what happened,” Thiem said. “He’s such a legend.”

Thiem trailed 4-3 and 5-4 in the third set before breaking Federer with a forehand winner to go up 6-5. Thiem served out the two-hour match that ended with yet another error from Federer, a forehand dumped into the net.

9.00 am

Shooter bought weapons from online says NZ gun shop owner

Gun City owner David Tipple, right, speaks during a press conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, Monday, March 18, 2019. | Photo Credit: AP

The owner of a New Zealand gun store said on Monday the man charged with murder in Christchurch's mass shooting had bought firearms and ammunition online from the store, but it did not sell him the high-powered weapon used in the mosque shootings.

8.30 am

HelpAge India organises senior citizens' cycling rally

Senior Citizens Cyclers participating at the Silver Cyclothon event organised by the HelpAge India in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

HelpAge India’s Silver Cyclers project, is led by 70-year-old Hari Baskaran, focuses on old age homes and the need for providing adequate support and care for the elderly. The Cyclothon that commenced on January 21, 2019 in Chennai and will terminate at India Gate in Delhi on March 19, 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)