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10:11 PM

FSSAI sends notice to IndiGo with regard to a food item served on flight

IndiGo is in receipt of a show cause notice from FSSAI with regard to a food item served on flight 6E 6107 from Delhi to Mumbai. We will be responding to the notice, as per protocol: IndiGo

10:11 PM

EPFO extends deadline till May 31 for employers to upload pension details

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the deadline for employers to upload wage details of individuals opting for a higher pension to its database. The new deadline is now May 31. Initially, employers were required to upload these details by December 31, 2023, as per the statement from the labor ministry.

10:06 PM

MCD undertakes 19 sealing actions following revocation of Grap-III

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi carried out 37 demolition and 19 sealing actions in the last two days, as per an official statement released on Wednesday. These actions were initiated after the restrictions imposed under the anti-pollution measure Grap-III were lifted. Demolition activities were put on hold when Graded Response Action Plan-III was enforced in December of the previous year. The suspension was revoked on Monday due to noticeable improvements in Delhi's air quality.

9:37 PM

India exports 8,606 tonnes of raw cane sugar to US under TRQ scheme

The government officially announced the export of 8,606 tonnes of raw cane sugar to the United States under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) scheme for the fiscal year 2024. Shipments falling under the TRQ benefit from lower customs duties. Once the designated quota is met, additional imports face higher tariff rates.

9:18 PM

If we had been more 'Bharat', we would have had less rosy view of relationship with China: EAM

9:06 PM

Mossad's chief vows to hunt down Hamas members

The chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence service asserted that the agency is committed to tracking down every Hamas member involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, regardless of their location. This statement follows the suspected Israeli strike in Beirut that resulted in the death of the deputy head of the Palestinian militant group.

8:40 PM

Govt imposes ban on imports of cheap screws

The government implemented a prohibition on the import of specific types of screws priced below Rs 129 per kg, with the aim of encouraging domestic manufacturing. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in a notification, "The import policy of screws... is revised from free to prohibited. However, import shall be free if CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value is Rs 129 or above per kg."

8:13 PM

Navy warships carrying out maritime security operations in Gulf of Aden

8:08 PM

Punjab's GST revenue rises 16.52% to Rs 15,524 crore in April-December

The Enforcement Directorate objected on Wednesday in a Delhi court to a plea filed by R K Arora, the chairman and promoter of Supertech Group, a major real estate company. Arora had sought interim bail for three months on medical grounds in a money laundering case. Arora's request was presented before Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, citing his deteriorating health conditions that have worsened since his detention. He was already grappling with various life-threatening diseases before being taken into custody.

7:58 PM

Jaishankar and Saud to co-chair Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting on Jan 4-5

The seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting will be co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud on Thursday and Friday. During this visit, the ministers will evaluate the overall state of bilateral relations and explore avenues for increased cooperation. This trip to Nepal by Jaishankar, his first foreign visit in 2024, has been extended as an invitation from Saud.

7:30 PM

Over Rs 10,300 cr siphoned off by cyber criminals since 2021, says govt

Cybercriminals have illicitly funneled over Rs 10,300 crore out of the country since April 1, 2021, as reported by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) on Wednesday. Authorities successfully blocked approximately Rs 1,127 crore within India. In the year 2021, the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) recorded over 4.52 lakh cybercrime cases, marking a significant increase of 113.7%. The cases surged to 9.66 lakh on the portal in 2022, as disclosed by Rajesh Kumar, the Director of I4C, during an interaction with reporters.

7:16 PM

Around 39,000 athletes took part in the Khel Mahakumbh: Thakur

7:13 PM

CBI books Jamia Millia Islamia professor in case of bribery

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a new case against Khalid Moin, a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, in connection with bribery linked to the issuance of structural safety certificates for projects by a Bhubaneswar-based builder. According to officials, the agency claims that Moin accepted a bribe of Rs 2.20 lakh, with Rs 99,500 being paid in cash, in exchange for providing the certificate to projects of Khushi Realcon Private Limited.

5:55 PM

In a first, Isro to launch communications satellite GSAT-20 on Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket

Indian space agency Isro will rely on SpaceX to launch its next generation heavy communications satellite GSAT-20. Isro will employ the Falcon-9 heavy lift launcher which could liftoff from Florida.

5:48 PM

Explosion near Guards commander Soleimani's tomb on anniversary: Iran media

An explosion was reported by Iranian media near the cemetery of Iran's top commander Qassem Soleimani in Kerman during a ceremony to mark his killing in a US drone attack at Baghdad airport. No further details were given by state media.

5:41 PM

Rescuers race against clock searching for survivors of Japan earthquake

 

Evacuees continued to wait for further aid amid freezing temperatures and heavy rain, as the search for survivors continues in western Japan. The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the Noto peninsula on New Year's Day, destroying houses and levelling buildings. Heavy rain was forecast in the quake-hit areas on Wednesday, raising fears of landslides that could further hinder efforts to free many more people still trapped under rubble.

 

5:31 PM

PM Modi, Shah to attend conference of DGPs, IGPs to be held in Jaipur on January 5-7

Officials said today that a three-day conference of DGPs and IGPs will be conducted in Jaipur from January 5, to discuss terror threats in Jammu and Kashmir, cyber frauds, and activities of pro-Khalistani groups. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the country's top police officers at the conference. Home Minister Amit Shah will be present throughout the conference.

5:25 PM

PM Modi in Thrissur: Prime Minister addresses mass gathering of women at BJP's Mahila Conference

5:04 PM

We have no connection: Congress distances itself from Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks on Babri Mosque

4:31 PM

Randhir Jaiswal takes charge as Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson

Senior diplomat Randhir Jaiswal has officially assumed the position of the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, succeeding Arindam Bagchi, who has been appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. More details here.

4:05 PM

ODOP expresses diversity of India in a tangible way, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

3:57 PM

PM Modi in Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds roadshow in Thrissur

3:52 PM

BJP workers in Karnataka protest arrest of person allegedly involved in 1992 Babri Masjid demolition riots

3:47 PM

S Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal facilitate National ‘One District One Product’ winners in Delhi

3:43 PM

Israeli forces killed deputy leader in Beirut Attack, Hamas says

 

Israeli forces told civilians to leave a refugee camp in the north of the Gaza  after the war stretched into Lebanon with the killing in Beirut of the Hamas deputy leader. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied that it killed Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday.

 

But the Palestinian militant group said that the senior Hamas leader was killed by Israel in an explosion in Beirut.

3:34 PM

CAA rules notified for electoral gains, being used as political weapon: CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury

3:30 PM

Akbaruddin Owaisi slams Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for comments on Babri mosque

3:17 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal questions intent of ED's summons, seeks questionnaire from agency

3:11 PM

Young wrestlers hold protests against Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia at Jantar Mantar

3:08 PM

JEE-Main candidates to undergo frisking, biometric attendance after toilet breaks: NTA

Candidates appearing for engineering entrance exam JEE-Main will have to undergo frisking and biometric attendance after toilet breaks as well, according to National Testing Agency (NTA) officials.

"The move is aimed at ensuring there are no cases of use of unfair means or proxy attendance. We have strict mechanisms in place already but the idea is to make the exam completely foolproof to ensure there are zero incidents," NTA Director Subodh Kumar Singh said.