Highlights of the day: Sweden joins Nato, completes its accession process

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

10:36 PM

Congress CEC (Central Election Committee) meeting concludes

10:07 PM

Sweden officially joins Nato after completing its accession process, ending decades of neutrality

Sweden on Thursday formally joined Nato as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden's “instrument of accession” to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department.

10:02 PM

Fed's Powell says aware of policy risks to workers, but cuts depend on inflation

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday the central bank was "well aware" of the risks its tough monetary policy posed toworkers, but said rate cuts would depend on the economy evolving as the Fed expects, with continued lower inflation. Powell, appearing before the Senate Banking Committee, was pressed by the panel's chair, Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown, on why the Fed was not quicker to cut rates "to prevent workers from losing their jobs."

8:25 PM

Cabinet approves hike in MSP on Jute

Cabinet approves hikes in MSP of raw jute for 2024-25 season to Rs 5,335 per quintal from Rs 5,050 per quintal in 2023-24, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

7:44 PM

Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Rs 300 subsidy to PM Ujjwala Yojana

Union minister Piyush Goyal announces that the Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Rs 300 subsidy to PM Ujjwala Yojana consumers till 31st March 2025. The total expenditure for this will be Rs 12,000 crores, he adds.

7:25 PM

Services on section of Delhi Metro's Yellow Line hit due to signalling issue

Services on a section of the Delhi Metro's Yellow Line were affected on Thursday due to a signalling issue between Vishwavidyalaya and Kashmere Gate stations, officials said. Normal services resumed on the entire Yellow Line from 5:15 pm onwards, they said. The Yellow Line runs between Samaypur Badli in Delhi and Millennium City Centre in Gurugram. "Train services on Yellow Line are regulated today owing to a track circuit drop (signalling) issue between Vishwavidyalaya and Kashmere Gate stations. "Due to this, trains are running at restricted speed in this small section, resulting in bunching of trains. Normal train services are available on the rest of the sections of Yellow Line," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a statement. It also took to X to alert commuters about the issue.

Services on the entire Yellow Line were running normally from 5:15 pm onwards, the official said. 

7:24 PM

IndiGo founder Rakesh Gangwal to sell shares of airline worth $450 mln, report says

Rakesh Gangwal, founder of Indian carrier IndiGo, will sell a stake worth up to 3.3% or 37.3 billion rupees ($451 million) in operator Interglobe Aviation through a block deal, news channel CNBC-TV18 reported on Thursday, citing sources.

6:31 PM

National Creators Award

5:27 PM

Police detains BJP women leaders Locket Chatterjee, Agnimitra Paul in Kolkata

BJP women leaders Agnimitra Paul and Locket Chatterjee were detained by the West Bengal Police in Kolkata from heading towards Sandeshkhali on Thursday afternoon.

5:14 PM

Central Secretariat Service officers protest against delay in promotions

A large number of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers marched outside the Shastri Bhawan to  protest against the delay in the submission of report by a cadre review committee which has hampered their promotions. "As far as today's peace march in Shastri Bhawan is concerned, more than 2,500 officers participated in it," said Udit Arya, President of CSS Forum -- an association of the CSS officers.

5:10 PM

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy leaves for Delhi to decide on Telangana LS candidates

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday left for the national capital to participate in Congress's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting, official sources said. Reddy had earlier said that the Congress party is aiming at winning 14 of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

5:03 PM

News update: BJP leaders Locket Chatterjee, Agnimitra Paul detained by police in Kolkata

5:01 PM

30,800 Palestinians killed in Israeli military strikes: Gaza health ministry

 

Since October 7, at least 30,800 Palestinians have been killed and 72,298 have been wounded  in Israel's military offensive on Gaza, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

 

4:59 PM

News update: Delhi cabinet approves power subsidy scheme for 2024-25

The Delhi Cabinet has given nod to the power subsidy scheme for 2024-25, Delhi's Power Minister Atishi announced on Thursday. 

 

4:51 PM

Supreme Court sets deadline for Mahatashtra CM Eknath Shinde faction

 The Supreme Court has asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction to respond to Uddhav Thackeray group’s plea on or before April 1.

 

3:55 PM

Bengal safest state for women, says Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

"Bengal safest state for women: Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. Some people spreading fake information about Sandeshkhali," Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata rally. 

2:57 PM

News update: Ahead of LS and assembly polls, Odisha govt raises remuneration of ASHA workers

The Odisha government has increased the monthly pay for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) on Thursday, raising it from Rs 4,500 to Rs 7,000.

2:55 PM

This govt believe in capabilities of India's defence sector, previous govts were skeptical: Rajnath Singh

Union Minister Rajnath Singh  at a media summit asserted that the Narendra Modi-led government "believes in the capabilities of India and Indians" in the defence sector, while the previous dispensations were in some way "sceptical" about their capabilities. Singh said that if any criticism comes from the media on any government scheme, "We accept it and try to bring a change accordingly".

 

2:14 PM

Article 370 abrogation led to freedom from restrictions: PM Modi in Srinagar

"This freedom from restrictions has come after the removal of Article 370. For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of 370 and misled the country. Did J&K benefit from Article 370 or were only a few political families taking advantage of it? The people of J&K have come to know the truth that they were misled. J&K was kept in chains for the benefit of a few families. Today there is no 370, hence the talent of the youth of J&K is being fully respected and they are getting new opportunities," PM Modi said in Jammu and Kashmir.

2:08 PM

CBI arrests 2, including a senior railway official, in bribery case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two accused including Principal (IRTS), Zonal Railway Training Institute, Central Railway, Bhusawal in a bribery case and conducted searches, officials said today.

 

1:47 PM

Integration of J-K into India is complete, says PM Modi

A developed Jammu and Kashmir is a priority for developed India, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar. The path to building a developed Jammu and Kashmir will emerge from tourism possibilities and the empowerment of farmers, PM Modi added. 

1:42 PM

Former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins BJP

1:41 PM

PM Modi in J-K: Words not enough to describe emotions on arriving at heaven on earth, says PM Modi

1:19 PM

PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 6,400 cr in Jammu and Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled several development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore, during the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme at Bakshi Stadium. This is the Prime Minister's first visit to the J-K after the abrogation of Article 370.

12:53 PM

PM Modi in Srinagar: PM set to launch 52 tourism sector projects in J-K

PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, including the project for 'Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine', Srinagar.

12:12 PM

India, Japan seek to make UN structure more contemporary, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that JApan and India seek to make the UN structure more contemporary for the balance to remain in favour of freedom, transparency, and a rules-based order. Jaishankar, who is in Tokyo for the second leg of his four-day visit to South Korea and Japan, also said that the world will watch how the two nations support each other in the shared goal through various relationships and initiatives.

11:26 AM

Punjab police arrests 2 members of Babbar Khalsa International-backed terror module

Cops in Punjab on Thursday arrested o two members of the Babbar Khalsa International-backed terror module. "The module was operated by #USA based Harpreet Singh @ Happy Passian, a close aide of #Pakistan based terrorist Harwinder Singh @ Rinda, along with his associate identified as Shamsher Singh @ Shera presently based in #Armenia," Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav said on X.

10:55 AM

Fire in Greater Noida society: Massive fire breaks out at flat

Several feared trapped after massive fire breaks out at flat in Greater Noida.

10:29 AM

Electoral bonds scheme: ADR seeks contempt action against Centre, SBI

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said that the Supreme court set deadline of March 6 was not met by the SBI.

10:19 AM

Delhi court summons CM Kejriwal after ED files complaint on March 16

A Delhi court has issued summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after probe agency ED filed another compalint against him for non-compliance.