News updates: US NSA Jake Sullivan set to visit India early next week

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9:18 PM

US NSA Jake Sullivan set to visit India early next week

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is set to visit India early next week to take stock of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

 

The iCET represents a landmark initiative between the two countries in areas of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotech, and defence innovation.

 

Sullivan's trip will be the last high-profile visit to New Delhi from the outgoing Biden administration.

 

The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the US will take place on January 20.

 

It is learnt that Sullivan will be in Delhi on January 6 and will hold wide-ranging talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

 

No official announcement has been made yet on the US NSA's visit to India.

8:44 PM

Maldives Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel arrives in Delhi.

8:44 PM

Tamil Nadu has seen a 55% increase in number of child marriages in the past year, claims state BJP's Annamalai

7:45 PM

Reliance Naval & Engineering renamed as Swan Defence & Heavy Industries

5:50 PM

I am commencing fast unto death over demand for cancellation of Bihar PSC exam: Prashant Kishor in Patna

5:00 PM

Mughal road in JK closed for 5th day, efforts underway to clear snow

The Mughal Road in Jammu and Kashmir has been closed for vehicular traffic for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday due to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches including Peer Ki Gali, officials said. The alternative route connecting Jammu's Poonch and south Kashmir's Shopian district was shut on December 29 following heavy snowfall.

4:48 PM

Rahul Gandhi defamation case: Complainant cross-examined in Sultanpur court

A special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur conducted a hearing on Thursday in a defamation case against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and further proceedings including cross-examination will continue on January 10, a lawyer said. "Today, cross-examination of the complainant, Vijay Mishra, took place. As the questioning could not be completed, the next hearing has been scheduled for January 10," Gandhi's lawyer Kashi Prasad Shukla said.

4:37 PM

Nepal rocked by 4.8 magnitude earthquake

An earthquake measuring 4.8 magnitude was recorded in northern Nepal on Thursday with tremors felt by people in the capital city Kathmandu and neighbouring districts. The quake was recorded at 1.02 pm with its epicentre located at Sindhupalchowk district, 70 km north of Kathmandu, according to the National Seismological Research Centre (NSRC).

 

4:34 PM

Give medical, probe reports on Mukhtar Ansari's death to his son: Supreme Court to Uttar Pradesh

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to provide medical and magisterial inquiry reports on the death of jailed gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari on March 28, 2024. A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Umar Ansari. Umar said the medical and the judicial inquiry reports pertaining to his father's death were not furnished by the state government.

Ansari, 63, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar, allegedly died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda in Uttar Pradesh on March 28, 2024.

4:12 PM

President-elect Trump blames New Orleans attack on Democrats

“Our country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent,” Donald Trump said, in a post on Truth Social.

3:55 PM

News update: Human rights panel sends notice to Hyderabad police over 'Pushpa-2' stampede case

3:51 PM

India-EFTA trade pact likely to be implemented before end of 2025: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

The implementation process of free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA is progressing fast and is expected to come into force before the end of this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. The two sides signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024.

3:20 PM

Denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das 'sad,' says Iskcon

Iskcon Kolkata on Thursday described as "sad" the denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu spiritual leader of Bangladesh, by a court in the country in a sedition case. Iskcon Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das said that the only bright side of the hearing of the case was that the Hindu monk was represented in court by lawyers.

3:05 PM

Anna University sexual assault case being politicised, says Madras High Court

During a hearing where Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)'s counsel raised concerns about the denial of police permission for a planned protest in Chennai, the Madras High Court noted that the alleged sexual assault case at Anna University is "being politicised".  "Anna University sexual assault case is being politicised. There is no genuine concentration on women's safety," the High Court said. 

2:59 PM

NPCI pushes UPI market cap deadline to 2026

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has extended the deadline for applying market share limits on UPI payment apps to December 2026.

2:51 PM

Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh among 4 athletes to get Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

Manu Bhaker and D Gukesh are among four athletes finalised for Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by Sports Ministry on Thursday. 

2:12 PM

Minister Priyank Kharge hits out at BJP for linking him with contractor suicide case

Congress leader and Karnataka minister Priyank Khagre took jabs   slammed the BJP leaders for blaming him for the civil contractor Sachin Panchal's suicide case though he was nowhere connected. Addressing reporters here, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister said there was no comparison between the suicide cases of Sachin Panchal and Santosh Patil.

1:50 PM

BSF allowing Bangladeshi infiltrators to enter Bengal, says CM Mamata Banerjee

The BSF is allowing terrorists to enter Bengal from Bangladesh to destablise state, Mamata Banerjee stated today.

1:23 PM

Will implement recommendations of expert panel on NEET-UG exam: Govt to Supreme Court

The Government has informed the Supreme Court that it would be implementing all the corrective measures  suggested by the expert panel on exam reforms after reviewing the National Testing Agency's functioning in holding NEET-UG last year.

12:59 PM

One dead, five injured in boiler blast in Andhra Pradesh

One person died and five others are injured in a boiler blast here in Tirupati district, said a police official on Thursday. Tirupati superintendent of police L Subba Rayudu said the blast occurred late on Wednesday night at MS Agarwal company that melts sponge iron to make iron balls. "One person died, another is seriously injured and four more suffered simple injuries," Subba Rayudu said.

12:22 PM

Officials, some farmer leaders making irresponsible statements on protests: SC tells Punjab govt

The Supreme Court has stated that it never directed for breaking protest of Dallewal but it is only concerned with his health.

12:18 PM

Centre fulfills its promise of restoring statehood asap: CM Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stated that the party is bound by election promises and have started the process of implementing some of them. For other promises, changes need to be brought to the system.

11:28 AM

Hindu monk Chinmoy Das's bail plea rejected by Bangladesh court

Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested earlier this month at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while en route to Chattogram for a rally. He was denied bail and remanded in custody until January 2 by a Bangladeshi court.

10:47 AM

South Korea cuts GDP forecast after martial law fiasco

South Korea has cut its economic growth forecast for this year, reflecting the fallout from impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle and the clouds hanging over the trade-reliant nation from Donald Trump’s tariff plans. The Finance Ministry now sees the economy growing 1.8% in 2025 after expanding 2.1% last year.

10:45 AM

PMI shows Dec factory activity growth hits 2024 low

The HSBC final India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global, fell to 56.4 - the weakest since December 2023 - little changed from November's 56.5. This shows that India's manufacturing activity expanded in December at its weakest pace for the year amid softer demand. 

10:21 AM

South Korea cuts GDP forecast after martial law fiasco

South Korea has cut its economic growth forecast for this year, reflecting the fallout from impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle and the clouds hanging over the trade-reliant nation from Donald Trump’s tariff plans. The Finance Ministry now sees the economy growing 1.8 per cent in 2025 after expanding 2.1 per cent last year.

10:14 AM

Undertrial prisoner caught with mobile phone hidden in footwear in Thane jail

An undertrial prisoner has been found in possession of a mobile phone which he had hidden in his footwear inside the Thane Central Jail in Maharashtra, police said on Thursday. The matter came to light last week on December 30 when a jail sepoy was carrying out the inspection of barrack no. 3 of the new prison section where around 200 prisoners are lodged, an official from Thane Nagar police station said.

9:53 AM

PM Modi meets Diljit Dosanjh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and lauded him as "a combination of talent and tradition. Dosanjh posted on X, "A fantastic start to 2025. A very memorable meeting with PM @narendramodi Ji. We talked about many things, including music, of course!" After the meeting, Dosanjh expressed his gratitude, calling it a "fantastic" way to start the year.

9:40 AM

Arif Mohammad Khan to take oath as Bihar governor today

Arif Mohammad Khan will take oath as the governor of Bihar at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday, officials said. The oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place around 11 am, they said.

9:11 AM

CM Atishi is just a puppet of Kejriwal: BJP leader Manoj Tiwari

Hitting out against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari stated that Chief Minister Atishi is just a puppet of Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal as he is using her as a remote. "Nobody is listening to Atishi nowadays, she is just a puppet of Arvind Kejriwal, he is using her as a remote. Arvind Kejriwal was in power for 10 years, how many temples did they build? We are the one who makes temples...if there is even a little bit of ethics left with Arvind Kejriwal and his party...count the total amount that you have paid so far to maulvis and pay that much to pujaris...then we will be on your side..," said Manoj Tiwari.