News updates: Filmmaker Shyam Benegal passes away at 90 after prolonged illness

Latest news updates: Catch the latest news developments here

9:33 PM

Israel's Netanyahu says there has been 'certain advancement' in hostage negotiations

9:23 PM

Mercury drops as rain hits parts of north India; Kashmir reels under intense cold

9:11 PM

Vinod Kambli admitted to hospital in Thane, condition stable

7:59 PM

Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at 90, was unwell for several days

Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal died on December 23 at the age of 90. He died at 6:30 pm, and was also reportedly suffering from kidney-related issues, according to media reports.

7:54 PM

Teachings of Lord Christ celebrate love, harmony, brotherhood: PM Modi

"Teachings of Lord Christ celebrate love, harmony, brotherhood; it is important that we all work to make this spirit stronger," says PM Modi.

7:38 PM

PM Modi at CBCI Christmas event: Celebrates 80th anniversary, recalls meeting Pope Francis

At the Christmas Celebrations event hosted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), PM Modi says, "This occasion is going to be memorable as the CBCI is going to celebrate its 80th anniversary. I congratulate all related to CBCI... I am fortunate that I have always received affection from you. I also receive the same affection from Pope Francis. During the G7 meet in Italy, I met him - it was my 2nd meeting with him in three years. I invited him to visit India..."

7:38 PM

NIA arrests key aide of Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa in Punjab terror case

7:22 PM

MEA confirms receipt of Bangladesh's extradition request for Sheikh Hasina, offers no comment

On note verbale sent to India regarding extradition of Bangladesh's ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, MEA Sources told ANI, "We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter."

7:22 PM

Ex-Supreme Court judge Justice Ramasubramanian appointed new National Human Rights Commission chief

President Droupadi Murmu appoints Justice V Ramasubramanian (Retd) as the Chairperson, and Priyank Kanoongo and Dr Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (Retd) as the Members of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), India.

7:22 PM

First meeting of 39-member parliamentary panel on 'One Nation, One Election' to be held on January 8

7:00 PM

Delhi issues order to tighten admission procedures, verify docs to curb illegal Bangladeshi migrant enrolment

"Accordingly, all the Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided & Unaided Recognized Private Schools of DoE are directed to ensure that when admitting migrant children into schools, it is essential to follow a thorough careful process to ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted, verified and handled properly. All the Heads of Govt, Govt Aided & Unaided Recognized Private Schools of DoE are further directed that in case of any doubt, the matter must be referred to local police and revenue authority," reads the order

5:32 PM

PM to meet economists, experts to elicit views on Budget

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet eminent economists and sectoral experts on Tuesday to elicit their views and suggestions for the upcoming Budget, a senior government official said. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha on February 1, 2025.

Besides economists and sectoral experts, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and other Niti Aayog members will also attend the meeting.

5:21 PM

External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar will visit USA from 24-29 December 2024: MEA

"The EAM will be meeting counterparts to discuss key bilateral, regional and global issues. During the visit, EAM will also chair a conference of the Consul Generals of India in the USA," says MEA.

4:55 PM

Authorities to face suspension if Nagpur airstrip recarpeting not completed in month, says Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Monday that authorities would be suspended if the Nagpur airport runway recarpeting work is not completed in a month. The last runway recarpeting was done in 2013-14 through the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Gadkari inspected the Nagpur airport runway on Monday morning.

4:52 PM

Police identify body delivered in parcel to family in Andhra Pradesh

On December 19, the corpse of the 45-year-old man was delivered to Mudunuri Rangaraju's home at Yendagandi village in the district in a wooden box, with a ransom letter demanding over Rs one crore. The police has established the identity of a decomposed body of a man that was dispatched in a box to a family in West Godavari district.

4:47 PM

Delhi Excise Policy case: Delhi HC allows ED to e-serve plea to accused to save public money

The Delhi High Court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate to serve electronically to 35 accused its plea against a trial court order in the alleged money laundering case related to the 2021-22 excise policy as it will save public money. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted that approximately Rs 3 lakh will be spent in serving the 1,500-page appeal paperbook to all the accused.

 

4:33 PM

Security augmented at Allu Arjun's home after vandalism; BRS slams Cong govt

Police officials today augmented security at the residence of Telugu actor Allu Arjun here, a day after vandalism at the place, even as the opposition parties in Telangana attacked the ruling Congress over the incident. Six people, claiming to be members of Osmania University - Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC) damaged flower pots and threw tomatoes at Arjun's residence on Sunday evening. A local court granted bail to those who indulged in the defacement.

 

4:23 PM

Parts of Delhi face water shortage as ammonia levels surge in Yamuna

Many areas of the national capital face water shortage due to dangerously high levels of ammonia (NH3) in the Yamuna river at the Wazirabad pond, an official statement of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said. Ammonia concentrations exceeding 5.0 ppm have reduced water production at the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant by 25-50 per cent, the board said. Majnu Ka Tila, ISBT, GPO, NDMC area, ITO, Hans Bhawan, LNJP Hospital, Defence Colony, CGO Complex, Rajghat, WHO, IP Emergency, Ramleela Ground, Delhi Gate, Subhash Park, Gulabi Bagh, Timarpur, SFS Flats, Punjabi Bagh, Azadpur, Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur, Lawrence Road, Model Town, Jahangirpuri, Moolchand, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Burari, parts of Cantonment areas, and South Delhi will be affected by water shortage.

4:08 PM

Amendment to Election Rules reckless, will "kill transparency," says Tamil Nadu CM

The amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules will "kill transparency," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday alleged, asserting that  democracy was facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Centre. Consequent to the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to furnish the CCTV footage of an election booth, the union government brought this amendment to prevent public inspection of election documents, including CCTV footage and thus "destroyed one of the basic features of the Constitution," Stalin said. 

3:46 PM

News update: Bangladesh formally writes to India seeking return of Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide".

3:27 PM

Somnath Suryavanshi's demise is a custodial death, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Somnath Suryavanshi was killed because he was Dalit and was protecting Constitution, Rahul Gandhi claimed today.

3:21 PM

Turned dreams of people into source of income: Priyanka hits out at govt over GST on exam forms

Sharing an examination form of the Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute, Sultanpur Road, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the BJP over levying GST on examination forms. "The BJP cannot provide jobs to youngsters but it is definitely rubbing salt on the wounds by charging 18 per cent GST on examination forms. GST is being charged on every government job form, including Agniveer," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

2:53 PM

Delhi HC refuses anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case

Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in the criminal case lodged against her for alleged cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.Justice Singh said a strong prima facie case was made out against Khedkar and investigation was required to unearth the conspiracy. It was a classic case of fraud committed on a constitutional body as well as society, the judge said.

 

2:37 PM

BJP issues 'chargesheet' against Kejriwal, vows to remove AAP from power

Senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Monday issued a "chargesheet" against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of turning Delhi into a "corruption lab" through a series of "scams". Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, the state unit of the BJP has formed a "chargesheet committee" that has so far issued detailed reports listing the alleged failures of the ruling AAP MLAs.

2:18 PM

Excluded from Cabinet, Bhujbal meets CM Fadnavis

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal,who is sulking over not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here on Monday. "Fadnavis told me that the Other Backward Classes have played an important role in the landslide victory of the Mahayuti in the assembly elections (held on November 20) and he will take care that the OBC community's interest is not harmed," Bhujbal stated.

2:14 PM

Four children killed in brick kiln wall collapse in Hisar

Four children were killed when a wall of a brick kiln collapsed on them while they were asleep in Budana village of Haryana's Hisar district, police said on Monday. A girl was critically injured in the incident that took place on Sunday night in the Narnaund police station area. The deceased were identified as Nisha (3 months), Suraj (9), Nandini (5) and Vivek (9), they said.

2:12 PM

Congress calls for strict action against BJP MLC

AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on Monday urged the state government to take strict action against BJP MLC C T Ravi for allegedly using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council recently. "The BJP has repeatedly insulted the women of this country. BJP's very character is anti women, anti youth, anti farmer and anti dalit, tribes and backward classes. The way in which BJP leaders are using derogatory language against women leaders once again is deplorable. I urge the Karnataka government to take strict action against the culprits," Surjewala said.

2:03 PM

BSP supremo Mayawati hits out at BJP, Congress over Ambedkar row

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday accused the BJP and the Congress of disrespecting the legacy of B R Ambedkar and exploiting Dalit votes for political gains. She also called on people from all communities to ensure the success of the BSP's nationwide protest on Tuesday against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Ambedkar.

1:43 PM

Bangladesh owes Tripura Rs 200 crore in electricity dues, says CM Manik Sabha

Bangladesh owes Tripura Rs 200 crore in electricity dues but no decision has been taken on halting power supply to the neighbouring country yet, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday. "Bangladesh has not paid us about Rs 200 crore for supplying electricity. The outstanding (amount) is increasing every day. We hope that they will clear their dues so that the power supply is not disrupted," Saha said.

1:34 PM

Japan's former Emperor Akihito marks his 91st birthday

Japan's beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace. Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.