News updates: Donald Trump holds first cabinet meeting in second term, Elon Musk attends

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

11:00 PM

IndiGo faces fine related to input tax credit; evaluates legal recourse

IndiGo on Wednesday said it is facing a fine of nearly Rs 14 lakh in relation to input tax credit and is evaluating necessary legal recourse.

The fine of Rs 13,91,818 has been imposed by the Joint Commissioner, Corporate Circle, Lucknow Division, Uttar Pradesh, according to a regulatory filing.

The airline said the tax officer has denied input tax credit availed for FY 2020-21 and raised the demand.

"The company believes that it has accurately availed input tax credit and has merits in its case. Accordingly, the company is evaluating necessary legal recourse under the applicable law, including filing of appeal before the appropriate appellate authority," it said.

Further, the carrier said there is no significant impact on its financials, operations or other activities. 

10:27 PM

Donald Trump holds first cabinet meeting in second term, Elon Musk attends

10:27 PM

Trump says Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a critical minerals deal, reports AP

Trump says Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a critical minerals deal, reports AP.

9:02 PM

Hamas armed wing says to hand over bodies of four hostages 'tonight'

Hamas's armed wing said Wednesday that it would hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages "tonight" as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

 

"Within the framework of the deal, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades has decided to hand over the bodies of four hostages tonight," the group said, providing the names of the captives. Israeli authorities have yet to confirm the names.

9:02 PM

Israel army says struck launch sites in Gaza after projectile fired

The Israeli military said it conducted air strikes against several launch sites inside Gaza Wednesday after a projectile was fired from the Palestinian territory but fell short.

 

"Earlier today (Wednesday), a projectile launch that fell inside the Gaza Strip was identified. A short while ago, the (military) struck several launch posts in the area where the projectile was fired from," it said in a statement.

8:18 PM

YouTube says there are more than 1 bn monthly active viewers of Podcast content on the platform

8:09 PM

Delhi records season's highest temperature at 32 degrees C

Delhi recorded the highest temperature of the season so far on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature reaching 32 degrees Celsius, six notches above the seasonal average, the IMD said.

 

This year, February recorded a high of 32 degrees Celsius, matching the highest temperature recorded on February 27, 2023. In contrast, February 2024 saw a slightly lower maximum temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius.

 

Delhi's minimum temperature settled at 15.4 degrees Celsius, which is 2.9 degrees above normal.

 

Humidity levels fluctuated between 86 per cent and 59 per cent throughout the day.

 

The national capital's air quality remained in the 'poor' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 247, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

 

According to the AQI scale, a reading between 0 and 50 is considered 'good,' 51 to 100 'satisfactory,' 101 to 200 'moderate,' 201 to 300 'poor,' 301 to 400 'very poor,' and 401 to 500 'severe.'

 

The weather department has predicted a thunderstorm with rain on Thursday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to settle at 26 and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively.

6:01 PM

Maharashtra govt to ink MoU with social group to provide jobs to youth with disabilities

The Maharashtra government will soon sign an MoU with a social organisation to provide employment opportunities to youth with disabilities with an aim to empower them financially, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday.

5:49 PM

5 killed, 5 injured as SUV with devotees from Shiv temple collides with truck in Surguja, Chhattisgarh: Police

4:53 PM

Clashes between two groups over installation of flags in Jharkhand's Hazaribag

Several people sustained injuries after two groups clashed over installation of flags and a loudspeaker during Maha Shivratri in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred when one group objected to installation of religious flags and a loudspeaker in front of a school in Dumraon village within Ichak police station limits by members of another group.

4:48 PM

Nitish Kumar expands Cabinet, inducts seven new faces from BJP

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday expanded his cabinet, with the induction of seven new faces, all from the alliance partner BJP. At a ceremony held in the Raj Bhavan here, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to the new inductees who raised the strength of the Cabinet to 36. Those who took the oath of office were Jibesh Kumar, Sanjay Saraogi, Sunil Kumar, Raju Kumar Singh, Moti Lal Prasad, Vijay Kumar Mandal and Krishna Kumar Mantu.

4:39 PM

Delhi airport's T2 to shut for upgrades

As part of an ongoing expansion project, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will temporarily shut Terminal 2 (T2) for four-to-five months from April. During this period, one of the runways will also be closed for upgrades, news agency PTI reported.  The terminal’s current passenger load, which stands at 15 million, will be shifted to Terminal 1 (T1). 

4:34 PM

Delhi CM Gupta to propose Mohan Singh Bisht's name for deputy speaker post on Feb 27

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will propose the name of BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht for the post of deputy speaker of the Delhi Assembly on February 27, the third day of the session. According to the list of business provided by the Delhi Assembly Speaker's office, two separate motions will be moved to elect Bisht to the post.

4:10 PM

Green Chinar trees 'felled' in J-K's Anantnag, NC leader seeks probe

National Conference MLA Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri has demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged felling of green Chinar trees, a protected species, in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The Bijbehara MLA was reacting to pictures on social media that purported to show green Chinar trees being felled in the Rani Bagh public park. "These pictures must be reported to the National Green Tribunal for cognisance and accountability.

3:58 PM

Centre to help children, youth fight internet addiction to be set up at AIIMS Delhi

A first-of-its-kind centre in the country to help children and youth fight internet and technology addiction will be set up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently approved the proposal to set up the Centre for Advanced Research on Addictive Behaviours (CAR-AB) related to excessive and problematic use of technology.

3:19 PM

India looking to increase ethanol blending with petrol to over 20%: Puri

India is looking at increasing its target to blend ethanol with petrol to more than 20 per cent and has formed a committee under the NITI Aayog for this, Petroleum Minister Hardeep S Puri said on Wednesday. Addressing the Advantage Assam 2.0 business summit in Guwahati, he said 19.6 per cent blending has already been achieved.

2:59 PM

Tigress attacks villagers in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, beaten to death

A two-year-old tigress that strayed into a village in the buffer zone of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and attacked two villagers was allegedly killed by locals on Wednesday, officials said. The villagers of Phulwaria clubbed the tigress to death on the spot. Saureesh Sahai, the Dudhwa Buffer Zone deputy director, said forest officials retrieved the carcass from the village in the Palia tehsil and sent it to the range headquarters.

2:44 PM

Imposing life ban on convicted lawmakers solely in Parliament's domain: Centre to SC

The Centre has opposed in the Supreme Court a plea seeking life ban on convicted politicians, saying imposing such a disqualification was solely within the domain of Parliament. In an affidavit filed in court, the Centre said the prayer in a plea, seeking the same, amounted to re-writing of the statute or directing Parliament to frame a law in a particular manner which was wholly beyond the powers of judicial review.

2:20 PM

Sudan military plane crashes, killing at least 19 people

A Sudanese military aircraft crashed in the city of Omdurman, killing at least 19 people, military and health officials said on Wednesday. The Antonov aircraft crashed Tuesday while taking off from the Wadi Sayidna airbase north of Omdurman, the military said in a terse statement. Omdurman is the sister city of the capital, Khartoum.

2:05 PM

Excise policy case: Delhi court directs ED to supply papers to accused

A Delhi court has directed the ED to hand over certain documents to the accused persons in a money laundering case against former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and others in relation to alleged excise scam. Special judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order on February 25 on applications moved by multiple accused persons.

1:52 PM

Supreme Court stays order asking Centre to procure drugs for patient with rare disorder

The Supreme Court has stayed in the interim a Kerala High Court order directing the Centre to provide an additional Rs 18 lakh worth of medicines to a patient suffering from spinal muscular atrophy.

1:44 PM

Won't oppose Hindi if you don't impose it, says Stalin

The DMK will not oppose Hindi if it is not "imposed" on Tamil Nadu and forcing the language on Tamils amounts to playing with their self-respect, state Chief Minister and the ruling party's president M K Stalin said on Wednesday. In a letter to partymen on the issue of alleged Hindi imposition, Stalin said self-respect was Tamils' 'unique' nature.

1:09 PM

Navi Mumbai airport likely to open on April 17

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is likely to be inaugurated on  April 17. This development comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted an assessment on Tuesday.

1:01 PM

Mamata Banerjee questions Maha Kumbh's 144-year cycle

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged experts to verify the accuracy of the assertion that this year’s Maha Kumbh Mela took place after 144 years. 

 

12:51 PM

Banu Mushtaq's story collection on International Booker Prize longlist is proud moment: CM Bengaluru

Banu Mushtaq's Kannada short story collection making it to the International Booker Prize longlist is a true honor for the state's language and culture, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said. Karnataka-based writer, activist and lawyer Banu Mushtaq's short story collection 'Heart Lamp', translated from Kannada to English by Deepa Bhasthi, was on Tuesday longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025 in London.

12:50 PM

Ukraine to agree with US on terms for minerals deal

Ukraine has agreed with the US on a deal to jointly develop its natural resources, people familiar with the matter said, a move that could ease recent tension with President Donald Trump and advance his administration’s goal of a ceasefire with Russia. Ukraine’s Cabinet is expected to recommend on Wednesday that the deal be signed, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is planning to travel to the US Friday to seal the agreement, the people said.

12:19 PM

JMM MP Mahua Maji injured while returning from Maha Kumbh after her car hit truck

JMM MP Mahua Maji was injured while returning from Maha Kumbh after her car hit a truck parked on the roadside in Jharkhand's Latehar district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said. Maji, a Rajya Sabha member, suffered a fracture in her left wrist and was admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi, they said.

12:00 PM

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal says he'll give up ministerial post in Nitish govt

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday announced that he would resign from the Nitish Kumar cabinet to conform with the party's 'one leader, one post' policy. Jaiswal is the minister of Revenue and Land Reforms."I am going to resign from the ministerial position today. As per our party's principle of 'one leader, one post', I have decided to resign as the minister of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department. I will continue as the chief of the party's state unit," he said.

 

11:51 AM

News update: AAP fields MP Sanjeev Arora for Ludhiana West bypoll

11:44 AM

Five killed in bus-car collision in TN's Kulithalai Tiruchirappalli

Five persons including two women were killed when a car in which they were travelling and a state government bus collided head on near Kulithalai in Tamil Nadu's Karur district in the wee hours of Wednesday, police said. The five persons died instantly due to the impact of the collision which left the car completely smashed. The front portion of the bus was damaged, police said.