News updates: Delhi govt imposes 'perpetual ban' on firecrackers in city

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

10:17 PM

Trump threatens gov't shutdown if debt ceiling not addressed

There will be a government shutdown if the U.S. debt ceiling is not eliminated or extended, ABC News reported Donald Trump as saying on Thursday, one day after the president-elect rejected a bipartisan deal that would have kept the government funded past Friday's midnight deadline.

10:14 PM

Delhi govt imposes 'perpetual ban' on firecrackers in city

8:58 PM

Rahul Gandhi behaved like goon, deliberately disrupted BJP MPs' protest: Shivraj Chouhan on Parliament scuffle

7:59 PM

Ukraine won't continue Russian gas transit, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine will not continue to transit Russian gas flows to Europe after an existing contract to do so expires at the end of the year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.

"We would not prolong the transit of Russian gas," Zelenskiy told a news conference during a European Union summit in Brussels.

6:21 PM

CBSE conducted surprise inspection at 29 schools, found 'dummy' students: Board Secretary

Crackdown on 'dummy' admissions: 18 Delhi schools issued show-cause notices, to face legal action, says CBSE Secretary. 

6:01 PM

Finance Ministry has sought views on a draft bill to ban unregulated lending activities

The Finance Ministry has sought views on a draft bill to ban unregulated lending activities, including digital lending by unauthorised people and entities, with some offenses proposed to be made cognisable, non-bailable and punishable with imprisonment upto 10 years.

5:38 PM

Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.75% after inflation uptick

4:43 PM

News update: J-K CM Omar Abdullah meets with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi

This is Abdullah's second meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah after taking over as the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which was carved out after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in August 2019.

4:25 PM

Putin says he will ask Assad about the fate of American journalist who disappeared in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will ask ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad about the fate of an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. Putin said that he hasn't yet met Assad, who was given asylum in Moscow, but plans to do so and will ask him about Tice. “We also can pose the question to people who control the situation on the ground in Syria,” Putin said.

4:22 PM

News update: Airtel prepays Rs 3,626 crore to government to clear all spectrum dues purchased in 2016

4:20 PM

Aaditya slams Karnataka Cong MLA for demand to make Mumbai a Union Territory; says 'won't tolerate'

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday said his party will not tolerate any attempt to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, and asked ally Congress to reprimand its Karnataka MLA for demanding to declare the country's financial capital a Union Territory. Calling Mumbai his "motherland", Thackeray said "Marathi manoos" spilled his blood to get it.

4:10 PM

Commotion erupts in MCD house over Rohingya immigrants, Amit Shah's remark

The MCD House saw pandemonium on Thursday as opposition councillors staged a protest alleging the ruling AAP of sheltering Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants. The session, scheduled to begin at 2 pm, was yet to start as Mayor Mahesh Khichi had not arrived by 3 pm, further escalating tensions.

3:41 PM

Russia's economic situation 'stable' despite high inflation, Putin says

The Russian president pointed to what he says is record low unemployment of 2.3 per cent and growing wages, he accepted that "inflation however is a worrying sign."

3:26 PM

SC raps Punjab govt for not conducting medical tests of Dallewal, on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border

The Supreme Court has asked the Punjab government to persuade Dallewal to take treatment for a week at least and others can continue with the protest.

2:57 PM

All ongoing schemes including `Laadki Bahin' will continue: Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis

December installment of aid for women under Ladki Bahin scheme will be deposited by month-end: CM Fadnavis tells assembly.

2:50 PM

News update: Russian President Vladimir Putin opens his annual news conference

2:28 PM

Sambhal MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq charged for alleged electricity theft

The Samajwadi Party's Sambhal MP Ziaur Rehman Barq was booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday for alleged theft of electricity at his residence in the Deepa Sarai neighbourhood here. The parliamentarian was booked under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, (theft of power or unauthorised use of electricity).

2:15 PM

Parents of RG Kar hospital doctor move Calcutta HC seeking fresh probe

The parents of the doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar hospital moved the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, seeking a fresh investigation into the crime.

2:12 PM

KKR backs Rebel Foods for its latest growth equity investment in India

Global investment firm KKR has made an undisclosed investment in Rebel Foods, the world’s largest multi-brand Cloud kitchen platform, expanding its growth equity portfolio in India.

1:46 PM

Car prices set to rise by 2-4% in 2025

Rise in material cost, rising operational cost, freight charges, increase in wages and forex volatility are some of the major reasons cited by carmakers leading to the increase in prices.

1:22 PM

Govt asks states to expedite tap water connections as 4 crore rural homes still lack access

The central government is actively engaging with states that have yet to achieve 100 per cent tap water connection coverage for rural households, Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil stated today. The minister acknowledged that the 2024 deadline for ensuring tap water access in rural India has passed.

1:20 PM

Tourist inflow to Elephanta Island dwindles after ferry capsize

A day after a Navy craft rammed into a ferry killing 13 persons, there was a decline in the number of tourists taking the ferry to visit Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction near Mumbai coast, going by the number of ferry passengers on Thursday.

 

12:57 PM

Delhi HC transfers MCOCA case involving AAP MLA from Dwarka to Rouse Avenue court

The Delhi High Court on Thursday transferred from the Dwarka court to the Rouse Avenue court a case under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act involving AAP MLA Naresh Balyan. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri passed the order following the submission on behalf of counsel for the two accused that they have no objection if the case is transferred.

12:42 PM

News update: We are now seeing what minorities in other countries are facing, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

12:28 PM

Promotion of Ajithkumar as DGP unanimously decided, says Kerala Minister

Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil said on Thursday that the decision to promote senior IPS officer ADGP M R Ajithkumar, who was recently embroiled in a political controversy over his alleged meetings with RSS leaders, to the rank of DGP was unanimously taken by the cabinet. Anil dismissed reports of differences among ministers regarding the promotion of the officer facing a vigilance probe for allegedly amassing illegal wealth, stating that the decision was unanimous and quite natural.

11:50 AM

Will pursue relief for ED, banks taking twice debt owed: Vijay Mallya

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya has said that he will pursue relief for the Enforcement Directorate and banks taking more than two times the debt he owed. His remarks came following a statement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament about recovery of over Rs 14,130 crore from his attached assets.

11:31 AM

South Korea's acting leader to veto opposition-sponsored bills, deepening political strife

South Korea's acting leader said Thursday he would veto a spate of contentious bills sponsored by the main opposition party, deepening political strife in the wake of parliament's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

10:51 AM

Ganges river dolphin in Assam tagged

A male Ganges river dolphin in Assam was tagged and released with the aim to understand their seasonal and migratory patterns and habitat utilisation, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems.The initiative has been conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department and biodiversity organisation Aaranyak, with funding from the National CAMPA Authority, according to a release.

10:36 AM

Centre reimposes Protected Area Permit in Manipur

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reimposed the Protected Area Permit in Manipur in view of security concerns arising out of influx from neighbouring countries, a state government statement said. The statement issued late on Wednesday night said, "With this reimposition, the movement of foreigners visiting Manipur will be closely monitored, and they are required to obtain the necessary Protected Area Permit (PAP) in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.

10:29 AM

Five killed in Shahjahanpur road accident Shahjahanpur

A car rammed into a truck, leaving five members of a family dead and five others critically injured in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said on Thursday. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh S said, "The accident occurred near the Barkheda Jaipal crossroads on the Bareilly-Etawah highway when a family travelling to Delhi in an Ertiga car collided with an oncoming truck late Wednesday night.