News updates: My name not mentioned anywhere, says former Andhra CM Jagan on Adani bribe controversy

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday as an experienced and intelligent politician, but said he did not believe Trump was safe after attempts on his life.

Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. In a separate incident in September, a man was charged with attempted assassination after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle at one of Trump's Florida golf courses.

Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan after a summit, Putin said he had been shocked by the way the U.S. election campaign had unfolded.

The National Green Tribunal noting serious pollution levels in River Ganga in Bihar, where the water was found to be unsafe even for bathing, denounced the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), saying it had to take effective steps instead of merely writing letters and holding meetings.

The green body in August expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of strict action by NMCG after observing the river's water quality hadn't even met the bathing criteria owing to high faecal coliform levels.

In an order dated November 25, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said the NMCG filed a reply dated November 22, disclosing some meetings, communications and replies.

The next edition of flagship air show 'Aero India' will take place at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru from February 10-14, officials said on Thursday.

Aero India is India's premier aerospace and defence exhibition where global aero vendors and the Indian Air Force enthral spectators with back-to-back aerobatic displays.

Sambhal (UP) stone pelting incident | Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad Division, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh says, "In view of the Jumma ki namaz (Friday prayers) tomorrow, today all our officers along with forces took out a march past...We have also held meetings with people, meetings with peace committees and Muslim clerics from various mosques were also held. There is a consensus that tomorrow's namaz is offered peacefully. Everyone will offer namaz at their respective mosques. Despite all of this, we are alert. Regarding the incident (of stone-pelting) that happened that day, the important things like collecting of evidence is being done by a separate team. Necessary forces have been deployed here in Sambhal. Forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas. Necessary steps are being taken. Everyone has assured that tomorrow prayers will be offered everywhere peacefully. There is alertness regarding this in all 5 districts of our mandal...We are also monitoring to ensure that outside forces do not get to enter here. We are also monitoring social media and other mediums through which people instigate or spread rumours."

Iran could end its ban on acquiring nuclear weapons if Western sanctions are reimposed, its top diplomat told The Guardian in an interview published Thursday ahead of talks on the matter.

Iran is set to meet with Britain, France and Germany for talks on its nuclear programme on Friday after the three governments joined with the United States to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.

Landslides in several villages in eastern Uganda have killed 15 people and left more than 100 unaccounted for, police said on Thursday.

The East African country has been deluged by heavy rains in the past few days, with the government issuing a national disaster alert after reports of flooding and landslides.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that no discussion has taken place with regard to investments by American tech billionaire Elon Musk-owned Tesla and Starlink.

Goyal, who was addressing a press conference here in the Capital, stated that as both issues were handled by different ministries, he had no personal knowledge of what was happening.

"We haven't had any discussions to the best of my knowledge...," the minister said while responding to a query regarding any update on possible investment by Tesla and Starlink.

France's richest man, LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, testified Thursday in the influence-peddling trial of the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency, denying any knowledge of an alleged scheme to protect the luxury group.

Bernard Squarcini, the former head of the DCRI security service (since renamed the DGSI), is one of 10 men on trial and charged with using his security contacts for private gain, including obtaining confidential information on behalf of LVMH.

Pakistan has reported a new polio case, taking the country's tally of the crippling disease this year to 56, authorities said on Thursday.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Islamabad’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed the detection of the case in a boy from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the country's northwest.

This was the seventh polio case of the year from Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of the province.

Jaipur: On a suit claiming Shiva temple within Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, "...A law was passed that the places of worship of different religions which have been constructed by 15 August 1947, will not be questioned. Since the formation of the BJP-RSS government, some people have been doing politics in the name of religion. All the elections are being won by polarization...It is the responsibility of the government in power to take the opposition along and respect the views of the opposition which they are not doing...RSS is not able to unite the Hindus and they should launch a drive to remove discrimination in the country...People from across the country offer prayers at the Ajmer Dargah...Even all the Prime Ministers including PM Modi offer 'chadar' at the Ajmer Dargah. They are also offering 'chadar' and the people of their party are going to the courts and creating confusion. What kind of message is being spread?... Where there is unrest, there can't be development..."

On the Bangladesh issue, the Global Duty Officer for the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), Gauranga Das says, "Any kind of attack on any community is not acceptable... The general secretary of Bangladesh ISKCON, Charu Chandra Das has given his statement and he has said, "The violence that happened after his (Chinmoy Das) arrest, ISKCON Bangladesh condemned it in strict words. ISKCON requests the govt (Bangladesh) that all the Sanatanis - should be allowed to leave peacefully and peaceful coexistence must be promoted. Chinmoy Das is a Bangladeshi citizen. He has always advocated the protection of minorities in Bangladesh"..."

An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter Scale hit Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, but there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said.

More than 1,80,000 cases have been disposed off by the exclusive POCSO courts, according to official data.

In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said the number of exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) courts in India has seen significant growth under the government's Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme, aimed at expediting cases under the POCSO Act and other crimes against women and children.

The number of these courts has risen from 272 in 2019-20 to 408 as of September 30, 2024.

An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team undertaking searches at a farmhouse in Delhi in a cyber fraud linked money laundering case was allegedly attacked on Thursday, injuring an agency official.

The federal probe agency said it is filing an FIR with the Delhi police about the incident which took place in the Bijwasan area of the national capital.

The farmhouse falls under the Kapashera police station in southwest Delhi.

Air India's transformation journey is a cricket Test match and not a T20, and currently, it is like lunch on the third day of a Test match, the airline's Chief Campbell Wilson said on Thursday.

Tata Group-owned Air India has embarked on an ambitious five-year transformation plan 'Vihaan.AI' and little over two years of the programme has been completed.

"I acknowledge that we are not ultimately where we aspire to be and we have some work to do... There is a reason why Vihaan.AI programme is for five years... We are little over two years... the first years have been a good start," Wilson, who was born in New Zealand and took over the reins of Air India in 2022, said.

On Maharashtra CM post, Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, "When our government was formed in 2018 (in Rajasthan) it only took us two-three days (to decide who will be the CM) The leaders of BJP were creating a big matter out of it. In Maharashtra, they (Mahayuti) have registered a one-sided victory still, they are not able to take decisions..."

On a suit claiming Shiva temple within Ajmer Sharif dargah, Azad Samaj Party's National President Chandrashekhar Azad says, " ...Sambhal, Gyanvapi, Ajmer, all these dramas are being done to divert everyone from key issues like inflation, unemployment, food, education, health, women safety and farmers...so that people in power can run the govt smoothly as there won't be any questions on these issues...what is the ultimate goal of govt?..."

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday broke her silence over the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Das in Dhaka, which has sparked massive protests across the neighbouring country.

Hasina, who is currently in asylum in India, released a statement condemning the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das by the Muhummud Yunus government. Read more

Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out for the third consecutive day on Thursday after uproar by opposition MPs over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's appeals that Parliamentary disruption was not a remedy but a malady which weakened the foundation of India's democracy went unheeded as the opposition members continued to protest.

The proceedings of the Upper House were adjourned within minutes after it met at 12 noon, following one adjournment shortly after 11 am.

Mob in Kolkata marches towards Bangladesh deputy high commission, scuffle breaks out with police. Watch

Supreme Court says that GRAP stage IV measures except for schools will continue to operate till Monday (2nd December) and in the meantime CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) is asked to hold a meeting and come out with the suggestion about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II.

On the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, SP MP Awadhesh Prasad says, “Uncountable poor children get education, food, clothes, and the means to earn money from the Waqf. BJP’s intentions towards this do not seem right. We will not tolerate their interference with the properties under Waqf that provide protection, health, and income to crores of Indians…. Whenever the amendment comes, if it is against (the Waqf bill), it will not be passed.”

China said on Thursday a top-ranking military official had been suspended and was under investigation for "serious violations of discipline," and denied reports Defence Minister Dong Jun was being investigated for corruption.

The suspended officer, Admiral Miao Hua, served on the ruling Central Military Commission, China's highest-level military body, and was stationed in the coastal province of Fujian when President Xi Jinping worked there as a local official, according to his official biography.

Miao, who began his career in the army, has been the military's leading political officer.

Israeli tank fire hit six areas in southern Lebanon on Thursday and the Israeli military said its ceasefire with Hezbollah was breached after what it called suspects, some in vehicles, arrived at several areas in the southern zone.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday under a deal brokered by the U.S. and France, intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.

The Israeli military had urged residents of towns along the border strip not to return yet for their own safety.

Soren sworn-in as Jharkhand chief minister. Watch

Hemant Soren on Thursday took oath as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand. Read more

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal, party MP Raghav Chadha and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann arrive at the oath ceremony of Jharkhand CM-designate Hemant Soren.

Lebanon's military deployed troops and tanks across the country's south on Thursday as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war largely held for a second day.

The truce ended a war that began a day after Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, killing thousands in Lebanon and sparking mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel.

Jharkhand: Tamil Nadu Deputy CM and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin arrives in Ranchi to attend the oath ceremony of CM-designate Hemant Soren.

He says, "I wish the Chief Minister Hemant Soren on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government and our Chief Minister MK Stalin..."

Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury, president of West Bengal Jamiat-e-Ulama organises a public meeting to register their protest against the Waqf (Amendment) bill brought by the central govt and under consideration of the JPC

Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury says, "The Constitution of India has given the freedom to all to raise their voice against someone who is trying to weaken the constitution. Through the Waqf (Amendment) bill the central govt has directly attacked the constitution. They want to snatch the rights of Muslims and destroy Waqf property. They shouldn't play with fire. It's not under the PM. Hindus have 10 times more property - but you are seeing only Muslims... We oppose the bill and we want them to take this bill back. They (central govt) are communal, they want to weaken and divide the country."

Iran is set to meet with Britain, France and Germany for talks Friday on its nuclear programme after the three governments joined with the United States to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.

Last week's chiding prompted a defiant response from Tehran, but its officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead of the return of US president-elect Donald Trump, whose last administration pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

Maharashtra's caretaker CM Eknath Shinde leaves from his residence in Thane. He is coming to Delhi today. When asked about his visit to Delhi, he says, "I will tell you (about it) after coming back."

On a suit claiming Shiva temple within Ajmer Sharif dargah AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, "The dargah has been there for the last 800 years...Prime Ministers starting from Nehru have been sending 'Chadar' to the dargah. PM Modi too sends 'Chadar' there...Why have BJP-RSS spread this hatred regarding mosques and dargahs? Why are the lower courts not hearing the Places of Worship Act?...This way where will the rule of law and democracy go? This is not in favour of the country. The governance of Modi and RSS is weakening the rule of law in the country. All this is being done on the directions of BJP-RSS..."

RJD Leader and former Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav arrives at Ranchi airport, to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Jharkhand CM-designate Hemant Soren

He says, " Under the leadership of Hemant Soren, we will run the govt and will take Jharkhand forward..."

A Pakistani journalist investigating claims of casualties in a protest march demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan was picked up off the street on Wednesday night and charged with terrorism, according to a colleague and his lawyer.

Television host Matiullah Jan is known as a critic of the military's heavy influence in Pakistani politics.

Ukraine on Thursday said it had downed 79  missiles and 35 drones launched by Russia overnight in its latest aerial barrage of 188 projectiles that Kyiv said targeted energy infrastructure.

The air force added in its statement that that 62 drones were "lost" from its radars or downed with electronic jamming defensive systems.

Lebanon's parliament will meet on January 9 to elect a new president, seeking to end more than two years without a head of state, official media reported Thursday, a day after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire began.

"Speaker Nabih Berri called a parliament session to elect a president of the republic on January 9," the official National News Agency reported.

Jharkhand CM-designate Hemant Soren and his wife and JMM leader Kalpana Soren leave from their residence. Hemant Soren will take oath as Jharkhand CM today.

Giving a speech at Defence Services Staff College, President Droupadi Murmu says, “India is being developed as a major defence manufacturing hub and is moving towards becoming a reliable defence partner and defence exporter…. Our defence organisations such as HAL and DRDO are setting new benchmarks. Today India exports defence equipment to more than 100 countries. India's defence exports grew by 30 times over the past decade. The ‘Make In India’ programme has played a major role in this development.”

Speaking on the law and order situation in the national capital, Delhi CM Atishi says, " BJP, Amit Shah ji has one work but today there are extortion calls, shots fired within 5-10 km radius on the Home Minister's residence. Now, there are bomb blasts also. Today, Delhi is becoming like Mumbai from the '90s when it was dominated by the underworld..."

Today's explosion comes at close heels of a blast that had occurred outside the CRPF School in Rohini on October 20, damaging the school's wall and breaking nearby window panes. While there were no injuries or fatalities, glass from nearby shops and a car were damaged. Forensic Science Laboratory sources indicated to ANI that the material used in the blast resembled a crude bomb.

A white powder-like substance, similar to that found in the October 20 CRPF school blast in Rohini, was discovered at the site. Sources indicate that an NSG team may be called for bomb data analysis, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will assist Delhi Police in the investigation.

The blast near PVR Prashant Vihar occurred outside Bansi Sweets at 11:48 am, prompting the deployment of fire tenders. The area has been cordoned off, and a Delhi Police Special Cell team has been mobilized to the site.

China has placed a senior military official under investigation, according to a statement by a Defence Ministry spokesperson on Thursday, as reported by AP today.

A loud explosion was reported near a PVR multiplex in Prashant Vihar, north Delhi, on Thursday. Police have dispatched a team to the site and are investigating the cause of the blast after receiving a call about the incident.

London's Metropolitan Police has launched a new investigation into sexual assault allegations against the late Mohamed Al-Fayed, former Harrods owner, identifying 90 victims so far. The probe follows a BBC documentary aired in September that revealed multiple claims of rape and sexual assault. Since then, over 400 women and witnesses have come forward, prompting scrutiny of the police's handling of complaints over several decades.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the need for stronger laws to address obscenity on social media, citing the lack of editorial checks compared to traditional media. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he urged the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology to address the issue. The minister was responding to BJP MP Arun Govil's query about mechanisms to curb illegal vulgar content on social media platforms.

Public health measures have been implemented according to National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) guidelines, and there is no cause for concern, sources said. A 72-year-old man from west Delhi, who was admitted to AIIMS on November 3 for chest pain, was later found to be IgM ELISA positive for Japanese Encephalitis after testing on November 6. The patient, who has uncontrolled diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure (CHF), and other health issues, was tested as part of routine procedures during his admission.

The U.S. mission to Pakistan has issued a security alert, advising American citizens to avoid the Serena Hotel in Peshawar and nearby areas, including the Peshawar Golf Club, until December 16, due to unspecified security concerns. The advisory also warned U.S. nationals to reconsider travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, citing ongoing terrorism threats. This comes amid continued clashes between Sunni and Shia tribes in Pakistan's northwest, which have resulted in at least 10 deaths and 21 injuries, despite a ceasefire in place. The violence occurred in Kurram district, near the Afghanistan border.

An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team came under attack while carrying out raids in Delhi's Bijwasan area. The team, which included five officers, was confronted with violence, and one individual managed to flee. The premises have been secured, and an FIR is being lodged. One Additional Director of the ED was injured in the incident.

Union Minister Annapurna Devi launched the "Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign" portal to combat child marriages and empower girls to achieve their full potential. “Ten years ago, the government launched Beti Bachao Beti Padhao [save girls, educate girls] to bring social change in perceptions towards the girl child. This progress is a testament to the collective shift in our attitudes towards valuing the girl child. The next stage is to pave the path for her to achieve all her dreams, and not let practices such as child marriage hinder her potential growth,” said Devi at the launch of the portal.

American singer Mary Millben voiced concern over the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, urging global action against the persecution of Hindus and minorities by extremists in the country.

President-elect Donald Trump announced a conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, claiming she agreed to stop migration through Mexico, which he described as “effectively closing our Southern Border.” Sheinbaum called the discussion "excellent," though the impact on Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports remains unclear. Trump’s plan, aimed at curbing illegal immigration and drug trafficking, comes despite border apprehensions being at a four-year low.

A petition has been filed in a Bangladesh High Court seeking a ban on ISKCON amid the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das and clashes between his followers and security forces. Chinmoy, leader of Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was arrested in Dhaka. The petitioner, Supreme Court lawyer Moniruzzaman, also requested a state of emergency in Chattogram and Rangpur to prevent further unrest.