News Updates: Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans, says PM Modi

"We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May they find strength and solace as they heal from this tragedy," posts PM Modi

Congress leader and party candidate from New Delhi assembly seat Sandeep Dikshit said, "AAP and BJP are misleading the people of Delhi from the issues... People of Delhi want to ask them what work has been done in MCD and DDA... If people see development, they will always remember Congress... Most of the Dalit voters of Delhi have come and stood with Congress because they consider Congress as their party... AAP only looks after its interests ..."

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 7th Pre-Budget Consultation with the stakeholders from the financial sector and capital markets in connection with the forthcoming Union Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi, today. The meeting was also attended by the Finance Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management; Secretaries of the Department of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Finance; and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "We want peace to prevail there as well as here. This (infiltration) is a very internal work of BSF, and the central government also has a blueprint for this, if there was no blueprint of the central government then this would not have happened."

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the Khel Ratna Award for Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker, Chess World Champion Gukesh D, Hockey team Captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Paralympic Gold medallist Praveen Kumar.

The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced.

Trinamool Congress leader Dulal Sarkar was on Thursday shot dead by unidentified miscreants in West Bengal’s Malda district. Sarkar, the TMC councillor from Malda, was shot in his head multiple times from close range by bike-borne assailants at Jhaljhalia More area

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock at the incident. “My close associate and a very popular leader, Babla Sarkar, has been murdered today. From the beginning of the Trinamool Congress, he (and his wife Chaitali Sarkar) worked hard for the party, and Babla was also elected a councillor,” she said in a post on X.

“... I am so shocked and sad that I do not know how to convey my condolences to the bereaved family. May God give Chaitali strength to survive and fight the battle,” she added.

One person has been killed and five others injured in a boiler blast in Andhra Pradesh’s Pellakuru, a police official told PTI on Thursday.

L Subba Rayudu, Tirupati superintendent of police, 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 told PTI, adding that the industrial safety committee will determine the exact reasons for the blast.

Supreme Court posts for January 6 for compliance with its December 20 order directing the Punjab government to provide medical aid and hospitalise farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "...The way Arvind Kejriwal has announced 'Samman Raashi' of Rs 18,000 for the Pujaris and Granthis; BJP should do the same in all those 20 states they are in power... BJP is rattled as they have no policy or face (for CM) in Delhi. They are filing applications for deletion of votes - even when the ECI has already completed its process and a draft list is already completed. We will not ley any of their negative tactics get success in Delhi..."

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "We haven't expected this from Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The farmers are facing issues in the country - PM Modi had promised that farmer's income would be doubled, but nothing has happened... BJP should act responsibly and they should talk to the citizens of the country..."

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday wrote a letter to Delhi chief minister Atishi and criticised the AAP government for not implementing several pro-farmer schemes of the Centre in the national capital. Read more

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in a scramble to complete the renovation work of the National Stadium ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy, and has moved all matches scheduled at the venue to other places.

The stadium will play host to the opening match of the ICC marquee event between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19.

“Due to the ongoing construction and renovation work it was decided against holding any matches at the NSK as it would only further delay the work and also disturb the players,” one official said.

Arif Mohammad Khan will be sworn in as the governor of Bihar at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday, officials said.

The oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held around 11 am, they said.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was recently appointed the governor of Kerala, while Khan, who served as the governor of Kerala, was moved to Bihar.

Khan, who arrived in Patna on Monday, had told reporters at the airport that he would try to discharge his duties in accordance with the glorious tradition of the state.

India coach Gautam Gambhir declined to confirm that captain Rohit Sharma would play the fifth test against Australia, committing only to naming the team before the toss on Friday.

Skipper Rohit has struggled for runs in the first four tests of the five-match series, which India trail 2-1 after a loss in Melbourne earlier this week.

Asked on Thursday why the coach was taking the pre-match conference rather than the captain as is usual, Gambhir bridled.

"Everything is fine with Rohit and I don't think it's anything traditional," he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"The head coach is here, that should be fine, that should be good enough. We're going to have a look at the wicket and finalise (our team) tomorrow."

Three people were found dead under suspicious circumstances in a guest house in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said.

A charcoal heater was found in the room and the trio could have died due to asphyxiation, they said. According to police, a man informed them that his sibling, who had gone to Bhaderwah, was not responding to calls. Police tracked the location of his brother's mobile phone late Wednesday night and dispatched a team, they said.

Indian cricket team head coach, Gautam Gambhir says, "Every individual knows in which area they need to work. When you play for your country, you want to give your best. I think the debates between a player and a coach should remain between them - conversations should be restricted to the dressing room. Everything is fine with Rohit and we will announce that (Playing 11) tomorrow, after seeing the pitch. We had just one conversation in our dressing room - how we will win the next test, as it is important for us."

Team first ideology matters. People can play natural game but in team sports, individual only contribute: Gambhir

Thick blanket of snow envelops Lahaul-Spiti valley

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu | A fire broke out in the Government Medical College & Hospital due to an electrical leakage. The fire has now been doused off and no casualties have been reported: District Collector

Chinese government hackers breached the U.S. Treasury office that administers economic sanctions, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, identifying targets of a cyberattack Treasury disclosed earlier this week.

Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the Washington Post said hackers compromised the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Office of Financial Research and also targeted the office of U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has sent a letter rallying his supporters saying he would "fight til the end" as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived Dec. 3 martial law, a lawyer said on Thursday.

"I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing," Yoon wrote in the letter late on Wednesday to the estimated hundreds of supporters who have gathered near his official residence protesting his investigation.

"I will fight til the end to protect this country together with you," he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to Reuters by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.

The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the network of airing "inciting content", official media reported.

"The specialised ministerial committee, comprising the ministries of culture, interior and communications, has decided to suspend broadcasts and freeze all activities of Al Jazeera satellite channel and its office in Palestine," the official Wafa news agency said.

At least 10 people, including two children, were killed Wednesday by a gunman who launched a shooting spree in a restaurant near the southern Montenegro city of Cetinje that spanned several locations, authorities said.

Police launched an hours-long manhunt for the suspect, who "shot himself in the head" when he was surrounded, police chief Lazar Scepanovic told reporters.

Suspected people smugglers will face severe curbs under new laws in Britain, the government said on Thursday, as it steps up efforts to fight illegal migration and strengthen border security.

Those suspected will face travel bans, social media blackouts and restrictions on phone usage to help the government "dismantle organised immigration crime networks," the statement added.

"We will give law enforcement stronger powers they need to pursue and stop more of these vile gang networks," interior minister Yvette Cooper said, describing border security as one of the foundations of the government's recently laid out 'plan for change'.

China’s manufacturing activity slowed its pace of expansion in December, as investors wait for more economic stimulus when Donald Trump returns to the White House threatening tariffs on Chinese exports.

The Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to 50.5 from 51.5 in November, according to a statement released by Caixin and S&P Global on Thursday. While any reading above 50 indicates an expansion of activity, the figure was a disappointment compared with the median forecast of 51.7 by economists.

The results of the private survey matched the official one released earlier this week showing manufacturing grew for a third month, albeit at a slower rate.

A gruesome attack on revelers celebrating New Year’s in New Orleans thrust US domestic security back into the spotlight less than a month before Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

The tragedy, which killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more, set off panic in the historic French Quarter and postponed events, including a major football game. Hours later, a deadly explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside of President-elect Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas further rattled Americans ringing in 2025.

The incidents, which are both being probed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, prompted statements from Trump, President Joe Biden and other senior US officials. Elon Musk also weighed in, saying that the Cybertruck explosion appeared likely to be terrorism and that it could be linked to the New Orleans attack.

President Joe Biden said law enforcement officials were looking for any additional people who may have played a part in the attack in New Orleans that left at least 15 people dead.

Biden said initial indications — including social media videos posted by the suspect in the hours ahead of the attack — suggested he had been influenced by the Islamic State, but urged Americans to allow the investigation to proceed before drawing their own conclusions. The president also said law enforcement was examining if there was any link with the explosion of a Tesla Inc. Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas.