Breaking News Updates: Donald Trump sentenced in hush money case but spared jail or fine

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi hosted a dinner for delegates and participants of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 from Karnataka on Friday.

A 12-member special rescue team of Coal India reached the site of the coal mine of 3 Kilo Umrangso area in Dima Hasao district of Assam to help in the search and rescue operations to locate and rescue 8 other workers who are trapped in the inundated rat-hole mine.

US President-elect Donald Trump has been awarded unconditional discharge on all 34 charges in the hush money case. An unconditional discharge means Trump does not face any fines, probation or jail time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening arrived at the BJP headquarters for the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting.

Ram Mandir Nirman Samiti Chairman Nripendra Misra along with other police officials inspects the preparation for the first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Temple, in Ayodhya

Launching her book 'Shakti: Women, Gender and Society in India', Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "... The leftists of the world will tell us, that you would only look at women as a commodity, you don't celebrate her. What is Madhubani (painting) doing then?... We have celebrated women, fertility, and reproduction as much as we have celebrated women for their quality of scholarship and war... We had our way of celebrating women, like the repeated example of Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi... But what has happened is, because of the superimposition of Western Feminism, our terminologies have also become influenced by them. This is a gross misfit... We should now very consciously avoid using termonologies that are imposed on us..."

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Special MP MLA Court in Pune through video conferencing in a defamation complaint filed against him by the grandnephew of VD Savarkar after Rahul Gandhi made an alleged objectionable statement against Savarkar in London in March 2023. Next hearing on 18th February.

On AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's demand to include the Jaat community in the central OBC list, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, "... For the last 10 years, the government which was in power in Delhi with a complete majority did not raise this issue in the Vidhan Sabha or any public platform... Granting reservations is a subject of the state government... Kailash Gahlot, who has left the party, has confirmed that he had told the former Delhi CM 2-3 times to request the inclusion of Delhi's Jaat community in central reservations... One of the main reasons for Delhi's Jaat community not being included in central reservations is former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal..."

On AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's demand to include the Jaat community in the central OBC list, NDMC chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, "... Jaat reservation is Arvind Kejriwal's election slogan. Today when Delhi's AAP government is on a ventilator, when they are out on bail, then he is giving the election slogan of Jaat reservation... If he has done something for the Jaat community in the last 10 years, then let us know. We are ready for an open debate... Whenever Arvind Kejriwal gets involved in any issue, then he starts giving such election slogans to divert the debate..."

Addressing the Valedictory Session Of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025, President Droupadi Murmu said, "Our nation today is marching towards Viksit Bharat, a developed India, by the year 2047, when we will celebrate 100 years of our independence... It is a national mission that requires the proactive and enthusiastic participation of every Indian, including those living abroad. The Indian diaspora is an integral part of this. Your global presence gives you a unique perspective and your achievements place you in a position to significantly contribute to the realisation of a developed India... I urge you all to actively engage in this journey for in your success lies the success of India."

Addressing the Valedictory Session Of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025, President Droupadi Murmu said, "...The achievements of Indian women globally are a matter of immense pride for us as they break barriers and scale new heights in various fields. Our students and youth, with their dynamism and creativity, are the torchbearers of our future... Our vision for Viksit Bharat is guided by our timeless philosophy of Vasudev Katumbakam. This vision is about creating an ecosystem that not only meets our needs but also contributes to global well-being. We seek to be a nation that balances economic progress with social justice and environmental stewardship, ensuring a bright future for generations to come..."

NDMC water tanker arrives as residents of Pandara Park face water shortage. Congress leader Udit Raj said, "There has been no water here for the last 3 days... The condition of the Delhi Jal Board is such that either dirty water is being supplied or no water at all... This is the condition of a posh area like Pandara Park where Misa Bharati, Lalu Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, and Dimple Yadav reside..."

"The world trusts us, because there is no duplicity in us, whatever we say we say clearly. Even in these times of crises, we have repeatedly said that we are not neutral. I am in favour of peace, and I will support whatever efforts are made towards it. I tell this to Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Palestine and Israel. They have faith on me, that what I am saying is right..." says PM Modi

"I used to say this publicly - 'you will regret not coming back to India... the era is about to change'. I was the MLA when the American govt refused to give me visa. As an individual, going to America was not a big thing, I had visited before also; but I felt the disrespect of an elected govt and the country, and there was a dilemma in my mind as to what was happening... That day, I held a press conference, where I said that the American govt had rejected my visa. I also said that I see an India, where the world will stand in queue for visa, this is my statement in 2005 and today we are standing in 2025. So, I can see that now, the time is of India," said PM Modi.

In a light-hearted moment during his podcast, PM Modi was asked about Italian food, Pizza and the viral "Melodi memes" featuring him and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

When asked he has seen the memes, PM Modi dismissed the question with a smile and said, "Woh toh chalta rehta hai (These things keep on happening)."

He also said that he doesn't "waste time" thinking about memes or online chatter. He added, "I am not a foodie. If someone gives me a menu, I won't be able to decide what to eat. Whatever is served to me, I eat happily."

When asked by Nikhil Kamath, who would he call when he wants to share a good news, PM Modi said, "After I hoisted the tricolor at the Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the first person I called was my mother, because I thought she would be worried about by well-being."

"On Feb 24, 2002, I became MLA for the first time, and on Feb 27, I went to the Assembly. I was a three-day-old MLA when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first received reports of fire in train, then gradually we received reports of casualties. I was in the House, and I was concerned. As soon as I came out, I said I want to visit Godhra... There was only one helicopter... I guess it was ONGC's, but they said that since it is single engine, they cannot allow a VIP on it. We had an argument, and I said that I will be responsible for whatever happens. I reached Godhra, and I witnessed that painful scene, those dead bodies... I felt everything, but I knew that I am sitting on a position where I will have to stay out of my emotions and natural tendency. I did whatever I could to control myself..." said PM Modi during his debut podcast.

On being asked about his different tenures as the PM, in a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said," In the first term, the people were trying to understand me and I was trying to understand Delhi. In the second term, I used to think from the perspective of the past. In the third term, my thinking has changed, my morale is high and my dreams have grown. I want solutions to all problems by 2047 for Viksit Bharat...There should be 100% delivery of govt schemes. This is real social justice and secularism. The driving force behind this is - AI-'Aspirational India'..."

"When I became the PM in 2014, leaders from across the world make courtesy calls... Chinese President Xi also made a courtesy call in which he said that he wants to come to India. I said 'you are welcome, you must visit. He said I want to visit Gujarat, your village Vadnagar... He said 'you know why? Me and you share a special bond'... He said Chinese philosopher Hiuen Tsang resided the longest in your village and when he returned to China, he resided in my village..." says PM Modi

During a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said, "When I became the CM, in one of my speeches, I had said that I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts. Secondly, I will not do anything for myself. Third, I am a human, I may make mistakes, but I will not make mistakes with bad intentions. I made them my life's mantras. It is natural to make mistakes, after all I am a human, I am not God, but will not do wrong intentionally."

South Korea's acting leader has accepted the resignation of the presidential security chief, according to reports by the Associated Press (AP).

The Delhi BJP staged a protest on Friday accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of making "false" claims about the inclusion of voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the city's electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Hundreds of BJP workers gathered near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, raising slogans against him and the AAP government.

Some protesters attempted to breach the security barricades, prompting police intervention.

To manage the situation and prevent escalation, the police deployed water cannons to disperse the protesters who were trying to force their way through.

Four injured in explosion in flat during attempt to change expiry dates on perfume bottles in Maharashtra’s Palghar district.

The Government of India has issued a gazette notification concerning the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

According to the notification, the current Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, unless dissolved earlier, will remain in place until February 23.

The death toll from the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area has risen to 10, according to the county coroner's office.

The fires, which have been raging for several days, have caused widespread destruction, with thousands of homes and structures damaged or destroyed.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today launched raids at multiple locations, including the residence of RJD MLA Alok Kumar Mehta in Bihar, in connection with an ongoing money laundering case.

Over a dozen locations have been raided since early morning as part of the investigation into the leader's alleged involvement in financial wrongdoing.

Delhi Police have arrested four students for sending hoax bomb threat emails to various schools in the capital, causing widespread panic and class cancellations.

According to reports, two students from a private school have been detained in connection with the incident.

The students used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to send the threatening emails in order to avoid detection, the police confirmed.

Earth experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, surpassing 2023's previous high and breaching a critical climate threshold. The global average temperature rose beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels for the first time, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, several weather monitoring agencies reported Friday.

The European Commission's Copernicus Climate Service recorded a 1.6°C (2.89°F) rise, while Japan's weather agency noted 1.57°C (2.83°F), and the UK's Meteorology Office measured 1.53°C (2.75°F).

Variations in figures are attributed to differing methods of compensating for observational data gaps dating back to 1850.

American agencies, including NASA, NOAA, and Berkeley Earth, are expected to confirm the unprecedented warming later in the day.

Rescue operations are underway at the site of the Silo structure collapse at a smelting plant in Sargaon, Mungeli, which occurred yesterday.

Authorities are working to locate and rescue labourers reportedly trapped under the debris.

One injured labourer has been rescued and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Despite some progress in containing smaller blazes in the Hollywood Hills, the two largest fires remain uncontained, and shifting winds are expected to worsen conditions.

At least five people have died, with recovery crews continuing to search the rubble.

The victims include a father and son unable to evacuate and a man found with a garden hose in hand, attempting to fight the flames.

Wildfires raging across Los Angeles have caused widespread devastation, with over 180,000 residents under evacuation orders and more than 4,000 structures destroyed.

Two major fires, the Kenneth Fire near the West Hills neighborhood and the Eaton Fire in the Los Angeles area, continue to wreak havoc.

The Los Angeles Fire Department issued evacuation orders as flames threatened residential areas, adding to the strain caused by the ongoing Eaton Fire. This blaze has already destroyed over 4,000 structures across the Los Angeles area.

Firefighters, supported by reinforcements from neighboring states and Canada, are battling the flames under erratic wind gusts. Despite their efforts, critical resources like water systems have been strained, raising questions about infrastructure readiness.

In addition, the Pacific Palisades community has suffered extensive damage, with thousands more structures reduced to rubble. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone clarified that the destruction includes a mix of homes, apartment complexes, commercial buildings, and vehicles.

Entire neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu have been reduced to rubble.

Notable landmarks, including the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and the Topanga Ranch Motel, have been destroyed.