Lok Sabha which commenced its Fifteenth Session on 31st January 2024 has been prorogued by the President on 15th February 2024.
10:29 PM
Three dead in fire at factory in outer Delhi's Alipur area: Police
A big fire broke out in a factory in outer Delhi's Alipur area here on Thursday evening, authorities said. A fire in a factory in the area's Dayalpur Market was reported at 5.25 pm, the officer from the Delhi Fire Service said.At least six fire tenders were pressed into service but the fire soon spread to the entire building, he said.The officer said at least 20 fire tenders are currently trying to douse off the fire and a rescue operation is underway.
10:29 PM
NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma to visit Sandeshkhali on February 19
National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma to visit Sandeshkhali on 19th February, during her 2-day visit to West Bengal. She will also be holding a meeting with Chief Secretary of West Bengal and DGP West Bengal.
9:12 PM
Delhi records high of 26 deg C, AQI improves
The national capital on Thursday noted a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, while the AQI moved to the 'poor' category after improvement in air quality.
The city recorded a low of 8.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, while the maximum temperature was two notches above the normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The humidity levels oscillated between 100 per cent and 34 per cent during the day, the IMD's weather bulletin showed.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital has shifted from the 'very poor' category to the 'poor' category, with a reading of 279, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The AQI stood at 356 at 9 am on Wednesday.
9:12 PM
EC on tour of states to review preparations for Lok Sabha polls
The Election Commission (EC) will resume its review of states' preparedness for the Lok Sabha polls with a visit to Odisha later on Thursday and complete the process in Jammu and Kashmir on March 13, sources said.
In January, the Commission reviewed the preparations in Andhra Pradesh, where Lok Sabha and assembly polls will be held together.
The Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and comprising Election Commissioner Arun Goel will be in Odisha Thursday night, the sources said.
Besides Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh will see simultaneous parliamentary and assembly polls.
The panel will also be touring West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, besides other states. It will visit Jammu and Kashmir on March 13, the sources said.
8:08 PM
Commuters inconvenienced as Singhu border remains closed for traffic
Farmers' protest Live: Carrying luggage, while accompanying their little children, several commuters faced difficulties as the Singhu border remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day on Thursday in view of the farmers' protest. Some people also had to cross the Delhi-Haryana border on foot while carrying their little children in arms.
7:43 PM
NCP is party of common people; it's facing challenges today but we should not worry: Sharad Pawar
NCP founder Sharad Pawar on Thursday said his party belonged to the common people, and although it was going through difficult times today, nobody should worry about the challenges it was facing.
He also stressed that there was a need to stay united and work towards improving the state's image. Pawar was addressing the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) group's convention of young women in Mumbai hours before Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar passed his verdict on the disqualification of the rival NCP factions.
The speaker held that the Ajit Pawar-led group was the real NCP when two factions emerged in July 2023, and dismissed disqualification petitions filed by both the factions, one each led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.
7:30 PM
White House economic adviser says consumer sentiment positive, but some prices too high
White House economic adviser Lael Brainard said the US economy has "quite good" fundamentals with US consumer sentiment turning a positive corner, but many Americans still feel that prices for everyday purchases are too high.
Brainard also told a National Association for Business Economics conference in Washington that recent data showing increased productivity was "very encouraging" but she was taking a cautious approach due to the volatility of productivity data.
7:28 PM
TMC welcomes SC verdict scrapping electoral bond scheme
Welcoming the Supreme Court's landmark judgment annulling the electoral bonds scheme, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday said people have the right to know the source of funding of political parties.
Without naming any political outfit, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the verdict was a blow to the party which introduced the bonds in the country.
6:53 PM
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a public rally in Bihar
He said, "These people (BJP) neither follow the constitution nor the democracy... They want dictatorship. That's why we need to fight them by strengthening ourselves... I want to ask, where are two crores jobs? Where is Modi's guarantee? Where is that Rs 15 Lakhs that he promised?... Either the PM is a liar or you people, because he said that I'll give Rs 15 lakhs to all but you people are saying that you didn't receive... During UPA time the govt was in debt of only Rs 55 lakh crores but in Modi's era we are in a debt of Rs 185 lakh crores..."
6:52 PM
NCP's Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP, says Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar decides that Ajit Pawar faction is the 'real NCP' political party. Decision was based on the factor of legislative majority. The party constitution and leadership structure and organizational structure do not provide any reliable outcome as to which faction is the real political party and consequently, this cannot be the yardstick to determine which is the political party. "And the legislative majority gives a clear idea of which faction is the real political party and therefore I hold that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real political party," says Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar.
4:47 PM
News update: DGGI summons offices of foreign airlines in country
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has summoned Indian offices of international airlines over alleged tax evasion on import of services, CNBC-TV18 reported on Thursday citing sources.
4:43 PM
Oppn politicising electoral bonds scheme issue as it has no alternative to Modi: BJP
The saffron party today sought to downplay the Supreme Court verdict on electoral bonds, saying every decision of the top court should be respected and accused the opposition parties of politicising the issue. BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the Opposition is politicising the issue as it does not have any alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
4:37 PM
I hope he (PM Modi) comes out with his 'Mann ki Baat' on why he did it: Cong's Priyank Kharge
"The ball is in the Prime Minister's court, at least for this, I hope he comes out with his 'Mann ki Baat' on why he did it," says Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on the Supreme Court's verdict on the electoral bonds scheme.
4:34 PM
News update: TMC's Mimi Chakraborty resigns from the post of MP
"I do not want to contest in elections. We are actors and love of public is divided when we reach the political landscape. Mamata Banerjee will decide the future course of action," the actor-politician said.
Lok Sabha which commenced its fifteenth session on 31st January 2024 has been prorogued by the President on 15th February 2024.
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that the party would contest elections on its own without entering into any alliance with other political parties.
After the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging, the scheme was a "medium for bribes and commission". In an post on social media platform X, the Congress leader said, "Another proof of Narendra Modi's corrupt policies is in front of you. BJP had made electoral bonds a medium for taking bribes and commissions."
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the electoral bonds scheme is violative of right to information under Article 19 (a).
Seven days after it was imposed following the violence over the demolition of an "illegal" madrasa, the administration announced curfew relaxation for a few hours in the Banbhoolpura town on Thursday. The curfew will be relaxed from 9 am to 4 pm in Gaujajali, Railway Bazar and FCI godown area. In the rest of Banbhoolpura, it will be relaxed for two hours from 9 am to 11 am.
The top court is set to to pronounce its verdict today on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme.
On November 2 last year, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had reserved its judgement in the matter. The electoral bonds scheme was hailed as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring in transparency in political funding. The scheme was notified by the government on January 2, 2018. The notification stated that electoral bonds shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through an account with an authorised bank.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Doha on Wednesday night on an official visit to Qatar. This is PM Modi's second visit to Qatar, after his first visit in June 2016. PM Modi stated that he had a wonderful meeting with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and talked about ways to strengthen ties between the two countries. Earlier, the external affairs ministry stated that PM Modi held fruitful talks with the prime minister of Qatar. PM Modi is scheduled to meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and hold talks on bilateral as well as regional and global issues, the ministry said in a press release.
In yet another public event marred by gun violence, eight children were among 22 people hit by gunfire in a shooting at the end of yesterday's parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win, news agency AP reported. One person was killed. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves stated that she had heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn't immediately confirm that. She added that three people had been taken into custody.
 "Highlights of the day: Lok Sabha's fifteenth session ends today")
