LIVE news updates: Dr C V Ananda Bose appointed West Bengal Governor

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4:15 PM

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates and lays foundation stone of 3 NH projects worth Rs 1,206 cr in Siliguri, WB

4:12 PM

Centre trashes reports of hasty approval to Covaxin under political pressure

Health Ministry on Thursday rubbished media reports claiming lapses in the regulatory approval of Covaxin, the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech, as misleading and fallacious.

2:55 PM

No truth to former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's foreign conspiracy claims: US

The US has once again categorically dismissed former Pakistan premier Imran Khan's allegations that Washington orchestrated a conspiracy to oust him from power and reiterated its resolve not to let "propaganda, misinformation and disinformation" affect the bilateral ties.

The sharp response from the US came on Wednesday, days after Khan said he wanted to mend relations with Washington if re-elected and no longer blames it for his removal as the Pakistan prime minister.

2:37 PM

Morbi Civic body blames Ajanta Manufacturing for bridge collapse

Morbi Nagar Palika on Thursday squarely blamed the Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd (Oreva group) for the October 30 bridge collapse saying it not only opened the bridge for the public sans approval, but also without scientific testing of its sustainability and fitness.

 

The charges were made in an affidavit filed before the Gujarat High Court by Morbi Nagar Palika in-charge Chief Officer Naran Muchhar.

2:27 PM

CPI(M), TMC hit out at PM Modi over claims of digital access for public in India

Opposition parties have hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims at the G20 Summit that India was making digital access public, alleging that the country shut Internet connectivity more often than any other.

 

On Wednesday, Modi said India was making digital access public, but there was still a "huge digital divide" at the international level.

2:15 PM

Delhi court denies bail to AAP leader Satyendar Jain: Reports

A Delhi court on Thursday denied bail to AAP leader Satyendar Jain and two others in a money laundering case. “All three (bail) applications dismissed,” Special Judge Vikas Dhull said.
 

The judge had reserved the order after hearing arguments of the accused persons, including Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, as well as the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The federal agency had arrested the accused in the money laundering case based on a CBI FIR lodged against Jain in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

2:09 PM

Facebook parent Meta appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India head

Social media giant Meta has appointed Sandhya Devanathan as the Vice President of Meta India, the company said on Thursday.

She comes in place of Ajit Mohan who resigned from Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, early this month.

"I'm pleased to welcome Sandhya as our new leader for India. Sandhya has a proven track record of scaling businesses, building exceptional and inclusive teams, driving product innovation and building strong partnerships. We are thrilled to have her lead Meta's continued growth in India," Meta Chief Business Officer Marne Levine said in a statement.

1:55 PM

Tata Motors bags order for 1,000 buses from Haryana govt

Tata Motors on Thursday said it has bagged an order for 1,000 buses from Haryana Roadways.

 

The auto major said it will supply 52-seater fully built BS VI diesel buses in a phased manner, as per the contract. "The delivery of these buses will further fortify our partnership with the Haryana government and help in offering modern public transport to the citizens of the state. We are committed towards modernising public transportation in India," Tata Motors Vice President (Product Line Buses) Rohit Srivastava said in a statement.

1:41 PM

SC to hear plea of Gautam Navlakha, probe agency on Fri in Maoist link case

The Supreme Court agreed to list for hearing on Friday a fresh plea of activist Gautam Navlakha, who has not been shifted to house arrest despite the apex court's direction in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of a senior lawyer, appearing for Navlakha, that the apex court's direction to keep him in house arrest has not been complied with so far.

1:18 PM

Health Ministry rejects claim 'Covaxin was rushed due to political pressure'

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday rejected media reports that Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech skipped certain processes and accelerated clinical trials due to political pressure, calling them "completely misleading, fallacious and ill-informed".

 

"The government of India and the national regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have followed a scientific approach and prescribed norms in approving the Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use authorization," the Ministry said.

1:13 PM

Russian missile strike hits Ukraine''s Odesa region, says official

A Russian missile strike hit Ukraine's southern Odesa region for the first time in weeks on Thursday, the regional governor said.

 

An infrastructure target was hit, Odesa regional Gov Maksym Marchenko said on Telegram, warning about the threat of a massive missile barrage on the entire territory of Ukraine. Marchenko's statement comes amid media reports about explosions in other parts of Ukraine and regional governors urging residents to stay in bomb shelters as the threat of missile strikes persists.

1:03 PM

MCD polls: Delhi BJP releases 'charge sheet' against Kejriwal govt

In the run up to MCD polls, Delhi BJP on Thursday brought out a "charge sheet" against the AAP government accusing it of failing to fulfill its promises.

 

Reading out the "charge sheet" at a press conference, the senior BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri claimed the issues raised in it were verified, and challenged AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to have a debate on it with him.

12:39 PM

SoftBank sells 4.5% stake in Paytm for $200 million, says report

SoftBank Group Corp on Thursday sold a 4.5% stake in Indian digital payments giant Paytm through block deals for $200 million, sources told Reuters, leading to a sharp fall in the shares of the Indian company.

 

The deal was executed at 555.67 rupees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said, the lower end of the planned price range of 555 rupees to 601.45 rupees that was listed in the transaction's term sheet reviewed by Reuters.

 

12:24 PM

Mining lease case: Allegation against me baseless, says Soren before leaving for ED office

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said allegations leveled against him in a mining lease case was baseless as he left for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ranchi, where he is set to face questioning in connection with the matter.

 

Addressing media persons, the CM claimed that he was a victim of a conspiracy by the opposition. "The agency should level allegations only after a detailed investigation into the matter," he said.

12:11 PM

PM Modi to formally inaugurate Kashi-Tamil Samagam on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday formally inaugurate the month long Kashi-Tamil Samagam in Varanasi, a senior official said.

 

He will also address the gathering during about three hours stay in his parliamentary constituency, Mahanagar Chairman Vidyasagar Rai said. Modi will formally inaugurate the samagam at the amphitheatre ground of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).