BREAKING: SC to hear on March 27 pleas challenging remission granted to 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Friday announced that the government has extended subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana for another year. The government has also decided to increase the MSP for jute by ₹300.

The Union home ministry on Friday extended for six months the “disturbed area” status in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. Read more

India would like to see action, more than just assurance, the Ministry of External Affairs said on the vandalism of Indian missions in various countries by Khalistanis, adding that he hoped that foreign governments will act against and prosecute those involved. Read more

About 3,600 people were evacuated from buildings in Hong Kong’s crowded Kowloon district on Friday as firefighters battled a blaze in a warehouse, Reuters reported.

A new Supreme Court bench will hear on March 27 a clutch of petitions against the remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet against notorious gangster criminals, Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, alongwith 12 others having links with the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and several other pro-Khalistani terrorist outfits, in the second of the three terror-gangster nexus cases it is investigating.

North Korea claimed Friday it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a “radioactive tsunami”, as it blamed recent US-South Korea exercises for a deteriorating regional security situation, AFP reported.

Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha after conviction in defamation case.

More than 16,000 fake Indian currency notes (FICN) were seized in Gujarat in the last two years, the state government informed the legislative Assembly on Friday, reports PTI.

Delhi police on Friday detained opposition MPs who were protesting at Vijay Chowk demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani Group issue.

The Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) is planning to impose caps on its debt and equity exposure to companies, two sources said, in a bid to lower concentration of risk following criticism of its investment in Adani group companies. Read more

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, on Friday denied a media report from earlier this week that said investors from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were planning to invest in a multi-billion dollar funding round in the company, reports Reuters

China threatened “serious consequences” Friday after the U.S. Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea for the second day in a row, in a move Beijing claimed was a violation of its sovereignty and security, reports AP.

Congress will take to the streets on Friday to protest against leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction for defamation, party officials said a day after a magistrate’s court sentenced Gandhi to a two-year jail term, reports Reuters.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar visited Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington on a two-day visit from March 22 to 23, 2023 and encouraged the students to be the ‘drivers of change’, reports ANI.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “The public should use the security and laws effectively when issues arise. Recently based on isolated incidents, some people have been spreading false propaganda that women are not safe in Kerala. Promoting such things which are false is not a good tendency.”

Sensex sheds 123.03 points to 57,802.25 in early trade; Nifty drops 61.1 points to 17,015.80.

“A Russian national, Shurlaeva Daria logged a complaint of being duped of 20,000 US dollars. Three men allegedly duped the victim by posing as fake crime branch officers. Case registered under sec 419, 420 & 34 of IPC at Tughlak Road Police station. A probe was initiated,” Delhi Police said to news agency ANI on Friday.

World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga has tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing in New Delhi. Read more.

A drone strike in eastern Syria has killed a US contractor while injuring five troops, Pentagon said Friday.

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said she will file a defamation case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the alleged ‘Surpanakha’ comment made in Parliament in 2018. 

“Unidentified miscreants threw acid on a 36-year-old woman who was standing with her son in Bharat Nagar area, splashes of acid also fell on her son. Personal enmity likely reason behind the attack. Probe underway,” Delhi Police to news agency ANI on Thursday.

A 5-year-old boy has been posted as child constable after death of his father who was a Police constable. “Raj Kumar Rajwade was a Police officer who passed away in an accident. Today, his son Naman Rajwade was appointed as child constable,” Bhavna Gupta, SP said to ANI.

Accenture Plc on Thursday lowered its annual revenue and profit forecasts and said it would cut about 2.5% of workforce, or 19,000 jobs, the latest sign that the worsening global economic outlook was sapping corporate spending on IT services.

World Athletics Friday voted to exclude transgender women from female events, reported Reuters.

Karnataka government has proposed to Centre to include an Act in Constitution to increase SC/ST reservation in education, jobs in state.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before US Congress amid growing security concerns and potential Chinese government influence over the company.

Another alleged associate of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh has been arrested from the national capital, police said on Thursday. The Delhi Police along with the Punjab Police held Amit Singh, an insurance agent, from Tilak Vihar on Tuesday.