LIVE: Income Tax ‘surveys’ at BBC offices end after over 58 hours

The Income Tax department’s marathon “surveys” at BBC’s offices ended on Thursday, after clocking over 58 hours in total, as officials prepared an inventory of financial data from select staffers and collected digital and paper data, PTI reported.

Tunisha Sharma suicide case | Waliv police filed a 524-page charge sheet in Vasai Court against accused Sheezan Khan. Hearing on the bail plea of accused Sheezan Khan will be heard tomorrow in Bombay High Court.

The United Nations on Thursday launched an appeal for $1 billion in aid to help victims in Turkey of last week’s catastrophic earthquake that killed thousands of people.

The United Nations regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syrian crisis said Thursday that the country’s death toll from last week’s deadly earthquake is likely to rise further as teams scramble to remove rubble in hard-hit areas, AP reported

US President Joe Biden will host Germany’s Chancellor Olar Scholz in Washington on March 3 for talks focused on supporting Kyiv in its fight against Russia’s invasion, the White House said Thursday.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Thursday his country was “committed to the sovereignty” of Ukraine during the first visit by an Israeli minister to the war-torn nation since the Russian invasion, reported AFP

PM Modi wants to develop Meghalaya & make it most prosperous, but you need to support him. Give us a team that brings development to every village and facilities to every home. And give Meghalaya’s youth facility to study in Garo language here itself: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses an election rally in Meghalaya

NATO must be prepared for a long standoff with Russia beyond the immediate crisis triggered by President Vladimir Putin’s year-old invasion of Ukraine, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told AFP.

Spain MPs passed a law permitting gender self-determination from 16 and also gave final approval to a law granting paid medical leave to women suffering severe period pain, becoming the first European country to advance such legislation, reported AFP. Read more

Deutsche Lufthansa AG will cancel at least 1,200 flights for Friday due to strikes at its main Frankfurt and Munich hubs, the latest disruption to hit Europe’s biggest airline after an IT incident grounded its fleet on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported.

Swara Bhasker announced her marriage to Samajwadi Party’s Fahad Ahmad on Twitter. She shared a timeline of their relationship as well. Read more

Lt Gen Rashim Bali would be the next Corps Commander of the ‘Fire and Fury’ Corps headquartered in Leh, Ladakh, reported ANI. The Corps is responsible for looking after the high-altitude mountainous border with both China and Pakistan.

India will exclude renewable power companies from government contracts for between three and five years if they do not meet project completion deadlines, reported Reuters citing a government order, as the country looks to speed up green power projects.

“NCW has sought police report. We feel girls aren’t safe in live-in relationships. Not only girls but families also responsible for such incidents. If girls are given right to select their partners, these types of incidents can decrease,” says Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, told ANI on Nikki Yadav murder case.

Over 248 hours after massive earthquakes hit Turkey, the authorities have rescued a 17-year-old girl from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the southern central province of Kahramanmaras, reported Reuters citing state broadcaster TRT Haber. Read more

Shares of Adani Group firms ended on a mixed note on Thursday after rallying in the morning trade amid volatile trend in the broader market. Adani Wilmar stock climbed 5 per cent, NDTV rallied 4.99 per cent, Adani Power jumped 4.97 per cent, Adani Ports advanced 1.45 per cent, Adani Enterprises ended 1 per cent higher and Ambuja Cements advanced 0.99 per cent on the BSE.

Mehrauli demolition drive | Delhi High court again directs the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to file a detailed affidavit by Monday pertaining to the matter.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai writes to EAM S Jaishankar for an intervention after several fishermen were allegedly attacked by people in Sri Lankan boats while they were fishing last night near Kodiyakarai in Nagapattinam district, reported ANI

Saansad Khel Mahakumbh is the seed from which Olympic players will be created. Saansad Khel Mahakumbh is a strong foundation on which our glorious sporting future will be built. Thousands of youth from small towns participating in Saansad Khel Mahakumbh is a testament to its success: PM Modi virtually addressing Saansad Khel Mahakumbh in Gorakhpur

Delhi | Fire breaks out at Vithal Bhai Patel House. Fire tenders have reached the spot. Rescue work is underway, reports ANI

Indian tax officials examined mobile phones and laptops used by some BBC editorial and administrative employees, two sources told Reuters, as an inspection at the British broadcaster’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai entered a third day on Thursday. Read more

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court dismisses bail petitions of Vijay Nair, Abhishek Bonipally, Sameer Mahendru, Sarath P Reddy and Binoy Babu who were arrested in the money laundering probe emerging out of the Delhi govt new excise policy case.

NATO chief says ‘time’ for Turkey to ratify Sweden, Finland membership, reports AFP

Our Shree Ann not only has many health benefits but also uses lesser water to grow. We have to make the most of International Year Of Millets for our farmers and a better India: PM Modi

Jal Jan Abhiyan is beginning at a time when water crisis is globally seen as a crisis of future. Due to such a large population, water security is an important duty for India too. It is our collective responsibility. That is why during Azadi ka Amrit Kaal…they say ‘Jal hai toh kal hai’: PM Modi at Jal Jan Abhiyan in Sirohi, Rajasthan via video conferencing. Read more

Jharkhand police conducteda ‘flag march’ in Palamu’s Panki town following a violent clash between two groups over the installation of ‘toran dwar’ outside a mosque ahead of Mahashivratri, ANI reported. Police said that the situation is normal, flag march conducted as a measure of confidence building.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was on Thursday conferred Honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by Uttarakhand Gov Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Retd) at the 34th convocation ceremony of GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, ANI reported.

IAF’s C-17 Globemaster took off for South Africa from Hindon airbase on Thursday morning to bring 12 cheetahs to the country. On Feb 18, the cheetahs will be released in Kuno National Park by Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, a mega National Tribal Festival at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to release the 13th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme on February 24. Read more

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ live-action feature film is under development. According to entertainment website The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has set March 14, 2025 as the release date of the film.

Windfall tax on crude was cut to 4,350 rupees ($52.60) per tonne from 5,050 rupees per tonne, effective Thursday. The government also cut export tax on aviation turbine fuel to 1.50 rupees per litre from 6 rupees per litre, and reduced export tax on diesel to 2.50 rupees per litre from 7.50 rupees per litre. Read more

I am taking Tipu Sultan’s name, let me see what you will do. Does the PM agree with what the Karnataka BJP president has said? This is an open call for violence, murder & genocide. Will BJP govt in Karnataka not take action against this? This is hatred, says AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi reports ANI.

Sensex rises 290 points to open at 61,566; Nifty starts at 18,072.

Collision between two goods trains leads to the derailment of wagons in Sultanpur; no casualties reported. (ANI)

Huge quantity of narcotics was seized from an ambulance bearing West Bengal registration number at Puraini in Bihar’s Madhepura district Wednesday. Police have arrested three persons including two women who were allegedly travelling in the ambulance posing a patient.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday will inaugurate ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, the mega national tribal festival. The event will be conducted at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens of Tripura to ‘vote in record numbers’. 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has added India’s G20 presidency logo on the board examination admit cards of classes 10 and 12 this year to educate students about its importance, officials said on Wednesday.

Voting in Tripura for 60 assembly seats started at 7 am today amid tight security.

Pakistan has increased the price of petrol to a new high of PKR 272 per litre, while diesel price has been hiked by PKR 17.20 to PKR 280 per litre, inflicting more misery on the citizens already battling hiked essential prices. Read more

On Monday, Israel approved a law to take away the citizenship of ‘convicted terrorist’ of the country. The Knesset approved a law to strip convicted terrorists with Israeli nationality of their citizenship – provided they receive funding from the Palestinian authority or an associated organisation. (ANI)