Top news of the day: BJP promises LPG cylinders for ₹500 to poor women in manifesto ahead of Delhi Assembly polls; Budget session of Parliament starts January 31, and more

The major news headlines of the day and more

Budget session of Parliament starts January 31; Union Budget on February 1

The first part of Parliament’s Budget Session is likely to be held between January 31 and February 13, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to table her eighth straight budget on February 1.

Delhi polls: BJP releases manifesto; promises LPG cylinders for ₹500 to poor women

Delhi BJP president J.P. Nadda, on Friday (January 17, 2025) announced the BJP manifesto ‘Mahila Samriddhi Yojana’ in New Delhi .In their manifesto, the BJP promised ₹2,500 to women of Delhi through direct benefit transfers every month.

Saif Ali Khan doing ‘very well’, likely to be discharged from hospital in 2-3 days: Doctors

Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital after suffering injuries in a knife attack at home, is doing “very well” and expected to be discharged in two to three days, doctors said on Friday.

Israeli PM’s office says first hostages expected to be released on January 19

The Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is expected to begin as originally scheduled on Sunday (January 19, 2025), the Israeli prime minister's office said, after hours of uncertainty over the timing of final cabinet approval of the deal.

Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi convicted in al-Qadir Trust case

A Pakistan court on Friday (January 17, 2025) sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 and seven years in prison respectively after finding them guilty of corruption in the 190 million pounds al-Qadir Trust case.

Excise policy case: Delhi HC to hear ED plea against Arvind Kejriwal’s bail on Mar 21

The Delhi High Court on Friday (January 17, 2025) set March 21 to hear the enforcement directorate’s plea against the bail granted to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

B.Y. Vijayendra expresses confidence of continuing as chief of BJP in Karnataka

BJP’s State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra has expressed confidence of continuing in the post. “When I am saying that I will strengthen the party and bring it to power in the State with a clear majority, it means that I will continue as the party’s State president”, Mr Vijayendra said while speaking to reporters in Mysuru on January 17.

R.G. Kar doctor case: Court to pronounce judgement on rape-murder on January 18

The much-awaited judgement in the brutal rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, which led to nationwide outrage and prolonged protests, will be delivered on Saturday (January 18, 2025).

GRAP 4 curbs lifted in Delhi-NCR amid dip in pollution levels

The Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality on Thursday (January 16, 2025) revoked curbs under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid dip in pollution levels, according to an official order.

BCCI issues 10-point diktat for players as coach seeks to end “Star Culture”

Cracking the whip on the Indian cricket team’s “star culture”, the BCCI on Thursday (January 16, 2025) unveiled a 10-point policy to promote “discipline and unity”, making domestic cricket mandatory, imposing restriction on the presence of families and personal staff on tours and banning individual commercial endorsements during ongoing series.

Biden won’t enforce TikTok ban, official says, leaving fate of app to Trump

President Joe Biden won't enforce a ban on the social media app TikTok that is set to take effect a day before he leaves office on Monday, a U.S. official said Thursday, leaving its fate in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump.

Indian national, Sai Varshith Kandula, sentenced to 8 years for attempted attack on White House

Indian national Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, on Thursday (January 16, 2025) was sentenced to eight years for an attempted attack on the White House with a rented truck on May 22, 2023.

India’s automotive industry is fantastic and future-ready: PM Modi at inauguration of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (January 17, 2025) inaugurated the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, the largest mobility expo in India, which is expected to witness over 100 new launches across automobiles, component products and technologies.

National Sports Awards: Manu Bhaker, Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen Kumar receive Khel Ratna from President Murmu

Double Olympic-medallist shooter Manu Bhaker and teenage chess world champion D Gukesh received a euphoric round of applause as they walked up to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna from President Droupadi Murmu in a glittering National Sports Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Friday (January 17, 2025).

Indian consulate in Los Angeles soon: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday (January 17, 2025) that he had urged the United States to establish a U.S. consulate in Bengaluru and promised to open an Indian diplomatic mission in Los Angeles.

India urges Russia to repatriate Indians in Russian Army

Russia has communicated to India that 16 Indians, who were serving in the Russian military, are missing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (January 17, 2024). The MEA said 12 Indians working with the Russian military have died so far.

Published - January 17, 2025 06:02 pm IST