LIVE: Name change of two Maharashtra cities - Aurangabad and Osmanabad - gets Centre's nod

The Centre has approved the renaming of Maharashtra's Aurangabad city as `Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar' and that of Osmanabad city as `Dharashiv'. 

One Russian soldier tells his mother that the young Ukrainians dead from his first firefight looked just like him. Another explains to his wife that he's drunk because alcohol makes it easier to kill civilians. A third wants his girlfriend to know that in all the horror, he dreams about just being with her. Read more

India and China were among 32 countries that abstained from voting as the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Friday calling for an end to the war in Ukraine, with the Indian envoy to the world body saying the move wasn’t enough to achieve the goal of a lasting peace. Read more

A suspected Naxalite was arrested in eastern Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police said on Friday. Based on intelligence input, an anti-Naxalite operation was launched by the Special Operation Squad (C-60) of police in Dhamrancha forest on Thursday, said district Superintendent of Police Neelotpal, reports PTI.

The FATF on Friday suspended Russia's membership for its "illegal, unprovoked and unjustified" full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, an official statement said. Russia's actions were "unacceptably run" counter to FATF's core principles that aims to promote security, safety, and integrity of the global financial system, it said. Read more

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra has pressed finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for answers over state-run Life Insurance Corporation's exposure to the embattled Adani Group, flagging a news report that said the value of its holding in Adani companies had - for the first time - dropped below the purchase price by nearly 11 per cent to settle at less than ₹27,000 crore. Read more

Swedish telecommunication company Ericsson said it is laying off 8,500 employees across the world as part of its cost-cutting measure, a memo accessed by Reuters stated. Read more

Ukrainian chargé d’affaires Ivan Konovalov on Friday said that India's abstention from voting at the UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for an end to the war in Ukraine was a “sensitive issue” for them as Kyiv counts on New Delhi's support. Read more

Amid severe tension in Punjab over the arrest of radical preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Lovepreet Toofan and Amritpal Singh's vigorous demand for Khalistan, the Punjab police on Friday released Tofan saying that he wasn't found guilty. Read more

Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 12 English exam was cancelled on Friday after the question paper was leaked minutes before the commencement of the exam.

When I think of Meghalaya, I think of talented people, vibrant traditions. I am here with a message of hope and development. India is scaling new heights of success and Meghalaya is making a strong contribution to it: PM Narendra Modi in Shillong

A day after his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and stormed the Ajnala police station, radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Amritsar on Friday said that Khalistan should be seen from an intellectual point of view. Read more

Air India Express flight IX 385 on Calicut-Dammam with 168 passengers was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram due to suspected tail strike during take off. The aircraft made normal safe landing at Thiruvananthapuram.

Supreme Court disposed of the plea seeking state govts to frame rules for menstrual leave for female students and working-class women at their respective educational institutions and workplaces; asked the petitioner to give representation to the Centre on the plea.

Delhi Patiala House Court extends Sukesh Chandrashekhar's ED custody for three days. Sukesh was produced before the court as his ED custody of 9 days came to an end. ED has taken Sukesh custody in the case filed by Japna M Singh.

"Plenary session being held at a time when democracy, Constitution are under threat," said Mallikarjun Kharge at Cong steering committee meet.

“Congress leaders in Delhi never looked towards Nagaland, and never gave importance to stability and prosperity in the state. Congress always ran the Nagaland govt on remote control from Delhi. From Delhi to Dimapur, Congress indulged in familial politics,” PM Modi in Nagaland.

Congress' 85th plenary session has begun with meeting of steering committee in Chhattisgarh's Raipur.

"Won't injunct media...We will pronounce our order," the CJI tells adv ML Sharma as the lawyer urges the Supreme Court to consider gagging media from carrying reports on Adani-Hindenburg Report until court delivers its order on constitution of a committee to look into the episode.

“We need to mount fightback against authoritarian regimes,” said former UK PM Liz Truss at Ideas of India Summit.

"The accused (Congress leader Pawan Khera) has tendered an unconditional apology. We hope that keeping the sanctity of public spaces, no one will use uncivilized language in political discourse hereafter," tweets Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The Covid-19 pandemic had delivered a once-in-a-century blow to the global economy. Many countries especially developing economies are still coping with its after effects: PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting

A fire incident was reported at oil refinery in Bathinda. No casualities yet, said officials.

11 people dead in pickup van-truck collision in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh, PTI reported quoting police.