New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 pm: NATION DEL45 DEF-RAFALE (4.33 PM)

India clears procurement of 114 Rafale jets, other acquisition projects totalling Rs 3.6 lakh cr New Delhi: The defence ministry on Thursday cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework from France, nearly 13 years after a similar acquisition was almost firmed up.

DEL22 STRIKE-CONG (2.42 PM)

Govt ignored voices of workers, farmers while making decisions concerning their future: Rahul New Delhi: With trade unions observing a day-long strike against the Centre's policies, the Congress on Thursday expressed support for them and Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government ignored the voices of workers and farmers while making decisions concerning their future.

DEL13 DUBEY-RAHUL-LD LS-MOTION (12.29 PM)

BJP's Nishikant Dubey files notice to cancel Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership New Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday said he has given a notice to initiate a 'substantive motion' against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and demanded that his Lok Sabha membership be cancelled and he be debarred from contesting elections for life.

MDS13 KL-STRIKE-THAROOR (4.00 PM)

Trade union strike: Tharoor slams shutdown in Kerala, calls it 'organised tyranny' Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday criticised the total shutdown in Kerala as part of the nationwide strike observed by trade unions against the Centre’s labour codes, calling it a "lamentable irony" that turned into a mere “Kerala Bandh”.

MDS12 TL-STRIKE (3.47 PM)

Cong, Left parties, trade unions take part in nationwide strike against labour codes Hyderabad: Congress, CPI, CPI(M) leaders and workers held protests in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana on Thursday as part of the nationwide strike called by trade unions against the Centre's labour codes.

DEL32 UP-LAMBORGHINI-BAIL (3.59 PM)

Lamborghini crash: Shivam Mishra gets bail from Kanpur court Kanpur: Shivam Mishra, son of local tobacco baron K K Mishra, got bail from a court here on Thursday, hours after his arrest in connection with the high-profile Lamborghini crash that left several people injured on the VIP Road earlier this week.

DEL43 ROLLSROYCE-INDIA-LD EXPANSION (4.22 PM)

Rolls-Royce unveils mega roadmap for India; offers co-development next-gen fighter jet engine with full IP rights New Delhi: A day after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic on Thursday unveiled a strategic roadmap to scale up the company's Indian operations across defence, energy and civil aviation domains including plans to co-develop a aero-engine for India's next-generation combat jets with full intellectual property transfer.

PAR8 LS-LABOUR (3.33 PM)

Govt favouring industrialists over labourers: Opposition in LS New Delhi: The opposition on Thursday accused the government of favouring industrialists over workers while drafting the industrial relations code, even snatching away their right to protest for demands.

BOM10 MP-2NDLD STRIKE (2.38 pm)

MP: Trade union strike sees protests in few districts, 25,000 civilian defence staff reach work late Bhopal/Indore: The nationwide strike called by trade unions against the Centre's policies on Thursday triggered protests in a few districts of Madhya Pradesh, while over 25,000 civilian employees of defence establishments reported to work an hour late across the state.

LEGAL LGD14 SC-RERA (3.47 PM)

RERA doing nothing except facilitating defaulting builders: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it is high time all states rethought the constitution of the real estate regulatory authority (RERA) as the institution is doing nothing, except facilitating defaulting builders.

LGD10 SC-LD MOVIE (1.21 PM)

You can't denigrate section of society by such title: SC raps Neeraj Pandey on 'Ghooskhor Pandat' New Delhi: Observing that a section of society cannot be denigrated in the name of freedom of expression, the Supreme Court on Thursday rapped filmmaker Neeraj Pandey over the title of his movie 'Ghooskhor Pandat'.

BUSINESS DEL46 BIZ-INFLATION (4.33 PM)

Retail inflation at 2.75 pc in Jan under new CPI series New Delhi: Retail inflation stood at 2.75 per cent in January under the new series of All India Consumer Price Index (CPI), with 2024 as the base year, released on Thursday.

DEL21 BIZ-LD STRIKE (2.41 PM)

No major impact on normal life due to one-day nationwide strike call New Delhi: Normal life largely remained unaffected by the strike call given by a joint forum of central trade unions across the country on Thursday to protest against the alleged "anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government".

FOREIGN FGN29 BANGLA-3RDLD ELECTIONS (2.34 PM)

Over 32 per cent voter turnout recorded till noon in crucial Bangladesh polls Dhaka: Over 32 per cent of the electorate voted till noon in the crucial parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, marred by sporadic incidents of violence.

FGN20 BIZ-INDIA-EU-ORGANIC TRADE (10.51 AM)

Free trade agreement lifts hopes of India-EU organic food players Nuremberg: Organic food traders from India and the European Union are bullish on the recently announced free trade agreement, saying it will expand market access on both sides and create significant opportunities for the sector. By Rajesh Rai

PTI SHS SHS

Nationwide strike contests labour codes and protest limits; courts question RERA functioning and expressive boundaries. Trade unions held a nationwide strike opposing labour codes and the proposed Industrial Relations Code, alleging it favours employers and curtails protest rights. The Supreme Court criticised state RERA bodies for facilitating defaulting builders and urged reconsideration of their constitution and enforcement. The government approved a government to government purchase of 114 combat aircraft, while a defence contractor proposed co development of an aero engine with full intellectual property transfer, raising procurement and IP compliance issues.