Live: Modi launches 11 projects worth over Rs 31,400 cr, speaks in Chennai

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7:25 PM

PM Modi launches railway projects in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated to the nation various railway projects in Tamil Nadu, including the 75 km long Madurai-Theni Railway Gauge Conversion Project, in southern Tamil Nadu. Built at a cost of over Rs 500 crore, it will facilitate access and give a fillip to tourism in the region. He also dedicated a 30 km long third railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu here, built at a cost of about Rs 590 crore, to facilitate operation of more suburban services.

7:14 PM

Tamil Nadu is an outstanding state: PM Modi

Tamil Nadu’s people, culture and language are 'outstanding'. The Tamil language is eternal and Tamil culture is global, says Prime Minister Modi in Chennai.

6:04 PM

Russian central bank slashes key rate, sees room to cut further

Russia's central bank slashed its key interest rate to 11% on Thursday and said it saw room for more cuts this year, as inflation slows from more than 20-year highs and the economy heads towards a contraction. It announced the move, which followed two previous 300 basis point cuts which took the rate to 14%, at an extraordinary meeting. The bank has been gradually reversing an emergency rate hike to 20% in late February that was triggered by Russia's Feb. 24 move to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions in response, Reuters reported.

6:02 PM

PM Modi visits Hyderabad, KCR leaves for Bengaluru

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday morning left for Bengaluru, just hours ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hyderabad.  This is the second time in the last four months that KCR has avoided meeting Modi during his visit to Hyderabad, PTI reported.

4:58 PM

US official warns of Russian ‘springboard’

The US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe warned Russia could use any Ukraine territory it holds onto as a “springboard” to capture more terrain. “For as long as the Kremlin retains control of parts of Ukraine, it will use these territories as a springboard to launch additional attacks and conquer more terrain -- leaving a growing wake of destruction and atrocities,” Michael Carpenter told the OSCE’s permanent council in Vienna on Thursday. 

2:50 PM

Letter seeking permission for legal reporters to listen to hearing to be placed before District Judge

On the other hand, the letter seeking permission for legal reporters to listen to the hearing is to be placed before the District Judge.

 

2:48 PM

Rumours being spread about Shiva Linga to invoke sentiments of people: Masjid side

Rumours being spread about Shiva Linga to invoke sentiments of people: Masjid side

2:47 PM

This suit by the Hindu party is utterly non-maintainable: Masjid side

This suit by the Hindu party is utterly non-maintainable and should be rejected under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC, Masjid side says

1:56 PM

Gyanvapi case: Advocates from both sides reach courtroom

Advocates Abhay Nath Yadav from Muslim side representing Anjuman intezamia to appear

 

Advocates Shivam Gaur and Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi from Plaintiff's side (Hindu) to appear

1:50 PM

Gyanvapi row: Legal-Reporters' Association writes to District Judge seeking permission to enter court room

As media entry is barred inside the Courtroom, Legal-Reporters' Association of Varanasi has written to the District Judge seeking permission to enter the court room for reporting the hearing.

1:48 PM

COVAXIN has been approved by Germany

1:29 PM

Telangana CM gives PM's visit to Hyderabad a miss again

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday morning left for Bengaluru, just hours ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

 

This is the second time in the last four months that KCR has avoided meeting Modi during the latter's visit to Hyderabad.

Earlier in February, PM was here to unveil the Statue of Equality, a giant statue of Saint Ramanujacharya, near here. 

 

Official sources then said Rao could not receive the PM as he was 'unwell'.

 

1:25 PM

China may benefit from Elon Musk's Twitter ownership: Reports

With Tesla CEO Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter on hold, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos wondered whether Musk's ownership of Twitter might benefit China at democracy's expense.

China has banned Twitter since 2009. However, many Chinese citizens have been using proxy servers to escape from the autocratic regime of the Chinese government. They access news reports that the Chinese authorities view as unfavourable, reported The Washington Times.

The illegal usage of Twitter in China partly explains why 26,000-linked Twitter accounts have been found to be spreading regime-backed propaganda on the social media platform. Twitter has further shut down a significant number of Twitter accounts which is connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

1:19 PM

Yogi govt in UP presents state's largest Budget with an eye on 2024 polls

With an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday tabled a budget of Rs 6,15,518.97 crore for the financial year 2022-23.

This is almost double the size of Rs 3,46,935 crore budget presented by Akhilesh Yadav government for the financial year 2016-17.

It includes new schemes worth Rs 39,181.10 crore.

The state government has also announced budgetary provision worth crores of rupees to strengthen the police and maintain law and order in the state.

 

1:06 PM

State-run sports facilities in Delhi to stay open till 10 pm, says Sisodia

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed all state-run sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm, his deputy Manish Sisodia said on Thursday.

The direction comes following a media report that the Thyagraj Stadium was being closed for sports activities earlier than usual so that an IAS officer could walk his dog at the facility.

Tagging the report, Sisodia said in a tweet: "News reports have brought to our notice that certain sports facilities are being closed early causing inconvenience to sportsmen who wish to play till late nite. CM @ArvindKejriwal has directed that all Delhi Govt sports facilities to stay open for sportsmen till 10pm (sic).

12:56 PM

Elon Musk's net worth drops below $200 bn

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's net worth has dropped below $200 billion after Tesla shares recently hit 11-month lows.

According to Teslarati, Musk has lost about $77.6 billion of his net worth year-to-date.

Tesla stock has been under immense pressure as of late, with shares dropping about 40 per cent since the start of the year. Musk's net worth has taken a substantial hit as a result.

As per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Musk's net worth stands at $193 billion, as of May 25. This means that Musk had seen $77.6 billion of his wealth sheared off since the start of the year.

12:52 PM

Daimler India aims carbon-free operations at Tamil Nadu manufacturing plant by 2025

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV) on Thursday said it is aiming for 100 per cent carbon-free operations at its manufacturing plant at Oragadam in Tamil Nadu by 2025.

 

The company, which manufactures Bharat Benz trucks and buses, also said it has set a target of 100 per cent paper-free organisation by the end of 2023.

 

DICV Managing Director & CEO Satyakam Arya said the company has achieved sustainable growth in its domestic as well as export businesses.

 

12:42 PM

Jet Airways staff association challenges airline's resolution plan before NCLAT

All India Jet Airways' Officers and Staff Association on Thursday said it has filed an appeal before the NCLAT against Jalan-Kalrock consortium's resolution plan for the airline.

 

In October 2020, the airline's Committee of Creditors (CoC) approved the resolution plan submitted by the consortium of the UK's Kalrock Capital and the UAE-based entrepreneur Murari Lal Jalan. The plan was later cleared by the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

 

Last week, Jet Airways' air operator certificate was revalidated by the aviation regulator DGCA, paving the way for the relaunch of the airline, which was grounded in April 2019 due to financial woes.

 

12:20 PM

ED files chargesheet against Karnataka Congress chief Shivakumar

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet under the anti-money laundering law against Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar and others, officials said on Thursday.

 

The prosecution complaint has been filed under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a Delhi court, they said.

 

The federal probe agency had in September 2018 registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar, A Haumanthaiah, an employee at the Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and other people.

12:18 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate India's biggest drone festival

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's biggest drone festival here on Friday and interact with kisan drone pilots as well as witness open-air drone demonstrations.

'Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022' is a two-day event and being held on May 27 and 28.

Modi will inaugurate India's biggest Drone Festival 'Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022' on May 27 at 10 am at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement.

The prime minister will interact with kisan drone pilots, witness open-air drone demonstrations and interact with startups in the drone exhibition centre, the statement said.

12:03 PM

Germany to recognize Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN for travel from June 1

German Ambassador to India, Walter J Lindner, on Thursday hailed the German government for recognizing the WHO-listed Bharat Biotech's COVID vaccine, COVAXIN, for travel to the country starting June 1.

World Health Organization (WHO) in November last year issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for COVAXIN, adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Taking to Twitter, the Ambassador to Germany and Bhutan Lindner wrote, "Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience)."

11:58 AM

Samajwadi Party fields RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary for Rajya Sabha polls

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary will be the joint candidate of the Samajwadi Party and RLD for the Rajya Sabha elections.

With this, Jayant Chaudhary will be its third candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, slated to be held on June 10. The RLD is a constituent of the SP-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kapil Sibal and Javed Ali filed their nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls. Sibal said that he had quit the Congress last week and is in the fray as an independent candidate with the support of Akhilesh Yadav's SP.

11:49 AM

ED files chargesheet against Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in money laundering case

Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar and others in an alleged money laundering case. 

 

Shivakumar is presently on bail in the money laundering case registered by ED based on a complaint filed by I-T Dept.

11:47 AM

The counsel for JNU student Sharjeel Imam withdraws the application for interim bail

The counsel for JNU student Sharjeel Imam withdraws the application for interim bail in an inflammatory speech case lodged under a section of sedition. He moved an application in view of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court on sedition law.

 

11:45 AM

India is providing critical humanitarian aid, has interests to protect Afghan people: Thomas West

India is providing critical humanitarian aid, has interests to protect, brings enormous capability and experience to supporting Afghan people. We’ll continue to partner with India and others in the region to advance shared goals: US Special Rep for Afghanistan, Thomas West on India visit

9:26 AM

ED raids multiple locations in money laundering probe linked to Maha minister Anil Parab, others

The ED on Thursday raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe against state transport minister Anil Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district and other charges, officials said.

 

Locations in Dapoli, Mumbai and Pune are being searched after the federal agency filed a fresh case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Parab (57), is a three-time Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra legislative council and is the state transport minister.

9:26 AM

Karti Chidambaram denies Chinese visa scam allegations

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Headquarters in the national capital in connection with the alleged Chinese visa scam case on Thursday said that he has not facilitated a single Chinese national in getting a visa.

 

"I have not facilitated a single Chinese national in getting a visa," said Chidambaram. Earlier on May 17, the CBI had arrested Karti's close associate S Bhaskar Raman in the case. The sources had earlier informed, "as per the court's orders of Karti's bail, he has to appear before CBI within 16 hours of reaching India".

8:58 AM

Allahabad HC denies bail to 34 cops accused of killing 10 Sikhs in 1991

In a significant order, the Allahabad High Court has denied bail to 34 constables of the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) who have been accused of killing 10 Sikh men in an alleged fake encounter in 1991, treating them as terrorists.

 

The bench of Justices Ramesh Sinha and Brij Raj Singh observed that the accused cops had indulged in a barbaric and inhuman killing of innocent persons by calling them terrorists.

8:57 AM

240,000 senior citizens in UP reach out to 'Elderline'

More than 240,000 senior citizens in Uttar Pradesh have availed the 'Elderline' service in the past one year. The Elderline, a helpline for senior citizens, has received as many as 2,40,335 calls, including over 67,027 actionable calls. The toll-free helpline, 14567, launched for senior citizens, is run by Uttar Pradesh Industrial Consultants Limited (UPICON).

According to the government spokesman, majority of callers sought information on the procedure to be followed to avail benefits of the government welfare schemes, health-related information, Covid support, legal aid, and emotional support.

8:49 AM

3 LeT terrorists killed in J&K encounter

Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said on Thursday.

In a tweet citing Inspector General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar, the J&K Police said: "All three terrorists killed, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. Identification being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered."

Earlier in the day, the police in Kupwara received specific input regarding an infiltration in Jumagund village. The encounter started when the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by the Army and police.