News updates: Israel's Netanyahu says Rafah strike went tragically wrong and will be investigated

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10:54 PM

Minor fire is seen emanating from the roof of a metro train: DMRC

10:13 PM

Israel's Netanyahu says Rafah strike went tragically wrong and will be investigated

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday an air strike in the area of Rafah in southern Gaza that killed dozens of Palestinians was not intended to cause civilian casualties and would be investigated."In Rafah, we already evacuated about 1 million non-combatant residents and despite our utmost effort not to harm non-combatants, something unfortunately went tragically wrong," he said in a speech in parliament that was interrupted by shouting from opposition lawmakers."We are investigating the incident and will reach conclusions, because this is our policy."

9:33 PM

Jayakwadi dam water stock plummets to 5.19% of storage capacity after evaporation loss

The water stock in Jayakwadi dam in Marathwada region stood at mere 5.19 per cent of its capacity on Monday after recording the evaporation loss of 1.15 MCM (Million Cubic Metre) in a single day due to heat, as per the Maharashtra irrigation department.

Notably, the water storage in the dam, which provides water to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, Jalna and industrial zones located in these two districts, stood at 39.42 per cent on May 27, 2023.

9:16 PM

Govt cracks down on SMS scammers; blacklists 8 principal entities found spewing fraud msgs

In a major crackdown on SMS scammers, the government has blacklisted eight 'principal entities' behind SMS headers that were used for sending over 10,000 fraudulent messages over the past three months, according to an official release.

The Department of Telecom (DoT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has taken decisive action to protect citizens from potential SMS fraud through the Sanchar Saathi initiative, it said.

8:53 PM

Unidentified person booked for threatening to trigger blasts at Hotel Taj, Mumbai airport: Police

An unidentified person on Monday threatened to blow up Hotel Taj and Mumbai airport claiming bombs are planted at these places, which turned out to be a hoax after police conducted a search but no suspicious object was found, an official said.

 

The mobile number on which the message was posted in the Mumbai Traffic Police's Whatsapp helpline number has been traced to Agra, according to the official.

8:15 PM

Cyclone Remal: Rain lash Tripura, 11 flights cancelled

Heavy rain lashed Tripura on Monday under the influence of cyclonic storm Remal while 11 flights were cancelled from Agartala airport due to bad weather, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert in two districts Sepahijala and Gumati and an orange alert in the remaining six districts in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal, they said.

7:55 PM

Ukraine gets more air defence missiles from Spain to fight Russian glide bombs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday secured from Spain a pledge of additional air defense missiles to help fight the about 3,000 bombs that he said Russia launches every month at Ukraine as the war stretches into its third year.

 

However, Ukraine still urgently needs another seven US-made Patriot air defence systems to stop Russia hitting the power grid and civilian areas, as well as military targets, with devastating glide bombs that wreak wide destruction, Zelenskyy said.

7:43 PM

Above-normal heatwave days likely in northwest India, adjoining central region in June

A higher number of heatwave days were predicted in northwest India and adjoining parts of the central region in June, with a brief relief from scorching conditions in the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

 

Except for a few parts of southern peninsular India, normal to above-normal maximum temperatures are expected across the country in June, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said at a press conference.

7:30 PM

EU, Israel in war of words as ties nosedive ahead of Spain, Ireland recognising Palestinian state

Relations between the European Union and Israel took a nosedive on the eve of the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state by EU members Ireland and Spain, with Madrid suggesting sanctions should be considered against Israel for its continued attacks in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Spain that its consulate in Jerusalem will not be allowed to help Palestinians.

7:16 PM

School teacher suspended for making indecent remarks against PM Modi, CM Adityanath

A teacher posted in a government primary school in Kaushambi district was suspended on Monday after a case was registered against her for making indecent remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media.

 

Basic education officer Kamlemdra Kushwaha issued the suspension order against the teacher named Varsha.

6:50 PM

Govt offers two discovered oil and gas fields, one coal bed methane block in special bidding round

The government has offered two discovered oil and gas fields in Mumbai offshore and a coal bed methane field in West Bengal for bidding in the latest Discovered Small Fields (DSF) bid round, regulator DGH said on Monday.

In a notice on its website, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) said, notice inviting offer will be launched on May 28 and bids will close on July 15.

6:36 PM

Fire deaths up by 30% till May as compared to 2023: Delhi DFS data

Fire has taken 55 lives and injured more than 300 people in the national capital so far this year, according to the official data revealed on Monday.

According to the data by Delhi Fire Services (DFS), 16 people were killed in fire in January, another 16 in February, 12 in March, four in April, and seven till May 26.

6:19 PM

Remal Cyclone to become a deep depression today: IMD

On Remal Cyclone, Head Eastern Region, IMD Kolkata, Dr Somnath Dutta said," After making a landfall, Remal Cyclone moved into the Northward direction…..The strength of Remal Cyclone has reduced from severe cyclonic storm to cyclonic storm….The Remal Cyclone will gradually lose its energy…..Today by evening, it will become a deep depression."

4:53 PM

IMD update: Heat wave in northwest and central India to subside after 3 days

Expect relief from heat wave in northwest India and central parts of country after three days, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Monday.

4:44 PM

Israel-Palestine updates: Death toll in Israeli strikes at Rafah rises to 40

Gaza's civil defence agency said Monday that the death toll had risen to 40 from overnight Israeli strikes that set ablaze tents of displaced Palestinians in Rafah, an attack that sparked condemnation across the Arab world.

4:40 PM

Swati Maliwal claims threat to life if Bibhav Kumar gets bail

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal told a Delhi court today that a bail for Arvind Kejriwal's  aide and main accused Bibhav Kumar would put her and her family in danger.  Maliwal has claimed thatshe had been physically assaulted at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence by Kumar.

4:14 PM

News update: Rape accused Prajwal Revanna says will return to India, appear before SIT on May 31

Prajwal Revanna, the NDA's candidate from Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat, has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women.  Allegations include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly recording sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

4:09 PM

Cyclone Remal update: Nearly 15,000 houses damaged in Bengal

Nearly 15,000 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the southern coastal areas of West Bengal, were affected by Cyclone Remal, a senior official of the state government said on Monday. At least 2,140 trees were uprooted in different parts of the state which also witnessed the falling of 337 electric poles, he added.

4:00 PM

Delhi hospital fire news update: Accused sent to three-day police remand by court

3:57 PM

Private, state-run hospitals to complete fire audit by June 8: Delhi Health Minister Bharadwaj

In the aftermath of a fire at a neonatal hospital that killed seven newborns, the Delhi government will issue directions to all private and state-run hospitals to complete a fire audit by June 8 and submit a compliance report, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday. Bharadwaj had called for a meeting to discuss the fire incident at the neonatal hospital in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar area. "On April 24, we had issued directions to all hospitals for fire preparedness. On May 8, we had asked them to conduct a fire audit. We will ask all private and Delhi government-run hospitals to complete a fire audit by June 8 and submit a compliance report to the Health department," he told reporters.

3:22 PM

Delhi High Court reserves order on AAP's petition for allotment of space for party offices

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seeking the allocation of space for its offices by the Centre on account of being recognised as a national party. Considering that the current party office in Rouse Avenue has to be vacated by June 15, AAP's senior counsel argued that a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg ought to be temporarily allotted to it. "I will try to pronounce it during the vacations. Most probably on the 5th (of June)," said Justice Subramonium Prasad.

3:14 PM

Court extends ED remand of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam for 3 more days

A special PMLA court in Ranchi on Monday extended Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam's remand with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for three more days in connection with an alleged money laundering case, his legal representatives said. Alam was arrested by the ED on May 15 following two days of interrogation at the agency's office. 

2:42 PM

Rajkot game zone fire: What led to the 'man-made disaster' that killed 27?

Primary investigations imply that the fire was ignited by sparks from a welding machine, which inadvertently landed on highly flammable materials stockpiled within the premises. Read here for more details.

2:31 PM

Aided by technology, new criminal laws will deliver justice within 3 years: Home Minister Amit Shah

Technology will be a key enabler for the new criminal laws that come into effect July 1 as summons will be issued by SMS, 90 per cent witnesses will appear through video calls and courts will issue orders within three years of filing of an FIR, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said.

"I can tell you with confidence that after three years, our criminal justice system will be the most modern criminal justice system in the world," Shah told news agency PTI in an interview.

2:26 PM

BJP calls Kejriwal's move for bail extension 'drama'

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought a one-week extension of his interim bail as he needs to undergo tests due to his recent weight loss and rise in ketone level. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva called this move a "drama" by the chief minister to avoid going back to jail after his interim bail in a money laundering case ends on June 1. "The Supreme Court granted him bail for poll campaigning, which he did without any problem. But now he is suffering from serious diseases. If so, why is he not having those tests done now instead of being busy with campaigning in Punjab?" Sachdeva said.

2:21 PM

Swati Maliwal case: Court reserves order on Bibhav Kumar's bail

A magisterial court today reserved till 4 pm its order on the bail petition of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the Swati Maliwal assault case. Kumar is accused of assaulting the AAP Rajya Sabha member at the chief minister's residence on May 13. He was sent to four days' judicial custody on May 24.

1:30 PM

Four killed as Cyclone Remal batters India, Bangladesh

Heavy rain brought by cyclone Remal lashed West Bengal and Bangladesh on Monday, killing at least four people and cutting electricity supply to millions before losing intensity.

1:23 PM

Pakistan's ruling coalition of PML-N and PPP invite Imran Khan's party for discussions

The ruling coalition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has invited jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party to abandon its street protests and engage in "meaningful" dialogue with the government, he Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised the government's openness to talks but stressed that the beleaguered party of Khan must decide with whom it wants to negotiate.

12:41 PM

Swati Maliwal case: Everything is pre-planned and tailor-made to suit her story, says Bibhav Kumar' counsel

Everything is pre-planned and tailor-made to suit her story, Bibhav Kumar's counsel argued. It was an overreach by the prosecution preventing this court from passing an order on anticipatory bail, the counsel submitted. Police officials  informed  Bibhavabout the arrest when the court was dictating the order, he added.

12:33 PM

Have you gone blind: High Court slams Gujarat govt over Rajkot fire

The Gujarat High Court reprimanded the Rajkot municipal body today after it emerged two gaming zones in the city had been allowed to run for over two years without the required permits. The court's critical  observations come after 28 people, including nine children, were killed in a fire. "Have you gone blind? Did you fall asleep? Now we do not trust the local system and the state government," the court noted after it was informed the gaming centre in Rajkot had been constructed on unauthorised premises.