Highlights of the day: Activist Medha Patkar convicted in defamation case filed by Delhi L-G Saxena

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11:25 PM

Remove all illegal hoardings in Mumbai, Maharashtra region: CM to officials

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said he has directed the authorities to remove illegal hoardings in Mumbai and other parts of the state, and asked them to register cases against those responsible for such tragedies. He also said that he has also directed them to carry out a structural audit of all the hoardings, even if they are installed legally and have proper permission. Shinde was speaking to media persons at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters after reviewing monsoon preparedness works in Mumbai.

10:45 PM

UP Rera pulls up Prayagraj Authority over delay in giving possession to homebuyers

The UP Rera on Friday pulled up Prayagraj Development Authority for delay in giving possession of flats to homebuyers despite getting occupancy and completion certificates, and issued recovery notice against the government body. UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Chairman Sanjay Bhoosreddy, while issuing the directions also stressed that he "expected the planning authorities to be prompt" in execution of registries and handing over possession to the allottees.

10:31 PM

Special traffic arrangements at August Kranti Marg, Siri Fort Road on May 25

The Delhi Traffic Police has announced special traffic arrangements at August Kranti Marg and Siri Fort Road on Saturday. "Due to special traffic arrangements, the traffic on August Kranti Marg (from Siri Fort Road T-Point to Balbir Saxena Marg) and Siri Fort Road (from Josip Broz Tito Marg to August Kranti Marg) will be regulated," the Delhi Traffic Police said in a post on X.

10:11 PM

Clear drains before monsoons to prevent flooding of Kochi city: Kerala HC

With pre-monsoon rains leading to inundation and the actual monsoon just round the corner, the Kerala High Court on Friday directed that all drains in areas prone to flooding in the port-city of Kochi be cleared of debris to ensure free flow of water through them during the rainy season. The direction was issued by Justice Devan Ramanchandran who said that it was "unfortunate" that the court has to intervene every year in the issue of flooding of many parts of the city during the rainy season.

9:35 PM

NSA Doval suggests jointness among central armed police forces

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday suggested that various central armed police forces of the country should have "jointness" and interoperability among themselves like the ongoing plan for the defence forces. The about ten lakh strength central armed police forces include the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB apart from the NDRF and NSG and they are deployed for rendering a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland and at the borders.

8:43 PM

Six more die of suspected heat stroke in Rajasthan as mercury soars to 49 deg C

Six more deaths due to suspected heat stroke were reported in Rajasthan, where the mercury soared to 49 degrees Celsius, officials said on Friday. There were reports of five deaths due to suspected heat stroke in the state on Thursday as well. Many parts of the state remained in the grip of severe heat conditions during the day.

8:02 PM

Top UN court orders Israel to halt military operation in Rafah

The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to halt its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israel insists it has the right to defend itself from Hamas militants and is unlikely to comply with the ruling. The order by the International Court of Justice further ratchets up international pressure on an increasingly isolated Israel to rein in its war on Hamas in Gaza.

7:08 PM

Strong macroeconomic buffers to help navigate global challenges: Finmin report

Strong macroeconomic buffers of India should help the real sectors of the economy navigate challenges possed by geopolitical tensions and continue growth momentum during the current fiscal, said a finance ministry report released on Friday. According to the report, formal jobs are rising, as indicated by the growing net payroll additions under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation.

6:56 PM

Bharat Biotech co-founder Dr Krishna Ella honoured by Johns Hopkins

Dr Krishna Ella, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, has been awarded the prestigious Dean's medal by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Hyderabad-based pharma company said on Friday. The award was presented to him by Dean Ellen J MacKenzie during the Bloomberg School's Convocation Ceremony held on May 22 in Baltimore, Maryland.

6:10 PM

Activist Medha Patkar convicted in defamation case filed by Delhi L-G Saxena

A Delhi court on Friday convicted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar in a defamation case lodged against her by V K Saxena, the incumbent lieutenant governor of the national capital. Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma found Patkar guilty of criminal defamation.

5:56 PM

Night racing returns to Mumbai after 20 years with Drag Star Night Race

Over 60 super cars and 25 super bikes will roar to life on Saturday as night racing returns to Mumbai after nearly two decades with the Drag Star Night Race. The competitions will take place at the restricted Juhu Airport, once a haven for racing and off-roading events. The JK Tyre-backed event promises high adrenaline and non-stop thrills as cars and bikes race in pairs along a 400-metre strip.

5:41 PM

Eric Garcetti makes first official trip as US Ambassador to Bengaluru

Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, on Friday arrived here on his first official trip and visited Science Gallery Bengaluru. In a post on 'X, he said he was delighted to meet Jahnavi Phalkey, the founding director of Science Gallery Bengaluru and the team.

5:00 PM

Manipur violence: Can't go by sentiments, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said on Friday it cannot go by sentiments and has to act in accordance with law, as it refused to entertain a petition seeking contempt action for alleged non-compliance with the top court's order on protection of properties of people displaced during the Manipur violence.

A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal said it was not satisfied with the contention that a case of contempt was made out against the respondents, including the chief secretary of Manipur, and the petitioners can take recourse to remedy which may be available under the law.

4:51 PM

IMD news alert: Cyclone Remal to make landfall in West Bengal, Bangladesh on Sunday night

 A cyclone brewing in the Bay of Bengal will make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Bangladesh's Khepupara on Sunday midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season and will be named Remal, according to a system of naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean region.

4:45 PM

Advisory issued in Kashmir as temperatures soar in Valley

Officials in Kashmir issued an advisory on Friday amid soaring temperatures in the Valley, with Srinagar recording its hottest May day in 13 years. The maximum temperature in Srinagar on Thursday was recorded at 32.2 degrees Celsius -- the same as on May 25, 2013. On May 20, 2011, Srinagar had recorded a maximum temperature of 32.3 degrees Celsius.

4:25 PM

Pune Porsche crash case: Pune cops adds section 420 of the IPC

Pune Police adds section 420 of the IPC along with Sections 65(e) and 18 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act in the FIR registered against the accused's father, bar owners, and managers

3:41 PM

Swati Maliwal case: Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar's police custody ends; Kumar brought to Tis Hazari Court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar was brought to the Tis Hazari Court after the end of his police custody

 

3:02 PM

Delhi High Court directs Ashneer Grover, wife to furnish security amounting to Rs 80 crore to travel to US

The Delhi High Court asked Ashneer Grover, co-founder of BharatPe, and his wife, Madhuri Jain Grover, former HR director at the payments firm to furnish a security amounting to Rs 80 crore before their intended travel to the United States (US).

2:55 PM

Heavy rainfall in Kerala, IMD issues orange alert for three districts

 The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued an Orange alert for three districts as heavy rains continue to lash Kerala with parts of the state receiving over 200 mm of rain in the last 24 hours and places in major cities including Kochi and Thrissur remaining waterlogged on Friday. An Orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts.

2:36 PM

21 international organisations write to CJI for speedy resolution of Adani coal imports case in SC

At least 21 international organisations have written to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and requested the Supreme Court to speedily resolve the pending case filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, investigating Adani Group firms for alleged overvaluation of Indonesian coal imports. The letter comes after a report by the London-based Financial Times, citing documents from George Soros-backed Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), alluded to a "fraud" by the Adani Group by selling low-grade coal as high-value fuel in 2013.

2:27 PM

Have evidence to prove minor was driving: Pune police chief on Porsche crash

"We have the CCTV footage of him drinking liquor in the pub. The point of saying this is that our case is not alone depending on the blood report we have other evidence also. He (the minor accused) was in his senses. It was not as if all of them were so drunk that they could not understand anything. They had full knowledge that due to their conduct, an incident like section 304 cab happen," Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said today.

2:10 PM

Pune Porsche crash case: Investigation points to lapse on part of cops, says Pune police chief

An internal investigation has highlighted lapses on part of cops while registering Porsche case.; action will be taken against them: Pune police chief

1:47 PM

News update: Pub and bar employees hold protest against bulldozer action taken by the administration in Pune

1:13 PM

Money offered to driver to take blame, says Pune police commissioner

In a press conference, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that  that there is an attempt being made to frame a driver instead of the 17-year-old teen accused of running over two people with his Porsche.

1:04 PM

Helicopter carrying pilgrims makes emergency landing in Kedarnath

A helicopter with seven people, including pilgrims, on boardlanded a few metres from the helipad at Uttarakhand's Kedarnath after developing a technical snag early on Friday.

 

1:01 PM

'Significant progress' made in talks with Pakistan on new bailout package: IMF

The IMF has said that “significant progress” has been achieved during talks with Pakistani officials towards reaching a staff-level agreement for an extended fund facility for the cash-strapped country. Pakistan has made a formal request for a fresh bailout package between $6 and $8 billion under the EFF, with the possibility of being augmented through climate finance.

12:37 PM

BJP moves SC against Calcutta HC order on advertisements during Lok Sabha polls

The BJP today moved the Supreme Court, challenging a Calcutta High Court order that refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict directing the party not to publish any advertisement violating the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing General Elections.

 

12:29 PM

Porshe case: Wanted to keep accused in remand till order to consider him as an adult is passed, says police

"After the incident primary facie 304 A case was registered. Later section 304 was added. That same day we presented him to the Juvenile Justice Board and urged them to consider it as a heinous crime and treat the accused as an adult. Till the order to consider an adult is passed we wanted to keep the accused in remand observation home...Both our applications were rejected that very day. Under the Juvenile Justice Act, we registered a case against his parents & the pub owner,"  Pune CP Amitesh Kumar said.

12:11 PM

Thane boiler blast case: Case of culpable homicide filed against owners

Thane Police officials said on Friday that a case has been registered against company owners of Amudan Chemical Private Limited- Malti Pradeep Mehta, Malay Pradeep Mehta along with the director, administrator and other officials of the company in the Dombivali boiler blast case. 

 

11:53 AM

News update: SC defers hearing on plea for release of booth-wise voter turnout data till after elections

The top court refused to pass any direction to Election Commission on ADR's plea to upload voter turnout data on its website during the ongoing General Elections.