Highlights of the day: Airbus, Sidbi to collaborate for financing helicopter purchase in India

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9:25 PM

Airbus, Sidbi to collaborate for financing helicopter purchase in India

Airbus Helicopters and Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for financing the purchase of the company's helicopters in India. Under the MoU, Airbus Helicopters and Sidbi will identify potential civil helicopter operators in India who are interested in financing solutions for purchasing Airbus helicopters. Airbus will provide the technical and helicopter industry knowledge to Sidbi, which will evaluate these prospects and finance them exclusively for Airbus, a release said on Monday. The initiative also marks Sidbi's foray into the helicopter financing segment.

9:12 PM

Funeral rites for Ebrahim Raisi to start on Tuesday

Funeral rites for Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage who died in a helicopter crash will start on Tuesday in the northwestern city of Tabriz, state media reported.

 

"The funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place Tuesday at 9:30 am local time (0600 GMT) in Tabriz", the official IRNA news agency said, adding that Raisi's body will later be taken to Tehran.

9:11 PM

Russia ready to assist Iran in Raisi crash investigation

Russia is ready to provide assistance to Iran's investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash th on Monday. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the death of Raisi and called him "a true friend of Russia

9:11 PM

ED seeks judicial custody for Kejriwal after he surrenders on June 2

The ED on Monday sought extension of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody after he surrenders on June 2 in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the application before Special Judge for ED and CBI Kaveri Baweja, seeking 14-day judicial custody for Kejriwal when he surrenders on June 2, claiming that the period of judicial custody granted earlier ends on Monday.

9:11 PM

Ship that destroyed Baltimore bridge being towed to port

The cargo ship that collided with a Baltimore bridge nearly two months ago, collapsing it and killing six highway workers, was refloated on Monday and was being towed back into port. Live television images of the operation showed a flotilla of tugboats pushing and towing the M/V Dali away from the remains of the shattered Francis Scott Key Bridge and towards a marine terminal.

7:24 PM

EPFO adds over 1,400,000 net members in March

Retirement fund body EPFO has recorded a net addition of 1,441,000 members in March this year, according to the latest payroll data released on Monday.

The payroll data highlighted that approximately 1,180,000 members exited and subsequently rejoined the EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation), a labour ministry statement said.

5:22 PM

Iran prez death: National flag to be flown at half-mast all over India

 National flag to be flown at half-mast all over India, no official entertainment during state mourning, says official.

4:54 PM

News update: Seeking arrest warrants against Israeli PM Netanyahu and Hamas leaders, says ICC chief prosecutor

ICC chief prosecutor says he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and Hamas leaders, among other,news agency AP reported on Monday.

4:43 PM

Punjab farmer's agitation news update: Farmers to vacate Shambu railways tracks

 Farmers ended their dharna after protesting on the tracks at Patiala’s Shambhu railway station for 34 days, even though the Haryana police has not agreed to release three farmers arrested during the Shambhu and Khanauri border protests.  Jagjit Singh Dallewal, coordinator of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that farmers will shift their focus on Shambhu and Khanauri and also at the locations the BJP’s star campaigners will be visiting.

4:31 PM

17 dead as pickup vehicle overturns in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha

At least 17 people died after a pickup vehicle overturned in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha area today. The vehicle fell into a 20 feet deep ditch near Bahpani area. when a group of 25-30 people from the Baiga tribal community were returning in a pickup truck after collecting Tendu leaves.

 

4:25 PM

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends judicial custody of BRS lader K Kavitha

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of BRS MLC K Kavitha till June 3, in connection with the CBI case related to the liquor policy case.

3:30 PM

Delhi excise policy case: ED files plea seeking 14-day extension of Delhi CM Kejriwal's judicial custody

The Enforcement Directorate moves an application in court seeking 14-day extension of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody ahead of 2nd June.

 

3:19 PM

News update: Four alleged ISIS terrorists held at Ahmedabad port

The Gujarat ATS took into custody four Sri Lankan nationals today for their alleged links with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group,  media reports said.The arrest was made from Ahmedabad airport on Monday, reports said.

3:09 PM

Karnataka obscene videos case: Bail granted to JD(S) leader HD Revanna

A case of sexual harassment of a 47-year-old house help was filed against HD Revanna and his son and MP Prajwal Revanna at the Holenarsipur town police station in Hassan district on April 28.

2:57 PM

If INDIA bloc secures victory, party will deliver by implementing 'Paanch Nyaya Pachees Guarantee': Congress

"It has now been one year of our government in Karnataka, where we have successfully implemented all guarantees made to the people. When the Congress and INDIA Janbandhan inevitably get the clear and convincing mandate of the people on June 4th, we will deliver again, by implementing our 'Paanch Nyay Pachees Guarantee'," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on a post on X.

2:30 PM

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei pays tribute to Raisi

In a post on X, the Supreme Leader shared a photo of himself with Raisi, and paid tribute to the dead president. His message had a referene to Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam and a revered figure in Iran.

 

2:05 PM

Raisi's demise: Mohammad Mokhber as country's acting president

Iran's supreme leader has appointed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as country's acting president after Raisi's death, news agency AP reported.

1:50 PM

Swati Maliwal case: Kejriwal aide Bibhav Kumar formatted phone, says Delhi police

Amid the political ruckus over AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's alleged assault, the police told a Delhi court on Saturday that the accused, Bibhav Kumar, formatted his phone before being arrested and is not cooperating in the investigation. Read here for more details.

1:42 PM

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda wins vote of confidence in Parliament

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda' today won a vote of confidence in Parliament, the fourth within 18 months of taking office.

1:21 PM

Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against new criminal laws

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea which challenged the enactment of three new laws that seek to overhaul India's penal codes. A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal allowed petitioner advocate Vishal Tiwari to withdraw the plea. The Lok Sabha, on December 21 last year, passed three key legislations -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill. 

12:43 PM

Ebrahim Raisi death : Iran embassy in Delhi lowers flag to half-mast

The Iranian Embassy in Delhi has lowered its flag to half-mast following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister and other high-ranking officials in a helicopter crash.

 

12:41 PM

Durgapuri fire news update: Search operation is underway, says fire official

12:20 PM

Tourist arrivals in Kashmir not right barometer of normalcy: Former CM Omar Abdullah

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah today said tourism should not be linked to the security situation in Kashmir as tourist arrivals are not the right barometer of normalcy and this makes tourists a target. "We have been saying that the situation (in Kashmir) is not normal. The militants have proved repeatedly that they can attack whenever they want to. Unfortunately, a politician, an ex-sarpanch of the BJP, lost his life and two tourists were injured (in terrorist attacks)," the NC leader said, referring to Saturday's twin attacks in Shopian and Anantnag. "I appeal to the government to talk less about normalcy because the situation is not normal and also talk less about tourism being an indicator of normalcy because when they link normalcy with tourism, they put tourists in danger," he said.

 

11:50 AM

Indian Coast Guard rescues 26 persons from tourist boat stranded off Goa coast

The Indian Coast Guard has rescued 24 passengers and two crew members from a tourist ferry boat which was caught in rough weather and faced fuel exhaustion near the Mormugao harbour in Goa, an official said on Monday. "The marooned boat had sailed out from Panjim with tourists in the morning hours," a spokesperson of the Coast Guard said. The boat 'Nerul Paradise' was stranded because of fuel exhaustion off the Goa coast on Sunday.

11:41 AM

Amul milk launched in United States

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)  has reportedly launched Amul milk in the US. It has partnered with the 108-year-old cooperative organisation Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) to launch fresh milk in the US market. Read here for more details.

11:26 AM

PM Modi extends condolences to Raisi's family, people of Iran

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi. "Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” PM Modi said. 

11:23 AM

After Ebrahim Raisi's death, Mohammad Mokhber set to be interim president

If the president passes away during their term, Iran's constitution states that the first vice president, currently Mohammad Mokhber, will assumes temporary presidency, subject to confirmation by the supreme leader. A  new presidential election has to be conducted within a maximum period of 50 days.

 

11:09 AM

Fire breaks out in three-storey building in Durgapuri, rescue operation underway

A fire broke out in a three-storey building in northeast Delhi's Durgapuri area on Monday morning, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said. A call about the fire was received at 6 am and 20 fire tenders were pressed into service. A rescue operation is underway. No reports of any casualties have been received so far, a DFS official said.

10:26 AM

New Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urges China to stop military intimidation

Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech has asked China to stop its military intimidation against the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory. Lai was sworn into office in a ceremony Monday after he won an election earlier this year.

9:48 AM

Companies knowingly defaulted FAME-II guidelines, says Centre

The central government has said that  the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (& Hybrid) Vehicles in India (FAME-II) guidelines were clear and the companies defaulted the guidelines knowingly. A committee has been created  to probe the FAME-II scam and the role of government officials responsible for the Faster FAME-II subsidy irregularity. Read here for more details.