Highlights of the day: Delhi Metro to commence services at 4 am on polling day

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10:51 PM

Delhi Metro to commence services at 4 am on polling day

Metro rail services will commence at 4 am on the day of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, scheduled for May 25, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Wednesday.

The decision was made to ensure convenient transportation for the staff deployed for election duty, Principal Executive Director of Corporate Communications at DMRC, Anuj Dayal said.

In a post on X, the DMRC said, "On the day of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi on 25th May, 2024 (Saturday), the Delhi Metro train services on all Lines will start from 04:00 AM so that the staff deployed for election duty can avail the facility."

"The metro trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes on all Lines from 4 am to 6 am. Subsequently, normal metro train services will resume and continue throughout the day," Dayal said.

10:33 PM

UK PM Rishi Sunak calls general election for July 4

Rishi Sunak Live News Updates: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday set a general election date for July 4, ending months of speculation but not doom-laden forecasts about the size of the government's expected defeat.

 

9:13 PM

Pune teen whose Porsche killed 2 techies sent to remand home till June 5

The bail of the Pune teenager who rammed his Porsche into a motorcycle, killing two IT professionals in their 20s, has been cancelled by the Juvenile Justice Board. Wednesday's decision comes three days after the Board had granted bail to the 17-year-old and asked him to write an essay on road accidents, prompting nationwide outrage. The Board has sent the juvenile to a remand home till June 5. It did not, however, give a decision on whether he should be tried as an adult. 

 

7:44 PM

Non-recovery of cash can't be proof there wasn't corruption, says HC while denying bail to Sisodia

Non-recovery of cash cannot be a prima facie proof that no corruption has taken place as the offender's mind uses new technology to commit offences without leaving behind any trace, the Delhi High Court has held while denying bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the excise policy scam cases. The high court said it cannot accept the argument put forth by Sisodia about non-recovery of cash from him in view of the statements of some hawala dealers and other witnesses recorded during the investigation.

7:27 PM

Shah Rukh Khan admitted to hospital apparently due to heat stroke, say police

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday after suffering from a heat stroke, police said. He was admitted to multi-speciality K D Hospital, they said. Khan was in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to attend an Indian Premier League (IPL) match of his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team at the Narendra Modi Stadium. "Actor Shah Rukh Khan was admitted to K D Hospital after suffering from a heat stroke," Ahmedabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat said.

 

6:47 PM

Over 50% of world's mangroves at risk of collapse, climate change leading factor: IUCN

More than half of the world's mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse, with nearly one in five facing severe risk, according to the findings of the first global mangrove assessment. Climate change threatens one-third (33 per cent) of the mangrove ecosystems, according to the study done using the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems -- a global standard for measuring the health of ecosystems.

6:21 PM

VP Dhankar reaches Tehran to pay condolences on demise of Iran Prez Raisi

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon to pay condolences and attend the memorial ceremony of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and other officials who died in a tragic helicopter crash. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also died in the chopper crash on Sunday afternoon.

5:57 PM

Chromium contamination in abandoned chemical plant: Madras HC orders issuing notice to Centre, TN govt

The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered issuing notice to the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government on a petition which sought a direction to the authorities to take immediate action on remediation process of chromium contamination in an abandoned chemical unit in the state's Ranipet district. A division bench comprising Justices G R Swaminathan and P B Balaji ordered issuing notice and posted to June 10, further hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate K Balu, also President, Advocates' Forum for Social Justice.

5:51 PM

Aviation investigators to begin probe of Singapore Airlines turbulence incident that left one dead

Aviation investigators arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday to learn how and why severe turbulence sent a Singapore Airlines plane into a sudden dive that tossed passengers and crew around the cabin, leaving a British man dead and dozens others injured. Twenty people remained in intensive care in hospital after Flight SQ321, which was flying from London's Heathrow airport to Singapore, hit the turbulence Tuesday over the Andaman Sea.

5:32 PM

ED summons IAS officer in money laundering case against Jharkhand minister Alam

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand-cadre IAS officer Manish Ranjan for questioning in a money laundering case in which it recently arrested state minister Alamgir Alam, official sources said on Wednesday. Ranjan is a former secretary of the rural development department. He is currently the secretary of land, road and building department and has been asked to depose before the federal agency at its zonal office here on May 24, the sources said.

5:18 PM

Home ministry office receives bomb threat mail, bomb disposal squad rushed

 A bomb disposal squad along with fire tenders to the spot, Delhi police said on Wednesday after the Ministry of Home Affairs office in Delhi's North Block received an email threat about a bomb.

4:55 PM

Calcutta High Court dismisses all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010

The Calcutta High Court today rejected all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010. The court directed that a fresh list of OBCs be prepared based on the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act of 1993 by the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes.

4:50 PM

Pune Porsche case: Juvenile's father, two pub employees sent in police custody

A sessions court today remanded the father of a 17-year-old juvenile allegedly involved in a car accident and two employees of a pub in police custody till May 24.

The teenage boy's father, a real estate developer, and employees of Black Club pub Nitesh Shevani and Jayesh Gavkar, were produced before additional sessions judge S P Ponkshe.

4:49 PM

Vice-President Dhankhar arrives in Tehran to pay condolence on death of Iranian President Raisi

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived here on Wednesday to attend an official ceremony to pay condolences on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash.

4:14 PM

Pune Porsche Crash: Father of accused teen, sent to police custody till May 24

The father of the Pune teen who killed two people with speeding Porsche was sent to police custody till Friday. 

4:06 PM

China announces sanctions on US defence firms

China today said it would impose sanctions on a number of US defence firms and several executives over Washington's "economic coercion" against Chinese companies and its sales of arms to Taiwan. Beijing has bristled in recent days over the warm ties between Washington and Taipei, where Lai Ching-te was sworn in on Monday as the self-ruled island's new president.

3:30 PM

Delhi cops pose as vendor to arrest murder accused in 20-year-old case

A man who had been missing for two decades in connection with the killing of a businessman for ransom was taken in custody by the Delhi Police from Uttar Pradesh. Read here for more details. 

2:55 PM

Russia dismisses US claim that Moscow put anti-satellite weapon in space

Russia's top arms control diplomat today rejected as fake news an assertion by the United States that Russia had launched a weapon into low-Earth orbit that was capable of inspecting and attacking other satellites. The Kremlin has flatly denied assertions by US officials that Moscow is developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon.

2:52 PM

Pune Porsche case: Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis condemns 'lenient' punishment to Pune teen

 

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the "lenient" punishment given to the boy by the Juvenile Justice Board - a 300-word essay on accidents, working with the traffic police for 15 days and undergoing counselling for his drinking - in contrast with the heinous crime. "How can the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board give such an order," he asked.

2:42 PM

Death toll in Mumbai hoarding collapse incident rises to 17

The death toll in the hoarding collapse incident that occurred in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on May 13 has gone up to 17 with the death of a man at a civic-run hospital here, officials said on Wednesday. Raju Sonawane who had suffered injuries after the hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in Chheda Nagar locality, died during treatment at the KEM Hospital on May 19, a civic official said.

2:15 PM

'Brave resistance' prompted European Palestine recognition moves: Hamas

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas political bureau member, said Wednesday it was the "brave resistance" of the Palestinian people that spurred three European countries in quick succession -- Norway, Ireland and Spain -- to recognise a State of Palestine.

2:08 PM

Bangladesh Awami League MP Anwarul Azim found dead in Kolkata; 3 arrested

Anwarul Azim, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Bangladesh’s ruling party Awami League has allegedly gone missing in India since May 18. Azim, the allegedly missing MP, entered India on May 12 and was last seen on the afternoon of May 13 when he went with friends to a home in Bidhannagar near Kolkata for a medical check-up.

1:20 PM

Maharashtra: Pune car accident minor accused produced at Juvenile Justice Board.

Earlier today, Maharashtra Transport official said the 17-year-old boy, who fatally knocked down two motorcycle-borne IT professionals with his Porsche car in Pune, will be barred from getting a driving licence till he turns 25.

12:54 PM

News update: Israel says it will recall envoys from Ireland, Norway over recognition of Palestinian state

12:31 PM

Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's counsel withdraws bail plea after rap from Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday  came down heavily onformer Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for “suppressing facts” regarding filing of regular bail plea in trial court in a money laundering case, prompting the JMM leader to withdraw his petition challenging arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

A vacation bench permitted Soren's counsel Kapil Sibal to withdraw his plea after warning that if the court goes into the details of the case it will be “damaging” for the former chief minister.

12:22 PM

Norway's prime minister says the country is formally recognising Palestine as a state

Norway's prime minister said today his country is formally recognising Palestine as a state Norway's prime minister says Norway is formally recognising Palestine as a state. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Wednesday, “There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.” Gahr Store said the Scandinavian country will recognise a Palestinian state as of May 28.

12:07 PM

33-year-old banker behind metro graffiti targeting Kejriwal arrested from Bareilly

The Delhi Police today took into custody a 33-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly for allegedly drawing anti-Arvind Kejriwal graffiti at stations of Delhi Metro and inside its coaches, an officer said. The person who wrote the messages and posted the photographs on his Instagram account has been identified as Ankit Goel, the officer said.

12:02 PM

IMD issues heatwave alert for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued a warning about an approaching severe heatwave that would affect Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh in North India. 

11:41 AM

News update: Supreme Court cancels bail of 8 PFI men caught with photos of RSS leaders

The top court today cancelled the bail granted by the Madras High Court to eight men booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for being members of banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and having conspired to commit terrorist acts across the country. Police had argued that various documents, including some “pictures with markings” of RSS leaders and other Hindu bodies, had been found in possession of the accused, suggesting that these leaders were on a “hit list.”

11:37 AM

BJP has hatched a 'new conspiracy', blocking supply from Yamuna: Delhi minister Atishi

Addressing a press conference, Delhi's Water minister Atishi, alleged the BJP has hatched a "new conspiracy" to target AAP and through its Haryana government has stopped water supply to the national capital.

"Within five days of the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested so that the AAP could not campaign in the polls. After he came out on interim bail, they used the party's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal to frame him but even that plan did not work,” Atishi said.