Highlights: SC holds tree felling in Delhi's Ridge area as contempt on part of DDA officials

Highlights: Catch all the latest updates here

4:54 PM

Haryana to conduct drills under Operation Shield to vet emergency response

The Haryana government will conduct a civil defence exercise, named Operation Shield, on Thursday, across all 22 of the state's districts to vet its emergency preparedness. Scheduled to take place between 5 pm and 9 pm, the drill is being organised under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns, an official said.

4:27 PM

Number of Covid-19 patients in Patna reaches 10

Four more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Patna, taking the total number of patients diagnosed with coronavirus infection to 10, an official said on Wednesday. Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said that the patients were being monitored closely with all necessary protocols followed.

 

4:19 PM

TMC demands special session of Parliament in June

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday demanded that a special session of Parliament be held in June, before the Monsoon session, to get the government to answer some urgent questions on Operation Sindoor. The party also accused the ruling BJP of trying to politicise Operation Sindoor by holding political rallies.

3:53 PM

Badaun temple-mosque row: Next hearing fixed for July 5

A court here on Wednesday set July 5 to hear the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple-Shamsi Jama Masjid row. Civil Judge, senior division, Suman Tiwari could not conduct the hearing due to the absence of Shamsi Jama Masjid Intezamia Committee advocate Asrar Ahmed, who has gone for Haj. Judge Tiwari fixed July 5 as the next date of hearing and asked both parties to be present in the court for presenting their sides.

3:41 PM

Mithi river desilting scam: Mumbai police questions Dino Morea, brother

Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother were on Wednesday questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police in the alleged Rs 65 crore Mithi river desilting scam, officials said. This is the second time in the last three days that the actor was called for questioning, a police official said.

Morea and his brother Santino appeared before EOW officials at the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office in south Mumbai. 

3:06 PM

Trai initiates discussion on assignment of microwave spectrum in lower bands

Telecom regulator Trai on Wednesday floated a consultation paper on assignment of the microwave spectrum in lower 6 GHz, 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz bands, as well as E and V bands.

2:49 PM

Israel strikes Yemen's Sanaa airport for 2nd time in one month, targets Houthi rebels

The Israeli military said Wednesday it struck Yemen's Sanaa airport for the second time in a month targeting Houthi militants. The strike came after the Houthis have fired several missiles at Israel in recent days without causing casualties or damage.

1:58 PM

SC extends stay on arrest of MP minister Vijay Shah

The top court on Wednesday closed the suo motu proceedings pending before the Madhya Pradesh High Court against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his remarks against against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

12:58 PM

Taiwan pledges to buy more American goods as a 32% tariff looms

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te committed to increasing purchases of American goods—including natural gas, oil, weapons, and agricultural products—as the island aims to strengthen ties with the United States amid the threat of a 32% tariff from the Trump administration. Lai stated that these purchases would help create “more balanced bilateral trade” with the U.S. while enhancing Taiwan’s energy independence and resilience.

12:23 PM

SC extends interim bail granted to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad

Haryana government has informed the top court that a SIT has been constituted and Professor  Ali Khan Mahmudabad has joined the investigation.

12:05 PM

SC Collegium recommends transfer of Justice Kumar to Madras HC

The Supreme Court collegium has recommended transfer of Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar to the Madras High Court from the Telangana High Court. The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, decided to recommend the transfer in a meeting held on May 26.

11:52 AM

SC holds tree felling in Delhi's Ridge area as contempt on part of DDA officials

The top court has asked DDA officials to deposit Rs 25,000 fine for contempt. It has exempted the chairman and vice-chairman from paying the fines.

11:44 AM

DMK allots Rajya Sabha seat to Kamal Haasan's party, names 3 candidates

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Wednesday announced that it would contest 4 out of the 6 seats from the state for the June 19 biennial Rajya Sabha polls and allotted one Upper House seat to ally, actor-politician Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam.

11:19 AM

PM Modi to visit Bengal on Thursday; launch gas distribution project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Thursday, during which he will lay the foundation stone of a gas distribution project and address a public rally in Alipurduar district, a senior BJP leader said. “First, he will be at the government programme and then he will address a party meeting in Alipurduar. The PM will then leave for Patna in the evening. We are all excited to hear from him. It will be his first visit after ‘Operation Sindoor',”  state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said.

10:33 AM

Rs 10 lakh fine on 4 mini pumping station operators for waterlogging after Mumbai rains

The Mumbai civic body has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh each on the operators of four mini pumping stations for failing to install and operate pumps to clear the water accumulated at key junctions here following heavy rains. Mumbai witnessed heavy rains on Monday, which caused waterlogging in several low-lying areas and led to the suspension of suburban train services on some routes.

10:25 AM

SpaceX launches another Starship mega rocket in latest demo after back-to-back explosions

After back-to-back explosions, SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship again on Tuesday evening in hopes of making it through the entire test flight. The 123-metre rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX's launch site at the southern tip of Texas. 

10:23 AM

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets US Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler in Washington

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler in Washington to advance bilateral cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.

 

10:00 AM

PM Modi to attend Sikkim's statehood celebrations on May 29

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim's statehood at the Paljor Stadium here on May 29, an official notification said. Formal invitations have been extended to all officers, from the rank of deputy secretary and under-secretary (and their equivalents) to staff members of various state government departments, PSUs, and central government agencies in Gangtok.