Highlights: Mock drill in J-K, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh on May 31
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 "Delhi Mock Drill, Mock Drill, Drill")
School students take part in a drill. (File Photo: PTI)
Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to travel to Gangtok on Thursday to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of Sikkim's statehood due to poor weather conditions, officials said. Sikkim, which had protectorate status after India’s independence in 1947, officially became a state of the Indian Union on 16 May 1975 through a referendum. In preparation, hoardings and banners welcoming the prime minister have been displayed across Gangtok and nearby areas.
During his two-hour visit, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin, souvenir and stamp to mark the completion of 50 years of Sikkim as a state. The prime minister will lay the foundation stone for multiple projects, including a 500-bed district hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok.
Kerala’s Minister in charge of Railways, V Abdurahiman, has requested the central government to reverse its decision to shut down two railway stations in Kozhikode and Kannur districts. In a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Abdurahiman highlighted the state’s appeal, stating that the closure of Vellarkad station in Kozhikode and Chirakkal station in Kannur would cause hardship to hundreds of daily commuters, according to an official statement.
A US federal trade court has blocked former President Donald Trump from enforcing a new set of import tariffs, ruling that he exceeded his legal authority, AFP reported. The tariffs, announced on 2 April and dubbed “Liberation Day” by Trump, would have imposed a 10 per cent tax on most imports, with even steeper duties on goods from China and the European Union. Trump later suspended some of the higher tariffs while engaging in negotiations with other nations.
10:46 PM
Assam approves arms licences for indigenous people near Bangladesh border
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday (May 29) clarified that Assam’s new arms licence policy will not apply to areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. These regions, though historically involved in border disputes with Assam, are not considered vulnerable in terms of national security, he said.
10:21 PM
NGT asks environment ministry to frame guidelines for plywood industry
The National Green Tribunal has asked the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to frame guidelines for plywood industries in the country.
8:54 PM
Indian govt announces OperationShield new date for Mock drill exercise
In states around Western Borders of India -- Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and as well as Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh -- the mock drill will be conducted on May 31.
8:35 PM
Well on track in our bilateral trade agreement talks with US: Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said negotiations with the US for a bilateral trade agreement are well on track.
7:30 PM
India has opportunity to become net exporter of sustainable aviation fuel: Boeing executive
India has the opportunity to become a net exporter of sustainable aviation fuel as efforts continue to decarbonise aviation globally, a top Boeing executive said on Thursday and highlighted the ample availability of feedstock, including agricultural waste, for producing the fuel.
6:44 PM
Most Indian startups replicas of Western biz models; lack genuine innovation: Suhel Seth
Most Indian startups are merely imitating Western business models and lack genuine innovation, Counselage India Managing Partner Suhel Seth said on Thursday.
6:30 PM
We are clear that talks and terror don't go together: MEA says on Pakistan
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday has reiterated India's stance on bilateral discussions with Pakistan, stating that the only area left for discussion between the two countries is Pakistan's handing over of terrorists and vacating the illegally occupied area of Jammu and Kashmir.
3:52 PM
'Operation Sindoor' not over yet, we have hit Pakistan thrice inside its home: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said 'Operation Sindoor' was far from over and warned that India would continue to exact a heavy price on those who sponsor terrorism, asserting that Pakistan has already been hit 'three times inside its home'. "Now that I am standing on the sacred land of 'Sindoor Khela', it is only right that we speak about a new resolve against terrorism 'Operation Sindoor'," PM Modi said to loud cheers.
3:05 PM
Shivakumar asks chief secretary not to transfer water resource dept engineers without informing him
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that he has written to the Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh not to transfer any engineer from water resource department, a portfolio that he holds, without informing him. Shivakumar said, "We don't have many engineers in the Water Resources Department. We urgently need engineers. Hence, I have written a letter to the Chief Secretary asking not to relieve or send any engineer elsewhere from our department”.
2:24 PM
2 former Sri Lankan ministers jailed in 2015 corruption case
A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday sentenced two former ministers to rigorous imprisonment in connection with a corruption case linked to the 2015 presidential election. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who served as sports minister from 2010 to 2015, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Nalin Fernando, trade minister from 2022 to 2024, was handed a 25-year sentence by the Colombo High Court.
1:34 PM
Bengal's development is foundation of India's future: PM Modi in Alipurduar
India on way to becoming developed nation, Bengal's participation in this process essential, says PM Modi in Alipurduar.
1:02 PM
CBI busts 2 illegal call centres, arrests 6 for scamming Japanese citizens
The CBI arrested six people and dismantled two illegal call centres for allegedly cheating Japanese citizens using tech support scams, officials said Thursday. After registering the case as part of its crackdown on cybercriminals in Operation Chakra V, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) worked closely with the Japan National Police Agency and Microsoft to identify the syndicate members and their locations.
12:46 PM
Congress claims special Parliament session being considered on Emergency anniversary
The Congress on Thursday claimed that a special session of Parliament is being considered next month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, and said this will be yet another classic exercise in "diversion and distraction" from real and more urgent issues by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that at a time when the BJP should be targeting Pakistan and terrorists, it is only interested in attacking the Congress.
12:39 PM
Sikkim has potential to become hub of adventure sports: PM Modi at statehood event
NDA govt dedicated to making India a sports superpower, we want Northeast to move in this direction, says PM Modi
11:16 AM
I wanted to be part of Sikkim's statehood event in Gangtok but weather played spoilsport: PM Modi
I congratulate people of Sikkim on 50th statehood anniversary, says PM Modi.
Topics : Narendra Modi Rahul Gandhi Donald Trump BJP Congress palestine israel Rainfall Mumbai rains
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First Published: May 29 2025 | 10:15 AM IST
