Highlights: PM Modi to inaugurate new Parliament building on May 28, confirms Om Birla

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• May 18, 2023 09:58 PM IST

  Indian Army detects explosives along foothills of Manipur's Imphal East 

  Indian Army Patrol operating along foothills of Imphal East Manipur recovered explosives and remote initiation mechanism for IEDs in village Bungbal Khullen on Wednesday, ANI reported.

  3 Kg TNT, 15 Electric Detonators, 4 Circuits and Remote Firing Device recovered. Major threat averted by prompt action: Spear Corps, Indian Army

• May 18, 2023 09:15 PM IST

  PM Modi to inaugurate new Parliament building on May 28, confirms Om Birla

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Parliament building on May 28, ANI reported citing to Lok Sabha Secretariat's statement.

  The report further said that Om Birla met PM Modi on Thursday and invited him to inaugurate the New Parliament Building.

• May 18, 2023 08:33 PM IST

  Delhi mayor directs removal of civic official amid corruptions allegations

  Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has issued an order for the dismissal of an MCD official who is currently under investigation for corruption charges, ANI reported.

  The Mayor has further called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. According to a statement released on Thursday, Mayor Oberoi has instructed the MCD Commissioner to relieve the officer, Kunal Kashyap, of all duties and replace him with an individual of unquestionable integrity.

• May 18, 2023 07:54 PM IST

  Govt to set up NCE for Olympic Sports in Hamirpur: Union minister Anurag Thakur

  Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that government is working to set up an NCE for Olympic Sports in Hamirpur on the lines of the country's top NCE (National Center of Excellence), ANI reported. 

  “So that there can be NCE for 18-20 games & we can prepare future Olympians from there. Its foundation stone will be laid in the next 2 months,” Thakur said at Hamirpur Students Union Program, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

• May 18, 2023 07:29 PM IST

  ‘With folded hands…we want Mamata Didi to watch,’ says producer of ‘The Kerala Story’ film 

  After Supreme Court's stay on Bengal government's ban on “The Kerala Story” film, Producer Vipul Shah said, “With folded hands, I would like to tell Mamata Didi to watch this film with us and discuss with us if she finds anything as such. We would like to listen to all her valid criticisms and present our point of view.” (ANI)

• May 18, 2023 06:46 PM IST

  76-year-old man escapes unhurt after phone in his pocket explodes in Kerala's Thrissur

  A 76-year-old man in Kerala's Thrissur district escaped unhurt on Thursday after his mobile phone, kept in his shirt pocket, exploded and spontaneously caught fire, PTI reported citing police. The occurrence marks the third incident of its kind within the state in less than a month.

• May 18, 2023 06:01 PM IST

   NIA conducts joint crackdown ‘Operation Dhvast’ in terrorist-gangster-drugs nexus case

  National Investigation Agency along with Punjab Police and Haryana Police conducted a massive multi-state joint crackdown codenamed “Operation Dhvast” in terrorist-gangster-drugs nexus case.

• May 18, 2023 05:50 PM IST

  Maharashtra: Mithi River cleaning to begin today; CM warns of consequences of negligent officers

  Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde said that the cleaning of Mithi River is beginning today. “Officers who do good work will be respected and those who do negligence will be acted upon,” ANI quoted Shinde as saying in Mumbai.

• May 18, 2023 04:59 PM IST

  Quad Summit venue changed from Sydney, likely to be held in Hiroshima: Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra

  Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday while addressing media said, that the Quad Summit scheduled for Sydney, is likely to be changed to  Hiroshima, ANI reported.

  "The agenda on which the Leaders had agreed upon in the last Quad Summit will be discussed in Hiroshima if the Quad Summit can be held here on time. There is a change of venue but the background of cooperation and specific aspects won't change," Vinay Kwatra said.

• May 18, 2023 04:32 PM IST

  West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja reacts to SC order on ‘The Kerala Story’ ban 

  Reacting to the Supreme Court's order upholding West Bengal government's order to ban “The Kerala Story” film,  state minister Shashi Panja said, "...Supreme Court has given its observation. Following this, what action CM will take is something which she will say. But her intent was that no community should be hurt and in case any community feels hurt and reacts and if there is any law and order situation disturbance - for this she took the call." (ANI)

• May 18, 2023 03:28 PM IST

  Supreme Court stays Bengal govt ban on 'The Kerala Story', Tamil Nadu told to provide theatre security

  The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a stay on the West Bengal government's order to ban the film “The Kerala Story”. Additionally, the court issued a directive to the Tamil Nadu government, urging them to provide adequate security measures at the theaters where the movie is currently being screened.

• May 18, 2023 03:26 PM IST

  Railway line between Ludhiana to Jalandhar, Amritsar Jalandhar-Jammu blocked as farmers protest

  Railway main line between Ludhiana to Jalandhar and Amritsar Jalandhar-Jammu in Punjab were blocked as farmers protest on railway tracks in Jalandhar, ANI reported.

  They have been protesting the incident wherein a policeman was seen slapping an elderly woman protester in Gurdaspur during protest over land acquisition on Delhi-Katra national highway.

• May 18, 2023 02:54 PM IST

  Two people die in explosion at firecracker manufacturing factory in TN's Sivakasi

  Two people died in an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing factory at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district, ANI reported.

  Further details awaited.

• May 18, 2023 02:29 PM IST

  SC refuses to stay Patna HC order on caste-based survey in Bihar

  Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the Patna High Court order which had put on hold the caste-based survey in Bihar. The state government has been asked to argue on July 3 before the High Court where the matter is still pending.

• May 18, 2023 01:59 PM IST

  SBI reports 84% jump in Q4 profit

  State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, on Thursday reported a more than 83% jump in fourth-quarter profit, led by a sharp drop in provisions on bad loans and healthy credit growth.

  Net profit was 166.95 billion rupees ($2.04 billion)for the quarter ended March 31, compared with 91.14 billion rupees a year earlier, the lender said in an exchange filing.

• May 18, 2023 01:39 PM IST

  BJP chief JP Nadda visits Veer Savarkar's residence in Mumbai

  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday visited Veer Savarkar's residence in Mumbai.

  BJP national president is on a two-day visit to Maharashtra from May 17 to May 18, as assembly elections and civic polls nearing in Maharashtra.

  Meanwhile, State's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to hold an executive committee meeting in Pune today. Nearly 1,200 delegates, including the party's district-level office-bearers, will attend the high-level meeting.

• May 18, 2023 01:26 PM IST

  Vedanta Group seeks to raise $500 million to free up cash

  Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Group is looking to free up cash and raise funds, possibly via a loan, as its $500 million junk-rated bond matures at the end of this month.

  The board of Vedanta Ltd. will consider paying out a first dividend for the current business year at an upcoming meeting, according to a statement. The Indian mining conglomerate is also in talks with banks to raise at least $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

• May 18, 2023 12:53 PM IST

  Amid search for capsized boat, China lifts ban on Australian timber imports

  China opened its doors on Thursday to Australian timber imports for the first time in more than two years, in another sign that the tattered bilateral relationship is being repaired.

  Timber was on a list of Australian exports subjected to official and unofficial Chinese trade barriers imposed in 2020 after Australia called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  The list that included coal, wine, barley, beef, seafood, cotton and copper was estimated to cost Australian exporters $14 billion a year.

• May 18, 2023 11:27 AM IST

  Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu law allowing bull taming sport Jallikattu

  A Supreme Court constitution bench on Thursday affirmed the state laws allowing cultural events involving animals, including the bull taming sport Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock or buffalo races in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Read more

• May 18, 2023 11:02 AM IST

  Kejriwal requests Centre to appoint PK Gupta as Delhi's new chief secretary

  Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the central government to appoint Praveen Kumar Gupta, 1989 batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories (AGMUT) Cadre, as the new chief secretary of Delhi, a Delhi government official aware of the development said. If the central government accepts the plea of the Delhi chief minister, Gupta will replace Naresh Kumar of the 1987 batch, serving as the chief secretary of Delhi since April 2022.

• May 18, 2023 10:13 AM IST

  Kiren Rijiju loses law ministry, Arjun Ram Meghwal given its independent charge

  Arjun Ram Meghwal replaces Rijiju to become new Law Minister

• May 18, 2023 09:59 AM IST

  Assam Police arrests cyber criminal, seizes 169 sim cards, 11 pan cards

  A cyber criminal was arrested in Assam's Morigaon district who had allegedly taken loans of around ₹22 lakh from two private financial companies in the name of different persons, informed officials.

  The arrested criminal was identified as Inamul Hoque.

  The Assam Police seized 169 SIM cards, 11 PAN cards and other incriminating documents in his possession from him.

• May 18, 2023 09:30 AM IST

  China urges Australia to assist in search of capsized boat

  China urged Australia on Thursday to send more aircraft, ships and personnel to find a fishing vessel that capsized in the Indian Ocean with 39 people aboard.

  Chinese vessel the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 overturned in the early hours of Tuesday with 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos on board.

  "We wish that they could send more aircraft, more ships and more staff to that area," said Xiao Qian, China's ambassador to Australia, requesting that the Australian government coordinate with other nations closer to the capsized ship.

• May 18, 2023 09:10 AM IST

  Second round of border talks with Assam likely to start next week: Meghalaya CM

  Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said he is likely to meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma next week in Guwahati for the second round of border talks.

  Speaking to reporters, Sangma Wednesday said the logistics were being worked out for the meeting, which is likely to be held on May 24.

  This would be the first meeting for the second round of border talks between the two states, aimed at resolving the remaining six areas of differences, he said.

• May 18, 2023 08:25 AM IST

  Several explosions reported in Ukraine's Kyiv

  Ukraine's army reported several explosions in Kyiv and other parts of the country early Thursday morning, urging people to stay in bomb shelters.

  "According to preliminary information, the fall of debris was recorded in the Darnytskyi district of the capital. Data on victims and destruction are currently being verified," Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv's civil and military administration, wrote on Telegram.

• May 18, 2023 08:05 AM IST

  PM Modi to flag off Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express today

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah today via video conferencing.

  The ultra-modern semi-high-speed train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities.

  According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the train will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal. The train will provide a faster, more comfortable and convenient travel experience to passengers, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region.

• May 18, 2023 07:08 AM IST

  Indian Navy's 'Batti Malv' ship visits Sri Lanka's Trincomalee port

  Indian Navy Ship 'Batti Malv' visited Sri Lanka's Trincomalee port and participated in Maritime Partnership Exercise with SLNS Ranadheera.

  INS Batti Malv visited Trincomalee on May 16-17, where social initiatives included a beach cleaning drive, interaction with school children and a yoga session took place.

  "Indian Navy ship Batti Malv visited Trincomale on 16-17 May. The Commanding Officer called on Commander Eastern Naval Area. Social initiatives included beach cleaning drive, interaction with school children and a yoga session," tweeted the High Commission of India in Colombo.

• May 18, 2023 06:26 AM IST

  Extradition of 26/11 attack accused has been approved by US court

  A month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the US, a federal court agreed to New Delhi's request, through Washington, for the extradition of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana to India where he is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

  In a major victory for India's fight in bringing the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice, US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the District Court of the Central District of California issued a 48-page order on Wednesday, saying Rana "should be extradited to India" under the extradition treaty between India and the United States.

• May 18, 2023 05:33 AM IST

  Montana becomes first US State to ban TikTok

  Montana on Wednesday became the first US state to ban TikTok, with the law set to take effect next year as debate escalates over the impact and security of the popular video app.

  The prohibition signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte will serve as a legal test for a national ban of the Chinese-owned platform, something that lawmakers in Washington are increasingly calling for.

  "TikTok may not operate within the territorial jurisdiction of Montana," said a copy of the freshly-minted law at the state website.

• May 18, 2023 05:28 AM IST

  Strong earthquake hits Guatemala, southern Mexico

  A strong earthquake struck Guatemala on Wednesday, shaking the Central American nation and parts of Southern Mexico, though the quake's deep hypocenter of more than 150 miles underneath the earth's surface seems to have averted damage.

  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude 6.4 quake struck at a depth of 252 kilometers (156.6 miles) and its epicenter was some 2 kilometers southeast of the municipality of Canilla, Guatemala.