LIVE: No country can emerge victorious in Ukraine conflict, says PM Modi

Live news updates: PM Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with German Challancer Olaf Scholz in Berlin as the two leaders look forward to expanding India-Germany cooperation

Live news updates: PM Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with German Challancer Olaf Scholz in Berlin as the two leaders look forward to expand India-Germany cooperation.

"Expanding India-Germany cooperation. PM @narendramodi and Chancellor Scholz meet in Berlin. @Bundeskanzler," Office of the Prime Minister of India said in a tweet.People fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivations as they arrived in Ukrainian-held territory, where relief workers awaited the first group of civilians freed from a steel plant. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, more than 100 civilians from the plant were expected to arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol, on Monday. The evacuation, if successful, would represent rare progress in easing the human cost of the almost 10-week war, which has caused particular suffering in Mariupol.

Sanctions against Russia can only be lifted after its forces leave Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, adding this includes Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.'

Parts of country can expect "big relief" from a heat wave, said the the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) that predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds over northwest India till Wednesday, over northeast till Tuesday and over eastern and southern peninsular India till Friday.

R K Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD, told news agency ANI there are chances of the heatwave being over in most parts of India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. There are chances of a heatwave in West Rajasthan and Vidarbha, but the major heatwave spell is over.

11:16 PM

Germany commits 10 billion euros for green projects in India by 2030

Germany committed to provide additional support worth euro 10 billion to India by 2030 to support green growth initiatives. The commitment came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country — his first trip abroad this year. Read more

10:44 PM

Indian Railways spent Rs 150 cr to repair wagons, help coal movement

The railways spent more than Rs 150 crore in repairing around 2,000 damaged and dilapidated wagons over the last four months to augment coal movement to power plants, according to official data.

Officials said it cost the national transporter around Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to repair each wagon.

9:49 PM

India and Germany made significant progress over last few years: PM Modi

Underlining the importance of India's bilateral ties with Germany, PM Modi said both countries share several common values and have made significant progress over the last few years.

"As democratic countries, both India and Germany share several common values. Based on these values, our bilateral relations have made significant progress over the last few years," PM Modi said while addressing a joint statement with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

9:34 PM

Maharashtra records 92 new Covid cases, one death

Maharashtra reports 92 new Covid-19 cases, a majority of them in the Mumbai Circle, and one more death on Monday, taking the overall tally in the state to 7,877,993 and the toll to 147,844.

9:17 PM

Children aged 12-17 can get Covovax jab at private centres: Report

Children aged 12 to 17 can now opt for Serum Institute's Covid vaccine jab Covovax at private centres as provision enabled on CoWIN portal, reports PTI quoting sources. 

8:49 PM

Heatwave claims 25 lives in Maharashtra

The ongoing unprecedented heatwave in Maharashtra has claimed at least 25 lives so far, the highest since 2016, with the number of heat-stroke cases standing at around 375, officials said.

This is the highest toll due to heat-wave in the past seven years in the state, said Awate, with 19 deaths notched in 2016, followed by 2 in 2018 and 9 in 2019, jumping upto 25 in 2022.

8:23 PM

Record sales of residential ACs in April amid heatwaves

The early arrival of summer and the subsequent heat wave have led to soaring demand for residential air conditioners, with manufacturers such as Voltas, Panasonic, Hitachi, LG and Haier posting record growth sales in April.

This year the AC sales have crossed the pre-pandemic levels in April 2019, according to industry players. Read more

8:06 PM

Finland ends deal with Russia's Rosatom for nuclear plant

A Finnish nuclear energy company said  it has decided to terminate with immediate effect a contract with Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom for the delivery of a nuclear power plant, in part due to the war in Ukraine which has worsened the risks for the project. Read more

7:52 PM

PM Modi's meets German Chancellor Scholz during Europe visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with German Challancer Olaf Scholz in Berlin as the two leaders look forward to expand India-Germany cooperation.

"Expanding India-Germany cooperation. PM @narendramodi and Chancellor Scholz meet in Berlin. @Bundeskanzler," Office of the Prime Minister of India said in a tweet.

7:39 PM

Omicron's latest subvariant proves virus not declining: Report

Omicron's latest subvariant BA.2.12.1, responsible for about one-fourth of Covid-19 cases in the US, shows that the virus is not showing any signs of decline even over two years after it was first detected in humans.

BA.2.12.1 has also been detected in Australia and New Zealand. Read more

7:27 PM

India's pharma exports touch Rs 1.8 trillion in FY22

India’s pharma exports touched Rs 1.8 trillion in fiscal 2022, said the commerce ministry, marking flat growth compared to last fiscal.

In the pandemic year of 2020-21, pharma exports had grown by 18 percent to $24.4 bn (roughly Rs 1.8 lakh crore at current exchange rates).

7:11 PM

Prashant Kishor announces a fresh beginning from his home state Bihar

Prashant Kishor made cryptic announcement of a fresh beginning in Bihar. 

In a tweet, he said, "My quest to be a meaningful participant in democracy and help shape pro-people policy led to a roller-coaster ride! As I turn the page, time to go to the Real Masters, THE PEOPLE, to better understand the issues and the path to Jan Suraaj people's good governance, tweeted Kishor, adding the hashtag shuruat Bihar se (Beginning from Bihar)."

6:56 PM

Nancy Pelosi thanks Poland for Ukraine support, meets president

A top-level US congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in Warsaw on Monday to express gratitude to Poland for their humanitarian and other support for Ukraine.

Pelosi and a half dozen US lawmakers met with President Andrzej Duda and Polish lawmakers in Warsaw.

 

6:38 PM

First civilians leave Ukraine's Mariupol steel plant

People fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivations as they arrived Monday in Ukrainian-held territory, where relief workers awaited the first group of civilians freed from a steel plant that is last redoubt of Ukrainian fighters in the devastated port city. Read more

4:54 PM

LIC IPO gets strong demand from anchor investors: Reporter

The IPO of India's biggest insurer, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), has got off to a good start, with the $732 million of shares reserved for so-called anchor investors oversubscribed at the upper end of the price range, Reuters reported quoting a banking source. The Indian government has said it expects to raise up to $2.74 billion, just a third of its original target, from selling a 3.5% stake in LIC in the country's biggest initial public offering (IPO).