Highlights of the day: Highest temperature in Raj was recorded in Phalodi at 50 degrees C on May 25

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The Indian Meteorological Department reports extreme temperatures in Rajasthan on May 25, with Phalodi reaching 50°C and Barmer hitting 48.8°C. The heatwave conditions are severe, and residents are advised to take precautions against the intense heat.

Addressing a public gathering in Buxar, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today is also the sixth phase of voting...People are celebrating democracy at a fast pace and strengthening the resolve for a developed India. The voting that is taking place today has shown INDI alliance their place..."

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of Indian territory and "we will take it", Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday as he castigated the Congress for trying to "frighten us" by saying that the neighbouring country possesses atom bombs. Shah added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already won 310 seats in the first five phases of Lok Sabha polls and the target of '400-paar' would be achieved in the sixth and the last phases

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections at a polling booth in Delhi. The mother-son duo also clicked a selfie outside the polling station after casting their votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people on Saturday to vote in large numbers in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election, saying every vote counts. Democracy thrives when people are engaged and active in the electoral process, he said in a post on 'X', formerly Twitter.

Voting started at 7 AM as voters have started reaching polling booths. Voters from 58 constituencies across the country including Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Haryana will choose their represrntatives on Saturday in the sixth phase of 2024 general elections. Simultaneous polling for 42 Assembly seats in Odisha will also be held on Saturday. With Saturday's polling is completed, voting in almost 90 per cent (485) of the seats would have concluded. Key candidates in the sixth phase are Maneka Gandhi (Sultanpur); Dharmendra Pradhan (Sambalpur); Rao Inderjit Singh and Raj Babbar (Gurgaon); Sambit Patra (Puri); Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal); Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra); Mehbooba Mufti (Anantnag); Deependra Hooda (Rohtak); Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi); and Kanhaiya Kumar (North East Delhi).

8:55 PM

Rajkot game zone fire: 11 killed

At least 11 persons, including children, were killed and three others injured in a massive fire that broke out in a crowded game zone in Gujarat's Rajkot city on Saturday evening, police said. Rescue operations are underway at the affected TRP game zone and officials feared the count of casualties may go up as several children were present at the spot due to the ongoing summer vacation and weekend.

8:08 PM

Kolkata airport to suspend flight operations for 9 hours in view of cyclone Remal's landfall

Kolkata airport to suspend flight operations for 9 hours from Sunday midnight in view of cyclone Remal's landfall, reports PTI citing official.

7:43 PM

The highest temperature in Rajasthan was recorded in Phalodi at 50 degrees C on May 25, says IMD

The Indian Meteorological Department reports extreme temperatures in Rajasthan on May 25, with Phalodi reaching 50°C and Barmer hitting 48.8°C. The heatwave conditions are severe, and residents are advised to take precautions against the intense heat.

7:42 PM

People of Bihar not afraid of people of Gujarat, says Tejashwi Yadav

On PM Modi's remark, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "People of Bihar are not afraid of people of Gujarat... The people of Bihar are not afraid of anyone, our Lord Krishna was born in jail. A 75-year-old man is threatening a 34-year-old youth that if you defeat us in the election, we will send you to jail...the public will decide."

7:22 PM

Voter turnout at 57.70% till 5 pm, highest in West Bengal at 77.99%

As per EC data, as of 5 pm, the overall voter turnout remained steady at 57.70 per cent. West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout at 79.99 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh had the lowest at 52.02 per cent. Jharkhand saw a significant participation rate of 61.41 per cent, followed by Odisha at 59.60 per cent. Haryana registered a turnout of 55.93 per cent, closely followed by Delhi at 53.73 per cent. Bihar saw 52.24 per cent voter turnout by 5 pm while Jammu & Kashmir saw 51.35 per cent voting.

7:22 PM

Misa Bharti slams PM Modi for ‘mujra’ remark against the opposition

“These are the ‘sanskaar’ of PM Modi. He uses such words for the opposition, but the people of the country support the INDIA bloc. All the members of the alliance are with the public and their issues,” said the RJD leader.

5:36 PM

EaseMyTrip withdraws bid for GoFirst to focus on core growth areas: CEO Nishant Pitti

4:24 PM

Deep depression in Bay of Bengal to intensify into cyclonic storm, expected to hit WB coasts by May 26

The deep depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of May 25, 2024 over the same region near latitude 18.0°N and longitude 89.7°E, about 440 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 440 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 480 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal).

4:17 PM

G7 to impose further sanctions against Russia

The G7 has announced its commitment to imposing further sanctions against Russia, according to AFP.

4:17 PM

Congress considers the nation as its property and believes that 'shahzada' is the only heir, says PM Modi

"When people asked about INDI bloc's PM candidate, they start fighting among themselves. Meanwhile, Congress considers the nation as its property and believe that 'shahzada' is the only heir. However, their alliance partners say that there will five PMs in five years. Can a country work like this?" said PM Modi in in Bihar's Buxar.

4:07 PM

G7 agree further financing for Ukraine, to discuss details in coming weeks

Finance ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed on further financing for Ukraine but have not yet agreed on the details, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Saturday.

The G7 countries are now working on next year's financing plan for Kyiv as this year's financing has been successful, Lindner added.

"We are not yet ready to find further and clear measures to finance Ukraine. But this is now a topic of intensive work," Lindner told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting of G7 finance chiefs in the northern Italian town of Stresa.

3:46 PM

49.2% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, in the 6th phase of elections.

As of 3 pm, the overall voter turnout remained steady at 49.2 per cent. Among the states, West Bengal showed the highest turnout at a remarkable 70.19 per cent.

Bihar- 45.21 per cent   

Haryana- 46.26 per cent  

Jammu & Kashmir- 44.41 per cent  

Jharkhand- 54.34 per cent  

Delhi- 44.58 per cent  

Odisha- 48.44 per cent  

Uttar Pradesh-43.95 per cent  

West Bengal- 70.19 per cent

In Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, a total of 889 candidates are in the fray.

3:32 PM

'Mahayagna' of Viksit Bharat is going on in the country: PM Modi at Buxar rally in Bihar.

The 'balloon' of opposition INDIA bloc has burst, said PM Modi at Buxar rally in Bihar. 

3:29 PM

People are celebrating democracy: PM Modi

Addressing a public gathering in Buxar, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today is also the sixth phase of voting...People are celebrating democracy at a fast pace and strengthening the resolve for a developed India. The voting that is taking place today has shown INDI alliance their place..."

2:58 PM

LS polls: China encroached on our land but PM Modi is silent, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that China has encroached on India's land and is constructing houses and roads but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent and has done nothing about it.