LIVE: India sees worst power cuts in 6 years; braces for more heatwaves

Live news updates: The ongoing heatwave sweeping through vast swathes of the country will intensify in the next five days, the IMD said

8:46 AM

Pakistan court to indict PM Shehbaz Sharif, son Hamza in money laundering case

A special court of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued an order that it will indict Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son and Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shahbaz in a money laundering case, reported local media.

Notably, the court had to indict the duo and others allegedly involved in the case earlier this month but the process was delayed due to the absence of the premier, reported Geo News.

However, Shehbaz Sharif did not appear before the court even on Wednesday, following which, the court, in its written order, summoned him, Hamza Shahbaz and all the other suspects on May 14.

8:45 AM

36 hours on, firefighting at Delhi's Bhalswa landfill site continues

Some areas of the Bhalswa landfill site in Delhi have been seen still burning on Thursday.

 

Fire tenders are there at the spot. Further details are awaited.

 

A massive fire broke out at North Delhi's Bhalswa landfill on Tuesday. According to Delhi Fire Service officials, smoke was reported around 5:00 pm that later spread into a massive fire.

 

Following the incident, locals living near the Bhalswa landfill in Delhi have also been reporting breathing problems.

 

8:44 AM

Biden to meet PM Modi at Quad summit in Tokyo next month: White House

US President Joe Biden will travel to South Korea and Japan next month and attend the QUAD summit in Tokyo, during which he will also meet India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has said.

 

Biden's trip to South Korea and Japan has been scheduled for May 20 to 24.

 

"This trip will advance the Biden-Harris Administration's rock-solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday here.

8:44 AM

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Moscow to hold informal UNSC meeting on May 6

Russia will hold an informal UN Security Council meeting on May 6 to present first-hand information about the situation on the ground in Ukraine, a Russian official said.

 

"If you want to learn the truth about real situation with the ground, come to our aria-formula meeting on May 6, we plan to give the floor to some independent voices working on the front line to demonstrate you facts, not fakes," the Russian official said during a United Nations meeting addressing war crimes in Ukraine on Wednesday.

 

8:44 AM

Centre tells states to step up coal imports for three years: Report

India has urged its states to step up coal imports for the next three years to build up inventories and satisfy demand, four sources told Reuters, a move set to benefit global prices of the fuel, already running high because of war in Ukraine.

 

The decision to boost imports underscores the severity of India's fuel crisis as coal inventories are at the lowest pre-summer levels in at least nine years and electricity demand is seen rising at the fastest pace in nearly four decades.

 

India, the world's second-largest coal importer, could drive up global demand until 2025, as Power Minister R K Singh has set a longer timeline for a federal push to increase imports that had until now been seen as a temporary measure.

 

 

 

8:43 AM

India developed ties with Russia as US couldn't do it earlier: Blinken

Asserting that now there is a growing strategic convergence between the United States and India, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said New Delhi built its partnership with Moscow out of necessity as the US was not in a position to do that earlier.

 

"In the case of India, there is a relationship that goes back decades. And Russia, for India, was out of necessity a partner of choice when we were not in a position to be a partner," he told lawmakers on Wednesday.

 

"Now, we are investing in that effort. I think there is a growing strategic convergence between the United States and India," Blinken said.

8:43 AM

Turkish President, UN Chief Guterres discuss Ukraine crisis over phone

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the latter's visit to Russia over the phone.

 

Guterres on Wednesday briefed Erdogan about his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Turkey's Directorate of Communications said in a statement.

 

Before heading to Moscow and Kiev for talks on resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the UN Secretary-General met with Turkish President in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

8:43 AM

India will adopt a considered view on crypto: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Flagging concerns over likely misuse of crypto, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said India will take a considerate decision on regulation around the virtual currency.

 

The decision on crypto will not be rushed through, she said in an interaction at Stanford University.

 

"It will have to take its time...all of us to be sure that at least with a given available information, we're taking the decern decision. It can't be rushed through," she said.

 

8:42 AM

PM Narendra Modi to visit Assam today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Assam today where he will lay the foundation stone for several projects. The Prime Minister will address the 'Peace, Unity and Development Rally' at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District at around 11 am. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), during the programme, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of various projects in the education sector.