News updates: Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Lanka's interim president

Live news updates: Wickremesinghe, 73, was sworn in as the acting president of Sri Lanka before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya

4:51 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate Bundelkhand Expressway on Saturday

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Bundelkhand Expressway on Saturday.

 

Modi Govt's focus on connectivity & infrastructure can be gauged from the budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 trillion to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever.

4:49 PM

We neither invited Nusrat Mirza nor he attended conference: AIBA chief Adish Aggarwala

4:44 PM

First case of monkeypox in South-East Asia Region reported from India: WHO

4:33 PM

Anguished by the mishap in Delhi's Alipur: PM Modi

4:29 PM

Mandaviya launches 'Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav'

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday launched the 'Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav' at the Nirman Bhawan Covid vaccination camp.

As part of the celebration for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, this special Covid vaccination drive aims to increase uptake for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine among the eligible adult population.

3:59 PM

Monsoon Session of Jharkhand Assembly to commence from July 29

3:57 PM

Need for close coordination between all elements within same airspace: ACM VR Chaudhari

While there's need for close coordination between all elements within same airspace ,creation of Air Defence Command may prove counterproductive because Air Defence operations are inextricably linked to counter-air operations. Success or failure of one will dictate demands on the other: ACM VR Chaudhari

3:02 PM

Adani Ports to boost trade lanes with joint Haifa Port acquisition

 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone said its acquisition of Haifa Port with a local Israeli partner will boost trade lanes with the company's Indian ports and could better connect Europe and the Middle East in the longer term.

After a two-year tender process, Adani Ports and local chemicals and logistics group Gadot clinched the 4.1 billion shekel ($1.18 billion) winning bid for Haifa Port, Israel announced on Thursday.

Adani Ports will have a 70% stake and Gadot will hold the remaining 30%, the Indian company said.

2:59 PM

SC agrees to hear next week plea of BCCI to allow amendment of its constitution

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will hear next week the plea of the Board of Control for Cricket in India seeking to amend its constitution with regard to the tenure of its office bearers including President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah.

A bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Krishna Murari was told by senior advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for the BCCI, that their application was filed two years ago and direction was given by the court to list the matter after two weeks.

"But then Covid happened and matter could not be listed. Please list this matter for urgent hearing because amendments to the constitution are in pipeline for two years now", he said.

2:56 PM

Defence minister Rajnath Singh launches stealth frigate

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched P17A stealth frigate Dunagiri, built by PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, onto the river Hooghly in Kolkata on Friday.

P17A ships are guided-missile frigates.

In his address before the launch, Singh said that such launch of ships by Indian shipyards signifies the advancement of self-reliance of the country.

2:51 PM

Those who missed CUET due to exam centre change to get another chance, say NTA officials

The Common University Entrance Test-UG aspirants who could not appear for the crucial exam on the first day due to a change in centres will get another chance in the second phase in August, according to National Testing Agency (NTA) officials.

 

The exam at two centres in West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri and Punjab's Pathankot was cancelled due to technical issues.

 

"Over 190 candidates who were to appear at the two centres will not be allowed to appear in the second phase in August. At other centres, the candidates who could not appear due to changes in exam centres will also get another chance," a senior NTA official said.

 

The debut edition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG began on Friday in over 510 cities in India and abroad.

2:39 PM

Alt News co-founder Zubair gets bail in 2018 objectionable tweet case

A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case related to an "objectionable" tweet he had posted in 2018 against a Hindu deity.

 

Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala granted the relief to Zubair on a bail bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of the like amount, and directed him not to leave the country without its prior permission.

 

A magisterial court had on July 2 dismissed his bail plea and sent him to 14-day judicial custody (JC) in the case, citing the nature and gravity of the offences against the accused and observing that the matter was at an initial stage of investigation.

2:38 PM

NCP slams Maha CM Shinde over clearances given to Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project

The NCP on Friday criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the clearances given to the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, saying he should focus more on issues concerning the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that Shinde had given all the clearances to expedite the project, which the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, had put on the back burner.

The NCP's chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said, "The illegal government of Eknath Shinde has expeditiously given clearances to the bullet train project".

2:17 PM

Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Lanka's interim president amid political crisis

Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday sworn in as Sri Lanka's interim president until Parliament elects a successor to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned after protests against his government for mishandling the economy that bankrupted the country.

Wickremesinghe, 73, was sworn in as the acting president of Sri Lanka before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Rajapaksa has resigned, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena officially announced on Friday, two days after the embattled leader fled the country in the face of massive protests against his government for mishandling the economy that bankrupted the country.

2:15 PM

Mumbai: Devendra Fadnavis meets Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray here on Friday.

The meeting, which is currently underway, is taking place at 'Shivtirtha', Thackeray's residence at Dadar in central Mumbai.

The MNS chief had last month undergone a hip replacement surgery at the Lilavati Hospital. This is Fadnavis's first visit to Thackeray after the surgery.