Live news: Russian negotiator accuses Kyiv of 'rolling back' on agreements

Live news updates: Some 344 people have been evacuated in and around the besieged city of Mariupol, says Ukraine's president.

4:44 PM

Delhi Cabinet approves start-up policy, forms 20-member task force: Kejriwal

The Delhi government has approved a start-up policy that seeks to provide the youth with financial and procedural help in setting up companies and formed a 20-member task force for the purpose, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday

4:42 PM

People in Delhi can opt for electricity subsidy: Kejriwal

People in Delhi can opt for electricity subsidy. To be given from Oct 1 to those who need, says Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

4:06 PM

Russia says Western intelligence to Ukraine won't thwart its goals

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States, Britain and other NATO countries were "constantly" feeding intelligence to Ukraine but this would not stop Russia from achieving its military objectives there. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to a New York Times report that the United States had provided intelligence that helped Ukrainian forces kill a dozen Russian generals, Reuters reported.

3:42 PM

Russian negotiator accuses Kyiv of 'rolling back' on agreements

A Russian lawmaker taking part in talks with Ukraine said negotiations were difficult and accused representatives from Kyiv of "rolling back" on existing agreements, TASS news agency reported on Thursday. "I am one of the four negotiators from the Russian side, however, it is difficult to negotiate. Ukrainian counterparts come to an agreement, and then roll back", TASS cited negotiator Leonid Slutsky as saying.

 

3:40 PM

Russia expels 7 Danish diplomats in retaliatory move

Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday said it had declared seven Danish diplomats 'persona non grata' in response to Copenhagen expelling 15 Russian diplomats last month, with Moscow also objecting to Denmark's providing military assistance to Ukraine. The ministry said Denmark's openly anti-Russian policy was seriously damaging bilateral relations and that Russia reserved the right to take additional steps in response, Reuters reported.

 

2:49 PM

Face me if anyone has guts regarding what I have done in 11 years: CM Banerjee

2:25 PM

Akasa Air chooses Navitaire as its reservations system provider

India's newest airline Akasa Air on Thursday announced it has chosen reservation systems provider Navitaire so that it can run reliable operations and offer affordable travel options to its passengers.

Akasa Air, backed by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, and aviation veterans Vinay Dube and Aditya Ghosh, is expected to begin its commercial operations in July.

2:05 PM

Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa-led govt emerges stronger after defeat of Opposition candidate in Dy Speaker election

In a major victory for Sri Lanka's embattled Rajapaksa clan, the government backed nominee on Thursday won the secret vote for the position of Deputy Speaker, demonstrating the ruling SLPP coalition's ability to prove their parliamentary majority despite raging public protests demanding their resignation for mishandling the country's worst economic crisis.

MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was re-elected to the position from which he had resigned.

Siyambalapitiya, a member of the former President Maithripala Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), had resigned as his party decided to stay independent of the government.

2:03 PM

Prayagraj to get UP's first floating restaurant

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to build a floating restaurant in Prayagraj.

This will be the first such restaurant in the state.

The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has already started upgrading facilities at the Boat Club which will also have a Yoga centre and facilities for water sports.

According to the government spokesman, the proposed floating restaurant will run on the PPP model and will offer a whole range of cuisines.

1:58 PM

India exports 7 mn tons of sugar so far this marketing yr; may touch new record of 9 mn: ISMA

India, the world's second largest sugar producer after Brazil, has exported 7 million tonnes of the sweetener so far in the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year, and exports from the country may touch a new record of 9 million tonnes, industry body ISMA said on Thursday.

Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), in a statement, said the country's sugar output has risen to 34.23 million tonnes till April of the current marketing year, from 30 million tonnes in the year-ago period.

Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.

1:28 PM

PM Modi to chair review meeting on preparedness for heatwave

PM Modi to chair review meeting on preparedness for heatwave on Thursday.

 

Several parts of the country have logged all-time high temperatures under the impact of the torrid heatwave.

1:11 PM

2 in 5 Indian users happy at Musk's Twitter acquisition: Report

Around two in five (37 per cent) Twitter users in India are happy about the micro-blogging platform's acquisition by tech billionaire Elon Musk, with urban millennial users being most likely to say this (at 43 per cent), a report said on Thursday.

According to a survey, commissioned by YouGov, a majority of Twitter users in India believe that the platform will become the most powerful social medium under the Tesla CEO's leadership.

1:09 PM

Two Russian villages shelled by Ukraine, governor says

Two villages in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine have been shelled by Ukraine, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Thursday, adding that there were no civilian casualties.

"There is shelling from the Ukrainian side on Zhuravlyovka and Nekhoteevka," he said.

12:49 PM

Ajit Pawar hits out at Raj Thackeray's 'language of ultimatum' over loudspeaker row

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday hit out at MNS head Raj Thackeray over his call for the removal of loudspeakers on mosques and said nobody should speak the "language of ultimatum" with the government.

Talking to reporters here, Pawar said the Supreme Court's decision on noise pollution is applicable to all places of worship in Maharashtra, and asserted that the state government runs as per law and the Constitution.

12:42 PM

SC upholds Delhi HC order directing DMRC to pay Rs 4,600 cr arbitral award to DAMEPL

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Delhi High Court order directing the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to pay over Rs 4,600 crore of arbitral award along with interest to the Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) in two equal installments in two months.

 

The order was passed by a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai.

 

The high court on March 10 had directed the DMRC to pay over Rs 4,600 crore of arbitral award along with interest to DAMEPL.