News updates: Mehul Choksi says 'reasons beyond his control' have prevented his return to India

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11:23 PM

Mehul Choksi says ‘reasons beyond his control' have prevented his return to India

Diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the multi-crore PNB scam, has told a special court here that he hasn't been able to return to India “due to reasons beyond his control” and hence cannot be declared a “fugitive economic offender”. The accused has claimed that he didn't leave India to avoid criminal prosecution nor is he refusing to return to the country. He said his passport has been suspended by Indian authorities.

9:49 PM

I'm against tax incentives for EVs: Elon Musk

Tesla founder Elon Musk on Thursday told tech investors gathered in Paris that he was against any tax incentives or tariffs that favour electric cars, just as he was against benefits for oil and gas.
 

"Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs, in fact I was surprised when they were announced", Musk said, referring to such policies recently announced by the United States.

8:59 PM

70 people hospitalised after gas cylinder explodes in Palanpur scrap shop

Several people were admitted to hospital after a gas cylinder exploded in a scrap shop near the Malan Darwaja of Palanpur in Gujarat. "The gas also spread in the area and people faced difficulty in breathing. Around 60-70 people were brought to Palanpur Civil Hospital. One patient is critical and he is on a ventilator. Currently, around 30 patients are still under treatment," says an official of the hospital.

8:58 PM

Reliance, Disney seek India antitrust nod with cricket rights assurance

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney have sought antitrust clearance for their $8.5 billion India media merger by arguing their combined power, especially on cricket broadcasting, will not hit advertisers, two people with direct knowledge told Reuters. 

8:58 PM

Pakistan central bank's forex reserves at $9.15 billion

The Pakistan central bank's foreign exchange reserves rose by $22 million to stand at $9.15 billion in the week ending May 17, up from $9.13 billion in the preceding week, the State Bank of Pakistan said on Thursday.

7:40 PM

Actor Shah Rukh Khan discharged from Ahmedabad hospital

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has been discharged from Ahmedabad's KD Hospital after suffering from heat stroke and dehydration

7:40 PM

Morgan Stanley executive chairman will step down at year end

Morgan Stanley's executive chairman James Gorman will step down on Dec. 31, he told the bank's annual shareholder meeting. The former CEO cited the "successful transition" of his successor Ted Pick into the top job.

6:44 PM

Now, bomb threat at Lady Sri Ram College

Delhi University's prestigious Lady Sri Ram College received a bomb threat on Thursday, officials said, a day after a similar e-mail was received by the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

 

A Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials said a call was received at 4.38 pm and two fire tenders have been pressed into service.

 

The local police, a bomb disposal squad, a bomb detection team have arrived at the spot along with a dog squad and are conducting searches.

 

The officials said they have found nothing suspicious yet.

 

The Lady Sri Ram College becomes the latest prominent establishment to have received a bomb threat.

5:19 PM

Swati Maliwal speaks on victim blaming in an interview with ANI

Member of Rajya Sabha Swati Maliwal spoke to ANI about victim blaming saying, "Nirbhaya was also asked why she did not travel in auto, why did she go out in the night and not in the day? Victim shaming happens with every woman. The sad part is that woman Delhi minister said, 'Her clothes are not torn.' I want Police to conduct my polygraph test so that everything becomes clear."

5:18 PM

IndiGo to launch 'tailor-made' product for busiest routes

Private carrier IndiGo will launch a new tailor-made business product to cater to India's busiest and business routes, Interglobe Aviation said on Thursday. The product will be operational by the end of this year.

4:56 PM

Prajwal should be given harshest punishment under law if found guilty, says Ex-PM Deve Gowda

Ex-PM Deve Gowda asked grandson and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna to return to India and face investigation over sexual abuse allegations, PTI reported today.

4:49 PM

Instructions have been given to party members to assassinate my character: AAP MP Swati Maliwal

 "It is also a fact that despite all this happening till date, I have not received any call from Arvind ji nor has he met me till now. Arvind Ji is protecting the accused. Instructions have been given to every person in the entire party to assassinate my character," AAP MP Swati Maliwal told Smita Prakash today. 

4:35 PM

Iran begins burying late president, foreign minister and others killed in helicopter crash

Iran today prepared to inter its late president at the holiest site for Shiite Muslims in the Islamic Republic, a final sign of respect for a protégé of Iran's supreme leader killed in a helicopter crash earlier this week.

4:31 PM

Feeling very betrayed right now; God forbid anyone ever feels like this: Swati Maliwal

"Cheer Haran mera uss ghar mein hua aur Charitra Haran mera roz chalaya ja raha hai," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal told Smita Prakash. She added "I am feeling very betrayed right now, by everyone, whatever I am feeling right now, I just wish that God forbid anyone ever feels like this. I have lost everything"

4:12 PM

News update: I was screaming for help but no one came to help me, says Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal

Former DCW chief Swati Maliwal told Smita Prakash in her podcast that allegedly no one came to help her at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence.