Highlights of the day: Windfall tax on petroleum cut to Rs 5,700 per metric tonne

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11:35 PM

Windfall tax on petroleum cut to Rs 5,700 per metric ton

The Indian government has cut the windfall tax on petroleum to 5,700 Indian rupees ($68.34) per metric ton from 8,400 with effect from May 16, according to anotification issued on Wednesday.

10:54 PM

Netanyahu says he hopes Israel can get aid, overcome US disagreements

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to receive US military aid and to overcome US President Joe Biden's pause on certain weapons, vowing to fight Hamas without American support amid what he called a disagreement with Washington. On Tuesday, sources said the US State Department moved a $1 billion weapons aid package for Israel into the congressional review process. Asked in a CNBC interview that aired on Wednesday if he could confirm the $1 billion package movement, Netanyahu declined to say but added that he appreciates US assistance.

9:47 PM

Delhi AQI turns 'poor'; experts cite unfavourable weather

The national capital experienced a decline in air quality, slipping into the 'poor' category due to adverse meteorological conditions and incidents of stubble burning and forest fires in neighboring states, as reported by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). By 4 pm, the city's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) reached 243, prompting the CAQM, a statutory body mandated by the Centre to devise and execute air pollution mitigation strategies in Delhi-NCR, to convene a review meeting with experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

9:03 PM

Biden and Trump agree on debates in June and September

US President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September. However, there are no guarantees that they will occur as their camps remain far apart on key details like the setting and ground rules for the potential face-offs. The quick agreement on the timetable followed the Democrat's announcement that he will not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Instead, Biden's campaign proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates with the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees, with the first to be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site, expressed readiness and willingness to debate Biden at the proposed times.

8:31 PM

BMC asks railway authorities to remove hoardings of above 40x40 feet size

In the wake of Mumbai billboard collapse incident that claimed 14 lives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued notices to the administrations of the Central Railway and the Western Railway for the removal of oversized hoardings erected on their land. In a release issued on Wednesday evening, the Mumbai civic body stated that it has issued notices to the authorities of both zonal railways for removal of hoardings above 40 x 40 feet size under Section 30 (2) (V) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. "Taking into consideration the geographical position of Mumbai, the coastal region, its weather and wind conditions, the civic body has decided not to permit the erection of hoardings larger than 40x40 feet in size," the release said.

8:18 PM

Slovakia's prime minister wounded in shooting

Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting Wednesday afternoon and taken to hospital. Reports on TA3, a Slovakian TV station, said that Fico, 59, was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the leader was meeting with supporters. A suspect has been detained, it said. Police sealed off the scene.

8:00 PM

Karnataka govt takes preventive measures as number of dengue cases rise

Amidst a surge in confirmed cases of dengue in Karnataka, the State Health Department announced on Wednesday that preventive measures have been implemented to curb the spread of the disease. According to reports from May 13, the state has recorded 2,877 confirmed cases of dengue since January 1 this year, marking a significant increase from last year's figure of 1,725 during the same period. Authorities attribute this rise to intensified screening, reporting, and testing initiatives.

7:31 PM

Extreme heatwave: Mercury reaches 41.2 degrees Celsius in Delhi

The national capital experienced a high temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, slightly above the season's average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Meanwhile, the city registered a minimum temperature of 22.9 degrees Celsius, which is more than two notches below the normal range, according to the IMD.

6:59 PM

Pakistan HC grants bail to Imran Khan in 190 mn pounds corruption case

On Wednesday, a High Court in Pakistan granted bail to Imran Khan in the 190 million pounds corruption case. The case alleges that the incarcerated former prime minister and his wife received land valued at billions of rupees as a bribe from a real estate tycoon. Following the conclusion of arguments, a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court had reserved the verdict on Tuesday, which was delivered granting bail to Imran Khan.

6:35 PM

ED arrests Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam in money laundering case

Enforcement Directorate arrests Alamgir Alam, minister, Jharkhand in connection with money laundering case.

5:55 PM

Russia is prepared to negotiate over Ukraine, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to engage in negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine in an interview with Chinese media ahead of his visit to Beijing, a key ally that has supported Moscow throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "We are open to dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must consider the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours," Putin stated, as quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.

5:53 PM

NIA chargesheet against tenth accused for delivering weapons from Pak to LeT terrorists by drones

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has added another individual to its list of accused in connection to the transportation of arms and weapons from Pakistan to terrorists associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) using drones, the agency announced on Wednesday. Identified as Zakir Hussain, also known as Sonu, he becomes the tenth accused to face charges in a case initiated by the NIA in 2022. The agency submitted its second supplementary charge sheet to a special court in Jammu, detailing the involvement of Hussain in the alleged activities.

5:35 PM

IT industry veterans Narayana Murthy, Kris Gopalakrishnan bat for increased funding for research

IT industry stalwarts N R Narayana Murthy and Kris Gopalakrishnan advocated for a boost in funding for research and higher academic institutions in India, emphasizing the importance of private and public sectors stepping up their support. Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, highlighted the necessity for innovative approaches to modernize outdated practices. He said , "We also need to increase our funding for research, both from private and public....more is needed. Look at US universities -- MIT, Harvard, Stanford, etc -- they get endowments worth billions of dollars, so I hope that our alumni will contribute more to our institutions."

5:17 PM

Sri Lanka in talks with India to set up small arms manufacturing unit

Sri Lanka announced on Wednesday its holding discussions with India to establish a small firearms production facility, as part of broader defense collaboration. Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon revealed, "We are in talks with India regarding the establishment of a small arms manufacturing unit. We're engaging with our Indian counterparts, recognizing the substantial knowledge exchange potential."

4:58 PM

Russia-Ukraine news: US official Blinken announces $2 billion arms deal for Ukraine

US Secretary of State Blinken announced $2 billion arms deal for Ukraine; mostly from package approved last month, news agency AP reported today.