News updates: India has given Buddha to the world, not war, says PM to Indians in Austria

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Austria visit to Mumbai's hit-and-run case, and from Bihar's bridge collapse to bypolls in seven states, catch all the latest news updates here

7:00 PM

Rouse Avenue Court grants 7-day custody of Arvind Dham to ED in money laundering case

6:45 PM

Future of youth in 'limbo' due to 'anti-education mindset' of BJP: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the youth of the country have been completely demoralised by unemployment and claimed their future is in "limbo" due to the BJP's "anti-education mindset".

The former Congress chief's remarks came over a media report, which claimed that the salaries of engineers graduating from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in 2024 have experienced a decline due to the slowdown in hiring.

5:53 PM

China says India has no right to carry out development in Arunachal Pradesh

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that India has no right to carry out development in the area it calls South Tibet, responding to a Reuters report on New Delhi's plans to speed up hydropower projects in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that India plans to spend $1 billion to expedite the construction of 12 hydropower stations in the northeastern Himalayan state.

5:06 PM

Swati Maliwal assault case: HC reserves order on bail plea by Delhi CM's aide Bibhav Kumar

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it will on July 12 pronounce order on whether to grant bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the case pertaining to alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta reserved verdict on the bail plea moved by Kumar in relation to the case after hearing his counsel as well as the lawyers appearing for the Delhi Police and Maliwal. "Order reserved. Keep for order on Friday," the judge said.

5:01 PM

In Austria, PM Modi reaffirms 'this is not time for war'; says 'loss of innocent lives is unacceptable'

Reaffirming that "this is not the time for war", Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Austria from Moscow, said, "Chancellor Karl Nehammer and I have discussed in detail the ongoing conflicts around the world, whether it is the conflict in Ukraine or the situation in West Asia. I have said before that this is not a time for war. Problems cannot be solved on the battlefield. The loss of innocent lives, anywhere, is unacceptable."

4:54 PM

Budget aligns with PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat' vision: Rajasthan Finance Minister Diya Kumari

Rajasthan Finance Minister Diya Kumari presented the Budget 2024-25 on Wednesday. She said, "This Budget is not for one or five years, rather it is a vision until 2047, on the lines of PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat'. Infrastructure, jobs, women empowerment were focussed. It also addresses welfare of each section of society. We have talked about 4 lakh government jobs in 5 years. We will implement it. We also focussed on private sector, start-ups, entrepreneurship." Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticised the Budget saying, "There would not be any significant impact on people."

4:49 PM

Bangladesh and China sign 21 agreements, MoU as PM Hasina meets President Xi

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met President Xi Jinping and her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang here on Wednesday as the two countries signed 21 agreements, MoUs and announced seven more projects to further elevate their strategic cooperative ties. During the meetings, both countries agreed to elevate their "strategic partnership" to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” Bangladesh's state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.

4:40 PM

Uttarakhand bypolls: Four hurt in clash in Manglaur assembly constituency

Four people were injured in a clash between supporters of rival parties at a polling booth in Uttarkhand's Manglaur assembly constituency where bypolls were underway on Wednesday, according to police. Polling was also underway in the state's Badrinath assembly constituency. By 3 pm, a voter turnout of 56.21 per cent was recorded in Manglaur and 40.50 per cent in Badrinath. In Manglaur, the BSP has fielded Ubedur Rehman, the son of party MLA Sarwat Karim Ansari whose death necessitated the bypoll, against Congress' Qazi Nizamuddin. The BJP has fielded Gujjar leader Kartar Singh Bhadana.

 

4:33 PM

BMW hit-and-run case: Accused Mihir Shah sent to police custody till July 16

Sewri court on Wednesday remanded Mihir Shah, the prime accused in the BMW hit-and-run case, in police custody till July 16. Shah, 24, was arrested on Tuesday, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler, killing a woman and leaving her husband injured. On Wednesday, he was produced before chief metropolitan magistrate (Sewri court) S P Bhosale, who sent him to police custody. During the hearing, the police told the court it was a "cruel, heartless crime". 

4:25 PM

SC judge Sanjiv Khanna recuses from considering review pleas on same-sex marriage

Senior-most Supreme Court judge Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday recused himself from considering pleas seeking review of the apex court's judgement last year declining legal recognition to same-sex marriage, according to PTI sources. Justice Khanna has cited personal reasons for his recusal. The recusal of Justice Khanna would necessitate reconstitution of a fresh five-judge constitution bench by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for considering the review pleas.

4:17 PM

Police have not mentioned ground for arrest; why do they want custody: Mihir's counsel

During the hearing of the hit-and-run case at the Sewri court, accused Mihir Shah's counsel said, "The driver and Mihir were questioned after sitting in front of each other. Police have taken the phone, so why do they want custody now." The counsel added, "The accused was taken to the accident spot on Tuesday (July 9) where he narrated the entire incident. Driver's and Mihir's statement match. Police have not mentioned the ground for the arrest of Mihir."

4:03 PM

India's role in Russia-Ukraine peace process more than important: Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer

3:51 PM

BMW hit-and-run case: Maha CM assures strict action against guilty; announces Rs 10L aid for victim's kin

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday assured strict action against the guilty in the BMW case and announced Rs 10 lakh aid for the victim's family, amid criticism that the key accused is the son of his party leader. He said there was no question of supporting anyone and no one would be spared. Whoever is guilty will not be spared; strict action will be taken against them, Shinde told reporters here. "We stand by the family of the victim. We will provide legal and financial support to the aggrieved family. We will give them Rs 10 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund. They are from our family," he said.

3:49 PM

Panel formed to identify foreign nationals illegally staying in Jammu-Kashmir for past 13 years

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has formed a seven-member panel to identify foreign nationals who have been illegally overstaying in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 13 years, aiming to facilitate their deportation. The panel has been tasked with gathering biographic and biometric details of illegal migrants and maintaining an updated digital record regularly. "Sanction is hereby accorded to the re-constitution of the committee to identify foreign nationals illegally overstaying in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since 2011", Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti said in an order.

3:38 PM

Inviting Austria to join solar alliance, bio-fuel alliance and collision for disaster resilient infra: PM Modi

Speaking at the joint press meet in Vienna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "We discussed the biggest challenges humanity is facing right now, including climate change and terrorism. In the climate subject, we are inviting Austria, to join our initiatives like international solar alliance, collision for disaster resilient infrastructure and bio-fuel alliance. We both strongly condemn terrorism. We agree that terrorism can't be justified in any way."