Highlights of the day: Highest temperature in Raj was recorded in Phalodi at 50 degrees C on May 25

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2:51 PM

Reliance seeks CCI approval for $ 8.5-bn Viacom18-Star India merger

Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries has sought approval from Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the $8.5-billion merger of Viacom18 and Star India Pvt Ltd (SIPL).

 

2:45 PM

Peak power demand hits season's new high of nearly 240 GW on Friday

With the mercury soaring and the usage of air conditioners and coolers rising, India's peak power demand hit the season's new high of 239.96 GW on Friday.

2:42 PM

A look at voter turnout until 1 PM; West Bengal leads at 54.80%

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 voter turnout data as of 1 PM:
 

As of 1 pm, the overall voter turnout was recorded at 39.13 per cent. Following previous trends, West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 54.80 per cent, while Bihar and Haryana closely followed with 36.48 per cent each. Jharkhand recorded 42.54 per cent voter turnout, while Jammu & Kashmir and Odisha saw 35.22 per cent and 35.69 per cent respectively. Uttar Pradesh registered a turnout of 37.23 per cent, and Delhi reported 34.37 per cent.

2:27 PM

All citizens should exercise their right to vote, says CDS Anil Chauhan

"We want all citizens to exercise their democratic right:" Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan after casting vote. General Chauhan was with his wife at the polling booth.

 

2:19 PM

LS polls: PoK belongs to India and we will take it, says HM Amit Shah

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is an integral part of India and "we will take it", Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday. Shah added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already won 310 seats in the first five phases of Lok Sabha polls and the target of '400-paar' would be achieved in the sixth and the last phases.

 

2:06 PM

Will begin process of holding assembly polls in J&K very soon: CEC Kumar

Encouraged by the voter participation in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission is likely to "very soon" initiate the process of holding assembly polls in the Union Territory, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday.

 

1:47 PM

Blast at explosives factory in Chhattisgarh leaves one dead, six injured

One person was killed and at least six were injured in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district on Saturday, officials said.

 

1:37 PM

LS polls: INDIA bloc performing 'mujra' for its vote bank, says PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to dismantle alleged attempts to rob Dalits and backward classes of reservations by the INDIA bloc which he accused of enslavement and performing mujra for Muslim vote bank, PTI reported.

 

1:26 PM

Unemployment, inflation biggest issues; public in our favour: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said unemployment and price rise are the "biggest issues" in the country. She said that her party was confident that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections, with an undercurrent in its favour.

 

1:09 PM

Widespread rains cause damage to property in Kerala; heavy downpour likely

The ongoing spell of heavy rains in Kerala has put normal life off track, with scores of houses suffering damage, roads being submerged, trees uprooted, flood water entering houses and trains running late, PTI reported.

12:32 PM

Voter turnourt until 11AM: Here are the details of voting across states

With the voting for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections underway in seven states and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, here are the details of voter turnout until 11 AM on saturday.

State/UT	Voter Turnout
Bihar	23.67%
Haryana	22.09%
Jharkhand	27.8%
Odisha	21.30%
Uttar Pradesh	27.06%
West Bengal	36.88%
Delhi	21.69%
Jammu and Kashmir	23.11%

12:25 PM

Bihar is living with lanterns in the era of LED bulbs: PM Modi

Addressing a poll rally in Bihar, PM Narendra Modi said, "This is the era of LED bulbs and people in Bihar are roaming around with a lantern. This is a lantern that lights up just one house. This lantern has spread darkness all over Bihar."

 

12:04 PM

We need to dispel doubts, suspicions around electoral processes: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar cast his vote at a polling booth in Delhi and emphasised the need to dispel doubts and suspicions surrounding electoral processes.

 

11:54 AM

India's first Palme d'Or contender in 30 yrs emerges as frontrunner

One of the final few main Competition titles to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light" has instantly emerged as a frontrunner for the Palme d'Or. No Indian female director has ever competed for Cannes' top prize nor has any filmmaker from the country bagged the coveted award.

11:37 AM

Pak PM Sharif to visit China next month for launch of 2nd phase of CPEC

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit China in the first week of next month to join the formal launching of the second phase of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, according to a media report on Saturday.