TODAY NEWS ON May 20, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi suffers a ‘hard landing,’ reports Iranian state media

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suffered a “hard landing” on May 19, Iranian state media reported, without immediately elaborating. Mr. Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV said the incident happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Traveling with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. One local government official used the word “crash” to describe the incident, but he acknowledged to an Iranian newspaper that he had yet to reach the site himself.

Shed ‘urban apathy’, vote in large numbers: EC

On the eve of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission (EC) said it was geared up for the polls in 49 seats across eight States and union territories, many of them in urban areas such as Mumbai, Lucknow, Hooghly, Howrah and Thane. Voting for 35 Assembly constituencies of the Odisha Assembly will also take place simultaneously in this phase. Elections to politically important constituencies for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh such as Rae Bareli and Amethi are also to be held on Monday.

Rahul, Akhilesh exit U.P. rally as milling crowds create ruckus

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday rushed out of a public meeting in Prayagraj after a ruckus broke out and a stampede-like situation led to a likely security threat. The two opposition leaders who left the meeting without addressing the crowd held a conversation, adding their mike was not working and it was not possible to hold the meeting.

Mamata threatening Hindu religious organisation for her vote bank says Modi

Accusing West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of threatening Hindu religious organisations like Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Ramakrishna Mission and ISCKON, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged that the Chief Minister is indulging in such acts to “appease her vote bank under pressure from Muslim fundamentalists”. He made the remarks at election meetings in the State a day after the Chief Minister accused “some sadhus (saints)” of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Ramakrishna Mission, and ISCKON of “working for the interest of BJP”.

Indo-Russian joint venture handed over 27,000 Ak-203 assault rifles to Indian Army

The Indian Army has started receiving the Russian AK-203 assault rifles after the deal with Russia saw back-to-back delays, partly due to the war in Ukraine and payment delays. As many as 27,000 rifles have been handed over to the Army so far by the Indo-Russian joint venture established at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh, according to official sources.

Delhi records hottest day of season, hotter days ahead

The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a ‘red alert’ for the Capital due to severe heat wave conditions. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is four degrees above normal for the season. The IMD has urged people to avoid heat exposure and keep cool and to take steps to avoid dehydration.

Southwest monsoon makes onset over Nicobar Islands: IMD

Southwest monsoon, the lifeline of India's farm-based economy, on Sunday made its onset over the Nicobar Islands, the southernmost region of the country, the India Meteorological Department said. "Southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the Maldives, and the Comorin area and some parts of the South Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and South Andaman Sea on Sunday," the weather office said.

SIT likely to submit report on poll violence in Andhra Pradesh to ECI on May 20

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe into the poll-related violence in Andhra Pradesh is likely to submit its report to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on May 20. The State government transferred Palnadu Collector and Tirupati Superintendent of Police (SP), while the SPs of Palnadu and Anantapur districts and 12 police officers were suspended. The government formed the SIT to probe into the violence.

Supreme Court to hear plea against new criminal laws passed by Parliament on May 20

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on May 20 a petition challenging the enactment of three new laws that seek to overhaul India’s penal codes claiming that they suffer from many “defects and discrepancies”. A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal is likely to hear the matter. Seeking a stay on the operation of the three new laws, the PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari has said they were enacted without any parliamentary debate as most of the opposition members were under suspension.

PM Modi pans Mamata Banerjee for her remarks against RKM, Bharat Sevashram Sangha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 19 condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks against Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha and said threats are being issued against these socio-religious organisations to “appease” TMC’s vote bank. Addressing a rally in Purulia, Mr. Modi said the TMC has crossed the limits of decency by stooping so low that it is “spreading canards against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha”.

More than 3,300 CISF contingent to take full charge of Parliament security from May 20

More than 3,300 CISF personnel will take over the complete counterterrorism and anti-sabotage security duties at the Parliament complex from Monday following the withdrawal of over 1,400 CRPF staff from the country’s most important symbol of democracy, official sources said. The parliament duty group (PDG) of the CRPF wound up its entire administrative and operational paraphernalia — vehicles, weapons and commandos — from of the complex on Friday and its commander, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, handed over all the security points in the complex to the incoming CISF group, the sources said.

An airstrike kills 20 in central Gaza and fighting rages as Israel’s leaders air wartime divisions

An Israeli airstrike killed 20 people in central Gaza, mostly women and children, and fighting raged across the north on Sunday as Israel’s leaders aired divisions over who should govern Gaza after the war, now in its eighth month. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from his own War Cabinet, with his main political rival, Benny Gantz, threatening to leave the government if a plan is not formulated by June 8 that includes an international administration for postwar Gaza.

Kerala rains | IMD scales up warning; 4 districts on red alert till May 21

The India Meteorological Department has scaled up the weather warning for Kerala by issuing red alerts for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki districts for extremely heavy rainfall from May 19 till May 21. Extremely heavy rainfall indicates the possibility of above 20 cm rainfall in a 24-hour period. The warning level was upgraded in a 1 p.m. update. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Ernakulam are on orange alert for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 19.

Heavy rains set off flash floods in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 47 people

More heavy rains in Afghanistan have triggered flash floods, raising the death toll to 47 in the country’s north following weeks of devastating torrents that had already left hundreds dead and missing, a Taliban spokesman said May 19. The new round of heavy rains and floods hit three districts in Faryab province May 18 night, destroying houses and farmlands, said Shamsuddin Mohammadi, the provincial director of information. Earlier reports from Faryab put the death toll at 18 but officials said they were still preliminary figures.

Thailand Open badminton: Satwik-Chirag win title, beat China’s Chen-Liu

India’s star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued its dream run as it secured the Thailand Open Super 500 title by outwitting Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi of China in the final in Bangkok on May 19. The World number three Indian duo, which had claimed its first major title in Thailand in 2019, prevailed 21-15 21-15 over Liu and Chen, ranked 29th, in 46 minutes to receive a major boost ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Punjab Kings by four wickets in IPL

Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed Punjab Kings by four wickets to end the league phase of the Indian Premier League with 17 points in Hyderabad on May 19. Chasing 215, SRH overhauled the target with five balls to spare after opener Abhishek Sharma hammered a 28-ball 66 (6x6s, 5x4s).

IPL 2024: Action moves to Ahmedabad as KKR, SRH, RR and RCB make it to the playoffs

KKR finished the league engagements on 20 points with nine wins and two more solitary points courtesy wash-outs, SRH (17 points) pipped RR (17 points) due to its better Net Run Rate (NRR). SRH finished with NRR of 0.414 compared to RR’s 0.273. KKR will play SRH in the first Qualifier in Ahmedabad on Tuesday followed by the ‘Eliminator’ between RR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the same venue.

Manchester City win historic fourth straight Premier League title

Manchester City created English football history on May 19, overcoming West Ham 3-1 to win their fourth straight Premier League title and break Arsenal’s hearts as Jurgen Klopp made an emotional Liverpool exit.

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