Morning Digest | Iran President’s helicopter crashes, search under way; Rae Bareli, Amethi among seats going to polls in Phase 5 today, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on May 20, 2024

Intense search for Iran’s President Raisi after helicopter suffers a ‘hard landing’

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suffered a “hard landing” on May 19, Iranian state media reported, without elaborating. Mr. Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards were on board the helicopter, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. 

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