Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, May 18, 2018: Boeing 737 Crashes in Havana With 104 Passengers On Board

In what can prove to be one of the worst aviation disasters of 2018, a Boeing 737 has crashed in Havana with 104 passengers on board. Reports of casualties are yet not certain but a massive fireball followed by smoke was seen near the site of the crash.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Congress-JDS plea against the PRO TEM Speaker appointed by the Karnataka Governor. Earlier in the day, Governor Vajubhai Vala had appointed the 3-time BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as the PRO TEM Speaker who would conduct the floor test on the house of Karnataka Assembly on Saturday. RV Deshpande is the senior most leader in the house and hence should have been the Pro Tem Speaker is what the Congress is demanding. The plea will now be heard by the apex court at 10.30 am tomorrow.

In a tragic news breaking now, at least 8 students have been killed in Texas school shooting. Further development awaited. 

Congress plea against Pro Tem Speaker filed in the Supreme Court, the registry will now decide on the listing of the case.

Three terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Handwara district of Jammu & Kashmir. More details are awaited.

A day before floor test in Karnataka Congress released an Audio clip where BJP leader Janaradhana Reddy is trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering money and posts. Congress claims Janaradhana Reddy clearly says he has the backing of BJP President Amit Shah for doing horse trading!

BS Yeddyurappa will head the crucial BJP meet which will begin at 7 pm. According to reports, the BJP MLAs will move to a resort. Earlier, Congress declared that it will challenge the appointment of Pro Tem Speaker KG Bopaiah in the Supreme Court. The Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai Vala, had appointed the three-time BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as Pro Tem Speaker who will be responsible for conducting the floor test on Saturday. The Congress has alleged that the appointment of Bopaiah is against political conviction as the senior most MLA must be appointed as Pro Tem Speaker. RV Deshpande is the senior most leader in the house and hence should have been the Pro Tem Speaker said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

Congress to challenge the appointment of Pro Tem Speaker KG Bopaiah. The Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai Vala, had earlier appointed the three-time BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as Pro Tem Speaker who will be responsible for conducting the floor test on Saturday. The Congress has alleged that the appointment of Bopaiah is against the provision in the Constitution of India as the senior most MLA must be appointed as Pro Tem Speaker.  RV Deshpande is the senior most leader in the house and hence should have been the Pro Tem Speaker said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

A speeding truck in Uttarakhand mowed down 11 Hindu pilgrims who were on their way to the hilltop temple and were walking barefoot to express gratitude to the deity. All the pilgrims killed belong to Uttar Pradesh' Bareilly district. 

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala calls special assembly at 11 am for oath-taking before the floor test at 4pm. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court of India ordered BS Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the house on Saturday at 4 pm. The Supreme Court of India rejected the BJP's appeal to grant it more time for proving majority after Congress complained about the unprecedented 15 days given to BS Yeddyurappa to prove majority. 

Delhi Police has reached Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house to question the Aam Aadmi Party (AAM) chief on the alleged assault took place on Delhi Secretary Anshu Prakash. Two AAP MLAs have had to go to prison in the same assault case. 

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala appoints BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as Pro Tem Speaker. Bopaiah will conduct the floor test.

Today, The Supreme Court of India heard the plea filed by Congress-JD(S) against Karnataka Governor inviting BJP to form the government. After hearing both the sides the apex court of India observed and served following key decisions and orders.
1. Pro tem Speaker to decide on the mode of floor test to be conducted at 4pm tomorrow, in Karnataka.
2. No Secret Ballot and No Videography in Assembly while the floor test is carried out.
3. There can be no nomination of Anglo Indian MLA in the assembly.
4. Current CM Yeddyurappa shall not take any major policy decisions in the state.
5. Karnataka DGP should ensure the proper security of all the elected MLAs.

The Karnataka drama will be continued, the Congress and JDS MLA who travelled over 500 kms last night for 12 hours from Bangalore to Hyderabad will now have to reach back to Bangalore. We can now just wait and watch what MLAs decide tomorrow at the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm.

Supreme Court orders floor test in Karnataka tomorrow at 4 pm. SC says NO Ballot, NO Anglo Indian MLA. A moral victory for Congress-JDS alliance. Here are the more details of the case.

Supreme Court orders floor test in Karnataka tomorrow evening at 4 pm. While SC stays Congress-JD(S)'s plea challenging Karnataka Governor's decision to nominate an Anglo-Indian MLA to the Assembly. 

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Lawyer for Congress-JD(S), informs Supreme Court that Congress-JD(S) alliance is ready for floor test tomorrow. That means a 500 km trip back to Bangalore from Hyderabad for Congress-JDS MLAs. The Congress-JDS lawyer also sought proper security for their MLAs in case of floor test being conducted. Supreme Court observed that it can pass an order to make proper security arrangements

Congress-JD(S) plea against Karnataka Governor inviting BJP to form the government is underway, Supreme Court Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri said, floor test seems to be the best option. Why not tomorrow? 

As the Congress-JDS MLAs reach the Taj Krishna Hotel in Hyderabad, Lawyers are fighting out for the fate of Karnataka in Supreme Court. We are waiting for the Supreme Court ruling. Both sides are producing the letter of support from MLAs to stake the claim of majority in the house. 

The hearing on the plea filed by Congress and JDS is underway in Supreme Court. Both the sides Congress-JDS and BJP are confident of producing the list of MLAs with their signed support. The drama is over to The Supreme Court of India in Delhi.