Breaking News June 29 Highlights: Delhi Rains, Iran Election, NEET-UG 2024 & More

-Ladakh: 5 Army Soldiers Swept Away While Crossing River Near LAC; Rajnath Singh Condoles Deaths Read full story

-Arvind Kejriwal Sent To CBI Judicial Custody Till July 12 In Excise Policy Case Read full story

-‘Indira Gandhi Put Us In Jail, But Never Abused Us': Lalu Prasad On Emergency Read full story

-'BJP Has Expertise In...': Hemant Soren Launches Scathing Attack Day After Release From Jail Read full story

-Sunita Williams Might Remain In Space For Months Before Homecoming Read full story

-‘Preaches Consensus, Values Confrontation’: Sonia Gandhi's Fresh Attack On PM Modi Read full story

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released fresh dates for the UGC-NET. The examination will now be held from August 21-September 4.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will be discharged from a hospital on Saturday after his successful knee surgery in the United States.

NDRF team on Saturday recovered a body from the rubble of an under-construction wall that collapsed in Vasant Vihar area yesterday amid heavy rains.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has reportedly rubbished reports of his reignation from the state's top post as some MLAs from his party and its allies are in Delhi. He has said the visit has nothing to do with his resignation.

India has trashed US report on religious freedom in the country, saying it is "deeply biased and driven by voteband considerations".

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking exemption for the state from NEET examination.

Stalin has written to Modi after the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution opposing the NEET exam on Friday.

The posters in favour of former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren were put up in Ranchi after he was released on bail by Jharkhand High Court. He was arrested by the ED on 31 January 2024 in connection with a land scam case.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has suspended flight operations from Terminal 1 till further notice following yesterday's canopy collapse incident in which one person was killed and eight others were injured.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday said, "Yesterday we had a meeting with all BJP MPs from Chhattisgarh and it was an introductory meeting... Our minister (Dharmendra Pradhan) has said that the accused (in NEET issue) will not be spared and action is being taken."

On Delhi's Vasant Vihar wall collapse incident, NDRF Deputy Commandant Ajit R said, "The NDRF control room received information at 9 am yesterday about the incident and our team reached the spot at 10 am. We started our operation, Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service personnel were already here. After almost 23-hour operation, we have recovered three bodies. We are still continuing our search operation."

The security has been heightened at Rouse Avenue Court as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to be produced before the court on Saturday.

Earlier, the court sent Kejriwal to three-day CBI custody in excise policy case.

Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Saturday arrived to attend party's national executive meeting being held in Delhi.

Five Army soldiers were killed after tank met with an accident during river crossing exercise in the Daulat Beg Oldie area along Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the officials said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said, "It is not my intention to humiliate anyone but my kind submission that please see that there is no political biasness in judiciary. Judiciary must be absolutely pure, honest, sacred."

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) on Saturday said a journalist was arrested from Jharkhand's Hazaribagh in connection with the NEET-UG 2024 paper-leak case.

The arrested man has been identified as Jamaluddin.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday paid tributes to the five Army soldiers who were killed after tank met with an accident while crossing river in Daulat Beig Oldie area along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

He said, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh.

We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers on Saturday held protest at party headquarters in Delhi over alleged misuse of ED, CBI by the Centre.

BJP state general secretary N Ravikumar on Saturday lead a protest in Bengaluru against rising milk prices in Karnataka.

In its reaction on Ladakh incident that killed five Army soldiers, Indian Army said, "On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway."

On Hemant Soren getting bail, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Saturday said, "All cases are false...I thank the High Court for granting bail...By putting a false case, they (BJP) launched a conspiracy to keep him (Hemant Soren) out of elections...Justice always prevails..."

On loss of five soldiers in tank mishap along Line of Actual Control(LAC) in Ladakh, Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Saturday expressed condolences with the families of the slain bravehearts.

AAP leaders and workers held a protest near the BJP's headquarters on DDU Marg to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in CBI custody.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi government's excise policy. PTI

Surface communication to several Arunachal Pradesh districts was snapped following landslides triggered by incessant rain, officials said on Saturday.

A key stretch from Aalo in West Siang district to Mechukha in Shi-Yomi district was damaged in between Roing and Pene villages due to the continuous downpour, they said. PTI

The canopy outside Rajkot airport terminal in Gujarat collapsed amid heavy rain on Saturday. There were no reports of any injuries.

JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar on Saturday after the party's national executive meeting in Delhi said, "Two important proposals were passed during party's national executive meeting today. Party's national president CM Nitish Kumar has decided to make Sanjay Jha party's working president. It was also decided that JD(U) will remain with the NDA."

Former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren, while addressing a public gathering in Ranchi on Saturday said, “No one can hide the truth, it comes out sooner or later. I have come amongst you once again to provide you with leadership. I assure you that the results of Lok Sabha elections have given strength to natives and tribals of Jharkhand. I have received information that (Assembly) elections may be held earlier in the state, and we are ready for them.

After the JD(U) meet in Delhi on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister and the party's supremo Nitish Kumar on Saturday has raised the demand for for special category status for the state.

The demand for special category status for Bihar assumes significance at this time because Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP relies on support from Kumar’s JD(U), which holds 12 seats in the newly elected Lok Sabha, to maintain power at the Centre.

In a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the PM 'preaches value of consensus, but values confrontation, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi slammed the BJP-led Centre over a range of issues including NEET-UG paper leak and Manipur ethnic violence.

According to an editorial in The Hindu, also shared by party president Mallikarjun Kharge on his X handle, Gandhi claimed that Narendra Modi's third term was not part of the electoral outcome as there is no evidence to prove it.

"The Prime Minister continues as if nothing has changed. He preaches the value of consensus but continues to value confrontation," she said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

The maiden crew test flight of Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was scheduled to last for just days, now stands at a position where its estimated time of return is unknown. 

However, officials have consistently repeated that the Starliner -- which was faced with helium leaks, thruster issues while en route to the International Space Station early this month -- will safely bring its astronauts Indian-origin Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore home.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, on Friday said that the space agency is considering extending Starliner mission's duration from 45 days to 90 days, adding that there is no specific date of their return on the horizon, CNN reported. 

Addressing a briefing, Stich said, "We're just looking at the timeline to execute (the test in New Mexico) and then review the data," adding that "and that's what really the long pole, I would say, determining a landing date".

"We are not in a rush to come home," he added.

A Delhi court on Saturday sent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with corruption charges pertaining to alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26 in connection with the case. He was sent to CBI custody for three days.

Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall on Saturday killed at least nine people including an entire family while they were sleeping in Nepal's mountainous districts, officials said.

The landslides buried houses in three separate areas in the country's mountainous region, about 250 kilometers (156 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, according to Nepal's National Disaster Rescue and Reduction Management Authority.

Five members of the same family were killed when their house was swallowed by a landslide while they were asleep at Malika village in Gulmi district. The victims included a couple, their daughter-in-law and two grandchildren including an 8-month-old girl. (PTI Inputs)

Canada's second largest airline, WestJet, says it has cancelled at least 150 flights affecting 20,000 passengers beginning on Saturday after the union of maintenance workers announced it has gone on strike. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said its members started to strike Friday evening because the airline's “unwillingness to negotiate with the union" made it inevitable.

The strike came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday. That followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal.

On Thursday, WestJet said the union “confirmed they will abide by the direction. Given this, a strike or lockout will not occur, and the airline will no longer proceed in cancelling flights”. The surprise strike affecting international and domestic flights is happening during the Canada Day long weekend. (AP Inputs)

Two boys drowned in the waterlogged section at an underpass in outer north Delhi's SP Badali area on Saturday afternoon, a day after the city was lashed with heavy rains.

The incident occurred near the Siraspur underpass near the metro, which was flooded with 2.5-3 feet of water, a senior police officer said.

The police received a call about the boys drowning around 2.25 pm, and a team was immediately rushed to the spot. They conducted a search operation, and with the help of a fire brigade, they recovered the bodies, the officer said. (PTI)

A court here on Saturday remanded former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual abuse of several women, to judicial custody till July 8.

He was produced before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court judge after his four-day Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody ended today.

On Monday, Prajwal Revanna was remanded to judicial custody till July 8. But, he was later sent to SIT custody till June 29 by the Magistrate court judge, after the police sought a body warrant through the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP).

JD(S) suspended him from the party following registration of cases against him. (With PTI Inputs)

Iran will hold a runoff presidential election pitting a little-known reformist against a hard-line former nuclear negotiator after results released Saturday showed the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republic's history. More than 60% of voters cast no ballot in the race that saw reformist Masoud Pezeshkian best Saeed Jalili, who competed alongside two other hard-liners.

With Jalili now alone in facing the cardiac surgeon, Pezeshkian's campaign would need to draw voters to the July 5 runoff in an election they've otherwise not taken part in as public anger hardens following years of Iran facing economic hardships and mass protests under its Shiite theocracy.

“Let's look at it as a protest in its own right: A very widespread choice to reject what's on offer – both the candidates and the system,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa program.

“That tells us a lot about public opinion and apathy, frustration. It sort of brings it all together.”

Of the 24.5 million votes cast in Friday's election, Pezeshkian got 10.4 million while Jalili received 9.4 million, election spokesman Mohsen Eslami announced. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf got 3.3 million, while Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000 votes. (With AP Inputs)

A day after Joe Biden’s dismal showing at the first presidential debate against Donald Trump, leading US media outlets have commented that the incumbent US President should leave the race for the White House for the future of American democracy and prevent a second innings for his Republican rival.

Biden, seeking a second term in the White House, stumbled and fumbled during the televised presidential debate with his predecessor Trump on Thursday night in Atlanta, setting off alarm bells among top Democrats about whether the 81-year-old president can stay atop the gruelling months ahead of the elections on November 5.

The 78-year-old Trump, who is the presumptive Republican Party candidate for the presidential election, clashed right from the start with Biden and by the end of the 90 minutes debate, gave enough fodder for serious editorials and opinions as well as memes on social media.

-Associated Press

Pakistan Rangers initiated unprovoked firing on Indian posts along the International Border in the Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on late Friday night, sources told India Today TV.

The Indian Army retaliated 'befittingly' to the provocation, they said.

The firing from across the border was reported on a forward Indian post in Krishna Ghati, prompting retaliation by the Army troops guarding the LoC, sources said, adding that there was no casualty in the firing, which lasted for a brief period. (India Today)

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa said on Saturday that women in the country were killed in the name of honour without fulfilling the Islamic condition of producing four witnesses in cases of adultery.

Speaking at a conference for justice here on the topic of 'Access to Justice for All,’ the Chief Justice said that the constitution mandates women's representation across all sectors.

He lamented a disregard for social history within the Muslim community and condemned the misuse of honour killings in the name of dignity. He said that according to Islamic teachings, “the condition of four witnesses is necessary (to prove the act of adultery) but women are killed in the name of honour in violation of Islamic laws.”

He also said that accusing a woman of adultery is called a ‘Qazf’ and is punishable in Islam and under laws in Pakistan. “Accusing or desecrating a woman is punishable by 80 lashes in the Quran," he said, adding he had not heard anyone punished for wrongly accusing a woman of adultery.