News updates: AAP to hold nationwide protest on June 29 against Kejriwal's arrest by CBI

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

11:01 PM

Scindia discusses roadmap to set up rural community hubs with India Post officials

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday held a meeting with the Department of Posts officials to discuss a 100-day plan, which will focus on the expansion of Dakghar Niryat Kendra and setting up rural community hubs, among others. "Had a productive meeting on the '100 Days Plan' with my team at @IndiaPostOffice, focusing on expanding our Dakghar Niryat Kendra network, establishing Rural Community Hubs, and enhancing our digital network to ensure last-mile delivery services," Scindia said on social media platform X.

10:40 PM

Bank fraud: ED seizes luxury cars, freezes 140 accounts after raids against Mumbai group

Luxury cars like Mercedes Benz and Lexus, and watch brands like Rolex and Hublot apart from more than 140 bank accounts and lockers were seized after the ED raided a Mumbai-based business group in an alleged Rs 975 crore bank loan fraud linked money laundering case. The searches were undertaken against Mandhana Industries Limited (now GB Global Ltd.) and its promoters on Wednesday, the federal agency said in a statement.

10:16 PM

Cong holds strategy meet on poll preparedness with J&K leaders

Top Congress leaders discussed the party's preparedness for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Thursday, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge urging the leaders from the Union Territory to raise the voice of people and stay among them.

9:56 PM

Isro espionage case: CBI files chargesheet against 5 ex-police officers for 'framing' scientist

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against two former DGPs, Siby Mathews of Kerala and R B Sreekumar of Gujarat, and three other retired police officials in connection with the alleged framing of space scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage case, officials said.

8:33 PM

AAP to hold nationwide protest on June 29 against Kejriwal's arrest by CBI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a protest across the country on June 29 against the arrest of party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI. A meeting of senior AAP leaders at its headquarters here decided to take to the streets and expand the protests by the party over Kejriwal's arrest in the whole country, said a party statement.

7:53 PM

Female tourist washed away in Parvati river in Manikaran, body recovered

A female tourist from Haryana was washed away after she slipped in the gushing waters of Parvati river while taking photographs near the riverbed near Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, police on Thursday said.

7:41 PM

Southwest monsoon hits several parts of Himachal

The Southwest monsoon advanced and covered several parts of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday after being delayed by five days, the meteorological office here said. According to the MeT department data, the monsoon was scheduled to arrive in the state by June 22.

7:36 PM

Sebi approves stricter regulations for entry of stock in derivatives segment

Sebi board approves stricter norms for entry of stock in derivatives segment.

7:20 PM

First batch of Amarnath yatra to leave Jammu on June 28 amid tight security

Amid multi-tier security escort, the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims will depart for twin base camps in Kashmir from Jammu on Friday, marking the beginning of this year's pilgrimage from here. The comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints have been put in place for a smooth yatra.

7:00 PM

Jio to raise mobile services rates by 12-27% from July 3

The country's top telecom operator Jio will increase mobile services rates by 12-27 per cent from July 3, according to a company statement. This is the first hike in mobile services rates by Jio after a gap of about two-and-a-half years.

5:21 PM

NSUI, Youth Congress members storm NTA building, lock place from inside

Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress stormed into the National Testing Agency (NTA) office today. Earlier, the protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest against alleged exam irregularities of the agency.

5:02 PM

Ambuja Cement's board approves merger of Adani Cementation with itself

Gautam Adani-owned Ambuja Cements today said that  that its board has approved its merger with Adani Cementation Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises.  Adani Enterprises will acquire 8.7 million shares of Ambuja Cements through this

4:49 PM

Israel warns it can return Lebanon to 'Stone Age'

Israel has warned that if war were to break out with Hezbollah it would result in Lebanon returning “to the stone age”. The threat issued by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant comes after weeks of repeated clashes with the armed Iran-backed group on the border area between the two countries.

4:24 PM

Arundhati Roy awarded Pen Pinter Prize for her 'unflinching' writings

Author Arundhati Roy, currently facing the threat of prosecution over historic comments on Kashmir 14 years ago, was on Thursday honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her unswerving writings.

4:18 PM

Heavy to very heavy rain likely in Delhi on June 29, 30

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely in the national capital on the weekend, the India Meteorological Department said as parts of the city were lashed by showers on Thursday, bringing Delhiites much-needed respite from heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) mentioned that a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 30 to 40 kmph is very likely at isolated places over Delhi and other states on June 28.

4:04 PM

Competition body dismisses complaint against Google

The Competition Commission of India has dismissed a complaint against Google India alleging the tech giant abused its dominant position to favour Truecaller in the market for caller ID and spam protection apps, as it found no evidence of violation of competition law. While dismissing the complaint, the fair trade regulator said, "The Commission finds that no prima facie case of contravention of the provisions of Section 4 of the Act is made out against Google in the instant matter"

3:28 PM

PM Modi meets JD(U) MPs, praises Nitish's leadership of Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leadership of the state as he met the MPs of Janata Dal (United). "Had a great meeting with JD(U) MPs. Our parties have a long history of working together and fighting poor governance, corruption and criminalisation in Bihar. The leadership of Nitish Kumar Ji has taken Bihar on the path of development. We will keep working together for good governance," he said on X.

3:05 PM

News update: CBI makes first arrests in NEET irregularities case; 2 accused taken in custody

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made its first arrests in the NEET paper leak case in Bihar, taking in custody two persons from Patna, identified as Manish Kumar and Ashutosh.

2:44 PM

A day after failing to take oath, TMC lawmakers launch sit-in on Assembly premises

A day after two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs failed to take oath following a row over the venue of the swearing-in ceremony, they launched a dharna on the West Bengal Assembly compound on Thursday. The MLAs, Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Rayat Hossain Sarkar, sat before the statue of B R Ambedkar, demanding that Governor CV Ananda Bose enable them to perform the duty of elected public representatives by facilitating the oath-taking ceremony inside the assembly.

2:40 PM

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to meet PM Modi during 3-day visit to national capital

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 29 during his three-day visit to the national capital to discuss with Union Ministers state projects pending approval from the Centre. "I will be meeting the Road Transport Minister (Nitin Gadkari), also Prime Minister and the Home Minister (Amit Shah). Will also try to meet the Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman). The Home Minister has still not given the time and he might give today. Will also try to meet Railway Minister (Ashwini Vaishnaw) and Jal Shakti Minister (C R Paatil)," he said.

2:15 PM

Maharashtra Congress suspends two leaders for 6 years over anti-party activities

Maharashtra Congress on Thursday suspended Vijay Devtale and Asawari Devtale from the party for 6 years over alleged anti-party activities in Chandrapur district.

1:15 PM

Supreme Court issues notice to NTA over NEET case, hearing to take place on July 8

The Supreme Court has asked the NTA to respond to the notice by July 8, when the hearing on the matter will take place.

12:35 PM

88.4% of India’s billionaire wealth controlled by upper castes

A recent report  has shed light on the stark economic economic inequality that marks India.  88.4 per cent of India’s billionaire wealth is controlled by upper castes, according to the report from the World Inequality Lab. Read here for more details.

12:27 PM

IMD weather today: Yellow alert for rains in Delhi-NCR for next five days

The weather department has forecast a mostly cloudy sky, very light rain, and thunderstorms with breezes (25-35 kmph) today over the national capital. 

11:29 AM

MVA protests over issues of farmers, NEET on Day 1 of Maharashtra legislature session

Opposition members, belonging to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP), raised slogans against the government over the issues related to farmers and the NEET exam as the monsoon session of the state legislature commenced here on Thursday.

11:07 AM

'Concerning increase' in anti-conversion laws, hate speech in India: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

In his remarks at the release of the annual State Department report on international religious freedom, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that at the same time, people around the world are also working hard to protect religious freedom. "In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities. At the same time, people around the world are also working hard to protect religious freedom," the secretary of state said.

10:47 AM

Women's rights will be raised at the UN meeting being attended by Taliban

The UN political chief who will chair the first meeting between Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and envoys from about 25 countries answered sharp criticism that Afghan women have been excluded, saying Wednesday that women's rights will be raised at every session.

10:21 AM

BJP stalwart LK Advani admitted to AIIMS, under observation

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani has been hospitalised at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital. Doctors of the geriatric department are keeping a watch over him. The hospital said that his condition is stable.

10:03 AM

Rainfall brings respite from sweltering heat in Delhi

Heavy rain in Delhi on Thursday morning brought Delhiites much-needed respite from the heat.The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 28.6 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The national capital has been reeling under extereme heat conditions. 

9:52 AM

Maharashtra Cabinet gives approval to set up central park at Mahalaxmi Race Course

The Maharashtra Cabinet has given the nod to a proposal to set up a sprawling 120-acre central public park of international standards at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai.  The Cabinet decided that no construction activity will be undertaken at the site of the proposed central park