Highlights: 'Tughlaqi farman', says Atishi on Delhi's fuel ban on old vehicles

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5:03 PM

Samik Bhattacharya set to become new Bengal BJP president as no other candidates file nominations

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya is all set to become the next president of the West Bengal BJP as no other candidates filed nomination for the post by Wednesday's deadline, party leaders said. Bhattacharya reached the BJP's Salt Lake office in the afternoon, accompanied by outgoing state president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari, and submitted his nomination papers.

4:44 PM

ESIC launches SPREE 2025 to expand social security coverage

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has rolled out Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE) 2025 to expand its social security coverage, an official statement said. The corporation approved SPREE 2025 during its 196th meeting in Shimla on June 27 under the chairmanship of Labour & Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The scheme will be active from July 1 to December 31, 2025 and provides one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employees.

4:18 PM

Cong will negotiate only with Uddhav, Sharad Pawar: Prithviraj Chavan on Maha merger buzz

The Congress will discuss alliance matters only with Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP)'s Sharad Pawar, and leave the decision on a "sub-alliance" to them, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has said amid speculation that the Thackeray cousins and the NCP factions may join hands.

Chavan, however, made it clear that if the NCP merger happens and if that party goes with the NDA, it would become difficult for the Congress to continue the alliance with them in Maharashtra.

4:04 PM

Restored Sheesh Mahal Park unveiled

The restored Sheesh Mahal Park in Shalimar Bagh in the national capital was unveiled on Wednesday by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Lt Governor VK Saxena. The restoration work was carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also working on the project. Shekhawat slammed the previous AAP government while speaking at the unveiling ceremony.

3:55 PM

MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad receives death threat on WhatsApp; FIR lodged

A case has been registered after a death threat was allegedly sent via WhatsApp to Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president Chandra Shekhar Aazad, police said here on Wednesday. According to Nagina Station House Officer (SHO) Tejpal Singh, party worker Sheikh Parvez submitted a written complaint stating that a message which threatened to kill Chandrashekhar within 10 days was received on the party's helpline WhatsApp number.

3:40 PM

Amarnath yatris on way to shrine get warm reception from locals

Local authorities gave a warm welcome to the first batch of Amarnath yatra pilgrims at several places in Kashmir, as hundreds of them turned up at in the valley Wednesday. The first batch of 5,892 yatris was flagged off from the yatra base camp in Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Upon their arrival in the Kashmir valley, the pilgrims' convoys received a rousing welcome from the administration, and the locals, in Kulgam, Anantnag, and Srinagar districts, officials said.

3:21 PM

Concerns over poaching in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve grow after bones of three tigers found

Concerns over poaching in Rajasthan's Ranthambore Tiger Reserve have intensified after it was found that three tigers killed by an interstate gang of poachers were likely from RTR. The development follows a joint operation by Madhya Pradesh's State Tiger Strike Force, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Sawai Madhopur-based NGO Tiger Watch last month that led to the arrest of six poachers, including three from Rajasthan. 

3:18 PM

What option I have? Have to stand by him, says Shivakumar on Siddaramaiah's 5 years as CM statement

With Siddaramaiah asserting that he will be the Chief Minister of Karnataka for a full five-year term, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said he has no objection and that he will standby and support the former. Indicating that he had no option, he said, he will fulfill the directions of the Congress high command.

3:00 PM

Ferozepur man, injured in Pak's aerial intrusion, dies

A 57-year-old man, who was injured when missile debris fell on his home during a Pakistani aerial intrusion here in May, died at a private hospital in Ludhiana, officials said on Wednesday. Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Khai Pheme Ke village in Punjab's Ferozepur, breathed his last on Tuesday night. He had been on ventilator for the last few days after his condition deteriorated, they said.

2:42 PM

Iran's president reportedly orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA

Iran's president on Wednesday reportedly ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities. State media online reported the decision by President Masoud Pezeshkian. It follows a law passed by Iran's parliament to suspend that cooperation. 

2:10 PM

SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, party leaders detained in Mohali

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders were on Wednesday detained in Mohali, where they had come to express solidarity with party leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Arrested in a disproportionate assets case, Majithia was produced before a court in Mohali after his seven-day vigilance remand ended on Wednesday. 

 

1:56 PM

VS Achuthanandan's health remains critical

Former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan remains in critical condition at a private hospital after suffering a cardiac attack. In a health bulletin on Wednesday, the hospital stated there has been no change in the condition of the veteran CPI(M) leader, who is being treated in the ICU. On Tuesday, a seven-member specialist team from the Government Medical College visited the hospital and reviewed his treatment.

1:49 PM

Toll in Mandi cloudbursts rises to 10; 5 bodies recovered

The death toll from cloudbursts and flash flood-related incidents in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has risen to 10 with the recovery of five additional bodies. The search for 34 missing people is underway, officials said on Wednesday. The state witnessed 11 cloudburst incidents, four flash floods and a major landslide on Tuesday, most of which occurred in Mandi district, disrupting normal life.

1:41 PM

Delhi HC grants pre-arrest bail to man facing theft charges in Thailand

The Delhi High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a man facing extradition proceedings for alleged theft in Thailand. Justice Sanjeev Narula said the man had remained accessible and consistently demonstrated his willingness to cooperate with the inquiry. The pending extradition request could be processed effectively within the statutory framework without forfeiting his right to personal liberty, the court added.

1:20 PM

NMDC looking to acquire critical mineral blocks overseas: CMD Amitava Mukherjee

State-owned iron ore producer NMDC is actively evaluating offshore acquisitions of critical mineral blocks, its CMD Amitava Mukherjee said adding it will strengthen the company's presence in the global value chain. Critical minerals like antimony, lithium, cobalt, copper are essential for clean energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, EVs, and energy storage systems.