Breaking News, June 5 | HIGHLIGHTS

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has granted approval for round-the-clock operation of 155 shops and commercial establishments across Delhi, a move aimed at boosting the city's night-time economy.
The file has now been sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for a decision on whether he would like to express a difference of opinion with the elected government on the approval, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement.

French union activists marched on the headquarters of the Paris Olympics and slowed traffic at the capital's Orly Airport with strikes Tuesday as they sought to reignite resistance to a higher retirement age.
But the last-ditch effort drew fewer followers than at the height of the movement earlier this year, and even some union leaders seemed ready to move on.
President Emmanuel Macron's move to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 — and force the measure through parliament without a vote — inflamed public emotions and triggered some of France's biggest demonstrations in years.
But the intensity of anger over the pension reform has ebbed since the last big protests on May 1, and since the measure became law in April.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday took an apparent swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks made in the US, saying one should look in the rear-view mirror to notice those out to taint, tarnish and destroy the country's institutions. He also said that by 2047, India will be the number one nation. "...some of us do not take pride...misguided souls confused about the potential and real-time accomplishments of this country," he said, addressing a batch of Indian Defence Estates Service officers at his official residence.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday said it has made the "largest-ever" single operation seizure of about 15,000 LSD blots in the country with the arrest of six people as it busted an international drugs trafficking network operating on the darknet.
The seizure, as per officials, is estimated to be worth over Rs 10 crore in the international market (about Rs 5K-7K per blot) and all the six who have been taken into custody, beginning late last month, are students and youngsters who wanted to make "easy money" by remaining anonymous within the deep layers of secret internet-based apps and messenger service like WICKR.

The Delhi High Court has set aside the Bar Council of India (BCI)'s refusal to accept a request by a citizen of South Korea to enrol himself as an advocate in the country and directed the apex bar body to process his application as per law.
Justice Yashwant Varma observed that the petitioner, Daeyoung Jung, held a law degree from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) in Hyderabad, which was duly recognised under the Advocates Act and entitled him to seek enrolment.

Candidates appearing for the CUET-UG from Ramban district on Monday sought Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's intervention in allocation of exam centres close to the Union Territory and not in Punjab. Sinha had on Friday raised the issue of lack of CUET examination centres in Jammu and Kashmir with the Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following which the test was postponed for the local candidates. Scores of candidates from Ramban area have received admit cards showing their exam centre in Punjab's Jalandhar, about 300 kms away.

In order to authenticate the identification of bodies and keep fake claimants at bay, the Odisha government on Monday started conducting DNA sampling in certain doubtful cases before handing over the mortal remains to genuine relatives. The decision was taken after two different families from Bihar's Bhagalpur claimed one body as that of their relative. The body was beyond recognition, being severely mutilated and face disfigured. Unable to decide whom the body should be handed over to, the state government decided to conduct DNA sampling of the claimants, and to make it a general procedure in such doubtful cases.

Birthday celebrations took a tragic turn when an 18 year-old man was killed, allegedly by four of his friends, two of them minors, after an argument over sharing the food bill worth Rs 10,000 in suburban Govandi last week, a police official said on Monday. Two of the accused, aged 19 and 22 and hailing from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested from Gujarat, while the minor boys surrendered to the police and were subsequently detained, he said. According to the Shivaji Nagar police official, the victim had organised a birthday party at a 'dhaba' (roadside eatery) on May 31 and the food bill came to around Rs 10,000.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said every scheme of the Narendra Modi government is important for the self-reliance of the poor, as he lauded the PM SVANidhi scheme under which street vendors are granted bank loans. "Before 2014, the poor did not have bank accounts. Today more than 48 crore poor people have bank accounts in the country and the money from the centre directly goes to their accounts," the CM said.

A 23-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death with a sharp edged weapon by two people in south Delhi's Neb Sarai area on Monday, police said. The incident occurred near the house of the victim, Sachin, where the accused attacked him with a 'sua' (a large needle often used to break ice slabs), they added. On receiving a call from the victim's father around noon, the police reached the spot and rushed Sachin to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, they said.

A 28-year-old migrant labourer was killed here when a luxury car allegedly hit him and dragged him along for a few metres, police said on Monday. The accident took place on the Ambala-Delhi National Highway late Sunday night when the victim, Nitish Kumar, and his brother were waiting on the roadside for a vehicle to reach Ambala Cantonment, they said. According to the complaint by Kumar's brother, the luxury car, suspected to be carrying a Chandigarh registration number, came from the Shahabad side and hit Kumar.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Monday said that officials from both Nepal and India should sit down for discussions to resolve the border issue between the two countries. Prachanda visited India from May 31 to June 3, his first official trip abroad since assuming office in December 2022. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday saw the two countries signing seven agreements and launching six projects including new railway services. The two leaders also vowed to resolve the vexed boundary dispute in the spirit of friendship.

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, whose wife Rujira was allegedly stopped from boarding a UAE-bound flight on Monday, said the "harassment" of his family was aimed at stopping his outreach campaign ahead of the panchayat elections in West Bengal. Addressing a press conference in Singur in Hooghly district, he dared the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest him or his wife. "I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The ED has summoned my wife, as they (BJP) want this outreach campaign to stop. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the campaign, and that is why they are harassing my family," he claimed.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla visited the CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University in Palampur on the occasion of World Environment Day and planted a sapling of rudraksh here, a statement said. The governor urged the students at the university to actively participate in tree plantation activities and contribute to the protection of the environment, it said. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. H.K. Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal, Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Shalini Agnihotri, and other dignitaries were also present during the plantation.

Seven people died and 19 others were injured when a tractor trailer in which they were travelling lost control in a narrow road and turned turtle at Vatticherukuru village in the district on Monday, police said. As many 25 people were travelling in the tractor from Kondepadu village in Prathipadu mandal to Jupudi village in Chebrolu mandal to attend a function, with majority of them being women.

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Monday said 1 crore saplings would be planted in the state next year. Addressing a gathering here on the occasion of World Environment Day, he said 10 per cent of the saplings would be of neem. "There is a target to plant 1 crore saplings in the state next year. Of that, 10 per cent will be of neem and the remaining 90 per cent will be of fruit-bearing trees so that fruits are available to the people free of cost," he said. This would be a meaningful step in the direction of nutrition for the people along with environment protection, he said.

The government has mopped up Rs 4,185 crore through a three per cent stake sale in state-run Coal India. The holding of the government has come down to 63.13 per cent in the coal producer after the offer-for-sale (OFS), CIL said in a stock exchange filing. The government has received Rs 4,185 crore through a 3 per cent stake sale in state-run Coal India, as per the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) website.

An undertrial prisoner died allegedly after consuming unknown substances inside Mandoli jail in northeast Delhi, police said on Monday. Police received information on Friday from GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden that Mustkeem (23), lodged in central jail number-13 of Mandoli prison, was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state after he consumed an unknown substance, a senior police officer said

Four youths, including two sons of a Haryana Police DIG, were arrested for allegedly creating ruckus in Sector 62 area after a store refused to sell them liquor, police said on Monday. According to police, the incident took place outside a liquor shop in Sector 62 area on Saturday late night when seven drunken youths reached the spot to buy liquor. The salesman of the liquor vend refused to give the liquor to the men saying it was time for the shop to close, police said. The youths lost their temper and attacked the liquor vend's workers with sticks, they said.

A Naxalite, who was allegedly involved in more than 24 incidents of violence and had Rs 1 lakh bounty on his head, was arrested by the security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, an official said. Sodi Deva alias Sunil was apprehended near the forest of Surpanguda village under Jagargunda police station limits by a joint team of 201st battalion of the CRPF's Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit and the district force, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavhan said. Deva, who was active as militia platoon command-in-chief of Maoists in Surpanguda area, had been with the outlawed outfit since the last 12 years, he said.

The Election Commission has started preparing for a fresh set of assembly polls before the end of this year with its senior officials visiting poll-bound states to take stock of election preparedness. According to sources, officials of the level of deputy election commissioner will visit Rajasthan on June 15 and 16. Officials from the poll panel have already visited Mizoram, they said. While the term of the Mizoram legislative assembly ends in December this year, the terms of the legislative assemblies of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh end on different dates in January, 2024. The assembly polls in the five states could be held together before the end of this year, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Delhiites experienced warm weather conditions on Monday with the maximum temperature settling at 37.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The minimum temperature was recorded at 24.7 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. Humidity levels oscillated between 40 per cent and 82 per cent. The weather office has forecast clear skies for the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 35 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

A woman and her daughter were killed while their driver was injured after a billboard fell on their car outside Ekana Stadium here on Monday, police said. The accident occurred in the area under Sushant Golf City police station area in the evening, they said. A billboard fell on the Scorpio vehicle in which Preeti Jaggi (38) and her daughter Angel (15), residents of Indira Nagar colony in Ghazipur police station area, were travelling, Gosaiganj Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP) Amit Kumawat said.

An unidentified body of a man with a gunshot injury on his head was recovered in the north Delhi area on Monday, police said. Police received information regarding the recovery of a body in an area under Sadar Bazar police station at around 11 am, they said. The unidentified body of a man, aged around 30 to 35 years, had a gunshot injury in his head. A country-made pistol was also found lying beside the body, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said. The spot has been inspected and the body was shifted to Subzi Mandi mortuary. Efforts are being made to identify the body and legal action is being taken, police said.

The Mumbai police have arrested two drug peddlers, including a Nigerian national, with 505 gm of mephedrone worth more than Rs 1 crore, an official said on Monday. Based on a tip-off, the anti-narcotics cell caught a 58-year-old man with 100 gm of mephedrone from Khokhani Lane area in Ghatkopar (east) on Sunday evening, he said. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had procured the contraband from a Nigerian man near Nallasopara railway station in neighbouring Palghar district, the official said.

Twelve people were injured after a tempo rammed into a wall in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Monday, officials said. The accident happened at the Rah Salyote area after the tempo driver lost control over the vehicle, they said. All the injured have been shifted to sub-district hospital in Sunderbani, they said.

The bodies of six of the seven people who were feared drowned while bathing in the river Ganga at two different ghats here last evening were recovered on Monday, police said. A search is on to find the one missing, they said. Of the bodies recovered, four belonged to those who drowned after being swept away by the strong current in the Sangam area of the city on Sunday evening and the rest two to the teenagers, who went missing while bathing in the river near the Diha Ghat, they said.

A week after she lost her husband to a terror attack in Anantnag district, Gudiya gave birth to a baby boy at her mud house in Udhampur district. Deepu Kumar, 27, who worked at a circus in the Janglat Mandi area in the south Kashmir district, was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists when he had gone to the market to buy milk around 8.30 pm on May 29. "Gudiya delivered a baby boy on Sunday. Although it is a happy moment for the family, it is heartbreaking to see Deepu not here to take a glimpse of his child," Surma Devi, a relative, said.

A 46-year-old owner of a bar and restaurant here was arrested along with his two staff for allegedly assaulting policemen for making videos of the illegal activities being carried out on the premises, officials said on Monday. According to police, head constable Naveen received information on Friday that girls were being made to dance obscenely and illicit liquor from Haryana was being served at a bar and restaurant named 'Yaaron Da Adda' near Haryana Maitri Bhawan in Mangolpuri.

A tourist from Tamil Nadu died on Monday after a tree fell on him during horse riding at a resort in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The victim has been identified as Janarthanam (67), they said. According to the officials, the tree fell due to strong winds near Hill Park on Baisaran track in Pahalgam and hit the victim. Both the rider and the horse died on the spot, they said. The incident is being probed, they added.

BJP president J P Nadda met some eminent veterans, including former Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag, on Monday as part of his party's month-long public connect initiative to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government. Besides General (retired) Suhag, Nadda met Air Marshal Denzil Keelor (retd) and Lt Gen A S Lamba (retd), and said it was an honour for him to meet them. Nadda gave them booklets highlighting the achievements of the Modi government and spoke to them on various aspects of the nine-year-rule of the party at the Centre.

The West Bengal Environment Department will deploy drones at night to measure and combat industrial pollution. Environment Minister Manas Bhuniya, while speaking on the sidelines of a programme on the occasion of World Environment Day on Monday, said the drones will be fitted with sensors to measure the real-time air quality of an area. "The drones will measure PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels and temperature to begin with. Sensors to measure Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and humidity may be added as and when required," he said. The real-time data collected by the drones will be transmitted to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB).

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday accused the Centre of misusing its investigative agencies and said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches in the state were "anticipated" as the assembly elections are approaching. The ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Rajasthan during the day in connection with a money laundering investigation into an alleged exam paper leak case for recruitment of government teachers in the state, according to sources in New Delhi. While the opposition BJP in the state defended the ED action, saying the law will take its course, the Congress said the ED has come to Rajasthan on a "political task".

Four persons were arrested and more than 10 kg of gold worth Rs 6.21 crore was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here, an official said on Monday. The DRI made the seizures and arrests in two separate operations on Saturday, the official said. Based on a tip-off, the DRI team intercepted two passengers who arrived in Mumbai from Sharjah in an Air India Express flight, he said. The duo had concealed eight 24K gold bars with foreign markings, weighing 8 kg, in their clothes around their waist, he said.

The government on Monday asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable airfares amid a surge in air ticket prices, particularly on certain routes that were earlier served by Go First. During an hour-long meeting of the airlines advisory group, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia shared his concerns about the steep rise in airfares on certain routes. Airlines have been asked to self-monitor airfares on routes that have seen considerable rise in ticket prices, particularly those that were served by Go First earlier.

Two persons died and three others went missing after alleged firing along the Arunachal Pradesh border in Assam's Dhemaji district on Monday, police said. Locals had arranged a plantation drive at the inter-state border area on the occasion of World Environment Day, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ranjan Bhuyan said. Seven villagers had gone in advance to make the arrangements in the morning. They allegedly came under firing, in which one person died on the spot, he said. Three others sustained bullet injuries and were taken to the Dhemaji Civil Hospital by locals, where one person died, he added. Three others went missing and police were looking for them, Bhuyan said "Our team rushed to the spot on receiving the information. We are investigating the incident," he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister on Monday announced state government jobs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the triple train crash in Odisha’s Balasore. The West Bengal CM said that relatives of those who lost their limbs in the horrific crash will also be given government jobs. Banerjee added that her government will also give cash aid to those who were on board the Coromandel Express and are currently going through mental and physical trauma. She will visit Bhubanewsar and Cuttack on Tuesday to meet the injured passengers recuperating in different hospitals.

A 46-year-old man was killed and three others injured when an iron seating structure meant for spectators collapsed during a bullock-cart race amid heavy rains in Maharashtra's Pune district, police said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday evening near Loni Kalbhor area, on the outskirts of Pune city, an official said. The race was organised around 4.30 pm and an iron structure was put up for spectators to sit and watch the event.

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Monday said they will continue their fight for justice, asserting that none of the wrestlers have backed down and rubbished reports of their withdrawal from the protest as attempts to "sabotage" the movement. The news of our withdrawing from the movement is just a "rumour", Punia said, adding that the report of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also "false". Bajrang, Sakshi along with fellow Olympian and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including one minor. Singh has denied all the charges.

The rise of India is unstoppable and the country is taking its place in the world, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has said, citing India's strong economic growth, its strong relationships abroad and the support of the diaspora worldwide. Jaishankar arrived here on Sunday, the first visit by an Indian external affairs minister to the African nation. Addressing the Indian community here, Jaishankar said in many ways India is now a much more capable country, a much more confident country, and that way more “recognised around the world." He said that India is moving in the right direction and is conscious that there are a lot of challenges ahead.

Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Monday met his Bangladeshi counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed here and discussed various aspects of mutual interest and explored ways to further expand bilateral defence and security ties. Gen Pande, who arrived here earlier Monday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh - his second trip to the country as Army chief, also interacted with Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed forces division. The Indian Army chief visited Bangladesh in July last year on his first foreign visit after assuming charge of the top post.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani on Monday said the BJP government has imposed an "undeclared emergency" in Jammu and Kashmir by not holding assembly elections in the Union Territory since 2019. "Congress believes in conducting elections at every level like panchayat, DDC (district development council), BDC (Block Development Council), and especially at the assembly level," Wani said.

Saroj Bala, who lost her two sons in a terror attack in Rajouri attack on January 1, appealed to the government on Monday to deliver justice. She addressed a press conference in Jammu accompanied by Amandeep Singh, the chairperson of charitable organisation Humanity First. "I simply want justice for my children," Bala said. She appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and ensure justice for her family.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the state cabinet will be expanded soon and the timeline will be decided by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He also said Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, and BJP will fight all elections together, which was discussed during their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. "Maharashtra cabinet will be expanded soon. CM Shinde will decide when it will happen," he told reporters.

 "All 9 teams of NDRF who were working in Odisha's Balasore have been withdrawn," says Narendra Singh Bundela, IG, NDRF.

 BJP national president JP Nadda meets former Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag at the latter's residence in Gurugram, Haryana.

Balasore Train Tragedy: So far 151 bodies have been identified. All bodies after due process are being handed over for transfer to the destination. Arrangements for free transportation of the bodies by hearses/ dead body carriers till destination made by Odisha Govt, said Chief Secretary, Odisha.

Fire broke out at Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan in Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets in Delhi.

Varanasi's MP MLA court convicts jailed mafia Mukhtar Ansari in Awadhesh Rai murder case.

IISc Bengaluru ranked best university followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, as per NIRF 2023.

IIT Kanpur ranked at top for innovation followed by IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad, as per the Ministry of Education's NIRF 2023.

Some wagons of a goods train operated by a private cement factory derailed inside the factory premises near Mendhapali of Bargarh district in Odisha. 

"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed officials to take strict action. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again & again. The department will look into it & action will be taken," said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on the bridge collapse in Bhagalpur. 

"India focussing on environment in a big way just like any other area for its growth," said PM Modi at World Environment Day event.

Odisha is providing free bus services to the people who want to travel to Kolkata in view of the disruption of rail services due to Bahanaga train mishap. A total of 20 buses from Puri, 23 buses from Bhubaneswar & 16 buses from Cuttack have left for Kolkata as of 11:30PM on June 4, said Odisha CMO.

NIA files supplementary chargesheet against 5 accused in connection with Coimbatore car bomb blast case of October 2022.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds talks with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin covering various aspects of Indo-US defence ties.

 Members of a Sikh group asked Rahul Gandhi to "go back" while others welcomed him with a big heart in New York, USA ahead of the Congress leader's address to the Indian diaspora.

Border Security Force shoots down Pakistani drone near International Border in Punjab's Amritsar; seizes over 3 kg heroin.

"They (govt) talked about 'Kavach' but it's not there. They only give false assurances... Madhavrao Scindia & Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned on moral grounds. Is it not the responsibility of the govt & the railway minister?," said MP Sanjay Raut on Balasore Train Tragedy.

BJP national president JP Nadda plants saplings at BJP Headquarters in Delhi, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Agartala: Tripura CM Manik Saha attends tree plantation event and 'Safai Abhiyan' on the occasion of World Environment Day. "On the occasion of World Environment Day, I urge people not to use plastics as much as possible. We need to maintain ecological balance", said Tripura CM Manik Saha.

Howrah - Puri Vande Bharat Express crosses from Odisha’s Balasore where the deadly #TrainAccident took place on June 2. Indian Railways resumed train movement on the affected tracks within 51 hours of the accident.

 The United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin inspects Tri-Service Guard of Honour in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in Delhi.

Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande has proceeded on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. The visit aims to further enhance the existing defence relations between both countries, said Indian Army.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath performs 'rudrabhishek' in Gorakhnath Temple, Gorakhpur.

Indian Railways has started running passenger trains on the tracks which were affected due to train accident in Odisha’s Balasore.

Bhagalpur, Bihar:..." Initially we thought it was a blast...later we understood that the bridge had collapsed...this shows the corruption in the govt...this is not the first time...this state govt is corrupted, there should be a probe...", said Rakesh Kumar, an eye witness of Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse.