SC Cancels NEET Scorecards with Grace Marks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has canceled the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were granted compensatory marks. These candidates can retake the exam on June 23 or accept their original scores without grace marks. Results will be declared on June 30. Allegations of question paper leaks are under review.
Priyanka Gandhi May Contest from Wayanad
New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might contest the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat if her brother, Rahul Gandhi, vacates it in favor of Rae Bareli. This follows Rahul’s comments during his Wayanad visit, where he expressed a dilemma over which seat to choose. The party will officially announce the decision soon.
Yediyurappa Faces Arrest Warrant for Sexual Assault
Bengaluru: The First Fast Track Court (POCSO court) issued an arrest warrant against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. The case, registered on March 14, led to a non-bailable warrant after Yediyurappa delayed questioning. The CID is now seeking his arrest. Yediyurappa has filed petitions for anticipatory bail and to quash the complaint, with hearings scheduled for Friday.
Kuwait Assures Help for Repatriation of Fire Victims’ Bodies
New Delhi: In the wake of a deadly building fire in Kuwait that claimed at least 45 Indian lives, Kuwaiti authorities have promised full support for medical care, repatriation of remains, and investigation. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, visiting Kuwait, thanked officials for their assistance. DNA tests are being conducted to identify the victims, with repatriation efforts underway. A possible gas leak is being investigated as the cause of the fire.
Priyanka, Akhilesh Criticize U.P. Government After Police Withdraw ‘Outsourcing’ Letter
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police retracted a viral letter about hiring ministerial staff via ‘outsourcing,’ sparking opposition outrage. The police clarified that the erroneous letter pertained to Class IV employees, not ministerial staff. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP-led government for jeopardizing youth futures, comparing it to the Agnipath scheme. They demanded a transparent recruitment process and clarity on the government’s stance. Yadav highlighted issues with paper leaks and the lack of direct appointments.
SC Directs Upper Yamuna River Board to Resolve Delhi’s Water Crisis
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has instructed the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to address Delhi’s drinking water crisis, recognizing its own lack of expertise in this “complex and sensitive issue.” The court deferred to the 1994 MoU among States sharing Yamuna water and set a UYRB meeting for June 14 to expedite a decision on Delhi’s request for 150 cusecs of water. Haryana, facing similar heat wave conditions, claimed no surplus water, while Himachal Pradesh was reprimanded for an erroneous surplus water statement.
Jayant Chaudhary’s English Oath Signals Distinct Path
Ghaziabad: By taking his oath in English, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary diverged from Hindi heartland norms, emphasizing a pan-India approach and farmer interests over BJP rhetoric. His strategic political moves and recent ministerial appointments highlight his inclusive leadership and focus on rural youth, despite some disappointment among Muslim voters.
Kerala Honours Cannes-winning Malayalam Actors
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government felicitates Malayalam actors from “All We Imagine as Light,” including Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha, for winning the Grand Prix at Cannes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised their achievements, emphasizing their contribution to Indian cinema. Minister for Culture Saji Cherian presided over the ceremony, celebrating cinematic excellence.
Jarange-Patil Ends Fast, Sets One-Month Ultimatum for Govt. Demands
Mumbai: Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil concluded his six-day indefinite fast, giving the Maharashtra government a one-month ultimatum to accept demands. He pressed for recognition of Marathas under OBC status and threatened electoral action if ignored, following talks with Minister Shamburaj Desai and Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre.
Manipur Forms Panel for IDP Rehabilitation Amid Ethnic Conflict
New Delhi: Manipur government establishes a Cabinet sub-committee to oversee the rehabilitation and relocation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) following ongoing ethnic conflict. Recent violence in Jiribam district added to the displacement, with over 50,000 affected since the conflict’s onset, leading to over 220 deaths.
Sunetra Pawar Named NCP Candidate for Rajya Sabha Bypoll
Pune: Sunetra Pawar has been announced as the Nationalist Congress Party’s candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll on June 25. With the ruling coalition’s overwhelming majority in the assembly, her election is expected to be unopposed. This move follows her recent electoral setback in Baramati.
Tragedy in Uttarakhand: 4 Forest Department Staff Killed in Fire
New Delhi: Four forest department employees tragically lost their lives while attempting to extinguish a forest fire in Almora district, Uttarakhand. The incident occurred when their vehicle caught fire in Binsar wildlife sanctuary, with four others sustaining severe injuries. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced ₹10 lakh ex gratia for each deceased.
Pema Khandu Takes Oath for Third Term as Arunachal Pradesh CM
Itanagar: Pema Khandu was sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister for the third consecutive time. He pledges to follow BJP’s manifesto for state development after securing 46 out of 60 Assembly seats. Deputy CM Chowna Mein and 10 ministers also took oath.
Doval Reappointed NSA, Mishra as PM’s Principal Secretary
New Delhi/Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reappoints Ajit Doval as National Security Adviser for a third term and retains P.K. Mishra as Principal Secretary. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved their tenures, signaling continuity in top PMO roles. Advisers Amit Khare and Tarun Kapoor also reappointed.
Rajnath Singh Aims for Defence Self-Reliance, Targets ₹50,000 Crore in Exports
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh targets achieving ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2028-2029, emphasizing self-reliance in manufacturing. He chaired a review meeting focusing on ex-servicemen’s welfare and armed forces modernization. Singh highlighted record defence exports at ₹21,083 crore in 2023-24 and plans to visit Visakhapatnam’s Eastern Naval Command first.
“Jagannath Temple Reopens All Gates in Puri”
All four gates of Puri’s historic Jagannath Temple were reopened after pandemic closures. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his ministers attended, fulfilling a BJP manifesto pledge. A ₹500-crore fund was also announced for temple upkeep and development.
“Six Killed in Nagpur Firecracker Factory Blast”
Six workers, including five women, died in an explosion at Chamundi Explosive Private Ltd. near Nagpur. The blast occurred while workers were packing firecrackers, igniting nearby stock. Authorities are investigating as the manager and owner are reportedly absconding. Compensation for victims’ families is assured.
“Controversy Over NEET-UG 2024: Scores Cancelled Amidst Protests”
The Union government announced the cancellation of score cards for 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates due to compensatory marks, sparking protests and calls for a re-test. Allegations include irregularities such as an easy paper, wrong questions, and technical delays. Dissatisfaction mounts over perceived unfair advantages and system failures.
“New Civil Aviation Minister Vows Airfare Review, Enhanced Travel Accessibility”
Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, newly appointed Civil Aviation Minister, pledges to prioritize a review of airfares amidst concerns over post-COVID price fluctuations. Emphasizing passenger-centric policies, he aims to enhance “ease of flying” and expand biometric boarding passes to all airports. Initiatives like regional connectivity will also be pursued.
“EU AI Rules Spark Debate on Data Transparency”
 The European Union’s new AI regulations mandate greater transparency on training data, challenging industry secrecy. Companies like OpenAI face scrutiny over data origins, amid concerns of copyright violations. The controversial AI Act phases in requirements by 2025, prompting divisions among lawmakers and industry leaders over trade secrets versus transparency.
“U.S., Europe to Freeze Russian Assets Until Ukraine Reparations Paid”
The U.S. and European nations have agreed to indefinitely freeze sanctioned Russian assets, worth over $260 billion, until Moscow compensates for its invasion of Ukraine. At the G-7 summit, a $50 billion loan package for Kyiv was announced, alongside a 10-year security agreement signed by President Biden with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.
“Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Building to be Demolished 6 Years After Tragedy”
The building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting, will be demolished starting Friday. The building served as evidence in the shooter’s trial and has been a haunting reminder for students and families. Demolition aims to aid in the community’s healing process despite differing views among victims’ families.
“UN: Global Forced Displacement Hits Record 120 Million People”
The UN reports a record high of 120 million people forcibly displaced worldwide due to war, violence, and persecution. UNHCR emphasizes that conflicts in regions like Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar continue to drive people from their homes, marking a troubling trend of increasing displacement over the past decade.
“Nassau County International Stadium to be Demolished After T20 World Cup”
The T20 World Cup matches at East Meadow on June 12, the Nassau County cricket ground, purpose-built for the event, will be demolished. However, plans include preserving the world-class cricket pitch amidst the dismantling of the stadium infrastructure.
“Germany Faces Scotland in Euro 2024 Opener Amid High Expectations”
As Germany prepares to host Scotland in the Euro 2024 opener, expectations are mixed. Germany, stung by recent tournament disappointments, aims to kickstart with a strong performance. Meanwhile, Scotland, seeking historic success, hopes to advance beyond the group stage. The clash promises a thrilling start to the tournament in Munich.
“Prannoy and Sameer Advance to Australian Open Badminton Quarterfinals”
H.S. Prannoy and Sameer Verma secured spots in the men’s singles quarterfinals of the Australian Open badminton tournament. Prannoy defeated Misha Zilberman in straight games, while Verma battled to a three-game victory over Loh Kean Yew. Kiran George exited after a hard-fought match against Kenta Nishimoto.