Latest News LIVE: Indian Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China

Here are all the latest developments taking place across the country today

3:34 PM

AK-47, M4 carbine and pistol recovered from Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist's possession yesterday: Kashmir IG of Police

3:21 PM

LIVE: Security forces address the media in Srinagar

3:11 PM

Indian Army helicopter makes precautionary landing in Ladakh: ANI

Indian Army's Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv made a precautionary landing in Eastern Ladakh area on Sunday, Army sources according to ANI said.

 

All crew and passengers are safe, they added. The landing was done after the pilot felt that there may be some issue in the chopper and took precautions to land, ANI reported.

 

Further details are awaited. The incident took place amid the ongoing dispute between India and China following the violent face-off between troops of both the countries at the Galwan valley in Ladakh. At least 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in the face-off on June 15.

3:02 PM

International Yoga Day LIVE: People practice 'yoga asanas' in the Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram

3:00 PM

Latest News LIVE: Three militants killed in encounter with security forces in Srinagar

Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar on Sunday, police said.

 

Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the Zoonimar area of the city, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation this morning, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches in the area, militants fired upon them. The forces retaliated leading to a gunfight. Three militants have been killed in the encounter, the official said, adding that their identities were yet to be ascertained.

 

The exchange of fire is going on. Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the city as a precautionary measure, the official said. Restrictions on the movement of people have also been imposed in most parts in downtown areas of the city, the official added.

2:51 PM

LIVE: China observes International Yoga Day with low-key events due to Covid-19, stand-off with India

The International Yoga Day was celebrated in China on Sunday with low-key events owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control. China, where Yoga has been very popular, usually celebrates the occasion with numerous events ever since its inception by the United Nations in 2014, Press Trust of India reported.

 

This year, the main event was held at the India House where Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri led International Yoga Day (IYD) celebration, with the participation of Indian, foreign diplomats and their families. Misri said this year's International Yoga Day was full of challenges. Even with the challenges we faced, we had thought of an event slightly at a larger scale but with the recent outbreak of coronavirus once again in Beijing, we have to scale down our plans to make it a small event, he said.

 

Nevertheless, when the pictures of this goes home there will be a small surprise for many of our friends in India who see that we actually managed to come out and hold the IYD outdoors not simply with our families but also friends who are also our extended family, Misri added.

 

China has seen fresh cases of coronavirus in the recent weeks after being able to control the contagious viral disease after it broke out for the first time last year in Wuhan.

2:35 PM

'Solar eclipse can help scientists understand Moon's topology'

The first solar eclipse of the year also known as the "ring of fire" eclipse seen in parts of India on Sunday could help scientists understand the topology of the moon, through pictures according to Dr N Rathnasree, Director of Nehru Planetarium.

 

The rare celestial event, which coincides with the summer solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere has the longest day, is an annular eclipse and was visible in other parts of the world including African countries of Congo, Ethiopia and Yemen as well as in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan and China.

 

"The moon has peaks and valleys. During the solar eclipse, as the edge of the moon is in front of the sun, its peaks and valleys are visible due to bright sun rays. The sun can peek through the valleys of the moon but the sun is obscure in the mountain regions. This phenomenon is known as Baily's beads which is common in Annular eclipse," Rathnasree said.

 

"This is why the timing for the eclipse is shorter and instead of the visual of a ring of fire, we'll see necklace after the moon swifts away from the sun," she added.

 

The scientist also spoke about the sighting of the solar eclipse from various parts of the world. In Abu Dhabi, the eclipse was seen in its maximum phase and lasted for less than 30 seconds. As it is known that the earth sees the same face of the moon. But moon being in an elliptical orbit, it sometimes changes its speed.

2:27 PM

Latest News LIVE: Temples in Karnataka's Hubli remain closed in the light of solar eclipse

2:25 PM

NGT imposes Rs 25 lakh fine on two units in Noida, says threat of irreversible damage to environment

In view of depleting groundwater, there is a threat of irreversible damage to the environment leading to scarcity of drinking water, the National Green Tribunal has said while slapping Rs 25 lakh on two units in Noida for unauthorised extraction of water.

 

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that there is no operative non objection certificate (NOC) as far as Noida Golf Course and Advant Navis Business Park are concerned.

 

Noida Golf Course and Advant Navis Business Park have to pay an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh, which may be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within one month, the tribunal said. The green panel was perusing a report filed by a committee of the CPCB and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, which said that groundwater is being illegally drawn and the allegation that misuse of groundwater for horticulture purpose is taking place is not disputed.

 

It is not clear whether conditions of NOC are being complied with, the NGT said. The tribunal referred to its previous directions that groundwater cannot be used for a playground like cricket ground, particularly in over-exploited, critical and semi-critical area, which also applies to Golf Course.

 

"In view of depleting groundwater, there is a threat of irreversible damage to the acquifiers and salinity of the water. Moreover, it is leading to scarcity of drinking water, thereby depriving a section of the society from access to potable water which is already scarce. The rainwater harvesting systems have to be regularly maintained as per norms," the bench said.

 

The NGT said that the state pollution control board has failed to assess and recover compensation for illegal drawal of groundwater.

2:09 PM

Maximum visibility of solar eclipse in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Haryana, says scientist

A few regions like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Haryana will witness maximum visibility of the solar eclipse, which takes place on Sunday. OP Gupta, the senior engineer of Nehru Planetarium in Delhi, told ANI, "The eclipse will be around 93-94 per cent visible in Delhi. While it is partially visible in other parts of the country, its maximum visibility will be seen in Dehradun, Joshimath, Kurukshetra and Sirsa."

 

"In Kerala, it is a partial solar eclipse," said Shyam SS, Scientific Officer at Priyadarshini Planetarium, Kerala adding, "Only northern belt will see the full annular eclipse." "It will start by 10.14 am and end by 1:15 am in Kerala and Planetarium is planning to live stream the event on Facebook," the officer said.

 

A rare celestial event, annular solar eclipse, which is popularly known as the "ring of fire" eclipse, will be visible this Sunday in India. It will be the first solar eclipse of this year taking place on the summer solstice, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

2:02 PM

Latest News LIVE: Diesel at record high in Delhi post Rs 8.88 per litre hike in 15 days

Price of diesel in the national capital touched a fresh all-time high on Sunday after rising for 15 consecutive days.

 

In Delhi, diesel was sold at Rs 78.27 per litre, with a 60 paise hike on Sunday. Since the dynamic pricing system for daily price revision resumed after over 80 days on June 7, diesel price in the national capital has increased by Rs 8.88 per litre. With this hike, the gap between petrol and diesel prices has come to its lowest level ever. In Delhi, petrol prices is less than Rs 1 high over diesel prices. The increase in fuel rates has been similar across metros.

 

In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, diesel was sold at Rs 76.69, Rs 75.80 and Rs 73.61 per litre, respectively, up from the previous levels of Rs 76.11, Rs 75.29 and Rs 73.07. Petrol prices also have witnessed a continuous rise of 15 days and have already increased by Rs 7.97 per litre during the period. On Sunday, the fuel was sold for Rs 79.23 a litre, 35 paise higher from the previous level.

 

In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, the fuel was sold at Rs 86.04, Rs 82.58 and Rs 80.95 a litre, compared to Rs 85.70, Rs 82.27 and Rs 80.62 per litre.

1:55 PM

Indian Army chopper made a precautionary landing in Eastern Ladakh area today: Army Sources (ANI)

An Army Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of Indian Army made a precautionary landing in Eastern Ladakh area today. All crew and passengers are safe. The landing was done after the pilot felt that there may be some issue in the chopper and took precautions to land: Army Sources (ANI)

1:49 PM

Armed forces told to forcefully deal with Chinese aggression along LAC: PTI

The armed forces deployed along the 3,500-km de-facto border with China have been given "full freedom" in giving "befitting" reply to any Chinese aggressive behaviour, government sources according to PressTrust of India said after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with top military brass on the situation in eastern Ladakh.

 

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. The sources said Singh told the top military brass to maintain strict vigil on Chinese activities around land border, airspace and in strategic sea lanes, and asked them to adopt a "tough" approach in dealing with any misadventure by Chinese forces, PTI reported.

 

Indian and Chinese armies have been on a six-week standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh. The ties between the two countries came under severe strain after Chinese military killed 20 Indian Army personnel and injured around 76 in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has not yet talked about the number of casualties it suffered.

 

The sources said the armed forces have been given full freedom to deal with any act of aggression by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border between the two countries. They said the Army as well as the IAF have already been ramping up their operational capabilities along the LAC to effectively deal with any Chinese misadventure.

1:41 PM

Latest News LIVE: Fire breaks out in Banjar area of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh

1:30 PM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will depart tomorrow for Moscow

CDS General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today, ahead of his visit to Russia. Situation in Ladakh was reviewed in the meeting. The Defence Minister will depart tomorrow for Moscow, Russia to witness Victory Day Military Parade on June 24