News updates: PM Modi reaches Presidential Palace for private meeting and dinner with Prez Putin

From SC hearing on NEET-UG exam to Mumbai rains, and from PM Modi's Russia visit to RBI's data on employment, catch all the latest news from across the globe here

9:07 AM

Amid tight security, another batch of 5,800 Amarnath pilgrims depart from Jammu base camp

8:59 AM

Five Democrat lawmakers feel Joe Biden should step down from US presidential race

At least five Democratic lawmakers have now openly said that incumbent US President Joe Biden should step down from the US presidential election scheduled for November 5. The remarks by the lawmakers -- Jerry Nadler, Mark Takano, Joe Morelle, Ted Lieu and Adam Smith -- come after Biden's weak debate performance against his Republican rival, Donald Trump, in Atlanta on June 27. Biden himself has described his performance as "a bad night". His approval ratings have come down and his own party colleagues have started questioning his health and ability to govern the country for the next four years. However, Biden has asserted that he is staying in the race and exuded confidence that he will win the election against Trump in November.

8:55 AM

Mumbai recorded over 300 mm rainfall between 1 am & 7 am; more showers expected during the day

8:49 AM

12 people arrested in Bihar's Darbhanga for impersonating candidates in CTET exam

Police have arrested 12 people, including two women, for allegedly appearing in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)-2024 and solving the exam on behalf of other candidates at various examination centres in Darbhanga district, police said. "Nine arrests were made from different centres under Laheriasarai police station's jurisdiction, while two were apprehended from a centre under Sadar police station, and one person was arrested from a centre under Bahadurpur police station," Darbhanga SSP Jagunath Reddy told PTI. The impersonation was detected through biometric fingerprint scans of candidates at the examination centres, police added.

8:41 AM

Centre, NTA oppose demand to cancel exams; says instances of malpractices are isolated

As Supreme Court summer vacation ends today, a three-judge will hear the petitions after 10.30 am. Notably, the Central Government and the National Testing Agency have filed affidavits before the Court opposing the demand to cancel the exam. They have told the Court that the instances of alleged malpractices are isolated and do not warrant the scrapping of the entire exam jeopardising the future of thousands of honest students. On the other hand, the petitioners have sought a retest contending that the paper leak was widespread affecting the sanctity of the exam.

 

8:35 AM

Agenda will be extensive; PM Modi, Putin will be able to talk in an informal way as well: Kremlin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day (July 8 to July 9) visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. This will be PM Modi's first visit to Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In an interview with Russia’s state-run VGTRK television channel, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "Obviously, the agenda will be extensive, if not to say overbusy. It will be an official visit, and we hope that the heads will be able to talk in an informal way as well…We are expecting a very important and full-fledged visit, which is so crucial for Russian-Indian relations."

8:34 AM

BMC asks Mumbaikars to step out only if necessary; BEST buses diverted