News updates: Tomato rates surge to Rs 90 per kg in Delhi markets as supplies hit due to rains

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Russia visit to Mumbai rain mayhem, stay with us for all news updates from across the globe

3:10 PM

Kissing video row: Delhi HC junks plea against Dalai Lama over 'molestation' of minor boy

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation over the alleged molestation of a boy by the Dalai Lama, as claimed to have been shown in a video clip that went viral last year, saying the religious leader was “being playful” and has already apologised for the incident. In the clip, the Dalai Lama was seen kissing the boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue”, which sparked a row on social media. The petitioner, 'Confederation of NGOs', urged the court to pass directions to the authorities to take cognisance of the alleged incident under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and also ensure that the identity of the child is retracted from news portals.

3:04 PM

Day 2 of annual India-Russia summit: PM Modi pays tribute at Tomb of Unknown Soldiers in Moscow

After addressing the Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Moscow. The ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' is a war memorial located at the Kremlin Wall, in Moscow. It is dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. Meanwhile, the Indian community in Russia has welcomed PM Modi's announcement to open two new consulates in Russia. "This is a big step. In today's time, when some Western countries are turning away from Russia, India is opening its consulate in two cities here... this is a step forward and this will have a big impact on the friendship of India and Russia," said Abhay Singh, Russia's Indian-origin lawmaker.

2:56 PM

PM Modi interacts with members of Russian Cultural Troupe who performed in his welcome

2:45 PM

SC refuses open court hearing of pleas seeking review of same-sex marriage verdict

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow open court hearing of pleas seeking review of its last year's judgement declining legal recognition to same-sex marriage. In a setback to gay rights activists, a five judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had on October 17 last year refused to accord legal backing to same-sex marriage, saying there was "no unqualified right" to marriage with the exception of those that are recognised by law. The apex court, however, had made a strong pitch for the rights of queer people so they don't face discrimination in accessing goods and services that are available to others, safe houses known as 'Garima Greh' in all districts to provide shelter to members of the community facing harassment and violence and dedicated hotline numbers which they could use in case of trouble.

2:36 PM

Eastern Railway earns over Rs 953 crore of passenger revenue in April-June

The Eastern Railway has earned over Rs 953 crore of passenger revenue in the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year, an official said here on Tuesday. During the April-June quarter of the current fiscal, the Kolkata-headquartered ER achieved a growth of 9.97 per cent in revenue from passenger movement as compared to the year-ago period, he said. "Passenger revenue for the first quarter of 2024-25 stands at Rs 953.24 crore, compared to Rs 866.79 crore earned during the same period of the last fiscal," the ER official said in a statement.

2:30 PM

Equity mutual fund inflows hit record high of $5 billion in June: AMFI data

Inflows into India's equity mutual funds rose 17% sequentially to a record high of about $5 billion in June, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed on Tuesday. Equity mutual funds have seen net inflows aggregating to Rs 5.99 trillion from domestic investors since February 2021, well above net foreign inflows of Rs 333.61 billion over the same period. The benchmark NSE Nifty 50 has risen about 65 per cent over these last 40 months, helped by sustained mutual fund inflows, steady earnings and macroeconomic growth, which is the fastest among large economies. Inflows into large-caps rose 46 per cent to Rs 9.7 billion rupees, a three-month high, supported by policy continuity and macroeconomic stability. Meanwhile, inflows into small-caps and mid-caps moderated 16 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively at Rs 22.63 billion and Rs 25.28 billion in June.

2:20 PM

After Naidu's $12 bn demand, Nitish asks Modi govt to sanction $3.6 bn for Bihar ahead of Union Budget

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second-biggest ally and Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, has demanded Rs 300 billion ($3.6 billion) ahead of the Union budget, according to a Bloomberg report. The Bihar government made the request during a pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month. The government has received the request from Bihar but hasn’t yet decided how much will be allocated to the state this year. Earlier, Modi’s biggest ally in the coalition — N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party — made a request for more than $12 billion in aid over the next few years for Andhra Pradesh.

2:11 PM

Disappointing to see leader of world's largest democracy hug world's most bloody criminal: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

1:53 PM

Five slain soldiers killed in Kathua attack hailed from Uttarakhand, CM Dhami pays tributes

The five Army personnel killed in a terrorist attack on a patrolling party in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir hailed from Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday, asserting that their sacrifice will not go in vain. "Five brave soldiers of Uttarakhand attained martyrdom during the cowardly terrorist attack in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. This is a moment of great pain for all of us," CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a statement. "Our bravehearts made the supreme sacrifice for their motherland in keeping with the rich military tradition of Uttarakhand," he said, adding their "sacrifice will not go in vain.

1:36 PM

Former Chandigarh mayor & AAP leader Pardeep Chhabra passes away at 65

AAP leader and former Chandigarh mayor Pardeep Chhabra passed away here on Tuesday. He was 65. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. The AAP leader's son, Puneet Chhabra, said his father had been undergoing treatment for jaundice and complained of ill health in the morning. Chhabra was the co-in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party in Chandigarh. He was also the chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board.

1:29 PM

SC scraps decision of West Bengal authorities to cancel contract, terms it classic case of arbitrariness

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed a decision of the West Bengal authorities to cancel award of a contract for maintaining two underpasses in Kolkata to a private party without assigning any reason, saying it was a "classic textbook case of arbitrariness". A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also set aside the judgement of the Calcutta High Court which upheld the cancellation of the contract. "We are of the considered opinion that this is the classic textbook case of arbitrariness," Justice Pardiwala said while pronouncing the verdict.

1:26 PM

No matter if temperature in Russia plummets to minus, our bilateral relations always in plus: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described Russia as India's "all-weather friend" and hailed President Vladimir Putin's leadership in strengthening the bilateral relationship over the past two decades. The Prime Minister's praise of Putin, during an address to the Indian diaspora here, came amid attempts by Western powers to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine. "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to mind of every Indian is India's all-weather friend (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and a trusted ally, Modi said. No matter how low the temperature dips below minus during Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in 'plus', it is full of warmth, the Prime Minister said.

 

1:18 PM

Hathras Stampede: Six officials including SDM, CO suspended for negligence in duties

The SIT probing the stampede in Hathras recommended action against six officials for negligence in performing their duties, following which they have been suspended from their services. The local SDM, CO, Tehsildar, Inspector, and Chowki in charge have been held responsible for negligence in performing their duties. The investigation committee also found the program organiser and tehsil-level police and administration guilty.

1:07 PM

Torrential rains continue to lash Udupi in Uttarakhand, low-lying areas inundated

Torrential rains continued to lash Udupi district on Tuesday disrupting normal life. Several low-lying areas in Karkala, Kundapur, Thekkatte, Hirgana, Basruru, Barkuru, Nitturu, Kaup and Udyavara were still under knee-deep water and roads were either blocked or rendered unmotorable, officials said. A part of the National Highway 66 between Puttur in Udupi and Kolalagiri Road also witnessed waterlogging. As a result of the waterlogging, a car driver reportedly misjudged the depth of the water on the road and drove straight into a bog nearby and the vehicle got stuck on the Kannarpady-Kadekaru link road in Udupi rural police station limits.

12:54 PM

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visits Ranchi to attend annual meeting of organisation.

Aside from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, all prant pracharaks or province in-charges of the organisation will gather here to take part in the meeting that will begin on July 12. During the three-day meeting, the prant pracharaks will review the RSS training camps held in May-June, an office-bearer of the organisation said. They will also deliberate on the implementation of various programmes of the organisation in the coming year, among others, he said. Prant pracharaks are full-time RSS workers, who are in charge of its 46 'prants' or organisational provinces.