Hindustan Times

The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected Telegram's plea against a temporary ban ordered under Section 69A of the IT Act. The order, issued on National Testing Agency recommendations, remains in force until June 22, one day after the scheduled NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21. Telegram serves more than 150 million users in India.

Telegram has petitioned the Delhi High Court to contest a government-ordered nationwide block imposed until June 22, 2026, following the use of the platform by cheating networks ahead of the rescheduled NEET exam on June 21. The app serves over 150 million users in India, many of whom rely on it for educational content. Paper setters remain under lockdown protocols while the court considers the challenge on an urgent basis.

Vishakha Tilkar, a 26-year-old commerce graduate, died by suicide in Ambernath on a Tuesday shortly after her April 30 arranged marriage to Dr. Nitin Tilkar. Her family accused the husband and in-laws of dowry demands and abuse, leading to arrests by Shivaji Nagar Police. Reports cite CCTV installation, isolation from neighbors, and an assault two days before her death, though some details remain unverified.

Washington and Tehran signed an agreement to end the war, with the deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz and initiating a 60-day period for nuclear negotiations. Israeli drone strikes continued in Lebanon, killing three people, while statements attributed to Benjamin Netanyahu on the agreement remain disputed between sources.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi at the conclusion of Modi's visit to France. Both Times of India and Hindustan Times reported the remarks along with Macron's statement that he planned to visit India in February. Details of a specific bilateral meeting and the exact wording of the Hindi message differ between the two outlets.

Shashi Tharoor praised aspects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomacy during a meeting with US President Donald Trump and supported Modi's position that civilian sailors on commercial ships should not be treated as combatants. The BJP responded by attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Supported claims appear in Times of India and Hindustan Times reporting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, marking their first formal bilateral interaction in over 16 months. Modi highlighted risks to Indian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, referenced recent incidents involving Indian crew, and congratulated Trump on West Asia peace efforts. Trump described the conversation as very good.

In the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections for two Jharkhand seats, NDA-backed independent Parimal Nathwani secured 28 votes and JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram secured 30 votes in the 81-member assembly. Congress candidate Pranav Jha received 20 votes, with three ballots declared invalid. The results occurred against a backdrop of 24 NDA MLAs and 56 INDIA bloc MLAs.

India received its first FATF vice presidency with the appointment of Vivek Aggarwal for the July 2026-June 2027 term. Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IAS officer and current Union Culture Secretary, previously led India's FATF delegation and Financial Intelligence Unit. The decision was announced at the conclusion of the FATF plenary in Paris.

Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, will participate in the BRICS National Security Advisors meeting hosted by India. The June 22-23 session in New Delhi serves as preparation for India's September BRICS Summit. The announcement came from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, marking their first in-person discussion in over 16 months. They addressed trade deals, Indian investment in the US, and maritime security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz. The encounter produced no announced agreements.

Voting for seven Karnataka Legislative Council seats occurred on Thursday with results declared the same evening. Congress secured five seats and BJP two, with reported cross-voting by MLAs from BJP and JD(S). The outcome followed the expiration of terms for seven sitting MLCs on June 30.

Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha MPs and issued a three-line whip for a Thursday meeting in New Delhi. Three MPs attended while six submitted a letter to Speaker Om Birla requesting recognition as a separate group. Sources report the whip was issued on Wednesday with invitations sent via multiple channels.

The National Testing Agency scheduled a NEET-UG re-examination for June 21, 2026, after cancelling the original May 3 exam due to paper-leak allegations. Reports detail isolated allotment issues, including one Nagpur candidate assigned an Abu Dhabi centre and one Kerala candidate shifted farther from home. The NTA corrected the Nagpur case prior to the exam.

The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing for a petition by 11 NEET aspirants challenging the June 21 retest and directed the matter for July listing alongside other leak-related cases. The National Medical Commission, acting on Ministry of Education instructions, directed medical colleges to restrict leave on June 20 and 21 except in exceptional circumstances. Both Hindustan Times and The Hindu reported these administrative and judicial actions without contradiction on core facts.

The Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing on a petition by 11 NEET aspirants challenging the NEET-UG 2026 retest, directing it to be listed with other petitions in July. The original May 3 exam, taken by more than 2.27 million candidates, was scrapped on May 12 following reports of irregularities. Preparations for the retest include security measures at centers such as those in Mysuru.