Welcome to Outlook India's Breaking News Live Blog, through which we bring you real-time updates on major events and developments across the globe. Here’s a look at top events and developments in focus today:

• First Parliament Session of 18th Lok Sabha

• NEET UG Exam row

• Weather Updates

• T20 World Cup

• Arvind Kejriwal's
  

More than 15 policemen and several civilians, including an Orthodox priest, were killed by armed militants in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan, its governor Sergei Melikov said in a video statement early Monday.

The gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police post in two cities Sunday, according to the authorities.

(via AP)

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24 and will feature the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected members. Following that, the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker is scheduled for June 26.

President Droupadi Murmu is slated to address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on June 27. READ FULL STORY

The row over appointment of BJP leader and seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem speaker is likely show up during the Parliament session. The move has drawn flak from the opposition, which alleged that the claim of Congress member K Suresh to the post was overlooked by the government.

Light rains and cloudy sky brought some relief for Delhi on Sunday, with the maximum temperature being recorded at 39.8 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department.

According to the weather department, a thunderstorm with rain is expected on June 24 and 25 as well.

While 813 of the 1,563 candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks in the NEET-UG exam appeared for a retest on Sunday, 750 skipped the exam.

The retest was conducted at seven centres due to a controversy over grace marks awarded to students to make up for the loss of time at six centres where the NEET-UG examination started late on May 5. The Centre later told the Supreme Court that the grace marks were being scrapped and these 1,563 students would be given an option to appear for a retest.

There were allegations that the grace marks led to inflation of marks and contributed to six of the grace mark candidates from the same centre in Haryana scoring a perfect 720 along with 61 others.

A 32-year-old Indian-origin man was fatally shot during a robbery at a convenience store in the US state of Texas on June 21. Dasari Gopikrishna, who hailed from Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh, came to the US only eight months ago.

The incident occurred at a gas station convenience store in Pleasant Grove, Dallas on June 21.

Consul General D C Manjunath, who was in Dallas for a Yoga Day event on Sunday, confirmed to news agency PTI that the incident was unrelated to a shooting in Arkansas as previously reported by various sources.

Four members of Britain's richest family, the Hindujas, who were given jail terms by a Swiss court in a verdict that found them guilty of exploiting vulnerable domestic workers from India employed at their villa in Geneva, on Saturday said neither of them have been subjected to any "imprisonment, conviction, sentence or detention."

Earlier on Friday, in a statement issued on behalf of the family by their lawyers from Switzerland stressed their clients had been acquitted of all human trafficking charges.

“Per Swiss law procedures, the lower court's judgement is rendered ineffective and inoperative as the presumption of innocence is paramount until and unless a final judgment by the highest adjudicating authority is enforced,” a spokesperson for the affected family members, Kamal and Prakash Hinduja and their son Ajay and his wife Namrata – who are all Swiss nationals, said.

“It may be noted that the case has no complainants left anymore and they had declared in the court that they were led into signing statements that they didn't even understand. They had neither intended to nor initiated such proceedings. All of them further testified that the four Hinduja Family Members treated them with ‘respect, dignity and like family’," news agency PTI quoted the spokesperson as saying.

More than 1,300 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, Saudi authorities announced Sunday.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel said that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures to perform the Hajj rituals in and around the holy city of Mecca.

(via AP)

Death toll in the hooch tragedy of Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi has risen to 57, the District Collectorate

The Bihar Police has arrested five people in the NEET paper leak case, which takes the total number of people arrested in the case to 18 now in the state. The arrests were made by the Bihar Police’s Economic Offenses Unit.

The development comes after the Centre ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to takeover the probe into the alleged discrepancies in the NEET-UG examination. The agency after taking up the case has dispatched its teams to several states for investigation. READ FULL STORY

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said he was positively looking forward to coordination to run Parliament, as the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha gets underway from today.

In a post on X, Rijiju said he shall always be available to assist the members of Parliament as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

"The First Session of the 18th Lok Sabha begins today, the 24th June, 2024. I welcome all the newly elected Hon'ble members. I shall be always available to assist the members as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. I'm positively looking forward to co-ordination to run the house," Rijiju said.

As a symbol of unity, all MPs of Opposition bloc INDIA will enter the Lok Sabha together today on the first day of the Parliament session.

They will assemble where the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was placed earlier, sources cited by news agency ANI said, adding that they are likely to carry a copy of the Constitution.

Centre's high-level panel on exam reforms to meet on Monday: Sources

New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI) The Union education ministry's high-level panel for suggesting exam reforms and reviewing functioning of the National Testing Agency will meet on Monday, sources said.

Amid a row over irregularities in competitive exams, the ministry on Saturday notified a seven-member panel headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Radhakrishnan to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the National Testing Agency (NTA).

An Indian national, Gopi Krishna Dasari, was killed in a robbery shooting incident in United States' Dallas on June 21. Consulate General of India in Houston took to X and said: Deeply saddened to learn about the tragic demise of Indian National Mr. Gopi Krishna Dasari, in a robbery shooting incident at Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Tx We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased."

The Consulate General of India in Houston said it is in touch with local family member and extending all possible assistance including through Indian Associations.

On the 39th anniversary of the deadly 1985 bombing of 'Kanishka' flight, which was alleged to be carried out by Sikh militants in retaliation to the 'Operation Bluestar', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday said the incident is of the "worst" acts of terrorism in history.

Jaishankar's comments recalling the bombing came amid strained ties of India and Canada over increasing activities of Khalistani extremists from Canadian soil. READ FULL STORY

Morning visuals from Parliament building where first Session of the 18th Lok Sabha is set to kickstart today

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held "productive and deep" conversations with his United Arab Emirates counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on India and UAE's "ever-growing" comprehensive strategic ties and discussed regional and global issues.

Jaishankar, who was in the UAE on Sunday, visited the iconic BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and participated in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations before meeting Al Nahyan.

Sensex declines 463.96 points to 76,745.94 in early trade; Nifty drops 149.6 points to 23,351.50.

On the 39th anniversary of the Air India Kanishka bombing, High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada said, "...Any act of glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of Al-182 in 1985, is deplorable and should be condemned by all peace-loving countries and people. It is unfortunate that such actions are allowed to be routine on many occasions in Canada."

BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab took oath as pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. President Droupadi Murmu administers the oath.

Ahead of the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, PM Modi said the world's largest election was conducted in a very grand and glorious manner, adding that this election election "has also become very important because for the second time after independence, the people of the country have given an opportunity to a government to serve for the third consecutive time..."

Ahead of the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed all newly elected MPs and said: "In Parliamentary democracy, this is a glorious day...For the first time after independence, swearing-in ceremony is taking place at our own new Parliament building. It used to happen in the Old Parliament building. On this significant day, I extend a hearty welcome to all newly-elected MPs, extend them greetings and best wishes."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making an address at Parliament ahead of the commencement of the first session of 18th Lok Sabha, said, "In the last 10 years, we have always tried to implement a tradition because we believe that a majority is required to run the government but to run the country a consensus is of utmost importance."

"So, it will be our constant efforts to serve Maa Bharti and fulfill the aspirations and ambitions of the 140 crore people, with everyone's consent and by taking everyone together. We want to go ahead and speed up decisions by taking everyone together, by maintaining the sanctity of the Constitution," PM Modi said.

The people of the country expect good steps from the Opposition, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the commencement of the first Parliament session of the newly elected 18th Lok Sabha, adding that he hopes Opposition "will live up to the expectations of the common citizens of the country to maintain the dignity of democracy."

"People do not want drama, disturbance. People want substance, not slogans. The country needs a good opposition, a responsible opposition and I have full faith that the MPs who have won in this 18th Lok Sabha will try to fulfill these expectations of the common man...," PM Modi said.

Delivering an address ahead of the commencement of the first Parliament session of the newly elected 18th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted Emergency's 50th anniversary falls on June 25, calling it a 'black spot' on India's democracy "when Constitution was discarded."

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha has commenced at the new Parliament building.

Swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected MPs to take place shortly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab accepted the resignation of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi kept the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat.

WATCH | Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah taking oath as members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Union Ministers and BJP MPs Sarbananda Sonowal, Piyush Goyal, Rajnath Singh and others took oath as members of the 18th Lok Sabha on Monday.

After Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said he was positively looking forward to coordination to run Parliament,Congress leader Jairam Ramesh replied saying, "Actions will speak louder than words Mr. Minister. Walk the Talk".

Rijiju then responded to Jairam Ramesh, calling him an "intelligent member" who "will be a valuable asset to the house "if" he "contributes positively."

"You are an intelligent member and you will be a valuable asset to the house if you contribute positively. Differences will remain amongst political parties in Parliamentary Democracy but we are united in our service to the nation. Looking forward to your cooperation in maintaining India's rich Parliamentary traditions," Kiren Rijiju said.

To this, Jairam Ramesh took a 'grace marks' jibe in a clear reference to the ongoing NEET-UG medical entrance exam controversy. "Thanks Mr. Minister. I hope your certificate of my intelligence is not like the NTA grading. Is it with grace marks?" Ramesh said.

When asked about Congress and other Opposition parties carrying copies of the Constitution to the Parliament today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, "...The attack that the PM and Amit Shah are launching on the Constitution is not acceptable to us, we will not let this happen. So, we held the Constitution while taking the oath...Our message is going across, no power can touch the Constitution of India."

Supreme Court is hearing the plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging Delhi High Court order staying the bail granted to him by trial court in the Delhi excise policy case.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, questioned the High Court order granting stay on bail on the first day of hearing.

Singhvi asked why can’t CM be free till the High Court gives its order. The counsel said CM has a bail order in his favour and he is not a flight risk.

ASG SV Raju, representing Enforcement Directorate, told the Supreme Court that the order of the High Court will come in a day or two. Supreme Court said if it passes an order now, it will be pre-judging the issue. "It is not a subordinate court, it is a High Court," said SC.

Supreme Court fixes June 26 for hearing Arvind Kejriwal's plea against HC order staying his bail in ED's case linked to alleged excise scam.

Fire officials said they've discovered eight dead bodies from a burned factory near Seoul. Fire official Kim Jin-young says the bodies were retrieved and being transferred to a hospital.

Yonhap news agency earlier reported that 20 dead bodies were discovered.

Kim earlier said rescue efforts were underway at the factory at Hwaseong, just south of Seoul.

(Via AP)

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the Emergency a 'black spot' on India's democracy a day ahead of its 50th anniversary, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said called out PM's "more than necessary" customary words and said while the country was hopeful that he will show some sympathy towards youth regarding paper leak in NEET and other entrance exams, he did not take any responsibility for the same or any other key issue.

"Prime Minister Modi Ji used his customary words more than necessary today. This is called, the rope burnt but the strength did not go away. The country was hopeful that Modiji would say something on important issues. He will show some sympathy towards youth regarding paper leak in NEET and other entrance exams, but he did not take any responsibility for the rigging and corruption of his government," Kharge said in a post on X.

"Modi ji also remained silent about the recent train accident in West Bengal. Manipur has been in the grip of violence for the last 13 months, but Modiji neither went there nor did he express any concern about the recent violence in his speech today," Kharge added.

On Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's contest from Kerala's Wayanad, her husband Robert Vadra says, "...Rahul got a lot of love from the people of Wayanad and he also gave love. It is a matter of great happiness that Priyanka will contest from there and if she wins and becomes an MP from Wayanad, then whatever thoughts and plans Rahul had for Wayanad, she will fulfill them...I am hopeful that the people of Wayanad will make Priyanka win with a huge majority and then she will be in the Parliament."

South Korean officials say the death toll from a lithium battery factory fire has increased to 16, reports AP.

During hearing on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea against HC’s stay order on bail, Supreme Court justice Manoj Misra observed that the stay order is normally pronounced the same day and not reserved.

"It's unusual," he observed and added that the SC would like to wait for the high court order to get the clear picture on the issue.

Karnataka's Kalaburagi airport received a bomb threat via email on Monday which turned out to be a hoax after a thorough search operation, police said. Bomb disposal and dog squads were immediately pressed into action on the airport premises, they said.

Kalaburagi Police Commissioner Chethan R told PTI that the Airport Director Chilaka Mahesh received an email from an anonymous ID this morning claiming that explosives have been planted inside the airport premises.

An elderly waste collector from a Rajasthan village, whose videos went viral on social media, died by suicide, police said on Monday, adding that he took the extreme step after being mocked by youngsters.

The man used to collect plastic bottles and other waste material on a handcart and sell it for a living.

The medical bulletin of Delhi Water Minister Atishi reads: "A medical team from Lok Nayak Hospital came for medical examination of Atishi at Bhogal. Patient has been counselled for admission and oral-intake, but the patient denied getting admitted.”

Atishi is on an indefinite hunger strike since the last four days claiming that Haryana is not releasing Delhi's share of water.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Union Health Minister JP Nadda as the new Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Piyush Goyal. Goyal won the Mumbai North constituency in the 2024 general election and was sworn into the Lok Sabha on June 24. 

Nadda's appointment comes amid speculation that he may step down as BJP national president, a position he took over from the current Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in 2020.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has expressed her disapproval of the recent talks between India and Bangladesh regarding water sharing between the two nations. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee expressed her discontent at not being invited to the session.

"Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government is neither acceptable nor desirable," she wrote, as reported by India Today.

READ FULL STORY

A massive fire broke out in old city of Srinagar. A dozen houses, shops and a popular mosque gutted in the fire.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the governing National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it has failed in its first 15 days back in power.

He listed 10 issues that occurred in the first 15 days of the Modi 3.0 government. These included the NEET-UG 2024 question paper leak, deaths due to heatwave in North India, terror attacks in Kashmir, and more. Notably, Monday was also the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power for a third consecutive term.

The Lok Sabha witnessed a display of linguistic diversity on Monday, with the newly-elected MPs taking their oaths in English and Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Dogri, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati and Odia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Urban Development Minister ML Khattar were among those who took oath in Hindi.

Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol, the MoS for Aviation, took his oath in Marathi. Union Minister Jitender Singh, the MP from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, took his oath in Dogri. Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah takes oath in Kashmiri language.

Union Minister of Port and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal and Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu took their oaths in Assamese and Telugu, respectively.

After a setback from the top court, the Delhi High Court is set to announce its verdict on Arvind Kejriwal's bail order on Tuesday - June 25. The verdict will decide if the Aam Aadmi Chief walks out of Tihar Jail or not.

On June 21, a vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain reserved its judgement after the Enforcement Directorate challenged the bail ordered by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court.

While reserving its decision, the Delhi HC ordered an interim stay on Kejriwal's bail.

On June 20, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court granted bail to the AAP supremo, who had been arrested for his involvement in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam case. The trial court ordered the Delhi Chief Minister to submit a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh to the court.