HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 PM NATION DEL46 MEA-WASIA-2NDLD VESSELS (5.18 PM) **** 1 Indian killed, 10 injured in Iranian attacks on 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz; New Delhi summons Iranian DCM New Delhi: An Indian national was killed and 10 others were injured, including two seriously, in Iranian attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, prompting New Delhi to summon the Iranian deputy envoy to lodge a strong protest and demand an immediate halt to such strikes. **** DEL80 CJP-LD PROTEST (8.38 PM) **** Wangchuk refuses to end fast despite appeals, being in 'immense pain' New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk is suffering muscle loss and is in "immense pain" but has refused to end his hunger strike as various sections on Tuesday appealed to him to call off his 17-day fast and urged the government to initiate dialogue. **** DEL9 MEA-INDIA-PALESTINE (11.39 AM) **** India supports UN membership for Palestine: MEA New Delhi: India has backed Palestine's bid for United Nations membership and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to the festering conflict between the Palestinian people and Israel. **** DEL8 JK-NIA-SAEED (10.24 AM) **** Jammu: NIA court issues non-bailable warrant against LeT founder Hafiz Saeed Jammu: A special NIA court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, in connection with a case pertaining to the ongoing probe into the Pahalgam terror attack. **** DEL75 QURAISHI-LD INTERVIEW (8.01 PM) **** EC 'very unfair' to opposition, its credibility has taken 'severe beating': Ex-CEC Quraishi New Delhi: Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Tuesday alleged that the current Election Commission has been "very unfair" to opposition parties and asserted that the poll body's image and credibility have taken a "severe beating". **** DEL49 MEA-CANADA-NIJJAR (5.56 PM) **** India notes RCMP official's remark of 'no evidence' linking Indian agents to Nijjar killing New Delhi: India on Tuesday said it noted the remarks of a senior Canadian police official stating that investigators probing the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar have found no evidence linking Indian government agents to the assassination. **** DEL67 MEA-HASINA (7.21 PM) **** Sheikh Hasina's return: India says stance unchanged New Delhi: As Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina plans to return to Dhaka, India on Tuesday reacted cautiously, saying there is no change in its approach on the issue. **** BOM29 MH-LD TOURISTS-ASSAULT (7.49 PM) **** Woman tourist molested, family members assaulted near Nashik; 9 arrested Nashik (Maharashtra): Two days after a woman tourist was allegedly molested and her family members were attacked by a group of hooligans at Bhavali Dam in the district, police on Tuesday arrested nine persons in the case. **** BOM27 MH-CAB-LD LOAN WAIVER (7.29 PM) **** Maharashtra cabinet approves changes to farm loan waiver, rolls out MSRTC land development push Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved significant changes to the latest farm loan waiver scheme, removing key eligibility conditions, including the previous Rs 50,000 upper limit applicable for the beneficiaries of the 2019 waiver. **** CAL26 WB-CM- LD SCHEME (5.17 PM) **** Centre pre-approves 1 lakh rural houses for Bengal under PMAY before survey completion Kolkata: The Centre has pre-approved the construction of one lakh rural houses in West Bengal under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana even before the completion of survey work and the physical verification process, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Tuesday. **** DEL81 TMC-REBELS-2NDLD SPEAKER (8.39 PM) **** NCPI likely to be invited to all-party meet; Sudip Bandyopadhyay to be floor leader New Delhi: Lok Sabha MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who have left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), are likely to be the floor leader and chief whip respectively of the little-known outfit, which is expected to be called for an all-party meeting to be held ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament. **** LEGAL LGD40 SC-WB-LD OBC LIST (6.43 PM) **** West Bengal withdraws plea in SC against HC verdict striking down OBC status of 77 castes New Delhi: In a significant development, the West Bengal government and the State Backward Classes Commission on Tuesday withdrew their separate pleas from the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court judgment striking down the inclusion of 77 castes, including 75 Muslim communities, in the state's OBC list. **** LGD37 SC-2ND LD BHOJSHALA (6.13 PM) **** SC directs separate open space for Muslims adjacent to disputed Bhojshala for Friday prayers New Delhi: Observing that both Hindu and Muslim sides must have patience due to the "sensitive" nature of the Bhojshala matter, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that a separate open space be provided adjacent to the disputed site in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar for offering namaz on Fridays between 1 and 3 pm till the case is decided. **** LGD35 SC-LD INFLUENCERS (5.38 PM) **** SC imposes Rs 3 lakh cost on influencers Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia for 'misconduct' New Delhi: Slamming the conduct of comedian Samay Raina and YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said they had taken the court for a ride, and imposed a cost of Rs 3 each on them. **** BUSINESS DEL56 BIZ-LD SERVICES INDEX (6.43 PM) **** India launches new services output index; 14 of 19 sectors post double-digit growth in April New Delhi: India on Tuesday launched a new monthly indicator to track activity in its services economy, with the first trial release showing broad-based expansion across key sectors and double-digit growth in 14 of 19 sub-sectors in April 2026. **** DEL64 BIZ-TAX-LD COLLECTION (7.16 PM) **** Direct taxes grow 16 pc to Rs 6.51 lakh crore so far on faster corporate tax mop-up New Delhi: The net direct tax collection grew 16.40 per cent to over Rs 6.51 lakh crore till July 13 this fiscal, driven by higher corporate tax mop-up, government data showed on Tuesday. **** FOREIGN FGN42 BANGLA-HASINA (5.44 PM) **** Bangladesh ‘welcomes’ Hasina’s announcement to return home, says she must face justice  Dhaka: Bangladesh on Tuesday said it “welcomes” deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's plans to return home, asserting that she must face justice as a death penalty convict. **** FGN31 UN-LD JAISHANKAR (2.30 PM) **** India to prioritise rule-based maritime order, says Jaishankar as he launches UNSC campaign United Nations: India will ensure that issues such as free, open and rule-based maritime order, including safety of seafarers, and countering terror financing get the “attention they deserve” at the UN Security Council, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. **** PTI APL APL