Seven women killed in ammonia gas leak in Tiruvallur factorySeven women died during treatment on Sunday (June 21, 2026) after being affected in a major ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing unit in Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam, police said. A total of 67 affected workers were rushed to local medical centres immediately, Thiruvallur District Collector S. Kavitha said. According to her, 46 are being treated at Vels Hospital and 21 at Venkateshwara Hospital. Nine of the most critically ill patients have since been mobilised via ambulances to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.NEET-UG retest held at over 5,400 centres in India, abroad amid tight security2.2 million aspiring medical students gathered on Sunday (June 21, 2026) to take a re-examination under heightened security measures. This mass retest comes in the wake of the cancellation of the previous examination, which was marred by a paper leak that incited public outrage across the nation. Candidates began arriving at NEET-UG re-test centres as early as 11 a.m. on June 21 amid tight security arrangements, with frisking and verification of admit cards and identity documents underway at several examination venues.India-EU trade pact to be signed by December; implemented from Feb-Mar next year: Piyush GoyalIndia and the 27-nation European Union will sign the free trade agreement by December and are likely to implement the pact during February- March next year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday (June 21, 2026). On January 27 this year, India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the ‘mother of all deals’. “Now, with almost zero duty, almost the entire European market will be open for us. The EU’s FTA (free trade agreement) will be signed by December and will be effective by February-March,” Mr. Goyal said during an interaction with chartered accountants in Mumbai.Congress makes strong pitch for making right to vote a fundamental rightThe Congress on Sunday (June 21, 2026) made a strong pitch for making the right to vote a fundamental right, saying it would be a powerful step in putting in place safeguards against voter suppression or arbitrary disqualifications that have taken place in different states in “astronomical numbers” under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that with the “blatantly partisan functioning” of the Election Commission of India (ECI) working at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, having been brutally exposed, it is now time to elevate the right to vote as a fundamental right that would offer it the highest level of judicial review and protection.Panel sets deadline for Meghalaya govt. to stop ‘faceless’ illegal coal tradeA one-member judicial committee appointed by the High Court of Meghalaya has given the State government 15 days to address the “faceless” nature of illegal coal mining and transportation in the State. In its 38th interim report submitted to the High Court on June 17, the Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey committee directed the State government to frame, within a fortnight, a comprehensive action plan that includes measures to hold officials accountable for allowing illegal coal mining and transportation under their watch.Iran says can’t enter final U.S. deal talks without end to Lebanon warU.S. Vice President JD Vance and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including the head of the military, Asim Munir, arrived in Switzerland on Sunday (June 21, 2026) for talks on adding key details to the interim agreement between U.S. and Iran to halt the war, hours after Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and warned that little might be achieved if the fighting doesn’t stop. U.S. President Donald Trump, in response, unleashed a new threat to impose American tolls in the crucial waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days, saying the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the West Asia.” The agreement calls for toll-free travel for 60 days.Leaders, yoga enthusiasts participate in celebrations across the countryPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 21, 2026) led the nation in observing the 12th International Day of Yoga from the Red Road in Kolkata. President Droupadi Murmu led the celebrations in Madhya Pradesh, performing asanas at the State-level event in Jabalpur. Addressing the nation, Mr. Modi said: “June 21 marks the longest day on Earth; it has now become the largest community celebration day because of yoga”. He said, “Yoga brings people together; I congratulate people of the world on this occasion. Yoga is not just physical exercise, not restricted to any age group; it is expression of human spirit.”India boosts Russian, UAE oil purchases in June ahead of full Hormuz recoveryIndia’s crude oil imports from Russia surged in June, while shipments from the United Arab Emirates were near-record levels as refiners sought to secure supplies ahead of the full restoration of flows from Gulf producers following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, analysts said. India imported an average of 2.66 million barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in June, through Friday (June 19, 2026), compared to 1.91 million bpd in May, data from maritime and commodity intelligence firm Kpler showed, cementing Moscow’s position as the country’s largest oil supplier.CJP protest in Delhi: Dipke, supporters continue sit-in overnight at Jantar Mantar; urge people to join protestCockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with supporters, continued the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar overnight, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy, and urged people to join the demonstration on Sunday (June 21, 2026). The protest entered its second day on Sunday (June 21, 2026) as Mr. Dipke appealed to people to reach Jantar Mantar, while asking NEET aspirants to join the agitation after completing their re-examination.Mediator Qatar confirms launch of U.S.-Iran talks in SwitzerlandThe mediating country, Qatar, on Sunday (June 21, 2026) confirmed the start of talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland aimed at a permanent end to the West Asia war. In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced “the launch of the Lake Lucerne Summit and the first meeting of the high-level committee with the participation of representatives from the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the two mediating states, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.Bangladesh issues countrywide alert fearing unrest on anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami LeagueBangladesh on Saturday (June 20, 2026) issued a nationwide security alert over possible unrest ahead of the founding anniversary of the now-disbanded Awami League, the party of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The party was disbanded by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government after Hasina’s government was toppled on August 5, 2024, following a violent student-led street protest dubbed the July Uprising. “We have intelligence information that the Awami League may try to create unrest and instability in the country surrounding June 23,” Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said while addressing a press conference.