Here are the top 5 stories of the day

Government reaches out to opposition for NEET debate, urges talks without preconditions

The government has reached out to opposition parties to break the Parliament deadlock over the NEET paper leak, offering a discussion without preconditions but opposing the demand for education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Union home minister Amit Shah met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after repeated adjournments, while opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav also held talks with the Speaker. Read full story.

Gulf nations spend billions on finding new oil routes to bypass Strait of Hormuz

Gulf nations are accelerating pipeline projects worth billions of dollars to create alternative export routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, with at least seven major projects under construction, planned or under discussion. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and UAE’s Fujairah terminal are operating near full capacity, while Abu Dhabi is speeding up a $3 billion pipeline to increase Fujairah’s capacity by 1.2 million barrels a day. Iraq is reviving plans for pipelines through Turkey and Jordan, but analysts warn alternative routes remain vulnerable to Houthi attacks. Read full story.

CJP protest continues as government, activists locked in standoff over venue for talks

The Cockroach Janata Party and the government remained locked in a standoff over the venue for talks, with the CJP insisting on Jantar Mantar while the government proposed an alternative location. The protest demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak has entered its second month. Police action against protesters and the detention of CJP leaders have further escalated tensions. Follow top developments.

Iran claims strikes destroyed Patriot systems, THAAD radar at US bases

Iran’s IRGC claimed it destroyed Patriot air defence systems, a THAAD missile defence radar and an MQ-9 Reaper drone depot in retaliatory strikes on US bases in Jordan and Kuwait, though the claims could not be independently verified and the US military has not confirmed any damage. Read full story.

India’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger train has covered around 900 kilometres during the first five days of commercial operations on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana, with passenger fares ranging between Rs 10 and Rs 25. Read full story.