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The Times of India

Politics / The Times of India

Landslide hits Vaishno Devi track at Himkoti; battery car service suspended

Intense rainfall caused a landslide near Himkoti on the new pilgrimage track. This incident prompted the temporary suspension of the battery car service on the route. The old yatra route remained unaffected, and devotees continued their journey on the traditional path. Shrine board authorities are working to clear the debris and monitor the area. Yatris are advised to follow official advisories and check travel updates.

10 Jul 2026 12:28 am
Farooq invites BJP, casts wide net for J&K statehood protest

The National Conference has invited various political parties for a protest. This demonstration is scheduled for July 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The protest aims to demand the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Invitations have been extended to leaders from across the political spectrum. The event coincides with the opening day of Parliament's monsoon session.

10 Jul 2026 12:24 am
Army chief visits forward areas along LoC in Poonch-Rajouri

Army chief General Dhiraj Seth visited forward areas along the Line of Control. He reviewed the region's security situation and counter-infiltration grid. General Seth also assessed operational preparedness and combat readiness of troops. He interacted with soldiers deployed at forward posts to boost morale. The visit occurred amid heightened security for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

10 Jul 2026 12:18 am
J&K orders screening of books with anti-national content, opposition slams move

J&K authorities are reviewing books in educational institutions for objectionable content. This action follows the withdrawal of books describing Kashmir as occupied territory. Political leaders have criticized the review as an attempt to control historical narratives. Schools must submit compliance reports by July nineteenth confirming book reviews. A legal group has also sought an inquiry into these controversial books.

10 Jul 2026 12:14 am
Tihar food 'too spicy, oily, deep-fried': US mercenary Matthew Aaron VanDyk seeks chicken, fish, olive oil in court plea

Matthew Aaron VanDyke, arrested by NIA, seeks court permission to prepare his own meals. He claims jail food is too oily and spicy, causing health issues. VanDyke has reportedly lost significant weight since May 6. He requests specific cooking items and food supplies for his dietary needs. The court has issued notices to jail authorities and the NIA for their response.

9 Jul 2026 11:29 pm
MHA unveils four-layer 'smart border' grid, cites J&K, Northeast gains

The government is establishing a robust four-layer security grid to fortify India's borders. This initiative aims to create a modern border security system for the nation. Efforts are underway to combat drug trafficking and achieve victory over the menace. The government is also working to prevent illegal infiltration and demographic changes. This proactive approach strengthens national security and border region prosperity.

9 Jul 2026 10:24 pm
Hours after joining BJP, ex-TMC leaders named Rajya Sabha bypoll candidates

Three former Trinamool Congress leaders have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. They were immediately nominated as BJP candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls. These by-elections are for seats that fell vacant after their resignations last month. Their move follows internal turmoil and a significant defeat for the TMC. The BJP aims to strengthen its West Bengal presence with their experience.

9 Jul 2026 9:31 pm
Setback for Mamata Banerjee: Three former TMC Rajya Sabha members join BJP in Kolkata

Three former Trinamool Congress leaders formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kolkata. Their induction follows weeks of growing rebellion and internal turmoil within the TMC party. Sushmita Dev cited political and personal reasons for her departure from the TMC. Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned from their Rajya Sabha seats. The TMC faces intensified political crisis with reports of more defections fueling speculation.

9 Jul 2026 6:22 pm
New Zealand PM hails trade pact with India: '57% tariff-free from day one'

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand has made a landmark announcement regarding tariff-free exports to India, with an impressive 57 percent of exports benefiting from zero tariffs from the outset of the trade agreement. This initiative is poised to enhance the presence of New Zealand businesses in the Indian marketplace.

9 Jul 2026 6:12 pm
'Centre allowing oil companies to make illegitimate profit': Arvind Kejriwal on fuel prices

Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Centre for high fuel prices. He stated petrol prices should drop from Rs 102 to Rs 82. Kejriwal noted global crude oil prices have declined significantly. He also questioned the impact of E20 ethanol-blended petrol. The AAP leader sought clarifications from automobile manufacturers on fuel concerns.

9 Jul 2026 5:44 pm
Telangana HC grants bail to Union minister Bandi Sanjay's son in POCSO case, sets Rs 1 lakh bond

The Telangana high court granted regular bail to Bandi Bhagirath, son of Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar. He was arrested in May under the POCSO Act and later granted interim bail for exams. The case involves allegations of sexual harassment against a minor girl. Bhagirath denied charges and filed a counter-complaint alleging extortion. Both allegations and counter-allegations are currently under investigation.

9 Jul 2026 5:18 pm
'Can do whatever she wishes with her workers': TMC reacts to viral video of Mamata Banerjee slapping party worker

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy defended Mamata Banerjee after a video showed her slapping a party worker. He stated Banerjee shares a close bond and can do as she wishes. The incident occurred during a protest march over a minor's alleged rape and murder. BJP leaders criticized Banerjee's actions, calling it arrogance and a loss of mental balance. Clashes between TMC and BJP supporters also marked the protest march.

9 Jul 2026 3:44 pm
Watch: Heavy rains wreak havoc as Monsoon covers entire India; videos capture water logging, traffic jams & destruction

Heavy monsoon rains have caused widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions across India. Several states are under red and orange alerts for severe weather conditions. Authorities are managing rescue operations and monitoring vulnerable areas. Maharashtra and Kerala continue to battle significant rainfall impacts. The India Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy showers in many regions.

9 Jul 2026 12:43 pm
'Decisions as swift as T20 match': PM Modi bats for deeper India-Australia ties

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India-Australia ties using cricket analogies during his visit. He stated that cricket serves as a diplomatic language between the two nations. Both countries will host major sporting events in the coming years. Terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and Sydney were strongly condemned by both leaders. A landmark atomic cooperation agreement was also announced by Prime Minister Modi.

9 Jul 2026 11:48 am
Mahadev app founder Saurabh Chandrakar held in Oman

Mahadev betting app founder Sourabh Chandrakar has been detained in Oman. India is now seeking his extradition or deportation from the country. Chandrakar was previously detained in Dubai but was later released by authorities. The app operated as a large international betting syndicate facilitating illegal online bets. Authorities have attached assets worth Rs 1,700 crore linked to Chandrakar.

9 Jul 2026 3:19 am
ED freezes Rs 440 crore in three TMC accounts in laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate has frozen TMC bank accounts holding Rs 440 crore. These funds are linked to an alleged Rs 160 crore money laundering investigation. The money was reportedly used to purchase an aircraft and a helicopter. These assets were then rented back to the TMC for party use. The agency is probing dubious transactions and potential personal asset creation.

9 Jul 2026 2:57 am
Another paper leak? UGC-NET under lens

The National Testing Agency faces new allegations of a paper leak for the UGC-NET exam. This follows recent issues with the NEET-UG exam and errors in other NET papers. Education ministry seeks details on a circulated PDF allegedly linked to the sociology paper. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted these serious allegations on social media. The controversy adds to existing concerns about high-stakes examination integrity.

9 Jul 2026 2:50 am
No fruit in fruit candy, no cocoa in chocolate: FSSAI cracks down on misleading labels

Food regulators have issued notices to several companies for misleading product labels. Kubera Foods faced scrutiny for claiming 100% Natural on buns with preservatives. Ferns N Petals was cited for marketing chocolate with vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter. Lotte India received notices for 100% Vegetarian claims and missing nutritional information. These actions aim to ensure consumers receive accurate information about food products.

9 Jul 2026 2:36 am
Forces shoot dead category A LeT terrorist Zakir Ganie in J&K

Security forces neutralized Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Zakir Ganie in Shopian on Wednesday. This encounter occurred nearly ten months after the last such operation in the region. The joint operation was launched Saturday evening based on specific intelligence inputs. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site by the Army. Meanwhile, three overground workers were arrested in Anantnag using advanced surveillance technology.

9 Jul 2026 12:16 am
India, Kyrgyzstan launch 'Manas and Mahabharata' civilizational studies centre

An Indian delegation visited Kyrgyzstan for the inauguration of a new civilizational studies center. Trilateral cooperation agreements were signed between academic institutions from both nations. The first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas was also presented at the event. This initiative aims to foster scientific, educational, and cultural cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan. The center will focus on comparative civilizational studies and intercultural dialogue.

8 Jul 2026 10:35 pm
'All funds fully and transparently disclosed': TMC calls ED's freezing of Rs 440 crore bank deposits 'politically motivated', alleges misuse of agencies

The Enforcement Directorate froze Trinamool Congress bank deposits worth Rs 440 crore. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into financial transactions. The Trinamool Congress stated all financial transactions were fully disclosed to authorities. They called the freeze a politically motivated act by the central government. The agency is probing alleged routing of funds through various service companies.

8 Jul 2026 9:39 pm
'Return to dialogue': India urges restraint after ships attacked amid uncertainty over Iran-US deal

India has expressed significant worry regarding the rising tensions in West Asia and the increasing assaults on commercial vessels. The ministry emphasized the importance of all involved parties to practice restraint and engage in dialogue. Recent actions pose risks to regional stability and disrupt global trade. In response, the United States has executed extensive military strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran retaliated with strikes aimed at Bahrain and Kuwait.

8 Jul 2026 9:20 pm