The Economic Times

The Houthis' threats to block Saudi ports signify a troubling development in the Iran war, potentially raising US military commitments in the region. With a history of withstanding coalition bombings, the Houthis may challenge military resources further, necessitating a redirection of naval support, which could lead to reduced US firepower and inventory for critical air defense applications.

Delhi Police are investigating the alleged use of Bluetooth messaging applications during the recent 'Sansad Chalo' march. Investigators are examining potential links to a larger conspiracy behind the reported violence and damage. The force's anti-terror unit is conducting a technical inquiry into the sequence of events. Facial recognition technology and IPDR analysis are being used to identify suspects involved.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee backed students protesting at Jantar Mantar. He stated the central government must listen to student concerns and their demands. Banerjee criticised police action against the Cockroach Janata Party protest on July 20. Opposition MPs also protested outside Parliament demanding the Education Minister's resignation. These actions highlight concerns over NEET exam irregularities and police conduct.

IndusInd Bank ordered to refund after customer loses Rs 2.3 lakh to a KYC scam: A Delhi consumer commission has ordered IndusInd Bank to refund Rs 84,339 to an 80-year-old Dwarka resident after finding it failed to detect or stop 17 fraudulent transactions that drained Rs 2.31 lakh from her premium account in under 19 minutes. The court held that the burden of proving customer negligence lies entirely with the bank, not the victim.

Chaturmas Kab Se Lag Raha Hai: Chaturmas 2026 begins July 25 and concludes November 21, pausing auspicious ceremonies. Lord Vishnu's Yoga Nidra marks this four-month spiritual observance period. Sawan month honors Lord Shiva with special prayers and fasting rituals. Bhadrapada month celebrates Lord Krishna and Lord Ganesha with devotion. Ashwin month focuses on Goddess Durga and ancestor remembrance, while Kartik month concludes with Diwali and Tulsi Vivah.

The Supreme Court declined an urgent plea regarding police action during a protest. The court refused to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. The petitioner's counsel sought an early listing of the case for students. Chief Justice Surya Kant stated the court was not interested in watching videos. The bench was not inclined to review the footage presented by the lawyer.

The United Arab Emirates aims to strengthen ties with Andhra Pradesh. Technology collaboration, especially in artificial intelligence, is a key focus area. Improved air connectivity will facilitate business and tourism between the two regions. Several UAE companies are exploring investment opportunities in food processing sectors. Andhra Pradesh's role in UAE food security is also being discussed.

Laura Loomer visited Ukraine and witnessed an air raid firsthand and admitted to being propagandized by Russian media for years. Loomer apologized for minimizing the struggle of Ukrainians and accepting false narratives and she accepted that it was not nice of her to make such remarks about Ukraine. Her visit prompted praise from Ukraine's presidential office for countering misinformation.

Opposition parties wore black to protest alleged police brutality against students and lawmakers. Leaders criticized the government over unemployment and recurring examination paper leaks. Congress workers held demonstrations across several states condemning police actions. Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained by Delhi Police. The protests followed a demonstration by the Cockroach Janata Party on Monday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila. They discussed trade, tariffs, energy, defence, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence. Both diplomats attended high-level discussions under the ASEAN and Quad frameworks. They also exchanged views on the West Asia crisis and its global energy impact. These discussions focused on priority areas for the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Sixteen Delhi Metro stations are temporarily closed until further notice. Trains will not stop at these affected stations across the national capital. However, interchange facilities will remain operational at key locations. These include Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat stations. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation issued this advisory for commuters.

India aims for a top-five finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Organizers face challenges proving a scaled-down event's essence. India's medal prospects are altered by a pruned schedule and absent sports. Athletics, boxing, and weightlifting will carry the medal hopes. Para athletes are also expected to contribute significantly to the tally.

Senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan demanded the immediate abolition of the NEET medical entrance examination. He stated that the current system favors commercial coaching centers and paper leak cartels. Elangovan highlighted that NEET penalises underprivileged students lacking financial resources for test preparation. He also mentioned widespread paper leaks in northern states undermining the examination's credibility.

Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games from July 23 to August 2, 2026. The opening ceremony will feature KT Tunstall and Nathan Evans. Indian athletes Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain will carry the national flag. Competition days will run from July 24 to August 1. Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Police faced criticism for inaction during the 'Sandad Chalo' march. Intelligence reports warned of a large demonstrator build-up. On-ground personnel lacked clear orders from headquarters. This hesitation allowed crowds to breach security perimeters. Similar administrative hesitations occurred during past protests.

A Delhi man refused to pay a restaurant's service charge in October 2024. The consumer commission found the restaurant guilty of unfair trade practice. House of BOHO was ordered to refund the service charge with interest. The restaurant must also pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to the complainant. This ruling followed a complaint about staff preventing the man from leaving.

Corporate boards increasingly seek leaders with unconventional backgrounds for innovation. Kunal Shah's appointment at WhatsApp reflects this significant leadership shift. Leena Nair and Nikhil Ravishankar also exemplify this trend. Companies now prioritize perspective and adaptability over traditional credentials. This hiring evolution addresses rapid technological change and market unpredictability.

Trump's generic drug tariffs plan provides Indian drugmakers a two-year duty-free window. This allows companies time to reassess manufacturing and supply chain strategies. After this period, tariffs will escalate significantly, impacting export economics. Several Indian firms already have US manufacturing operations for flexibility. The next two years will shape how India serves its largest overseas pharmaceutical market.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara supports locating Bengaluru's second international airport at Sira. Union Minister V Somanna also endorsed Sira as the airport's proposed site. Legislators argued Sira offers balanced regional development and eases airport congestion. Sira's strategic location supports industrial and cargo needs for central Karnataka. Government land and water resources strengthen Sira's suitability for the airport project.

The DMRC on Wednesday closed Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat Metro stations until further notice, citing security reasons. The announcement came amid protests at Jantar Mantar led by the Congress Janata Party (CJP). The metro operator informed commuters of the closures through a statement posted on X.

A New York wellness clinic, Bereshit Lifestyle Center, is at the center of an investigation after 27-year-old Elizabeth Baron died shortly after receiving an alleged NAD+ IV treatment. Authorities say the clinic's owner was not licensed to practice medicine in New York, while prosecutors await autopsy results before deciding on additional charges.

Lake Chad has lost nearly ninety percent of its surface area since the 1960s. This environmental decline severely impacts millions of people who depend on the lake. A decades-old Transaqua project proposes transferring water from the Congo River basin. This ambitious plan faces significant cost and feasibility challenges for implementation. Experts warn of unpredictable environmental consequences from diverting water from the Congo basin.

Quote of the day: Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of truth and nonviolence inspired global civil rights leaders. His movements mobilized millions against British colonial rule through peaceful resistance. Gandhi believed moral courage and truth could overcome oppressive systems. He taught that love and truth pursued together form an unstoppable force. History shows that truth and love ultimately prevail over temporary evil.

Nolan Wells Horn Island body: New details have emerged in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells after a search volunteer described finding his body on Mississippi's Horn Island. As investigators await official autopsy results, newly surfaced Fourth of July party footage is adding fresh questions to the ongoing case in the Nolan Wells' mysterious death case.

Paras Semiconductors is set to invest 6,200 crore in the construction of a cutting-edge semiconductor packaging facility in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative follows the signing of a significant memorandum of understanding and aims to elevate India's semiconductor industry through advanced outsourced assembly and testing operations, catering to evolving technological demands.

Japan recorded a trade deficit in June, totaling 406.9 billion yen. Higher oil import prices and a weak yen contributed to this deficit. Exports rose nineteen percent, driven by semiconductor shipments to various nations. Imports also gained twenty-five percent, with oil imports from the U.S. surging significantly. This marks the second consecutive month of trade deficits for Japan.

The world faces extreme turbulence, requiring deeper cooperation between India and ASEAN. No single nation or grouping can manage these global challenges alone. Supply chains, energy, food, and health security are increasingly vulnerable. India and ASEAN must navigate this volatile era together for regional stability. This partnership focuses on trade, technology, and maritime cooperation for mutual benefit.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre announces 462 apprentice vacancies for 2026-27. A walk-in selection process will occur on July 25, 2026, at VSSC Thiruvananthapuram. Candidates must report with original and self-attested educational documents for verification. NATS registration is mandatory for all applicants before attending the selection. Selection will be based on academic performance and document verification.

The Indian Navy commissioned the anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) Malvan at Karwar on Wednesday. The second indigenous Mahe-class warship is designed to strengthen India's coastal anti-submarine capabilities and comes amid rising Chinese and Pakistani submarine activity in the Indian Ocean Region.

Aviation search teams located the Pan Am Clipper Endeavor wreckage last month. This aircraft crashed into the ocean off Puerto Rico in nineteen fifty-two. Sixty-four passengers and five crew members were on board the ill-fated flight. While many survived the initial impact, most were lost at sea. The discovery ended a seventy-four-year mystery about the plane's final resting place.

The ongoing security issues have caused a notable drop in vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with just three commodity vessels transiting on Tuesday compared to more the previous day. In a related development, two oil tankers re-routed through the Red Sea following threats from the Iran-aligned Houthis of Yemen.

Around 46 active cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (People's War Group) surrendered to the Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, at the Mantripukhri Garrison, HQ Assam Rifles (South) in the Imphal East district

Marie-France van Heel, wife of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has a notable career. She met Burnham at Cambridge and worked in marketing for major companies and was the 'coolest' girl in college. Van Heel also underwent a preventative double mastectomy due to family history. She helped design her husband's campaign logo and even worked with Sky Digital and MTV Europe.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the party's protest would intensify if the Centre did not accept its demands. Speaking to ANI, he claimed the July 20 march was just a trailer, reiterated the demand that no FIRs be lodged against protesters, and said the leadership was prepared to face arrest under the UAPA and NSA.

Panshul Bansal, a NEET-UG 2026 re-examination topper, stayed home and studied. He secured All India Rank 2 with a 99.9999 percentile. Bansal viewed the exam cancellation as an opportunity to improve his performance. He questioned the utility of attending protests over studying. His decision contrasts with ongoing nationwide demonstrations and demands.

Donald Trump is likely planning new import duties on many nations by Friday. These levies aim to continue his tariff regime after current ones expire. The administration proposed these tariffs citing lax forced-labor standards. Temporary charges are set to expire Friday, avoiding any tariff gap. The plan remains subject to change before its final implementation.

Today's Quote of the Day by Miguel de Cervantes reminds us that remarkable achievements begin long before successthey begin with the courage to try. His timeless words, In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the impossible, encourage us to move beyond fear, embrace uncertainty, and take meaningful action. More than four centuries later, this inspiring message continues to resonate with entrepreneurs, students, leaders, artists, and anyone determined to turn an ambitious dream into r

Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer released the draft electoral roll for the 2026 revision. Over 7.18 lakh electors submitted forms, showing strong public engagement in the process. The period for claims and objections will run from July 21 to August 20. Young citizens turning eighteen by July 1, 2026, are encouraged to register. Political parties were briefed on the revision findings and procedures.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission absolved Tata Motors of liability. A buyer purchased a demo car sold as brand new by Hind Motors. The district commission initially ruled only against the dealer for a refund. The state commission wrongly held Tata Motors jointly liable for the dealer's actions. The NCDRC restored the district commission's order and full compensation against the dealer.

Activists demonstrated in New York and San Jose supporting Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. Protests occurred in London and Dublin, demanding fair treatment for students. The group urged the Indian government to address exam irregularities and student concerns.