A devastating fire at a Kolkata hotel claimed nine lives, including a child and two women, in the early hours of Wednesday. Survivors recounted a terrifying experience, highlighting the absence of fire alarms and safety equipment, and the difficulty of escape due to dense smoke and a single exit. This incident follows another fatal hotel fire in Birbhum.
Tata Sons approached the RBI in 2024 seeking de-registration after becoming debt-free, a move that would allow it to remain a privately held, unlisted company. The application has remained pending.
The Lok Sabha has referred the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a 31-member joint parliamentary committee for thorough scrutiny.
An additional district and sessions judge in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced 22 individuals to death across 10 different cases within the last four months. These verdicts cover serious offences including murder, abduction, and highway robbery, highlighting the court's rigorous approach to severe crimes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to opposition parties to support the delimitation-linked Women's Reservation Bill, highlighting its 40-year struggle. The bill aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and increase Lok Sabha seats, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Despite previous setbacks and ongoing efforts to secure numbers, the government continues to push for this crucial legislation.
Axis Bank has opened 50 new branches across India, while Abakkus Mutual Fund has surpassed Rs 10,000 crore in AUM. YES Bank launched a new credit card for women, and J&K Bank partnered with HDFC Life to enhance its insurance offerings, showcasing significant growth and strategic developments in the Indian financial sector.
President Donald Trump has advocated for stricter electoral laws in the US, praising India's election system and its requirement for photo identification. He highlighted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's questioning of the lack of voter ID in American polls and used India's high voter turnout with minimal postal ballots as an example. Trump is pushing for the SAVE America Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship and nationwide voter ID, though the bill faces division in Congress.
Assam is currently battling severe flooding, with residents in Jorhat and Sivasagar facing widespread inundation, submerged homes, and damaged property as floodwaters continue to disrupt daily life.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur has submitted a notice of breach of privilege and contempt of the House against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging use of "unparliamentary and derogatory language" and "unsubstantiated allegations" against Home Minister Amit Shah during a Lok Sabha debate.
A 48-year-old house help, Jaiwanti, was killed after being hit by a speeding BMW car in Delhi's Mehram Nagar. The driver, Deepak (38), has been apprehended, and locals protested, demanding justice and highlighting previous accidents on the stretch.
A UK police force said on Friday that its officers have been tackling serious violence, including being bitten and spat at by protesters, over days of anti-migrant clashes at a town in eastern England.
As India's decline continued on global indices, the government first blamed methodology and then motives. This is where we remain today as we wish each other and ourselves a happy Independence Day, points out Aakar Patel.
Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh revealed in a podcast interview that his decision to switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stemmed from the AAP government's alleged neglect of his concerns regarding drug abuse and sports promotion in Punjab.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly has adopted crucial resolutions against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the lone BJP member opposing both.
Trade negotiations between the United States and Canada have collapsed, leading to the US imposing 50% tariffs on nearly $28 billion worth of Canadian imports, with Canada immediately vowing to retaliate dollar-for-dollar.
The Congress party has issued a whip to its MPs in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, mandating their presence from August 10-12 for discussions on "very important" issues. This directive comes amidst reports of potential debates on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and a Constitution Amendment Bill concerning delimitation, though the government's official business list did not explicitly mention these.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at a Delhi police station, demanding an FIR for 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who suffered pellet injuries during a protest against the NEET paper leak. Gandhi claimed police cited 'orders from the top' for not registering the complaint and accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being 'afraid of justice'.
The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has granted Supriya Mishra, wife of Luv Kush Mishra, who is accused in the Ram temple donation case, an additional week to provide documents for a house in her name that is under construction in Ayodhya's Saadatganj area, the police said.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's planned visit to the United States has been denied political clearance by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), citing non-conformity with laid down norms, forcing him to cancel the US leg of his 'TelanganaRising' delegation tour and return to Hyderabad earlier than planned.
'whom he believes in ... or whom he has faith in. But we don't know whether that person will be competent or not. This will lead to a lot of uncertainty in the minds of investors and shareholders of the Tata group companies.'
It is very unfortunate that China has decided to proceed with the controversial mega hydropower plants(despite the apparent opposition of many scientists in China). Why is Delhi silent about the development? asks Claude Arpi.
If Khalifa: The Ruler continues to bleed at the box office, the odds of a big-budget sequel materialising drop to practically zero. The harsh reality of franchise filmmaking is incredibly simple: If the 'ruler' fails to conquer, absolutely no one is going to care about the 'legacy', no matter how many superstars you cram onto a poster.
The RBI once again said the Tata group holding company's application for deregistration as an NBFC remains under examination.
A heated parliamentary showdown unfolded as NDA and INDIA bloc MPs clashed at Parliament's main gate.
My family produced a Malayalam movie in 1986. It had big actors in it. The songs were sung by K J Yesudas himself. The film starred two newcomers as the lead pair. It bombed.
Nearly 600 tribal students abandoned a government-run hostel in Amravati, Maharashtra, after some girls exhibited strange behaviour, leading to claims of spirit possession. Officials suspect mental stress or selective hysteria, while local beliefs attribute the incidents to angry spirits from a cut 'mahua' tree or an encroached temple. Counselling efforts are underway to bring students back.
An unidentified person allegedly stole cash and valuables worth Rs 13 lakh from a house in Thane district, Maharashtra, after breaking in during the night.
The West Bengal police rejected claims that a Bankura man died following a "brutal physical assault" on the father of a CJP activist, saying he had sustained only a minor injury during an alleged attack at his residence and later died after being admitted to hospital following severe blood pressure fluctuations.
Families don't really break apart in a single moment, they just quietly stop fitting under one roof, notes Binu Alex.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting a debate on the ongoing student protests concerning the NEET paper-leak issue. Shah expressed his readiness to participate and answer all questions, emphasising that dialogue and discussion are crucial for democratic solutions.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was detained in Patna during a protest march concerning police action related to NEET paper leak protests in Bihar. Yadav, along with RJD workers, was protesting against frequent exam paper leaks, stating that the government is jeopardising students' futures.
Police in Thane have registered three FIRs following a series of incidents at a housing society related to the sacrifice of goats ahead of Bakrid, including clashes and attempts to bring a pig into the complex.
What surprised Rishika Shah most wasn't the Friends sets. It was how emotional it felt to see something she's loved for so long made physical.
The Indian Parliament remains deadlocked as the Opposition, led by the Congress, insists on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to discussions on alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and student protests, rejecting the government's offer for Home Minister Amit Shah to respond.
'I was thinking how can I do something for these lonely, aging people in the villages. The parents stay and the children leave for a better future.'
A 36-year-old woman teacher in Thane was allegedly cheated of Rs 20.44 lakh by a man who promised her a receptionist job, a post office franchise, and a house, providing fake documents for each.
The US push for clearer crypto rules is putting pressure on India to fill its own regulatory gap for virtual digital assets.
A 47-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh from the house of Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon's brother after gaining the family's trust as a caretaker.
Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, continues to be classified as an 'upper-layer non-banking financial company' (NBFC) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), despite its application to deregister as an NBFC-Core Investment Company (CIC) remaining under consideration. This classification subjects it to enhanced regulation and a mandatory listing requirement, which remains uncertain.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday said Maoism was once considered difficult to eliminate, but the menace has now been wiped out, and this year the 'Tiranga Yatra' will also reach remote villages and schools in former Maoist strongholds of the state
