The FIFA World Cup in Vancouver has intensified concerns among locals regarding increased policing and displacement of homeless individuals and drug users. Residents report more aggressive sweeps and confiscation of belongings, despite city officials stating these are routine operations and not directly influenced by the tournament.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's dismissal and arrest on August 9, 1953 marked a decisive shift in the Centre-J&K power equation. Seven decades later, the erosion of the state's special constitutional position culminated in the August 5, 2019 changes, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.
Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law to introduce stricter punishments, with the government expressing its commitment to go the extra mile to safeguard the interests of students, who are the country's future.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. This new position aims to strengthen administrative and financial management following alleged embezzlement concerns. The CEO will be appointed for a three-year term, overseeing various aspects from finance to pilgrim facilities, and must be an actively practising Hindu with specific managerial experience.
Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
Congress leader Manish Tewari expressed his disappointment after being overlooked in the recent Punjab Congress reshuffle for upcoming assembly polls, posting a cryptic message on X about "insecurities of individuals and institutions" while reaffirming his loyalty to the party. The reshuffle saw key appointments for election committees, including Charanjit Singh Channi as Campaign Committee chairman, but notably excluded Tewari.
UEFA's member associations have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest against FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary managing its tournaments.
The DMK has approached the Supervisory Committee and the CBI, seeking action against Minister Aadhav Arjuna for allegedly influencing witnesses in the ongoing Supreme Court-monitored probe into the Karur stampede. This comes after the Supreme Court declined to regulate Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's visit to Karur to meet victims' families, a visit the DMK opposes due to the ongoing investigation.
The Maharashtra government is considering invoking the stringent MCOCA law against those accused in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper leak case. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse informed the assembly that three arrests have been made, and a Special Investigation Team is probing the matter. The government also plans to form a committee to explore online modes for conducting state-level examinations to prevent future leaks.
The Ram temple trust's decision to establish a permanent institute for training and certifying Hindu priests is being seen by religious leaders and members of the Indian diaspora as a significant step towards addressing the growing demand for qualified 'archaks' (priests) not only in India but also overseas.
The Supreme Court has given the Odisha government one month to decide on the remission plea of Ravindra Pal, alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murders of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress has filed fresh police complaints against dissident leader Ritabrata Banerjee and his associates. The complaints accuse the rebels of illegally using the party's name, symbol, and designations to mislead workers, marking a significant escalation in the month-long internal struggle following the assembly poll defeat.
In a bid to wrest control of the Trinamool Congress, its rebel faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday elected MLA Arup Roy as chairperson, marking the sharpest challenge yet to the authority of party founder Mamata Banerjee.
A coalition of 14 Meitei civil society organisations in Manipur has urged Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to implement a National Register of Citizens before the 2027 Census, arguing it is crucial for resolving the state's ongoing ethnic conflict and identifying 'illegal migrants'.
A parliamentary committee has voiced concerns over ongoing examination irregularities despite government measures, recommending the Ministry of Education publish a time-bound roadmap for reforms. The panel also urged a nationwide blacklist of firms involved in exam processes and suggested utilising the National Testing Agency's financial surplus to enhance its capabilities.
Two years after the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad claimed 298 lives, survivors continue to grapple with profound grief and trauma. Despite government rehabilitation efforts providing new homes in Kalpetta, many families face lingering emotional scars and financial hardships, highlighting the long-term impact of the tragedy.
The Mumbai police on Thursday ordered a probe and removed a police driver from the duty roster after a viral video purportedly showed him threatening student protesters with false narcotics charges if they returned to demonstrate.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk emphasised the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance, stating, "His path is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. This experiment is successful today."
A Christian worship centre in Omallur, Kerala, faced protests from BJP workers following allegations that staff members assaulted a 17-year-old boy. Police have arrested three individuals, including the manager, after a Child Welfare Committee inquiry indicated potential exploitation of children housed at the facility.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has praised India's "outstanding success" in its nationwide World Bicycle Day celebrations, which involved approximately 200 cities and towns across 28 States and Union Territories. UCI President David Lappartient commended the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) for its remarkable organisational efforts and also lauded the launch of the Asmita Women's League, a grassroots programme aimed at promoting gender equity in cycling.
Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya's comments about administrative officials rushing to show RSS affiliation after the BJP came to power have ignited a political controversy. The Congress party has strongly criticised the remarks, calling them a threat to the neutrality and constitutional dignity of the bureaucracy and demanding a constitutional review.
Seattle's LGBTQ community members say they hope that this Friday's World Cup "Pride Match" between Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is criminalised, can be an opportunity to change minds.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, accusing it of responding to student demands for accountability and educational reforms with 'cowardice and wanton cruelty,' treating them as 'enemies of the nation.' She further alleged that the government has degraded India's education landscape and routinely chooses violence over dialogue.
A row has erupted over former Union minister Maneka Gandhi's appeal to the Jain community to stop using 'picchis' (sacred broom) made of peacock feathers, claiming that their demand fuels illegal wildlife trade.
Nationalist Congress Party national working president Praful Patel has dismissed claims of a rift within the party, specifically addressing a legal challenge to Sunetra Pawar's election as party president. A national secretary, Sachchidanand Singh, alleged the election was unconstitutional, but Patel stated the letter carries no weight and senior leaders support Sunetra Pawar. The dispute highlights internal dynamics following the demise of Ajit Pawar.
The All India Football Federation's women's committee chief, Valanka Alemao, has alleged procedural lapses by the body's technical committee led to a series of blunders during the national team's Asian Cup campaign, including ill-fitting jerseys.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a comprehensive advisory to all states and Union Territories, recommending mandatory annual POSH audits and other measures to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The advisory aims to ensure safe, inclusive, and gender-sensitive working environments for women across all sectors, emphasising institutional accountability, proper committee constitution, and robust awareness programmes.
FIFA has strongly defended Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after US President Donald Trump questioned his integrity following a controversial red card shown to US striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
Facing a massive rebellion of MLAs and MPs after its defeat in the West Bengal assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has begun an organisational reset, with sources saying the focus is on top leaders increasing direct engagement with workers and reducing dependence on political-consultancy firm I-PAC.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has officially approved the qualification system for cricket at the LA Olympic 2028, marking the sport's return after 128 years. The event will feature men's and women's T20 competitions with six teams each.
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has commenced an investigation into Rajesh Exports concerning a 15.15 trillion financial misstatement, following a referral from market regulator Sebi.
Reigning world champions India, Britain, South Africa and hosts United States are set to feature in the men's Twenty20 competition when cricket returns to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles following a qualification pathway approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Sabarimala gold loss cases, urging the Kerala government to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The organisation also highlighted severe issues faced by pilgrims during the Mandalakala-Makarvillakku season, including poor crowd management and long waiting hours, and offered to provide free services to devotees.
Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's health has significantly deteriorated on the 16th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, protesting alleged examination irregularities. His blood glucose and weight have dropped, prompting calls from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and political leaders like AAP's Atishi and CPI(M) MPs for government intervention and accountability.
Three former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday and, within hours, were named the saffron party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls from West Bengal, underlining both their political rehabilitation and the party's calibrated shift in inducting leaders from the erstwhile ruling dispensation.
The BCCI will conduct a review meeting after India's T20 series against England concludes on July 19, following poor performances against both England and Ireland, but has stated it will not make any 'knee-jerk' decisions regarding head coach Gautam Gambhir's future.
Mission Embrace aims to perform the world's first in-orbit demonstration of soft robotic capture for future active debris removal missions
Neeraj Chopra will compete in the Asian Games in Japan in September-October in his bid to defend the title.
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has initiated a probe into Rajesh Exports following capital markets regulator Sebi's findings of Rs 15.5 lakh crore in revenue misstatements. NFRA chairperson Nitin Gupta also emphasised the critical need for genuine board independence in promoter-driven companies and human oversight in financial reporting, especially with the increasing integration of AI.
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has initiated a probe into Rajesh Exports following capital markets regulator Sebi's findings of Rs 15.5 lakh crore in revenue misstatements. NFRA chairperson Nitin Gupta also emphasised the critical need for genuine board independence in promoter-driven companies and human oversight in financial reporting, especially with the increasing integration of AI.
