CJP rejects Centre’s talk offer and calls for nationwide protest on July 24 against police brutality

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for nationwide peaceful protests on Friday (July 24, 2026) against the police brutality on students in Delhi on July 20, shortly after rejecting the Centre's offer to hold talks at J.P. Nadda’s residence or office. The CJP reiterated that talks must be held at Jantar Mantar or a neutral venue.

Government to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (July 23, 2026) that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases. Mr. Modi stated in a post on X, “We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks,” in his first direct comments tied to major protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on the NEET-UG paper leak. The Opposition, across political parties, reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance of setting up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, insisting on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Houthis strike tankers in Red Sea; first since Saudi-linked shipping blockade via Bab el-Mandeb

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday (July 23, 2026) they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, and the U.S. military conducted a 12th night of strikes against Iran as the two countries vie for control of vital shipping lanes. U.S. Central Command said its strikes were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.

Houses of two terrorists ‘blasted’ after Anantnag attack

Security forces on Thursday (July 23, 2026) allegedly blasted and demolished two residential houses of local terrorists in south Kashmir, a day after a policeman was shot dead in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag. Meanwhile, J\&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said mass arrests and demolitions “will not restore peace” and such demolitions go against the directions put in place by the Supreme Court. Official sources said an operation was launched around 3 a.m. when multiple teams reached Anantnag’s Guri village and Hassanpora Tawella. Locals alleged the security forces used explosives to demolish the houses after asking the inmates to leave the structures.

Social activist Anna Hazare undertakes ‘maun andolan’ to support protesting students

Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday (July 23, 2026) observed a two-hour-long maun andolan (silent protest) at Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra to extend his support for protesting students in Delhi. “Anna began his protest at 11 a.m. and ended it at 1 p.m.,” the social activist’s aide Datta Awari told PTI. In a letter to PM Modi, Mr. Hazare said the resentment of the protesters must be viewed “not as a law and order problem, but as the agony and expectations of society”.

Supreme Court may step in if closure of metro stations persists, says CJI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday (July 23, 2026) indicated that the Supreme Court may consider taking up, on the judicial side, the issue of the closure of Delhi metro stations, particularly the Supreme Court Metro station, if the authorities fail to address the difficulties faced by lawyers and court staff in accessing the court premises. The observation came after Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh flagged the inconvenience caused by the closure of the station. He suggested that, instead of shutting it completely, lawyers and Registry officials be allowed access after verification of their identity cards and security screening at the exit gates.

Sikkim tunnel disaster: 22 bodies recovered; search and rescue ops continue for remaining victims

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 22 people killed in the “explosive release of suspected methane gas” in a headrace tunnel of the NHPC’s Teesta-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim’s Namchi district on July 20. Officials said the search and recovery operations for the remaining victims, estimated to be at least three, continue.

Supreme Court sets aside Sonam Raghuvanshi’s bail and gives her three weeks to surrender

The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 23, 2026) set aside the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of murdering her newlywed husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, and directed her to surrender within three weeks. A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale was hearing an appeal filed by the Meghalaya government against the June 29 order of the Meghalaya High Court, which had affirmed a Shillong trial court’s decision granting bail to Ms. Raghuvanshi on the ground that the police had failed to effectively communicate the grounds of her arrest.

India slams Pakistan at UN over cross-border terrorism; says Kashmir integral, inalienable part

India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s remarks at the United Nations, asserting that cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be expected when ‘cross-border terrorism’ is used as an ‘instrument of state policy’. India also maintained that Jammu and Kashmir ‘has always been, is, and will remain’ an integral and inalienable part of the country. India’s sharp rebuttal came after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, accused New Delhi of ‘weaponising water’ by placing the IWT in abeyance, calling the move ‘illegal’ and claiming it threatened the livelihoods of more than 240 million Pakistanis.

Israelis fear Saudi nuclear deal could ignite West Asia arms race

A deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia allowing the kingdom to ​build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich uranium ‌has fuelled fears in Israel of the start of ​an arms race in West Asia. The agreement, ⁠which still needs Congressional approval, that was announced on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) is meant to allow the Saudis to develop a civilian nuclear programme. “The ⁠nuclear agreement that is coming together with ⁠Saudi Arabia, over Israel’s head, is a serious strategic failure that endangers our security,” said former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is seeking to unseat Mr. ​Netanyahu in an October ‌27 election. “Nuclear enrichment on Saudi soil could lead to a regional nuclear race and a dangerous loss of control.”

India sends 4.5 tonnes of medical aid to Kenya to boost Ebola preparedness

India has delivered the first tranche of medical assistance to Kenya to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases, according to an official statement. The first consignment, weighing 4.5 tonnes, was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the Indian High Commission said in the statement.

Rubio meets Lavrov in Manila, says U.S. committed to helping end Ukraine war

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday (July 23, 2026) that the ​United States remains prepared to play a “constructive role” in helping ‌bring an end to the war in Ukraine, ​following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ⁠on the side lines of an ASEAN gathering in Manila. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Rubio said President Donald Trump had made clear ‌that the United States was prepared to help facilitate an end to a “senseless war” ‌if the opportunity arose. He said Washington had conveyed ‌that ⁠message to Moscow while declining to characterise Russia’s ⁠position during the talks.

Published - July 23, 2026 06:29 pm IST