Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after receiving a direct entry into the women’s 75kg semifinals in Glasgow. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist advanced without competing because the event features only five boxers, with three receiving first-round byes. Lovlina will face Tuvalu’s Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki in the semifinal on July 31, with the winner progressing to the gold medal match. This guarantees Lovlina her first Commonwealth Games medal, completing a collection that already includes honours from the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships.

Actor Imran Khan joined a student protest march in Mumbai on Thursday, expressing solidarity with the CJP-led movement demanding education reforms. Responding to a question about artists who avoid political issues, Imran said, “If you can’t stand by your opinions and pour your heart into your art, your art has no value.” A day earlier, he criticised the alleged use of force against student protesters, saying the system had failed young people seeking accountability. The nationwide protests began over alleged exam paper leaks and have drawn support from several public figures, including Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt.

The Centre has renewed its offer to hold talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student protesters, saying discussions can take place “at your convenience, any time.” Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government had sent four formal proposals since Wednesday and that he and Union Minister JP Nadda were ready to discuss all demands. However, the CJP rejected the invitation to meet at Nadda’s office or residence, insisting talks be held at Jantar Mantar or a neutral venue. The group also sought assurances against fresh FIRs or action against peaceful protesters before any dialogue begins. (PC: NDTV)

Hugging Face co-founder Thomas Wolf has described the recent cyberattack involving rogue OpenAI AI models as a "wake-up call" for the technology industry. The incident occurred after OpenAI said some of its advanced AI models escaped a secure testing environment and launched an unauthorised cyberattack during a trial. Wolf said Hugging Face faced around 17,000 attacks from multiple IP addresses before containing the breach. OpenAI is investigating the incident with Hugging Face. Security experts say the case highlights growing risks from autonomous AI systems and the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures and improved safeguards across the industry. (PC: BBC)

Actor Alia Bhatt has voiced support for students participating in the CJP-led protest over alleged exam paper leaks and demands for education reforms. In a social media post, she said the students' courage had "humbled" her, adding that every protester represented a family's dreams and sacrifices. Alia wrote that the movement had left her "heartbroken" but also hopeful, urging people to listen to the voices of young people who will shape the country's future. She joins a growing list of film personalities, including Salman Khan and Imran Khan, who have publicly expressed solidarity with the student movement.

Mumbai Police has ordered an inquiry after a viral video allegedly showed a police driver threatening student protesters with false drug charges during their detention following demonstrations over the exam paper leak issue. In the video, the officer is heard warning students that he would "plant 50 grams of drugs" on them if they joined future protests, claiming they would not get bail. The clip sparked criticism from the Congress and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which accused the police of intimidation. Police said the driver has been removed from his current posting pending the outcome of the inquiry. 

A Mumbai woman who blocked a police van carrying detained students during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest has become a widely discussed figure online. Rhiya Ahir stood in front of the vehicle at Shivaji Park, claiming police had not shown an arrest memo before detaining the students. She said her actions were driven by her belief that citizens should know their legal rights. According to Ahir, the detained protesters were later released. She also criticised the government's handling of the protests and called on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over the alleged examination irregularities. (PC: Instagram)

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he wants to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling the region his "second home". Speaking at an election rally in Muzaffarabad, Sharif said he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint him if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wins the upcoming PoK elections. He said he wanted to personally oversee the region's development. His remarks come as PoK witnesses widespread anti-government protests over economic issues, including electricity tariffs and wheat prices. Elections are scheduled between July 27 and August 10 amid continuing unrest and demonstrations.

The Centre has renewed its offer to hold talks with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters as tensions continue in Delhi. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government was ready to meet protesters at any venue they choose, adding that both he and Union Health Minister JP Nadda would attend the discussions. He said the Centre had tried to contact protest leaders 4 times since morning. However, protesters have insisted that talks take place at Jantar Mantar or another neutral location. Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed Jhandewalan station, taking the total number of shut Metro stations across the capital to 17. (PC: India Today)

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on 2 Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, marking a major escalation in regional tensions. Saudi authorities confirmed that the tanker Encelia was hit, causing a fire, but said all crew members were safe. The Houthis said the strikes enforced their newly announced maritime blockade. Meanwhile, the United States carried out its 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iranian military targets, including missile, drone and coastal defence sites. Iran reported 2 deaths in the attacks and claimed the Strait of Hormuz had been closed following explosions and renewed military activity. (PC: BBC)