Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Centre over its handling of protests against the alleged NEET paper leak. He said the government blocked metro services, roads, shops, internet and food access but failed to stop paper leaks. On X, Gandhi wrote, “Shut the Metro. Shut the roads. Shut the shops. Shut the internet. Shut the food.” He added, “There is one thing you could not shut down, Modi ji — paper leaks.” His remarks came ahead of the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over its key demands. (PC: PTI)

The main accused in the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case, Bijendra Kumar Gupta, has been arrested from Bihar by Bhiwandi Police. He was brought to Pune Airport and will be taken to Bhiwandi for further legal action. Police believe Gupta was the mastermind behind the paper leak racket. Investigators said the leaked question paper was passed to him through former printing press employees. Earlier, the Special Investigation Team arrested three staff members of an Agra-based printing press for their alleged role in the leak. Police said Gupta will now face further investigation in the case.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said talks with the government will have no meaning unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the group received a positive response on compensation and legal cases but not on its main demand. “If he is not going to resign, then these meetings serve no purpose,” Ranka said. He warned the group could take tougher steps if the government refuses to act. CJP leaders said their protest will continue until Pradhan resigns. They also demanded education reforms and compensation for those affected by the NEET controversy.

India opened its medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event in Glasgow. The medal was confirmed after Nigeria's Riluwan Idris failed to lift 212kg on his final attempt. Jhandu finished with 130.9 points to secure third place. Idris won gold, while England's Matthew Harding took silver. Fellow Indian Sudhir finished sixth with 114.1 points. Jhandu, who is from Bihar, switched from para athletics to powerlifting and has enjoyed strong success in recent years. His bronze gives India its first medal of the Games. (PC: AP, Getty Images)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Union ministers to become more active on Instagram and connect with young people through reels and interactive content. During a Cabinet meeting, he asked ministers how many of them use Instagram and stressed the platform's importance. “Youth are on Instagram. They are the citizens we need to continuously engage with,” Modi reportedly said. Hours earlier, the Prime Minister posted a reel on his own Instagram account. The move comes as the Gen Z-led Jantar Mantar protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak continue to gain attention on social media platforms.

More than 220,000 people have been evacuated as massive wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain. Around 200,000 people were moved from south-west France, while thousands left their homes near Madrid. Spain has declared a national emergency as firefighters struggle to control the flames. “The wildfire is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain,” Madrid emergency chief Carlos Novillo said. French President Emmanuel Macron has deployed the military to help. Strong winds, high temperatures and dry weather have worsened the fires. Authorities have urged people to follow safety instructions. (PC: EPA, Getty Images)

1 Indian sailor was killed after the commercial ship MV OMORFI came under attack in the Black Sea on July 18, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. 2 other Indian crew members on board are safe. The ship had 10 crew members, including three Indians. The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Moscow is helping the family of the deceased. "India unequivocally condemns such attacks targeting commercial shipping," the ministry said. It also expressed concern over growing threats to global shipping and urged all sides to ensure the safety of civilian vessels and uninterrupted international trade.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said public anger over the NEET controversy is growing across the country. He warned that demands for accountability may soon go beyond Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “Very soon this might not even be limited to Mr Pradhan,” Ranka said in an interview with India Today. He said protesters also want compensation for affected families and withdrawal of cases against demonstrators. Ranka claimed the government agreed in principle to some demands but said Pradhan’s resignation remains non-negotiable. He also questioned why the government took nearly two months to respond to the paper leak issue. (PC: PTI)

Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has appealed to people not to criticise him for ending his 26-day hunger strike. She said Wangchuk is in the ICU after losing 11 kg and deserves compassion. In a post on X, she wrote, "He lies in the ICU today... The least we can offer him is a day of compassion." Wangchuk ended his fast after receiving written assurances from the government and Opposition leaders that the exam issue would be discussed in Parliament. He said he took the decision to avoid possible violence. The CJP protest will continue, protest leaders said.

The US-Iran conflict entered its 13th consecutive night of fighting, with Washington continuing airstrikes across Iran and Tehran launching fresh missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Amid escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump claimed China and Russia would not sell weapons to Iran and warned that future damage to ships or cargo would be compensated using Iranian funds under US control. Trump also said he was considering a "massive attack" on Iran, claiming Tehran had "not received enough pain yet" despite remaining interested in negotiations. Separately, eight countries condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, while fresh explosions were reported on Iran's Qeshm Island amid regional tensions. (PC: Times Now)