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)

Activist Sonam Wangchuk strongly rejected allegations that he struck a "deal" with the Centre to end his 26-day indefinite hunger strike over the NEET-UG paper leak and examination irregularities. In a video message, Wangchuk said he was disappointed by claims questioning his integrity, asking whether he still needed to "prove" his sincerity after fasting for nearly a month. He urged critics not to view his decision through political speculation. Earlier, his wife Gitanjali Angmo appealed to people not to judge him, revealing that Wangchuk is recovering in the ICU after losing 11 kg during the fast. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike at Medanta Hospital after weeks of negotiations.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk rejected allegations of racism during an interview with The Economist, citing his personal and professional life. Musk said his partner, Shivon Zilis, is half-Indian and that one of their four children bears the middle name Sekhar, honouring Indian-American Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. He added that his companies employ senior executives “of all races” and insisted, “I’m not a racist.” Musk also admitted he “got carried away” while leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, saying he should have focused more on his companies. He also defended his immigration views and reiterated criticism of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey casting.

India's Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has guaranteed the country's first boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games after receiving a direct entry into the women's 75kg semifinals. The 28-year-old said the unexpected bye removed the pressure of securing a podium finish, allowing her to focus solely on winning gold. Reflecting on her journey, Lovlina said she rebuilt confidence after the Paris Olympics through continuous competition, including the World Championships, and consistent training. She credited a successful training camp in Belfast and praised head coach Santiago Nieva for boosting her preparations. Lovlina is likely to face Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree in the final and believes confidence will be the key to victory. (PC: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked young people for their “insightful” suggestions on his Instagram video through another reel as the government intensified its response to the nationwide agitation over alleged examination irregularities. The Union Cabinet approved a draft Bill proposing stricter punishments for paper leak cases, including tougher penalties for those involved in organised examination fraud. The development follows the Centre’s recent announcements on strengthening safeguards against paper leaks and reforming the examination system. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) maintained that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remains “non-negotiable”, arguing that legislative changes alone cannot address concerns over accountability amid the continuing nationwide protests demanding education reforms. (PC: PTI)

A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker carrying 28 Indian crew members came under attack in Iranian territorial waters on Friday amid escalating Iran-US tensions. The Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed the incident, identifying the vessel as DISHA, and said all 28 Indian nationals on board are safe. The embassy added that it is in close contact with Iranian authorities and is closely monitoring the situation. Officials have not disclosed the extent of damage to the tanker or identified those responsible for the attack. The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region as hostilities between Iran and the United States continue to intensify. (PC: News18)

An Indian sailor was killed after commercial vessel MV Omorfi came under attack while transiting the Black Sea on July 18, prompting India to strongly condemn attacks on commercial shipping. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the ship was sailing in Russian territorial waters with 10 crew members, including three Indian nationals. One Indian died in the attack, while the two others are safe. India said its mission in Russia is assisting the victim's family and urged all parties to protect civilian seafarers, maritime navigation and global trade. The incident follows another deadly strike on MV Golden Leo, where four Indian sailors were killed and one critically injured.

The Supreme Court on Friday barred the recording, extraction, modification, dissemination, monetisation and circulation of live-streamed courtroom proceedings without prior permission from the concerned court authorities, citing growing misuse of judicial videos on social media. The interim order, passed by a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant while hearing a PIL, also prohibits reposting and reviewing such recordings across digital platforms without approval from the Registrar or Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the Registrar General of High Courts. The court clarified that the restriction will not affect legitimate news reporting and is aimed solely at preventing unauthorised use of judicial proceedings online. (PC: The Indian Express)

India on Friday strongly objected to China's continued activities in parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, saying Beijing is undertaking projects on Indian territory under its illegal occupation. Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China has remained in illegal occupation of Indian territory in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, and India has consistently conveyed its objections. He reiterated that India respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but Beijing has not reciprocated. The remarks followed External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's statement that India, not China, has legitimate sovereignty concerns. New Delhi also reiterated its opposition to Chinese projects in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.