India and the UK signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Chequers. Modi called it “a historic day,” while UK PM Keir Starmer described it as the “most significant deal since leaving the EU.” The FTA reduces India’s average import tariff from 15% to 3% and grants 99% of Indian exports duty-free UK access. Key sectors—textiles, gems, engineering goods, IT, education—will benefit. Starmer said the pact will “boost wages, create jobs, and raise living standards.” Modi said the FTA aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and empowers youth, MSMEs, and exporters.

 PM Narendra Modi celebrated the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Calling it a "historic day in our relations," in London. The deal, expected to boost bilateral trade by $34 billion annually, will provide 99% of Indian exports tariff-free access to the UK. “This agreement will especially benefit Indian youth, farmers, fishermen and the MSME sector,” Modi said. He added it is “not just an economic agreement, but a plan for shared prosperity.” UK PM Keir Starmer called it “a deal that puts more money in working people’s pockets,” hailing it as the UK's biggest post-Brexit trade deal. (PC: X)

India and the UK signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in London on Thursday during PM Narendra Modi’s visit. The deal, expected to boost bilateral trade by $34 billion annually, is the UK’s largest since Brexit. Signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the agreement grants duty-free access to 99% of Indian goods and cuts tariffs on UK products like whisky and cars. PM Modi called it a "blueprint for shared prosperity," while British PM Keir Starmer said it would “boost jobs and growth.” The FTA also includes a social security agreement benefiting Indian businesses. (PC: X)

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against England after fracturing his toe during the Manchester Test. The injury occurred on Day 1 when Pant inside-edged a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes onto his foot while batting on 37. Scans confirmed a fracture, and he has been advised six weeks of rest. Dhruv Jurel will replace him as wicketkeeper but cannot bat. This setback adds to India’s injury woes, with Nitish Reddy, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh already unfit. Pant had been India’s top performer, scoring two centuries and a gritty 74 earlier in the series. (PC: X)

The Karnataka cabinet has approved the Justice D’Cunha commission report on the June 4 Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 people outside Chinnaswamy Stadium. The report held IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), KSCA, DNA Entertainment, and police officials directly responsible for "gross negligence." The event, celebrating RCB’s IPL win, lacked adequate crowd control, with only 79 police inside the stadium and none outside. No ambulances were present. The stampede also clashed with a nearby state event, worsening the chaos. Legal and departmental actions will follow against all named parties, including suspended senior police officers. Over 50 people were injured.

The Karnataka cabinet has approved the Justice D’Cunha commission report on the June 4 Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 people outside Chinnaswamy Stadium. The report held IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), KSCA, DNA Entertainment, and police officials directly responsible for "gross negligence." The event, celebrating RCB’s IPL win, lacked adequate crowd control, with only 79 police inside the stadium and none outside. No ambulances were present. The stampede also clashed with a nearby state event, worsening the chaos. Legal and departmental actions will follow against all named parties, including suspended senior police officers. Over 50 people were injured. (PC: India Today)

Indian PM Narendra Modi is in the UK to sign a landmark free trade agreement with British PM Keir Starmer. The deal, finalised in May after nearly three years of talks, will reduce tariffs on British whisky, gin, and cars, while increasing UK imports of Indian textiles and gemstones. Expected to boost UK-India trade by £25.5 billion annually by 2040, it could add £4.8 billion yearly to the UK economy. The pact awaits UK parliamentary approval. Modi, also set to meet King Charles, called the deal "ambitious and mutually beneficial." Talks will also cover the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad. (PC: BBC)

A Russian Antonov An-24 plane carrying 49 people, including six crew and five children, crashed near Tynda in the eastern Amur region on Thursday. Operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, the aircraft dropped off radar during approach. Russia’s emergencies ministry confirmed that a rescue helicopter located the burning fuselage on a mountainside, 16 km from Tynda. No signs of survivors were seen. Preliminary reports by TASS suggest crew error in poor visibility caused the crash. Civil defence has deployed 25 personnel and four aircraft are on standby. The An-24, in service since the 1950s, remains widely used across Russia. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump is under fire for accusing former President Barack Obama of trying to rig the 2016 and 2020 elections. Critics say the claim is a distraction from rising pressure to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files. On Thursday, a House committee voted to subpoena the Justice Department for those documents. “This is a desperate and dangerous attempt to shift the spotlight,” said Senator Mark Warner. Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard backed Trump, claiming Obama faked reports on Russian interference. Democrat Jim Himes responded, “These claims are baseless and designed to cover up the administration’s refusal to release the Epstein files.” (PC: Reuters)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched offices linked to Anil Ambani’s group companies in Mumbai on July 24. The raids are part of a money laundering probe involving a ₹3,000 crore loan from Yes Bank. While Ambani’s home was not searched, ED teams visited several company offices. The case involves possible misuse of public money and fake loan dealings. SBI recently declared Reliance Communications and Anil Ambani as ‘fraud’. Inputs from SEBI, CBI, and other agencies helped the ED. The company is already under insolvency proceedings, and SBI has also filed a personal insolvency case against Ambani in Mumbai’s NCLT. (PC: India Today)