Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday questioned whether the BJP-led government and the Congress had reached an “understanding” after he was initially not allowed to speak during a Lok Sabha discussion on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. Raising concerns over students and the July 20 protest crackdown, Akhilesh said the issue went beyond political parties and demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. He also criticised the government over police action against protesters and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue in Parliament. The government maintained it was ready to hold a discussion. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses operated by Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, injuring at least 15 people, Russian officials said. The attacks came days after earlier strikes on the company’s facilities that killed eight workers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the targeted logistics hubs were involved in supplying drone components, navigation equipment and other gear to the Russian military. Wildberries condemned the attacks, saying employees were simply doing their jobs. Russia has denied the company has military links. The strikes are part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to disrupt Russia’s wartime logistics. (PC: BBC)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s daughter, Naimisha Pradhan, has disabled her Instagram account after facing online backlash linked to the ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. Social media users criticised her for pursuing higher education in the United States and tagged her account in posts demanding her father’s resignation. Some users, however, urged people not to target family members and said accountability should remain focused on public officials. Meanwhile, Pradhan defended the government’s stand, accusing the Congress of politicising the issue and reiterating that the Centre is ready to discuss NEET-related concerns in Parliament.

The flood situation in Assam has worsened sharply, with 21 people losing their lives in the past 24 hours, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority. The number of people affected has increased to around 5.6 lakh across the state. Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district, where overflowing rivers have caused widespread flooding and most of the recent deaths. More than 12,000 people are staying in relief camps, while over 6,100 have been evacuated by rescue teams. Several rivers, including the Dikhow and Disang, continue to flow above danger levels, raising concerns of further flooding.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday declined an urgent hearing on a petition seeking Supreme Court intervention over alleged police action against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters at Jantar Mantar. The plea cited videos claiming police brutality during demonstrations over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demanded immediate judicial intervention. Refusing the request, the Chief Justice said the court had no time to watch videos and asked the lawyer not to waste the court’s time. The matter comes after the Delhi High Court also refused an urgent hearing on the issue earlier this week. (PC: India Today)

Aazad Samaj Party-Kanshi Ram chief and MP Chandra Shekhar Azad staged an overnight protest inside the Parliament complex, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and police action against student protesters. Azad said students deserved justice and urged the government to begin talks instead of suppressing protests. He also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to raise the issue. Meanwhile, a delegation of protesters met Union Minister J.P. Nadda with similar demands. The agitation continues as students seek accountability over alleged examination irregularities and recent clashes with police.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his administration does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city. After reviewing available legal options, Mamdani urged the US federal government to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enforce its arrest warrant against Netanyahu. The ICC accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, allegations Israel denies. Legal experts said US cities cannot enforce ICC warrants because the United States is not a member of the court, leaving such matters to the federal government. (PC: HT)

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi suffered a nose injury during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders, was detained by Delhi Police while demanding answers over alleged exam paper leaks and police action against student protesters. Images of Gandhi bleeding during the protest quickly spread, drawing political attention nationwide. Congress accused the government of suppressing peaceful protests, while authorities cited security concerns for the detentions. The incident has intensified the political battle over the paper leak issue and increased pressure on the Modi government. (PC: India Today)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) warned its agitation would intensify if the Centre failed to meet protesters' demands, with spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka saying "millions more" would join demonstrations in Delhi. The warning came as the government stepped up damage control, with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh meeting fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital. Senior government functionaries reiterated that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was a political demand and said the Centre was ready for a parliamentary debate on NEET while insisting examination lapses had been addressed. Meanwhile, protests spread across several states over opposition leaders' detention, with Samajwadi Party accusing the BJP government of undermining democratic rights.

Argentina's Ambassador to India, Mariano Caucino, thanked Indian fans for their unwavering support throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite Argentina finishing runners-up to Spain. In a post on X, Caucino expressed gratitude for the "endless displays of support" from Indian football fans, highlighting the strong bond between Argentina and its passionate following in India. The message came after months of widespread fan engagement, including viewing parties and celebrations across Indian cities. Supporters flooded social media with emotional reactions, praising Argentina's campaign and Lionel Messi despite the final defeat. Spain secured the title with a 1-0 extra-time victory after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute.