A man named Naresh killed his colleague Suresh in Noida in a dispute rooted in personal jealousy. Suresh, originally from Bareilly, was targeted by Naresh over his friendship with Naresh's lover. The incident turned violent, leaving both the victim dead and the accused injured. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the altercation between the two men.
A protest movement, dubbed the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), has expanded well beyond its origins in Delhi. Demonstrations have now been reported in over 30 cities nationwide, including Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai. The protests appear to be largely student-led, reflecting growing discontent among young people across the country. The rapid geographic spread signals that the movement is gaining significant momentum at the national level.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin has reclaimed third place on the Forbes real-time billionaires list following a modest rise in his net worth. He had temporarily slipped to fifth place after Alphabet's stock declined sharply amid concerns over the company's AI spending forecasts. The sell-off wiped approximately $255 billion from Alphabet's market value, significantly affecting Brin's ranking. His return to third place underscores how closely billionaire standings are tied to stock market movements.
Bihar witnessed a statewide shutdown on Wednesday as left-wing student organisations called a bandh over the alleged NEET examination paper leak. Protesters blocked roads across multiple districts, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the controversy. Security was significantly heightened, with additional police personnel deployed throughout the state. The bandh came in the wake of earlier violent incidents, including stone-pelting in the state capital Patna. Senior RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav was among those detained by authorities during the unrest.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has tested positive for H1N1 (swine flu) and is currently in isolation for five days. She is running a high fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit amid her illness. Though unable to attend ongoing protests in person, she has stated she is staying updated through on-ground reports. Azmi expressed her solidarity with the demonstrations by sharing a poem written by her late father, Kaifi Azmi. She had been an active participant at the protest sites before falling ill.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for the outright dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Cabinet, rejecting any ministerial reshuffle as an inadequate response to student protests. Rahul stated that students have three non-negotiable demands, with Pradhan's removal being the foremost among them. He criticised Pradhan as corrupt, incompetent, and misaligned with the needs of students. Reports suggest the Modi government is considering shifting Pradhan to a different ministry as a possible resolution, but Rahul firmly rejected this as unacceptable to students and the broader public.
India has unveiled Bhargavastra, a domestically developed counter-swarm drone system demonstrated to the Indian Army. The vehicle-mounted platform features advanced sensors and a two-tiered neutralisation mechanism combining micro-rockets and precision-guided micro-missiles. It is designed to effectively counter both autonomous drones and coordinated drone swarms. The system is positioned as a cost-efficient solution and is built to integrate seamlessly with existing armed forces networks.
Thalapathy Vijay's latest film Jana Nayagan has accumulated over Rs 65 crore net at the Indian box office within its first three days of release. The film added Rs 1.94 crore on its third day, continuing a strong but gradually declining run after a record-breaking opening. Global gross collections crossed Rs 112 crore within the first two days. Day two recorded a dip compared to the opening day, a common trend for big releases. The film's sustained performance over the coming weekend will be crucial in determining its overall box office trajectory.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once redirected a scheduled business meeting with WordStar creator Seymour Rubinstein to a traffic court appearance. Gates had a well-documented obsession with fast cars, frequently driving at high speeds and accumulating traffic violations. Rubinstein reportedly coached the young Gates on how to avoid losing his license and staying out of jail during the court visit. Gates owned several high-performance vehicles, including a Porsche, and even purchased a slow diesel Mercedes in an attempt to curb his speeding habits. Despite the unconventional detour, the encounter highlighted the informal and chaotic nature of the early personal computing industry's rivalries.
Delhi Police have added an attempt to murder charge in connection with violence that erupted during a CJP protest in central Delhi. The demonstration took place on July 20, coinciding with the first day of Parliament's monsoon session. Thousands of protesters, predominantly young people, had gathered in the capital for the demonstration. The escalation of charges reflects the serious nature of the violence that occurred during the protest.
Abhijeet Dipke, a leader of the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)-led agitation, has been diagnosed with typhoid fever but has vowed that the protest will continue. The movement was launched in response to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations across India. Demonstrators are demanding accountability and systemic reforms in the recruitment and entrance test processes. The agitation has also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video claiming he faced obstruction at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. Following court intervention, he was transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for further care. Hospital authorities clarified that the video was recorded before they had received the court's written order. Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike to press demands related to examination reforms and protection of peaceful protesters. He ended his fast after receiving assurances from the government addressing his concerns.
Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk concluded his 26-day hunger strike following a meeting with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Wangchuk stated he decided to end the strike only after receiving assurances from the government and MPs across party lines. His key demands included reforms to certain examinations and a guarantee of no action against peaceful protesters. The assurances came from legislators representing multiple political parties, indicating broad political engagement with his cause.
