India

Russia strikes Ukraine data centres and telecom sites, disrupting internet access

Russian forces have launched attacks on Ukrainian data centres and telecommunications infrastructure, significantly reducing internet connectivity for many households. A facility operated by Datagroup was among the sites hit, resulting in casualties and widespread damage. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that such strikes endanger essential services that civilians depend on daily. Russia has justified the attacks by claiming the targeted sites were connected to military intelligence operations. The strikes underscore how digital infrastructure has become a critical battleground in modern warfare.

Anahat Singh reaches Asian Games squash final, one win from Olympic berth

Indian squash player Anahat Singh has advanced to the final of the Asian Games 2026 after defeating world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe. She now stands one win away from claiming the gold medal at the tournament. The Asian Games is also serving as the Asian qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, raising the stakes of her final match. Earlier in the tournament, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured bronze medals in the mixed doubles event, underlining India's strong showing in squash.

Indra Nooyi Says Working Women Face Impossible Work-Family Balancing Act

Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has spoken openly about the difficulties working women face when trying to balance professional ambitions with family responsibilities. She highlighted the tension between raising children, caring for aging parents, and pursuing career growth simultaneously. Nooyi acknowledged that managing these competing demands is an immense challenge for most women. She also shared personal strategies she used to build support systems at both the workplace and home to help ease these pressures.

Congress mocks Bengal BJP chief's praise for CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera sarcastically responded to West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya's praise for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, quipping that the Padma Bhushan would be too small a recognition and that Kumar should be made Prime Minister. Bhattacharya had credited Kumar with conducting violence-free elections and overseeing voter roll revision in the state. The remarks come amid growing Opposition criticism of the Election Commission's recent decisions. A plea is also pending before the Supreme Court regarding the Special Intensive Revision exercise linked to the Election Commission.

Nagaland hooch tragedy: 19 dead in Mokokchung, Tuensang; police probe underway

Bihar Mother Claims Police Staged Encounter, Planted Evidence on Arrested Son

A mother in Bihar has alleged that a police encounter involving her son was fabricated. She claims her son was apprehended near a cowshed by a riverside, after which officers allegedly planted weapons or contraband on him. The allegations suggest the encounter was staged to appear legitimate. Her son had previously been accused of harassment. She has appealed for him to be given a fair chance rather than face what she describes as a false encounter.

Jay Meena wins India's first-ever Asian Games Soft Tennis medal after battling typhoid

Jay Meena, 25, has won India's historic first Asian Games medal in Soft Tennis at the 2026 Games held in Nagoya, Japan. Weeks before the competition, the athlete was bedridden with typhoid, which left him eight kilograms underweight and barely able to climb stairs. He also had to overcome a hip injury and persistent self-doubt to compete at the highest level. Meena's triumph is remarkable given his difficult road to the sport, which reportedly began following a school rustication.

19 Dead in Nagaland After Consuming Suspected Illicit Liquor in Two Districts

At least 19 people have died in Nagaland after allegedly consuming suspected illicit liquor over the past two days. The fatalities were reported across two districts, with eight deaths in Mokokchung and eleven in Tuensang. Police have confirmed the deaths and linked them to the consumption of suspected poisonous alcohol. Authorities are investigating the source of the illicit liquor responsible for the tragedy.

C$5.8M cocaine found hidden in T-shirt shipment at Vancouver warehouse

Workers at a Vancouver facility discovered 14 duffle bags of cocaine on July 21 while unpacking a commercial T-shirt shipment. The drugs, valued at approximately C$5.8 million, are believed to be linked to organized crime networks in Honduras. The shipment had transited through Jamaica before arriving in Vancouver. Local police have launched an investigation to trace the full shipping route and identify those responsible. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could assist the ongoing investigation.

Stone Pelting Shatters Duronto Express Windows in Maharashtra, No Suspect Found

A stone was hurled at the Duronto Express shortly after it crossed Borkhedi station in Maharashtra, shattering windows in three coaches — A-1, B-2, and B-5 — while passengers were seated nearby. The Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police launched a search of the surrounding area following the incident. Investigators found no evidence or suspicious individuals during their sweep. Authorities have registered a case against an unknown person under the Railway Act.

Jagan Reddy Reverses Stance, Now Wants Election Commission Selection Law Reviewed

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for a relook at the law governing the selection of the Election Commission chief. His remarks come amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Jagan had previously supported the legislation that established the current selection framework. He argued that transparency in a democracy must not only exist but must also be visibly demonstrated to citizens.

DDCA Official Questions Eligibility of Proposed Selector and Support Staff Picks

DDCA Joint Secretary Amit Grover has raised concerns about the eligibility of two proposed appointees, Varun Sood and Manu Nayyar, for roles within Delhi cricket's setup. Grover has urged the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to thoroughly review the prescribed eligibility criteria before confirming the selections. The objections have emerged amid a broader reshuffling of Delhi's coaching and support staff ahead of the upcoming season. The development highlights procedural scrutiny within the DDCA as it prepares its cricketing infrastructure for the new campaign.

White House bars CNN from Air Force One press pool for Trump's upcoming trip

Mumbai woman wins Rs 3.36 lakh tax relief after employer skips TDS deposit

A Mumbai-based IT professional was wrongly burdened with a tax demand of Rs 3.36 lakh for Assessment Year 2019-20 after her employer failed to deposit TDS with the government. The woman had declared an income of Rs 18.41 lakh in her income tax return and claimed TDS credit of Rs 3.91 lakh. However, tax authorities granted her credit of only Rs 79,030, citing the shortfall caused by her employer's non-compliance. She subsequently challenged the demand and was granted full relief of Rs 3.36 lakh, reinforcing that employees cannot be penalised for their employer's failure to remit TDS.

Chicago couple's 40-year forest legacy becomes 126-acre public preserve

Google DeepMind Engineer Resigns Over AI Safety Concerns, Calls Risk Real But Uncertain

Robert O'Callahan, an engineer at Google DeepMind, has resigned citing concerns that AI development is advancing too rapidly. He stated that his chip design work was directly contributing to making AI systems faster and cheaper, which prompted his decision to leave. Unlike other high-profile AI safety departures, O'Callahan stopped short of predicting catastrophe, describing the risk of artificial superintelligence as real but not certain. His resignation comes as Google prepares to test its TPU chips in space through an initiative called Project Suncatcher. He described his role as an 'amazing' job, underscoring that his exit was driven by ethical concerns rather than dissatisfaction.

Businessman warns excessive leniency toward staff can erode workplace accountability

Rohit Malhotra, a businessman, has spoken out about the unintended consequences of adopting a lenient management style. He observed that being overly kind to employees can lead them to disregard workplace policies and commitments. Malhotra noted specific issues such as poor attendance and lax punctuality, particularly around lunch hours. Despite his intention to foster a supportive work environment, he found that accountability among staff declined as a result. He added that this pattern of reduced workplace discipline is not unique to his business but visible across various organizations.

UP Teen Dies After Falling From 12th Floor Balcony in Noida

A teenage girl named Prachi fell from the 12th floor balcony of a residential building in Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred when she had gone to the balcony to retrieve clothes that were hung out to dry. She lost her balance and fell from the high-rise during this routine task. Notably, Prachi had won a gold medal in rope skipping just two days before the tragic incident.

Bangkok Declares Flood Disaster as Relentless Rainfall Swamps Roads and Canals

Bangkok has officially declared a flood disaster following heavy and near-continuous rainfall that began on Thursday afternoon. The persistent downpours have caused the city's canals to overflow and inundated numerous roads. Floodwaters have entered homes and restaurants across affected areas of the Thai capital. Authorities described the situation as severe, with reports indicating that every canal in the city has reached capacity.

White House Bars CNN from Air Force One in Latest Media Access Row

The White House has blocked CNN from boarding President Trump's Air Force One, marking a fresh escalation in tensions between the administration and mainstream media. The seat denied to CNN had traditionally been reserved for a member of the US network video pool. Real America's Voice News was reportedly given access instead, despite not being part of that pool. The move has raised concerns about the administration selectively restricting press access to the president.