Month: July 2025

Ahead of the Parliament debate on Operation Sindoor, Congress leader and former Union Minister minister P Chidambaram has raked up controversy by alleging that the ruling BJP-led Central government is reluctant to share key details on the India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalagam.

In a July 27 interview with the Quint news outlet, Chidambaram raised questions on whether the Government had taken any follow-up steps to prevent another Pahalgam.

“Where are the terrorist attackers? Why have you not apprehended them? Why have you not even identified them? Suddenly a news item emerges that we have arrested two or three people who gave them shelter. Now what happened to that?” Chidambaram asked.

Futher, the Congress leader who served as the Home Minister in the UPA tenure said, the Government was “unwilling to disclose what the NIA has done all these weeks. Have they identified the terrorists, where they came from? I mean, for all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do you assume that they came from Pakistan? There’s no evidence of that. They are also hiding the losses.”

BJP has hit back at the Congress leader’s remarks with party spokesperson Amit Malviya alleging that the Congress “always bend over backwards to protect the enemy.”

“Why is it that every time our forces confront Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Congress leaders sound more like Islamabad’s defence lawyers than India’s opposition? When it comes to national security, there should be no ambiguity. But with the Congress, there never is — they always bend over backwards to protect the enemy,” Malviya said in a post on X.

Chidambaram also criticised the Prime Minister for not making a comprehensive statement on Operation Sindoor.

“We know it was an intelligence failure. But so was the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 an intelligence failure. When I took over as home minister I visited Mumbai and I called the entire press. The first sentence I said was I apologize for the intelligence failure. It was an intelligence failure, of seven or eight Pakistan-based terrorists coming by boat to Mumbai, the commercial capital of India and the financial capital of India and walking up to hotel Taj was a clear intelligence failure,” Chidambaram said.

Echoing similar remarks on Monday, Congress MP Imran Masood also demanded answers from the Centre on the whereabouts of the Pahalgam terrorists, saying that the people have a “right to know” where the terrorists went afterwards and questioning the security at the border.

“If the terrorists came from Pakistan, then how are our borders secured? They came, committed the act and left. We will ask if they were airlifted and airdropped, where they came from, and where they went. We have the right to know,” Masood told ANI.

Also, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said that BJP is employing diversionary tactics to divert from the “real issue.”

“The real issues is of the Pahalgam terror attack and the failure of the government to continue with Operation Sindoor, the surrender of Mr Modi to Trump’s Social Truth. We are very clear that this is a diversionary tactic by the BJP, and we will not fall into their trap. Congress has been clearly saying that Pakistan must stop the export of terrorism to India. Congress stands with the Forces in the fight against terrorist groups.”

“The question is straight, we want to know where are those terrorists who killed the husbands of our 26 sisters. The government has failed till now, whether intentionally or accidentally. We still do not know who they were, where they came from. The dangerous game being played in Kashmir is not beneficial for the nation. We want to know who those terrorists are, where they came from, and why they have not been caught till now.”

Meanwhile, Chidambaram in his interview to the Quint also said, “I said it in a column that in a war, losses will occur on both sides. I understand that India would have suffered losses.”

“Therefore, why they are reluctant to admit the losses, but losses are inevitable and natural in a war. So, admit the losses. I think they are they think they can put a large shroud on operation Sindoor. It won’t work,” the Congress leader said.

Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Even since the monsoon session began on July 21, the Parliament has witnessed constant adjourments amid uproar over the demands of the opposition to push for a debate on issues of public importance, including the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack and the ongoing SIR exercise being carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. (ANI)

Rishabh Pant had a fracture to his right foot during the first innings in Manchester, and it’s official that Narayan Jagadeesan has been added to the squad as his replacement, according to the website of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He was ruled out as a result of this injury. He scored 54 off 75 balls, with three fours and two sixes.

India have added Jagadeesan to their squad for the fifth Test against England at The Oval as his cover.

Jagadeesan has amassed 3373 runs from 52 first-class matches, which includes 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries, at an average of 47.50.

The injury to Pant comes as a major blow to India, with the 27-year-old having been one of their key contributors with the bat.

With 479 runs at an average of 68.42, Pant is India’s third-highest run-getter in the ongoing series. This includes two centuries and three half-centuries.

The left-handed batter leaves behind some pretty big shoes to fill as India look to close the five-match ICC World Test Championship series with a win at the Oval.

With India having levelled the series back at Edgbaston after a loss in the opener at Trent Bridge, England notched a close win at Lord’s before a well-fought draw at Old Trafford. This means that the Asian side can still tie the series going into the final Test at The Oval.

India’s updated squad for fifth Test: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK). (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) announced that Washington and the European Union have reached an agreement on the trade deal, finalising at a uniform 15 per cent tariff on all goods across the board and purchases of massive energy and military equipment and unprecedented investment commitments by the EU to its Atlantic partner.

Describing the agreement as the “biggest deal ever,” Trump, during a discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as broadcasted by Fox News, hailed the agreement as a “giant deal with lots of countries,” noting von der Leyen’s representation of the 27-nation European Union.

He stated that the EU has agreed to purchase USD 750 billion worth of energy from the US and to invest an additional USD 600 billion, more than its current investment.

“This was probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity, trade or beyond trade. It is a giant deal with lots of countries because, as you know, Ursula represents a lot of countries, not just one. The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States USD 750 billion worth of energy. They are also going to invest in the United States, USD 600 billion more than they already are. They are also agreeing to open up their countries to trade at zero tariffs. That is a very big factor–opening up all the countries to trade with the United States at zero tariffs,” Trump stated.

“They are agreeing to purchase a vast amount of military equipment. We don’t know the exact number, but the good news is we make the best military equipment in the world. Until someone tops us, which won’t happen, we are way ahead of every other country in terms of military technology. And we are agreeing on a straight 15 per cent tariff across the board for automobiles and everything else. I think that basically concludes the deal. Those are the main factors,” he added.

Trump, who is currently in Scotland for a work visit, also noted that the deal will take effect from August 1.

Von der Leyen echoed Trump’s enthusiasm, describing the agreement as a “huge deal” that ensures “stability and predictability” for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

“It’s 15% tariffs across the board, all-inclusive. The investments President Trump just described will go to the United States. And the purchases on our side–yes, the European market is open,” she stated.

She acknowledged the “tough negotiation” but expressed satisfaction with the mutually beneficial outcome.

“We have a deal. We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world. It’s a big deal–a huge deal. It will bring stability and predictability, which is very important for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s 15% tariffs across the board, all-inclusive,” the EU Chief noted.

“The investments President Trump just described will go to the United States. And the purchases on our side–yes, the European market is open. That’s 450 million people. It’s a good deal, a huge deal. It was a tough negotiation. I knew it at the beginning–it was very tough. But we came to good conclusions for both sides,” she added.

The negotiations followed Trump’s earlier announcement this month of a 30 per cent tariff on goods from the European Union, effective August 1.

He announced in a letter to the European Commission President posted on Truth Social about the tariff decision, citing trade imbalances as key reasons.

Trump, prior to the announcement, stated that the trade relations between the US and the EU were “very one-sided” and “very unfair” to Washington. (ANI)

The death toll in the stampede that took place at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning has risen to 8. The total number of injured in the tragic incident has been reported to be 30, according to the District Administration, Haridwar.

The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, when a large crowd of devotees was climbing nearly 800 steps to reach the hilltop shrine, according to officials.

Upon receiving the information, personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the fire brigade arrived at the scene and initiated rescue operations.

Speaking to ANI, one of the injured persons said, “Just 20-25 steps before the temple premises, the crowd became uncontrollable… I fell down along with 10 to 12 others… I found 3 of my family members, but two are still missing…”

Another said, “Suddenly, a huge crowd gathered there, and a stampede took place. During this, I fell and my hand got fractured…”

President of Mansa Devi Mandir Trust, Mahant Ravindra Puri, while speaking to ANI on Sunday, said, “There are three ways up to the Mansa Devi temple – a ropeway, a vehicular way and an ancient route direct from Har Ki Pauri… As a huge crowd gathered here, the police were informed, barricades were put up, but still the crowd came up and someone slipped, due to which the entire incident took place… When the temple authorities reached the spot along with the police, we carried all the injured to the district hospital, where they are being treated… This is not an incident of electrocution, but there are no indications of such happening… We will assist the victim families…”

On the stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi Temple, SSP Pramendra Singh Dobhal said on Sunday, “We have spoken with the temple administration and trust, and we have concluded that implementing a one-way system is absolutely essential. The one-way system will be implemented with immediate effect. To ensure such an incident does not happen again, SP City has been appointed as the nodal officer and given additional authority… During the month of Sawan, there is a continuous crowd, so we are analysing to enhance security arrangements accordingly. Plans will be implemented to prevent such incidents from recurring. A case has been registered regarding today’s incident…”

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced Rs 2 lakh financial aid for families of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several other leaders also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.

On Sunday evening, the Mansa Devi Temple was reopened for devotees, amid tight security arrangements.

On the Mansa Devi Temple stampede, Mayur Dixit, DM, Haridwar, said, “The temple has been reopened again for darshan. We had a meeting here for improving the arrangements. The incident spot has been inspected. We will get to know all other details after the magistrate-level investigation. Extra force will also be deployed here….”. (ANI)

As Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon turned a year older on Sunday, Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a special birthday wish for her.

Taking to her Instagram stories, she shared a stunning picture of Kriti and wrote, “Happy birthday @kritisanon … wish you the bestest always, lots of love.”

Her ‘Bhediya’ co-star Varun Dhawan didn’t miss out on wishing her on this special day. Sharing a picture with Kriti, he wrote, “Happy Birthday To My Favourite Tall Person.”

Born on July 27, the ace star is known for working in ‘Shehzada’, ‘Adipurush’, ‘Ganapath’, ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’, ‘Crew’, ‘Do Patti’, among others.

Kriti is reportedly being approached to play the lead role alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in ‘Cocktail 2’.

Cocktail was directed by Homi Adajania and starred Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty in the lead roles. It was released in 2012.

Kriti Sanon has also completed filming for ‘Tere Ishk Mein’. It is directed by Anand L Rai and stars Dhanush in the lead role. The film, described as a spiritual successor to ‘Raanjhanaa’, is scheduled to release in theatres on November 28, 2025.

The film’s production house confirmed the wrap through an Instagram post, sharing a symbolic image of two bloodied hands clasped together.

The film is written by Rai’s long-time collaborator, Himanshu Sharma, and features music by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Irshad Kamil.

Tere Ishk Mein is produced under the banners of Gulshan Kumar, T-Series, and Colour Yellow Productions. Producers include Aanand L Rai, Himanshu Sharma, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar. (ANI)

Actor Viineet Kumar, who is best known for his role in ‘Mukkabaaz’, has been blessed with a baby boy.

On Sunday, he and his wife Ruchira announced the good news via a joint Instagram post.

“God’s kindness overflows! Move over world, The littlest Singh has arrived and he’s already stealing hearts and milk bottles. Thank you God for this precious little bundle of Joy! Ruchira & Viineet,” the post read.

As soon as the couple announced the arrival of their son, netizens, including members of the film industry, chimed in the comment section and sent best wishes to the new parents in B-town.

“Bahut bahut badhai bhai sahab,” actor Vikrant Massey commented.

“Congratulations @vineet_ksofficial,” actor Manoj Bajpayee wrote.

Viineet and Ruchira’s son was born on July 24, 2025.

Meanwhile, on the acting front, Viineet was recently applauded for his role in ‘Jaat’, which also features Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda in the lead roles. His performance in Prime Video’s ‘Rangeen’ is also being appreciated. (ANI)

Actor Rashmika Mandanna is all set to headline Rawindra Pulle’s directorial ‘Mysaa.’

On Sunday, the film was officially launched with a traditional pooja ceremony.

Principal photography is set to begin on Monday in Hyderabad, with Rashmika joining the cast from the very first schedule.

The film’s team shared several pictures from the launch.

Taking to their Instagram handle, Unformula Films shared the photo in which Rashmika Mandanna is seen attending the pooja ceremony.

“#MYSAA Pooja Ceremony begins with blessings, love and the promise of a beautiful story. Clap by #SureshBabu garu. Camera Switch on by @storytellerkola garu. Script & First shot direction by @hanurpudi garu. Here’s to new journeys & soulful storytelling,” read the caption.

Mysaa “is described as an emotional action thriller rooted in the culturally rich and visually captivating world of the Gond tribes. Rashmika will be seen in a bold and transformative role, portraying a Gond woman with fierce intensity and emotional depth,” read a press note.

In the coming months, Rashmika will also be seen in ‘The Girlfriend’. (ANI)

Amid the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, actor Vindu Dara Singh called out the neighbouring nation’s role in fostering terrorism.

“… We all know whatever has been going on but sports is a different field… Pakistan needs to realise that they are losing out by doing wrong to India… We want peace but they need to initiate this time. They are the ones who cause the problem. India has never attacked any country first. Shame on those people in Pakistan who support terrorism,” Vindu Dara Singh expressed his views, weighing in on the ongoing debate over the recently announced India vs Pakistan Asia Cup fixture under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place in the UAE, with the tournament featuring top Asian teams, including India and Pakistan.

The decision to hold the tournament in a neutral country was made due to the deteriorating relations between the two nations, especially since the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, India announced a series of measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the massacre.

India also launched the decisive Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan with precision strikes. (ANI)

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that the much-anticipated launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite mission is scheduled for July 30, 2025, at 17:40 hrs from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

As the first joint Earth observation mission between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the event marks a defining moment in the journey of Indo-US space cooperation and also in ISRO’s overall international collaborations, he said. The mission will be launched aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket.

Dr Jitendra Singh, who has been monitoring the mission closely, said the launch reflects the maturing of strategic scientific partnerships and India’s emergence as a credible global player in advanced Earth observation systems. While expressing his wish to be physically present in Sriharikota to witness the historic event, the Minister acknowledged that the ongoing Parliament session may hold him back in Delhi.

“This mission is not just about a satellite launch–it is a moment that symbolises what two democracies committed to science and global welfare can achieve together. NISAR will not only serve India and the United States but will also provide critical data for countries around the world, especially in areas like disaster management, agriculture, and climate monitoring,” said Dr Singh.

Singh further noted that this mission lives up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India becoming a ‘Vishwa Bandhu’–a global partner that contributes to the collective good of humanity.

The NISAR mission combines the technological expertise of both agencies. NASA has contributed the L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a high-rate telecommunication subsystem, GPS receivers, and a deployable 12-meter unfurlable antenna. ISRO, on its part, has provided the S-Band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus to accommodate both payloads, the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle, and all associated launch services. The satellite weighs 2,392 kg and will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, offering repeat imaging of the entire Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days.

From an applications standpoint, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted that NISAR’s capabilities extend well beyond traditional Earth observation. “It will allow continuous monitoring of ecosystem disturbances and help assess natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. It will track even subtle changes in the Earth’s crust and surface movement. Importantly, the satellite’s data will also be used for sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm tracking, crop mapping, and changes in soil moisture–all of which are vital for governments, researchers, and disaster management agencies,” he said.

A key feature of the mission is that all data generated by NISAR will be made freely accessible within one to two days of observation and in near real-time in case of emergencies. This democratisation of data is expected to support global scientific research and decision-making, especially for developing countries that may not have access to similar capabilities.

Notably, the NISAR mission is the first time a GSLV rocket is being used to place a satellite in sun-synchronous polar orbit, signalling ISRO’s growing technical sophistication in supporting diverse space missions. The dual radar payload aboard NISAR will employ SweepSAR technology for high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging of the Earth’s surface with a wide swath of 242 kilometres.

The Union Minister also underlined the importance of Earth observation missions in the context of climate resilience and sustainable development. “Missions like NISAR are no longer confined to scientific curiosity–they are instrumental in planning, risk assessment, and policy intervention. As climate change impacts intensify, timely and accurate data from satellites like NISAR will be indispensable for governments to act proactively,” he said.

While the mission has seen a long gestation period of over a decade and a joint investment exceeding $1.5 billion, the payoff in terms of global utility and technological advancement is expected to be transformative. The launch of NISAR is being closely watched by space agencies, environmental researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

As the countdown to July 30 begins, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that India’s space program under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi is steadily transitioning from traditional utility-based missions to those that position the country as a knowledge contributor to the global commons. “NISAR is not just a satellite; it is India’s scientific handshake with the world,” he said. (ANI)

The Judicial Magistrate First Class Court has remanded all seven accused in the Pune rave party case to police custody till July 29, said officials.

The accused — Pranjal Khevalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Sachin Bhombe, Shreepad Yadav, Isha Singh, and Prachi Sharma — were taken into custody after a raid at a residential flat in Pune’s Kharadi area in the early hours of Saturday. The raid reportedly uncovered narcotics consumption and possession.

According to Pune Police, narcotic substances and other items worth Rs 41.34 lakh were seized. The seized items include cocaine, marijuana (ganja), 10 mobile phones, two four-wheelers, hookah pots, and beer bottles.

Officials added that 100 grams of marijuana and 2.07 grams of cocaine–classified as intermediate quantities were found in possession of the accused.

The police highlighted the need to probe the source and intended recipients of the drugs, and whether the seized substances are part of a larger, organised drug trafficking network.

They also stated that three rooms were booked at Statebird Hospitality between July 24 and 26, and further investigation is needed regarding the premises and additional individuals who reportedly visited and left during the party.

Police further revealed that two of the accused, Pranjal Khevalkar and Shriprakash Yadav, have prior criminal records. They stressed the necessity of custodial interrogation to determine the main conspirators, trace possible interstate gang links, identify drug storage locations, and examine whether the accused have acquired properties through illegal drug money.

The defence counsel, Advocate Sachin Zalte, argued that the accused are being falsely implicated due to their political affiliations and alleged that the case is motivated by political vendetta.

They pointed out that there is no evidence of drug consumption and claimed that the seized quantity falls under the intermediary category, which does not warrant police custody.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Allegations against all the accused are that they were found in one room, and some drugs like cocaine and ganja have been found in possession of all the accused persons. So they applied the sections of the NDPS Act…”

“The main contention of the advocates is that they have been falsely implicated. One of the accused belongs to a political party. The second contention is that this is an intermediate quantity, and quantities below 2 grams are considered small, which is bailable… 2.7 grams of cocaine have been found in this case… All seven accused have been sent to police custody for the next two days for conducting investigations,” he added further.

The court, after hearing both sides, granted police custody for all accused until July 29 to enable further investigation. (ANI)