Times of India

Shabana Azmi has tested positive for H1N1 and swine flu, running a 102-degree fever, and will isolate for five days. Despite missing the protests, she remains in touch with on-ground updates and expressed solidarity via a post featuring her father Kaifi Azmi's poem. She was earlier an active presence at the demonstrations before falling ill.

"Students have three demands, and these are not negotiable demands... The first demand is that the Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent, and misaligned, has to be sacked... There's some talk going on in Modi's cabinet that the solution is to move Dharmendra Pradhan from education to some other ministry. This is not acceptable to the students of India. It is not acceptable to anybody," the Congress leader said.

India has demonstrated Bhargavastra, a new counter-swarm drone system. This vehicle-mounted system integrates advanced sensors and a dual-layered kill mechanism. It combines micro-rockets and precision-guided micro-missiles for effective drone neutralization. Bhargavastra offers a cost-effective solution against autonomous drones and coordinated swarms. The system is designed for seamless integration with existing armed forces networks.

Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' continues its strong theatrical run after a record opening. The film has garnered over Rs 65 crore net in India within three days. Worldwide gross collections for the movie have surpassed Rs 112 crore after two days. Day two saw a decline in collections after its massive opening day performance. Future weekend collections will determine the film's overall box office momentum.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video alleging obstruction at Safdarjung Hospital. He was transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after court intervention. Hospital authorities stated the video was recorded before receiving the court's written order. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after receiving government assurances on his demands. His protest focused on examination reforms and protecting peaceful demonstrators.

Sonam Wangchuk, hours after he ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, said he made the decision only after he got assurances from the govt and MPs across party lines that his demands for exam reforms and no action against peaceful protesters would be met.

The Public Accounts Committee has criticized the Defence Ministry for procurement delays. Significant gaps existed between Army needs and new artillery system inductions. The Dhanush artillery gun, an upgraded Bofors, was inducted after a twenty-year gap. Structural flaws in defence acquisition and a lack of expertise were highlighted. The committee urged reforms to ensure timely acquisition and operational readiness.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has dismissed rumors regarding Rohit Sharma's retirement. He stated there is no question of the Indian opener retiring at this stage. Sharma himself has expressed his desire to continue playing for India. He aims to secure a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad. Shukla also defended the current leadership group against calls for changes.

The Kerala Plus Two SAY and Improvement Examination Results 2026 have been declared on July 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Students can access their provisional scorecards through official result portals using their register number and date of birth. The examinations were conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026, with around one lakh students participating. The SAY exams offered students an opportunity to clear pending subjects or improve marks after the March 2026 board examinations.

Rahul Gandhi criticized the Modi government's actions against students protesting the NEET paper leak. He alleged the government imposed cruel restrictions to suppress the student movement. Restrictions included shutting down metro, roads, internet, and food supplies. Rahul compared the government's treatment of students to British tyranny. He stated the government could not shut down paper leaks despite its actions.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, has publicly announced his fight against typhoid as he receives treatment. In his statement, he expressed sincere gratitude to the protesters who are uniting in peaceful assemblies nationwide. Dipke asserts that the ongoing demonstrations are crucial for pressing Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. Currently undergoing daily IV treatments, he attributes the movement's effectiveness to the passion and dedication of its supporters.

Maharashtra Police have arrested alleged TET paper leak mastermind Bijendra Gupta. Gupta was apprehended in Bihar after evading law enforcement for months. Another individual was also taken into custody during this significant operation. His wife had previously been arrested in connection with the same paper leak case. Gupta also faced scrutiny in 2024 following the NEET controversy.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi achieved a significant milestone by scoring a T20I half-century. He became the youngest player ever to reach this batting achievement. This performance followed his earlier inclusion and subsequent exclusion from the team. Former player Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticized the decision to drop him. Sooryavanshi's dedication and fearless approach were also highlighted.