Highlights: SC recalls order barring High Court judge from hearing criminal cases

Highlights: Mass protests broke out across Israel as the Cabinet met to decide on a full reoccupation of Gaza. Catch all the news developments here

4:28 PM

India should "aggressively pursue" FTA with European Union: Arvind Panagariya

India should "aggressively pursue" a free trade agreement with the European Union, besides moving ahead with land and labour market reforms and reducing regulations to accelerate its growth trajectory, the 16th Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Friday. Speaking at the Business Today India@100 event, Panagariya said India faces a pivotal moment in the current geopolitical order of higher tariffs on exports and the country should now push the pedal on its reform agenda.

4:16 PM

NDA will form govt in Bihar with thumping majority in upcoming assembly polls, says Amit Shah

RJD did nothing for development of Bihar, encouraged hooliganism during its rule in state, alleges Amit Shah.

4:06 PM

During UPA regime, terrorist attacks were frequent in India, claims Amit Shah in Bihar's Sitamarhi

Lalu ji, as central minister, sanctioned Rs 1,132 cr for railway infra in Bihar, while our government provided Rs 10,066 crore in FY26, says Amit Shah.

3:39 PM

News update: 10 people killed, 33 missing after flash floods in northwestern China

2:37 PM

Assam govt recognises Wildlife Genetics Laboratory for wildlife crime investigations

The Assam government has recognised North East India's only Wildlife Genetics Laboratory (WGL) for the purpose of assisting wildlife crime investigations and control through forensic evidence gathering using DNA sampling methods. Biodiversity organisation Aaranyak's Wildlife Genetics Laboratory has been recognised by the Assam government under Section 329 (4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, WGL Director Udayan Borthakur said on Friday.

2:31 PM

Two CRPF jawans injured in IED blast in Jharkhand

At least two jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were injured in an IED blast in Jharkhand's Chaibasa, police said on Friday. The incident occurred around noon in the Mankey area near Jaraikela in Saranda forest, one of Asia's thickest forests, when the CRPF personnel were conducting a search operation, an officer said.

2:01 PM

Mid-entry window for UG admissions in DU to open on August 8

Delhi University will open its mid-entry admission window for undergraduate programmes from 5 pm on Friday, allowing fresh candidates who missed earlier rounds to apply for the current academic session.The university released its list of vacant seats on Thursday, following the conclusion of the latest round of upgrade. The mid-entry provision, available under the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), will remain open until 4:59 pm on Aug 10.

1:47 PM

Zomato ropes in Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

Online food delivery platform Zomato on Friday said it has roped in Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador.

Khan had recently appeared in Zomato's latest campaign 'Fuel Your Hustle', which celebrates the quiet grind behind some of India's most celebrated names, Zomato said

1:07 PM

Shots fired at comedian Kapil Sharma's restaurant for second time in less than month

Shots have been fired at comedian Kapil Sharma's recently-opened restaurant in Canada's Surrey for the second time in less than a month, police said. Surrey Police Service (SPS) said its officers are investigating the incident that occurred at the Newton neighbourhood business in the early hours of Thursday. SPS did not name the business establishment, however, media reports said Sharma's Kap's Cafe was the target of the attack.

1:03 PM

Kamal Haasan meets PM Narendra Modi

Kamal Haasan uploaded a post on his X handle on Thursday, comprising pictures featuring the actor alongside Modi. He attached a lengthy note along the post. "Today, I had the honour of meeting the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji. As a representative of the people of Tamil Nadu and as an artist, I placed before him a few requests, foremost among them was the call to expedite the recognition of Keeladi's antiquity," Haasan wrote in the post.

12:56 PM

BJP calls Congress' Vote Adhikar Rally a political gimmick

The BJP state president B Y Vijayendra termed the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Vote Adhikar Rally' in Bengaluru on Friday a political gimmick.He also said that the protest lacks truth. Vijayendra said the Congress party is maintaining a double standard by opposing Special Intensive Revision of voters' list in Bihar and simultaneously alleging bogus voters in Karnataka during 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

11:56 AM

Trump's latest ‘tariff tantrum' risks years of US-India partnership: US lawmaker Gregory Meeks

US President Donald Trump's latest “tariff tantrum" risks years of careful work to build a stronger US-India partnership, a prominent American Congressman has said. Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems, on Thursday said that the US has “deep strategic, economic, and people-to-people ties” with India.

11:22 AM

Intel CEO says has board support as Trump calls for resignation

Intel Corp Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan said he’s got the full backing of the company’s board, responding for the first time to US President Donald Trump’s call for his resignation over conflicts of interest.Tan has reached out to the White House to clear up what he called “misinformation” about his track record, he said in a letter to staff posted on Intel’s website. 

11:03 AM

US retailer Best Buy to boost India tech hub staff by over 40%, executive says

US electronics chain Best Buy plans to expand the headcount at its Indian tech centre by over 40 per cent in the next few months, as more global corporations set up offices in the country to tap its growing talent pool. The company, which opened its first tech centre, or global capability centre, in Bengaluru city last year, currently employs around 350 people in functions including data and artificial intelligence (AI) and is expected to grow to 500-550.

10:30 AM

UP chief electoral officer refutes Rahul Gandhi's claim of duplicate voter entries in state

The chief electoral officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations that certain voters were registered in both Uttar Pradesh and other states, calling them "factually incorrect". In a statement shared on X on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh CEO's office said Rahul Gandhi appeared to have relied on data dated March 16, 2025, sourced from the Election Commission's website.

10:27 AM

When India, Pak went to war, we got involved directly: US Secretary of State Rubio

The US “got involved directly” when India and Pakistan went to war and President Donald Trump was able to deliver peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed. Since May 10, Trump has repeated his claim many times that he “helped settle” the tensions between India and Pakistan and told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America will do a “lot of trade” with them if they stopped the conflict.

10:19 AM

'Vote Adhikar Rally': Congress prepared for its mega show in Bengaluru

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will hold the party's 'Vote adhikar rally' at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Friday, which is being organised in protest against the alleged "vote theft". The event, titled "Our Vote, Our Right, Our Struggle," will be held at 10:30 am at Freedom Park, where the Congress will demonstrate its strength for the cause. Through this rally, Congress has decided to use Karnataka as a launch pad for a movement against alleged electoral fraud.

10:00 AM

PM Modi's claim of special relationship with Trump stands totally exposed: Cong

Amid reports that Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is set to visit the US for the second time since the four-day conflict with India, the Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim of having a special relationship with US President Donald Trump "now stands totally exposed". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose incendiary and inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, appears to be a favourite of the US."

9:31 AM

India a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue: State department

India is a strategic partner with whom the US engages in a “full and frank” dialogue and President Donald Trump has been very clear with New Delhi on his concerns over its purchase of Russian oil and trade imbalance with Washington, a State Department official said.

 

8:31 AM

Israeli Security Cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City in escalation of war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that to destroy Hamas, Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip and eventually transfer its administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive.