A young man jumped into the Yamuna River from a bridge in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, reportedly intending to die by suicide along with his female companion. Police and local divers rescued the man alive after an extensive search, while the woman left the scene immediately after he jumped. The incident occurred on July 17, 2026, according to local reports.

Eyewitnesses said the couple had gone to the bridge with the intention of ending their lives together. The rescued man, identified as Anu Gupta, was handed over to his family after completion of legal formalities. Police confirmed that he is now safe.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and are working to identify and locate the woman who fled. Police stated that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

Modern historians and sociologists challenge the traditional belief that Islam entered India through military conquest in 712 CE under Muhammad bin Qasim. They argue that Islam’s arrival was instead a gradual process shaped by centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and social interaction, particularly through Arab merchants who frequented India’s western coast for the pepper trade.

According to historian Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, Arab control of major trade routes after Islam’s emergence facilitated contact with southern India, leading to the rise of the Mappila Muslim community. Politician and writer Shashi Tharoor has also noted that Islam reached Kerala through trusted Arab traders, not by the sword. The Cheraman Juma Mosque, said to have been built in 629 CE under Malik bin Dinar, is cited as early evidence of Islam’s presence in Kerala.

Scholars further emphasize the role of Sufi orders such as the Chishti and Suhrawardi in spreading Islam’s spiritual and social values across India. Researchers like Richard Eaton link the religion’s expansion in Bengal and Punjab to agricultural development and state policies that encouraged new settlements around Sufi institutions.

An alleged data breach from a Reliance Group server has led to the release of around 19,000 documents related to India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on the dark web, according to a Reuters report published on July 16, 2026. The ransomware group ‘World Leaks’ reportedly uploaded about 858,000 files from Reliance, including 14.3 gigabytes of material tied to the Tamil Nadu-based plant. Cybersecurity researcher Rakesh Krishnan told Reuters that the files have been accessible online since June 11.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) stated that the leaked data only concerns general infrastructure and public utility systems, not nuclear safety or reactor operations. Reliance confirmed the breach occurred through a third-party data service provider, Yotta, which detected suspicious activity on May 29 and later shut down the affected server. Yotta said it informed Reliance of a possible leak in late June and cooperated fully with the investigation.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth warned that publishing such infrastructure data on the dark web could pose security risks and criticized the Indian government’s silence on the issue.

Police in Dharwad, Karnataka recovered the bloodied body of anesthetist Dr. Kiran Hannanavar, 45, from his apartment on Karnataka University Road. His eight-year-old son was found in another room with serious stab injuries and was taken to a private hospital. The boy’s mother, ophthalmologist Dr. Priyanka, was reportedly lying on the bed using her phone when relatives discovered the scene. She has been taken into custody for questioning.

Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar said preliminary investigation found no evidence of any outsider entering the flat, which was inside a secured residential complex. Relatives had tried to contact Dr. Hannanavar since Tuesday evening, and Dr. Priyanka initially gave inconsistent explanations about his whereabouts. Investigators said she appeared mentally distressed and gave incoherent statements.

A murder case has been filed at the Suburban Police Station. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing family members. Early findings suggest a possible domestic dispute, though the exact motive and sequence of events remain unclear. The autopsy report is expected to provide further details, and the investigation continues.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has responded to social media criticism labeling his marriages as examples of 'love jihad'. The controversy arose after his third marriage to Bengaluru resident Gauri Spratt, who is Christian. In an interview with Rediff, Aamir stated that none of his wives—Reena Dutta, Kiran Rao, and Gauri Spratt—converted to Islam, and all three marriages were conducted under civil law. He emphasized that his family represents interfaith harmony, citing examples of his sisters, daughter, and nephew’s interfaith marriages.

Aamir dismissed the allegations as baseless and absurd, asserting that his personal life has been misrepresented online. He also denied reports claiming he purchased a 100-crore-rupee flat in Mumbai’s Marina Apartments to build a family complex, clarifying that the building’s reconstruction was a collective decision by all residents, not his private project.

The actor’s remarks come amid renewed public scrutiny of his personal life following his recent marriage, which sparked widespread online debate and speculation.

A 40-year-old widow was brutally gang-raped and tortured during a violent home invasion in Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. According to police sources, a group of five to six assailants broke into her house in the Bori police station area, where she lived with her young daughter. The attackers looted silver ornaments and a mobile phone before two of them allegedly raped and severely assaulted the woman. She is currently hospitalized in Indore in critical condition.

Superintendent of Police Raghubansh Kumar Singh told PTI that preliminary investigations confirmed the woman was gang-raped and subjected to extreme physical abuse. Medical examinations also revealed serious injuries. Singh added that while the attackers appeared to have entered the house with the intent to rob, all possible motives are being investigated.

Police have launched a special search operation to identify and arrest the culprits. Investigators have recovered key evidence from the scene but have not disclosed details to protect the integrity of the investigation.

An under-construction church in Subhas village of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was attacked and vandalized by a group of people chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' on July 5. According to local Christians, the attackers broke crosses, doors, and pillars, and threatened Christian families. The incident was reported by BBC Bangla on July 13.

Residents said the attackers entered the church between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m., destroyed three crosses, and demanded lists of Christian families’ names and phone numbers. They also threatened to cut off water, electricity, and other services. Locals claimed the assailants identified themselves as members of the Hindu Jagaran Manch. The group’s organizational secretary, Tapas Barik, said he was unaware of any involvement but opposed religious conversions.

Police filed an FIR for property damage, trespassing, and issuing threats, and three people were reportedly detained though no arrests were confirmed. The Bengal Christian Service organization said such incidents are not isolated, citing multiple recent attacks on Christians in West Bengal, which have heightened fear and insecurity among the community.

India’s Supreme Court on Monday, July 13, 2026, suspended a Madras High Court directive that had imposed a statewide ban on the slaughter of cows and calves in Tamil Nadu, including during Eid al-Adha. The apex court stated that certain aspects of the High Court’s ruling required reconsideration. The decision came after the Tamil Nadu government, led by Thalapathy Vijay, filed a special leave petition challenging the earlier order issued on May 27.

The state government argued that existing national laws already regulate animal slaughter under specific conditions and locations, and that a blanket judicial ban conflicted with these provisions. The Madras High Court’s earlier order, based on a 1976 government directive, aimed to boost milk production and strengthen the rural economy. The bench had also cited Article 48 of the Constitution, emphasizing the duty of states to prevent the slaughter of milch animals.

Several religious and social groups opposed the High Court’s ban, arguing that restricting slaughter only to licensed abattoirs during major festivals like Eid was impractical due to limited capacity. The Supreme Court’s suspension now allows time for further legal review of the issue.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sharply criticized India’s central government for failing to restore full statehood to the region, even two years after the national elections. Speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Sunday, Abdullah questioned the Modi government’s repeated delays and shifting explanations. Expressing frustration, he rhetorically asked whether the demand for statehood should now be taken to U.S. President Donald Trump and whether a protest should be staged outside the White House.

Abdullah announced that his party would hold demonstrations in the national capital until the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government clarifies its position on the issue. He said protests would begin in New Delhi on the first day of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled for July 20.

Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was revoked, splitting the region into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The central government had promised to restore statehood at an appropriate time, but the pledge remains unfulfilled.

At least nine workers were killed when a massive heap of waste collapsed at a waste-to-energy plant on the outskirts of Pune, in India’s western Maharashtra state. The incident occurred on Wednesday after heavy rainfall caused thousands of tons of waste from a nearby landfill to fall onto the plant’s administrative building. Operator Antony Waste said 23 workers were trapped inside the building when the collapse occurred.

Rescue teams recovered nine bodies after a prolonged operation, while 14 others were rescued alive. Continuous rain hampered the rescue efforts, and plant authorities reported severe difficulties in reaching those trapped under the debris. The plant’s operations have been temporarily suspended pending structural and safety assessments.

The report notes that such accidents are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September, as prolonged rainfall weakens older structures. Scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India, and meteorologists fear that a strong El Niño this year could further disrupt normal weather patterns.

India has decided not to rush into a trade agreement with the United States, opting instead to wait for more favorable terms. The interim deal expected during U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer’s visit to New Delhi last month did not materialize, as Washington failed to meet India’s key demands. These included tariff advantages over competitors like China and assurances that the U.S. would not impose new tariffs after signing. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal later confirmed that no deal would proceed without concrete benefits.

Analysts cited India’s growing export strength, reduced economic risks, and political stability as reasons behind its firm stance. India’s exports rose by about 15 percent in April–June, supported by high petroleum prices and recovery in Gulf markets. The country is also expanding trade ties with the UK and the EU. Goldman Sachs raised India’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.8 percent, noting improved inflation and current account conditions.

Officials indicated that New Delhi is watching potential legal and political hurdles to U.S. tariff plans. Domestic political gains and legal uncertainty in Washington have further encouraged India to hold its position.

Authorities at Dum Dum Airport in West Bengal have initiated the relocation of the 136-year-old Gauripur Jame Mosque, locally known as Bankra Mosque, as part of plans to expand the airport’s second runway and strengthen security. From Saturday, public entry and regular congregational prayers at the mosque have been suspended. Officials said the mosque’s current location has long obstructed runway expansion and limited safe aircraft operations.

The relocation plan, discussed for years, gained momentum after recent meetings among district administration, airport authorities, and the mosque management committee. Security teams inspected the site, and access through Gate 3 from Birati Mor has been closed, with additional guards deployed. The mosque committee expressed willingness to cooperate for development and safety but requested preservation of the mosque’s religious and historical significance.

Airport authorities have proposed building a larger, modern mosque outside the airport premises. Discussions between both sides continue, with officials stating that all future steps will be coordinated and publicly announced once relocation and construction plans are finalized.

Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Maulvi Ataullah Omari, expressed satisfaction after receiving a warm welcome during his first official visit to India. Speaking at a trade and industry meeting between India and Afghanistan in New Delhi, he said he was deeply impressed by the hospitality extended by Indian officials. Omari described the atmosphere as friendly and said it made him feel at home.

The Afghan minister emphasized the closeness between the two nations, remarking that Afghans and Indians share the same DNA. He extended gratitude to the Indian government and its officials for their cordial reception and support during his visit. His remarks highlighted the tone of goodwill and mutual respect that characterized the bilateral meeting.

The event underscored ongoing engagement between India and Afghanistan in trade and industrial cooperation, with Omari’s comments reflecting a desire for strengthened ties based on shared cultural and historical connections.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Bay of Bengal early Sunday morning, according to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services. Tremors were felt in several coastal areas of Visakhapatnam and nearby districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Gajuwaka, Mangalapalem, Sagar Nagar, Pedda Waltair, Arilova, MVP Colony, and Appughar. No casualties or damage have been reported so far.

The National Centre for Seismology stated that the quake occurred at 5:05:46 a.m. Indian time, with its epicenter located about 225 kilometers off the Kakinada coast at a depth of 10 kilometers. Mild shaking was also reported in parts of Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, and Konaseema districts.

Authorities have not issued any warnings, and there are no reports of significant impact following the tremor, which was relatively shallow and moderate in intensity.

A ten-year-old girl sleeping near a metro station in Delhi’s Mehrauli area was abducted by a taxi driver on June 22 and later found dead near the Gurugram-Faridabad border. Police have arrested the accused, who reportedly confessed to kidnapping, raping, and killing the child. The case has reignited concerns over the safety of homeless women and minors in India’s capital, where thousands live without shelter.

According to the group Shahri Adhikar Manch, around 300,000 people were homeless in Delhi in 2024, a large portion of them women. Many live on pavements, exposed to harassment, assault, and extreme weather. Social workers say sexual violence is rampant among street-dwelling women and girls, yet few cases are reported. Activists and residents describe nights spent half-awake out of fear, with parents keeping children close to prevent abductions.

Authorities say patrols have been increased and investigations are ongoing. Experts urge expanding shelter capacity, noting that Delhi has only 17 shelters for women out of about 200 total, far below the need.