On June 12, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to protest the deaths of three Indian sailors killed in a US strike in the Gulf of Oman on June 9. The sailors were aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Setebello, which Washington claimed violated sanctions on Iran-linked vessels. Rubio’s response was firm, offering no apology or assurance against recurrence. The incident has exposed deep cracks in the US-India relationship, even as both nations publicly maintain a façade of stability.

The Iran war and its aftermath have severely affected India’s economy and politics. Rising crude prices, inflation, and supply disruptions have weakened the rupee and reduced remittances, while foreign investors withdraw capital. Politically, Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces criticism for failing to protect Indian citizens and for overreliance on US ties. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s role in facilitating US-Iran talks has further undermined India’s regional standing.

Despite ongoing defense and technology cooperation, mutual trust has eroded. Washington’s protectionist policies and India’s strategic recalibration toward China signal a shifting balance. Analysts warn that unless mutual respect and parity are restored, the partnership’s foundation may not endure beyond current leadership cycles.

At least seven workers were killed in a rock quarry collapse on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka, early on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Police confirmed that all the victims were residents of Bihar who had been working at the quarry on a daily wage basis. Several others were injured and are receiving treatment at a local private hospital. The incident occurred in the Madapatna area of Bengaluru South Taluk when a large rock, about 40 feet high, suddenly broke off and fell on the workers.

Rescue teams, police, and local officials quickly reached the site and began operations using heavy machinery to clear debris and search for anyone possibly trapped. The area was cordoned off for safety. Witnesses said around 18 workers were present at the time, and some managed to escape.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether safety regulations were properly followed and if negligence contributed to the collapse. Officials stated that legal action will be taken if any violations are found.

India will send a high-level delegation to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Al Jazeera. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Pavitra Margerita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain will travel to Iran on Friday to represent India at the ceremony.

A statement from the ministry said the high-level representation underscores the long-standing civilizational ties and people-to-people connections between India and Iran. It also reflects the strong foundation of political and economic relations between the two countries.

Khamenei’s funeral and mourning ceremonies will begin on Saturday in Tehran and conclude on July 9 in Mashhad, his hometown, where he will be buried.

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court’s directive that imposed a complete ban on cow and calf slaughter across the state. The High Court had issued the order in May 2026, citing the need to boost milk production and strengthen the rural economy by enforcing a 1976 government order. The directive followed a public interest litigation filed by a Coimbatore resident seeking to stop public cow slaughter.

The High Court bench of Justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan had instructed the state’s Chief Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to implement the ban immediately. The court also observed that cow slaughter is not a mandatory religious practice and referred to Article 48 of the Indian Constitution, which advocates for cow protection.

In its Supreme Court petition, the Tamil Nadu government argued that the High Court’s order was self-contradictory, as it simultaneously allowed licensed slaughterhouses while imposing a total ban. The state also noted that the petitioner had not sought a statewide prohibition, and that the High Court had exceeded its jurisdiction.

Authorities in India’s Gujarat state demolished three mosques and several other structures in Kutch district without prior notice, according to reports published on July 1, 2026. The operation reportedly destroyed a total of 30 structures, including 11 religious sites, 17 commercial buildings, and two residential properties. Turkish media outlet TRT World released a video showing the demolition of the mosques.

Following the incident, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, the country’s largest Muslim social organization, expressed concern and sent a delegation to inspect the site. The delegation, led by Secretary General Maulana Hakimuddin Qasemi, alleged that the demolitions occurred without any warning and that authorities failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. Among the demolished sites was the historic Juna Kandla Mosque, registered as a waqf property since 1965 and known for its distinctive architecture.

Local residents and mosque committee members claimed they were prevented from approaching the site during the demolition and faced intimidation from law enforcement personnel.

Indian police have uncovered a large-scale theft from the donation boxes of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, revealing that the biggest incident occurred during the 2025 Kumbh Mela. A special investigation team has arrested eight suspects—Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lab Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav—who allegedly conspired together to steal temple donations.

Investigators found that two brothers-in-law, Lab Kush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra, took the largest share of the stolen money and used it to buy multiple properties. Police have traced more than half a dozen assets linked to them. The Ayodhya police are working with the Income Tax Department and plan to involve the Enforcement Directorate to examine financial transactions and the source of the funds. Some State Bank of India staff involved in donation counting are also under scrutiny.

Raids at the suspects’ homes led to the recovery of large sums of cash, including about 8.9 million rupees. Authorities continue to review bank records and property details to trace the full extent of the theft.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he called on Iran to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Modi said the discussion also covered recent developments in the Middle East.

In a statement, Modi welcomed progress in talks with the United States and expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts would bring lasting peace to the region. He reiterated the importance of maintaining free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for India and the wider world.

Experts cited in the report noted that India imports about 40 percent of its oil and nearly half of its gas through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the strategic importance of the waterway for the country’s energy security.

A student stabbed his teacher following an argument over a transfer certificate at a school in Maharashtra, India. CCTV footage showed the student discussing the matter with the teacher and principal in an office before suddenly becoming aggressive, threatening the teacher, and then stabbing him in the chest. The injured teacher was taken to a hospital for treatment, and panic spread inside the cabin as staff rushed to control the situation.

Police reported that the student had come to collect his transfer certificate when the argument began. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the attack. Investigators said the student had previous disputes with the same teacher and had ordered the knife used in the assault online. Police detained the student immediately after the incident and have begun questioning him.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances leading to the violent confrontation.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi sharply criticized the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh over alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a rally in Bijnor on Monday, Owaisi claimed that if a Muslim had been part of the Ram Temple Trust, that person would have been killed in an 'encounter' and their house demolished. He alleged that the accused in the current case were moving freely and that law enforcement had failed to take timely or strict action.

The controversy stems from allegations that large sums of money and valuable gifts donated by devotees to the Ram Temple Trust were misappropriated. The temple, built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque, has long been a symbol of religious and political tension in India. Reports indicate that police have begun an investigation and made several arrests, while the issue has sparked political debate ahead of upcoming state elections.

Owaisi’s remarks drew loud applause from supporters at the rally, reflecting the charged political and communal atmosphere surrounding the case.

At least eight people were killed and 22 others injured when a bus collided with a truck on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Dausa in Rajasthan early Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. local time when the bus, traveling from Rishikesh to Indore, caught fire along with the truck after the collision. Most of the injured were women and children. Fire service personnel arrived shortly after the crash to extinguish the flames and carry out rescue operations.

Officials said five passengers died from burns and two from head injuries, while eyewitnesses reported that many victims were asleep at the time of the crash. Video footage showed passengers screaming for help as both vehicles burned intensely. The cause of the accident has not yet been confirmed, though police suspect the bus driver may have fallen asleep or that excessive speed contributed to the collision.

Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and assess safety measures on the expressway.

Several devotees have expressed anger and disappointment following reports of large-scale financial irregularities in the donation funds of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India. Allegations surfaced that cash, gold, and silver items donated by worshippers were embezzled. The case has reached the Supreme Court, which directed Uttar Pradesh Police to form a three-member special team. Based on its report, Ayodhya Police arrested eight individuals linked to the alleged misappropriation.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has denied all allegations, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vowed strict action, saying no one would be spared if found guilty. The accused, including temple staff responsible for counting donations, face charges of theft, criminal breach of trust, fraud, and conspiracy. The scandal began after whistleblower Mahipal Singh, a former accounts supervisor, raised internal concerns and was later removed from his post.

The controversy has drawn political attention, with opposition leaders demanding a court-monitored investigation and temporary suspension of trust members. The temple, inaugurated in 2024, reportedly received donations worth about 33 billion rupees in 2024–25, making it one of India’s wealthiest religious sites.

A major corruption scandal has emerged surrounding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Allegations surfaced over the past month that large sums of donations and valuable gifts from devotees were misappropriated by individuals linked to the temple’s managing trust. Police have launched an investigation and arrested several people. The controversy has gained political traction ahead of upcoming state elections.

The temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about two and a half years ago, is managed by the independent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is not under direct government control. Some of its top officials are reportedly connected to the RSS, an ideological ally of the ruling BJP. The scandal intensified after former accounts supervisor Mahipal Singh publicly raised allegations of financial irregularities. Opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav claimed that crores of rupees in donations had disappeared, prompting the state government to form a three-member inquiry committee.

Under growing pressure, long-time general secretary Champat Rai and several trustees resigned. Devotees and some BJP supporters have demanded full accountability and transparency in the handling of temple funds and valuables.

A fire broke out in a high-rise building in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Monday. The blaze started in an apartment on the 22nd floor, reportedly triggered by an air conditioner explosion. According to initial reports, no casualties have been confirmed so far, but authorities fear there may be injuries or fatalities. Firefighting teams are currently working at the scene to bring the situation under control.

Police from Noida’s Sector 113 station said the fire originated in a flat within the Aranya Society complex. Fire service teams responded immediately after receiving the alert and began efforts to extinguish the flames. Officials are expected to release more detailed information once the fire is fully contained and the situation stabilizes.

Authorities have not yet provided an estimate of the damage or confirmed the number of residents affected, and further updates are awaited as rescue operations continue.

Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district have arrested three Muslim women—Shama Parvin, Shaista, and Fatima—on allegations of cooking beef at their home. The arrests followed a police raid after receiving a tip-off that a family was preparing beef. During the operation, four men reportedly fled, while the three women were detained by female officers. Authorities have sent the seized meat for forensic testing to confirm whether it is beef.

Despite the test results still pending, police have already filed a case against the three women. Officials said they are also searching for the women’s husbands and another neighbor, all of whom recently returned from Mumbai. Investigators are examining where the meat was sourced and whether similar purchases had occurred previously.

Uttar Pradesh enforces strict anti-cow slaughter laws, under which possession or consumption of beef can lead to criminal charges. Police frequently invoke these laws in similar cases across the state.

India has reopened tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens after nearly two years of suspension. The application process began on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. The visa service had been halted since August 5, 2024, following political changes in Bangladesh and related security concerns.

The announcement was made by India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, who stated that medical visas would also be processed quickly on humanitarian grounds. He added that the service would gradually expand to other IVAC centers to fully normalize visa operations.

Applicants must apply through India’s online visa portal by selecting “Regular Visa Application,” choosing Bangladesh as the country, and selecting the tourist visa category. A valid passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages is required, along with a digital photo and printed, signed application form.