India News Live: Odisha Cong offers support to BJD if it brings no-confidence motion against BJP govt

The Odisha unit of the Congress on Wednesday offered to support the principal opposition party -- the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) -- if it brings a no-confidence motion against the state's BJP government in the wake of the recent rapes and other crimes against women.

The BJD said its legislature party would take a final decision in this regard before the upcoming assembly session.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will be conferred with this year's Lokmanya Tilak National Award, it was announced on Wednesday.

The award was instituted by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust in 1983.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received the award in 2023, the last year's recipient was writer and Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty.

The award ceremony will be held on August 1 to mark the 105th death anniversary of Tilak, an iconic leader of the freedom movement, trust president Dr Rohit Tilak said at a press conference here.

"If there indeed was one, why did he not resign? He should have resigned, if he is the incharge...He should have taken the accountability," asked National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's reported statement on security lapse over Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Rain News Live Updates: Water level in river in J&K's Poonch rises

India News Live: Minor boy, trapped in flooded river in Rajouri, rescued

• Indian Army, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and civilian divers, successfully rescued a minor boy who was trapped in the middle of a flooded river in Rajouri. The boy is reported to be safe and under medical observation.
• The incident occurred following heavy rainfall in the region, which led to the sudden rise in water levels of the Rajouri river. Eyewitnesses reported the boy had become stranded on a rock in the middle of the surging waters, with no escape route as the current intensified.

On resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of vice-president, AAP MP Malvinder Kang says, "The way the matter is shown is not the way it actually is. He had been in the House the entire day; he resigned abruptly... There is something suspenseful..."

On Bihar SIR, he says, "This is not for the first time, there are constant efforts to hamper democracy... Some special people are being removed from the voter list and BJP's favourites are being included - the truth should come out and institutions like Election Commission should work independently..."

On US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering peace between India and Pakistan, LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge says, "He is saying this again and again. But he (PM Modi) has not responded. If Trump has been saying this again and again, they (Indian govt) should respond..."

An Indian student, Charanpreet Singh, was brutally assaulted in Adelaide, Australia, sparking outrage over international student safety. The attack occurred on July 19 near Kintore Avenue as Singh and his wife parked their car to see city light displays. Reports say a group of five men ambushed the couple during the incident. (Read more)

The Supreme Court will constitute a special bench to hear Justice Yashwant Varma's petition challenging the in-house inquiry committee's report that indicted him in the cash-at-residence case. The matter was mentioned before the bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi. Senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, submitted the petition on behalf of Justice Varma, citing constitutional issues and requesting a speedy bench formation.

Several Kanwar pilgrims were killed and others injured after being struck by a speeding car on the Sheetla Mata highway in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, late Tuesday night. Three pilgrims died at the scene, while three seriously injured were hospitalized, with one succumbing during treatment. Gwalior's chief superintendent of police, Hina Khan, confirmed the incident and ongoing investigation.

Relentless monsoon rains have plunged Himachal Pradesh into a severe crisis, disrupting road networks, electricity, and essential services across several districts. As per the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 432 roads are still blocked, 534 power transformers are out of service, and 197 water supply schemes have been heavily affected.

An Indian man in his 40s was assaulted and stripped by a group in Dublin’s Tallaght suburb on July 19. He was falsely accused of misconduct, with police investigating the attack as a possible hate crime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a visit to the UK and Maldives from July 23 to 26. In the UK, he will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, with the signing of a free trade agreement expected. He will then visit the Maldives as the chief guest for its Independence Day celebrations on July 26. The trip aims to boost cooperation in trade, investment, defence, and security, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.