India News Live: Tata Sons sets up memorial trust for Air India crash victims' families, pledges Rs 500 crore

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, in an interview with ANI, highlighted the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party’s electoral success and said that several sections of society that previously did not support the BJP have now started supporting due to Modi’s leadership. Read here

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a high-severity security alert for users of a popular home Wi-Fi router model from Digisol. The advisory, published on July 16, 2025, outlines multiple vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to hijack sessions, steal credentials, or gain unauthorised access to a user’s home or office network. These flaws could leave sensitive data exposed and compromise the overall security of connected devices. Read more

An FIR has been filed against Mohammed Shami's estranged wife Hasin Jahan and Arshi Jahan, who is Hasin Jahan's daughter from her first marriage, several media reports have said. The FIR was registered allegedly after Hasin Jahan beat a neighbour over a land dispute.

The incident happened in the Suri area of Birbhum in West Bengal. Reportedly, the neighbour named Guddu Bibi was trying to encroach a plot of land that belonged to Arshi. The matter escalated when construction began on the plot, eventually leading to Hasin Jahan physically attacking Bibi. Read here

In violence-hit Gopalganj of Bangladesh, over 160 people have been arrested and curfew extended on July 18 (Friday), according to The Telegraph. The home town of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman witnessed violence on July 16 (Wednesday) in which at least four people died.

The incident has sparked widespread concern, with visuals of the violence, including the Bangladesh Army's actions, circulating on social media. Read more

Jan Suraaj Founder Prashant Kishor on Friday suffered an injury in his ribs during a roadshow in Bihar Arrah.

The party leaders said that he suffered an injury while he was leaning out of his car to meet people during the roadshow.

Amid the Opposition raising heat on a host of issues, several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju, held a strategy session at the defence minister's residence in Delhi on July 18 (Thursday) ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session beginning from July 21.

A customary all-party meeting is set to be held on Sunday. However, the Group of Ministers are believed to have strategised over the government's stand over a host of matters amid the opposition raising heat on issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

The Special Court for People's Representatives has completed the trial in one of the four rape cases filed against former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna and on Friday reserved its verdict for July 30.

This particular case, considered crucial, stems from a complaint lodged by a domestic worker from Holenarasipura in Hassan district.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, during a recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, made it clear that there is “no space for a third party (read Pakistan)” in the evolving India-China bilateral relationship, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

The dialogue, held on July 14, marks an important diplomatic exchange aimed at stabilizing ties following the 2020 military standoff between the two countries in Eastern Ladakh.

Tata Sons announced it has formalized and completed the registration of a public charitable trust in Mumbai called ‘The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust’, dedicated to the victims of the Air India plane AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad.

In the incident, 241 of the 242 people aboard were killed, including 19 people on the ground.

In a statement, it said Tata Sons and Tata Trusts have pledged to contribute Rs. 500 crores (with both committing Rs 250 crores each) for the Trust’s philanthropic objects.

This will include ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore for those deceased, medical treatment of those who suffered serious injuries, and support for rebuilding the BJ Medical College Hostel infrastructure which was damaged in the accident.

The Trinamool Congress reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in Bengali briefly while addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Durgapur on July 18 (Friday).

The Trinamool Congress on Friday took a shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in Bengali at a rally in Durgapur amid its ongoing campaign against ‘Bengali-speaking migrants being targeted’ in other states.

“PM @narendramodi, it's great that you started your speech in Bengali. Should we be worried you'll be sent to detention too?” TMC wrote after PM Modi’s speech in Durgapur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government cannot protect the lives of the people of West Bengal.

PM Modi was referring to the 2024 RG Kar Medical rape and murder and the recent Kolkata law college gang-rape cases.

“Atrocities against women in West Bengal give us pain, anger… The mistreatment of women by a party that preaches the values of Maa, Mati, and Manush deeply pains and angers me. It is disheartening to witness such actions occurring on the very land of Kadambini Ganguly, India's first female western-trained medical doctor,” said PM Modi.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son, Chaitanya Baghel was produced at the PMLA court by the Enforcement Directorate in Raipur on Friday.

He has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar addressed the 70th Raising Day celebrations of The Air Force School (TAFS).

He said, “It's wonderful to be back in the school where I pretty much did most of my education. Now, we are marking 70 years of TAPS. By a coincidence, I also happen to be 70 years. So, when I look at the school's history, I'm not entirely sure whether I came back after picking up my school certificate when I passed out. But I do want to say when I came back to the building, I knew exactly where my classrooms were. And it was really with a great deal of sentiment and an enormous sense of nostalgia that I stand here before you. Now, on these occasions, it's very common to talk about the lessons you learnt in school. Actually, to be honest, there's also a sense of lessons you wished you learnt but you didn't. In my case, I think for a person who spent so much time in a world of cultures and language, maybe I should have paid more attention to my Sanskrit classes. But nobody is perfect.”

PM Narendra Modi says, "... Over 3.5 crore women got bank accounts in Bihar... In the last 1.5 years, over 24,000 self-help groups have been helped in Bihar with Rs 1,000 crore... Till now, over 20 Lakhpati Didi are there in Bihar..."

During a public rally in Bihar's Motihari on Friday, PM Narendra Modi said, "Under PM Awas Yojna, we gave more houses to Bihar than the entire population of Norway, New Zealand and Singapore..."

India News Live: PM Modi greets crowd in Bhojpuri at public rally in Bihar's Motihari

PM Narendra Modi handed over keys of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin as a part of Griha Pravesh of 12,000 beneficiaries and released over Rs 160 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Amrit Bharat trains between Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) to New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari to Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal), Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) and Malda Town to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur in Bihar's Motihari on Friday.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says,"... Earlier the consumers used to pay a lot of money for the electricity bill... In 2018, we facilitated and eased this... We are giving free electricity to families of Bihar... 430 new projects worth over Rs 50,000 crores have been sanctioned and we are working on them... Announcements have been made for the establishment of the Makhana Board, inauguration of the Airport and financial aid for the Western Kosi River in the Budget of 2025 in February..."

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said, "Kanwar Yatra is ongoing. People from all social classes, from the working class to the upper class, are involved in this movement. There is a strong sense of unity, and no discrimination is evident... However, there is a media trial, and the Kanwar Yatra is being defamed. They (Kanwar Yatris) are even labelled as criminals and terrorists. This reflects a mentality that seeks to tarnish India's heritage in every way."

India News Live: PM Modi launches Rs 7,200 crore projects in Bihar's Motihari

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a public gathering in Motihari on Friday, marking a significant political and developmental moment in the state.

During the event, the Prime Minister interacted with Kumar and other NDA leaders as he laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation a series of development projects collectively worth over Rs 7,200 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Motihari, Bihar, on Friday in a vibrant show of strength and symbolism, riding in an open saffron-coloured vehicle decked with flowers. The crowd erupted in chants of “Modi! Modi!” as the Prime Minister waved and greeted supporters with folded hands.

The roadshow-style entry took place in East Champaran district, where Modi was flanked by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha—an unmistakable display of NDA unity ahead of the high-stakes Bihar assembly elections scheduled for later this year.

Amid continued heavy rainfall, authorities in Kodagu (Coorg) and Udupi districts of Karnataka have announced the closure of schools, colleges, and Anganwadis in affected areas. Rainfall was reported in Madikeri, Virajpet, and Somwarpet, while coastal Karnataka, including Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, remains on alert.

Meanwhile, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Telangana, predicting light to moderate rainfall over the next few days. IMD Hyderabad chief K Nagaratna said rainfall activity in Hyderabad is expected to intensify starting Thursday.

The IMD also forecasts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and South Interior Karnataka through July 22, with Rayalaseema, Telangana, and Lakshadweep also likely to see heavy showers in the coming days.

The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is making all possible efforts to secure the release of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen.

“We want this woman to come back safely,” the government told the bench, which was hearing a plea seeking urgent diplomatic intervention in the case.

The Supreme Court acknowledged the government’s efforts, noting that it is “taking good care of whatever is possible” given the sensitive international and legal complexities involved.

The petitioner informed the court that the process of seeking a pardon must come first, after which the issue of blood money—compensation to the victim's family under Yemeni law—can be addressed.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on August 14, as diplomatic efforts to save Nimisha Priya continue.

Five Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured on Friday morning after a speeding truck rammed into a car that was part of the pilgrimage convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, officials said.

The accident occurred around 6:13 AM near the Battal Ballian area when the truck broke through a security barricade and collided with a car carrying eight pilgrims en route to the Pahalgam base camp, according to a security official.

The CISF personnel posted at the barricade witnessed the truck jumping the divider after the crash and slamming into the wall of a nearby house. The car was part of the 16th batch of over 7,900 pilgrims who had departed from Jammu earlier in the day for the twin base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal.

Of the eight occupants in the car, five were injured and were immediately shifted to the hospital by CRPF personnel. All are reported to be in stable condition, while the remaining three sustained only minor injuries.

At least 12 people were injured after a portion of a chawl structure collapsed in the Bharat Nagar area of Bandra East, Mumbai, on Friday morning, following a suspected cylinder blast.

The incident occurred around 7:50 AM, according to Mumbai Police. An initial investigation suggests that the blast caused parts of the building to suddenly give way.

Rescue and relief efforts are currently underway, with teams from the Mumbai Fire Department, Mumbai Police, and BMC deployed at the scene. Authorities said that 12 people have been pulled out from under the debris and shifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Officials suspect that more individuals may still be trapped, and search operations are ongoing. Further details are awaited.

Panic spread across the national capital on Friday after several schools in Delhi received bomb threats, prompting emergency evacuations and large-scale police deployment. This marks the fourth such incident this week, raising serious concerns over the safety of schoolchildren in the city.

According to officials, more than 20 schools were targeted in the latest round of threats. Schools affected include St. Thomas School in Dwarka, GD Goenka School in Dwarka, Dwarka International School, Guru Nanak Public Sovereign School and Abhinav Public School in Rohini, and Richmond School in Paschim Vihar, among others.

Authorities immediately launched search and evacuation operations, with teams from Delhi Police, bomb disposal squads, dog squads, and the fire department arriving at the schools to secure the premises.

Officials said the search, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was triggered by fresh evidence received by the agency. The house being searched in Bhilai is jointly occupied by Bhupesh Baghel and his son.

This is not the first time Chaitanya has come under the ED’s radar, similar raids were conducted against him in March this year.

The ED had earlier said Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be a “recipient” of the proceeds of crime in the alleged liquor scam, which it claimed caused a massive loss to the state exchequer.

The United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF, the group behind the Pahalgam terror attack, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

In a statement, the US State Department said TRF is a front and proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is responsible for multiple attacks on Indian security forces.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday morning raided the Bhilai residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel. The action, which began around 6 AM in Durg, is linked to an ongoing investigation into a liquor scam case allegedly involving Baghel’s son.

Reacting to the raid, Baghel posted on X (formerly Twitter), “ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raised today…”

More details awaited.