Govt school building collapses in Rajasthan, at least 7 children killed, and several trapped
At least 7 children died and 28 were injured after part of Piplod Government School building collapsed Friday in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district. The roof of the building, which was already in a dilapidated state, fell around 8:30 am when the students were on their way to the morning prayer. The rescue operation is underway.
Both Houses adjourned till Monday amid protests over the Bihar SIR controversy
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till Monday, marking the fifth consecutive day of disruptions due to protests by the Opposition over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Jagdambika Pal, who took the chair when the House met at 2 pm, chastised opposition MPs for repeatedly disrupting proceedings despite the government’s guarantee that it was eager to address questions on all matters.
Actor Kamal Haasan takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP
Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan made his debut in Parliament as he took oath as a Rajya Sabha Member. The veteran actor delivered his oath in Tamil, drawing loud desk thumps from fellow Parliamentarians. Haasan’s nomination comes after her extended support to the DMK-led alliance during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which had assured him a seat in the Upper House.
PM Modi gets grand welcome in Maldives, Prez Muizzu attends ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a guard of honour at Republic Square in Malé, Maldives. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also joined the ceremony. This marks the second leg of Modi’s 2-nation visit, where he will participate as the Guest of Honour at Maldives’ 60th Independence Day.
Police catch rape-murder case convict who escaped Kannur Central jail
Govindachamy, a life-term convict in the high-profile 2011 Soumya murder case, was apprehended by police a few hours after escaping the high-security Kannur Central Jail. He was, reportedly, hiding inside a well behind the National Sample Survey office at Talap in Kannur.
Army to inaugurate 3 projects to tell tales of soldiers’ valour on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
As part of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations, the Army is set to launch three major initiatives Saturday. One of the key projects is an online portal that will allow citizens to offer ‘e-shradhanjali’ to soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil War. The army will also inaugurate a QR code-based audio app that will enable users to hear accounts of battles from the 1999 war, and the Indus Viewpoint, which will allow people to reach the Line of Control (LoC) in the Batalik sector.
India forms dedicated panel for COP33
The Environment Ministry has set up a dedicated COP-33 cell to manage the professional and logistical needs for the 2028 United Nations Climate Summit (COP 33), which India is aiming to host. According to an official order dated 15 July, the cell will operate under the ministry’s Climate Change Division. According to the order, the cell will comprise 11 members along with consultants and support personnel. The team will be led by the joint secretary (Climate Change).
SC stays summons to Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar defamation case
The Supreme Court, Friday, put a hold on summons issued to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to his derogatory comments about Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra last year. The bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan issued a firm warning to Gandhi against making such remarks about freedom fighters who contributed to India’s independence.
‘No plan to remove socialist, secular from Constitution’, Govt tells Rajya Sabha
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the central government has no intention to reconsider or remove the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the Constitution. Answering a question by Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, Meghwal further said that the Supreme Court has already affirmed the validity of the 42nd Constitutional amendment in 1976, which inserted the words socialist and secular in the preamble.
DRDO successfully tests UAV-launched Precision Guided Missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh Friday. In a social media post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended his congratulations to DRDO and its industry collaborators. Singh said that the successful trial proves that the Indian industry is now ready to absorb and produce critical defence technologies.
Kasturi Walimbe is an alum of ThePrint School of Journalism, currently interning with ThePrint
(Edited by Sampurna Panigrahi)
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