The three leaders were inducted into the party in the presence of state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya.Former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Prakash Chik Baraik joined BJP in Kolkata on Thursday. The three leaders were inducted into the party in the presence of state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya welcomed the former MPs by presenting them with BJP flags during a programme attended by senior state leaders at the party’s Salt Lake office. Dev, Ray and Baraik had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the Trinamool Congress last month following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress party suffered a major setback after several MPs quit the party following a massive defeat in the last Assembly elections.
Modi in Australia: India and Australia have finalised administrative arrangements required to facilitate the export of Australian uranium to India, according to a joint statement issued by both countries on Thursday (Jul 9). In joint press conference with PM Modi, Albanese said, “We share a focus on deepening and diversifying the relationship between our countries so we can continue to grow from strength to strength. Today, we have done exactly that across the breadth of our relationship.”
Bengaluru Metro Green Line faces delays due to technical issue: Bengaluru Metro’s Green Line is experiencing delays on Wednesday morning, with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited saying its technical team is attending to the issue on priority and urging commuters to plan their journeys accordingly. Separately, a landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad has killed three people and left five others missing, with a couple who narrowly escaped describing a massive wave of mud chasing them as rescue and search operations continue at the site.
Indian central agencies have shared a verified list of associates of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar — along with details of their possible hideouts — with US officials in recent meetings, as part of a coordinated cross-border effort. Operation Hardball has been tightening the net around Bishnoi’s network through international cooperation involving the FBI and Canadian agencies.
Iran has vowed a ‘crushing’ response after US strikes in Golestan, even as both sides continue to nominally maintain diplomatic contact. The escalation has direct implications for oil prices and India’s energy security, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining the world’s most consequential — and most contested — waterway.
Idol-makers in Maharashtra’s Ganesh Chaturthi hub have lost crores in stock to monsoon flooding, with workshops inundated in less than half an hour — a blow that has come at the worst possible time, weeks before the festival season begins.
Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the Trinamool Congress last month following the party's defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.
BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the experience of the three former parliamentarians would further strengthen the party in the state.
Former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik joined the BJP in Kolkata on Thursday.
The three leaders were inducted into the party in the presence of state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya welcomed the former MPs by presenting them with BJP flags during a programme attended by senior state leaders at the party's Salt Lake office.
Divya A in New Delhi reports that during the recent India-Australia summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finalised a mutual agreement to exchange cultural heritage and remains, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. Australia will voluntarily return three 11th-century cultural artifacts—a Nandi sculpture, a Bhadrakali trident, and a Karthikeya statue—which were previously trafficked from temples in Tamil Nadu, while India has committed to repatriating the remains of Australian First Nations ancestors held by the Government Museum of Chennai since 1935. This initiative, welcomed by both leaders, is intended to deepen mutual understanding, promote healing and reconciliation for First Nations people, and demonstrate a shared commitment to ethical collection management.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says in Australia, "Ahmedabad, where the world's largest cricket ground is, and Melbourne, where the iconic stadium is, we have been together at both places.
We all have seen, Prime Minister Albanese ji, when he speaks, he captivates the hearts and minds of Indians.
You created a sensation in Sydney too, and here you have captivated everyone as well."
Vallabh Ozarkar in Mumbai reports that the Maharashtra government has constituted a seven-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to draft rules and recommendations for the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation in the state.
The committee will study the legal, administrative and social aspects of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Maharashtra and submit its report to the state government. The government aims to introduce the proposed legislation during the Winter Session of the state legislature in Nagpur after receiving the panel's recommendations.
The committee comprises former members of the judiciary and experts from various fields. Apart from Justice Ranjana Desai, the members include former Bombay High Court judge Justice R.C. Chavan, former High Court judge Justice S.G. Mehare, former Chief Secretary D.K. Jain, former Advocate General Birendra Saraf, social activist and Padma Shri awardee Ramesh Patange, and education expert Dr. Suvarna Rawal.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar announced the formation of the committee in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, while Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement in the assembly.
Raakhi Jagga from Ludhiana reports that former Punjab Police Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh, who was convicted for his role in the 1995 abduction and murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has returned to public focus following the controversy surrounding the recent film Satluj. Currently out on interim bail since May 2023, Jaspal Singh is now subject to a routine address verification initiated by the Nabha Open Air Jail authorities via the Hoshiarpur Police. While this administrative check has drawn attention amid the renewed political and public discourse sparked by the film, police officials have clarified that it is a standard procedural measure and not an indication that the convict is absconding.
Pune city police have arrested four individuals, including a minor, for a June 22 firing at a steel businessman's godown in Fursungi, which followed extortion demands of Rs 50 crores made via WhatsApp by an aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The investigation, spanning several states including Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, led to the apprehension of Pavan Prakashram Barad, Ravikumar Rajendrakumar Jangda, Satyaprakash Kaluram Shilora, and the minor, with police seizing several country-made pistols and cartridges. Authorities identified Shilora as providing inside information, while the minor is suspected of links to the gang and weapon supply. The police are currently probing these suspects' potential involvement in other local extortion cases involving pharmacy and garment businesses.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, in an exclusive conversation with The Indian Express, said that while there may be a marginal impact on mileage due to ethanol's lower calorific value, reports of vehicular damage are "overblown" and part of a "false narrative". He noted that the government has instructed manufacturers to replace specific parts in older vehicles during routine servicing to ensure compatibility and emphasised that flex-fuel technology is the way forward. Furthermore, Gadkari advocated for reducing India's reliance on fossil fuel imports by adopting indigenous alternatives—such as methanol, iso-butanol, and CNG—across various sectors, including public transport, maritime, and construction, to achieve significant cost savings and lower pollution levels.
The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it may refer to a larger bench the legal question of whether the mere mention of a wrong statutory section in an arrest memo, specifically a typographical error, was sufficient to invalidate an arrest and grant bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi in the murder case of her husband.
"After hearing, Supreme Court has sought document pertaining to 'memorandum of arrest', and has listed the matter for further hearing on July 14", said Advocate Abhay Singh, counsel for accused Sonam Raghuvanshi.
"The court was of the opinion that there are contrary views in the subject matter. Therefore, the court wanted to refer it to larger bench, there is no contrary judgment, the law is very clear that it has to be communicated, it is mandatory and it has to be in writing," he further said.
Delhi government renamed Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation as Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam (IVPN). Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired IVPN meeting where redevelopment of Chandni Chowk and Old Delhi heritage areas were prioritised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for taking the India-Australia partnership to new heights during the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne.
Speaking during the Australia-India Annual Leader's Summit, PM Modi, said, "We should now move forward with even greater momentum, because there is tremendous potential for us to achieve new heights. We should not let this opportunity slip away. I was just telling the Governor even a small child in an Indian village knows Melbourne because of cricket. Cricket has made Melbourne so familiar to Indians that many feel as though it is a part of India itself. There are many sectors where our partnership can grow trade, defence, space, and technology. As the 21st century is a technology-driven century, there is immense scope for India and Australia to work together in these areas. Another encouraging aspect is that our younger generations are growing and progressing together, creating even greater opportunities for collaboration in the years ahead."
VIDEO | Melbourne, Australia: Speaking during the Australia-India Annual Leader's Summit, PM Modi, says, "We should now move forward with even greater momentum, because there is tremendous potential for us to achieve new heights. We should not let this opportunity slip away. I… pic.twitter.com/xetrjIG7iy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2026
Floodwaters in Maharashtra's Raigad district washed LPG cylinders from a bottling plant into the Patalganga River, prompting the administration to issue an advisory.
#watch | Raigad, Maharashtra: Floodwaters have washed away LPG cylinders from a bottling plant into the Patalganga River; the administration has issued an advisory.
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026
(Source: Police Inspector, Khalapur) pic.twitter.com/1PPGqgbiR6
Jalandhar Police arrested Jodh Singh, the prime accused in the Vardaan Hospital firing case, after an operation in which he was injured during police self-defence firing. According to news agency ANI, police said Singh was allegedly being handled by Canada-based gangster Lucky Patial.
#watch | Punjab | Jalandhar Police nab Jodh Singh, the prime accused in a recent firing incident at Vardaan Hospital.
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026
Singh was wounded during self-defence firing by Police. According to the Police, he was being handled by Lucky Patial, a gangster based in Canada. pic.twitter.com/ewvKfcD2OR
Shubhajit Roy from Delhi reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed their nations' deep Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasising shared values as vibrant democracies and ocean powers at the third annual summit in Melbourne. The leaders agreed to accelerate progress on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty while launching new initiatives in defense innovation, critical minerals, and cyber resilience, including the AI-PACTS framework. Furthermore, significant agreements were reached on nuclear energy to secure uranium supplies and expanding educational collaboration through Australian university campuses in India, alongside shared commitments to regional stability, the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific, and joint efforts against terrorism. Reflecting on their strong people-to-people and sporting ties, the Prime Ministers highlighted the long-term potential of their collaborative future, aiming to strengthen prosperity and security for both countries.
Mahender Singh Manral from Delhi reports that India and Myanmar agreed to strengthen security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and operational coordination to combat cross-border threats, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and cybercrime during the 23rd National Level Meeting held in Delhi on July 7-8, 2026. Led by MHA Secretary Govind Mohan and Major General Min Thu, both delegations reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and stability along the border, with Myanmar assuring that its territory will not be used against India’s security interests. The discussions also emphasized the significance of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, aligning with India's Neighbourhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR policies.
Heavy rainfall in Delhi led to a tree collapse on Raja Dhir Singh Marg in East of Kailash, disrupting traffic. Resident Karan Agarwal told news agency ANI, “The incident occurred near East of Kailash on Raja Dhir Singh Marg. The tree fell around 2:30 AM or 3:00 AM, and the area has not been cleared yet. Trees are falling here due to various issues, such as concrete paving and encroachment. At least two or three other trees have fallen on this road, and a commercial vehicle was crushed under this one today. Because of this, all the school buses had to take long detours this morning, causing significant inconvenience to the children trying to get to school.”
#watch | Delhi: A tree fell near Raja Dhir Singh Marg in East of Kailash due to heavy rainfall.
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026
Resident Karan Agarwal says, “The incident occurred near East of Kailash on Raja Dhir Singh Marg. The tree fell around 2:30 AM or 3:00 AM, and the area has not been cleared yet. Trees… pic.twitter.com/MeHPOyDJIX
Traffic movement on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was severely affected after heavy rainfall caused waterlogging across parts of the national capital. The inundation led to long queues of vehicles and significant delays for commuters.
Mahender Singh Manral reports from Delhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently briefed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on significant cybercrime mitigation efforts, highlighting the prevention of over Rs 25,000 crore in fraud and the rollout of an E-Zero FIR initiative across several states to streamline financial cybercrime reporting. During the meeting, officials detailed the government's progress in onboarding 1,596 banks to the national reporting portal, blocking over 2.75 lakh malicious URLs and apps under the IT Act, and developing a new money restoration module for victims. While acknowledging that Rs 64,447 crore in losses were reported between 2021 and May 2026, the MHA outlined future strategies to combat these threats, including the creation of state-level cyber coordination centres and the specialised training of police personnel as 'Cyber Commandos'.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia and India will commission a temporary space tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to support India's Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme. The two leaders also welcomed a joint statement on energy security aimed at strengthening resilient supply chains and accelerating the clean energy transition.
"As we expand our cooperation in science and technology, we have agreed to commission a temporary space tracking terminal on Cocos (Keeling) Islands which will support India's landmark Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Program. Of course, no country has been immune to the economic impacts from the conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Modi and I have welcomed a joint statement on energy security. This statement recognises the importance of supply chain resilience and accelerating the energy transition, including promoting the uptake of renewable energy resources and the electrification of our energy systems. For too long we have worked with connected supply chains but disconnected approaches. This action is a step to bridge that divide," Albanese said.
#watch | Melbourne | In joint press conference with PM Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese says, "Six years into our comprehensive strategic partnership, Australia's relationship with India has never been more consequential than it is today.Our partnership has never been… pic.twitter.com/c3EbbAxYSg
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026
India and Australia have finalised administrative arrangements required to facilitate the export of Australian uranium to India, according to a joint statement issued by both countries on Thursday (Jul 9). In a joint press conference with PM Modi, Albanese said, "We share a focus on deepening and diversifying the relationship between our countries so we can continue to grow from strength to strength. Today, we have done exactly that across the breadth of our relationship. With new landmark agreements, we are expanding our relationship across defence and security, education, science and technology, and energy security and critical minerals. Prime Minister Modi and I have released a joint declaration on defence and security cooperation to deepen our practical partnership."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation in Melbourne, saying Albanese's personal commitment has elevated India-Australia relations to new heights and broader cooperation.
#watch | Melbourne | Addressing the joint press meet with Australian PM Anthony Albanese, PM Modi says, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to my friend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the splendid welcome accorded to me and my delegation in Melbourne. His personal efforts and… pic.twitter.com/pGEXeJghoo
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026
Kiran Parashar from Bengaluru reports the Karnataka Lokayukta has conducted simultaneous search operations across more than 53 locations in the state, uncovering disproportionate assets valued at over Rs 49.8 crore linked to 10 government officers. This major anti-corruption drive, which recovered significant immovable and movable properties, marks the second large-scale operation since D.K. Shivakumar assumed office as Chief Minister. Additionally, these efforts coincide with separate recent investigations into the alleged illegal allotment of 13 acres of government land at Hunasamaranahalli, involving three other officials, including the Special Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru district.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has moved the Karnataka High Court to challenge the 10-year prison sentence awarded to Mohammed Shariq, the primary accused in the November 19, 2022, Mangaluru cooker blast case, seeking an enhancement to life imprisonment instead. Shariq, a member of an Islamic State-linked module from Shivamogga, was convicted on terrorism, conspiracy, and explosives-related charges in April 2026 after pleading guilty. In addition to the appeal for a harsher sentence, the NIA has also requested compensation for the autorickshaw driver who was injured during the incident, which occurred when an improvised explosive device accidentally detonated on Shariq’s lap while he was traveling to plant it in a public place.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said that Bengaluru Metro Green Line services were experiencing delays due to a technical issue. The metro operator said its technical team is working to restore normal operations and advised commuters to plan their journeys accordingly.
"Our technical team is attending to the issue on priority, and efforts are underway to restore normal services at the earliest. We regret the inconvenience caused and request commuters to kindly plan their journey accordingly. We appreciate your patience and cooperation," BMRCL said.
