Paramilitary and police clustered around Parliament. (Express Photo by Pragynesh; image enhanced using AI)The monsoon session of Parliament is set for a stormy start today, with Opposition MPs likely to corner the government on the alleged NEET paper leak and Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft cases. Ahead of the commencement of the session, Prime Minister Narendra is likely to address the media at Hans Dwar, Parliament House. The opening day of the monsoon session also sees a protest march led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament as they demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET scandal. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, has said he would break his fast only if the Centre accepts responsibility for issues such as paper leaks or agrees to discuss the same in the current session.Story continues below this ad Bills to be introduced in the Monsoon Session: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha on the first day of this Session. In 19 sittings across 25 days till August 13, the monsoon session of Parliament is also slated to see the introduction of several other bills such as the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 (replacing the ordinance increasing the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength from 33 to 37 judges), the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025. Live Updates© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd Tags: Cockroach Janta Party India Parliament Sonam Wangchuk
Rajouri: Vehicles are washed away after flash floods caused by incessant overnight rainfall, in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (PTI Photo) At least four people were killed and several others were reported missing after heavy rain, flash floods and landslides on Sunday morning battered the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had gone to New Delhi to sit on dharna at Jantar Mantar on Monday demanding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, said he would return to Jammu in view of the disaster.Expressing grief over the loss of lives in Poonch, he said the SDRF, police and all other agencies concerned were engaged in relief and rescue operations. Authorities identified one of the deceased as Nazia Kousar, 28, and said she died when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village in Surankote area. Her husband, Mohammad Hafiz, and three children, aged between two and six, were rescued from under the debris and rushed to the hospital. Casualties, damage A minor girl was reportedly swept away in a nullah in Marhote, while the body of an unidentified woman was recovered from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong bridge. In Lower Murrah, six members of a family were missing after a landslide hit their house. Rescue teams have reached the spot and launched operation to trace the victims. Meanwhile, in Rajouri town, flash floods triggered by heavy rain caused widespread damage to property and vehicles.Story continues below this ad A flood-damaged building stands along the bank of a swollen river after flash floods caused by incessant overnight rainfall, in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. (Handout via PTI Photo) Hundreds of families living in Bella Colony situated on the river bed were evacuated to safer places as flood waters entered their houses. A large number of mini buses were washed away as the parking area for Rajouri-Thanamadi route vehicles, which was set up by the administration on the river bank, was also hit by flash floods. Officials said that arrangements are being made for the stay of affected families at safer places. In view of the weather conditions, there was no Amarnath Yatra convoy from Jammu towards Kashmir, while the yatra to Shiv Khori Shri in Reasi district was suspended.Story continues below this ad The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board also temporarily suspended the yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Trikuta Hills. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said he spoke to senior officials and reviewed the situation. Rescue operations In Rajouri, rescue teams from the civil administration, police, Army, SDRF, and local volunteers are actively working on the ground, officials said. Affected families have already been moved to safety. All departments are on high alert, and they are prioritizing immediate relief and repair work, the LG said, urging residents to stay calm and follow official updates. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Rajouri and Poonch’s Haveli and Surankote areas. My heart goes out to the grieving families. The heavy rains have also damaged several homes across Rajouri and Poonch. I have directed officials to provide immediate aid to all affected families in both districts and ensured that emergency teams remain fully prepared for any situation,” he added. A vehicle wade through a waterlogged street during heavy rainfall, in Srinagar on Sunday. (ANI Photo)Alert in Jammu Meanwhile, authorities in the Jammu division have sounded the alert, following a sharp rise in the water level of the Chenab River and several other streams.Story continues below this ad Officials said that all the gates of the Salal Hydroelectric Project in Reasi remained open for the second consecutive day as part of the reservoir flushing process, leading to a significant increase in the discharge and flow of the Chenab River. In neighbouring Ramban district, police issued a public advisory after the openi
New DelhiUpdated: Jul 17, 2026 11:59 AM IST Sharjeel Imam is seeking bail on the grounds of delay in trial and prolonged incarceration for over six-and-a-half years. (Source: File) The Delhi High Court Friday sought the Delhi Police stand on student activist Sharjeel Imam’s fresh bail plea in the ‘larger conspiracy’ case linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. On July 4, a trial court had rejected Sharjeel’s second bail application in the case, underlining that it had “no option but to follow” the Supreme Court order dated January 5.Why did the SC deny them bail The SC, in its order on January 5, had refused bail to activist Umar Khalid and Sharjeel, while granting bail to five other co-accused in the case. It had held that all accused could not be treated equally in view of the “hierarchy of participation”. In this hierarchy, Umar and Sharjeel were classified to be on a “higher footing” compared to the five others who were granted bail. The SC’s January order had also observed that only on the completion of the examination of protected witnesses or upon expiry of one year from the date of said order, whichever is earlier, Sharjeel and Umar would be at liberty to renew their prayer for grant of bail. Charges have not yet been framed by the trial court. According to the prosecution, the trial court has heard arguments on framing of charge from the accused for “more than 200 days”. What Sharjeel argued today On Friday, Sharjeel, through his counsel, told the HC bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Vikas Mahajan that there have been subsequent developments since SC’s order.Story continues below this ad His counsel pointed to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in May, in which the court expressed “serious reservations” about various aspects of the January ruling that had denied him bail. The bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had made these observations while granting bail to a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ifthikar Andrabi, in custody since 2020. Andrabi faces charges under the UAPA in a narco-terror case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Sharjeel is also seeking bail on the grounds of delay in trial and prolonged incarceration for over six-and-a-half years. The trial has remained stagnant even seven months after the Supreme Court rejected his bail plea. Sharjeel’s counsel argued that “stagnation of trial too entitles him to bail.” The court issued notice to the Delhi Police, seeking their response by the next date of hearing on August 27. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court Professional Profile Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express. Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare). Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others. She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020. With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest le
Since June 1, 8,324 people have been relocated from low-lying areas, and another 3,711 rescued. The highest relocations (4,683) and rescues (3,416) took place in Surat. After nearly a week’s break, it rained in several parts of the state on Thursday. As many as 94 talukas in southern, northern, and Saurashtra districts reported rainfall. Till 8 pm, Paddhari in Rajkot received the highest 53 mm of rain, followed by Kamrej (46 mm) in Surat, Rapar (43 mm) in Kutch, Magrol (38 mm) and Bardoli (38 mm) in Surat, Dhandhuka (31 mm) in Ahmedabad, Netrang (29 mm) in Bharuch and Areth (24 mm) in Surat, weathermen said.Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the state might continue to experience light to moderate rain till July 22. “Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are very likely in all districts of North Gujarat, a few places in all South Gujarat districts and at isolated places in Saurashtra and Kutch till July 22,” the weather department said. “Due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coasts, along with a monsoon trough, an upper air cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from July 19, parts of Gujarat are likely to see rain,” it added. The IMD has also warned fishermen against venturing into the sea till July 20 on account of strong winds that were likely in North and South Gujarat coasts. “Squally winds of speeds up to 45 to 55 kmph is expected along and off Gujarat coast,” it said. Meanwhile, the state has received 25 per cent of its estimated rainfall of the season, with South Gujarat recording the highest 35.29 per cent. Since June 1, 8,324 people have been relocated from low-lying areas, and another 3,711 rescued. The highest relocations (4,683) and rescues (3,416) took place in Surat. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
France vs Morocco live: Follow the live score, Mbappe and Hakimi updates, lineups, goals, and match highlights.France vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Live Updates: Four years after they met in a mouthwatering World Cup semi-final in Qatar 2022, France and Morocco meet again tonight, this time in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Morocco, still carrying the hurt of that semi-final defeat, will be hoping to stop the all-conquering French side this time around. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe continues his pursuit of another Golden Boot after last World Cup’s top-scorer title. He’s currently on seven goals, one behind Lionel Messi.Story continues below this ad Here’s France’s starting XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue; Mbappe. And here’s how Morocco are lining up: Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Mazraoui, Salah Eddine, El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Ounahi, Talbi, Diaz, El Khannouss France are bidding to become only the third country to reach the final of three successive FIFA World Cups, joining Germany and Brazil. Morocco was the first African team to make it to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022. Scroll down to read real-time updates from the FIFA World Cup clash between France and Morocco Live Updates High-flying France show they can be fashionably ugly too France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring their third goal with Michael Olise (11) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) The gloriously multi-dimensional French know many ways to kill the pesky cat disturbing their sleep. They could baffle them with their touch; they could bemuse them with their wits; they could pin them down with their muscle; they could play the piano, they could wield the sledgehammer too, which makes them the deadliest proposition in the tournament. The 1-0 victory over Paraguay that ensured quarterfinals was a triumph of their brawn, their capacity to outmatch gnarled men who tried to wrestle them, sometimes literally, and at times harm them with a brand of cynicism that was strangely left unpunished. Wins as these don’t build an aura; but construct an irresistible energy that makes them feel unbreakable; that not even the extremest tactic could shake them. It was not France’s inability to score more goals that stood in a game that Thierry Henry commented, “football finally won” but their wherewithal and knowhow to nullify any strategies thrown at them. Kylian Mbappe, who scored the lone goal of the goal, after a penalty on Desire Doue, quipped, his eyes burning with a happy rage: “They thought we were going to turn up in tuxedos, but we know how to play rough football — and even at that, we were better than them!” The line before was a warning to the world: “We’ve shown that we’re not just a team that plays attacking football; if we have to put our hands in the s—, we will put our hands in the s—.” READ MORE FROM SANDIP G
New DelhiJul 9, 2026 10:54 PM IST Commuters tread through water-logged MB Road in New Delhi during monsoon showers on Thursday. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)Heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi on Thursday, bringing relief from the heat but triggering waterlogging, traffic snarls and tree falls across the city. The city also recorded its first ‘Good’ AQI day in nearly two years and 10 months on Thursday, with the daily average AQI dropping to 48 at 4 pm – the lowest recorded so far this year. The Capital had last witnessed a ‘Good’ AQI day on September 10, 2023, when the daily average AQI stood at 45, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board.While rainfall remained uneven across the Capital, Northeast Delhi emerged as the wettest pocket, with Tukmirpur recording around 160 mm of rain during the day, which is comparable to some of the highest single-day July rainfall events recorded at Safdarjung base station. Waterlogging and rain in Noida, on Thursday. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)Although Safdarjung did not witness an extreme rainfall event, the around 160 mm recorded at Tukmirpur is of the same order as the Capital’s most intense July downpours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) records show the highest 24-hour July rainfall at Safdarjung remains 266.2 mm (July 21, 1958), followed by 169.9 mm (July 25, 1982) and 153 mm (July 9, 2023). Rain also disrupted normal life in neighbouring Noida while in Ghaziabad, the collapse of a residential road sent a parked car and a scooter plunging into a pit. Authorities declared a holiday in government schools in Ghaziabad. IMD radar imagery showed highest rainfall activity over North Ghaziabad and Northeast Delhi. The second-highest rainfall belt extended across Central and East Delhi, while only moderate rain was recorded over Gurgaon and parts of Southwest Delhi. At Delhi’s base station, Safdarjung recorded 72.6 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Thursday, followed by another 32.4 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, taking the day’s cumulative rainfall to 105 mm.Story continues below this ad Rainfall remained distributed. For instance, Mayur Vihar in Delhi recorded 43 mm till 4 pm, followed by Ghaziabad’s Nehru Nagar station (31.5 mm) and Hindon (28.5 mm). The widespread cloud cover and rain caused daytime temperatures to plunge well below normal. Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius, 7.4 degrees below normal, while the minimum settled at 24.3 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees below normal. Lodi Road recorded an even lower maximum of 28 degrees Celsius. The weather office has forecast generally cloudy skies on Friday, with very light to light rain at many places and moderate rain at isolated locations accompanied by thunderstorms, mainly during the morning and forenoon. The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, with the minimum between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. In one of the most serious rain-related incidents, a section of a road in Vasundhara Sector 13 in Ghaziabad caved in beside an under-construction basement after incessant rain, sending a parked car and a scooter into the pit. No one was injured.Story continues below this ad In Noida, several areas, including Sectors 16, 33 and 12, witnessed severe waterlogging, with knee-deep water reported at places, making movement difficult for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Several motorcycles and scooters stalled after water entered their exhausts, forcing riders to push their vehicles through flooded stretches. Some commuters crossed inundated roads by walking along roadside dividers.
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