Top news of the day: July 11, 2025
The National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, on Friday (July 11, 2025), said in Chennai that India hit nine terrorist targets criss-crossing Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. 'We missed none,' he said at the 62nd convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology — Madras. 'We hit nowhere else except that. It was precise to the point where we knew who was where. The entire operation started at five minutes past one and it was over at 28 minutes past one — 23 minutes,' he elaborated, amid loud applause from the audience. Thereafter, the foreign press had carried several reports saying Pakistan did this or that. 'You show me any photograph, any imagery – you know, these days these imageries are from satellites all over the world – which show any Indian damage being done, even a glass pane having been broken,' he remarked.
Structural failure caused Vadodara bridge collapse, says Gujarat Minister
A preliminary investigation into the collapse of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara district has identified structural failure — specifically the crushing of pedestals and articulation joints — as the primary cause, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel said on Friday (July 11, 2025). During his visit to the accident site, Mr. Patel said that the high-level probe was ordered by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and is being conducted by the Roads and Buildings Department. 'As per the committee's initial findings, the collapse occurred due to pedestal and articulation crushing,' he said. The Minister further informed that the committee will submit a comprehensive report within 30 days, covering both technical and administrative aspects of the tragedy. 'The report will be handed over to the Chief Minister, based on which further decisions will be taken,' Mr. Patel said.
Gurugram tennis player murder: Court sends accused father Deepak to police custody for a day
A court in Gurugram on Friday (July 11, 2025) sent Deepak Yadav, arrested for killing his daughter and tennis player Radhika Yadav, to police custody for a day. 'We have to recover the ammunition of his licensed revolver (used in the crime). We have to verify how much ammunition he had procured,' he said. Asked from where the recovery has to be made, the official said, 'The accused owns land in Kasam village near Rewari. We have to get the ammunition from there.
India's population at crossroads, not a crisis: Population Foundation of India
An NGO, Population Foundation of India, has urged a shift away from fear-driven debates on overpopulation or fertility decline, calling instead for policies that centre on dignity, rights, and opportunities, particularly for women, youth, and the elderly. The NGO, in a statement on World Population Day 2025 on Friday (July 11, 2025), asserted that India's population challenges are not about numbers but about justice, equity, and investment in human potential. 'India's population story is not a crisis; it's a crossroads,' Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, said during a function marking the occasion.
Non-cognisable case being filed against Shiv Sena MLA in canteen worker assault incident: Police
A non-cognisable offence is being filed against Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad in the MLA hostel canteen worker assault case, Mumbai Police said on Friday (July 11, 2025). "The process to file the offence is underway at the Marine Drive police station," a police official told PTI. After the incident, which happened on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) night, sparked a furore, the two-time Buldhana MLA refused to express regret and said he would repeat his actions if needed. In a viral video of the assault, Mr. Gaikwad was seen punching and slapping the canteen worker, claiming that he was served stale food.
RSS chief's remarks on stepping aside at 75 stir political row
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks suggesting that leaders should step aside at the age of 75 has sparked a political controversy, with Congress and other Opposition leaders interpreting it as a veiled message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September this year. Speaking at the launch of a book on senior RSS leader Moropant Pingle in Nagpur on July 9, Mr. Bhagwat recalled an instance from RSS meeting held in Vrindavan, where Mr. Pingle was felicitated on attaining the age of 75. Quoting Mr. Pingle from the event, Mr. Bhagwat said, 'People started laughing at me when I stand... Because I feel that people are not taking me seriously... you gave this shawl to me at the age of 75, but I know its meaning. When a shawl is draped at the age of 75, it means that you have grown old; just move aside and let us do it.'
Elon Musk's Tesla to open first India store in Mumbai on July 15
Tesla will open its first India showroom in Mumbai next week, having imported $1 million worth of cars and merchandise, marking its entry into the world's third-largest car market despite CEO Elon Musk's complaints about high import tariffs. In an invitation to media, the carmaker said the July 15 event was the 'launch of Tesla in India through the opening of the Tesla experience centre at Bandra Kurla Complex', located in the city's leading commercial business district. Grappling with excess manufacturing capacity at its other factories and falling sales, Tesla has pivoted to selling imported cars in India on which it will need to pay about 70% import duty and other levies.
Ironical that an atheist nation like China wants to interfere in Dalai Lama succession: BJP MP
Parliamentarians across party lines are petitioning the Union government to accord the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, to the Dalai Lama, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, Sujeet Kumar had harsh words for the Chinese government's statement that it was in that government's remit to regulate the choice of successor by the Dalai Lama. 'It is highly ironical that an atheist nation would express such strong opinions on what is purely a religious issue,' he said. He added that the procedure for the recognition of the successor to the Dalai Lama was 'many centuries old' and the Indian government's stance on not running interference was a correct one and not different from Mr. Rijiju's statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has 'positive' meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday (July 11, 2025) he had a 'positive' meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of ASEAN talks in Malaysia, where Washington's tariffs are in sharp focus. Mr. Rubio and Mr. Wang's first face-to-face meeting since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office came as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan — and both powers vie for greater influence in the region. 'I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting,' Mr. Rubio told reporters after the hour-long talks but stressed, 'it was not a negotiation'.
South Korea, Japan, U.S. hold aerial drill in demonstration of strength against North Korea
Top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese military officers urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security, as the three nations flew advanced warplanes for a joint exercise in a show of force against North Korea. The development came on Friday (July 11, 2025) as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was to travel to North Korea amid booming military and other cooperation between the two countries that have raised concerns among their neighbours. 'They urged the DPRK to immediately cease all unlawful activities to destabilise the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific and beyond, and pledged to continue working together to respond to the DPRK's threats,' the three top military officers said in a joint statement. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's formal name.
Trump puts 35% tariff on Canada from August 1, eyes 15%-20% tariffs for others
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a letter that he will raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%, deepening a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance. The letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is an aggressive increase to the top 25% tariff rates that Mr. Trump first imposed in March after months of threats. Mr. Trump's tariffs were allegedly in an effort to get Canada to crack down on fentanyl smuggling despite the relatively modest trafficking in the drug from that country. Mr. Trump has also expressed frustration with a trade deficit with Canada that largely reflects oil purchases by America.
EU says it will 'assess' France-U.K. migrant deal
The European Commission said Friday (July 11, 2025) it would examine a deal between Paris and London on returning migrants arriving in the U.K., as other EU countries fret over the impact. Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said the rising number of migrants smuggled across the English Channel was 'alarming' and a 'robust response' was required to deter the dangerous journeys. 'On the specific envisaged cooperation between France and the United Kingdom, the commission will assess the concrete modalities of this cooperation,' Mr. Lammert told reporters in Brussels.
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'Trump is speaking nonsense against India & Modi is silently listening': Congress slams govt over US' latest tariff threat
The Congress on Monday criticised the Modi government following U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff announcement against India. Calling out Modi's silence, the party questioned why he was 'afraid of Trump.' Jairam Ramesh mocked past BJP slogans and diplomacy, saying the U.S. actions expose the failure of an image-driven foreign policy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump's latest threat Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India-US Trade ties Congress on Monday criticised the central government over U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of slapping more tariffs on India. "Trump is speaking nonsense against India every day, and Narendra Modi is silently listening to everything," said the grand old party in a post on social media platform X."Why is Modi so afraid of Trump?," the party asked in its Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh echoing a similar sentiment, said, "So much for Howdy Modi. So much for Namaste Trump. So much for Ab ki Baar Trump Sarkar. So much for BJP MPs hailing Narendra Modi as India's trumpcard.""Despite all the hugs, all the handshakes, all the high-decibel bromance — 'My friend Dolaand' has delivered yet another jolt. What has come of the much-vaunted front-row seat for our EAM at his inauguration? Or for the PM being one of the first to land at the White House?""Tariffs are being slapped. Negotiations are going nowhere. But Asim Munir, the man whose invective was the backdrop for the Pahalgam terror attacks, gets lunch at the White House."This is what happens when foreign policy becomes about image-building, not national interest, he a fresh trade threat against India, Trump on Monday said he will "substantially" raise US tariffs on New Delhi, accusing it of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it for big week, the Trump administration slapped a 25 per cent duty on all Indian goods. The US president also announced a penalty for buying "vast majority" of Russian military equipment and crude oil, but no mention was made in the notification."India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," Trump said in a social media post on Monday."They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he its reaction, India said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the tariffs are being import of crude oil from Russia has risen from 0.2 per cent of total purchases before the Russia-Ukraine war to 35-40 per cent. New Delhi is the largest buyer of Russian oil after August 1, Trump signed an Executive Order titled 'Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates', raising tariffs for over five dozen countries, including a steep 25 per cent for executive order, however, did not mention the 'penalty' that Trump had said India will have to pay because of its purchases of Russian military equipment and House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, in an interview to Fox News Sunday, stated that President Trump has said very clearly that 'it is not acceptable for India to continue financing" the Ukraine war by purchasing oil from week, Trump mounted a sharp attack on India and Russia for their close ties and said the two countries can take their "dead economies down together", a remark which prompted New Delhi to say that India is the world's fastest-growing major that the US has a massive trade deficit with India, Trump had said that while 'India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any country."Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — All things not good!' Trump had announcements are being seen as a pressure tactic to get New Delhi to agree to demands made by the US in the proposed trade agreement with India. The US is seeking duty concessions for its agriculture, dairy and genetically modified (GM) foods. India is against giving any concessions in these sectors as they involve the livelihood of millions of small and marginalised Delhi has said that it is studying the implications of these tariffs and is still hopeful of concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade far five rounds of negotiations have been held between the two countries. For the next round of talks, the US team is coming to India on August 25. The talks will go on till August historically bought most of its oil from the Middle East, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia. However, things changed when Russia invaded Ukraine in February the world's third-largest crude importer after China and the US, began snapping up Russian oil that was available at a discount after some in the West shunned it as a means to punish Moscow for its invasion of a market share of just 0.2 per cent in India's import basket before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia overtook Iraq and Saudi Arabia to become India's No.1 supplier, with a share as high as 40 per cent at one point of July, Russia supplied 36 per cent of all crude oil, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel, that India 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of USD 35.32 billion in goods in 2023-24. It was USD 41 billion in 2024-25 and USD 27.7 billion in 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and the US reached USD 186 billion. India exported USD 86.5 billion in goods while importing USD 45.3 services, India exported an estimated USD 28.7 billion and imported USD 25.5 billion, adding a USD 3.2 billion surplus. Altogether, India ran a total trade surplus of about USD 44.4 billion with the 2024, India's main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), vehicle and auto components (USD 2.8 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel (USD 2.7 billion).Imports included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal, coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion).
The Hindu
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Sheikh Hasina completes a year in exile in India as Bangladesh plans election in 2026
A year after then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka and arrived in India, she remains in regular contact with Awami League party leaders in Bangladesh and in exile around the world. Her exact whereabouts in the present and political future, however, remain a mystery, as New Delhi has discouraged her and her supporters from overt political activity. On July 23 this year, at least five Awami League ministers due to hold a press conference at Delhi's Press Club, put off their public appearance, ostensibly after India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) intervened. The Indian government has provided Ms. Hasina a well-guarded home in central Delhi. Her daughter Saima Wazed, who was the Regional Director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Region until she was asked to proceed on indefinite leave due to court cases in Bangladesh last month, also lives in Delhi. On all questions from journalists, the MEA has declined to give details. '[Ms. Hasina] had come here at a short notice for safety reasons, as she continues to be,' spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in October 2024, a statement he maintains. Ms. Hasina now faces a number of charges over corruption, human rights violations and even war crimes during her tenure, making her return to Dhaka unlikely at present. Meanwhile, after saying he would not stop the Awami League from standing for elections expected to be held in mid-February 2026, Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has banned the erstwhile ruling party and its students' wing, making it impossible for them to participate. Recorded messages In the past year, Ms. Hasina has sent out a number of recorded audio messages for her supporters, and, on one occasion, addressed a live 'rally' for supporters in Dhaka. The rally ended in extreme violence, as student groups now in power in the country attacked her family home and her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's memorial museum at Dhanmondi, burning most of the interiors down. 'Demolishing a building can only destroy a structure but couldn't erase the history,' Ms. Hasina said in her address on February 5. But since then, Ms. Hasina's political speeches have been more muted, as the Modi government began to increase its engagement with the Yunus administration, and after a demarche from Dhaka reportedly requested her to tone down activities. 'Comments attributed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been made in her individual capacity in which India has no role to play. Conflating this with the Government of India's position is not going to help add positivity to bilateral relations,' the MEA said in a statement a few days later. Even so, Ms. Hasina's stay in India will continue to be a sore point between Dhaka and Delhi, one year after her dramatic flight here. On August 5, 2024, as police in Dhaka failed to stop massive protests, led by student leaders onto the main roads leading to her home, Ganabhaban, Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman is believed to have told Ms. Hasina that there was no safe option left but to escape by helicopter to the airbase in Dhaka, after which she was escorted onto a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 Hercules flight. The flight landed that afternoon at the Hindon airbase on the outskirts of Delhi, for a stop that was meant to be temporary. Sources said Ms. Hasina had already applied to the United Kingdom for asylum, something the U.K. had in the past granted to other leaders from Bangladesh and Pakistan who had fled there. However, the same evening, after hours of delay, the U.K.'s newly elected Labour government headed by Prime Minster Keir Starmer — who was already on the back foot over major anti-immigrant violence — decided to turn down her request. Sore point After National Security Adviser Ajit Doval drove into Hindon airbase to discuss the matter, the C-130 was sent back to Dhaka, and Ms. Hasina was invited to stay in Delhi. The decision mirrored that of the Indira Gandhi government in 1975, that gave Ms. Hasina and her sister refuge after the brutal assassination of their father, mother and most of their family members. Ms. Hasina eventually returned to Dhaka in 1981, and continued her father's political struggle, eventually being elected to power in 1996, and four times again from 2009-2024. However, another return to her country, active politics, or power appear a distant dream at present.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
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Defence panel reviews women's role; Rajnath vows greater representation
The parliamentary consultative committee on defence, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was briefed on representation of women in the armed forces. Mr. Singh spoke on the government's commitment to provide maximum representation to women in the forces. As per the data from Ministry of Defence (MoD), 13.4% women constitute IAF (Indian Air force) workforce — highest among all three services — while they comprise 6.85% of Army's workforce and 6% of the Navy's. In 2024, there were a total of 1735 women in the Army, 1614 in the Air Force and 674 in the Navy. In 2005, the figure was 767 for the Army, 154 for the Navy and 574 for the Air Force. 12 branches in the Army are open to women officers including combat. In the Navy, all branches are open for women officers except submarines. All branches of the Air force are open for women officers. On being asked about women's representation in the armed forces, a senior MoD official said that they are opening more and more branches for women in the armed forces for all categories. Women are eligible for various roles, including technical and non-technical positions, and can join through different entry schemes. Most of the defence training institutes and academies have been opened for women. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, who led the Operation Sindoor briefing along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Air Force have become an inspiration for women aiming to join the armed forces. Another senior defence officer said that women in the armed forces are doing remarkably well and their number is only going to increase in future as the forces adopt a more gender neutral approach.
