Parliament session, CJP’s rally plan key reasons for Wangchuk’s removal from protest site
The Delhi Police was instructed by the Union government to shift activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar due to the upcoming Monsoon session of the Parliament, which commences on Monday (July 20, 2026), government sources said. The police and other security agencies also apprehended a law and order situation in the national capital, metres away from the Parliament House, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a rally to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of the NEET examination paper leak.
England edge France 6-4 in chaotic World Cup bronze match
England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday (July 18, 2026) as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semi-final exits — France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina. Both coaches made multiple changes for the match in the oppressive heat of Miami, with a host of stars on the bench at the start.
Iran’s Supreme Leader says U.S. breaches show Trump’s signature is ‘worthless’
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement on Saturday (July 18, 2026) that repeated U.S. breaches of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Presidents of Iran and the United States had shown that President Donald Trump’s signature was “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.”
Left parties condemn Wangchuk’s removal, use of force; back ongoing protest
Left parties on Saturday (July 18, 2026) condemned the police action against activist Sonam Wangchuk and protesters at Jantar Mantar, and accused the Centre of suppressing democratic dissent instead of addressing the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, while extending support to the continuing student-led agitation.
Congress accuses Nirmala Sitharaman of repeating ‘false claims’
The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Saturday accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of repeating what it termed “false claims” made earlier in Parliament during her public meeting at Narsaraopet. Addressing a press conference at Andhra Ratna Bhavan, APCC working president and former MLA Mastan Vali, vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji and party leader Meesala Rajeshwara Rao alleged that the BJP-led NDA government had failed to tackle rising unemployment and had neither generated adequate employment nor promoted self-employment opportunities.
Supreme leader says Iran will teach U.S. ‘unforgettable lessons’
Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to teach the U.S. “unforgettable lessons” as renewed hostilities flared on Saturday (July 18, 2026), saying Washington’s attacks despite a framework deal to end the war showed Donald Trump’s signature to be worthless. “Now that the American enemy seeks to incite war and bear its most serious consequences, it should know that the dear Iranian nation and the axis of resistance have unforgettable lessons to offer it,” he said, in a statement carried by state TV, adding that U.S. violations of the deal “once again demonstrated to everyone the worthlessness of the American president’s signature”.
Cuban Ambassador calls for lifting of energy blockade imposed by the U.S.
The oil blockade that the United States imposed against Cuba has affected all sectors of the Cuban economy and has delivered a “collective punishment” against the Cuban population, said Cuban ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera on Saturday (July 18, 2026). In a written response to questions from The Hindu, Mr. Aguilera said the blockade has created a humanitarian crisis for Cuba, where frequent power cuts have led to cascading effects on all sectors of the economy, like agriculture and the medical sector, where more than a lakh critical surgeries have been postponed because of the collapsing health system.
Uddhav Thackeray calls for ‘BJP-free’ Ram movement
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called for a “BJP-Free” Ram movement at his “Ram Raksha Andolan” (Save Ram Movement), which he conducted along with his party workers on Saturday (July 18, 2026), criticising the BJP-led Union government over alleged financial misappropriation at the Ayodhya Ram temple and the police action on protesters at Jantar Mantar.
Iran says it is suspending commitments to interim deal with U.S. as the two exchange attacks
The United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday (July 18, 2026) as an Iranian negotiator said Tehran had suspended its commitments under the interim deal with the U.S. — snapping another fragile thread as the war shows no end in sight. The battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the essential waterway that previously carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil. The widening strikes threatened civilians and services to them, while the global economy again was on alert.
