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In a tragic accident in India, eleven people lost their lives on Sunday after a Bolero carrying 15 passengers plunged into a canal in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district. The passengers were returning from a temple visit when the vehicle lost control, according to Firstpost.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the grieving families and announced ₹5 lakh in compensation for each victim’s next of kin. He also directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called India’s ties with Russia a “point of irritation,” following President Trump’s threat of tariffs over Delhi’s continued oil and arms purchases from Moscow, BBC reported.

Rubio said India’s energy needs are valid but warned that buying Russian crude helps fund the Ukraine war.

Though Russian oil once made up 40 percent of India’s imports, recent reports suggest a decline due to reduced discounts.

India denies ordering a halt in purchases but says it can diversify if needed, according to BBC.

Trump’s remarks drew a sharp response from Russia’s Former President Dmitry Medvedev. India has not responded.

President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, along with an unspecified penalty, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons, according to BBC.

Experts warn the move could dent India’s economic growth. Icra cut its GDP forecast from 6.5 percent to 6.2 percent, while Nomura estimates a 0.2 percent hit. Markets reacted negatively to the news.

The tariffs come despite recent efforts by India to ease trade tensions. Analysts say the move could hurt India’s competitiveness and weaken its chances of attracting global manufacturing investment, BBC reported.

A court in India has acquitted all seven accused in a deadly bombing that struck a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra state nearly 17 years ago, BBC reported.

At least six people were killed and nearly a hundred injured in the blasts that hit Malegaon in September 2008. 

Among the seven acquitted are Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a former MP of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and a serviceman, Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit. 

According to legal portal Live Law, the judge noted that the prosecution failed to prove the motorbike that allegedly triggered the blasts belonged to Thakur, according to BBC.

India Champions have opted out of the World Championship of Legends semi-final against Pakistan, scheduled for Thursday, reaffirming their firm stance against participating in competitive matches against their arch-rivals, according to a report from PTI, The Times of India reported.

The decision comes despite India Champions securing their place in the semifinals after a dominant win over West Indies Champions, chasing down the target in just 13.2 overs in their final group-stage match on Tuesday.

Earlier in the tournament, the league-stage clash between India and Pakistan was officially called off following strong objections from Indian players and a key tournament sponsor. This was followed by public statements from former India cricketers, including Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, declaring they would not take part in the match, according to The Times of India.

U.S. President Donald Trump said a trade deal with India has yet to be finalised and warned of possible higher tariffs ahead of an August 1 deadline to seal an agreement, Reuters reported.

His comments followed a Reuters report that India was preparing to accept higher tariffs of 20%-25% on its exports to the U.S. in the absence of a trade deal, as it holds off on offering fresh concessions ahead of Friday's deadline.

"India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs, almost more than any other country," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, adding that would come to an end, according to Reuters.

Asked about the Reuters report, Trump said a trade deal had not been finalised and India could face steeper tariffs

US President Trump said India may face tariffs of 20 to 25 percent, though no final decision has been made as trade talks continue ahead of the August 1 deadline, Firstpost reported.

Calling India a “good friend,” Trump criticised its high tariffs and trade barriers, saying, “You just can’t do that.” He previously imposed a 26 percent tariff in April, later pausing it during negotiations.

US officials say more talks are needed, citing concerns over India’s digital taxes and strict import rules. With a $129bn trade relationship at stake, both sides are pushing for a deal, according to Firstpost.

India has said its security forces killed three militants who shot dead 26 civilians near a tourist town in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, triggering a brief military conflict with Pakistan, BBC reported.

Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament the men had been killed by Indian forces near the disputed region's main city Srinagar on Monday. 

He claimed the attackers were Pakistani nationals, a charge Islamabad denies. The men's identity was confirmed through forensic and ballistic tests, Shah told MPs. 

Pakistan has not commented on the claims, which have not been independently confirmed and come amid mounting criticism of India's government for alleged security lapses in Kashmir, according to BBC.

At least 18 Kanwariyas lost their lives and several others were injured in a tragic road accident early Tuesday morning on the Godda-Deoghar road in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district, India.

The incident occurred around 5:30 am near Jamunia More in the Mohanpur area, when a bus carrying pilgrims collided with a truck. The devotees were on their way to offer holy water during the Kanwar Yatra in the month of Shravan, according to Firstpost.

Emergency teams reached the site promptly and took the injured to a nearby hospital. The deceased have been sent for post-mortem.

India's showpiece software industry is facing a moment of reckoning.

The country's biggest private sector employer Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) - also its largest IT services company - has announced it will cut more than 12,000 jobs at middle and senior management levels. This will reduce the firm's workforce by 2%, BBC reported.

The Mumbai-headquartered software behemoth employs over half-a-million IT workers and is considered a bellwether for business sentiment across India's $283bn software industry. It forms the backbone of formal, white-collar employment in the country.

The decision, TCS says, was taken to make the company "future ready" as it invests in new areas and deploys artificial intelligence at scale amid seismic disruptions in its traditional business model, according to BBC.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the country is “very close” to a trade deal with the US after meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though Washington has not confirmed a timeline. Both sides discussed expanding trade, especially in critical minerals and mining, according to Firstpost.

Meanwhile, India and the US are finalizing the first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement aimed at boosting market access, reducing trade barriers, and strengthening supply chains. US President Donald Trump recently said a deal with India is also “very close.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and other top leaders during his visit to the Maldives, calling the country a “valued pillar” of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Mahasagar vision, Firstpost reported.

He will attend the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations as chief guest. The visit marks a reset in ties following recent tensions.

India announced a $565m line of credit and signed six agreements in fisheries, digital infrastructure, meteorology, and finance. The two sides also agreed to cut Maldives’ annual debt repayment burden by 40 percent, according to Firstpost.

Modi called the talks productive, adding, “Our relations are older than history and as deep as the ocean. For us, it is always friendship first.”

India and Israel have agreed to develop an institutional framework to deepen defense cooperation, following talks in New Delhi between Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli Defense Ministry DG Major General (Res) Amir Baram, according to Firstpost.

Both sides reviewed ongoing collaborations and condemned recent terror attacks. Israel reaffirmed support for India’s fight against terrorism, while India condemned the October 2023 attacks on Israel and called for the release of hostages.

The visit marks a key step in advancing the strategic partnership, Firstpost reported.

India and the UK will sign a trade agreement on July 24 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, aiming to double bilateral trade to $120bn by 2030.

The deal is expected to boost Indian exports in textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods by removing duties and easing market access. It may also simplify UK approvals for Indian drugs and open new opportunities for IT and professional services, according to Firstpost.

India has extended its ban on Pakistani aircraft entering its airspace until August 23, 2025, citing ongoing security concerns.

Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol announced the update, which applies to all Pakistani-registered commercial and military aircraft. The move follows Pakistan’s extension of its airspace restrictions on Indian flights amid continued diplomatic tensions, according to Xinhua.

India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24, marking the first such move since the 2020 Galwan clashes. The announcement, made by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, signals a cautious thaw in bilateral ties, Firstpost reported.

The decision follows Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s recent visit to Beijing, where he and Chinese vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong discussed ways to improve relations. Both sides agreed on people-centric initiatives, including cooperation on trans-border rivers and resuming hydrological data sharing.