China is cracking down on rare earth smuggling amid rising tensions with the US over trade controls. Officials accuse foreign spies of disguising exports to bypass Chinese rules. Beijing urges Washington to lift tech restrictions, especially on semiconductors, to stabilize trade ties. Talks continue ahead of the Aug 12 deadline for a broader trade agreement.
Over 40 schools in Bengaluru, including those in Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Kengeri, received bomb threat emails, triggering a massive police response. Multiple teams and bomb squads were immediately deployed to the affected locations. Thorough inspections and investigations are underway as authorities work to ensure student safety.
The Sensex and Nifty opened at fresh record levels in early trade on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The Sensex started trading today at 82120.18, down at 139.11 points or 0.17%, and the Nifty was at 25085.11, down at 26.11 points or 0.10%. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee was trading today at 85.85 against the dollar.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau criticized a Wall Street Journal report alleging pilot error in the AI 171 crash, calling it premature and unverified. The bureau emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and urged media to avoid spreading misleading narratives until the final, fact-based report is released.
India rejected NATO chief Mark Rutte’s warning of secondary sanctions over Russian oil trade, affirming that its energy needs take precedence. The Ministry of External Affairs cautioned against “double standards,” emphasizing market realities. India’s petroleum minister also highlighted diversification options, brushing off Western pressure.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu will release water to the Handri-Neeva canal today, arriving in Allur, Nandikotkur mandal, by afternoon. At 1 PM, two motors will be activated at Mallyala. With ₹696 crore expansion work, the canal’s Phase-1 capacity has increased to 3,850 cusecs. The CM will address a farmers’ public meeting at 2:30 PM.
The film ‘Kannappa’, starring Manchu Vishnu, received a rare honor with a special screening at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi last night. Officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting praised Vishnu’s performance. The film team expressed pride on social media, calling the recognition of the film’s devotional theme.
Eight opposition parties, led by the Congress, have given a call for ‘Odisha Bandh’ today. This decision was taken to protest the death of the college girl student following inaction over her sexual harassment complaint against a professor. The Odisha Congress president said that the state government failed to protect women.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and chose to bat in the first women’s ODI against India on Wednesday. England, coming off a 2-3 T20I series loss, aims to bounce back. Both teams field strong lineups, with India led by Harmanpreet Kaur and England by Sciver-Brunt in this much-anticipated opening match.
Bollywood actors Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani joyfully announced the birth of their daughter. The couple, who announced their pregnancy in February, shared a heartfelt post thanking fans. Celebrities flooded the comments with love. Sidharth now joins co-stars Varun and Alia in the Bollywood new parents’ club.
Quitting alcohol for 30 days can boost your liver and heart health, lower cancer risk, help with weight loss, improve sleep, and sharpen your mind. Even heavy drinkers see fast changes like better energy, mental clarity, and mood. While giving up isn’t easy, the benefits are clear—and they start showing up sooner than you think.
NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) adds 13 banks to the UPI-PayNow platform, boosting real-time remittances between India and Singapore. Launching tomorrow, users can send money more easily. Outward transfers from India are now available via Canara Bank, HDFC, Karur Vysya, ICICI, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and SBI.
Facing a GST crackdown, Bengaluru’s small vendors are ditching UPI for cash to avoid scrutiny. Authorities used UPI data from 2021–2025 to flag unregistered merchants exceeding turnover limits. Fearful of fines and shrinking margins, vendors are hiding QR codes or using family UPI IDs. Despite official reassurances, cash is making a strong comeback in the […]
Though seen as a villain, Ravana was a devout Shiva bhakt. Legends say he may have been the first Kanwariya, bringing Ganga water to perform abhishek for Lord Shiva during Sawan. This act, linked to Samudra Manthan, echoes today in the Kanwar Yatra—now a massive pilgrimage, though once a modest journey before rising in prominence […]
Controlling population has posed challenges for South Indian states. Lower population growth has led to reduced political representation and lesser central funds based on population-based formulas. It inadvertently penalizes these states in resource allocation, sparking debates on fairness and incentives in federal policymaking.