Jantar Mantar protest: Sonam Wangchuk dehydrated; fasting student leaders advised not to walkEducator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday (July 20) asserted that he would “stay alive till July 20 at any cost”, even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage.Addressing supporters at the protest site, Mr. Wangchuk acknowledged his weakening physical condition but said his resolve remained unshaken.Andy Burnham confirmed as new Labour leader, U.K. PM-designateAndy Burnham was on Friday (July 17, 2026) confirmed as the newly elected leader of the U.K.’s governing Labour Party, becoming the Prime Minister-designate to take charge at 10 Downing Street next week. Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) chair Shabana Mahmood announced at a special party conference in London.Five more arrested in Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad probe into alleged JeM module; total accused rises to 13The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday (July 17, 2026) announced the arrest of five more people in connection with its investigation into an alleged module linked to the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), taking the total number of accused in the case to 13.India’s development did not come to standstill despite oil supply crisis: PM ModiIndian Railways would have come to a standstill had the situation from the West Asia conflict arisen before 2014 because most trains then ran on diesel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (July 17, 2026) while stressing that nearly 99% of the network has been electrified in the 12 years of his government.Supreme Court to examine whether persons deleted from voter list in SIR can be denied welfare schemesThe Supreme Court on Friday (July 17, 2026) sought a response from the Election Commission of India, West Bengal government, and the Chief Electoral Officer of the State on a petition seeking time-bound disposal of appeals filed by person excluded from the voter list following the SIR process.A Bench hearing a petition by Prasenjit Bose, chairperson of the SIR Committee, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, said only 38,000 of the 34 lakh appeals have been heard so far by the tribunals.Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of matter regarding access to life-saving medicinesThe Supreme Court on Friday (July 17, 2026) took on its own cognisance of a matter regarding access to life-saving medicines and judicial expediency in issues pertaining right to life.The matter relates to a woman in Kerala, who was suffering from breast cancer and had moved the State High Court challenging the exorbitant prices of medicine for treatment. She died during the pendency of the plea in the high court.Civilian ‘dies of gunshot wound’ in J&K’s Bhaderwah; internet suspended in Chenab Valley areasA civilian allegedly died of “gunshot wounds” in the Chenab Valley’s Bhaderwah on Friday (July 17, 2026). At least two personnel of the J&K Police’s Special Operation Group (SOG), a special anti-insurgency unit, were also injured in the incident. Authorities have subsequently snapped Internet services in the region“Around 3 a.m., three patients were admitted [to the Doda hospital]. One 35-year-old patient was brought dead. He had (a) gunshot wound. A medical board of doctors conducted the postmortem. The samples were sent to the forensic laboratory in Jammu,” said Tanvir Ahmad, Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital Doda.Ram temple donation embezzlement: SIT to submit interim report on July 20The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple may submit an interim report to the Supreme Court on Monday (July 20, 2026) in compliance with the apex court’s directions, sources said on Friday (July 17, 2026).Sources further said the SIT may seek more time from the Uttar Pradesh government to finalise its investigation into the alleged financial irregularities related to donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.TMC MLA Madan Mitra attends Mamata camp’s assembly protest days after joining rebel factionTwo days after crossing over to the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee, senior TMC MLA Madan Mitra on Friday (July 17, 2026) made a surprise appearance at a protest organised by legislators loyal to Mamata Banerjee inside the West Bengal Assembly, underlining the fluidity of the Opposition camp’s escalating internal crisis.The Kamarhati MLA, who on Wednesday announced his allegiance to the Ritabrata-led faction while insisting he had not quit the TMC, walked into the ‘Kalighat’ camp’s sit-in demonstration in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET controversy.U.S. Senate Bill seeks 100% tariffs on India, 4 other nations for buying Russian oilA Bill seeking to impose 100% tariffs on five countries, including India and China, for buying Russian oil, while exempting European nations purchasing gas from Moscow, was introduced in the U.S. Senate with the support of over 60 lawmakers. The Bill, introduced on Thursday (July 16, 2026), was conceived by Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal and late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.CCI junks complaint against Reliance Jio Infocomm, othersFair trade regulator CCI has dismissed a complaint against Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, saying the allegations of anti-competitive conduct were generic, speculative and unsupported by evidence. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in an order passed on Thursday (July 16, 2026) said it has also dismissed similar allegations against over 4,500 firms across multiple sectors.