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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Officers who were part of the higher echelons at the time have claimed over the years that it was known to Military Operations (MO) Directorate and Military Intelligence (MI) that Pakistan Army was replacing regular infantry battalions along the Line of Control (LoC) with Northern Light Infantry (NLI) units, the ones which eventually intruded into Indian territory. They claimed that the intelligence agencies and Army leadership made insufficient efforts to determine the reasons for this move, as well as where they were being utilised and for what purposes. The unrealistic frontage of 121 (Independent) Infantry Brigade headquartered in Kargil was 227 km, and it had about eight to nine battalions, including a BSF battalion under its Order of Battle (ORBAT). There was one battalion each in Dras, Kaksar, Chhani Gund, one in the central sector and one in Batalik. 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