13 Indian Sailors Trapped in Black Sea Attacks; Japan Earthquake Kills Two

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday debated the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Opposition describing it as an 'admission of failure'. Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned why the government was amending a law it had hailed as 'historic' just two years ago. In response, BJP MP Anurag Thakur criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for sitting on a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence, saying Mr. Gandhi did so because students did not ask him to lead the protests. The debate will continue on Wednesday.

At least two women were killed at a shopping mall in Japan hit by a powerful earthquake and subsequent explosion, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported early Wednesday, citing local officials. Three other people were in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest — one at the mall and two at a factory in Yatsushiro city where a smokestack collapsed. Authorities said 'many people' were feared trapped in the stricken mall after the major earthquake toppled buildings, sparked fires, and reportedly injured more than 100.

Fifteen sailors, including 13 Indians, are trapped in a 'terrible and life-threatening situation' at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in the Black Sea due to missile and drone attacks in the vicinity, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) said. The crew members aboard M.V. AMIR1 are living under constant fear of a direct hit, according to an FSUI post on X. The union urgently appealed to all concerned authorities, shipowners, flag state, and the Government of India to secure their safety and arrange prompt repatriation.

A day after warning of fresh protests over the Centre's alleged violation of assurances that no punitive action would be taken against protesters, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday called on the government to stop 'targeting and witch-hunting' students. 'If the harassment of students at the hands of the police continues, the Cockroach Janta Party will respond with a massive peaceful protest soon,' he posted on X.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against 13 arrested accused persons in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, all currently in judicial custody. The charge sheet comes days after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 amid a month-long agitation led by the CJP.

NCP SP leader Sharad Pawar on Tuesday put an end to speculations about a likely merger between the Nationalist Congress Party and the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar group, saying it 'has no relevance'. The statement is significant amid reports of likely talks between the two parties, especially after several leaders said it was the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar's last wish to see both parties united before his untimely death in an air crash earlier this year.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that schoolteachers deployed for the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) are not subjected to an 'unbearable' burden, balancing electoral duties with their educational responsibilities.