Times of India

Indian footpaths are now unsafe for pedestrians due to encroaching vehicles. Delivery riders and two-wheelers use pavements as shortcuts, creating hazards. Congestion and poor enforcement exacerbate the problem across major cities. This situation discourages walking, impacting public health and urban sustainability. Engineering, enforcement, and behavioral changes are needed to reclaim pedestrian spaces.

The rupee opened stronger against the US dollar on Friday, gaining fourteen paise in early trade. Upbeat equity markets provided support for the domestic currency's early gains. However, sustained foreign fund outflows and firm crude oil prices capped further appreciation. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East kept investors cautious towards emerging market currencies. The rupee is expected to trade within a narrow range with a downside bias.

Chabahar port has been a repeated target of American airstrikes. Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the facility without immediately acknowledging the tower’s collapse. Iran, however, described the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port. However, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also operates at ports across the country.

The Karnataka High Court dismissed a husband's divorce appeal based on cruelty and desertion. The court also upheld an order for him to pay interim maintenance. A man owning a Mercedes-Benz cannot claim this payment is excessive. The husband failed to prove cruelty allegations against his wife. The court found the wife had a reasonable cause to live separately.

The US government has revised its public charge immigration rule. Immigrants may be denied entry if they are likely to depend on public assistance. This new regulation restores broader discretion to immigration officers for assessments. The policy change will officially take effect on September 18, 2026. USCIS also updated rules regarding signatures on immigration benefit requests.

Ahead of the first ODI at Edgbaston, Kohli was seen batting in the nets while Gambhir watched from close range without speaking to him. Kotak, meanwhile, was spotted having a conversation with the former India captain.

A local train struck a school vehicle at an open level crossing, killing four people. The collision occurred Friday morning between Karnasubarna station and Gobindapur rail gate. Four students and the vehicle driver were hospitalized in critical condition after the incident. Eyewitnesses alleged the rail gate remained open, leading to the accident. Investigations are underway by police and railway authorities into the cause.

In an era of advanced technology, online rental scams have become more cunning, leveraging artificial intelligence to deceive unsuspecting tenants. Fraudsters craft fake property listings and convincingly impersonate landlords. To safeguard against these scams, it's crucial for renters to be cautious of unusually low rents and landlords who refuse inspections. Always conduct in-person visits and confirm ownership before making any financial commitments, opting for secure payment methods to mitigate risks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch development projects exceeding twenty-four thousand eight hundred crore rupees. These initiatives span highways, railways, healthcare, and education infrastructure across three regions. The visit includes flagging off India's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind to Sonipat. He will also inaugurate completed projects and lay foundation stones for new developments. This significant rollout aims to boost regional connectivity and public services.

The NTA has announced the NEET UG 2026 cut-off along with the examination results, outlining the category-wise qualifying percentiles and marks required for medical admissions. With over 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying, eligible aspirants can now participate in the counselling process. The qualifying marks have increased compared to last year, reflecting stronger overall performance in the examination.

Rachit Singh has denied wedding rumours with Huma Qureshi, saying, "It's not happening!" Speculation grew after the two attended a wedding reception together and made frequent public appearances. Rachit, also an acting coach for a decade, spoke about working with Huma and her brother Saqib Saleem, and shared his goal of acting lifelong.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike for the 20th day. He plans to join a march to Parliament on July 20. The Cockroach Janta Party supports Wangchuk and the ongoing protests. Political leaders have expressed concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health. The protests demand action regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Aamir Khan addressed the popular belief about his character Phunsukh Wangdu. He stated that the '3 Idiots' character was not based on Sonam Wangchuk. Khan clarified this misconception during a London Film Festival interaction. He also expressed deep concern for Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike. The actor hopes for a positive and healthy resolution to the protest.

Microsoft's new security chief Hayete Gallot has replaced senior executives, merged engineering teams, and cut hundreds of jobs to push the company toward AI-powered cybersecurity, The Information reports. In an internal memo, Gallot told staff the industry is being reimagined and rewards firms that make hard choices early. Microsoft is chasing AI security spending flowing to rivals OpenAI and Anthropic.

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Telangana government. This action follows a complaint alleging compulsory Islamic religious lessons and prayers at a private college. The institution reportedly assigned these religious tasks as mandatory homework for all students. The commission seeks a detailed report from state authorities regarding these allegations. Further information on this developing matter is currently awaited.

The NTA has announced the NEET UG 2026 results, with over 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for medical admissions. Punjab's Aryan Gupta, who secured a joint AIR 1 with 715 marks, credited his success to 16–17 hours of daily study and perseverance. Aspiring to become an oncologist, he urged future aspirants to keep working hard and never lose hope.