Election Commission rejects Rahul Gandhi-led MPs' meeting request amid SIR row, says 2025 procedure must be followed

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for upcoming events. Her leadership experience includes guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to multiple Women's Premier League titles. Smriti joined the national team in 2013, contributing significantly throughout her career. The team aims to build on past progress under her leadership while entering a new phase. This appointment marks a significant development for women's cricket in India.

BCCI has announced India’s T20I and India A squads for the New Zealand tour, with veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to the T20I side after four years. Shreyas Iyer will captain the T20Is, while Dhruv Jurel leads India A, featuring KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.

MoSPI began compiling the ISP on a monthly basis for the formal services sector on a trial basis in July 2026. The exercise uses 2024-25 as the base year and was designed to provide a higher-frequency measure of services-sector performance.

Amid rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions, trade negotiations between India and the United States have reached an impasse. The US has voiced concerns over India's ongoing acquisition of Russian oil, which could trigger higher tariffs. India aims to safeguard its vital agricultural sectors during talks while advocating for enhanced export conditions. Future discussions, particularly with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming visit, may provide an opportunity for resolution.

The Election Commission of India refused to meet a delegation of 240 MPs led by Rahul Gandhi. This decision followed a day of protests in the national capital against the Chief Election Commissioner. Congress leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained during the protests. The Commission stated that no formal meeting request had been submitted by the deadline.

The Trump administration sought to introduce new US Postal Service requirements ahead of the midterm elections. The proposal called for special envelopes and barcodes linked to individual voters. States would also have been required to submit voter information through a federal portal.

Middle Eastern oil exports have significantly recovered as shipping companies navigate a complex transport network. While conventional methods remain risky, alternate routes are being utilized to ensure continuous oil movement. Oil producers are adjusting strategies, relying on pipelines and offshore transfers to circumvent dangerous waters. The shipping process has become more expensive due to increased insurance and higher freight rates.

The remarks come amid ongoing protests in the New Delhi district, including demonstrations involving the Cockroach Janta Party, student organisations and Congress-led opposition parties near Parliament. Delhi Police has deployed personnel in large numbers to manage the gatherings and prevent any escalation.