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From key Supreme Court observations and major parliamentary developments to climate emergencies and global security tensions, this week’s current affairs saw several important developments. The Supreme Court refused a blanket ban on pellet guns while ordering treatment for injured student protesters, and Parliament passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026. India approved the Rs 84,084 crore Samudra Manthan offshore energy scheme, while France witnessed its first-ever “fire cloud” amid devastating wildfires. Washington battled massive blazes, Iran claimed it had destroyed US F-35 fighter jets, and migration surged into Spain’s Ceuta enclave. Nepal mourned mountaineering legend Nims Dai, while Justice Ujjal Bhuyan raised concerns over collegium transparency. Here’s a quick roundup of the biggest stories shaping India and the world.
India
SC refuses blanket ban on pellet guns, orders treatment for injured students
The Supreme Court refused to impose a blanket ban on pellet guns for crowd control during hearings on petitions over the July 20 student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The court said police regulations permit graded use of force in exceptional situations and asked petitioners to challenge the existing rules instead. It directed the Delhi government to provide treatment to all injured protesters and ordered preservation of the Rapid Action Force’s ammunition log and related records. The bench also stressed that both protesters and police are human beings and that law enforcement must be equipped with proper safety gear while handling violent situations. Read full story
Justice Bhuyan questions opacity in collegium appointments
Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the lack of transparency in recent collegium decisions on judicial appointments, saying the latest resolutions contained no reasons for their recommendations. Speaking at the launch of the Judicial Transparency Index, he said citizens have a right to know how judges are selected and transferred, warning that secrecy creates room for unsuitable appointments. He urged greater disclosure of collegium deliberations and suggested future transparency assessments include the functioning of the collegium. The report also highlighted limited public disclosure of budgets, judges’ assets and disciplinary actions across higher courts. Read full story
Parliament passes Births and Deaths Bill amid Opposition protests
The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote without debate as Opposition MPs protested over paper leaks, alleged police action against students and the Ram temple donation row. The Bill proposes stricter rules for delayed registration, requiring approval from a judicial magistrate for registrations made after two years. Opposition members objected to the Bill being passed in the absence of Union home minister Amit Shah and without discussion. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was repeatedly disrupted and adjourned for the day amid continued sloganeering. Read full story
200 academicians object to Priyanka Gandhi ‘s ‘gau-mutra expert’ remark
More than 200 academicians have written an open letter to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, criticising her remarks widely seen as referring to IIT Madras director V Kamakoti during the Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill. The signatories said public representatives should challenge ideas through reasoned debate rather than ridicule and highlighted Kamakoti’s academic and research contributions. They argued that reducing a scientist to a label undermines scientific discourse and discourages scholars from participating in public discussions. The controversy stems from Priyanka Gandhi’s criticism of the government’s education reform panel while questioning its composition. Read full story
World
Iran claims strike destroyed 3 US F-35 stealth jets in Jordan
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it destroyed three US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets and severely damaged three more in a ballistic missile strike on Jordan’s al-Azraq Air Base. Tehran said the attack was retaliation for US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island and also claimed several American military personnel were killed. The United States has not confirmed the claims. An F-35 costs more than $100 million, making the alleged destruction potentially one of the biggest losses of America’s most advanced fighter aircraft. The reported strike came as the Iran-US conflict widened across the region, with missile interceptions and retaliatory attacks continuing. Read full story
Washington battles massive wildfires as 4,000 firefighters deployed
Washington state declared a statewide emergency as multiple wildfires, fuelled by extreme heat and strong winds, spread across more than 250,000 acres. Over 4,000 firefighters, supported by the National Guard and crews from several states, were deployed to battle the blazes. The biggest concern remains the fast-moving Old Trails Fire near Spokane, which has burned about 3,000 acres, forced large-scale evacuations and threatened nearly 4,000 structures. Around 60,000 electricity customers lost power after safety shutoffs, while several public facilities were evacuated. Authorities reported zero containment of the Spokane fire by Saturday evening. No deaths or injuries have been reported, though officials expect the damage assessment to worsen. Read full story
Why 60,000 migrants suddenly crossed into Spain’s Ceuta
Around 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, triggering a humanitarian crisis before most returned within hours. Reports suggest several factors fuelled the unprecedented influx, including relaxed Moroccan border enforcement, viral social media posts encouraging migrants, and a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that was widely misunderstood online. However, experts say economic hardship remains the strongest driver, with high unemployment, rising living costs and prolonged drought pushing many Moroccans to seek better opportunities in Europe. Spain has since installed a 500-metre sea barrier to prevent future crossings. The episode has also renewed debate over Spain’s immigration policies and diplomatic tensions with Morocco. Read full story
14 Peaks legend Nims Dai dies in Broad Peak avalanche
Legendary Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja, who famously climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in a record six months and six days, has died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The 43-year-old was confirmed dead by his expedition company, Elite Exped, after a two-day search. His climbing partners, Pur Bahadur Gurung and Nima Sherpa, were also killed. The avalanche struck on July 30 while the team climbed between Camp 2 and higher elevations. A former British Gurkha, Purja later became the fastest climber to complete all 14 eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen and starred in Netflix’s 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. Nepal has mourned the loss of one of its greatest mountaineers. Read full story
France’s ‘Fire Cloud’: How a wildfire created its own thunderstorm
France has recorded its first-ever ‘fire cloud’, or pyrocumulonimbus, as a massive wildfire became so intense that it generated its own thunderstorm. The phenomenon formed over the Gironde blaze, which has burned an area four times the size of Paris amid Europe’s severe heatwave and drought. Experts say extreme heat, unstable atmospheric conditions and moisture from burning vegetation allowed the smoke plume to rise high enough to create a storm capable of generating strong winds, lightning and fresh fires. Scientists warn such fire clouds make wildfires far more dangerous and could become more common as climate change fuels hotter, drier conditions across Europe. Read full story
Samudra Manthan: Can PM Modi’s Rs 84,084 crore mission reduce India’s oil imports?
The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 84,084 crore Samudra Manthan – National Offshore Exploration Scheme, aimed at boosting India’s domestic oil and gas production and strengthening energy security. The programme includes deepwater exploration, seismic surveys, scientific drilling and offshore infrastructure, with a target of adding over 600 MMTOE of reserves by 2030-31. The move comes after the Middle East conflict exposed India’s dependence on imported crude, with nearly 89% of its oil needs met through imports. Experts say the scheme could help narrow the long-term supply gap, though translating discoveries into commercial production remains India’s biggest challenge. Read full story
