Sonam Wangchuk vows to stay alive until July 20 at any cost; Andy Burnham confirmed as UK PM-designate

Will stay alive till July 20 at any cost, says Wangchuk; Andy Burnham confirmed as new U.K. PM-designate, and more

Published - July 17, 2026 05:38 pm IST

By The Hindu Bureau

Jantar Mantar protest: Sonam Wangchuk dehydrated; fasting student leaders advised not to walk

Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday (July 17, 2026) asserted that he would "stay alive till July 20 at any cost", even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage.

Addressing supporters at the protest site, Mr. Wangchuk acknowledged his weakening physical condition but said his resolve remained unshaken.

Andy Burnham confirmed as new Labour leader, U.K. PM-designate

Andy Burnham was on Friday (July 17, 2026) confirmed as the newly elected leader of the U.K.'s governing Labour Party, becoming the Prime Minister-designate to take charge at 10 Downing Street next week. Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) chair Shabana Mahmood announced the result at a special party conference in London.

Five more arrested in Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad probe into alleged JeM module; total accused rises to 13

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday (July 17, 2026) announced the arrest of five more people in connection with its investigation into an alleged module linked to the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), taking the total number of accused in the case to 13.

India's development did not come to standstill despite oil supply crisis: PM Modi

Indian Railways would have come to a standstill had the situation from the West Asia conflict arisen before 2014 because most trains then ran on diesel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (July 17, 2026), while stressing that nearly 99% of the network has been electrified in the 12 years of his government.

Supreme Court to examine whether persons deleted from voter list in SIR can be denied welfare schemes

The Supreme Court on Friday (July 17, 2026) sought a response from the Election Commission of India, the West Bengal government, and the Chief Electoral Officer of the State on a petition seeking time-bound disposal of appeals filed by persons excluded from the voter list following the SIR process.

A Bench hearing a petition by Prasenjit Bose, chairperson of the SIR Committee, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, said only 38,000 of the 34 lakh appeals have been heard so far by the tribunals.

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of matter regarding access to life-saving medicines

The Supreme Court on Friday (July 17, 2026) took on its own cognisance of a matter regarding access to life-saving medicines and judicial expediency in issues pertaining to the right to life.

The matter relates to a woman in Kerala, who was suffering from breast cancer and had moved the State High Court challenging the exorbitant prices of medicine for treatment. She died during the pendency of the plea in the High Court.