Morning Digest: Delhi Police likely to withdraw FIRs as CJP-led agitation ends; Bill in U.S. Senate seeks three-year pause on H-1B visas, and more

Police personnel stand guard at the protest site after CJP protest concludes, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: ANI Delhi Police likely to withdraw FIRs as agitation ends, says DCPFollowing the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) decision to call off its 36-day Jantar Mantar protest, Delhi Police is likely to withdraw all FIRs registered in connection with the agitation, officials said on Saturday (July 25, 2026). “The official communication is yet to come, but the FIRs are likely to be withdrawn now,” said Sachin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi.U.S. Senator introduces Bill seeking a 3-year pause on H-1B visasA U.S. Senator has introduced a Bill in the Senate that seeks to pause the issuance of new H-1B visas for three years and codify the $100,000 fee imposed by the Trump administration, which was struck down by a federal court. U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana, said the U.S. should not be issuing visas that make it easier to undercut the rights of American workers.West Bengal Assembly passes Bill depriving panchayat pradhans of financial powersThe West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Saturday (July 26, 2026) passed the West Bengal Panchayat ( Second Amendment), 2026 Bill, depriving elected representatives of panchayats of financial powers. The bill was passed with 169 votes polled in favour of the bill, while 13 MLAs voted against it. 32 MLAs did not participate in the voting process.Slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s jail diary sells like hot cakes in this year’s Kashmir book festivalAs a spin-off of the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S., slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s jail diary is selling like hot cakes at the book festival in Srinagar. Buyers are jostling at the stall set up by the Mutahhari Fikri Wa Saqafati Markaz at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake, with peak footfall of 20,000 visitors a day.Centre yet again rules out Metro Rail for Coimbatore and Madurai; recommends BRTSFor the second time, the Centre has ruled out a Metro Rail system for Coimbatore and Madurai cities, and recommended the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) instead. It said population was not the ‘sole criteria’ to implement the Metro Rail system and that they returned both proposals after examining them ‘in entirety’. Maharashtra TET paper leak alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta arrested from BiharMaharashtra police have arrested Bijendra Gupta, the alleged prime accused in the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case, from Bihar. Another person has also been taken into custody along with him. However, it has not been revealed yet from which district he has been arrested.Twisha Sharma dowry death case: Court rejects bail plea of retired judge Giribala SinghA special court in Bhopal on Saturday (July 25, 2026) rejected the bail plea of retired judge Giribala Singh, an accused in the dowry death case of the late model and actor Twisha Sharma, holding that the charges against her were serious. Ms. Singh was the mother-in-law of Twisha, who was allegedly found hanging at her marital home here on May 12.35 rain-related deaths reported in Gujarat as floodwaters recede; damage surveys beginThe death toll from rain-related incidents in Gujarat has risen to 35 over the past two days, with authorities recovering bodies after floodwaters receded and rescue operations concluded, officials said on Saturday (July 25, 2026). “A total of 35 rain-related deaths have been reported so far in the State in the last two days as bodies washed away in floodwaters were recovered and missing persons were accounted for after the rain stopped and rescue operations concluded,” Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said.Houthis fire missiles, drones at Saudi Arabia in response to strikes on Yemeni cityYemen’sIran-backed Houthi rebels said Saturday (July 25, 2026) that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida, in another escalation over vital shipping routes in West Asia, while the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz.Anahat Singh first Indian to reach World Junior Squash Championship final since 2005Anahat Singh has become the first Indian to reach the World Junior Squash Championship final since veteran Joshna Chinappa achieved the feat in 2005. On Friday (July 24, 2026), the top seeded Delhi girl beat Egyptian 3/4 seed Barb Sameh 11-3 8-11 11-4 11-6 in the semifinals. Published - July 26, 2026 06:52 am IST