Top news of the day: Sonam Wangchuk refuses medical intervention at hospital; Vikram-1 successfully places tech payloads, postcards into orbit; and more

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike: Wangchuk refuses medical intervention at hospital; Dipke holds indefinite hunger strike at Jantar MantarCockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday (July 18, 2026) announced an indefinite hunger strike, shortly after educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung hospital as his hunger strike entered day 21. New Delhi DCP’s office said that Mr. Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for ‘essential medical care’ as per the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advise due to his deteriorating health condition.Also read | What prolonged fasting can do to the human body | ExplainedVikram-1, country’s first private orbital-class rocket, successfully places tech payloads, postcards into orbitIndia achieved a major milestone in its space journey on Saturday (July 18, 2026) as Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, successfully placed multiple technology demonstration payloads and postcards — including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi — into a low Earth orbit. Dubbed ‘Mission Aagaman’ (meaning arrival), the mission marks India’s entry into an elite group of nations with private orbital launch capability, making it only the third country in the world to achieve the feat through a privately developed launch vehicle. The mission was a “grand success,” the company said.Also read | What makes Skyroot’s Vikram-1 launch unique? | ExplainedRam temple donation theft: Police take custody of Tinnu, nephew Manish YadavPrime accused in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, and his nephew Manish Yadav were taken into police custody and moved to the Police Lines for medical examination on Saturday (July 18, 2026), sources said. A special anti-corruption court on Friday (July 17, 2026) granted a 39-hour police remand of the two key accused, though the police had sought seven days, officials said. According to police sources, investigators questioned the duo in jail on Thursday (July 16, 2026), before moving the remand application, after obtaining fresh leads during the probe.TMC MLA Madan Mitra attends Mamata camp’s assembly protest days after joining rebel factionTwo days after crossing over to the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee, senior TMC MLA Madan Mitra on Friday (July 17, 2026) made a surprise appearance at a protest organised by legislators loyal to Mamata Banerjee inside the West Bengal Assembly, underlining the fluidity of the Opposition camp’s escalating internal crisis. The Kamarhati MLA, who on Wednesday announced his allegiance to the Ritabrata-led faction while insisting he had not quit the TMC, walked into the ‘Kalighat’ camp’s sit-in demonstration in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET controversy.RJD supremo Lalu Prasad to be taken to AIIMS, Delhi for treatmentRastriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad will be taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, on Saturday (July 18, 2026), for medical treatment, according to his eldest daughter Misa Bharti. Mr. Prasad was brought to Patna’s Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) after experiencing fluctuations in his blood pressure on Friday evening (July 17, 2026). “He was admitted to IGIMS following fluctuations in his blood pressure. Doctors conducted a detailed examination and discharged him after his condition stabilised. He will be taken to the AIIMS, Delhi, for further medical care on Saturday (July 18, 2026),” RJD MP Bharti told reporters.2,914 students dropped out of State syllabus schools in 2024-25 in Kerala; 36.65% are migrant workers’ childrenAs many as 2,914 students dropped out of schools that follow the State government syllabus in the 2024-25 academic year in Kerala. Of them, 36.65% (1,068 students) were children of migrant workers. These students form the biggest chunk of children dropping out of State schools. A majority of these students are from States such as Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. They discontinued studies either because they, along with their parents, had returned to their native States or their parents had shifted to another location for work, Minister for General Education N. Samsudheen said in a written reply in the Assembly recently.Woman assaulted and disrobed on roads in A.P.’s Guntur, accused arrestedA case of assault on a woman in Guntur has sparked widespread public outrage, drawing political reactions from the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and sharp criticism from the Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). After CCTV footage of the incident surfaced, police took swift action and initiated disciplinary proceedings against a police officer. The incident occurred on July 15, 2026, in Krishna Babu Colony, within the limits of the Nagarampalem police station.U.S., Iran have blown past red lines as they lurch back toward all-out warA week after the United States and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending the war, an Iranian drone slammed into a cargo ship sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. There were no casualties or major damage, but the June 25 attack set off a chain of hostilities that would put the two countries on a path back toward all-out war less than a month after they agreed to stop fighting. Each strike and counterstrike chipped away at the pillars of the agreement, which has now collapsed, though there are still efforts to salvage it. Red lines set by both sides have been crossed.Iran’s Guards say two oil tankers explode after hitting mines in HormuzIran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday (July 18, 2026) that two oil tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz hit mines and exploded, a claim disputed by the U.S. military. “An hour ago, two oil tankers, which were trying to pass through the minefield south of the Strait of Hormuz by deceptive American intelligence agencies, exploded and caught fire,” the Guards said in a statement published by state news agency IRNA, without identifying the tankers.Iraq, U.S. sign 48 agreements during PM’s visitIraq signed 48 agreements and partnerships with American companies, many in the oil sector, during a visit to the U.S. by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, his office said Saturday (July 18, 2026). Oil-rich Iraq has been trying to move past decades of war and unrest, but still suffers from poor infrastructure, failing public services, mismanagement and endemic corruption. It is in urgent need of an economic boost, especially after losing revenue due to a halt in oil exports caused by the West Asia war.Lionel Messi speaks in advance of World Cup final, says Argentina ‘will give it our all’The lineup of sports legends, all on the stage at Fanatics Fest on Friday night (July 17, 2026), was almost absurd. There was Tom Brady, the greatest Super Bowl champion of all time. There was Novak Djokovic, the winner of more men’s Grand Slam tennis tournaments than anyone else. There was Kevin Durant, the only four-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s basketball history. They’ll all be watching Sunday — along with probably 1.5 billion other people worldwide — when Messi and Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final.No guarantee, but India has better chance to qualify if World Cup expanded to 64 teams, says BhutiaA 64-team football World Cup, which the international governing body FIFA is mulling, will give India a better chance to qualify for the showpiece, but such a move could compromise the quality of the games, Indian legend Bhaichung Bhutia said. An official proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, from 48 in the 2026 edition, was put forward by South American governing body CONMEBOL in April last year. FIFA has not taken a decision yet, but its president, Gianni Infantino, recently said his organisation will examine the proposal after this World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.