THURSDAY HEAVY MONSOON RAINS DISRUPT NORMAL LIVES IN DELHI, MUMBAI 09 Heavy monsoon rains battered large parts of the country on Wednesday, triggering flash floods and widespread disruption to rail and road traffic JULY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard R O H I N G YA C A M P LANDSLIDE KILLS 7 KIDS, TEACHER Building collapses in Pune, 16 feared trapped Heavy rain in Bangladesh triggered a landslide at the world’s largest refugee camp on Wednesday, killing seven children and a teacher. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 Markets tank as Trump says Iran peace deal ‘over’ 79,000 PREV. CLOSE 78,180.72 76,503.60 COLLAPSES IN ROHINI, 1 DEAD AND 3 RESCUED Norway vs England Friday | 12:30 AM* (*IST Saturday) While La Roja haven’t hit the dizzying attacking heights of France, they will fancy their chances of navigating a Belgium side who have slowly built momentum over the course of the tournament Saturday | 2:30 AM* (*IST Sunday) Two of the best No 9s in the world — Harry Kane and Erling Haaland — will go head-to-head when England face Norway. This tie promises to be an epic one Saturday | 6:30 AM* (*IST Sunday) Lionel Messi & Co barely managed to survive against Egypt and they’ll face yet another tricky tie when they face an upbeat Swiss side, who will be looking to make history by booking a spot in the semis for the first time 11 am 1 pm 3 pm 4 pm DAY’S CLOSE 76,503.60 missiles and drones. The fresh escalation spooked global equity markets, spiked oil prices, and put the rupee under severe selling pressure. Indian markets on Wednesday lost most of the gains made since a peace deal was brokered between Iran and the US, with the Sensex and Nifty tumbling over 2%. The two indices had gained 2.5% since the announcement of the ceasefire on June 15. The Nifty declined 517 points, or 2.12%, to settle at 23,882 while the Sensex fell 1,677.12 points, or 2.15%, to close at 76,503.60. Investors lost more than `8 lakh crore as the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms came down from `480.20 lakh crore to `472.02 lakh crore. Meanwhile, Brent crude price surged more than 6% to $79 per barrel while the rupee declined around 0.71% to 95.50 per dollar. Global markets were under pressure, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures falling 1% after key Asian markets including Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi falling 2% P9 and 6%, respectively . One person was killed and three others were rescued after a three-story under-construction building collapsed in Rohini on Wednesday everning. | P4 No Delhi angle in Nijjar case as US indicts Bishnoi, Brar JPC report on single higher edu regulator bill ahead of session H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi THE US Justice Department on Tuesday indicted gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Satinderjeet Singh a.k.a Goldy Brar for commissioning the sensational murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Canadian gurdwara in November 2023, an assassination that had fractured Ottawa-New Delhi relations. Called Operation Hard Ball, the years-long federal investigation involved law-enforcement agencies in the US, Canada and Europe. Though the then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau had blamed India for the hit job, investigators found no evidence linking Indian government officials to Nijjar’s murder, said Lisa Moreland, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Bishnoi is in a high-security prison in Gujarat while Brar is on the loose in the US. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Brar’s arrest. As many as 24 gangsters of Indian origin have been arrested under Operation Hard Ball — 14 of them were in the US, three in Canada and one in Spain, while others were already in custody . Hardeep Singh Nijjar Lawrence Bishnoi Goldy Brar Punjab SHO named in extortion racket The FBI has accused Tanda SHO Gurinderjit Singh Nagra of acting at the behest of gangster Bhagwanpuria to extort $400,000 from a family in US by threatening to implicate them in a false murder case in India. Punjab Police shifted him to the police lines pending inquiry The biggies among the other gangsters include Rohit Godara and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. The impact of the trans-national crime syndicates was especially felt by the Indian diaspora, the Justice Department’s statement said. Law enforcement is looking for 10 fugitives — seven in the US, two in India and one in Europe. In all, 37 gangsters were indicted, including two who ran their global criminal syndicates from Indian jails. Bishnoi, the indictment said, projected an image of himself Only 6.5% govt schools have digital libraries: Study I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi DESPITE the push for digital education, only 6.5% of Delhi’s government schools have functional digital libraries and just 39% are equipped with integrated learning devices, according to the UDISE 2025-26 data released by the education ministry on July 7, underscoring persistent gaps in digital infrastructure. Only 176 (6.5%) of Delhi’s 2,688 government schools have functional digital libraries, despite libraries or reading corners being available in 5,642 of the city’s 5,643 schools. The figures highlight a wide gap between physical library infra- Argentina vs Switzerland TODAY’S MATCH: FRANCE VS MOROCCO @ BOSTON STADIUM | 1:30 AM* (*IST FRIDAY) I don’t want to deal with them (Iran) anymore… it’s a waste of time. I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it. I don’t like these people — US President Donald Trump BUILDING Spain vs Belgium Les Bleus begin their final push towards a third World Cup crown when they face Morocco. Kylian Mbappe, who’s in the race for the Golden Boot with seven goals, will once again be the man in focus. Morocco, the sole surviving African side in the competition, are known to be a disciplined unit and they’ll be hoping to cause an upset | P11 77,000 76,000 9 am PAGES 12  J8.00 All eyes on Mbappe CHANGE: -1,677.12 (-2.15%) 78,000  Following a rest day, the last-eight stage of the World Cup gets underway with France taking on Morocco at Boston Stadium. A look... BSE SENSEX IN a dramatic escalation that further strained the fragile truce in West Asia and sent shockwaves through global markets, US President on Wednesday said the interim ceasefire pact with Iran “is over” and ongoing peace negotiations are “a waste of time”. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit at Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday, Trump also threatened to strike Tehran’s infrastructure and seize the Kharg Island—Iran’s principal oil export terminal that handle 90% of the country’s crude exports. When asked whether the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran was over, Trump said: “It’s a very interesting question. I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them... As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time.” The comments came a day after the US launched a series of strikes against Iran in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on three commercial vessels in Oman’s territorial waters on the southern half of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday Iran has been warn. ing ships against using the newly announced maritime corridor near the Oman coast. Responding to US strikes, Iran said on Wednesday that it hit back by targeting US bases in Bahrain and Ku w a i t w i t h NEW DELHI STARS READY FOR EIGHT-LIFTING Sensex and Nifty tumble over 2% each, crude oil prices soar 6% as West Asia crisis deepens A R S H A D K H A N @ New Delhi  Many parts of Maharashtra continued to grapple with the monsoon fury. In Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad, at least 16 people were feared trapped after a huge mound of garbage crashed onto a three-storey building, causing it to collapse. Mumbai too reported no respite after days of heavy rainfall. Local train services were delayed and at least 9 city-bound flights were diverted | P8 structure and access to digital learning resources. While 72% of government schools have functional smart classrooms equipped with digital boards and televisions, several other digital teaching resources remain limited. Only 39% of schools have integrated learning devices, 58.2% have projectors and 42.9% report having functional mobile phones for teaching, indicating that the broader digital learning ecosystem is still far from comprehensive. In absolute terms, only 1,059 of Delhi’s 2,688 government schools have functional inte- Enrolment gaps persist Delhi has been placed among the better-performing states and UTs in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2025-26. However, the report flagged concerns over declining enrolment at the foundational level and lower student retention in secondary classes. P4 grated learning devices. Projectors are available in 1,565 schools, while functional mobile phones for teaching are available in only 1,152 schools. The findings come months after the Delhi government’s Economic Survey 2025-26, re- leased in March, announced plans to strengthen digital education infrastructure. The survey said 125 government school libraries would be upgraded with 20 digital devices, headphones, kiosks and charging carts, while 8,777 smart classrooms would be established by the end of 2025. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure also remains a work in progress. Although the government announced ICT labs in schools last year, only 804 have been established so far, of which 770 are functional. These labs are meant for upper primary, secondary and senior secondary students. EXPRESS READ IMD issues flashflood alert in North India Pinaka rocket clears minimum-range test India and Myanmar reaffirm security ties US terror accused seeks ‘American diet’ in Tihar The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flashflood alert for watersheds and neighbourhoods across East Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada until July 9. It said the affected regions may receive very heavy rainfall of up to 190 mm over the next 24 hours. P8 The Army’s quest for long-range ‘shoot-and-scoot’ firepower to hit enemy positions, command centres and logistics hubs deep across the borders got a boost on Wednesday, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully testing the 120-km Pinaka guided rocket for its user-specified minimum range of 60 km at Chandipur off the Odisha coast. India and Myanmar on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on enhancing security coordination and tackling cross-border crimes during deliberations at the 23rd National Level Meeting held in Delhi. Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Myanmar Deputy Home Minister Major General Min Thu attended the meet. A Delhi court on Wednesday sought response from Tihar jail authorities on a plea filed by US citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, an accused in a terror conspiracy case, who sought an “American diet” in prison. In the petiton, Dyke’s counsel claimed that he is currently on a hunger strike as he was unable to tolerate the spicy, oily, and deep-fried food served in prison. P3 as a patriot, nationalist and deeply religious individual on social media, but presided over a sweeping criminal enterprise that spanned multiple continents. He personally directed political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other crimes from jail cell through smuggled mobile phones. Bishnoi operated through lieutenants Brar in North America, Rohit Godara (37) of Rajasthan in Europe and Sukhraj Singh Kang (58) of Punjab. “Both Brar and Godara effectively spoke for Bishnoi… and used violence to cultivate a climate of fear, in particular in India and among Indian diaspora communities worldwide,” for extortion, it stated. As for the Bhagwanpuria gang, it operates as a transnational criminal syndicate headquartered in India with members across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This group has more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide; more than 100 of them in the US alone, the statement said. If convicted, many of the accused could face a mandatory minimum prison sentence between 10 years in federal prison and life imprisonment. Move aims to curb revenue loss, crack down on land mafias and property fraud Guidelines for scrutiny of documents executed through General Power of Attorney (GPA) THE Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 is set to adopt the report ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, paving the way for the government to table the legislation that seeks to establish a single higher education regulator. The proposed regulator will replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education, and the National Council for Teacher Education. According to sources, the 31-member Parliamentary panel headed by BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari is likely to adopt the draft report at its next meeting on July 17. The government is expected to introduce the Bill during the upcoming Parliament session after incorporating the committee’s recommendations. The VBSA Bill, introduced during the last winter session, was sent to the JPC after protests from the Opposition. Sources said opposition members will formally record dissent notes and seek deferment of the report’s adoption, saying several provisions could significantly change the structure of the higher education system and undermine institutional autonomy . During an eight-hour meeting on Tuesday the commit, tee held a clause-by-clause examination of the Bill. Opposition MPs proposed multiple amendments, raising concerns over excessive centralisation of powers, encroachment on the role of states, bureaucratisation of higher education, dilution of the UGC’s consultative mandate, and the absence of funding mechanism. Unlike the UGC, the proposed commission will not be responsible for disbursing grants to universities. Funding decisions will rest with the Ministry of Education. Some MPs sought a mechanism for state participation and safeguards on quality standards and fee transparency for foreign universities and operating in India. According to the government, the bill is aimed at reducing overlaps among multiple bodies. Guidelines for scrutiny of properties All Sub-Registrars have been told to implement the new rules with immediate effect GPAs in favour of anyone other than blood relatives won’t be registered by Sub-Registrar; the Collector of Stamps to decide stamp duty Delhi cracks down on GPA stamp duty evasion A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE government has tightened rules on the registration of immovable properties to curb revenue loss, crack down on land mafias and property fraud, and safeguard government revenue. It has issued strict guidelines for the scrutiny of propertyrelated documents executed through General Power of Attorney (GPA). All Sub-Registrars have been directed to implement the new rules with immediate effect. CM Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday many property documents are being registered as GPAs by paying only a nominal stamp duty, though they effectively amount to property sale agreements by including provisions for sale, possession and transfer of ownership. She said that such practices amount to stamp duty evasion. Under the new guidelines, every GPA presented for registration will undergo detailed scrutiny by the Sub-Registrar. Officials will examine whether the document mentions monetary consideration, provides for the transfer of possession, is irrevocable, or grants permanent authority to sell, gift, transfer or mortgage the property . GPAs executed in favour of anyone other than close blood relatives—parents, spouse, son, daughter, brother or sister— will no longer be registered directly by the Sub-Registrar. Instead, they must be referred to the Collector of Stamps to determine the applicable stamp duty CONTINUED ON P4 . Gang-rape accused shot dead in Bengal S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata ONE of the prime accused in the gang-rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur in West Bengal’s South 24-Parganas district was shot dead by the police during an alleged encounter on Wednesday Sources . said the police shot Prabhas Mondal after he allegedly snatched a revolver from one of the cops accompanying him, and opened fire in an attempt to escape from custody . Mondal’s mother refused to claim his body, saying that he has received the punishment he deserved. “The little girl died after suffering from immense pain. My son got what he deserved for what he did. I told police I would not go to collect his body and nobody from the family will either,” she said. His wife Chanpa Mondal also refused to defend him, saying she has endured a lot of abuse while living with him. “I cannot say whether he committed this crime. After our marriage, I saw his behaviour. I have endured a lot of abuse. When his name surfaced in the case, I felt he was capable of doing something like this,” she said.