 "FirstUp: Lok Sabha to begin 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor and other top news")
It’s a busy Monday.
The Lok Sabha is set for an intense debate today on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack.
US President Donald Trump will visit his golf resort in Turnberry, where he will also meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The third round of trade talks between the US and China will take place in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition on whether BS VI-compliant vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region should have a fixed life span of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel variants.
Google and Meta have been called in by the Enforcement Directorate today over the promotion of online betting and gambling apps labelled as “illegal.”
Let’s take a look at the events:
Operation Sindoor debate in Lok Sabha
The much-awaited discussion on Operation Sindoor will begin today in Parliament. The Lok Sabha will take it up today, followed by the Rajya Sabha tomorrow (Tuesday).
Both Houses have set aside 16 hours for the debate, expected to run over two days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to speak during the discussion.
On the first day of the monsoon session, PM Modi set the stage for the government’s stand on the Opposition’s call for a debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack.
He had called India’s strike on terror camps inside Pakistan a “100% success.”
The Opposition plans to raise questions about the US repeatedly claiming to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
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View AllIt also plans to bring up the alleged intelligence failure in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by armed terrorists on April 22.
Trump to meet UK PM Starmer in Scotland
As part of his Scotland visit, US President Donald Trump will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort.
He will later travel around 200 miles (320 km) to his large golf estate near Aberdeen in the west.
During the visit, he is expected to open a new 18-hole course at the Aberdeen property. The course is named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish island before moving to the US.
This overseas trip comes as Trump deals with the biggest political crisis of his second term. White House officials, concerned by the ongoing focus on the Epstein controversy, are hoping the issue loses steam while Trump is abroad.
Trump is expected to return to Britain for a state visit from September 17 to 19, hosted by King Charles.
China-US trade talks
The United States and China will begin the third round of key trade negotiations in Stockholm, Sweden.
The talks are taking place from July 27 to July 30.
According to a statement from China’s commerce ministry, both sides will continue discussions based on the principles of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.”
Notably, China is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a lasting agreement with the White House or face higher tariffs from the US.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier said that officials from both countries would also explore the possibility of extending the deadline for finalising the deal.
Key SC hearing over end-of-life rules for BS VI vehicles in NCR
The Supreme Court will today hear a plea on whether BS VI-compliant vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region should be treated the same as BS IV ones, with an end-of-life cap of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel variants.
A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran agreed to take up the matter after a lawyer requested an urgent hearing.
In 2015, the National Green Tribunal had ruled that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15 years must not be allowed to operate in the NCR to curb pollution.
The Supreme Court upheld this decision in 2018.
Recently, the Delhi Government made an attempt to implement the same rule for BS VI vehicles. However, the move led to opposition from the public, leading to its suspension.
Meta, Google to appear before ED over betting sites
Google and Meta are due to appear today before the Enforcement Directorate over allegations of promoting “illegal” online betting and gambling apps.
The two tech companies are accused of allowing and giving prominence to advertisements and websites linked to betting platforms.
According to news agency PTI, representatives of both firms had earlier requested a delay in their July 21 summons, saying they needed more time to gather documents and prepare for questioning.
Once they appear, their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
With inputs from agencies
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