Ahead of the UK elections on July 4, the Hindu community, the third-largest religious group, is asserting its political influence. 29 Hindu organisations have released the 'Hindu Manifesto UK 2024' with seven key demands, including recognition of anti-Hindu hate as a religious hate crime. This is the first time British Hindus have come together to make demands, aware of their strength as a sizeable electorate of around 1 million people. Both Labour and Conservative parties are counting the community's votes, with leaders Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak visiting temples and making promises. The Hindu community's growing political presence could significantly impact the election outcome.

Former President Barack Obama has privately expressed concerns about President Joe Biden's re-election bid following a disappointing debate performance against Donald Trump on June 28. Despite publicly endorsing Biden, Obama reportedly told allies that the debate made Biden's re-election more challenging. Obama has rallied behind his former vice-president, urging voters to focus on the choice between Biden's commitment to ordinary Americans and Trump's self-interest. Obama dismissed Biden's debate stumbles as a "bad debate night," emphasizing the importance of the election's outcome in November.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that violence in Manipur is subsiding, with over 11,000 FIRs filed and 500 arrests made. He emphasized ongoing efforts to restore normalcy, highlighting that schools and offices have reopened. However, the Congress criticized Modi for not visiting Manipur since ethnic violence began in May 2023. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the PM’s claim “astounding” and noted continued tension in the state. Opposition MPs walked out of the Rajya Sabha during Modi's address, protesting the government's handling of the situation.

Chief Minister Champai Soren is set to resign today, paving the way for Hemant Soren's return as Jharkhand's top official. This comes days after Hemant Soren was released on bail. A unanimous decision was taken at a meeting of the JMM-led alliance, attended by Hemant Soren and Ghulam Ahmed Mir. Formalities for the new government formation will begin accordingly. Hemant Soren had stepped down as CM in January after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. His return is seen as a bid to project a unified command ahead of state elections.

On the final day of campaigning, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is touring England, Scotland, and Wales, making a last-minute pitch to voters. In South Wales, he emphasized the need for change, criticizing 14 years of Tory "chaos, divisions, and failure." Starmer accused the Tories of exhibiting chaos during their campaign, referencing their association with former PMs David Cameron, Liz Truss, and Boris Johnson. He urged voters to choose Labour, promising to "rebuild" and deliver for Britain. Starmer's message is clear: "It's time to turn the page" and bring about change.

During a 135-minute speech in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a glass of water to opposition MPs who disrupted proceedings with continuous slogans on the Manipur issue. The gesture came as Modi replied to debates on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. The act, captured on camera, sparked widespread discussion on social media, with supporters praising Modi's composure. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla's sarcastic comment and various reactions highlighted the incident's impact. Modi's speech also saw him criticize Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading claims and disrupting parliamentary decorum.

In a sharp speech in Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling his actions "childish behavior" and "balak buddhi." Modi referenced Gandhi’s 2018 hug and wink incident, mocking it as "childish antics." He also accused the Congress of falsely portraying Hindus as violent. Amid opposition chants of "justice for Manipur," Modi urged Speaker Om Birla to address disruptions. The speech concluded with Modi's prayer for Gandhi to gain wisdom. The House was adjourned sine die after adopting the motion of thanks on the President’s address.

The Government is "Urgently" investigating the delay in delivery of postal ballots to thousands of voters ahead of Thursday's election. Conservative minister Maria Caulfield confirmed that several constituencies, including those of Cabinet ministers, have reported non-delivery of postal votes. Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake is in direct contact with Royal Mail to ensure timely delivery. Extra resources are being deployed to sweep sorting offices and deliver the ballots. Affected voters can take their postal votes to polling stations on Thursday. The government is taking the issue seriously to ensure a smooth voting process.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and MP from Rae Bareli, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding the reinstatement of expunged portions from his maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition. Gandhi criticized the Speaker's decision as "selective expunction" and claimed it violated parliamentary rules. He argued that the expunged remarks, including critiques of BJP policies, were within his rights under Article 105(1) of the Indian Constitution. Gandhi's move comes after parts of his speech, addressing issues like NEET and the Agnipath scheme, were removed, sparking controversy over freedom of speech in Parliament.

In a fiery Lok Sabha speech, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi declared, "Truth is expunged in Modi’s world," after parts of his address were removed. Gandhi criticized the BJP for allegedly spreading fear, hatred, and falsehoods under the guise of Hinduism during the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. He argued that BJP’s actions do not represent all Hindus, emphasizing that all religions advocate courage and fearlessness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interrupted, stating that Gandhi’s remarks were an unfair portrayal of Hindu society, which Gandhi refuted by distinguishing BJP and RSS from the entire Hindu community.