India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a strong diplomatic protest following an attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. The ship carried 24 Indian crew members, of whom 21 have been rescued while three remain missing. New Delhi expressed serious concern over the safety of Indian nationals and demanded accountability and clarity regarding the incident. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is coordinating with Omani authorities as search-and-rescue operations continue. The episode has heightened tensions amid ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz region. (PC: Reuters)

The newly inaugurated ₹248-crore extension of Mumbai’s Mrinaltai Gore Flyover has sparked controversy after motorists reported uneven road surfaces, visible patches, and sections where vehicle stands reportedly sank into the asphalt just days after its opening. The 750-metre flyover, inaugurated by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on June 6, was built to improve connectivity between Goregaon East and West and reduce travel time. Opposition leaders, activists, and commuters have questioned the quality of construction and project delays. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) maintains that the structure is safe and the surface appearance is normal, demands for an independent quality audit are growing. (PC: India Today)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing one of the biggest crises in its history after 19 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly moved to form a separate parliamentary bloc. According to sources, the rebel group includes prominent leaders such as Yusuf Pathan, Shatrughan Sinha, Saayoni Ghosh, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The MPs have reportedly submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their intention to align with the BJP-led NDA. The rebellion poses a significant challenge to the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee and could reshape political equations in Parliament. (PC: NDTV)

Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur have been selected for the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to cricket. Rohit, one of India's most successful captains and batters, has played a key role in numerous international triumphs, while Harmanpreet has transformed women's cricket through her leadership and match-winning performances. The honour reflects their impact on the sport and their inspiration to future generations. Both players were among several sportspersons named in the 2026 Padma Awards list announced by the Government of India.

Arunachal Pradesh’s rising MMA star, Sonam Zomba, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming South Asia’s top-ranked female mixed martial arts fighter. Hailing from Jang village in Tawang district, Zomba overcame a career-threatening four-year injury layoff before making a stunning return to competition in 2022. She went on to win and successfully defend the Matrix Fight Night (MFN) Women’s Strawweight Championship, establishing herself as one of India’s leading combat sports athletes. Her latest victory, an armbar submission against Brazil’s Maristela Alves at MFN 18, further cemented her dominance and inspired aspiring fighters across Northeast India. 

Sri Lanka's Public Security Minister has alleged that former State Intelligence Service chief Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay played a key role in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. Addressing Parliament, the minister claimed investigations found that Sallay conspired with Islamic extremists and directed events leading to the attacks.   Sallay, who was arrested earlier this year on charges of aiding and abetting the bombings, has denied the allegations through his lawyer. The case remains under investigation, with court proceedings continuing. Church leaders and victims' groups have also renewed calls for an independent probe into one of Sri Lanka's deadliest terror attacks. (PC: HT)

A Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed during take-off near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday, killing all personnel on board. According to the military's media wing, the helicopter went down due to a technical fault.   The military said there were no survivors but did not disclose the number of casualties. The crash occurred near Muzaffarabad, where security has been tightened in recent days ahead of planned protests by a movement that was recently banned under Pakistan's anti-terror laws.   Authorities have not released further details, and the cause of the technical failure is expected to be investigated. (PC: NDTV)

India has strongly condemned the attack on a commercial vessel near the Oman coast that left three Indian crew members missing. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 21 Indian sailors have been rescued and efforts are underway to trace the missing crew.   The government is closely monitoring the situation and is coordinating with local authorities for search and rescue operations. India also expressed concern over the safety of commercial shipping in the region and called for the protection of maritime routes.   The incident comes amid rising tensions in West Asia, raising fresh concerns over the security of international sea lanes and the safety of Indian seafarers working in the region. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders exchanged fresh threats after both sides carried out new military strikes in the Middle East. Trump said Iran had delayed negotiations for too long and would now "pay the price", claiming Tehran's military had been "completely defeated". Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that the country would not leave any attack or threat unanswered. The latest tensions followed US strikes on Iranian military sites after a US helicopter was brought down near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran later launched attacks on US bases in the region, though US officials said most missiles and drones were intercepted. (PC: BBC)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has dismissed reports of a possible merger with the Congress, calling such speculation baseless. Sources said there is no proposal for a merger, though both parties have kept the door open for future political cooperation and remain in touch on issues of mutual interest. Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee are also learnt to have discussed strengthening coordination within the INDIA bloc. The clarification comes as the TMC faces an internal rebellion, with several MLAs and MPs leaving the party and dissident leaders insisting they will continue to function under the Trinamool Congress banner. (PC: HT)