Indian police have rescued Russian woman Nina Kutina and her two young daughters from a cave in Karnataka’s Gokarna forest. Kutina, 40, defended her cave life, claiming “nature gives good health” and her children were happy. Without valid documents, they now face deportation. Authorities say Kutina overstayed her Indian visa after years of travelling through Asia. Her Israeli ex-partner seeks custody of the girls. Kutina insists she wasn’t endangering her children, describing life in the forest as healthy and fulfilling. Police found her after spotting clothes drying outside the cave during a patrol to protect tourists. (PC: BBC)

Pilots' unions have raised objections after a Wall Street Journal report suggested the Air India captain played a key role in June’s Boeing 787 crash in the US by allegedly cutting fuel flow to the engines, citing cockpit recordings. The Indian government has urged the public not to rush to conclusions, stating that investigations are ongoing. "Final reports must be awaited before assigning blame," a senior official said. The incident forced a safety pause on Air India’s international flights. Pilot groups say speculative reports risk damaging reputations without full facts being established. (PC: India Today)

During a Congress workers’ rally at Chaygaon on July 16, 2025, Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of treating the state like his "kingdom" and transferring land to corporate giants like Adani and Ambani. Gandhi confidently predicted that Sarma would be imprisoned on corruption charges once Congress assumes power after the 2026 assembly elections—“neither Modi nor Amit Shah will be able to save him” . Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these claims, promising to rebuild homes destroyed in state eviction drives . In response, Sarma reminded Gandhi that he’s currently out on bail in multiple cases. (PC: Screengrab)

The Karnataka government's status report, submitted to the High Court, reveals that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced a free-entries victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4—without formally obtaining police permission, merely intimating on June 3, failing mandated 7-day prior approval . The unilateral public invitation on social media drew lakhs unexpectedly, disabling proper crowd control and resulting in a fatal stampede claiming 11 lives. The High Court has mandated full disclosure of the report. Prior judicial findings had already blamed RCB, KSCA, and police for negligence in planning and enforcement. (PC: NDTV)

The investigation into the June 12 Air India Boeing 787 crash, which killed 260 people, now centres on Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s actions. Cockpit voice recordings indicate that, seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, both engine fuel-control switches were deliberately moved to “cut-off,” causing dual engine failure. First Officer Clive Kunder, piloting at the time, was heard in panic asking why the fuel was cut. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found no mechanical faults, raising suspicion of human error or intent. U.S. experts are assisting, and a criminal inquiry is being considered. The investigation remains ongoing. (PC: Reuters)  

On the night of July 16, 2025, IndiGo flight 6E‑6271, an Airbus A320neo, suffered an engine malfunction mid‑air around 9:27 pm, roughly 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar. The pilot issued a “PAN PAN PAN” call—alerting air traffic control to a serious but non-life-threatening issue—and diverted to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The aircraft landed safely at 9:53 pm, ahead of schedule. All 191 passengers and crew were unharmed. IndiGo confirmed a technical snag, grounded the plane for inspection, and arranged an alternate aircraft to complete the journey.  (PC: News 18)

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Goa made an emergency landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Wednesday night following a reported engine failure. The flight, which took off around 8 pm after a short delay, was forced to divert mid-air and landed safely in Mumbai just before 10 pm. Sources cited by PTI confirmed the engine issue but added that all passengers and crew were safe. Flight tracker data confirmed the diversion. IndiGo has not released an official statement yet. Authorities are likely to investigate the cause. Passengers are expected to be rebooked on alternate flights. (PC: HT)

Air India has completed inspections of fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 fleet, finding no faults, an airline official said. The checks followed a DGCA directive after last month's deadly crash that killed 260 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had flagged fuel switches in its preliminary report. Air India confirmed all Boeing 787-8 jets had prior Throttle Control Module replacements. IATA chief Willie Walsh praised India’s transparency in releasing the report. Air India advised pilots to remain vigilant for abnormalities, though pilot groups rejected claims of human error in the crash. Final investigation findings are awaited. (PC: India Today)

Heavy tension gripped Odisha Assembly premises in Bhubaneswar this morning as large groups protested over a college student's self-immolation incident. Demonstrators, including political party workers and students, gathered demanding accountability and action against alleged administrative negligence linked to the case. The protest turned intense as police resorted to tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the agitated crowd, leading to scuffles and injuries. Traffic disruptions and heavy police deployment were reported around Bidhan Sabha. The state government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident fueling the protests. (PC: India Today)

On July 16, a fierce encounter broke out in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, leading to the deaths of two Maoists and one CRPF jawan from the elite CoBRA unit. Acting on intelligence about Maoist movement in Birhordera forest near Gomia, security forces launched an operation around 5:30 am. A heavy exchange of fire ensued, resulting in casualties on both sides. The bodies of the Maoists and the martyred jawan were recovered, and a large search operation is ongoing to flush out remaining insurgents. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region. (PC: PTI)