The Geological Survey of India has designated Purulia in West Bengal as a rare earth elements (REE) hub, with G2‑level exploration now underway in two blocks – one in Purulia and the other in Karbi Anglong, Assam . Although the deposits in Purulia are modest, the advanced exploration signals India’s intent to reduce dependency on imported minerals vital for EVs, renewable energy and defense . Findings from GSI’s exploration—expected to be auctioned within a year—will be forwarded to state and central authorities. (PC: Reuters)

Following the June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, the flight’s cockpit voice and data recorders (black boxes) were recovered — one from a rooftop on June 13 and the other from wreckage on June 16. A specialized data-extraction kit from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board arrived 11 days after the crash and was used in India's new ₹9 crore AAIB lab in Delhi to access the memory module on June 25. The recovered recordings began revealing that engine fuel switches flipped to "cutoff" shortly after takeoff, triggering total engine failure and the subsequent crash. (PC: The Hindu)

Radhika Yadav, a 25‑year‑old former state‑ranked tennis player turned coach, was shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, in their Gurugram home on July 10, 2025. He fired five rounds from a licensed .32‑bore revolver—three bullets struck her in the back and neck, killing her instantly . The motive appears rooted in patriarchal insecurity: Deepak felt humiliated by neighbours' taunts that he was “living off his daughter’s income” from her tennis academy, which he had repeatedly asked her to shut down . Radhika had gained fame through sports and online content, including Instagram reels and a music video titled “Karwaan”. (PC: X)  

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report, Air India Flight 171’s fatal crash on June 12, 2025, was caused by both engine fuel control switches unexpectedly moving from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Cockpit voice recordings captured pilot confusion over the sudden dual-engine shutdown. Though the switches were returned to RUN within seconds, there wasn’t enough thrust to recover. Investigators found no mechanical fault yet, focusing on whether the incident was triggered by unintended pilot action or system malfunction. The crash resulted in 260 fatalities, marking India’s worst aviation disaster in recent decades. (PC: News 18)  

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its initial findings on the June 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. The report highlights that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost power due to an abrupt fuel cut-off just seconds after take-off. Cockpit voice recordings reveal one pilot questioning the other about cutting off fuel, suggesting possible human error. Although the fuel switches were reset and engines briefly reignited, recovery was not possible. No mechanical faults were found, and no immediate safety advisories have been issued to Boeing or engine manufacturers.  

A Gurugram court sent Deepak Yadav, father of murdered tennis player Radhika Yadav, to one-day police custody for further investigation. Police said the motive stemmed from family tension over Radhika’s financial independence and tennis academy—not honour killing. The 25-year-old was shot three times in the back on Thursday. Station House Officer Vindo Kumar confirmed no love or honour-related motive. Police are also probing the role of Radhika’s mother, who was home during the murder. Authorities plan to recover arms from a village in Rewari. Radhika, ranked 1999 by the ITF, had recently played in Indore and Kuala Lumpur qualifiers. (PC: News18)

Radhika Yadav, a 25-year-old national-level tennis player, was shot dead by her father Deepak Yadav in Gurugram. Police say he confessed to firing three bullets into her back while she was in the kitchen. Family tensions had escalated over her financial independence, Instagram reels, and a music video appearance that allegedly embarrassed him. Deepak, a former bank employee, reportedly faced taunts in their village for depending on his daughter. Radhika had recently shifted to coaching after an injury. The accused’s wife was home but has not given a written statement. Police are probing the motive further, including social pressures. (PC: NDTV)

On July 9, 2025, a major tragedy struck Padra, Vadodara, as a section of the Gambhira Bridge collapsed, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the Mahi River. At least 18 people have died and two remain missing. Gujarat’s Roads and Buildings Minister confirmed that a structural failure caused by pedestal and articulation crushing led to the collapse. The 1985-built bridge had shown signs of wear but remained in use. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has suspended four engineers and ordered statewide bridge inspections. Rescue efforts by NDRF and fire services continue as investigations into accountability deepen.  

The Election Commission of India reports that as of July 11, 2025, 74.39% of Bihar’s electorate—5.87 crore out of ~7.90 crore total—have submitted enumeration forms in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, with 14 days remaining before the July 25 deadline . Booth Level Officers, agents, and over 4 lakh volunteers are facilitating door-to-door form collection and digital uploads across the state . Concurrently, the Supreme Court has urged the EC to consider including Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards among acceptable documents—a move welcomed by opposition parties seeking transparency in the process. (PC: ANI)

Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat faced political backlash when Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared a video showing Shirsat seated beside what appeared to be a bag of cash. Shirsat clarified that it was merely dirty laundry, dismissing corruption allegations as politically motivated. He also confirmed receiving an Income Tax Department notice for unexplained wealth increase between the 2019–2024 elections, citing that all assets were declared in his affidavit and requesting more time to respond. The incident has intensified infighting in Maharashtra politics and calls for an impartial probe. (PC: X)