Former women Naxals from Bastar, who once carried weapons in the forests, walked the runway in traditional handloom outfits at a tribal fashion show in Raipur. The event was organised to mark National Handloom Day and drew loud applause from the audience. Their appearance highlighted the change in their lives after surrendering and returning to mainstream society. The women are among former insurgents being supported through livelihood and rehabilitation programmes aimed at helping them build independent lives. The event also came as Chhattisgarh focused on development in Bastar after years of violence. Their confident runway appearance offered a powerful picture of their journey towards a new life.  

Air India will screen all its pilots for substance abuse before departures after the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana. The airline said mandatory testing will begin on August 13 and will cover substances or medications not permitted under regulations. The decision follows an August 4 incident in which flight AI2379 suddenly lost about 300 feet during cruise, leaving 24 people injured. Air India initially attributed the incident to turbulence, but the pilot later tested positive in a confirmatory drug test. Both pilots had undergone post-flight screening. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the incident, while DGCA will decide regulatory action. (PC: HT)

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a sword by a Nihang group at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal suffered minor injuries during the incident, while his security personnel quickly intervened and stopped the attacker. Police detained those involved and launched an investigation. Badal, a prominent Sikh politician and former Punjab minister, was reportedly out of danger after the attack. His wife, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the gurdwara. The incident has raised concerns over security arrangements during Badal’s visit to the religious site. (PC: The Indian Express)

Residents of Thane are opposing Amazon Data Services India’s proposed data centre in Balkum, citing concerns over heat, noise, emissions and pressure on electricity supply. The facility is planned on a 53-acre plot and is expected to involve an investment of around ₹47,000 crore. Residents under the “Wake Up Thanekar” campaign say the project’s location in a densely populated area, near homes, schools, hospitals and public transport, is a major concern. Amazon says the centre will use air-cooled and closed-loop technology, a dedicated power substation and noise-control measures to address environmental and safety concerns. (PC: India Today)

An Air India Phuket-Delhi flight logged 9 warnings within a minute during an altitude drop of around 360 feet, according to its post-flight fault records. Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, was flying at 36,160 feet on August 4 when the incident occurred, leaving 20 passengers and 4 crew members injured. The warnings included low pressure in the Green, Blue and Yellow hydraulic systems, low reservoir levels, an autopilot disconnect and an elevator flight-control fault. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the incident. The commander also told investigators that he had slept for 30 to 35 minutes during the flight. (PC: HT)

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, August 13, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The tremor occurred at 6:05:15 am IST at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 36.881°N latitude and 74.402°E longitude. NCS classified the event as a “Felt Quake” and recorded it as reviewed. The earthquake was also reported as being about 302 km north-northwest of Kargil. Initial reports indicated no casualties or significant structural damage, although authorities continued monitoring the situation. The shallow earthquake was felt in the region, with further assessments awaited. (PC: Times Now)

The Air India commander of flight AI2379, which suddenly lost altitude on the Phuket-Delhi route on August 4, told investigators he had been struggling with sleep due to personal circumstances and had taken medication prescribed by his family doctor. Two people familiar with his questioning said he slept for 30–35 minutes during the flight before returning to the cockpit. The first officer was flying when the altitude event occurred, while the commander was monitoring. The pilot’s confirmatory drug test was positive for cannabis after an initial “non-negative” screening. Investigators also examined nine aircraft warning messages involving hydraulic systems, autopilot and elevator controls recorded within a minute during the altitude drop. The aircraft lost about 360 feet. (PC: X)

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of 4 Domino’s outlets after inspections found multiple food safety and hygiene violations. Three outlets are in Mumbai, while the fourth is in Satara. The FDA inspected 104 establishments operated by major food chains, including KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s and Subway, during its August 11 drive. Officials found issues involving food storage, temperature monitoring, pest control, sanitation and hygiene. The Satara outlet recorded a compliance score of 47%, while one Borivali outlet scored 54%. The FDA also issued 95 improvement notices during the statewide inspection. (PC: India Today)

A parliamentary inquiry panel has found all 3 charges against former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma proved in connection with unexplained cash found at his official residence in March 2025. The 3-member committee said Varma failed to explain the source or ownership of a “huge quantity” of cash and found that material evidence was not properly preserved. The panel also described his explanations as evasive and misleading. Its report was tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 12. Varma resigned as a judge in April, raising questions over whether Parliament can proceed with his removal motion. (PC: The Indian Express)

Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 faced multiple technical warnings before suddenly losing about 300 feet in altitude on August 4, documents reviewed by NDTV show. The aircraft reported low pressure in all 3 hydraulic systems, low fluid levels in 2 reservoirs and problems involving its elevator controls. The autopilot also disconnected during the flight. Air India initially described the incident as a brief turbulence-related event but later removed the word “turbulence” from its statement. At least 20 passengers and 4 crew members were injured. Both pilots have been removed from flying duties pending an inquiry.