India is negotiating a softer US tariff pact amid Washington’s global tariff hike. Talks aim to cap duties on Indian goods below 20%, compared to the initially proposed 26%. This positions India favorably against Asian peers like Vietnam and the Philippines, facing 20–40% tariffs. However, unresolved issues—GM crops, dairy norms, data localization, and defense contracts—threaten progress. India resists US demands that clash with domestic policies and cultural values. The July 9 deadline passed without a deal; August 1 looms. Both sides may settle for a mini-deal now and defer tougher negotiations. Trump’s unpredictable stance and India’s firm red lines make the outcome uncertain. (PC: Mid Day)

A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, 2025, is now undergoing confidential repairs. The sensitive maintenance work is being conducted under strict security, guarded round-the-clock by British soldiers and Indian CISF personnel. Indian security forces and technical staff have been restricted from accessing the hangar due to the classified nature of the aircraft’s technology. A 25-member British technical team and Lockheed Martin specialists are overseeing the repair. If on-site repairs fail, the jet may be dismantled and transported back to the UK under heavy secrecy. (PC: ANI)

A preliminary report on the Air India AI-171 crash reveals that fuel control switches were moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" seconds after takeoff, causing engine shutdowns and a fatal crash that killed 260 people. The US FAA had issued a 2018 advisory warning of potential disengagement of the switch locking feature in Boeing aircraft, including the 787-8. Air India did not conduct inspections, citing the advisory as "not mandatory." The switches later returned to "RUN," but only one engine recovered. A pilot was heard asking why the cutoff occurred, with the other denying involvement. The investigation continues, with no conclusions or blame assigned yet. (PC: Bloomberg & NDTV)

A second-year MBA student at IIM Calcutta was arrested after a woman alleged rape inside the boys’ hostel. She claimed she was drugged with spiked pizza and water, lost consciousness, and woke up realizing she had been sexually assaulted. The FIR was filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. However, the woman’s father later denied the allegations, stating she fell from an auto-rickshaw and was fine. Police are investigating the contradictory claims and have seized evidence, including the accused’s phone and clothing. The institute has not commented officially but is cooperating with authorities. The accused remains in custody as the investigation continues. (PC: Hindustan Times & India Today)

A 40-year-old Russian woman, Nina Kutina, and her two daughters were rescued from a hazardous cave atop Ramatirtha Hill in Gokarna, Karnataka. Seeking spiritual solitude, they lived in isolation for two weeks in a landslide-prone zone inhabited by venomous wildlife. Kutina, who entered India on a business visa in 2017, had overstayed her permitted duration after re-entering from Nepal in 2018. Her documents were recovered in a joint search by police and forest officials. Following counseling, the family was relocated to an ashram run by Swami Yogaratna Saraswati. Authorities have initiated deportation proceedings, with the Russian Embassy contacted and formalities underway. (PC: AI Generated)

The US Embassy in India has issued a stern advisory warning that visa screening continues even after issuance. Visa holders must comply with all US laws and immigration rules or face revocation and deportation. The statement aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement. The embassy emphasized that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right,” and violations—including visa fraud or illegal stay—will result in serious penalties. Applicants must now disclose all social media handles from the past five years, with omissions potentially leading to denial or future ineligibility. The embassy’s digital campaign reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on immigration violations. (PC: Wikipedia & Hindustan Times)

Jammu & Kashmir authorities on July 11, 2025, barred Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid and placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric, under house arrest. The action was taken ahead of Martyrs’ Day (July 13), commemorating 22 Kashmiris killed in 1931 under Dogra rule. Officials reportedly feared that Mirwaiz’s sermon might include politically sensitive remarks. Mirwaiz appealed for peaceful homage at the Martyrs’ Graveyard and lifting of restrictions. Political parties like the National Conference condemned the move, calling it a violation of religious freedom and demanding Martyrs’ Day be restored as a public holiday. (PC: The Hindu)  

At the 62nd convocation of IIT Madras on July 11, 2025, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval revealed details of Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted military response to a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Launched at 1:05 a.m. on May 7, the strike hit nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK in just 23 minutes, killing over 100 terrorists with surgical accuracy—“we missed none” . He challenged foreign media, including The New York Times, demanding they produce even one photograph showing damage within India—not even a broken pane of glass occurred, he stated . Doval also lauded India’s indigenous defense technology—notably BrahMos missiles and integrated command systems—and urged the youth to build India’s strength for its 2047 strategic vision. (PC: The Hindu)

  India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval revealed that during Operation Sindoor, India struck 13 Pakistani air bases and nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The precision airstrikes, conducted on May 7, lasted just 23 minutes and were in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. Doval emphasized India's technological prowess and indigenous capabilities, challenging foreign media claims of Indian damage. He asserted that no Indian infrastructure was harmed, not even a glass pane. Satellite imagery confirmed the targeted Pakistani sites, including Sargodha, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan. A ceasefire was reached on May 10 after four days of cross-border conflict.

At IIT Madras’ 62nd convocation, NSA Ajit Doval defended India’s precision strike, Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, launched on May 7. He emphasized the operation’s indigenous technological strength and pinpoint accuracy, targeting nine terror hubs deep inside Pakistan in just 23 minutes. Doval challenged foreign media, notably the New York Times, to produce a single image showing damage on Indian soil, asserting none exists not even a broken glass pane. He cited satellite images showing destruction at 13 Pakistani air bases post-May 10. The operation was a response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam. Doval’s remarks underscored India’s strategic capability and media accountability. (PC: The Quint & NDTV)