Passengers aboard an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi described moments of panic after severe turbulence jolted the aircraft mid-flight, throwing some travellers from their seats. One passenger said his father, who was not wearing a seat belt as the sign was off, struck the cabin ceiling before falling to the floor. His mother reportedly suffered swelling near her eye after being hit by a loosened overhead luggage compartment. Photos from inside the aircraft showed visible damage to the cabin interior. Despite the frightening incident and injuries to some passengers, the flight landed safely, with the episode renewing attention on in-flight turbulence safety and seat belt use.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said the government has no role in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's media interaction scheduled for August 5 in New Delhi. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the event is being organised by a private media organisation and that the government neither supports nor endorses any views expressed there. The clarification came after Bangladesh urged India to ensure that Hasina and other Awami League leaders do not use Indian territory for political activities. Hasina, who has been living in India since August 2024, is expected to address the event virtually. (PC: India Today)

India on Tuesday rejected the second phase of local elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling the exercise a "complete farce". Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the polls could not hide the ongoing unrest and crackdown in the region. He claimed at least 90 civilians have been killed by Pakistani forces since June, while many others were injured. Jaiswal said Pakistan was trying to use the elections to cover public protests and repression. He urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable. On reports of Sheikh Hasina's event in India, Jaiswal said it is being organised by a private media body. (PC: HT)

Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position over reported political activities by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Indian soil. The request comes ahead of Hasina’s planned virtual address and participation in an event in New Delhi on 5 August. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said such activities could affect ties between the two countries. She said Bangladesh has repeatedly told India that fugitives should not be allowed to carry out political activities aimed at creating instability. Dhaka, however, said it remains committed to improving relations with India and hopes New Delhi shares the same approach. (PC: X)

India has brought back 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries since 2021, the Centre said on Tuesday. The government said the returns were made through extradition, deportation and other legal processes. It said better coordination between Indian agencies and foreign governments helped speed up the efforts. The Centre also said the use of technology has improved the process of tracing and bringing back wanted criminals. According to the government, the number of fugitives returned has increased sharply in recent years. Officials said stronger international cooperation and faster action by different agencies have helped India bring more wanted people back to face legal proceedings. (PC: The Indian Express)

Nathan Thomas has become the world's youngest male professor after joining Miami Dade College as an engineering instructor at the age of 18 years and 346 days. His achievement, recognised by Guinness World Records, breaks a record held for 306 years by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor at 19 in 1717. Thomas began college at 10 through a dual-enrolment programme, later earning bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering. Alongside teaching, he is studying law at the University of Miami, aiming to specialise in intellectual property law while continuing his academic career. (PC: India Today)

The world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker, Lenin, continues to symbolise Russia's long-standing ambitions in the Arctic as Moscow expands the strategic Northern Sea Route (NSR). Once a Cold War technological milestone, the vessel now serves as a museum while underscoring Russia's decades-long investment in Arctic infrastructure and nuclear-powered shipping. The NSR is gaining importance as melting Arctic ice opens shorter trade links between Europe and Asia. India has emerged as a key partner in Russia's Arctic plans, with both countries deepening cooperation on the NSR through maritime connectivity, energy transport and logistics. The collaboration reflects growing India-Russia strategic ties beyond traditional defence and energy sectors.

A senior operative linked to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has claimed in a video that more than 30 members of the organisation have been killed by "unknown gunmen" across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir over the past three to four years. The video features Rizwan Hanif, whom Indian security agencies have identified as a senior LeT terrorist wanted by India. Hanif alleged that Indian agencies orchestrated the killings, a charge New Delhi has rejected. The video also reportedly contains hate speech targeting the Hindu religion. The development marks the first known public admission by a LeT-linked terrorist of such targeted killings within Pakistan and PoK.

Bangladesh has asked India to prevent former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League associates from using Indian territory for political activities ahead of her planned virtual address on August 5, warning that such actions could undermine bilateral ties. During a meeting in Dhaka, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir raised the issue with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, who said the matter would be examined. Hasina, living in exile in India since August 2024, is expected to outline her future plans and proposed return to Bangladesh during an event in New Delhi. India said Bangladesh's extradition request is under examination through existing legal procedures. (PC: CNN)

Thailand’s popularity among Indian travellers has coincided with a worrying rise in crimes where Indians allegedly target fellow Indians. The latest case involved three Indian tourists who arrived in Bangkok on July 21 for a vacation but were allegedly abducted, taken to a building in Pattaya, tortured for ransom and rescued a week later during a Thai police raid. Authorities arrested the suspected kidnappers, who were also Indians, as they prepared to flee. The incident is part of a broader pattern involving kidnapping, extortion and exploitation of Indian nationals in Thailand. Investigators have also documented cases where Indians were forced into criminal enterprises, highlighting growing concerns over cross-border organised crime targeting compatriots. (PC: India Today)