An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi hit severe turbulence during the cruise phase on Tuesday, injuring 17 people, including four cabin crew members. Flight AI379 was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. The aircraft made a safe landing at Delhi's IGI Airport, where injured passengers were taken for medical treatment. Air India said the turbulence caused a brief drop in altitude and damaged parts of the aircraft. The airline said there were no serious injuries. Five passengers have been discharged, while others continue to receive treatment. Air India said it is providing support to all affected passengers and crew.

A viral video from Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district shows schoolchildren crossing a stop dam over the Betwa river to reach school. The students from Karua village use the risky route because the safer road is 8 to 10 kilometres longer. Officials confirmed the video was filmed in Paloh village. After the footage went viral, the administration promised bicycles for the children to use the safer route. It also proposed building a temporary bridge and is considering opening a school closer to the villages. The children said they have crossed the dam this way for four to five years without another practical option.

A Pakistan delegation reportedly met leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, amid ongoing protests in the region. According to Times Now, sources claimed the delegation included Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, an NIA-wanted operative linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. The report alleged the meeting raised fresh concerns over Pakistan's ties with terror groups. The talks come as protests continue over assembly seats, inflation, electricity tariffs and governance. Amnesty International USA has called for an independent investigation into the reported use of force against protesters. Pakistan has not publicly responded to the claims.

Animal lovers held a candlelight march in Maharashtra's Ambernath on Monday, demanding the arrest of a man accused of killing a cat. Police said the incident happened on July 26 at a housing society, where the man allegedly pushed the cat from the 12th floor. The animal died on the spot. CCTV footage of the incident went viral and sparked public outrage. A case has been registered, and police have questioned the accused. Protesters said no arrest has been made yet. The cat's body was later exhumed for a post-mortem. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

The Centre has summoned Meta's Head of Public Policy and an Instagram technical official for meetings on August 5 and 6. The government wants answers on how Meta's algorithms work and how political content is promoted. Officials will also discuss the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post, child sexual abuse material, AI-generated fake videos and compliance with Indian law. Meta has been asked to explain the technical error behind the post's removal. The government will also review the company's safety measures and content moderation systems. The meetings are part of wider scrutiny of Meta's operations in India.

The Supreme Court has proposed a pilot project to deny fuel to uninsured vehicles and asked the Centre and IRDAI to prepare an implementation plan. The court also directed authorities to integrate Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with insurance databases to automatically detect uninsured vehicles and issue e-challans. It recommended handheld verification devices for traffic police, stricter penalties for uninsured driving and extending mandatory third-party insurance by one year for new private cars and two-wheelers. The bench stressed that mandatory insurance ensures timely compensation for accident victims and noted that nearly 56% of vehicles on Indian roads remain uninsured, leading to prolonged litigation and delayed relief. (PC: Reuters)  

India's free UPI payment system could see a major policy shift after the government proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act that would allow Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on select UPI transactions in the future. If approved, the changes would primarily target high-value payments above ₹2,000 made to large merchants, while person-to-person transfers and most consumer payments are expected to remain free. No MDR has been introduced yet, but the proposal creates the legal framework for future charges. The payments industry has long sought such a move, arguing it would help fund infrastructure, innovation and the continued expansion of India's digital payments ecosystem. (PC: Image created using AI for representational purposes)

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index ranked India 176th out of 177 countries, despite a small improvement over the past decade. The report said India continues to face major challenges in air quality, biodiversity and environmental health. It ranked 174th in environmental health and 171st in ecosystem vitality. The report noted that renewable energy has expanded, but coal use has also increased as power demand grows. India ranked 130th in climate change mitigation, its strongest category. The report also said India trails several South Asian neighbours, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, in overall environmental performance. (PC: First Post)

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, leaving at least 14 people injured. Passengers described frightening moments as the aircraft suddenly lost altitude. "We thought we would die. It was really scary," an Italian passenger said after seeing her sister thrown into the air and her mother suffer a head injury. Another passenger said people hit their heads on the overhead bins after the sudden drop. Air India said the aircraft landed safely in Delhi and injured passengers received medical care. The DGCA has been informed, and officials said a probe is underway into the incident.  

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a nationwide listening tour to engage with young people after its anti-NEET paper leak agitation. The party will hold a two-day strategy meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, on Wednesday and Thursday to finalise its future roadmap. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokespersons and organisational leaders will attend. According to the party, the outreach aims to understand the aspirations and concerns of youth before deciding its next steps. CJP said the campaign follows consultations with volunteers and supporters and seeks to build on the momentum created by the NEET protest movement. (PC: India Today)