Two U.S. service members from the USS Abraham Lincoln were sent back to the aircraft carrier and confined on board after a drunken brawl in Pattaya, Thailand. Thai police responded to an emergency call at about 1:30 a.m. on Thursday and took the sailors to a joint U.S.-Thailand operations centre before they were returned to the ship. The incident was described as minor. The Lincoln, carrying about 5,000 sailors and Marines, arrived in Thailand after a record 286 days at sea. The five-day port call was meant to give the crew time to rest and recover after the prolonged deployment. (PC: The Independent)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) secured a major breakthrough after Delhi Police added an attempt-to-murder charge against Swatantra Bhardwaj in the Jantar Mantar assault case. Bhardwaj is accused of attacking Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a protest. CJP leaders had demanded stricter action after a viral video allegedly showed Bhardwaj discussing the assault. Following the protest, police detained him in Bulandshahr and said further legal action was underway.

India has raised permissible radiation limits for mobile networks, aligning them with global standards. The move is expected to help telecom operators expand 5G coverage, improve signal quality and use fewer towers and network sites. The earlier limits were stricter than international benchmarks. With 5G data traffic rising rapidly, the change could reduce deployment costs and improve connectivity, including in difficult indoor locations. The government says the revised norms will support faster and more efficient expansion of mobile infrastructure while continuing to follow internationally recognised safety standards. (PC: Economic Times)

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Europe ignored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier warnings about the dangers of depending too much on other countries for trade and industry.   Speaking at a CII event, De Wever said Europe was now facing a “rude awakening” as economic dependence was being used as a tool for pressure.   He said India understood these risks earlier than Europe. De Wever also called India an important partner for Europe. He said both sides should work together on trade, investment, technology and stronger supply chains in a changing global environment.  

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be among the top leaders President Donald Trump wants to meet at the G20 Summit in December.   Gor said Trump considers Modi a friend and hinted that their meeting could go beyond the main summit. He also said Trump may visit India next year.   On trade, Gor said India and the US were close to reaching an agreement. He praised India as a trusted defence partner and said more senior US officials would visit the country. Gor also said the US wants to hold a Quad leaders’ summit.  

Heavy rain caused severe waterlogging in several parts of Delhi on Friday. Roads in Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Akbar Road and near IGI Airport were flooded. The waterlogging led to traffic jams and caused problems for commuters.   Flight operations were also affected. At least nine flights were diverted, while more than 400 flights faced delays. Passengers at IGI Airport reported long waits due to flooded roads and water near the terminal.   The India Meteorological Department issued a Yellow Alert for Delhi. It warned of more rain, thunderstorms and possible traffic disruptions in some areas.  

Two workers were rescued alive after spending nine days trapped inside a hydropower tunnel in Nepal. Mechanical engineer Sanjay Sah and worker Kabir Maharjan were pulled out on Friday.   They were trapped after flash floods hit the Trishuli-3A hydropower project. Sanjay was working in the control room when water and debris entered the tunnel. He helped other workers move to safer areas but later became trapped.   Sanjay said he kept chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra during the ordeal. Rescue teams, including experts from India, found the workers after hearing voices inside the tunnel. Many workers are still feared trapped.  

Air India has terminated the pilot-in-command of its Phuket-Delhi flight after an investigation into an August 4 incident. The aircraft suddenly lost altitude during the flight, leaving 20 passengers and four crew members injured. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the pilot tested “non-negative” for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test. Air India said safety is its highest priority. The airline added that it has a zero-tolerance policy for violations of safety, fitness, or regulatory rules. Following the test result, the pilot’s employment was terminated with immediate effect.  

A pack of stray dogs reportedly prevented an alleged sexual assault attempt on a mentally ill woman near Thudiyalur in Coimbatore during the early hours of Friday. The incident occurred around 2 am near a railway overbridge in the NGGO Colony-Ashokapuram area. According to CCTV footage, two dogs staying near the woman began barking continuously as an allegedly intoxicated youth approached her. When the man reportedly attempted to assault the woman, the dogs repeatedly intervened and chased him away. The footage helped police identify the suspect, who was subsequently arrested. The incident has drawn attention to the protection of vulnerable people. 

Two workers were rescued alive from a tunnel at Nepal’s Trishuli-3A hydropower project, nine days after devastating flash floods struck the region. Mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, 45, and foreman Sanjay Sah, 30, were pulled out after rescuers detected voices inside the tunnel. Sah said he endured the ordeal by repeatedly chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. The workers had been trapped about 170 metres inside the tunnel as floodwater and debris blocked escape routes. Their rescue has renewed hopes of finding other survivors, with hundreds of workers still feared trapped across hydropower projects along the Trishuli River. (PC: X)