India’s Census 2027 will introduce 11 additional questions, taking the population-enumeration questionnaire to 40, the highest ever. For the first time since Independence, the nationwide Census will record citizens’ caste based on their own declaration, without a pre-set list. New questions will also seek mobile, Aadhaar and Voter ID details, passport and driving-licence status, Covid-19 vaccination information and the number of bank accounts. The exercise will be conducted digitally through a dedicated mobile app, while self-enumeration will be available online. Population enumeration begins early in snowbound regions from September, while the rest of India will be counted in February 2027. The Census, delayed from 2021 due to Covid-19, has a ₹11,718-crore budget. (PC: HT)

India on Friday reaffirmed its “longstanding ties” with Afghanistan and the Afghan people, days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has maintained several engagements with Afghanistan over the past year, including multiple ministerial visits to India. He said these interactions have strengthened partnerships in areas including development cooperation, trade and connectivity. Jaiswal’s remarks underline New Delhi’s continued engagement with Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The statement comes amid India’s efforts to maintain diplomatic and economic links with Afghanistan while focusing on development assistance, regional connectivity and trade relations.

A video circulating on social media shows a Sikh youth purportedly stranded in Mexico warning Indians against using the illegal “dunki” route to enter the US. The clip, first posted on TikTok and later shared on platforms including X, shows the man lying on a bed with folded hands and crying as he describes his alleged ordeal. He claims he was severely beaten after attempting to escape and is now unable to walk properly. The youth repeatedly urges others not to travel to Mexico through the dangerous route, warning them about the hardships he says he experienced while trying to reach the US. The video highlights the risks faced by migrants attempting irregular journeys to America. (PC: X)

A second passenger train derailed in southeast England within 24 hours when the rear carriages of a Greater Anglia service came off the tracks near Wickford, Essex, on Friday. The train was travelling from Southend to London Liverpool Street with around 40 people aboard. It left Rayleigh at 2:06 PM but failed to reach Wickford as scheduled. The carriages remained upright and no injuries were reported, while British Transport Police, paramedics and firefighters attended. The incident followed a more serious derailment near Lewes in East Sussex less than a day earlier, which left two people seriously injured and 18 with minor injuries. Authorities have not confirmed whether the ongoing heatwave contributed to either derailment.

US military families and active-duty personnel have alleged deteriorating conditions aboard multiple ships deployed in the Middle East amid the Iran conflict, including shortages of food, water, soap and supplies, broken plumbing and exhausting schedules. Accounts reported by MeidasTouch, which have not been independently verified, extend concerns beyond the USS Abraham Lincoln. A parent alleged the Lincoln suffered water-system failures, rationed showers and overflowing toilets, with human waste covering restroom floors. A family member linked to USS George H.W. Bush claimed the carrier had spent 136 days at sea with inadequate food, water and soap. The US Navy has acknowledged supply challenges, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of poor conditions “completely misrepresented.” (PC: AFP)

India Post on Friday delivered the National Flag by drone from Mandi to Rehardhar in Himachal Pradesh for the first time, on the eve of Independence Day. The initiative, virtually carried out by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, showcased how drone technology can overcome geographical barriers and strengthen last-mile connectivity. The drone took off from Mandi Head Post Office and landed at Rehardhar Branch Post Office, where postal officials handed the Tiranga to an army veteran. The initiative supports the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and reflects India Post’s efforts to use emerging technology for public services in remote areas. The Department of Posts plans drone-based mail transmission across 150 identified routes in Himachal Pradesh and Assam. (PC: X)

Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty in US federal court to stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and admitted shooting him in Manhattan on December 4, 2024, causing his death. Mangione told the judge he understood he could spend life in prison. He said he tracked Thompson to a 2024 investor conference after gathering information by posing as an investor and contacted the insurer beforehand. Mangione attributed his actions to years of severe back pain and difficulties with the health insurance system. His lawyer said he accepted full responsibility and argued he should not face two prosecutions. His defence team plans to seek dismissal of the New York murder case on double-jeopardy grounds. (PC: Reuters)

Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced a strategic partnership to develop an indigenous combat aircraft engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The proposed collaboration will combine Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced aircraft-engine technology with Reliance’s manufacturing, technology and execution capabilities. The companies also plan to explore establishing an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, potentially strengthening the country’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. The initiative marks a significant step in India’s effort to develop home-grown fighter-jet engine capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign technology. The partnership could also support the government’s broader push for defence indigenisation, advanced manufacturing and private-sector participation in strategic aerospace programmes. Further details on the proposed engine and facility were not provided.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed a fresh drone strike on a Saudi Aramco facility in Najran on Friday, escalating tensions with Saudi Arabia. The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency said the attack targeted the facility in response to what the group described as Saudi violations of Yemen’s airspace and sovereignty in Saada and Hajjah provinces. The claim came a day after the Houthis said they struck an Aramco refinery in Jazan with two drones, marking the second reported attack on the facility in less than a week. Saudi authorities and Aramco had not immediately commented on either claim. The developments add to growing security concerns surrounding Saudi energy infrastructure amid continuing regional tensions and the Houthis’ threats against Saudi oil flows.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he held another “very friendly conversation” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking their second phone call in two weeks. In a video statement, Netanyahu said support for Israel in India was “immense” and that both countries were translating it into stronger security and economic relations. The latest conversation followed their August 6 call, when they reviewed progress in the India-Israel strategic partnership, discussed developments in West Asia and agreed to remain in close contact. Meanwhile, bilateral economic ties have gained momentum, with India and Israel concluding the second round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement in July. Modi had not issued an update on Friday’s conversation.