Ash from Mount Etna’s latest eruption has caused hundreds of flight cancellations in Sicily. Catania Fontanarossa Airport has suspended flights until 2am Saturday due to drifting volcanic ash. The airport operator, SAC, said the ash was affecting flight operations. Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, began its latest activity on August 6. Around 400 departures were cancelled between August 8 and 11. Another 52 flights were cancelled on Wednesday. Including arrivals, about 700 flights have been affected. The eruption has also caused delays and cancellations in Malta and at Sicily’s Comiso Airport, disrupting travel across the region. (PC: Reuters)

Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced plans to work together on an indigenous engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The proposed partnership will cover engine design, development, manufacturing, testing and long-term support. The companies will also explore setting up an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India. The facility could support advanced engine and propulsion technology. Reliance will bring its manufacturing and technology capabilities, while Rolls-Royce will provide its aircraft engine expertise. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s defence technology and reduce dependence on imports. It could also create opportunities in civil aerospace and other power systems.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said his “cockroach” remarks were misquoted and used with “malicious intent” to mislead young people. Speaking to DD News, he raised concerns about short clips of court proceedings being shared without context on social media. In May, the CJI had compared some people with fake degrees to “cockroaches” during a hearing. His remarks later sparked the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” campaign. Justice Kant urged the media to report court proceedings responsibly. He also warned against the unauthorised use and commercial exploitation of audio and video recordings from judicial proceedings.

NATO jets shot down a drone after it entered Latvian airspace on Friday, raising fresh concerns along NATO’s eastern border. NATO said two Italian fighter jets and two Turkish F-16s were sent to respond. An Italian jet destroyed the drone, but its origin is still unknown. Latvia said the drone may have entered its airspace because of Russian electronic warfare. A separate drone crashed in Romania near the Ukrainian border, with no damage reported. Meanwhile, Ukraine confirmed a drone attack on Russia’s Ust-Luga port, causing a fire and damage to two processing units. Russia also reported major drone attacks overnight.

At least 8 people have died after record rainfall hit eastern Japan, causing floods and landslides. Authorities called the rain “unprecedented”. Chiba prefecture recorded more than 100mm of rain per hour, the highest rainfall ever recorded in the country. More than 20,000 homes lost power. Over 100,000 households were asked to evacuate as the rain triggered flooding and landslides. Thousands of passengers were stranded overnight at Tokyo’s Narita Airport after transport services were disrupted. Several trains and major highways remain closed. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said heavy rain could continue through Friday, while authorities warned of further floods and landslides. (PC: Reuters)

New Zealand Football has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election. The decision comes amid growing criticism of FIFA and its leadership. New Zealand Football also called for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. The plan aimed to bring private investment into major football events, including the World Cup. It offered member countries $20 million in funding, with the amount potentially doubling under the deal. The proposal faced strong opposition and was later cancelled. Meanwhile, the Oceania Football Confederation continues to support FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan, creating a split within the region. (PC: IANS)

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has spoken publicly about Operation Sindoor for the first time since India’s military action against Pakistan in May 2025. In Discovery’s upcoming documentary, “Declassified: Operation Sindoor”, Doval said Pakistan’s support for terrorism cannot be accepted. He said India is ready to go as far as needed to protect its sovereignty. Doval also warned that India’s tolerance should not be seen as weakness. Operation Sindoor was launched after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. The documentary will premiere on August 15 and will detail the decisions behind India’s 88-hour military response.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in September, Iranian sources said on Friday. India is hosting the summit under its 2026 BRICS chairship. The event will focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Pezeshkian last met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit in Russia in October 2024. Iran became a full BRICS member in 2024. Earlier in June, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited India for a BRICS meeting. He said India could play a bigger role in reducing tensions in West Asia and welcomed any constructive role by New Delhi.

A new Pew Research Centre survey has examined how people in 36 countries view India. The survey, conducted between February and May 2026, included more than 42,000 people. A median of 45% had a positive view of India, while 41% had a negative view. Sri Lanka gave India its highest rating, with 79% viewing it positively. Kenya and the UK followed with 71% each. In Pakistan, 91% had a negative view of India. In the US, views were almost evenly split, with 45% positive and 50% negative. The survey also found strong support for India in Japan, Singapore and Indonesia.

A woman passenger allegedly damaged airport property worth ₹49,000 at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport on August 13. The incident happened after an IndiGo flight to Kolkata was cancelled due to a technical problem. The passenger, identified as Mamoni Kharat, allegedly created a scene in the departure lounge. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said she damaged a monitor, keyboard and passport-swiping machine. The incident took place around 6 pm in the presence of CISF, IndiGo and AAI officials. Police have registered an FIR against her. Airport authorities have asked police to take action and recover the cost of the damaged equipment.