An Air India A320 flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude after all three hydraulic systems reportedly failed simultaneously. Preliminary Airbus analysis of the aircraft’s flight-data recorder found that key flight controls, including the elevators and ailerons, became unresponsive for around four seconds, while spoilers were also affected. The first officer’s control inputs initially produced no response before the systems recovered and the aircraft stabilised. The incident injured 24 people. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating with support from Airbus and France’s BEA. The exact cause remains undetermined. (PC: News18)

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritise a high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan confirmed that India cannot participate in both competitions because their dates overlap. The ASEAN Cup is scheduled during the September 21–October 6 international window, with India originally drawn alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The AIFF had considered sending a developmental squad but ultimately chose to withdraw and focus on the Brazil fixture. The decision gives India an opportunity to face a top-ranked opponent amid limited opportunities for high-level international matches. 

New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods has set a new record for completing the 2,000km Via Alpina trail across eight European countries. The 42-year-old finished the demanding route from Italy to Monaco in 28 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes, beating the previous record of 35 days and 21 hours. Woods endured thunderstorms, heatwaves, injuries and exhausting days of running for up to 20 hours. Supported by her husband and photographer, she completed the journey on August 1. The achievement also transformed her outlook after personal struggles, giving her renewed confidence and inspiring thousands of women and girls to pursue endurance running. (PC: X)

A second-year Mechanical Engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, identified as Ankit Sharma from Rajasthan, died after reportedly falling from the fourth floor of the Nalanda building on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3 p.m., when security guards found him seriously injured and rushed him for medical treatment. Doctors declared him brought dead. Police have launched an investigation to determine how the student fell, including whether it was an accident or a deliberate act. The circumstances remain unclear. IIT Kharagpur authorities have not yet issued an official comment on the incident. (PC: NDTV)

A commuter train carrying around 150 passengers derailed near Lewes in southeast England on Thursday afternoon, leaving two people seriously injured and several others hurt. The Southern Rail service had departed from London Victoria when it veered off the tracks shortly before 4 p.m. At least three carriages overturned, prompting a major emergency response involving police, firefighters and paramedics. All passengers were safely evacuated, while injured people were assessed and some taken to hospital. The cause of the derailment remains unknown. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the incident, while major disruption to rail services in the region is expected. (PC: AP)

The United States has accused India and more than 40 countries of helping Chinese exporters bypass high US tariffs by rerouting goods through third countries. A White House report, titled “The Great Transshipment Scam,” alleges that Chinese products are being repackaged, relabelled or minimally processed elsewhere before entering the US market as goods from another country. India, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and the European Union are among those identified as higher-risk locations. US trade adviser Peter Navarro said Washington will deploy AI-based technology, including “Detective Border,” to detect suspicious shipments and strengthen tariff enforcement. (PC: Reuters)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has “total control” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi accused the United States of repeatedly making serious miscalculations because of intelligence failures, warning that Washington could make an even bigger mistake over the waterway. Calling “fake intelligence” more dangerous than fake news, he urged the US to be cautious. Iran’s Basij commander also maintained that the strait remains under Iranian control and management. The confrontation comes amid continuing US-Iran tensions and severely reduced shipping through the crucial global energy route. (PC: X)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk received $158.3 billion in compensation in 2025, more than 2.5 million times the pay of the company’s average worker, according to a new AFL-CIO report. The extraordinary figure dramatically increased the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio among S&P 500 companies to 5,387:1, compared with 312:1 when Musk is excluded. Average CEO compensation reached $22.8 million in 2025, rising sharply when Musk’s package is included. The report highlighted widening economic inequality and declining workers’ share of national income. Tesla did not immediately comment. The findings have renewed debate over executive compensation and worker pay disparities. (PC: Getty Images)

A food-safety inspection at a private hospital in Bengaluru has uncovered expired ingredients and unhygienic food-storage practices, raising concerns about patient safety. Officials found expired rava, icing sugar, maida, bakery products, mixture and packets of paani puri in the kitchen. Stale bread, plastic chopping boards and large quantities of other food items were also recovered, including methi leaves, fried gram, green peas and moong dal. The inspection was conducted by Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration under a city-wide enforcement drive. Authorities warned food businesses to comply with food-safety laws and said strict action would follow violations. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court on August 13 strongly criticised the Centre and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for delaying a decision on front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fats. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran stressed that public health, particularly children’s health, should take priority over commercial interests. The Court questioned the government’s reluctance to introduce clearer warnings and indicated it could issue binding directions if authorities failed to act. FSSAI has instead proposed nutritional tables showing recommended daily intake levels for key nutrients. (PC: The Hindu)