Monojit Mishra, also known as "Mango," faces rape and molestation charges at a Kolkata law college. Students say he harassed many women and created fear on campus. “He pounced on her and touched her inappropriately,” one student said about a first-year girl. Another recalled, “He went and sat on her lap… then asked her to sit on his.” Mishra is facing 11 criminal cases, including four for molestation. Many girls stopped attending classes. “His stare was disturbing,” a fifth-year student said. One male student was also assaulted and left injured. Students want urgent action to ensure safety and justice on campus. (PC: The Economic Times)

Zohran Mamdani, New York’s Democratic mayoral nominee, said he won’t back down after US President Donald Trump threatened to arrest and deport him. “We will not accept this intimidation,” Mamdani posted on X. Trump attacked Mamdani for promising to block ICE raids, calling him a “communist” and questioning his citizenship. Mamdani responded, “The President… threatened to have me arrested… not because I broke any law, but because I refuse to let ICE terrorise our city.” The White House said it may review his immigration history. Mamdani, born in Uganda, moved to the US in 1998 and became a citizen later. (PC: AFP)

Air India pilots used a flight simulator to study the crash of a Boeing 787 that killed 241 people. They tested the same settings—landing gear down, flaps retracted—but found these alone didn’t cause the crash. Investigators are now focusing on a possible dual engine failure. Video showed the plane struggling after takeoff before it crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. An emergency power turbine was activated before impact, suggesting power loss. Data from flight recorders is still being analysed. The official probe is ongoing, with help from Boeing and US safety teams. It’s the worst air crash in India in decades. (PC: NDTV)

The Health Ministry has said there is no link between Covid-19 vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths in young adults. Studies by ICMR and NCDC found that such deaths are mostly due to genetics, lifestyle, stress, and post-Covid issues. “These studies have conclusively established that there is no direct link between COVID-19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country,” the ministry stated. This comes after Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah raised concerns over 22 heart attack deaths in Hassan district. An expert panel is now studying the cases. The ministry warned against “false and misleading” claims that create vaccine fear. (PC: AP)

US President Donald Trump has backed a Senate bill that may impose 500% tariffs on India and China. The bill targets countries buying oil and energy from Russia. Senator Lindsey Graham, who supports the bill, said it aims to pressure Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. India and China buy most of Russia’s oil. In May 2025, India bought €4.2 billion worth of fossil fuels from Russia. The bill has 84 co-sponsors and may soon be voted on. The Kremlin called Graham a “Russophobe” and said the bill will not help peace efforts in Ukraine. Trump can choose to waive it. (PC: AP)

France’s government has enacted sweeping new anti-smoking regulations that ban smoking in most outdoor spaces where children are present—such as parks, beaches, school zones, bus shelters, pools, and libraries—supplanting France’s long-standing image of the “smoking Parisian.” A penalty of €135 (up to €700) will be imposed on violators, though an initial grace period is expected . With around 30% of French adults still smoking and 15% of 17‑year‑olds lighting up, health officials aim to “denormalize” tobacco use and reduce France’s 75,000 annual smoking-related deaths . Restaurants and cafés, already smoke-free since 2007–08, still allow smoking on outdoor terraces, a symbol of French social life—a concession lobbyists defended as essential to France’s café culture. (PC: AFP)    

A groundbreaking report by the International Council on Clean Transportation reveals private jets emitted approximately 19.5 million tonnes CO₂ globally in 2023, with U.S.-based flights responsible for a staggering 65% of private jet trips and 55% of emissions . The study links trajectory data to specific airports, identifying 18 of the top 20 worst private-jet polluters in the U.S., including Van Nuys. Short-haul flights, under two hours, are especially inefficient. Private jets emit 5–14× more CO₂ per passenger than commercial planes, and 50× more than trains . Despite proposals like fuel‑tax hikes, policy efforts have stalled, raising concerns about aviation emissions amid growing wealth disparities. Emissions have risen 25% over the past decade. (PC: Reuters)    

Foreign ministers of the Quad (U.S., India, Japan, Australia) issued a joint condemnation of the April 22 Baisaran Valley massacre near Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 civilians (25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali) were killed and several injured. They expressed deep condolences and called for perpetrators, organisers, and financiers to be “brought to justice without any delay,” urging UN member‑states to cooperate under international law . India’s S. Jaishankar emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism and affirmed India’s right to defend itself . The statement renewed Quad’s commitment to counterterrorism and Indo-Pacific security cooperation. (PC: X)  

U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 1 that “we are going to have a deal” with India featuring “much less tariffs,” as negotiations intensify ahead of a critical July 9 deadline to prevent a steep 26% tariff on Indian exports . Led by India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, the two sides aim for an interim agreement focusing on low-hanging fruits—excluding sensitive sectors like dairy and GM crops—to ease immediate tariff pressure . The pact is expected to include tariff cuts spanning thousands of products, plus commitments by India to boost U.S. natural gas imports. (PC: Reuters)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Israel has agreed to a U.S.-backed 60-day ceasefire plan in Gaza, urging Hamas to immediately accept the proposal. The deal, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, includes a temporary pause in hostilities in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and some Palestinian prisoners. Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that “it will not get better—it will only get worse” if the deal is rejected. The ceasefire aims to ease ongoing humanitarian suffering and revive peace negotiations amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. (PC: AP)