The United States has confirmed that it carried out a strike on a third tanker near Oman, saying the Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel Jalveer violated a blockade by attempting to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman. India's shipping ministry said all 20 Indian sailors on board are safe. The development comes after US attacks on two other ships, including the Palau-flagged Settebello, where three Indian sailors were killed on Wednesday. Another vessel, Marivex, was disabled earlier this week as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate across the region. (PC: BBC)

Football fans in India will be able to watch selected FIFA World Cup 2026 matches for free on DD Sports, according to the latest broadcast plan. Digital platform ZEE5 will also stream the tournament, expanding access for viewers across the country. The move is expected to bring the biggest football event closer to millions of Indian fans without requiring a paid television subscription. The FIFA World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature an expanded format with 48 teams competing for the title.  

As the first anniversary of the Air India Boeing 787 crash approaches, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has raised fresh concerns over the aircraft's technical condition. Claiming there were "electrical failures" and that "motors were changed" before the accident, the pilots' body questioned the current direction of the investigation. FIP urged authorities to examine all possible technical causes and avoid premature conclusions about pilot error. It also called for greater transparency and the involvement of independent experts in the probe. The final investigation report into the crash is still awaited. (PC: X)

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly asked party chief Mamata Banerjee to choose between him and her nephew, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, intensifying the ongoing crisis within the party. Calling Abhishek "arrogant", Kalyan said he would no longer tolerate being disrespected and had stepped away from legal matters linked to him.   The senior MP claimed he was not consulted on an important court case despite his involvement and 45 years of legal experience. His remarks come as several TMC leaders and MPs have distanced themselves from the party, fuelling speculation over a possible split. (PC: HT)

Nineteen-year-old cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary has been hired by IIT Kanpur after he identified vulnerabilities in the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal. Adhikary has joined the institute's C3iHub as an OSINT and Threat Intelligence Engineer, highlighting the growing importance of ethical hacking and responsible security research in India.   He had earlier reported security flaws in the CBSE system instead of exploiting them, earning recognition from cybersecurity experts. IIT Kanpur officials said his technical skills and responsible disclosure approach made him a strong addition to the institute's cybersecurity team working on threat intelligence and digital security projects. (PC: India Today)

Indian-origin financier Mahender Makhijani has been accused by US authorities of orchestrating a $100 million bank fraud scheme that allegedly used luxury trips, expensive gifts and sex parties to attract and influence business associates. According to court documents, Makhijani and his associates are accused of misleading a US bank to secure loans through fraudulent transactions.   Federal prosecutors allege the scheme caused losses exceeding $100 million. The case is being investigated by US law enforcement agencies, and legal proceedings are underway. Makhijani has been charged in connection with the alleged fraud, though the allegations are yet to be tested in court.

India's first domestically manufactured C-295 military transport aircraft has successfully completed its maiden test flight, marking a major milestone for the country's aerospace and defence manufacturing sector. Built at the Tata-Airbus facility in Gujarat, the aircraft is part of India's effort to boost indigenous defence production under the 'Make in India' initiative.   The C-295 will eventually replace the Indian Air Force's ageing Avro fleet and strengthen tactical airlift capabilities. A total of 56 aircraft are being procured, with 40 to be built in India. Defence officials said the successful flight is a significant step towards self-reliance in military aviation.  

A vessel carrying 14 Indian sailors was involved in an incident near Oman's Shinas Port, marking the third such maritime incident reported in the region within three days. The Indian Embassy in Muscat said it is closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with Omani authorities and the ship's management company.   The latest development comes amid growing security concerns along key Gulf shipping routes following recent attacks on commercial vessels. Officials have not reported any casualties among the Indian crew, and the cause of the incident is yet to be confirmed. Authorities are continuing to assess the situation and gather more information. (PC: India Today)

US-based real estate technology company Opendoor has decided to shut down its India operations, affecting nearly 250 employees. CEO Kaz Nejatian said the company is relocating operational roles closer to its customer base in the United States as part of a business transformation strategy. He added that advances in technology and the use of AI-enabled teams have reduced the need for overseas operations. The company clarified that the decision was not linked to the performance of its Indian workforce and said affected employees would receive severance packages, outplacement support and other transition assistance. (PC: X)

The Trinamool Congress suffered another setback on Thursday as Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Upper House, becoming the third party MP to quit in four days. In his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, Baraik sought immediate acceptance of his resignation. He said the West Bengal Assembly election mandate favoured the BJP and that he was respecting the people's verdict. Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. Sources claim more Trinamool MPs could step down in the coming days. (PC: The Indian Express)