Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Thursday. According to sources, Burhan was attacked by unknown assailants and died from multiple gunshot wounds. The Indian government had designated him a terrorist in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Official records identified him as Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Hamza Burhan, an associate of terror outfit Al Badr and a resident of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. The 2019 Pulwama bombing killed 40 CRPF personnel after a suicide attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar. (PC: X)

An Air India aircraft operating from Delhi to Bengaluru was grounded on Thursday after suffering a tail strike while landing at Bengaluru airport. The airline said flight AI2651 landed safely and all 179 passengers and crew members disembarked normally. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials have launched an investigation into the incident, while the operating pilots have been taken off roster pending inquiry. Officials said the aircraft may have encountered wake turbulence caused by a departing freight Boeing 747 before attempting landing. Air India cancelled the return Bengaluru-Delhi flight and arranged alternative travel options for affected passengers. (PC: HT)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Latur-based paediatrician Dr Manoj Shirure in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, making him the first parent arrested in the investigation. Officials alleged that Shirure bought leaked chemistry question papers for his son, who appeared for the medical entrance examination this year. Investigators said Shirure was in contact with retired chemistry professor P V Kulkarni and RCC Classes founder Shivraj Motegaonkar, both under scrutiny in the probe. The doctor was questioned for two days before being taken to Pune and is expected to be produced before a Delhi court. (PC: The Indian Express)

The X account of the satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) was withheld in India on Thursday, hours after the movement crossed 10 million Instagram followers and overtook the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 8.7 million followers on the platform. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, a former Aam Aadmi Party social media campaign worker, confirmed the restriction by sharing a screenshot on X. The meme-driven movement began after remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” triggered backlash online. The group has gained rapid support among young users over unemployment, exam leaks and political accountability issues. (PC: India Today)

The West Bengal government has made singing Vande Mataram compulsory in all state-run schools and recognised madrassas. The song must be sung during morning assemblies before classes begin. The order was issued by the school education department last week. Officials said the move follows a Union home ministry directive marking 150 years of the national song. Some school heads are confused about whether the state song, “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal”, will continue alongside Vande Mataram and the National Anthem. They said singing three songs daily may take more time and delay classes in schools across the state.

Thousands of Indian tech workers in the US are facing uncertainty after layoffs at companies like Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn. Many of them work on H-1B visas linked to their jobs. Under US immigration rules, laid-off workers usually get only 60 days to find a new employer or leave the country. The situation has created stress for many families. Some workers are trying to switch to visitor visas for more time, while others are considering moving back to India or searching for jobs in other countries.

India’s satirical online movement, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has crossed 11.7 million Instagram followers, overtaking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 8.7 million followers on the platform. The meme-driven movement was launched by social media creator Abhijeet Dipke after remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” sparked online backlash. The group describes itself as the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed” and uses humour to highlight unemployment, political privilege and youth frustration. Despite the social media milestone, the BJP remains India’s dominant political force electorally and organisationally across the country. (PC: Instagram)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a crucial Council of Ministers meeting at Seva Teerth in Delhi at 4 pm on Thursday, shortly after returning from his foreign visit. All Union ministers, including Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge and ministers of state, have been directed to remain in the national capital ahead of the high-level discussions. The meeting comes amid intensified political and economic deliberations within the government and is expected to focus on governance priorities, the evolving West Asia crisis and potential political developments. The gathering is being viewed as strategically significant as the Centre assesses domestic challenges alongside fast-changing global geopolitical and economic conditions affecting India’s policy and security landscape. (PC: India Today)  

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India in September for the BRICS summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country since 2019 and the first after the 2020 eastern Ladakh military standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan before the BRICS meeting, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi. The anticipated visit reflects gradual stabilisation in India-China ties following disengagement efforts at the Line of Actual Control. Recent confidence-building measures include resumed visas, direct flights, eased restrictions on Chinese firms, renewed border trade and the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. (PC: PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced an Assam-style crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, saying the state would begin identifying, detaining and handing over undocumented migrants to the BSF for deportation. Referring to a May 2025 directive from the Union government, Adhikari said Bengal would implement a “detect, delete and deport” policy targeting immigrants not covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. Officials indicated “delete” likely refers to removing ineligible names from electoral rolls. The government also announced land transfers for new border fencing and BSF infrastructure along the Bangladesh border. Critics warned that sudden action targeting Muslim immigrants could heighten social tensions and polarise Bengal’s political climate further.