The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived at Thailand after an extraordinary 286-day deployment, including months of combat and blockade operations against Iran. Images show extensive rust, faded paint and marine growth along the carrier’s hull, drawing widespread attention. Naval experts say such corrosion is expected after prolonged exposure to seawater and cannot be properly treated during active combat operations. The 1,092-foot carrier, carrying around 5,000 sailors and Marines, has now received an opportunity for rest and maintenance. Experts estimate removing the rust and repainting the affected areas could require about 30 days. (PC: X)

Air India has dismissed a pilot who tested positive for a psychoactive substance following a safety-related incident involving a Phuket–Delhi flight. The action came after the pilot underwent a mandatory post-flight examination, which detected the prohibited substance. The incident has raised renewed concerns about aviation safety and strict compliance with rules governing alcohol and psychoactive substance use among flight crew. Air India has taken disciplinary action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations and its internal safety procedures. The case highlights the importance of mandatory testing, medical fitness assessments and strict enforcement of safety standards to prevent impaired crew from operating commercial flights. (PC: Reuters) 

Eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu were killed after their car crashed into a parked lorry at Panambikkunnu in Kaipamangalam, Thrissur, Kerala, around 11:40 pm on Friday. The students were travelling from Guruvayur towards Kodungallur along NH-66 when their car rammed into the rear of the Maharashtra-registered lorry. Police said the lorry was allegedly parked illegally on the right side near a barricaded construction zone, while the car was travelling at high speed. Six victims have been identified, while two identities remain unconfirmed. Police have registered a culpable homicide case against the lorry driver, who fled. 

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could strike Iran’s heavily fortified underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility “very soon” if American officials detect activity there. Located near the damaged Natanz uranium-enrichment complex, the site reportedly contains deeply buried tunnel systems believed to be capable of protecting nuclear equipment. Trump said Washington is closely monitoring movements at the facility and defended the ongoing US military campaign, claiming it has prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. His warning follows recent US strikes on Iranian military targets, including air-defence and radar systems. Iran has condemned the attacks and vowed defensive retaliation. (PC: Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a temporary halt to airstrikes with Russia during upcoming US-led peace talks. Zelensky said Ukraine would not carry out airstrikes during the visit of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, provided Moscow also refrains from attacking Kyiv. The envoys are expected to visit Moscow and then Kyiv as Washington seeks to revive efforts to end the war. The proposal comes amid intensified long-range attacks by both sides, with Russian strikes continuing across Ukraine and Ukrainian drones targeting sites deep inside Russia.

Iranian state media claimed that Tehran launched a surprise missile attack targeting a US military base in Jordan, reportedly striking an American facility in the country. However, US officials denied the claim, saying no such confirmed attack had taken place. The conflicting accounts came amid heightened tensions and recent exchanges of strikes between Iran and the United States across the Middle East. Reuters separately reported Iran’s claim of missile attacks on US bases in Jordan, though details of the reported strikes and their impact remained unclear.

India has built its first rock check dam across the Indus River at Upshi in Ladakh’s Leh district, raising water levels by nearly 10 feet and improving irrigation access for farmers. Made entirely from natural boulders without cement, the structure can store nearly 40 million litres of water. The accumulated water is being channelled into the Igoo Phey irrigation canal to support agriculture during the crucial sowing season. The project is part of efforts to tackle water scarcity and strengthen water security in the strategically important border region, with Ladakh proposing 36 more check dams. (PC: India Today)

Air India has terminated the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance following an August 4 mid-air altitude loss incident. The airline acted after the AAIB’s preliminary report flagged the positive test and a rare temporary failure of all three hydraulic systems. The Airbus A320 lost nearly 300 feet of altitude while cruising over Odisha, injuring 20 passengers and four crew members before landing safely in Delhi. The investigation has not established a direct link between the pilot’s drug test and the incident. Air India cited its “zero-tolerance” safety policy.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a “war without winners”, saying peace can only come through negotiations. Speaking in Warsaw after meetings with Polish leaders, Jaishankar said the prolonged conflict was causing more deaths and destruction while increasing global costs. He said India remains in continuous contact with Moscow and Kyiv to support efforts for a cessation of hostilities. Responding to criticism of India’s Russian energy imports, he said the solution to the conflict “is not in trade, the solution is in negotiation.” His Warsaw visit followed recent talks in Kyiv and Moscow. (PC: X)

Rescuers in Nepal are racing to reach more than 150 workers feared trapped in seven hydropower tunnels, nine days after devastating flash floods hit the region near the Tibet border. Hopes rose after Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan were found alive in the Trishuli 3A tunnel on Friday and airlifted to a Kathmandu hospital. Maharjan remains critical, while another body was found in the tunnel. Officials believe 39 others may still be trapped there. The disaster has left 1,311 people dead and 5,330 missing across Nepal and Tibet, with rescuers battling mud, rocks and floodwater. (PC: BBC)