Three top ULFA (I) leaders, including lower council chief Nayan Asom, were killed in alleged drone and missile strikes on mobile camps in Myanmar’s Sagaing region. The Paresh Baruah-led faction blamed Indian forces, claiming over 150 Israeli and French-made drones were used between 2–4 am Sunday. Ganesh Asom and Pradip Asom were reportedly killed during Nayan’s funeral in a second wave of attacks. The Indian Army denied involvement, stating no inputs on such operations. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also ruled out state police participation. No independent confirmation has emerged, and Myanmar has not responded. ULFA (I) has long operated from camps along the 1,600-km India-Myanmar border. (PC: India Today)

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report on the Air India crash suggests fuel cutoff switches were manually triggered seconds after takeoff, causing engine failure. However, the cockpit voice recording reveals confusion between pilots, with one denying the action. The report lacks full CVR transcripts and fails to clarify who operated the switches. Aviation experts and pilot unions reject the pilot error theory, citing possible mechanical faults and referencing FAA advisories on switch malfunctions. The report’s tone and lack of transparency have drawn criticism, with calls for a fair, fact-based investigation. Speculative media narratives, including insinuations of pilot suicide, have been condemned as irresponsible and insensitive. (PC: The Tribune & The New York Times)

Renowned stunt master SM Raju tragically died during a car stunt for Arya’s upcoming film ‘Vettuvan’, directed by Pa Ranjith. The accident occurred on July 13 in Tamil Nadu during a high-risk car toppling sequence. Shocking visuals showed Raju’s car overturning violently, leaving him fatally injured despite quick rescue efforts. Actor Vishal confirmed the news, expressing deep sorrow and pledging lifelong support to Raju’s family. Raju was a respected figure in the Tamil film industry, known for his daring stunts. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through Kollywood, with tributes pouring in from industry colleagues and fans alike. 

Delhi University student Sneha Debnath, 19, was found dead in the Yamuna River near Geeta Colony after going missing on July 7. A handwritten note indicated her intent to jump from Signature Bridge, where she was last seen. Despite being a known suicide-prone area, CCTV cameras on and around the bridge were non-functional. Her family and friends criticized the lack of surveillance and jurisdictional confusion across multiple police stations. Sneha had expressed emotional distress via messages before her disappearance. Tripura CM Manik Saha intervened, urging swift police action. Her death has sparked calls for accountability and improved public safety infrastructure in high-risk zones. (PC: Zee Zest & Business Today)

Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old student from Tripura studying at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University, was found dead under a flyover near the Yamuna river, Delhi Police confirmed. Missing since July 7, she last spoke to her parents before disappearing from Paryavaran Complex. Her body was discovered near Geeta Colony after a joint search by Delhi Police and NDRF. A note suggested intentions of suicide from Signature Bridge, but poor CCTV coverage hindered tracking. Eyewitnesses reported seeing her on the bridge. Her family suspects foul play. Investigations continue. (PC: India Today)

Bollywood actor R. Madhavan addressed the ongoing Hindi‑Marathi language debate, stating he has “never experienced” conflict based on language due to his multilingual background. Raised in Jamshedpur, educated in Kolhapur, he speaks Tamil, Hindi, and Marathi, and insists language has not been a barrier in his career or life . Madhavan called for mutual respect and understanding across India’s linguistic diversity, rejecting regional tensions. His remarks bring a neutral, inclusive tone, advocating dialogue over division amid state-level disputes and cultural sensitivities. (PC: Wikipedia)

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) defended the crew of Air India flight AI-171, stating they acted according to professional training and responsibility under highly challenging conditions. This response came after speculation suggesting pilot suicide linked to the Ahmedabad crash. ICPA called such theories "reckless and insensitive," urging restraint until the final investigation report. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary findings revealed both engine fuel control switches moved to "cutoff" seconds after takeoff, causing the crash, but assigned no blame. ICPA stressed respecting procedural inquiry instead of drawing conclusions based on incomplete information and unverified theories. (PC: The Hindu)

In a horrifying incident on the night of July 9, 2025, at around 1:45 AM, a white Audi vehicle, allegedly driven by a drunken 40-year-old property dealer, Utsav Shekhar, veered onto the pavement near Shiva Camp in Vasant Vihar, South West Delhi, crushing five people asleep on the footpath . Victims, all migrant labourers from Rajasthan, included two couples and an eight-year-old girl; two are reported in critical condition . Shekhar was arrested soon after the crash—having reportedly fled a short distance before colliding with a parked truck—and is booked for rash and negligent driving causing injury and driving under the influence . The incident highlights serious safety failures and vulnerability of homeless labourers sleeping in public spaces, prompting public outrage and calls for stricter road safety enforcement. (PC: ANI)  

In Maharashtra’s Palghar district, a migrant auto‑rickshaw driver was publicly assaulted by supporters of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s MNS after he was filmed insisting, “Main Hindi bolunga… Marathi nahi bolunga” (“I will speak Hindi… not Marathi”) near Virar station . The video went viral, leading the group to confront him, slap him repeatedly (including women among them), and force an on‑camera apology to locals and the state for allegedly insulting Marathi language and culture . Uday Jadhav, Virar city chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), defended the action as a defense of Marathi pride. Despite its public nature, no FIR has yet been filed as police await formal complaints. (PC: NDTV)

In a tragic incident from Balasore, Odisha, a 20-year-old second-year Integrated B.Ed student set herself ablaze outside Fakir Mohan College principal’s office on July 12, 2025. The student had reportedly faced prolonged sexual harassment by her Head of Department (HoD), Samir Kumar Sahu, who allegedly demanded sexual favours and threatened academic consequences if she refused. Despite filing complaints, the college administration allegedly failed to take action. The student sustained 90–95% burn injuries and is in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Odisha government has suspended the principal, arrested the HoD, and initiated a high-level inquiry into institutional lapses. (PC: The Times of India)