A Russian Antonov An-24 plane carrying 49 people, including six crew and five children, crashed near Tynda in the eastern Amur region on Thursday. Operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, the aircraft dropped off radar during approach. Russia’s emergencies ministry confirmed that a rescue helicopter located the burning fuselage on a mountainside, 16 km from Tynda. No signs of survivors were seen. Preliminary reports by TASS suggest crew error in poor visibility caused the crash. Civil defence has deployed 25 personnel and four aircraft are on standby. The An-24, in service since the 1950s, remains widely used across Russia. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump is under fire for accusing former President Barack Obama of trying to rig the 2016 and 2020 elections. Critics say the claim is a distraction from rising pressure to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files. On Thursday, a House committee voted to subpoena the Justice Department for those documents. “This is a desperate and dangerous attempt to shift the spotlight,” said Senator Mark Warner. Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard backed Trump, claiming Obama faked reports on Russian interference. Democrat Jim Himes responded, “These claims are baseless and designed to cover up the administration’s refusal to release the Epstein files.” (PC: Reuters)

Tensions rose on July 24 as Thailand and Cambodia clashed near their shared border. The Thai army said Cambodia attacked military bases in Surin and Sisaket with rockets and gunfire. In response, Thailand deployed F-16 jets, one of which hit a target inside Cambodia. Bombs were also dropped on roads. Both countries have blamed each other for starting the fight. Cambodia accused Thailand of trying to take its land and breaking past agreements. The Thai army claimed Cambodia used drones, soldiers with grenades, and even civilians as shields. Evacuations are underway near the border as tensions remain high. (PC: Chumchon Khon Surin /Facebook)

Over 100 humanitarian and rights groups, including MSF, Save the Children, and Oxfam, have warned of mass starvation in Gaza, with people and aid workers "wasting away." Gaza's health ministry reported 43 malnutrition-related deaths since Sunday. The UN says nearly 100,000 women and children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. With aid blocked, markets bare, and prices soaring, doctors report children dying from starvation. Aid groups blame Israel’s blockade and accuse it of killing over 1,050 Palestinians seeking food. Israel denies targeting civilians and blames UN agencies for delivery failures, despite 4,500 lorries entering Gaza over two months, including baby food. (PC: BBC)

Israel and Ukraine have agreed to begin talks focused on countering the "threat" posed by Iran, marking closer ties between the two nations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called Iran an "existential threat" at a Kyiv press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, the most senior Israeli official to visit Ukraine since 2023. Both countries accuse Iran—Russia's ally—of destabilizing actions, including supplying drones to Moscow. Saar thanked Ukraine for opposing Iranian nuclear ambitions, while Kyiv backed Israel’s recent bombing of Iranian sites. The new dialogue aims to address shared security concerns and limit Iran's military and technological capabilities. (PC: NDTV)

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, has pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court to four counts of ketamine distribution linked to the death of actor Matthew Perry. While Plasencia did not provide the fatal dose, he supplied Perry with ketamine in the weeks before the "Friends" star was found dead in October 2023. The doctor admitted buying the drug from another physician and selling it at inflated prices. Sentencing is set for December 3, with Plasencia facing up to 40 years in prison. The case involves five individuals, including the alleged “Ketamine Queen,” Jasveen Sangha, who has pleaded not guilty. (PC: NDTV)

Ten more Palestinians in Gaza have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, as over 100 aid agencies accuse Israel of causing “mass starvation.” The UN Security Council is meeting urgently to discuss the worsening crisis. Despite Israel claiming that 950 truckloads of aid are waiting to be distributed, aid is reportedly not reaching civilians. Gaza’s residents describe unbearable conditions, with basic food like lentils and bread costing over 600 shekels daily. Meanwhile, Israel’s military operations continue, with 17 more people reportedly killed in air strikes, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency. (PC: BBC)

South Korea’s ARAIB has confirmed that, following a bird strike during the December 29, 2024 landing at Muan Airport, Jeju Air pilots mistakenly shut down the less‑damaged left engine, instead of the heavily impacted right one. This misstep dramatically reduced thrust and electrical power, leading to a belly‑landing, runway overrun, embankment collision, and a devastating fire that killed 179 of the 181 onboard . The investigation’s early focus on pilot error has provoked strong backlash from victims’ families and pilots, who demand full disclosure of cockpit data and a broader examination of contributing factors like the airport embankment.(PC: The Times of India)  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said, “Trump has said 25 times that he got the ceasefire done. The Prime Minister has not replied even once.” He accused PM Modi of hiding from questions over Donald Trump’s repeated claims of brokering peace between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. Gandhi also slammed large-scale voter deletions in Bihar, calling it part of a “pattern of fraud.” “They deleted voters in Maharashtra, added 1 crore new ones—now they’re doing the same in Bihar,” he alleged. Gandhi said India was diplomatically isolated and that Modi “can’t face Parliament” because “the truth is out.” (PC: India Today)

Over 100 UK-based and international aid agencies have accused Israel of imposing a "siege" on Gaza, warning that mass starvation is spreading rapidly. “We are witnessing our own colleagues waste away before our eyes,” they said in a joint statement. The agencies claim food aid is being blocked from distribution. Israel, which controls all crossings, insists 950 trucks’ worth of aid await collection inside Gaza. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry reports 33 starvation-related deaths in just 48 hours. Prices of essentials have skyrocketed, with lentils reportedly costing £22 per kilo. “We’re exhausted,” one Gaza resident told the BBC. (PC: BBC)