Maharashtra to Appeal as Bombay HC Acquits All 12 Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts
The Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted for the 2006 Mumbai serial train blasts, which killed 189 people. The court ruled that the prosecution "utterly failed" to prove its case. This verdict overturns a 2015 trial court decision that sentenced five to death and seven to life imprisonment. In a swift response, the Maharashtra government has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittal, with an urgent hearing scheduled for July 24.
Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash in Dhaka Kills 27, Including 25 Children
A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed into a school and college campus in Dhaka, killing at least 27 people, including 25 children, and injuring over 170. The Chinese-made aircraft reportedly experienced a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff. The pilot, who also died, was hailed for attempting to steer the plane away from populated areas. The government has declared a national day of mourning and formed a high-level committee to investigate the tragic incident.
Gaza's 'Lost Generation' Misses Two Years of Schooling Amid War
The war in Gaza has triggered a severe educational crisis, with over 650,000 students having virtually no access to schooling for nearly two years. Since October 2023, classes have been suspended and most schools have become shelters for displaced families. The UN estimates nearly 90% of school buildings will require substantial reconstruction. The disruption has created a "lost generation" of young Palestinians missing out on basic and advanced education, with profound long-term consequences.
Japanese Prime Minister's Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition has lost its majority in the country's upper house of parliament. The Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito fell three seats short of the required majority, a significant electoral setback that weakens Ishiba's government. This loss creates political instability in Japan, potentially complicating the administration's ability to tackle pressing economic challenges, including rising prices and US tariff threats.
Air India Received Nine Safety Violation Notices in Six Months, Government Reveals
The Civil Aviation Ministry has informed Parliament that national carrier Air India was issued nine show-cause notices for five distinct safety violations over the past six months. The disclosure follows the recent fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8. In response, the DGCA ordered additional inspections of the airline's 787 fleet, which revealed minor issues in eight aircraft that have since been rectified. Enforcement action has been completed for one of the five violations.
Microsoft Issues Urgent SharePoint Patch Amid Active Cyberattacks
Microsoft has issued an urgent security patch for its on-premises SharePoint Server software after detecting "active attacks" exploiting critical vulnerabilities. The flaw allows for remote code execution, posing a significant threat to government agencies and businesses using the popular document-sharing platform. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added the vulnerability to its catalog of known exploits and mandated that federal agencies apply the fix immediately.
NASA-ISRO Joint Earth Observation Satellite NISAR Set for July 30 Launch
The landmark NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is scheduled for launch from Sriharikota on July 30. The collaborative Earth observation satellite is the first to use dual-frequency L-band and S-band radar, allowing it to scan the entire globe every 12 days with high precision. NISAR will monitor subtle changes in Earth's surface, including ground deformation, ice sheet movement, and vegetation dynamics, providing crucial data for disaster response, resource management, and climate change research.
India Plans Major Policy Shift to Allow Private Investment in Nuclear Power
India is set to amend its atomic energy and nuclear liability laws to facilitate private sector investment in the civil nuclear segment. The government aims to address corporate concerns about liability and attract global investment to meet an ambitious target of generating 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047. This major policy overhaul is deemed crucial for India's goal of becoming a developed nation and is more complex than the recent opening of the space sector.
Crypto Exchange CoinDCX Hacked for $44.2 Million
Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX has suffered a major security breach, resulting in the theft of $44.2 million (₹378 crore). The company stated the hack targeted an internal operational account and that customer funds remain safe. CoinDCX founders announced that the company's treasury reserves would fully absorb the losses, so no customers will be affected. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been notified and a forensic investigation is underway.
Simplified Income Tax Bill to Be Tabled in Parliament's Monsoon Session
A parliamentary committee's report on the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, is scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 21. The bill aims to replace the complex, six-decade-old Income Tax Act with a simplified law that is half its size. By reducing sections from 819 to 536 and using plainer language, the reform seeks to enhance tax certainty, minimise litigation, and streamline compliance for all taxpayers, marking a significant overhaul of India's direct tax system.
Centre Forms Expert Team to Study Frequent Disasters in Himachal Pradesh
In response to recurring natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, the Union Home Ministry has ordered the formation of a multi-sectoral central team to study their causes. The team will include experts from the National Disaster Management Authority and various scientific institutes, tasked with understanding the alarming frequency of flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides. Separately, an inter-ministerial team is also currently in Himachal to assess damage from the ongoing monsoon.
UIDAI to Launch Aadhaar Biometric Updates for Children in Schools
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is set to roll out a project to update children's biometrics for Aadhaar through schools. The initiative, expected to launch within two months, aims to address the more than seven crore children who have not completed their mandatory biometric update after turning five. The program will be conducted with parental consent, aiming to streamline children's access to government schemes, scholarships, and other services.
Government and Opposition Set Agenda for Contentious Monsoon Session
The government convened an all-party meeting ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, which begins July 21, to outline its legislative agenda and seek cooperation. The session is poised to be contentious, as the INDIA bloc opposition parties have resolved to corner the government on several fronts, including the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, US President Trump's claims of brokering an India-Pakistan 'ceasefire', and alleged irregularities in Bihar's special voter roll revision.
Devastating Monsoon Rains Kill Over 200 People in Pakistan
A severe monsoon season since late June has caused a major humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, with floods and landslides resulting in over 200 deaths, including nearly 100 children. The National Disaster Management Authority reports that over 560 people have been injured, with the Punjab province being the hardest hit. The relentless rains have destroyed thousands of homes and critical infrastructure, submerging entire neighbourhoods and sparking fears of further devastation from glacier lake outburst floods.
Saudi Arabia's 'Sleeping Prince' Dies After Nearly 20 Years in a Coma
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, widely known as the “Sleeping Prince,” has passed away at the age of 36. He had been in a coma since a 2005 car accident in London. Despite extensive medical intervention, he never regained consciousness. His father's unwavering refusal to withdraw life support turned the prince's two-decade ordeal into a nationally and internationally followed story of parental devotion and hope against impossible odds.