Month: July 2025

Dronacharya awardee and BJP leader Mahavir Singh Phogat condemned the killing of tennis player Radhika Yadav, saying her “father should not have taken this step.”

“It is a tragic incident where the father of a national tennis player killed her. I strongly condemn this. Even if the child made any mistake, he should not have taken this step,” Phogat told ANI.

25-year-old Indian tennis player, Radhika, was allegedly shot dead by her father over a disagreement regarding her tennis academy in Sector 57 in Gurugram in Haryana.

On Saturday, a Gurugram court sent the father, Deepak Yadav, to 14 days’ judicial custody after Gurugram police produced him before the duty magistrate.

On July 11, Radhika’s body was cremated in Gurugram after the post-mortem examination. The team of doctors performing the examination confirmed multiple gunshot wounds.

“The postmortem of the deceased tennis player is completed. Four bullets were taken out from Radhika Yadav’s body,” said Dr Deepak Mathur, who was part of the medical team.

Gurugram Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sandeep Kumar on Friday informed that the 25-year-old was shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, a result of a disagreement over her tennis academy. Speaking to ANI, Kumar said the father, who runs a rental property business, was unhappy with his daughter running the academy, citing their financially prosperous background as a reason for her not to work.”

Kumar elaborated, “Despite being told not to run the academy, Radhika refused to stop working, which eventually and ultimately led to a huge disagreement. Going further, the accused got angry and shot his daughter with his licensed gun and killed her.”

The police are also investigating a music video in which Radhika had played a part. As per sources, Rekha’s father had asked her to delete the video from her social media. However, police has found no connection between the murder and the music video.

Inam-ul-Haq, co-actor of Radhika in the music video, has said that he had no connection to her murder and had not been in touch with her after the video shoot. (ANI)

Delhi received light to moderate rainfall on Sunday morning, bringing welcome relief from the spell of high humidity and soaring temperatures.

Several areas across the city, including Firoz Shah Road, experienced light to moderate showers during the day.

The showers brought down temperatures and offered relief from the persistent humidity of the past few days. Commuters welcomed the cool breeze and drop in temperature.

On Saturday evening, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). A similar pattern was observed on Friday, with heavy showers leading to waterlogging and traffic snarls in several parts of the capital.

The rainfall, which began on Wednesday evening, has continued over the past few days, bringing relief from high temperatures and sticky weather conditions. Overcast skies have persisted across the region. However, the incessant rains have also caused waterlogging in many parts of Delhi, forcing vehicles to navigate through waterlogged roads.

On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed concern over the waterlogging situation across the city and directed officials of the concerned departments to take immediate and effective measures to address the issue. She emphasized the importance of ensuring public convenience during the monsoon season.

This year, the monsoon arrived eight days early in India, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding in several cities, disrupting daily life in many areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a “generally cloudy sky with moderate rain” for the national capital in the coming days. (ANI)

President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, Charanvir Singh Randhawa, on Sunday raised doubts over the preliminary report on the Air India AI171 crash, saying it fails to clarify who was in control of the cockpit and points to a possible electrical or software malfunction in the aircraft.

Speaking to ANI, Randhawa said, “The aircraft was actually being flown by the co-pilot, who was the one controlling the plane, while the captain, who was the pilot-in-command, was monitoring the flight. So, it’s still unclear who made the key decisions. The preliminary report doesn’t make that clear, even though it would have been easy to identify from the Cockpit Voice Recorder who was speaking.”

He added that the report mentions fuel control switches changing position on their own, which could indicate a serious glitch. “The report also mentions that the fuel control switches changed position, from cutoff to run, on their own. This suggests there might have been an electrical or software glitch. It seems the system detected that the switch had been moved, even though no one physically touched it.”

Randhawa also referred to a Boeing advisory from 2018 warning about similar fuel switch issues in 737 aircraft. “Back in December 2018, Boeing issued an advisory about similar fuel control switch malfunctions in some 737 aircraft. If that information was available, then all the aircraft should have been checked. This circular should have been a directive rather than just an advisory,” he said.

Randhawa said he does not believe the pilots would have moved the switches unless both engines had failed, which the report does not confirm. “I don’t believe the pilots would have moved the fuel control switches unless they were aware of a dual engine failure causing a loss of thrust. But according to the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), they didn’t move the switches. This points to a possible issue in the aircraft’s electronic system.”

He further added, “Yet, the preliminary report seems to give a clean chit, saying there was nothing wrong with the engines or Boeing’s systems. But many questions remain unanswered. A proper investigation is still needed to understand what really happened after the aircraft took off.”

According to Randhawa, flight data shows the aircraft reached a speed of 180 knots at 08:08 for two seconds. Ten seconds later, the fuel control switches either changed manually or the system recorded a change, possibly without physical input. He also pointed out that the landing gear was not retracted and the flaps remained in the takeoff position, suggesting a possible system failure.

The President of the Federation of Indian Pilots said,”We know from the flight data that the plane reached a speed of 180 knots at 08:08 for two seconds. Ten seconds later, at 08:08:52, the fuel control switches were either manually reset or the system detected a change, possibly without physical input. Also, it’s clear that the landing gear wasn’t retracted, and the flaps remained in takeoff position. This suggests some malfunction may have occurred.”

“If the pilots moved the switches, it may have been in response to the issue. If not, it may have been an electrical fault that falsely indicated a change,” Randhawa said. “I hope that in the next phase of the investigation, these questions are answered clearly. It’s also important that the CVR transcript identifies who was giving the commands in the cockpit,” Randhawa added.

The crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, claimed 260 lives, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. (ANI)

IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is set to return to Earth tomorrow, July 14, along with his crew from Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

The crew is scheduled to undock from the ISS at around 4:35 PM IST, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at approximately 3 PM IST on Tuesday, July 15.

The return journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft will take around 22 hours, concluding their nearly 18-day mission aboard the ISS.

The Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu.

During their stay, the team conducted multiple scientific experiments and outreach activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.

A live farewell ceremony with NASA’s Expedition 73 crew is scheduled to take place at 08:55 AM CT (7:25 PM IST) tomorrow. In a post on X, Axiom Space said, “The Ax4 crew will soon conclude their mission aboard the ISS. Watch the farewell ceremony live tomorrow at 08:55 AM CT ahead of their scheduled undocking on Monday.”

The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission.

On “flight day 18”, Kapu continued his work on the Fruit Fly DNA Repair study, investigating genetic stability under space radiation, and the VITAPRIC project, growing nutrient-rich plants for astronaut nutrition.

Group Captain Shukla, along with his team, tested Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to assess their accuracy in microgravity, a critical step toward enabling diabetic individuals to participate in spaceflight, as part of the Suite Ride initiative.

Other studies on flight day 18 included Voyager Displays, examining eye movement and coordination, and ENPERCHAR, exploring astronaut perception in microgravity.

The Neuromotion VR study assessed attention and motor skills, while the Suit Fabric Study gathered data on heat transfer, impacting spacesuit design and terrestrial applications.

The crew also worked on the AstroMentalHealth and EEG Neurofeedback projects, which focused on mental health and stress reduction, respectively.

Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, connecting to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. (ANI)

Anurag Basu’s new film ‘Metro… In Dino’ is garnering the love of the audience and showing a steady hold at the box office.

Released on July 4 in theatres, it follows four different love stories of couples–young, old, and middle-aged–living in a metro and serves as the spiritual sequel to Anurag Basu’s 2007 film Life in a… Metro.

The film features Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta.

Despite a modest start, the film has shown a steady hold at the box office. The film minted Rs 32.01 crore net in 8 days, as per the press release.

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh talked about the steady growth of the movie in a statement, “Metro…In Dino has managed to hold its ground remarkably well, especially given the tough box office environment and stiff competition from bigger titles. Despite the odds, the film has shown consistency through the weekdays and is headed for a promising second weekend. The footfalls are steady, and that says a lot. What’s working is the relatability, Anurag Basu’s storytelling has struck a chord. It’s one of those rare films where audiences see their own stories unfold on screen.”

Kamal Gianchandani, Chief Business Planning and Strategy at PVR INOX Limited, added, “Metro…In Dino has shown remarkable consistency at the box office. In a competitive landscape, it’s encouraging to see audiences returning to cinemas for a film that’s driven purely by strong storytelling and emotional depth. The growing happy footfalls at the theatres has increased the business at the box office, and underlines the demand for such well-crafted content. ‘Metro…In Dino’ is touted to be one of the successful movies of the year 2025. Bhushan Kumar and Anurag Basu have brought together a film that speaks to the urban audience in a relatable, heartfelt way.”

While a source close to the production also added, “Budgeted at Rs 40 crore with Rs 7 crore on print and advertising, ‘Metro…In Dino was never about extravagance and that’s exactly its strength, It’s grounded, honest, and connects with audiences where it matters most,” as per the press release.

Backed by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and directed by Anurag Basu, the film offers an emotionally layered take on modern relationships. The trend so far indicates solid appreciation in urban markets, with the film set for a healthy run even beyond its second weekend. It’s expected to hit good numbers by the end of the weekend, as per the press release.

‘Metro… In Dino’ is in theatres now. (ANI)

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India on Saturday raised objections to the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the Air India plane crash on June 12, claiming that it suggests a bias towards pilot error.

“The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry,” the pilots’ association said in a media statement.

Claiming a lack of transparency in the investigation, the association expressed reservations over the release of the preliminary report into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 to the media, and said that it was “leaked” without any official signature.

It also flagged the issue of experienced personnel, especially line pilots, not being included in the investigation team.

“The report was leaked to the media without any responsible official signature or attribution. There is a lack of transparency in investigations as investigations continue to be shrouded in secrecy, undermining credibility and public trust. Qualified, experienced personnel, especially line pilots, are still not being included in the investigation team,” the statement read.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Saturday urged not to draw conclusions based on the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India flight AI171 crash.

Speaking to mediapersons, the MoS Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said, “The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work.”

On Friday, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the preliminary report into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12.

The AI-171 flight, which was bound for London’s Gatwick airport, crashed soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport. 260 people lost their lives in the accident, which included 229 passengers, 12 crew members and 19 people on the ground.

The report outlines a harrowing sequence of events that unfolded within 90 seconds of takeoff, as both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly during the initial climb, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and rapid descent.

Flight data recovered from the aircraft’s Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval, at an altitude just moments after liftoff. One pilot was heard asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” to which the response was, “I did not.”

This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight.

According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call — a “MAYDAY” — was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter. (ANI)

Inam-ul-Haq, co-actor of the late tennis player Radhika Yadav in a music video, has said that he had no connection to her murder and had not been in touch with her after the video shoot.

Speaking to ANI, Haq said he met Radhika during the Tennis Premier League in Delhi, and later worked with her on a music video.

“I met her (Radhika) for the first time in the Tennis Premier League, which was held in Delhi. After that, I met her in a music video. She was an actor to me. I have worked with many actresses… She just came for the shooting of the music video, and then she left… We just gave her a good luck amount. The production of the video was unpaid. After that, we never contacted,” he said.

Haq refuted any involvement in Radhika’s death and expressed concern over attempts to give the incident a communal angle. “This incident is being given a Hindu-Muslim angle too. I don’t know why it is being done. I don’t have to do anything with this case… Radhika has no social media. There is just a video clip on YouTube; that’s why it is being highlighted repeatedly,” he added.

He further said that false rumours about a relationship between him and Radhika are being spread on social media, which are completely “untrue.” “There was neither any kind of friendship nor any relationship between Radhika and me,” he said.

Haq mentioned that Radhika came to the shoot with her mother and had said her father liked the song.

“…She (Radhika) came to the shooting (of the music video) with her mother. On the set, she also mentioned that her father liked the song, which means she took permission from her father also… When we met her for the first time, she told us that she wants to work in this line (film line)… She desired to work in this line… After that, we never met. We were in contact during the release of the song… She deactivated and reactivated her Instagram account around 2-3 times,” he said.

A preliminary investigation into the Air India flight AI171 crash has revealed that just seconds before the aircraft lost power and went down near Ahmedabad airport, one pilot asked the other why he had cut off fuel to the engines, an action the second pilot reportedly denied, saying, “did not do so.”

“In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the preliminary report on the Air India crash said.

The report mentions that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shut down one second apart shortly after takeoff. This caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly and crash near the boundary of Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Investigators have ruled out any bird strike or external damage, although the cause of the fuel cutoff remains under investigation.

According to the report, “the aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position one after another with a time gap of one second. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.”

CCTV footage from the airport showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying shortly after takeoff, indicating that power was lost early in the flight. “The CCTV footage obtained from the airport showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) getting deployed during the initial climb immediately after lift-off. No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall,” the report added.

Further, the report said that data downloaded from the forward Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) is being analysed in detail.

The report also stated that no immediate safety actions have been recommended for B787-8 aircraft or the GE GEnx-1B engines at this stage. However, investigators will continue to review more evidence, records, and information from relevant stakeholders.

Meanwhile, a 2018 safety warning from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a possible flaw in Boeing’s fuel control switches has resurfaced as part of the investigation. The FAA had earlier warned that the locking feature on these switches, which prevents accidental engine shutdown, could become disengaged. However, it did not mandate corrective action.

“The FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) No. NM-18-33 on December 17, 2018, regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. This SAIB was issued based on reports from operators of Model 737 aeroplanes that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive (AD) by the FAA,” the report states.

“The fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, including part number 4TL837-3D, which is fitted in B787-8 aircraft VT-ANB. As per the information from Air India, the suggested inspections were not carried out as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. The scrutiny of maintenance records revealed that the throttle control module was replaced on VT-ANB in 2019 and 2023. However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB,” it added.

On 12 June this year, the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The aircraft struck a hostel building at BJ Medical College, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The incident is among India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent times. (ANI)

A multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Seelampur area, trapping several people inside, said an official on Saturday morning.

Soon after receiving the information about the incident, the rescue operation was initiated by the Fire Department, and 3-4 people were taken to a hospital.

According to the official, more people are feared trapped under the debris of the building.

A total of 7 fire tenders are present at the spot, engaged in rescue operations.

More details awaited. (ANI)

Emmy-winning actor Lee Jung-jae, best known for his role as protagonist Seong Gi-hun in the hit Korean series ‘Squid Game’, would love to explore Indian cinema.

In a virtual interview with ANI, Lee Jung-jae expressed his desire to work in Bollywood.

He said, “I would love to be a part of a Bollywood film if I was given the opportunity.”

During the interaction, Lee Jung-jae also recalled reprising his character for the third season of the Netflix show.

“It was a day of mixed feelings when I put on that green tracksuit with my number 456 on it and I stepped onto the set again for the first time. I also felt the same way when I put back on the red haired wig. I’ve worked in this industry for quite a long time but I have never felt a rush of emotions like the way I experienced on the day when I came back to the sets of Squid Game,” Lee Jung-Jae shared.

‘Squid Game’ premiered on Netflix in 2021. The first season was nominated for 17 Emmys, with the show winning six, including one for best actor in a drama for Lee and another for best guest actress in a drama for Lee You-mi.

The veteran Korean actor became a global icon with his intriguing performance in Netflix’s dystopian survival thriller.

Asked what made this show a huge success, Lee Jung-jae emphasised,”I did not expect this kind of success. I think it’s about timing. When Squid Game season one was released, not only were we mid-pandemic, but also I think it was the beginning of a lot of global economic struggle, unfortunately. And so many people were struggling in real life, which has been reflected in the characters in Squid Game. So I think the overall timing of the release of the show and the things that were happening around the world and how much of that was reflected in the characters was partly what led to its huge success. “

Interestingly, ‘Squid Game’ broke a new record for Netflix when it debuted its third and final season recently. Over the first three days, the smash-hit Korean drama drew 60.1 million views, setting a new high for the streamer, as per Variety.

With that impressive opening stat, the third season is now Netflix’s ninth most-watched non-English TV show ever on the streamer’s regularly updated list of most popular series overall. (ANI)