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The government says no fault has been found in the Air India Boeing 787 fuel control switch, while the crash investigation continues.Parliament has cleared a Bill extending legal protection to Vande Mataram, making insults punishable on par with the national anthem.Rahul Gandhi used a Parliament debate on the anti-paper leak Bill to back student protests and level fresh allegations against the government. The Centre rejected Rahul Gandhi’s claims over police action during the NEET protests, insisting only tear gas was used and demanding an apology. Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, escalating its crackdown on online platforms amid the Ukraine war.Here are your top stories of the day.
Government says no fault found in Air India Dreamliner fuel switch
The Centre has informed Parliament that inspections found no abnormality in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed after take-off from Ahmedabad in June 2025. Officials said examination of the broader thrust control module is still underway, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues to investigate all possible causes before publishing its final report. Read full story
Rajya Sabha clears Bill extending legal protection to Vande Mataram
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to give Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem. If enacted, intentionally insulting the national song, preventing its singing or disrupting its rendition could attract up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Read full story
Rahul Gandhi backs student protests during Parliament debate
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi praised the nationwide NEET-UG protests during a Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, calling them a reflection of students’ aspirations. He criticised the education system, accused the RSS of influencing the ministry and alleged that Union home minister Amit Shah authorised action against student protesters, triggering protests from the treasury benches. Read full story
Centre rejects Rahul’s allegations over NEET protest crackdown
The government dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that Amit Shah authorised police excesses against student protesters, saying no shots were fired during the July 20 demonstrations and that only tear gas was used. Union ministers demanded that Gandhi apologise and provide evidence, while the Speaker also intervened over remarks later ruled unparliamentary and expunged from the record. Read full story
Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism
Russia’s Federal Security Service has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activities and placed him on an international wanted list, alleging the platform failed to remove content linked to Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups. The move marks the latest step in Moscow’s tightening control over digital platforms and could expose Durov to life imprisonment if convicted in Russia. Read full story
