The preliminary report into the Air India Flight 171 crash reveals a disturbing mystery: both fuel control switches were inexplicably moved to “cut-off” seconds after take-off, causing both engines to shut down. One pilot is heard questioning the move, but neither claims responsibility. Investigators are puzzled, given the design prevents accidental activation. The crash killed 260 and occurred within 40 seconds of take-off from Ahmedabad. With no evidence of mechanical failure or pilot error, focus has shifted to voice identification and electronic anomalies in fuel systems. Experts stress the urgent need for cockpit video recorders.
AUSTRALIAN PM VISITS CHINA
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in China on a six-day, three-city visit aimed at deepening trade relations with Beijing despite ongoing geopolitical frictions. He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and senior officials to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and sensitive issues like Aukus and the South China Sea. Accompanied by top business leaders, Albanese emphasised that the China relationship “means jobs in Australia.” Analysts view the trip as a sign of stabilised ties, even as Washington watches warily. It marks a continued pivot towards pragmatic diplomacy in a shifting global landscape.
IRAN MISSILES HIT US BASE
The Pentagon has confirmed that an Iranian ballistic missile struck the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on June 23, damaging a geodesic dome used for secure communications and nearby structures. The attack followed US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and occurred just before a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was brokered by President Trump. While the base remains fully operational and no casualties were reported, satellite imagery confirms the dome’s destruction. Advanced warnings helped prevent major damage, with aircraft relocated in advance. The incident underscores heightened tensions despite diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region.
MYANMAR AIRSTRIKE HITS BUDDHIST MONASTERY
At least 23 civilians, including four children, were killed when a Myanmar military jet bombed a Buddhist monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing region, around 1 am on July 11. Over 150 people from nearby villages had taken shelter there to escape recent conflict. Thirty more were injured, ten critically. The junta has not commented, but has previously claimed it only targets armed resistance. The strike comes amid intensified military operations to regain rebel-held areas ahead of elections widely seen as an attempt to legitimise the coup regime amid ongoing civil war.
ECUADOR DRUG LORD ACCEPTS EXTRADITION
Ecuador’s most notorious gang leader, Adolfo “Fito” Macias, has agreed to be extradited to the United States, where he faces charges related to cocaine trafficking, conspiracy, and weapons smuggling. Captured in June 2025 after an 18-month manhunt, Fito had escaped from a maximum-security prison, prompting a deadly wave of gang violence. His extradition marks the first under Ecuador’s new law enabling such action. As leader of Los Choneros, Fito’s influence extended deep into prisons and ports, helping turn Ecuador into a key global cocaine hub. Authorities hope this move will boost the country’s crackdown on organized crime.
