The body of 19-year-old Sneha Debnath from Tripura was discovered in the Yamuna River near Geeta Colony after she had been missing for six days . As reported by police, she had left a suicide note and was last seen on Signature Bridge. Technical surveillance led to the tracing of her movements, and local eyewitnesses reported her presence on the bridge shortly before her disappearance. A search operation involved the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and raised concerns about non-functional CCTV cameras in the area.

Fuel switch system declared safe by FAA and Boeing

After the fatal Air India Boeing 787-8 crash, both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have stated that the fuel switch locking systems on their aircraft are safe , as reported by Reuters. Despite an AAIB investigation questioning the reliability of the switches, the FAA issued a notification concluding that no regulatory action is necessary, citing no unsafe condition. ALPA India has requested observer status in the ongoing crash investigation, amidst claims that pilot error is not to blame.

Indian national arrested for cocaine at Kathmandu airport

Nepalese police arrested Abdus Samad Jamal Mansuri, a 49-year-old Indian national from Mumbai, after recovering approximately 3.4 kg of cocaine at Tribhuvan International Airport. Mansuri had arrived in Kathmandu from Azerbaijan on a Qatar Airways flight. The police confirmed his arrest occurred in the airport's arrival parking area, and an investigation is currently underway.

Punjab congress raises alarm over law and order crisis

Following the daylight murder of businessman Sanjay Verma, Congress leaders in Punjab have accused the state government of allowing drug cartels and extortionists to operate with impunity. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's inaction, demanding accountability and immediate government reform to protect business interests. Amid escalating fears among the entrepreneurial community, calls for a high court-monitored investigation into Verma's murder and public discussion about law enforcement efforts have intensified.

Under this directive, the central government will step in to support provinces that are unable to fully cover the costs, while families with children in private schools will also receive financial support, with the amount decided locally within government-set limits.

The new policy also extends to people of Vietnamese origin living in the country who have not yet confirmed their nationality, allowing them access to free public education.

Alongside the tuition reform, a second resolution was passed to make preschool education universal for children aged 3 to 5 by 2030.

The plan includes building more schools, upgrading facilities, and training more teachers, with funding from both public and private sources.

The National Assembly passed both resolutions on June 26. The aim is to reduce educational inequality and ensure that children across all regions have the same opportunities to learn.

In a recent online panel hosted by Dialogues on Asian Universities, Tony Chan, former president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, described this shift as historic. “The flow of talent is instead going more one way; now it’s going both ways. It’s more multi-polar,” Chan said during the discussion titled “Tectonic Shift in the Global Talent Chain.”

Professor Rangan Banerjee, director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, said technology disruption and geopolitics are the two major forces driving this change. “The geopolitics are such that this is the right time for Asian universities to play a leading role in nurturing the talent pool and finding solutions to the world’s problems,” Banerjee is further quoted by University World News .

Banerjee explained that while a decade ago most IIT students left India to study abroad, today only about 10% do so. “Most of the people graduating are taking up jobs in India, some of them international jobs, and we are seeing a trend for innovation and startups, there is a booming startup ecosystem,” he said.

In China, Yaqin Zhang, chair professor at Tsinghua University and founding dean of the Tsinghua Institute for AI Industry Research, described a similar pattern. “Twenty-five years ago, the best [Chinese] students went to the US and Europe, but mainly the US, to get their PhDs and to find jobs,” he said. “In the last five years, especially, most of the best students have chosen to stay in China.”

Zhang pointed to visa hurdles as one reason for the change. “It’s harder for Chinese top students to get a visa,” he said, adding that around 90% of Tsinghua’s top computer science students now remain in China.

US President Donald Trump has expressed a dismissive attitude towards aggressive acts linked to Beijing, including recent hacking incidents and the arrest of Chinese nationals involved in smuggling a pathogen. Speaking on 'Sunday Morning Futures', Trump downplayed these issues, stating, 'That’s the way the world works', comparing the behaviour to US actions. This approach suggests a downplaying of US-China tensions, emphasising mutual espionage activities as part of global diplomacy.

Crackdown on gay erotica in China

According to reports, China is intensifying its crackdown on young female authors writing gay erotica, targeting those publishing on the Taiwanese platform Haitang Literature City. Since February, approximately 30 predominantly female writers have been arrested, facing charges of producing obscene material. This crackdown reflects the broader censorship challenges in China and highlights a social and legal pushback against the state’s restrictive anti-obscenity laws, which disproportionately target gay content.

Trump’s strategic deal with TikTok

President Donald Trump has announced a potential buyer for TikTok amidst the US-China tensions over data security concerns linked to the app, owned by China's ByteDance. This potential transaction, pending China's governmental approval, might influence diplomatic relations, with Trump emphasising the necessity for Chinese leader Xi Jinping's consent. The backdrop includes US claims of national security threats, with ByteDance's ongoing legal battles over the app's forced sale.

Indoctrination concerns in Tibetan schools

An alarming report by the Tibet Action Institute highlights indoctrination practices in Chinese state-run boarding schools for Tibetan children. This initiative is reportedly aimed at cultural assimilation, pushing Mandarin instruction while suppressing Tibetan language and religious practices. This development has raised international human rights concerns. Accounts describe harsh conditions and cultural suppression as means of reinforcing Chinese Communist Party loyalty, amidst the backdrop of historical tensions in the region.

Flood crisis in China’s Guizhou Province

According to reports , the Guizhou province of China is significantly affected by severe flooding, with over 40,000 residents evacuating the area for safety. The city of Rongjiang faced destructive river levels unseen since 1954, prompting authorities to issue the highest-level alerts due to potential dam failures. This situation underscores challenges in adapting infrastructure to endure climate extremes, as the region faces repeated weather-related crises within a short span.

Authorities say the move comes after repeated incidents of injuries, public disturbance, and reckless behaviour during student gatherings, especially around WASSCE exam celebrations.

The government says students riding on trucks and motorbikes without safety gear, blocking traffic, and in some cases using drugs or alcohol, have put lives at risk.

The Ministry of Education stressed that students are still free to celebrate, but only in secure locations such as stadiums, school grounds, or town halls.

Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah also said the ban is grounded in national law and aims to protect students and the public from harm.

“This is not about stopping joy, it’s about making sure the joy doesn’t end in tragedy,” Dr. Jallah said.

Police Chief Gregory Coleman, on the other hand, backed the move, citing past accidents , including a deadly parade on the Monrovia-Kakata Highway.

He warned that both schools and adults who ignore the rules will face penalties. Officials say a model school working with the ministry has already set an example for safe celebrations.

The plan targets young people involved in fights, rule-breaking, or illegal activities, especially those too young to face criminal charges.

The goal, according to officials , is not punishment but education and reform.

Tangerang Deputy Regent Intan Nurul Hikmah said the program is still being developed with input from schools, parents, and other groups.

She also noted that parents will be involved in the program, and schools will be encouraged to apply fair punishments when needed.

Meanwhile, in Singkawang City, Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie announced plans to send teenagers caught street racing to military-run camps instead of simply issuing warnings or fines.

The proposed training is seen as a way to steer young people away from crime and give them structure.

The Ministry of Higher Education and the Immigration Bureau have introduced five new steps that schools must follow if they want to offer non-degree programs to international students.

First, every school must now clearly explain what each program is about.

That includes the name of the course, who is running it, what will be taught, and whether it will be online or in person.

They must also say how long the course will last and how many students can join.

Second, schools must keep an eye on students and make sure they attend classes and follow the rules. If students don’t show up or don’t take part properly, the school must report it.

Every month, schools will have to send updates to the government . These updates must show who is still in the program and who has dropped out.

Students found to be breaking the rules could have their visas cancelled.

Schools found to be in violation of the rules could also lose permission to run their programs. It could also make it harder for them to offer new programs in the future.

Also, the Immigration Bureau will work more closely with the education ministry and will pass on data for further checks if they discover something strange in a school’s data.

Immigration Commissioner Panumas Boonyaluck said the new rules are meant to protect the education system and ensure student visas are only used for education purposes.

These changes come as Thailand tries to stop visa abuse and keep its education programs honest and safe.

With some given as little as just seven days to leave the country.

Reports from different states show that dozens of students from Ghana and Nigeria have recently been affected.

The development comes following the enforcement of stricter rules to student visa holders by U.S. immigration officials under the second term of President Donald Trump.

Some students have been caught off guard.

In some cases, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have shown up at their dormitories or stopped them in public without any earlier warning, local reports say.

A recent example is a Turkish doctoral student who was arrested days after her visa was cancelled. Authorities accused her of political activity, but her lawyers said she was only speaking up for Palestinian human rights.

For African students, the situation is even more worrying. Many have lost their visas for attending peaceful rallies or after small issues with the law .

In one case, over 100 African students are fighting their visa cancellations in court, saying they were unfairly treated.

Meanwhile, there are calls for Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Scholarship Secretariat to improve support for students abroad, especially those facing emergencies.

Embassies are also being asked to stay in closer contact with students and help them quickly when problems arise.

According to local reports , many students and activists have fought against the rule, saying it was outdated and unfair.

The rule originally came from a military order in 1972, which wanted students to look disciplined and behave a certain way.

But the court said the rule violated students' rights and did not follow Thailand’s constitution or child protection laws.

The fight to change this rule began in 2020 when a group of 23 students filed a petition.

 Over the years, schools had already started relaxing hairstyle rules, but some still enforced them strictly.

With this court decision, schools can now decide their own policies.

Not everyone is happy about this change. Some teachers and traditionalists believe strict rules help students develop discipline.

 On social media, critics said that without clear punishments, some schools might still pressure students to follow the old rules. A student activist group called "Bad Student" has been pushing for more educational reforms, saying Thai schools focus too much on appearance instead of real learning.

Thailand’s education system has long been criticised for being too focused on uniforms and discipline rather than preparing students for the modern world.

The court’s decision could lead to more changes in the way schools operate.