A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school campus in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring over 160 others, many of them students. The tragedy unfolded at Milestone School and College, where classes were in session when the aircraft slammed into the building.

The F-7 BGI fighter jet, a Chinese-made aircraft used for pilot training, took off from a nearby base at 1:06 PM local time and crashed roughly 25 minutes later, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). The jet burst into flames upon impact, engulfing parts of the campus in thick smoke and fire.

Among the deceased were Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot, two schoolteachers, and 16 students, some as young as eight. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and horror as teachers and staff rushed to rescue trapped students before emergency services arrived. “The jet crashed right in front of my eyes – just 10 feet ahead of me,” said Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student at the school

Rescue operations were launched immediately, with the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard, and fire services deployed to the site. Victims were rushed to multiple hospitals across Dhaka, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Combined Military Hospital (CMH). An emergency hotline was activated to assist families seeking information.

Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed “profound grief” and declared a one-day state mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across all institutions. Special prayers were held nationwide in memory of the victims.

The ISPR confirmed that an inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. The F-7 BGI, based on the Soviet-era MiG-21, is considered outdated by global standards but remains in service due to its cost-effectiveness and suitability for training missions.

This incident has sparked renewed debate over urban flight paths and safety protocols, especially in densely populated areas in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh mourns, questions loom over the future of its Air Force training infrastructure and the safety and precautions.

In a landmark moment for India’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape, Tesla Inc. officially launched its first showroom in the country on July 15, located at the upscale Maker Maxity Mall, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. The debut marks the American EV giant’s long-awaited entry into the world’s third-largest automobile market.

Model Y Unveiled: India’s First Taste of Tesla

Tesla kicked off its India operations with the launch of the Model Y SUV, available in two variants:

• Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): ₹59.89 lakh (ex-showroom)
• Long Range RWD: ₹67.89 lakh (ex-showroom)

Both models are being imported from Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, with deliveries expected to begin in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively.

Booking & Delivery Across India

While the physical showroom is in Mumbai, Tesla has opened nationwide online bookings. Customers can:

• Customise their vehicle (colour, wheels, interiors)
• Pay a ₹2 lakh refundable booking fee
• Opt for home delivery or pickup hubs in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai

Charging Infrastructure & Service Network

Tesla plans to install 16 Superchargers across Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, including locations in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Aerocity, Saket, and Noida. A dedicated service centre is also under development in Kurla West, Mumbai, to support after-sales operations.

Voices from the Launch

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who inaugurated the showroom, hailed Tesla’s arrival:

Tesla has arrived in the right city and the right state. Mumbai is the entrepreneurial capital of India. This is more than just an inauguration – it’s a statement.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, welcomed the competition:

One of the world’s largest EV opportunities just got more exciting. Competition drives innovation.

Challenges & Outlook

Despite the excitement, Tesla faces hurdles:

• High import duties (up to 100%) inflate prices compared to global markets
• FSD (Full Self-Driving) features are disabled due to lack of regulatory framework
• EV penetration in India remains under 5%, with luxury EVs forming a niche segment

Tesla’s entry into India is more than a commercial move – it’s a signal of the country’s growing relevance in the global EV narrative. With policy shifts and infrastructure expansion underway, India may soon become a key player in sustainable mobility.

India has taken a significant leap in its quest for critical mineral independence, following the discovery of vast rare earth element (REE) reserves in Rajasthan’s Balotra and Jalore districts. With over 6.9 million tonnes of REEs identified – primarily in Bhati Khera, Siwana tehsil – this find propels India to the third-largest slot globally in terms of reserves.

Strategic Windfall for Technology & Defence Sectors

Rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium are essential for manufacturing high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, mobile phones, and defence equipment. Till date, India has contributed less than 1% to global REE output, heavily relying on imports – particularly from China, which controls nearly 90% of the global processing capacity.

National Push for Critical Minerals

In response to this breakthrough, the central government has unveiled a multi-pronged strategy:

• Launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to streamline exploration, mining, and processing.
• A ₹1,000 crore Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aimed at scaling domestic magnet manufacturing.
• Plans to auction mining blocks in Rajasthan to both public and private sector players.

Environmental Oversight and Industrial Hurdles

Experts caution that extracting and refining REEs involves environmentally sensitive chemical processes, including the handling of radioactive by-products. At present, India lacks robust refining infrastructure for these minerals, which could become a bottleneck if not addressed swiftly.

A New Dawn for Indian Industry?

The Rajasthan discovery is expected to galvanise India’s ambitions for green energy, self-reliant defence, and global tech competitiveness. If harnessed wisely, it could also reduce India’s vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical leverage wielded by REE-dominant nations.

This development marks a turning point in India’s resource strategy. As the world pivots to sustainable technologies and strategic resilience, rare earths could become the backbone of the next industrial age—and Rajasthan may well be the crucible.

In a landmark diplomatic outreach, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Cyprus from June 15 to June 17, 2025. This visit—the first by an Indian head of government in over two decades signaled a strategic deepening of bilateral relations with the Mediterranean nation.

Indian PM Narendra Modi was welcomed with full ceremonial honors by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia. Their discussions reinforced mutual commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a shared vision for a rules-based international order.

Building on earlier agreements, both nations agreed to intensify joint defense initiatives under the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme. Real-time information sharing on terrorism and illicit trafficking was emphasized as a security priority.

PM Modi chaired a high-level business roundtable in Limassol, encouraging Cypriot investment in Indian fintech and AI sectors. A five-year roadmap for economic, maritime, and technological cooperation was jointly unveiled.

The Indian PM announced the creation of an India Studies Chair at the University of Nicosia to foster academic ties. In a moment of high honor, President Christodoulides conferred upon Modi the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III—Cyprus’s highest civilian award.

This visit comes at a time when Cyprus has vocally supported India’s stance on Kashmir and UNSC reform, while India has backed Cyprus’s position on its reunification efforts. Observers view the trip as a subtle yet clear geopolitical signal to Türkiye, whose closeness to Pakistan remains a concern for New Delhi.

Cyprus, situated strategically in the eastern Mediterranean, is emerging as a vital node in the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Modi’s visit strengthens India’s posture as a pivotal force in transcontinental connectivity and Mediterranean diplomacy.