CBI charges husband, mother-in-law in Bhopal woman’s suicide case

The human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) came under renewed scrutiny in the House of Lords on Thursday after Lord Qurban Hussain urged the British Government to clarify its position in light of a Genocide Watch report published earlier this year. During the debate, Lord Qurban Hussain said the report warned that the situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir had reached a critical stage and alleged that eight of the ten recognised stages associated with genocide had already been reached. He asked how seriously the British Government viewed the report and what action it was taking to help prevent further deterioration. The British peer, who said members of his family live on both sides of the Line of Control, urged the Government to explain its assessment of the report and its approach towards the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Responding for the Government, Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), reiterated the UK’s longstanding position on human rights. He said the UK continues to express concern over violence and loss of life and supports full, transparent and impartial investigations into allegations of abuse by Indian police and security forces. He added that the British Government continues to raise human rights issues with India through diplomatic channels. Lord Qurban Hussain’s intervention highlights continuing concern among a number of British parliamentarians over the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with renewed calls for accountability, respect for fundamental rights and a peaceful resolution of the longstanding dispute.

At least 17 passengers and crew members were injured after an Air India flight encountered severe turbulence while travelling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, prompting frightened passengers to fear the aircraft might crash. According to Indian media, the flight was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it was hit by sudden and intense turbulence mid-air. The violent shaking reportedly caused the aircraft to drop abruptly, leaving several passengers and crew members injured. The aircraft also sustained minor damage during the incident. The flight landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where emergency medical teams were waiting. Injured passengers were taken from the aircraft on stretchers and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. An Italian passenger described the ordeal as one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. She said the turbulence was so powerful that her sister was thrown out of her seat, while her mother suffered a head injury. She added that several passengers were hurt, including one man whose face was covered in blood. “We thought we were going to die,” the passenger said, recalling the frightening moments during the flight. Air India, however, said none of the passengers or crew members suffered life-threatening injuries. The airline stated that those injured were taken to hospital as a precaution for medical evaluation. According to the airline, five people were discharged shortly after receiving treatment, while the remaining injured passengers continue to receive medical care. The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers posed by severe in-flight turbulence, although aviation experts note that such events are relatively rare and commercial aircraft are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government troops intensified in Taiz province, claiming the life of at least one government soldier and critically injuring another amid fears of a renewed civil war. Yemeni military officials reported that the recent flare-up is part of a broader wave of Houthi assaults across multiple provinces that have killed dozens of government troops over the past week. Concurrently, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Jazan, marking the second reported strike on the facility following an incident last weekend that caused a localized fire. The military escalation coincides with a Houthi-announced blockade on Saudi maritime shipping, further threatening crucial red sea trade corridors. In response to regional instability, the US Navy directed the USS George Washington to deploy toward the Middle East, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln following reported operational strains and crew welfare concerns aboard the long-deployed carrier.

QatarEnergy has purchased 33 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the United States this year to reduce supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to industry sources. The LNG shipments have been arranged for key Asian markets, including South Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India and Japan, as Qatar works to maintain supplies for its long-term customers. The move comes after QatarEnergy declared force majeure on some of its LNG contracts following the shutdown of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a critical global energy corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes. The company’s decision to purchase additional LNG cargoes from the US represents a major increase compared with previous years. In 2025, QatarEnergy had purchased only four spot LNG cargoes, while the number has now risen sharply to 33 in 2026. The additional purchases are aimed at protecting Qatar’s reputation as one of the world’s most reliable energy suppliers and ensuring that customers continue receiving gas despite regional instability. Industry sources said the US LNG purchases represent a goodwill effort by QatarEnergy to support important Asian buyers affected by the disruption. The 33 cargoes are estimated to equal around one-third of QatarEnergy’s monthly LNG exports before the conflict and are valued at nearly $1 billion. Qatar is among the world’s largest LNG exporters, with Asia accounting for around 80% of its LNG shipments. Countries such as Japan, South Korea and India rely heavily on Qatari gas supplies for energy security. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has created uncertainty in global energy markets, forcing major producers and consumers to seek alternative supply arrangements. QatarEnergy has not officially commented on the reported LNG purchases, but the move highlights efforts by energy companies to adjust supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.

Gulf Cooperation Council member states have formally endorsed a diplomatic initiative proposed by Oman to introduce voluntary service fees for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to restore global energy shipments disrupted by the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The framework, modeled after the cooperative navigation safety mechanism used in Asia’s Malacca Strait, allows shipowners to make optional financial contributions toward environmental protection, search-and-rescue services, and navigational maintenance rather than paying mandatory tolls. Designed as a compromise between Tehran’s demand for administrative authority over shipping lanes and Washington’s insistence on unimpeded international transit, the Omani proposal explicitly prevents Iran from exercising exclusive operational control over the waterway while offering a structured path toward reopening commercial transit routes. The diplomatic breakthrough coincides with a temporary lull in direct aerial bombardments after US President Donald Trump called off a two-week bombing campaign following advice from military commanders. Despite the pause in direct strikes between Washington and Tehran, regional tensions remain elevated due to ongoing proxy drone activity across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, alongside continued US naval enforcement actions against non-compliant commercial vessels. While market reactions to the suspension of airstrikes sent global crude prices down sharply, formal resolution remains subject to upcoming diplomatic negotiations in Washington and the broader implementation of the bilateral framework agreement.