IndiGo Kolkata-Chennai flight lands safely after engine issue triggers full emergency

India's IndiGo experienced an engine failure, triggering an airport emergency on Wednesday, August 12. The incident occurred at an undisclosed location, causing disruption to air traffic. Meanwhile, India and the five countries comprising the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini - agreed to commence negotiations on a preferential trade agreement (PTA).

The talks, which have been ongoing since 2002, aim to lower tariffs on Indian exports, including vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and industrial machinery. This move comes as India seeks to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with the US. Tensions surrounding the US's tariffs on India intensified after the US Supreme Court upheld Trump's emergency tariffs in July.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), suggested that a new wave of protests could be imminent, following weeks of demonstrations advocating for education reform which led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Meanwhile, a landslide in Mumbai's Kurla area claimed at least seven lives and injured several others, following heavy rains.

Rescue operations are underway, with teams from various emergency agencies deployed. Additionally, a fire broke out in a residential building in Mumbai, causing injuries to eight people. The fire was brought under control shortly after midnight. The Supreme Court of India urged tribunals handling appeals against voter deletions in West Bengal to expedite their work, as nearly 3.4 million appeals are currently pending.

These appeals could potentially delay the upcoming assembly elections. Lastly, India's quick commerce sector, particularly grocery delivery services like Zepto and Blinkit, is facing challenges due to serious food safety and hygiene violations. Authorities have sealed warehouses and suspended licenses of these facilities after inspections revealed unhygienic conditions, improper labeling, and misbranding.