Digest for 30 July, 2025
Massive 8.7-Magnitude Quake Off Russia Triggers Pacific-Wide Tsunami Alerts
A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, generating tsunami waves and triggering widespread alerts across the Pacific. Waves of up to 4 meters hit parts of Russia and Japan, prompting evacuations. Warnings were issued for the US West Coast, Hawaii, China, and several other Pacific nations, with authorities urging coastal residents to move to higher ground. The quake is one of the strongest recorded globally and has put the entire Pacific Ring of Fire on high alert.
PM Modi Rejects Foreign Mediation Claims in 'Operation Sindoor' Debate
In a heated parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected claims of foreign mediation in halting "Operation Sindoor," India's retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. He stated that no world leader asked India to stop and that a ceasefire was considered only after Pakistan pleaded for it. The PM accused the opposition of echoing Pakistani propaganda. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had questioned the government's political will and cited US President Trump's claims of brokering a deal.
ISRO and NASA Begin Countdown for Joint Earth-Observing NISAR Satellite Launch
The countdown has commenced for the launch of the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, a landmark joint mission. Scheduled to lift off from Sriharikota aboard an ISRO GSLV rocket, the satellite is the world's most expensive Earth-imaging satellite. It will map the entire globe every 12 days, providing unprecedentedly detailed data on climate change, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards. The collaboration is being hailed as a new high in India-US space partnership.
Aviation Watchdog Finds 51 Major Safety Lapses in Air India Operations
An audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has uncovered 51 safety lapses at Air India, including seven critical "Level I" breaches requiring immediate action. The findings flag significant gaps in pilot training for Boeing 777/787 aircraft, use of unapproved simulators for challenging airports, and poor crew rostering that led to flights with insufficient staff. The audit heightens scrutiny on the Tata Group-owned airline's safety protocols, which are already under review following recent incidents.
Government Confirms No Decision Taken to Update National Population Register
The central government has informed the Lok Sabha that it has not taken any decision to update the National Population Register (NPR). Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that while the government has notified its intent to conduct the next Census, which will include caste enumeration, the controversial NPR update is not currently planned. The clarification comes after years of debate and protests over the NPR's potential links to a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).