India and China have agreed to expedite steps to resume direct air services between the two countries and also hold talks to resolve trade issues.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who is on a two-day visit to New Delhi from June 12 -13.

“The Foreign Secretary hoped for the early conclusion of an updated Air Services Agreement. The two sides further agreed to take practical steps for visa facilitation and exchanges between media and think-tanks,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

The tragedy of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash continues to unfold in sorrowful stories emerging from across India. Apart from the 241 people aboard the ill-fated aircraft who perished in the crash, many innocent people on the ground were feared killed as the Boeing plane crashed into a residential building and burst into a ball of flames. Among those killed on the ground was 14-year-old Akash, who became a victim of the crash’s fiery aftermath.

Akash was sitting near a tea stall next to the BJ Medical College, close to the crash site, when part of the aircraft struck the area. His mother, who ran a shop below the hospital, witnessed the horrific scene.

“He was sitting there near the shop when a part of the plane landed, hitting his head, and then fire engulfed him,” said his aunt. “His mother tried to save him, but the flames spread so quickly. She was almost caught in the fire herself.”

Vaccinated patients hospitalised with Covid-19 who developed acute kidney injury had better outcomes than unvaccinated patients with the same condition, according to new research on Friday.

The study led by researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) showed that patients with prior vaccination were less likely to stay on dialysis after discharge, and more likely to survive than unvaccinated patients.

Acute kidney injury, or AKI, is common among people infected with Covid, with rates running as high as 46 per cent. It can lead to a mild decrease in kidney function or, if severe enough, to dialysis. The long-term renal and survival outcomes of these patients, however, have not been well understood.

As India grapples with the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Charotar region comprising Anand and Kheda districts has emerged as one of the most affected areas. A sense of disbelief hangs heavy in the villages and towns across the two districts, as reports confirm that at least 50 people from the region were on board the ill-fated London-bound flight.

The flight AI171, which crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, had 242 people on board. Of these, 33 were from Anand district, and 17 from Kheda, according to initial reports. Many families have been left shattered, with multiple members perishing in the tragedy.

Among those killed were students, homemakers, doctors, and people who were going to reunite with their loved ones in the UK. One such family is the Halani family from Anand, who had received visitor visas and were travelling to meet relatives. Tragically, all three members lost their lives.

Given the current inflation trajectory, headline inflation is projected to average 4 per cent this fiscal (FY26), from 4.6 per cent last fiscal, a Crisil report said on Friday.

Lower inflation keeps the window open for one more repo rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), apart from the 100 basis points cut announced so far, the report forecast.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation dropped to 2.8 per cent in May, the lowest reading since February 2019, from 3.2 per cent in April as food inflation continued to decline.

Fuel and core inflation also softened. Food inflation fell to 1 per cent, the lowest since October 2021, from 1.8 per cent in April. Fuel inflation reversed trend and eased marginally to 2.8 per cent from 2.9 per cent.

Thieves struck overnight at the apple nursery of a poor, physically challenged farmer in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Shopian district and decamped with 400 high density young apple trees.

This is yet another incident in the series of apple tree thefts in the district, which is famous for producing the best quality apples in Kashmir.

Apple farmers, during the last decade, have been shifting from yielding variety apple trees to high density trees those give fruit within one to two years after bring planted.

For their early fruit yielding character and convenient management, the high density apple trees are in great demand in the Valley and one such tree costs between Rs 200 to Rs 400 depending on the variety of the fruit.

Officials said that more than 400 high density apple trees were stolen from the orchard of a physically challenged farmer in Shopian district.

In a tragic road accident in Bengaluru Rural district on Friday, at least four people, including two children, were killed following a collision between an Andhra Pradesh RTC bus and a truck. Sixteen individuals were injured in the accident, with two are currently in a critical condition.

The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Keshava Reddy, 21-year-old Tulasi, four-year-old Pranathi, and a one-year-old baby Maria. The police stated that all the deceased hailed from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

The incident occurred at Gottipura Gate in Hoskote taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru city, along the National Highway between Kolar and Hoskote.

Hollywood star Brad Pitt, in an apparent reference to his divorce from Angelina Jolie, has talked about learning from his mistakes and said to “move on” from it.

Pitt was speaking at the premiere of F1 in Mexico City, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. He appeared to be reflecting on the lessons he’s learned following his long-running divorce from Angelina Jolie, reports.

He said: “No matter the mistake, you know, you just learn from (it) and move on.”

Pitt added about making an error: “It’ll lead to the next success.”

As the nation reels from the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171, grief is pouring in from households across India, where families are mourning loved ones lost in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters.

Among the 241 people killed in the air crash, the pain is especially raw in Kurukshetra, Vadodara, and Kheda district of Gujarat.

Anju Sharma, originally from Kurukshetra, had been living in Vadodara with her family. She was on her way to London to visit her elder daughter when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12 and rammed into a doctor's hostel nearby.

Her uncle, Balkishan Sharma, deeply shaken, said, “I rarely watch TV. She was my brother’s eldest daughter. I found out about the tragedy from the news.”

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday expressed deep condolences over the tragic death of ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in a plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Calling Rupani a leader of humble nature, Gehlot recalled his association with him during his tenure as the Gujarat Congress in-charge.

Gehlot said, "The untimely demise of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad is extremely saddening. He was a person of humble nature. I had the opportunity to work during his tenure while serving as the Congress in-charge for Gujarat."

"I pray to God to grant peace to his soul and strength to his family members to bear this irreparable loss," he added.