News
British National Survives Fatal Plane Crash in India
British National Survives Fatal Plane Crash in India
A 40-year-old British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has been identified as the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash that occurred shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft went down just moments after leaving the runway, sending shockwaves across the region and beyond. Authorities confirmed that only one passenger survived the crash, which claimed the lives of dozens.
“Just thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and the plane went down. It all happened so fast,” Vishwash recounted in an interview with Hindustan Times from his hospital bed. He sustained multiple injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet, described by doctors as “impact-related.”
Vishwash had been visiting family in India and was returning to the United Kingdom alongside his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, 45, who is feared to be among the deceased.
“I still had my boarding pass in my pocket,” he said. “When I regained consciousness, there were bodies all around me. I was terrified. I stood up and ran. Debris was everywhere. Someone found me, put me in an ambulance, and I was rushed to the hospital.”
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed that the survivor had been seated in 11A, a detail that matched the flight manifest shared with the media. “There is one confirmed survivor — a British national,” he said. The manifest identifies that passenger as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
In the wake of the tragedy, messages of condolence have poured in from around the world. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their deep sorrow and concern.
“We are desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning,” the statement read. “Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also addressed the House of Commons, confirming that British citizens were aboard the flight. “The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working urgently with Indian authorities to assist British nationals and their families. Crisis response teams have been activated in both Delhi and London,” he said.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway, as rescue teams continue their recovery efforts at the crash site. The airline and local aviation authorities have pledged full cooperation in uncovering the circumstances behind the tragedy
News
Court, Congress Pile Pressure on DHS Over Minnesota Operations
Court, Congress Pile Pressure on DHS Over Minnesota Operations
US House Democrats have threatened to begin impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over her handling of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, unless President Donald Trump removes her from office.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that Democrats could proceed “the easy way or the hard way,” describing the actions of Noem’s department as “disgusting.”
The crisis follows the fatal shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by a federal agent, which has triggered backlash in Minneapolis and led to the planned departure of Border Patrol Chief Gregory Borvino and some agents from the city.
Trump has deployed his “border tsar,” Tom Homan, to take charge of on-the-ground operations, while a Minnesota judge has ordered acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear in court over alleged violations of court orders.
Trump has distanced himself from claims by senior adviser Stephen Miller that Pretti was a “would-be assassin,” saying he did not believe the victim was acting as one.
Video footage shows Pretti holding a phone while filming agents, not a gun, although police say he was a legal firearm owner.
News
UN Raises Alarm Over ‘Spare No-One’ Rhetoric by South Sudan Army Chief
UN Raises Alarm Over ‘Spare No-One’ Rhetoric by South Sudan Army Chief
The United Nations has expressed concern after South Sudan’s Deputy Army Chief, Gen. Johnson Oluny, was heard urging troops to “spare no-one,” including children and the elderly, ahead of military operations in opposition-held areas of Jonglei State.
In a video posted on Facebook, Oluny, addressing members of his Agwelek militia, called for total destruction during the deployment.
The UN Mission in South Sudan condemned the remarks, describing them as “utterly abhorrent,” and warned that inflammatory rhetoric targeting civilians must stop immediately.
South Sudan’s government, however, said the statement did not amount to an official order, insisting it remains committed to protecting civilians.
Minister of Information Ateny Wek Ateny said civilians were being warned only to avoid being caught in crossfire.
The development comes amid escalating fighting in Jonglei, where forces loyal to suspended Vice-President Riek Machar have seized several areas.
The military has ordered civilians, UN personnel and aid workers to evacuate three counties—Nyirol, Uror and Akobo—ahead of an imminent operation.
The UN says more than 180,000 people have been displaced by the renewed violence.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high as opposition forces threaten to advance towards the capital, Juba, a claim dismissed by the army.
South Sudan has been unstable since a 2018 peace deal ended a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people, but lingering political rivalry and ethnic tensions continue to threaten fragile peace.
Diplomacy
Rwanda sues UK over scrapped migrant deal payments
Rwanda sues UK over scrapped migrant deal payments
The Rwandan government has initiated arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom, seeking payments it says are owed under the now-abandoned asylum partnership agreement between both countries.
Rwanda has filed the case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, arguing that the UK failed to honour financial commitments contained in the deal signed under the former Conservative government.
The agreement, designed to relocate some asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, was scrapped in 2024 by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with the Home Office saying about £220m in future payments would no longer be made.
UK authorities insist the policy was costly and ineffective, pledging to defend the case to protect taxpayers’ funds.
Rwanda, however, says the arbitration concerns unmet treaty obligations and is seeking a legal determination of both parties’ rights under international law.
The PCA lists the case as pending, with no timetable yet announced for hearings or a ruling.
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