Top news of the day: Black box recovered from Ahmedabad crash site; Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei warns Israel of ‘severe punishment’, and more

Top news of the day: Black box recovered from Ahmedabad crash site; Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei warns Israel of ‘severe punishment’, and more in The Hindu’s top news of June 13, 2025.

The black box of the London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport was recovered, said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday (June 13, 2025). According to the sources, it was found on the roof of B.J. Medical College hostel mess building. Its analysis will provide vital clues about what triggered the disaster, said police and fire brigade officials on Friday (June 13, 2025).

Hours after Israel launched a major attack on Iran nuclear and military facilities, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel would face “severe punishment”. Iran quickly retaliated by sending a swarm of drones. Iran had been censured by the U.N.’s atomic watchdog a day earlier for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. The leader added in a statement posted online, “The powerful hand of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not let (the attacks) go unpunished.” Other Iranian officials echoed his warning, pledging vengeance. From Washington, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. had not been involved in the attack and warned Iran against retaliations against American interests in the region.

A Delhi-bound an Air India flight returned to Phuket following a security alert on Friday (June 13, 2025), an airline official said. The aircraft landed safely and is undergoing mandatory security checks at Phuket International Airport, the official said. “During the cruising phase of the flight a security alert was received, after which the pilot took a mid-air turn back to Phuket,” the official said. According to live flight tracking website Flightradar24, the flight AI 379 took off from Phuket at 9:30 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Delhi at 12:40 p.m. However, it landed back at the Phuket International Airport at 11:46 p.m., according to the website.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 13, 2025) met former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s family members in Ahmedabad. The former Gujarat CM was killed in the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash on June 12, 2025. In his X post, Mr. Modi said, “Met the family of Sri Vijaybhyai Rupani ji. It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is not in our midst. I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times.” Mr. Modi further said, “Vijaybhai was humble and hard-working, firmly committed to the party’s ideoloty. Rising up the ranks, he held various responsibilities in the organisation and went on to serve diligently as Gujarat Chief Minister.” The Prime Minister met the former Chief Minister’s wife Anjali Rupani and other family members at the GujSail building near the airport.

The Supreme Court granted bail and ordered the immediate release of senior journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested on June 9 after a panellist allegedly made some objectionable comments on women from Amaravati. This took place during a Sakshi TV live show that Mr. Rao was moderating. The top court passed the order on Mr. Rao’s plea challenging his arrest. Questioning the Andhra Pradesh Government over the arrest, the Bench said it was necessary that Mr. Rao’s journalistic rights and his fundamental right to freedom of speech were protected.

The launch of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has once again been postponed, this time due to a glitch in the ISS. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said that it, along with Axiom Space, is postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS. As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Russia’s space agency Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the ISS’s Zvezda service module. Postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary. 

The Supreme Court on Friday (June 13, 2025) rejected a plea of Karnataka Congress legislator and former Minister Vinay R. Kulkarni for extension of time to surrender. This came a week after his bail was cancelled in connection with the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda. A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan rejected the plea after Mr. Kulkarni’s counsel said that he has to participate in a meeting scheduled to be held this week. Counsel for Mr. Kulkarni said, “I am seeking an extension because I am a sitting MLA and chairman of the Karnataka Water Supply Board. I have to participate in a meeting scheduled for this week. Kindly give me indulgence for one week.” Justice Mishra said, “No. Request rejected. Surrender as per the court’s order.”