Air India pilot tests positive for marijuana after Phuket-Delhi flight incident: What happens next?

Air India’s Phuket-New Delhi flight incident has taken a fresh turn after the pilot in command tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory test.
Francesca Hong asked about lack of AOC endorsement and the House Dem’s remark about the ‘Woke 1’ era

Wisconsin Democratic socialist gubernatorial primary candidate Francesca Hong fielded questions on Monday pertaining to progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who did not endorse Hong in Tuesday’s primary contest. Asked why she thinks the congresswoman — who is often referred to simply by her initials AOC — and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., did not back her, Hong said, “I have so much respect for the senator and the congresswoman, and they are working tirelessly to make sure that we can flip Congress and the Senate and get Democrats wins in the midterms. I look forward to conversations with them about that too.” Pressed on whether she believes the two lawmakers not endorsing her signals they don’t believe she can win the state, Hong said that a gubernatorial contest “is different from federal elections.” WISCONSIN PROGRESSIVE HONG’S SUPPORTERS ARE CONFIDENT SHE’S THE ANSWER TO AFFORDABILITY AHEAD OF PRIMARY During a Sunday interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Jonathan Karl asked Ocasio-Cortez whether she would endorse Hong. “No, I haven’t endorsed in that race. My focus has been in winning back the Congress, winning back the House and positioning ourselves to have the best, ah, chance possible to, to win the Senate,” she said. SOCIALIST FRONTRUNNER IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER ‘CANCEL THANKSGIVING’ POST EMERGES ONLINE Karl asked the congresswoman about controversial comments Hong has made in the past. Ocasio-Cortez indicated that her “understanding is that… Francesca Hong has made clear her present stances to her electorate” and “moved away from” prior comments. “And I have a local city councilman that has this… saying, ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’” she said, laughing. “And I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now.” When asked on Monday about Ocasio-Cortez’s wokeness-related comment, Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America member, suggested that individuals “are opening their eyes to an economy that is deeply rigged against working class people” and that she will speak about how to “deliver for working class people by taxing the ultra rich, ensure that we have a moratorium on data centers, that we’re raising wages, fighting for universal childcare and that we fully fund our public schools.” AOC TRIES TO LAUGH OFF ‘CRAZY’ WOKE ERA AS THING OF THE PAST, BUT CONSERVATIVES AREN’T AMUSED Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Sen. Kelda Roys and former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration Joel Brennan are also running in Tuesday’s Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary contest.
Replacement GOP nominee named after Rep Chuck Edwards drops re-election bid

North Carolina state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom has been named as the new GOP nominee for the state’s 11th Congressional District in the wake of incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards’ announcement last week that he was nixing his re-election bid. The North Carolina Republican Party 11th Congressional District Executive Committee tapped Balkcom on Monday, reports indicate. U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., have both endorsed Balkcom in the race. GOP REP CHUCK EDWARDS DROPS RE-ELECTION BID AFTER HOUSE ETHICS REPORT RECOMMENDS CENSURE “I’m blessed to receive the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District,” Balkcom said in part of a statement, according to screenshots of the statement that reporters posted on X. “Like many Americans, the Democrat Party left me behind when they abandoned their values and embraced extremism. We’re seeing that extremism play out across the country, as their party nominates radical socialists who want to raise taxes, open our borders, and do away with our way of life. We must prevent that radical agenda from reaching our government, and that starts right here in the Eleventh District,” she said in the statement. Balkcom will face Democratic candidate Jamie Ager in the general election contest. “We are very pleased with, uh, the selection of Jennifer Balkcom to fill the ballot vacancy for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District,” North Carolina Republican Party executive director Zach Almond told Fox News Digital during a Tuesday phone call. “Jennifer has Western North Carolina values,” Almond said, adding that she “has a background” with “ag, banking and finance, and would be a tremendous asset to Western North Carolinians in U.S. Congress.” GOP LAWMAKER’S GIFTS, ‘EFFUSIVE AFFECTION’ TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT Edwards, who decisively won the U.S. House GOP primary in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District earlier this year, announced last week that he was ending his run for re-election. “After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America,” Edwards said in a post on X last week. He made the announcement after the House Committee on Ethics issued a report about him that noted that the committee was recommending censuring him. The report states that the committee found that the congressman “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WELCOMES HOUSE ETHICS PROBE INTO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM It notes that although “Edwards denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such, including providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together.”
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke launches ‘new campaign’, pledges to improve govt schools in villages, watch

The CJP founder said, he will travel to his native village Hingoli in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region and meet the sarpanch to push for improvements in local government schools.
Indian Railways Ticket Update: IRCTC introduces new ticket booking system, replaces 40-year-old PRS; check details here

Indian Railways is upgrading its 40-year-old PRS. The new system means faster IRCTC booking, 5x more capacity, fewer CAPTCHAs and quicker Tatkal tickets.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari escapes mid-air scare as helicopter makes emergency landing

Adhikari had left from Dumdum by air for Keshpur in Paschim Medinipur, where he was due to attend a commemorative programme for freedom fighter Khudiram Bose.
Delhi Reports 1,344 H1N1 Cases: Are you at risk? Know symptoms and prevention

Delhi has reported 1,344 H1N1 cases this season, nearly 6 times higher than last year. Most people recover with rest, but high-risk groups should seek care early.
CM Rekha Gupta unveils “Reflection of India” plan to boost spiritual tourism in Delhi

Addressing the ‘Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conclave 2026’ in New Delhi, the Chief Minister described the city as a “microcosm” of the entire country, where the traditions and cultures of every state converge.
Solar Eclipse 2026: Will Surya Grahan be visible in India on August 12? Check Timing; Know dos and don’ts

A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. It will be visible in parts of Europe and the Arctic, but not in India as the Sun will be below the horizon. Live streams can be used to watch it.
Tamil Nadu Assembly moves resolution to abolish NEET, allow states to determine their own admission criteria

The resolution seeks amendments to relevant central laws to discontinue the uniform NEET system for undergraduate medical admissions in the state.