Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Operation Sindoor: Modi’s No-Holds-Barred Warning to Pakistan

In a fiery 97-minute address in Parliament, PM Narendra Modi revealed India’s retaliatory strikes after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. “In 22 minutes, we responded to April 22,” he said, confirming that India bombed nine terror camps in PoK and Pakistan, followed by air raids on 13 military bases. Modi claimed Pakistan’s nuclear threats were ignored and over 1,000 missiles and drones fired on May 9 were neutralized by Indian air defence. “No one in the world asked us to stop,” he stressed, countering opposition allegations of U.S. pressure. “Operation Sindoor is still on,” he warned, promising continued force against terrorism and accusing the Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative.

Trump’s Trade Threat: 25% Tariffs on India?

President Trump has warned that India could face tariffs up to 25% on its exports to the U.S. “India’s been a good friend, but they charge more tariffs than almost any other country,” he said aboard Air Force One. The threat comes as a temporary tariff truce is set to expire on August 1, with no deal yet in place between the two nations. While countries like the UK, EU, and Japan have sealed trade pacts with the U.S., India has held back on fresh concessions. Instead, it will resume comprehensive trade talks mid-August. U.S. officials say India must open its markets further or risk losing access.

Mayday at 5,000 Feet: United Airlines 787 Scare

On July 25, United Airlines flight UA108 to Munich suffered a left engine failure shortly after take-off from Washington Dulles Airport. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a Mayday alert at 5,000 feet and circled for 2 hours and 38 minutes to safely dump fuel before returning to Dulles. All passengers were safe. The incident came just a month after the Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. Days earlier, an American Airlines 737 MAX 8 also faced an emergency in Denver due to cabin smoke and a tyre-related landing gear issue. Multiple incidents now put Boeing’s aircraft safety back in the spotlight.

Air India Audit Uncovers 100 Safety Violations

Just weeks after the fatal Flight 171 crash, the DGCA flagged 100 safety-related lapses at Air India following a detailed July audit. Among them: pilot fatigue breaches, simulator shortcomings, and inadequate route checks for high-risk airports. One major violation involved a Milan–Delhi 787 flight exceeding duty hours by over 2 hours. Auditors also found flights operating with insufficient crew and no chief pilots for the A320 and A350 fleets—signaling poor oversight. Air India has until July 30 to explain its corrective actions. With multiple show-cause notices issued, the airline’s post-Tata revival now faces a credibility test amid mounting passenger concerns.

Rupee Nears 87 as Dollar Demand, Trade Uncertainty Weigh

The Indian rupee slid to 86.9150 per dollar, its lowest since March, before closing at 86.8150. It’s now one of Asia’s worst-performing currencies this year—down over 1%, alongside the Indonesian rupiah. Traders blame rising dollar demand from importers, weak foreign portfolio flows, and uncertainty around U.S.-India trade talks. Exporters who stepped in at 86.50 may only return near 87.10 levels. RBI is expected to hold rates steady at its upcoming policy meet, monitoring transmission of past measures. Globally, the dollar index neared 99 after a pro-U.S. EU trade deal. Investors now await the Fed’s decision and Powell’s tone for rate-cut cues.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices