On Tuesday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that the central government has officially granted a license to Starlink, the satellite internet venture founded by Elon Musk, to operate within India.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Scindia shared details of a meeting with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, where they explored potential collaborations in satellite communications. “We discussed ways to leverage satellite technology in advancing Digital India’s goals and expanding connectivity across the country. Ms. Shotwell welcomed the licensing approval, calling it a promising beginning,” he noted.

Starlink delivers high-speed internet to underserved and remote regions through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its entry into the Indian market has triggered intense discussions around issues such as spectrum policy and competitive pricing.

Earlier in March, telecom giants Jio and Airtel—who collectively command over 70% of the Indian telecom market—announced strategic partnerships with SpaceX to facilitate Starlink-based services in the country.

Starlink is now the third company to secure a license from the Department of Telecommunications for satellite broadband services, following Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. Amazon’s Project Kuiper remains under review.

Developed by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk in 2002, Starlink uses thousands of LEO satellites positioned about 550 km above Earth. This low-latency network enables broadband connectivity suitable

Several international Air India flights, primarily operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, were cancelled on Tuesday, just days after a London-bound Dreamliner tragically crashed into a hostel complex shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident claimed the lives of all 241 passengers and crew on board.

Ahmedabad to Gatwick Flight Cancelled

Air India confirmed that its scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London, was cancelled due to aircraft unavailability, attributed to airspace restrictions and precautionary inspections. The airline dismissed reports suggesting a technical malfunction was behind the cancellation.

To mitigate passenger inconvenience, Air India stated that alternate travel arrangements have been made. The airline is providing hotel accommodations and offering full refunds or free rescheduling options for affected passengers.

Delhi-Paris Flight AI143 Also Cancelled

The Paris-bound AI143 flight from Delhi was also grounded on Tuesday following an issue discovered during pre-flight checks. According to an Air India spokesperson, the cancellation was partly due to operational restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport related to night flights.

The return flight, AI142 from Paris to Delhi, scheduled for June 17, has also been cancelled, according to ANI.

Passengers impacted by these cancellations are being offered hotel stays and the choice of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.

San Francisco-Mumbai Flight Grounded in Kolkata

In a separate incident, Air India’s San Francisco–Mumbai flight, which included a stopover in Kolkata, was grounded due to a suspected technical issue found during post-landing inspection. All 228 individuals on board, including 211 passengers, were safely deplaned, and some were accommodated at local hotels.

The flight was originally scheduled to depart Kolkata for Mumbai at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Air India has been rerouting this service through Kolkata due to ongoing geopolitical disruptions, including the closure of Pakistani airspace.

Flight AI180 landed in Kolkata at 12:45 a.m., close to schedule despite a one-hour delay in departure from San Francisco.

IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Nagpur

Earlier the same day, IndiGo flight 6E 2706, en route from Muscat to Delhi via Kochi, made an emergency landing in Nagpur after a bomb threat was reported. According to DCP Lohit Matani, all passengers were safely evacuated. Initial investigations have not uncovered any suspicious items.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Monday to attend the outreach session of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, taking place in Kananaskis, a scenic resort nestled in the Canadian Rockies. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday afternoon at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. The meeting was officially confirmed by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office on Monday evening.

Upon his arrival, Modi shared a message on X, stating, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”

He was welcomed with a ceremonial reception at Calgary airport, where India’s acting High Commissioner Chinmoy Naik was among the dignitaries present to receive him.

Modi’s Tuesday schedule is expected to be tightly packed with a series of bilateral meetings and informal interactions before the outreach session officially begins. Prime Minister Carney will welcome global leaders and representatives of international organisations, followed by the traditional family photograph.

Later in the day, Carney is set to host a working luncheon focused on energy security, which Modi will also attend. The meeting is drawing significant attention, especially in the context of India-Canada relations.

Ties between the two nations deteriorated in September 2023 after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible connection between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. India dismissed the claims as “absurd” and “motivated.”

Tensions escalated in October when Canada requested the waiver of diplomatic immunity for six Indian officials linked to investigations into alleged “violent criminal activity.” In response, India withdrew the officials—including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma—and expelled six Canadian diplomats.

Since Mark Carney assumed office earlier this year, signs of a diplomatic thaw have emerged. His invitation to Modi for the G7 summit, despite pushback from pro-Khalistan groups, has paved the way for renewed engagement. The leaders are expected to discuss matters such as enhanced intelligence cooperation and expanding trade ties during their meeting.

A doctor took to X to share the personal tragedy of losing his cousin in the catastrophic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The flight, carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. Only one person survived.

Dr. Rishi Bose wrote, “I’m still in shock. My fingers are trembling, my heart is shattered—my cousin is gone. He was in the hostel mess, sharing dreams with friends when the Air India crash took him away. He was meant to return home last week but stayed back. Now he never will.”

Air India Issues Statement

In an official post on X, Air India confirmed: “Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, met with an accident. The Boeing 787-8, 12 years old, departed at 13:38 hrs with 230 passengers and 12 crew. Sadly, 241 lives were lost. The lone survivor is receiving medical care.”

College dean Dr. Minakshi Parikh reported, “Four MBBS students in the hostel were killed, and 19 others were injured—five critically. Two third-year students remain missing.”

She added, “A doctor’s wife also died, and two relatives of other doctors were injured. Three members of a doctor’s family are still unaccounted for. Fortunately, all other doctors and their relatives are safe.”