Modi in UK | India Resumes Chinese Visas | Fresh Firepower for Ukraine | IndiGo Engine Fire Incident

Top of the Morning

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

Modi’s London Mission: Trade Meets Royalty

It was a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora—and a pivotal handshake in British countryside diplomacy. PM Narendra Modi landed in London for a two-day visit focused on formalizing the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, a deal three years in the making.

Hosted by newly elected UK PM Keir Starmer at Chequers, the two leaders are expected to finalize an FTA that could eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, while opening India to more British whisky, cars, and luxury goods. Commerce ministers Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds are likely to sign the deal in their presence.

With $55 billion in bilateral trade and nearly 1,000 Indian companies in the UK, the partnership runs deep. India is also a major investor, with $20 billion in British ventures. Later, Modi is set to meet King Charles III, blending hard talks with soft diplomacy. Next stop: the Maldives, in a potential diplomatic reset after recent strain.

Mayday in Ahmedabad: IndiGo’s Engine Scare

It was a nerve-wracking moment on the tarmac. IndiGo flight 6E 7966, heading from Ahmedabad to Diu, aborted takeoff after one engine caught fire during its takeoff roll on July 23. The ATR-76 aircraft carried 60 passengers.

Pilots issued a “Mayday” and returned to the bay safely. All passengers were evacuated without injury. IndiGo cited a technical snag and promised thorough checks. This scare comes just a day after another IndiGo flight from Goa to Indore also reported a technical fault before landing.

No casualties were reported, but the back-to-back incidents have raised concerns over aircraft maintenance during India’s busy monsoon season.

Visa Thaw: India Reopens Doors to Chinese Tourists

After four tense years post-Galwan, India has officially resumed tourist visas for Chinese nationals, in what’s being seen as a significant diplomatic thaw. The announcement was made quietly via WeChat by the Indian Embassy in Beijing.

Chinese travelers can now begin applying online starting July 24. This follows the recent restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and months of border de-escalation, including the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan and a flurry of bilateral talks.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently met his counterpart Wang Yi, urging the end of restrictive trade measures like China’s rare earth export curbs—key for India’s EV and agri sectors. From 200,000 visas in 2019 to just 2,000 last year, this move aims to reboot people-to-people ties.

Trump Sends More Weapons to Ukraine—$322M Worth

Amid escalating Russian attacks, the U.S. has cleared a $322 million arms package for Ukraine. The deal includes $150 million for U.S. armored vehicle support and $172 million for surface-to-air missile systems.

The announcement comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused other aid to assess U.S. stockpiles—surprising the White House. President Donald Trump, under rising pressure from isolationists, has since pivoted, declaring: “They have to be able to defend themselves.”

Trump’s new workaround? Let European allies buy U.S. arms and transfer them to Kyiv. Since 2022, the U.S. has sent over $67 billion in military support. Still, NATO countries in Eastern Europe are reluctant to part with their own advanced defense systems, despite mounting urgency.

Chanda Kochhar Found Guilty in ₹64 Cr Bribery Case

A stunning fall for one of India’s most celebrated bankers. Former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar has been found guilty of accepting a ₹64 crore bribe in return for sanctioning a ₹300 crore loan to Videocon Group.

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