Morning Digest: 20 killed as AI flight skids off Calicut airport runway; India registers highest daily COVID-19 cases in the world, and more

A select list of stories to read before you start your day.

The remains of the Air India Express flight IX 1344 that crashed at Karipur airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening, August 7, 2020

At least 20 killed as Air India flight skids off Calicut airport runway

At least 20 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot, were killed and more than 150 injured when a Vande Bharat mission flight from Dubai  overshot the runway at Calicut International Airport , broke into two parts and fell into a deep gorge around 8 p.m. on Friday.

India registers the highest number of daily coronavirus cases currently in the world

Confirmed  coronavirus  cases and deaths crossed the 60,000 and 900 mark respectively for the second consecutive day in India with 60,833 infections and 928 fatalities recorded on Friday.

Kerala rains | At least 18 killed as landslip buries tea workers’ quarters in Idukki

At least 18 persons were killed and 52 others are missing after a series of landslips at the Nayamakkad tea estate at Pettimudy, near Rajamala in Idukki district, late on Thursday.

Also read: Will invite Yogi Adityanath to open public facilities at mosque in Ayodhya’s mosque: Trust

2011 report flagged unsafe conditions at Calicut airport

According to an aviation safety report submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2011, the runway at Calicut International airport where an Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway resulting in the death of at least 11 persons, was unsafe for flight operations due to inadequate safety area along the runway and at the end of the runway to safeguard against planes skidding off.

Health Ministry lists out 16 districts for high mortality

Sixteen districts in four States — Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana — are a cause of concern, said the Union Health Ministry on Friday, after confirming that these areas were reporting  coronavirus  ( COVID-19 ) mortality higher than the national and States’ average.

Ground Zero | The return of the Maoists

With members of the banned CPI (Maoist) regrouping in parts of Telangana, the State administration faces an old and familiar challenge. S. Harpal Singh reports on the recent skirmishes between Maoists and the police and the efforts of the government to tackle the threat.

Kulbhushan Jadhav case | Pakistan court constitutes larger three-member bench to hear petition

A top Pakistan court on Friday constituted a larger three-member bench to hear the petition filed by the government to appoint a legal representative for death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Trump to try going it alone on coronavirus aid after talks with Congress break down

White House officials trying to broker a deal on new coronavirus legislation will advise President Donald Trump to act on his own to deliver relief to Americans suffering from the pandemic, after talks with top Democrats in Congress broke down on Friday.

India keeps 2021 T20 World Cup; 2022 edition in Australia

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has retained India as the host of the 2021 T20 World Cup and reassigned the deferred 2020 edition to Australia in 2022. While finalising these decisions on Friday, the ICC Board also postponed the Women’s ODI World Cup from early 2021 to 2022.

United Nations releases $6 millon, assesses shelter need in Beirut

The United Nations official in charge of emergency relief has released $6 million for the response to the  devastating explosion at Beirut’s port , bringing the total U.N. funding for relief efforts to $15 million.

US Open 2020 | Top-10 rankers Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens pull out

Two more top-10 women -- Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens -- will miss the U.S. Open, joining No. 1-ranked Ash Barty in skipping the Grand Slam tennis tournament during the coronavirus pandemic.