From 1 July, a raft of new financial rules has come into force across India, reshaping everyday transactions for millions. Major banks are hiking ATM fees, Aadhaar is now mandatory for new PAN card applications, and the deadline for income tax return filing has been extended. Here is how these changes will affect you.<h2>ATM withdrawals get costlier across all major banks</h2>Customers of nearly every major bank will pay more for withdrawing cash this month. Following the RBI’s rules capping post-free ATM withdrawal fees at ₹23, banks have aligned their charges, but the number of free transactions and the exact fees after that limit vary.&nbsp;State Bank of India (SBI) will charge ₹15 plus GST for every cash withdrawal at its own ATMs once the free limit is exhausted, and ₹21 plus GST at other banks’ ATMs. ICICI Bank customers get five free cash withdrawals per month at ICICI ATMs, after which each withdrawal will cost ₹23. For non-ICICI ATMs, metro city customers get three free transactions and non-metro users five; exceeding these limits will cost ₹23 per withdrawal and ₹8.5 for balance enquiries.&nbsp;HDFC Bank has standardised its post-limit charge to ₹23 for all ATM withdrawals, whether on its own network or other banks’ machines. Axis Bank has raised its fee to ₹23 per transaction beyond the free monthly limit for all eligible account types, including savings, NRI, trust and Priority customers.Kotak Mahindra Bank now charges ₹23 for each extra cash transaction beyond the free quota, while non-financial transactions cost ₹10. Yes Bank follows a similar model, with ₹23 per cash withdrawal and ₹10 for non-financial actions once free limits are used up. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is charging ₹23 for extra withdrawals and ₹11 for balance checks beyond the free limit.&nbsp;Banks are advising customers to plan their cash needs more carefully, use their own bank’s ATM network wherever possible, and embrace digital payments to avoid these rising costs.

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;ATM Withdrawal Fees Across Major Banks (Post-Free Limit)</td></tr><tr><td>Bank</td><td>Own ATM Fee</td><td>Other Bank ATM Fee</td><td>Non-Financial Transaction Fee</td></tr><tr><td>SBI</td><td>₹15 + GST</td><td>₹21 + GST</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Typically free (subject to policy)</td></tr><tr><td>ICICI Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹8.5 at non-ICICI ATMs</td></tr><tr><td>HDFC Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>Typically free</td></tr><tr><td>Axis Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>Typically free</td></tr><tr><td>Kotak Mahindra Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹10</td></tr><tr><td>Yes Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹10</td></tr><tr><td>Punjab National Bank</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹23</td><td>₹11</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>Note: Free transaction limits vary (usually 3–5 per month depending on account type and location). GST is applied extra on all applicable fees.

<h2>Aadhaar now compulsory for new PAN applications</h2>From today, Aadhaar verification has become mandatory for anyone applying for a new PAN card. Until now, applicants could use other government-issued IDs such as a driving licence or birth certificate. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) says this change is aimed at eliminating duplicate or fraudulent PAN cards and ensuring stricter identity verification.&nbsp;Existing PAN holders have until 31 December this year to link their Aadhaar. Failure to do so may result in the PAN being deactivated, which could disrupt access to banking, tax filing, and other services.<h2>ITR filing deadline extended</h2>In a relief for taxpayers, the government has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for salaried individuals. Instead of 31 July, taxpayers now have until 15 September to complete their filings. This 46-day extension aims to reduce last-minute rush and ease the load on the income tax e-filing portal, which often suffers from slowdowns and errors near deadline days.&nbsp;Officials have still advised early filing to ensure faster processing of refunds and fewer technical issues.<h2>Credit card fees and features see major revisions</h2>Credit card users will also see new terms and charges this month. SBI is discontinuing its air accident insurance benefit, which was previously available on premium cards such as SBI Elite and Miles variants when used to buy air tickets. The bank is also revising the way it calculates the minimum amount due on monthly bills.&nbsp;HDFC Bank is imposing a one per cent fee, capped at ₹4,999 per transaction, on rent payments, wallet loading over ₹10,000 in a single transaction, and spending more than ₹10,000 on online skill-based games. Utility bill payments over ₹50,000 a month using HDFC cards will also attract this fee, with insurance payments exempt.&nbsp;ICICI Bank is revising its IMPS charges for online transfers, which will now range from ₹2.5 to ₹15 depending on the amount. The bank is also limiting free cash deposits at branches and cash recycler machines to three per month; extra deposits will cost ₹150 each. Cash deposits over ₹1 lakh a month will attract a fee of ₹150 or ₹3.50 per ₹1,000, whichever is higher.&nbsp;Kotak Mahindra Bank is introducing broader changes, including fees on wallet loading, standing instructions and utility bill payments, along with a revised calculation for minimum amounts due.<h2>A changing landscape for customers</h2>These sweeping changes mark a significant shift in the cost of everyday banking and payments in India. Customers are being urged to stay informed, plan cash withdrawals to avoid new ATM fees, ensure Aadhaar-PAN linking well before the deadline, and carefully review credit card terms to avoid surprise charges.&nbsp;As banks and regulators push for greater digital adoption and financial discipline, the cost of convenience is rising and staying alert is the best way to keep your finances in check.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies)&nbsp;

Aadhaar is now mandatory for new PAN applications, while major changes in tax deadlines and banking charges signal a shift in India financial compliance and consumer costs.

From 1 July, a raft of new financial rules has come into force across India, reshaping everyday transactions for millions. Major banks are hiking ATM fees, Aadhaar is now mandatory for new PAN card applications, and the deadline for income tax return filing has been extended. Here is how these changes will affect you. ATM withdrawals get costlier across all major banks Customers of nearly every major bank will pay more for withdrawing cash this month. Following the RBI’s rules capping post-free ATM withdrawal fees at ₹23, banks have aligned their charges, but the number of free transactions and the exact fees after that limit vary. State Bank of India (SBI) will charge ₹15 plus GST for every cash withdrawal at its own ATMs once the free limit is exhausted, and ₹21 plus GST at other banks’ ATMs. ICICI Bank customers get five free cash withdrawals per month at ICICI ATMs, after which each withdrawal will cost ₹23. For non-ICICI ATMs, metro city customers get three free transactions and non-metro users five; exceeding these limits will cost ₹23 per withdrawal and ₹8.5 for balance enquiries. HDFC Bank has standardised its post-limit charge to ₹23 for all ATM withdrawals, whether on its own network or other banks’ machines. Axis Bank has raised its fee to ₹23 per transaction beyond the free monthly limit for all eligible account types, including savings, NRI, trust and Priority customers. Kotak Mahindra Bank now charges ₹23 for each extra cash transaction beyond the free quota, while non-financial transactions cost ₹10. Yes Bank follows a similar model, with ₹23 per cash withdrawal and ₹10 for non-financial actions once free limits are used up. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is charging ₹23 for extra withdrawals and ₹11 for balance checks beyond the free limit. Banks are advising customers to plan their cash needs more carefully, use their own bank’s ATM network wherever possible, and embrace digital payments to avoid these rising costs.

From stricter Aadhaar-PAN rules to revised credit card and ATM fees, here's how recent policy shifts impact tax filing, digital payments, and personal finance management in India.

From ATM fees to PAN card rules, here’s what changes from July 1

In India's Telangana, over a dozen workers have been injured after an explosion at a chemical factory in the Pasamailaram Phase 1 area of the Sangareddy district on Monday (Jun 30), said officials. As per the PTI news agency, the death toll from the massive blast as of 1300 hrs IST was eight (8) workers. In a statement to the press, V. Satyanarayana, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Multi Zone-II in Telangana, said that so far eight people have been confirmed dead and another 26 have been injured in the blast. He said that at the time of the tragic explosion, 150 people were working in the factory. Of these, 110 were in the block where the accident happened.<h2>What happened?</h2>&nbsp;"The incident took place at Sigachi Pharma Company, Pasamailaram Phase 1. Eleven fire tenders have reached the site. Nearly 15–20 people have been injured. Further details awaited," said Telangana fire officials after the explosion. Shortly after being informed about the incident, 11 fire engines rushed to the scene and are now involved in firefighting operations, reports ANI.&nbsp;As per the IG, a reactor explosion led to the blast. The rescue operation is underway, with the incident site being examined by experts.&nbsp;<h2>PM Modi shares condolences</h2>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sharing condolences on the tragic fire, said he was “Anguished by the loss of lives”. In a X post by the PMO office, Modi also announced an ex gratia help of INR two lakh (around $42,335) for the next of kin of the workers who lost their lives in the fire and an INR 50,000 (around $584) aid for the injured.“Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi,” stated the PMO.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured…&mdash; PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1939606281435730412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"The incident took place at Sigachi Pharma Company, Pasamailaram Phase 1. Eleven fire tenders have reached the site. Nearly 15–20 people have been injured. Further details awaited," said Telangana Fire Officials.

In India's Telangana, over a dozen workers have been injured after an explosion at a chemical factory in the Pasamailaram Phase 1 area of the Sangareddy district on Monday (Jun 30), said officials. As per the PTI news agency, the death toll from the massive blast as of 1300 hrs IST was eight (8) workers. In a statement to the press, V. Satyanarayana, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Multi Zone-II in Telangana, said that so far eight people have been confirmed dead and another 26 have been injured in the blast. He said that at the time of the tragic explosion, 150 people were working in the factory. Of these, 110 were in the block where the accident happened. What happened? "The incident took place at Sigachi Pharma Company, Pasamailaram Phase 1. Eleven fire tenders have reached the site. Nearly 15–20 people have been injured. Further details awaited," said Telangana fire officials after the explosion. Shortly after being informed about the incident, 11 fire engines rushed to the scene and are now involved in firefighting operations, reports ANI. As per the IG, a reactor explosion led to the blast. The rescue operation is underway, with the incident site being examined by experts. PM Modi shares condolences Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sharing condolences on the tragic fire, said he was “Anguished by the loss of lives”. In a X post by the PMO office, Modi also announced an ex gratia help of INR two lakh (around $42,335) for the next of kin of the workers who lost their lives in the fire and an INR 50,000 (around $584) aid for the injured. “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi,” stated the PMO.

"The incident took place at Sigachi Pharma Company, Pasamailaram Phase 1. Eleven fire tenders have reached the site. Nearly 15–20 people have been injured. Further details awaited," said Telangana Fire Officials.

Massive blast at Telangana chemical factory: 8 dead, over 26 injured; PM Modi announces aid for victims

Ukraine was the largest importer of major arms in the world in the 2020-24 period, marking a nearly hundredfold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015-19, due to its ongoing war with Russia since 2022. India was the second-largest arms importer, though its total trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). India was the biggest arms export destination for Russia and France, though the volume with Moscow has significantly reduced. China is out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, highlighting its rising domestic arms manufacturing.The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, considerably less than in 2015-19 (55%) and 2010-14 (72%).&nbsp;Among the top 10 nations following Ukraine (8.8%) and India (8.3%) were Qatar (6.8%), Saudi Arabia (6.8%), Pakistan (4.6%), Japan (3.9%), Australia (3.5%), Egypt (3.3%), the USA (3.1%), and Kuwait (2.9%).&nbsp;<h2>Pakistan imports grew by 61%</h2>&nbsp;“Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 61% between 2015–19 and 2020–24, and China became its dominant supplier, accounting for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2020–24, compared with 74% in 2015–19,” the SIPRI report said.European arms imports grew overall by 155% as the continent rearms itself, while the US increased its share of global arms exports to 43%.Russia’s exports fell by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of global arms exports, as it fell behind France (9.6%), which emerged as the second-largest arms exporter in 2020-24.&nbsp;Russia delivered major arms to 33 countries in 2020-24, of which two-thirds went to three countries: India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%).&nbsp;<h2>French arms exports register growth</h2>&nbsp;France exported arms to 65 countries, and its exports of major arms to other European countries almost tripled between 2015–19 and 2020–24 (+187%). “This was mainly due to deliveries of combat aircraft to Greece and Croatia and arms supplies to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022,” the report said.India received the largest share of French arms exports (28%)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15%).India inked contracts for 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpene-class conventional submarines from France and has more mega deals lined up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Italy, with a 4.8% share of arms sales, jumped from 10th to sixth place on the exporters list.&nbsp;The report said that at least 35 countries have sent weapons to Ukraine since 2022, and substantial deliveries are in the pipeline. The country received 8.8% of global arms imports in 2020-24.“Most of the major arms supplied to Ukraine came from the USA (45%), followed by Germany (12%), and Poland (11%). Ukraine was the only European nation among the top 10 importers in 2020–24, although many other European countries significantly increased their arms imports in the period.”“The figures reflect the rearmament taking place in Europe in response to the threat from Russia,” said Mathew George, programme director at SIPRI.

India was the biggest arms export destination for Russia and France, though the volume with Moscow has significantly reduced. China is out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, highlighting its rising domestic arms manufacturing.

Ukraine was the largest importer of major arms in the world in the 2020-24 period, marking a nearly hundredfold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015-19, due to its ongoing war with Russia since 2022. India was the second-largest arms importer, though its total trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). India was the biggest arms export destination for Russia and France, though the volume with Moscow has significantly reduced. China is out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, highlighting its rising domestic arms manufacturing. The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, considerably less than in 2015-19 (55%) and 2010-14 (72%). Among the top 10 nations following Ukraine (8.8%) and India (8.3%) were Qatar (6.8%), Saudi Arabia (6.8%), Pakistan (4.6%), Japan (3.9%), Australia (3.5%), Egypt (3.3%), the USA (3.1%), and Kuwait (2.9%). Pakistan imports grew by 61% “Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 61% between 2015–19 and 2020–24, and China became its dominant supplier, accounting for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2020–24, compared with 74% in 2015–19,” the SIPRI report said. European arms imports grew overall by 155% as the continent rearms itself, while the US increased its share of global arms exports to 43%. Russia’s exports fell by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of global arms exports, as it fell behind France (9.6%), which emerged as the second-largest arms exporter in 2020-24. Russia delivered major arms to 33 countries in 2020-24, of which two-thirds went to three countries: India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%). French arms exports register growth France exported arms to 65 countries, and its exports of major arms to other European countries almost tripled between 2015–19 and 2020–24 (+187%). “This was mainly due to deliveries of combat aircraft to Greece and Croatia and arms supplies to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022,” the report said. India received the largest share of French arms exports (28%)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15%). India inked contracts for 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpene-class conventional submarines from France and has more mega deals lined up. Italy, with a 4.8% share of arms sales, jumped from 10th to sixth place on the exporters list. The report said that at least 35 countries have sent weapons to Ukraine since 2022, and substantial deliveries are in the pipeline. The country received 8.8% of global arms imports in 2020-24. “Most of the major arms supplied to Ukraine came from the USA (45%), followed by Germany (12%), and Poland (11%). Ukraine was the only European nation among the top 10 importers in 2020–24, although many other European countries significantly increased their arms imports in the period.” “The figures reflect the rearmament taking place in Europe in response to the threat from Russia,” said Mathew George, programme director at SIPRI.

India was the biggest arms export destination for Russia and France, though the volume with Moscow has significantly reduced. China is out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, highlighting its rising domestic arms manufacturing.

India second-largest arms importer after Ukraine. Check other nations in top 10

New Delhi: In a major strategic move, India’s public sector company, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), has announced that it will be acquiring a majority stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC). In a stock exchange filing, the company said that the board of directors has “approved the proposal for acquisition of a controlling and substantial stake of Colombo Dockyard PLC by way of an investment not exceeding USD 52.96 million.”&nbsp;Mazagon Dock, along with Colombo Dockyard and Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard, signed a tripartite agreement on Friday (June 27) under which MDL will acquire the Japanese company’s controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mumbai-headquartered Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is a public sector shipyard under India’s Ministry of Defence and is also known as the ‘Shipyard of the Nation’. It specialises in the construction of warships, submarines, and commercial vessels.&nbsp;The Colombo Dockyard, which has been in a difficult position for some time, was on the verge of default. The Sri Lankan government has been requesting the Indian government to encourage Indian investors to invest in the dockyard. The Indian state-owned company was shortlisted in view of their record in shipbuilding as well as its financial strength. Both these aspects are key for the turnaround of the Colombo Dockyard.&nbsp;Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders’ net worth, represented by its market capitalisation, is approximately $15.12 billion USD as of June 25, 2025. The company is almost debt-free. It has reported a turnover of approximately $1.13 billion USD. Colombo Dockyard, which is currently under financial distress, can benefit from MDL’s strong financial capabilities and resource base which can help in expediting the turnaround process. All in all, they will now be able to secure contracts that they previously missed due to poor financial health.&nbsp;The acquisition shows appetite by Indian industry for global forays, including India’s state-owned companies. MDL is expected to bring an order pipeline for Colombo Dockyard from both domestic and international markets for repairs, refits, and new builds.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a continuous revenue stream of ship repairs from the Indian subcontinent, and MDL acquiring the controlling stakes would only further this trend.&nbsp;Several orders for which potential clients are approaching MDL can also be diverted to Colombo Dockyard, which will ensure that there is a continuous revenue stream in the company.&nbsp;From sharing of expertise to sharing of resources to augmentation of operations, the development helps the dockyard and growing interlinkages between India and Sri Lanka.

Mazagon Dock, along with Colombo Dockyard and Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard, signed a tripartite agreement on Friday (June 27) under which MDL will acquire the Japanese company’s controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard. 

New Delhi: In a major strategic move, India’s public sector company, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), has announced that it will be acquiring a majority stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC). In a stock exchange filing, the company said that the board of directors has “approved the proposal for acquisition of a controlling and substantial stake of Colombo Dockyard PLC by way of an investment not exceeding USD 52.96 million.” Mazagon Dock, along with Colombo Dockyard and Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard, signed a tripartite agreement on Friday (June 27) under which MDL will acquire the Japanese company’s controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard. The Mumbai-headquartered Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is a public sector shipyard under India’s Ministry of Defence and is also known as the ‘Shipyard of the Nation’. It specialises in the construction of warships, submarines, and commercial vessels. The Colombo Dockyard, which has been in a difficult position for some time, was on the verge of default. The Sri Lankan government has been requesting the Indian government to encourage Indian investors to invest in the dockyard. The Indian state-owned company was shortlisted in view of their record in shipbuilding as well as its financial strength. Both these aspects are key for the turnaround of the Colombo Dockyard. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders’ net worth, represented by its market capitalisation, is approximately $15.12 billion USD as of June 25, 2025. The company is almost debt-free. It has reported a turnover of approximately $1.13 billion USD. Colombo Dockyard, which is currently under financial distress, can benefit from MDL’s strong financial capabilities and resource base which can help in expediting the turnaround process. All in all, they will now be able to secure contracts that they previously missed due to poor financial health. The acquisition shows appetite by Indian industry for global forays, including India’s state-owned companies. MDL is expected to bring an order pipeline for Colombo Dockyard from both domestic and international markets for repairs, refits, and new builds. There is a continuous revenue stream of ship repairs from the Indian subcontinent, and MDL acquiring the controlling stakes would only further this trend. Several orders for which potential clients are approaching MDL can also be diverted to Colombo Dockyard, which will ensure that there is a continuous revenue stream in the company. From sharing of expertise to sharing of resources to augmentation of operations, the development helps the dockyard and growing interlinkages between India and Sri Lanka.

Mazagon Dock, along with Colombo Dockyard and Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard, signed a tripartite agreement on Friday (June 27) under which MDL will acquire the Japanese company’s controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard.&nbsp;

In a strategic move, India’s MDL to acquire majority stake in Colombo Dockyard

A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening (June 26). The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours, news agency ANI reported. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, were former students or staff members of the same law college. Monojit Mishra is also a Trinamool Congress student leader. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J.M. of Alipore, South 24 Parganas, with a prayer to remand them to Police Custody for the purpose of a proper investigation into the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;The alleged sexual assault took place between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm on Wednesday within the law college premises. According to the official, one of the accused allegedly committed sexual assault, while the others were involved in the crime. The victim's family filed a police complaint against the accused, and the police have taken swift action in the matter. Two of the accused, Monojit Mishra and Zaib Ahmed, were arrested on Thursday, near Siddhartha Shankar Roy Sishu Udyan, close to Talbagan Crossing in Kolkata. Pramit Mukhopadhyay was arrested later the same night at his residence.&nbsp;The police have seized the mobile phones of all three accused. The official had visited the site and kept it under protection till they had done a forensic examination. They requested custody remand for further investigation. Preliminary medical examination of the victim was conducted at CNMC Hospital, Kolkata, and statements of key witnesses were recorded. According to the complaint, the victim initially sat inside the college union room. Later, the primary accused directed the main college gate to be locked. As per the complaint, the woman was raped inside the security guard's room on the campus.&nbsp;

The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, were former students or staff members of the same law college.

A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening (June 26). The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours, news agency ANI reported. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, were former students or staff members of the same law college. Monojit Mishra is also a Trinamool Congress student leader. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J.M. of Alipore, South 24 Parganas, with a prayer to remand them to Police Custody for the purpose of a proper investigation into the case. The alleged sexual assault took place between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm on Wednesday within the law college premises. According to the official, one of the accused allegedly committed sexual assault, while the others were involved in the crime. The victim's family filed a police complaint against the accused, and the police have taken swift action in the matter. Two of the accused, Monojit Mishra and Zaib Ahmed, were arrested on Thursday, near Siddhartha Shankar Roy Sishu Udyan, close to Talbagan Crossing in Kolkata. Pramit Mukhopadhyay was arrested later the same night at his residence. The police have seized the mobile phones of all three accused. The official had visited the site and kept it under protection till they had done a forensic examination. They requested custody remand for further investigation. Preliminary medical examination of the victim was conducted at CNMC Hospital, Kolkata, and statements of key witnesses were recorded. According to the complaint, the victim initially sat inside the college union room. Later, the primary accused directed the main college gate to be locked. As per the complaint, the woman was raped inside the security guard's room on the campus.

The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, were former students or staff members of the same law college.

Kolkata law student gang-raped in college; two seniors, ex-student arrested

A day after India refused to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in China over concerns that terrorism was not included in the document Foreign Minister S Jaishankar backed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's refusal to sign the joint statement.&nbsp;Explaining the reason behind the decision, Jaishankar without taking the name of Pakistan said “one country” part of the SCO wanted no mention to terrorism in the joint statement despite the SCO formed with the objective of fighting terrorism.&nbsp;"The SCO was formed with the objective of fighting terrorism. When Rajnath Singh went to the Defence Ministers' Meeting and there was a discussion on the outcome document, one country said they do not want a reference to that," said the External Affairs Minister.&nbsp;He further backed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue and said, "Rajnath Singh's view rightly was, without that reference, that when the main purpose of the organisation is to fight terrorism, and you are not allowing a reference to that, he expressed his unwillingness to accept... SCO runs with unanimity."&nbsp;"So Rajnath ji clearly said that if there is no mention of terrorism in the statement, we will not sign it," he added.&nbsp;Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, did not sign the document as it “would have diluted India’s stand."Notably, the document did not have mention of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22, but included reference to incidents in Pakistan.&nbsp;Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at the SCO meeting that there should be no double standards on terrorism. He added that countries that support such acts must be called out. He further said that terrorism and peace cannot exist together.&nbsp;“I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism,” he said.&nbsp;SCO is a major grouping of 10 countries – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus- that focuses on issues like counterterrorism, connectivity, etc. China is the host of the grouping for this year and will also be hosting the defence minister meeting in July and the summit in September.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Notably, the document did not have mention of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22.

A day after India refused to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in China over concerns that terrorism was not included in the document Foreign Minister S Jaishankar backed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's refusal to sign the joint statement. Explaining the reason behind the decision, Jaishankar without taking the name of Pakistan said “one country” part of the SCO wanted no mention to terrorism in the joint statement despite the SCO formed with the objective of fighting terrorism. "The SCO was formed with the objective of fighting terrorism. When Rajnath Singh went to the Defence Ministers' Meeting and there was a discussion on the outcome document, one country said they do not want a reference to that," said the External Affairs Minister. He further backed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue and said, "Rajnath Singh's view rightly was, without that reference, that when the main purpose of the organisation is to fight terrorism, and you are not allowing a reference to that, he expressed his unwillingness to accept... SCO runs with unanimity." "So Rajnath ji clearly said that if there is no mention of terrorism in the statement, we will not sign it," he added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, did not sign the document as it “would have diluted India’s stand." Notably, the document did not have mention of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22, but included reference to incidents in Pakistan. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at the SCO meeting that there should be no double standards on terrorism. He added that countries that support such acts must be called out. He further said that terrorism and peace cannot exist together. “I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism,” he said. SCO is a major grouping of 10 countries – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus- that focuses on issues like counterterrorism, connectivity, etc. China is the host of the grouping for this year and will also be hosting the defence minister meeting in July and the summit in September.

Notably, the document did not have mention of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22.

Jaishankar slams Pakistan, backs Rajnath Singh's decision of not signing SCO joint statement

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting on Thursday (June 26) and stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue. During the meeting, the two leaders held "in-depth discussions" on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Indo-China border. Rajnath Singh acknowledged the work being undertaken by the two nations to bring back a semblance of normalcy in the bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of Defence press release.&nbsp; Rajnath Singh highlighted the necessity of solving complex issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation. He emphasised the need to create good neighbourly conditions to achieve the best mutual benefits and to cooperate for stability in Asia and the world. He called for bridging the trust deficit created after the 2020 Border standoff by taking action on the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "The two Ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual delimitation through existing mechanisms." India and China had reached an agreement in October on patrolling arrangements in the Depsang Plains and Demchok, two friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The understanding was reached after earlier disengagement in other friction points in eastern Ladakh following meetings at diplomatic and military levels. During the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Rajnath Singh appreciated the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar yatra after a gap of five years. He highlighted the important milestone of reaching 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp; He also briefed Jon Dun on the terrorist attack carried out against innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 and India's Operation Sindoor aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks in Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Defence press release. In a post on X, Singh stated, "Held talks with Admiral Dong Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on issues about bilateral relations. Expressed my happiness at the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship."&nbsp; Rajnath Singh gifted a Madhubani painting from Bihar to his Chinese counterpart, General Dong Jun, during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting in China's Qingdao. This painting has its origins in the Mithila region of Bihar. It is also known as Mithila or Madhubani art. It is characterised by line drawings filled in with bright colours and contrasts or patterns. These paintings are popular because of their tribal motifs and use of bright, earthy colours.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed on finding a permanent solution of border demarcation with China, in a meeting with Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting on Thursday (June 26) and stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue. During the meeting, the two leaders held "in-depth discussions" on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Indo-China border. Rajnath Singh acknowledged the work being undertaken by the two nations to bring back a semblance of normalcy in the bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of Defence press release. Rajnath Singh highlighted the necessity of solving complex issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation. He emphasised the need to create good neighbourly conditions to achieve the best mutual benefits and to cooperate for stability in Asia and the world. He called for bridging the trust deficit created after the 2020 Border standoff by taking action on the ground. In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "The two Ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual delimitation through existing mechanisms." India and China had reached an agreement in October on patrolling arrangements in the Depsang Plains and Demchok, two friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The understanding was reached after earlier disengagement in other friction points in eastern Ladakh following meetings at diplomatic and military levels. During the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Rajnath Singh appreciated the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar yatra after a gap of five years. He highlighted the important milestone of reaching 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He also briefed Jon Dun on the terrorist attack carried out against innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 and India's Operation Sindoor aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks in Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Defence press release. In a post on X, Singh stated, "Held talks with Admiral Dong Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on issues about bilateral relations. Expressed my happiness at the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship." Rajnath Singh gifted a Madhubani painting from Bihar to his Chinese counterpart, General Dong Jun, during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting in China's Qingdao. This painting has its origins in the Mithila region of Bihar. It is also known as Mithila or Madhubani art. It is characterised by line drawings filled in with bright colours and contrasts or patterns. These paintings are popular because of their tribal motifs and use of bright, earthy colours. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed on finding a permanent solution of border demarcation with China, in a meeting with Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue

'Need permanent solution to border issue': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells Chinese counterpart on sidelines of SCO meet

Amid claims that American strikes on Iran did not destroy its nuclear sites, Pentagon on Thursday (June 26) released test footage showing how bunker-busters work.&nbsp;&nbsp;US President Donald Trump on Thursday hinted at a "very big" trade deal with India, weeks after a team of negotiators from the two countries held four-day closed-door talks on the agreement. Addressing the 'Big Beautiful Event' at the White House, Trump said he has a "great deal" with India.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, stepped down after 37 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click on the headlines for more&nbsp;<a href="US shares video proof of 'HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - WATCH how bunker busters work">US shares video proof of 'HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - WATCH how bunker busters work</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250627/image-1750998193375.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="US shares video proof of 'HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - WATCH how bunker busters work"></figure>Amid claims that American strikes on Iran did not destroy its nuclear sites, Pentagon on Thursday (June 26) released test footage showing how bunker-busters work. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-announces-trade-deal-with-china-hints-at-upcoming-big-deal-with-india-1750983467246">'Very big one': Trump hints at upcoming deal with India after signing trade agreement with China</a><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/2024/09/18/455332-new-wion-53.png" alt="Trump meeting Modi: Donald Trump says will meet 'fantastic' Indian PM Narendra Modi next week"> US President Donald Trump announced making a deal with China and hinted at an upcoming big deal with India in the White House on Thursday (June 26). No further details were disclosed, though he emphasised ‘everybody, everybody wants to make a deal.’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/end-of-gaza-war-netanyahu-drops-big-hint-of-normalising-israel-s-ties-with-neighbours-after-trump-s-support-on-criminal-cases-1750991942648">Netanyahu drops BIG HINT of normalising Israel's ties with neighbours</a><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250627/image-1750993418059.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="End of Gaza war soon? Netanyahu drops BIG HINT of normalising Israel's ties with neighbours"> Stating that Israel has won a war against Iran after fighting “valiantly”, Netanyahu said that it is the opportunity for his nation to expand peace accords with Arab countries, hinting at the expansion of Abraham Accords. Earlier Steve Witkoff also said that big announcement expected on Abraham accords &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/after-37-years-anna-wintour-to-step-down-as-us-vogue-editor-1750971699297">After 37 years, Anna Wintour to step down as US Vogue editor</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250627/image-1750971824992.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="After 37 years, Anna Wintour to step down as US Vogue editor"></figure>Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, steps down after 37 years. The company is seeking a replacement, which was confirmed by the publisher, Condé Nast. The 75-year-old disclosed this news to the staff on Thursday (June 26). Amarnath Yatra under AI surveillance: New security measures unveiled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amarnath-yatra-under-ai-surveillance-new-security-measures-unveiled-1751000888702/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/amarnath-yatra-under-ai-surveillance-new-security-measures-unveiled-1751000888702/embed</a> &nbsp; &nbsp;

Begin your day with WION's morning news brief, delivering the latest global updates and important headlines to keep you informed and ready for the day ahead.

Amid claims that American strikes on Iran did not destroy its nuclear sites, Pentagon on Thursday (June 26) released test footage showing how bunker-busters work. US President Donald Trump on Thursday hinted at a "very big" trade deal with India, weeks after a team of negotiators from the two countries held four-day closed-door talks on the agreement. Addressing the 'Big Beautiful Event' at the White House, Trump said he has a "great deal" with India. Meanwhile, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, stepped down after 37 years. Click on the headlines for more US shares video proof of 'HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities - WATCH how bunker busters work Amid claims that American strikes on Iran did not destroy its nuclear sites, Pentagon on Thursday (June 26) released test footage showing how bunker-busters work. 'Very big one': Trump hints at upcoming deal with India after signing trade agreement with China US President Donald Trump announced making a deal with China and hinted at an upcoming big deal with India in the White House on Thursday (June 26). No further details were disclosed, though he emphasised ‘everybody, everybody wants to make a deal.’ Netanyahu drops BIG HINT of normalising Israel's ties with neighbours Stating that Israel has won a war against Iran after fighting “valiantly”, Netanyahu said that it is the opportunity for his nation to expand peace accords with Arab countries, hinting at the expansion of Abraham Accords. Earlier Steve Witkoff also said that big announcement expected on Abraham accords After 37 years, Anna Wintour to step down as US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, steps down after 37 years. The company is seeking a replacement, which was confirmed by the publisher, Condé Nast. The 75-year-old disclosed this news to the staff on Thursday (June 26). Amarnath Yatra under AI surveillance: New security measures unveiled https://www.wionews.com/videos/amarnath-yatra-under-ai-surveillance-new-security-measures-unveiled-1751000888702/embed

<h2>Begin your day with WION's morning news brief, delivering the latest global updates and important headlines to keep you informed and ready for the day ahead.</h2>

Morning news brief: US shares video of bunker-buster bombs as proof for Iran strikes; Trump hints at India-US trade deal, and more

A bus carrying 18 passengers plunged into the Alaknanda River on the Badrinath National Highway in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Thursday (June 26) morning. Two bodies have been recovered, one near the accident site and the other from the river near Rudraprayag, reported PTI, citing Red Cross Society rescue team member Satyendra Singh Bhandari.&nbsp;Seven people, including three women and two children were injured in the accident while ten others went missing, Bhandari further said. The injured have been taken to the local hospital for treatment.&nbsp;There were 20 people on the bus, including the driver when the unfortunate incident happened.&nbsp;Teams of SDRF, police and the local administration are still at the spot carrying out rescue operation.&nbsp;“One person has died and seven people injured after an 18-seater bus fell into the Alaknanda river in Gholthir of Rudraprayag district. Teams of SDRF, police and administration are present on the spot for the rescue operation,” said Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey to news agency ANI.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Uttarakhand | One person dead, seven injured after an 18-seater bus falls into the Alaknanda river in Gholthir of Rudraprayag district. Teamsof SDRF, Police and Administration conduct search and rescue oeprationd Video source: Police <a href="https://t.co/dgdznAc0ck">pic.twitter.com/dgdznAc0ck</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1938082397100380401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to preliminary information given to the press by local authorities, the bus was going towards the Badrinath Dham when the driver lost control and the bus fell into the river.&nbsp;All the passengers were pilgrims from Udaipur in Rajasthan who had come to Uttarakhand for Char Dham Yatra.&nbsp;The administration has urged people to remain calm and refrain from spreading any rumours.&nbsp;Uttarakhand Chief Minister has expressed condolences to the families of the victims.&nbsp;Taking to X the CM wrote, "The news of a tempo traveller falling into a river in Rudraprayag district is deeply tragic. Relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing by SDRF and other rescue teams. I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter. I pray to God for everyone's safety."&nbsp;

Many passengers are said to be missing as rescue operations continue.

A bus carrying 18 passengers plunged into the Alaknanda River on the Badrinath National Highway in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Thursday (June 26) morning. Two bodies have been recovered, one near the accident site and the other from the river near Rudraprayag, reported PTI, citing Red Cross Society rescue team member Satyendra Singh Bhandari. Seven people, including three women and two children were injured in the accident while ten others went missing, Bhandari further said. The injured have been taken to the local hospital for treatment. There were 20 people on the bus, including the driver when the unfortunate incident happened. Teams of SDRF, police and the local administration are still at the spot carrying out rescue operation. “One person has died and seven people injured after an 18-seater bus fell into the Alaknanda river in Gholthir of Rudraprayag district. Teams of SDRF, police and administration are present on the spot for the rescue operation,” said Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey to news agency ANI.

According to preliminary information given to the press by local authorities, the bus was going uphill when the driver lost control and it fell into the river.&nbsp;

Bus carrying Char Dham pilgrims falls into Alaknanda river, 2 dead, many feared missing

A French woman was sexually assaulted by a crew member in Rajasthan's Udaipur, where she was visiting to shoot an ad film. Accused Siddharth alias Pushpraj, who runs a casting company ‘Udaipur Casting Call’ has been arrested. The 29-year-old confessed to the crime in the preliminary interrogation. The police got information about this on June 23. A criminal case was registered at the Badgaon police station based on the woman's report.&nbsp;Udaipur SP Yogesh Goyal says, "A French woman who had come here for shooting an advertisement was sexually assaulted by a member of her ad shoot team. As per the information she provided, she had come to Udaipur on 22 June.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Udaipur, Rajasthan | Udaipur SP Yogesh Goyal says, &quot;A French woman who had come here for shooting an advertisement was sexually assaulted by a member of her ad shoot team. The police got information about this on 23 June. A criminal case was registered at the Badgaon… <a href="https://t.co/ka7McZ7ojP">pic.twitter.com/ka7McZ7ojP</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1937838879337226533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“The crew members attended a dinner party at the Greek Farm restaurant the same night. During that, Siddharth alias Pushpraj, one of the crew members of the shoot, took the girl to his car on the pretext of smoking and molested her,” he continued.&nbsp;The accused then took her to his room, where he sexually assaulted her. He was arrested the next morning, he was caught him on the Chittorgarh highway.&nbsp;SP Goyal added, “He confessed to this crime during preliminary interrogation. We have arrested him and within 7 days, we will complete the investigation and present the case in court.”

A French woman was sexually assaulted by a crew member in Rajasthan's Udaipur, where she was visiting to shoot an ad film. Accused Siddharth alias Pushpraj, who runs a casting company ‘Udaipur Casting Call’ has been arrested. 

A French woman was sexually assaulted by a crew member in Rajasthan's Udaipur, where she was visiting to shoot an ad film. Accused Siddharth alias Pushpraj, who runs a casting company ‘Udaipur Casting Call’ has been arrested. The 29-year-old confessed to the crime in the preliminary interrogation. The police got information about this on June 23. A criminal case was registered at the Badgaon police station based on the woman's report. Udaipur SP Yogesh Goyal says, "A French woman who had come here for shooting an advertisement was sexually assaulted by a member of her ad shoot team. As per the information she provided, she had come to Udaipur on 22 June.”

A French woman was sexually assaulted by a crew member in Rajasthan's Udaipur, where she was visiting to shoot an ad film. Accused Siddharth alias Pushpraj, who runs a casting company ‘Udaipur Casting Call’ has been arrested.&nbsp;

French woman sexually assaulted in Udaipur, accused arrested

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he wants to hold a dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, including water, Jammu and Kashmir, trade, and terrorism. He expressed his wish during a telephonic conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday. “Pakistan is ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade and terrorism,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. In fact, Sharif last month also expressed his willingness to hold peace talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues while visiting Iran and Azerbaijan.&nbsp;Sharif also expressed Pakistan’s support for the immediate de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel and called for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.India, however, maintains that it can have talks with Pakistan only on the issue of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Sharif’s remark came weeks after India put the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and stopped all trade with Islamabad after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, a picturesque tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. On May 7, India destroyed terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, and then targeted Pakistan’s air bases and rendered them useless after Islamabad decided to retaliate by attacking Indian civilian areas and military installations.&nbsp;&nbsp;India has also stopped all forms of trade with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and closed its airspace for all Pakistani aircraft.&nbsp;External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that the Indus Water Treaty will remain in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism “just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, ‘terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together’.”

Sharif’s remark came weeks after India put the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and stopped all trade with Islamabad after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, a picturesque tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he wants to hold a dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, including water, Jammu and Kashmir, trade, and terrorism. He expressed his wish during a telephonic conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday. “Pakistan is ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade and terrorism,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. In fact, Sharif last month also expressed his willingness to hold peace talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues while visiting Iran and Azerbaijan. Sharif also expressed Pakistan’s support for the immediate de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel and called for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means. India, however, maintains that it can have talks with Pakistan only on the issue of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Sharif’s remark came weeks after India put the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and stopped all trade with Islamabad after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, a picturesque tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. On May 7, India destroyed terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, and then targeted Pakistan’s air bases and rendered them useless after Islamabad decided to retaliate by attacking Indian civilian areas and military installations. India has also stopped all forms of trade with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and closed its airspace for all Pakistani aircraft. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that the Indus Water Treaty will remain in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism “just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, ‘terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together’.”

Sharif’s remark came weeks after India put the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and stopped all trade with Islamabad after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, a picturesque tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.

Pak PM says want ‘meaningful dialogue’ with India on all outstanding issues

Commenting on the recent buzz about him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday (June 24) clarified that he is not “leaping to join the prime minister's party.” It all began when Tharoor published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Operation Sindoor's outreach initiative. Tharoor said that the article was not an indication of him joining the ruling party, but a call for national unity. Tharoor in the article had described PM Modi's energy and global engagement as a "prime asset" for India. In the article published in The Hindu, Tharoor has also written that the diplomatic outreach following "Operation Sindoor" was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. Speaking at an event in Moscow, the Thiruvananthapuram MP responded to reactions over his article, and said, “It is not a sign of my leaping to join the prime minister's party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying,” Tharoor said. “It is a statement of national unity, of national interest and of standing up for India, which to my mind is fundamentally why I came back to India after 25 years of service at the UN.”&nbsp;Earlier, Tharoor's remark about surgical strikes that India has conducted in the last decade during his visit as a part of the Operation Sindoor delegation had not gone down well with his party. The Congress party was quick to highlight that the surgical strikes that were conducted before 2014 as well, with Congress leader Pawan Khera publically criticising him. &nbsp;“I have been working in Congress for the past 16 years. I have some differences of opinion with the party, and I will discuss them inside the party," Tharoor had said after returning to India. He did highlight the difference in opinion, but was clear about the fact that the Congress party, its values and workers are dear to him. "As you know, I have disagreements with the current Congress leadership. Some of them are in the public domain, so you know them. It is better to sort it out within the party by talking to them directly. Congress party, its values, and its workers are dear to me. I have been working with them for the past 16 years, and I have seen their commitment, dedication and idealism," he added.<h2>What more Tharoor said in the article?</h2>In the article titled, ‘Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s global outreach’ in The Hindu, Tharoor - who was a part of Operation Sindoor's outreach delegation - &nbsp;wrote, “The very composition of our delegations, featuring Members of Parliament (MPs) from diverse political parties, different States and varied faiths, was a potent message in itself. It underscored that when it comes to national security and confronting terrorism, India speaks with one voice. This transcended domestic political differences, imbuing our message with greater credibility and gravitas in the eyes of our international interlocutors. Whether engaging with the President of Guyana or the U.S. Vice-President, the collective resolve of India, represented by its varied political spectrum, resonated deeply.” &nbsp;He also praised Prime Minister Modi's "energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage" as a "prime asset" for India on the global stage, adding that the Prime Minister deserved greater support. "While the immediate military action was decisive, the subsequent diplomatic outreach was equally, if not more, vital in shaping global perceptions and consolidating international support," he added.&nbsp;<h2>Congress vs BJP over Tharoor's comment</h2>The BJP said that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s opinion piece has “exposed” the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office, through its official handle on X, also shared Tharoor’s opinion piece. Meanwhile, in the first open criticism, Congress leader K Muraleedharan targeted Tharoor and said, “he is a member of the working committee. It is quite disgusting that a member of the working committee continues to praise the political opponent of the Congress.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

It all began when Congress leader Shashi Tharoor published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Operation Sindoor's outreach initiative. 

Commenting on the recent buzz about him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday (June 24) clarified that he is not “leaping to join the prime minister's party.” It all began when Tharoor published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Operation Sindoor's outreach initiative. Tharoor said that the article was not an indication of him joining the ruling party, but a call for national unity. Tharoor in the article had described PM Modi's energy and global engagement as a "prime asset" for India. In the article published in The Hindu, Tharoor has also written that the diplomatic outreach following "Operation Sindoor" was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. Speaking at an event in Moscow, the Thiruvananthapuram MP responded to reactions over his article, and said, “It is not a sign of my leaping to join the prime minister's party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying,” Tharoor said. “It is a statement of national unity, of national interest and of standing up for India, which to my mind is fundamentally why I came back to India after 25 years of service at the UN.” Earlier, Tharoor's remark about surgical strikes that India has conducted in the last decade during his visit as a part of the Operation Sindoor delegation had not gone down well with his party. The Congress party was quick to highlight that the surgical strikes that were conducted before 2014 as well, with Congress leader Pawan Khera publically criticising him. “I have been working in Congress for the past 16 years. I have some differences of opinion with the party, and I will discuss them inside the party," Tharoor had said after returning to India. He did highlight the difference in opinion, but was clear about the fact that the Congress party, its values and workers are dear to him. "As you know, I have disagreements with the current Congress leadership. Some of them are in the public domain, so you know them. It is better to sort it out within the party by talking to them directly. Congress party, its values, and its workers are dear to me. I have been working with them for the past 16 years, and I have seen their commitment, dedication and idealism," he added. What more Tharoor said in the article? In the article titled, ‘Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s global outreach’ in The Hindu, Tharoor - who was a part of Operation Sindoor's outreach delegation - wrote, “The very composition of our delegations, featuring Members of Parliament (MPs) from diverse political parties, different States and varied faiths, was a potent message in itself. It underscored that when it comes to national security and confronting terrorism, India speaks with one voice. This transcended domestic political differences, imbuing our message with greater credibility and gravitas in the eyes of our international interlocutors. Whether engaging with the President of Guyana or the U.S. Vice-President, the collective resolve of India, represented by its varied political spectrum, resonated deeply.” He also praised Prime Minister Modi's "energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage" as a "prime asset" for India on the global stage, adding that the Prime Minister deserved greater support. "While the immediate military action was decisive, the subsequent diplomatic outreach was equally, if not more, vital in shaping global perceptions and consolidating international support," he added. Congress vs BJP over Tharoor's comment The BJP said that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s opinion piece has “exposed” the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office, through its official handle on X, also shared Tharoor’s opinion piece. Meanwhile, in the first open criticism, Congress leader K Muraleedharan targeted Tharoor and said, “he is a member of the working committee. It is quite disgusting that a member of the working committee continues to praise the political opponent of the Congress.”

It all began when Congress leader Shashi Tharoor published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Operation Sindoor's outreach initiative. Tharoor had previously expressed his difference of opinion with his own party

Will Congress leader Shashi Tharoor join BJP after praising PM Modi? Here's what he says

In recent development, India extended the closure of the flights operated by Pakistani airlines until July 24, on Monday. The Indian airspace has been closed since April 30 for all the aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines, including military flights. The step against Pakistan was taken by the government after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22.According to a report by the news agency PTI, the ban was primarily supposed to end on May 24, but later it was extended till June 24. Similarly, a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued on Monday, extending the closure to one more month until 24, 2025.The NOTAM confirmed that Indian airspace will be unavailable for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines and operators, along with their military flights. In the meantime, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft by another month, until July 24.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-india-suspends-flights-to-west-asia-europe-us-east-coast-till-further-notice-amid-iran-israel-war-1750739170127">Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war</a>On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, a diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated resulting in announcement of several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties due to cross-border links to the massacre.A day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced several retaliatory measures against Pakistan that include, Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and dampening of the diplomatic ties due to the cross-border tensions.<h3>Complexities in aircraft travelling longer durations</h3>As per the Indian Express, both nations will keep their respective airspace, including military flights, till 5:29 am Indian time on July 24. Following the closures, around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being affecṭed for the aircraft travelling longer durations due to an increase in fuel burn. It has also come up with a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, as well as an increase in operational costs for the carriers.Flight tracking data indicates that several of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights to and from North America have been making scheduled technical stops, such as for refuelling or crew changes, at European airports like Vienna and Copenhagen, disrupting what are typically non-stop services. This situation is similar to 2019, when Pakistan shut its airspace after the Indian Air Force’s Balakot strikes, forcing Air India to regularly incorporate mid-journey halts for its North American routes.During that four-month closure of Pakistani airspace in 2019, Indian carriers reportedly incurred losses of nearly Rs 700 crore, largely due to increased fuel consumption and operational challenges arising from longer alternative routes. Air India bore the brunt of the impact, as it operated a larger number of west-bound international flights than other Indian airlines.Now under the Tata Group, Air India is believed to have conveyed to the government that a prolonged Pakistani airspace closure could cost the airline around $600 million annually. Meanwhile, in recent years, other Indian airlines—especially IndiGo—have expanded their international services using narrow-body aircraft to reach various short- and medium-haul destinations. &nbsp;

In a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which was issued on Monday, it was announced that closures of airspace were extended to one more month until July 24, 2025. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft.

In recent development, India extended the closure of the flights operated by Pakistani airlines until July 24, on Monday. The Indian airspace has been closed since April 30 for all the aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines, including military flights. The step against Pakistan was taken by the government after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22. According to a report by the news agency PTI, the ban was primarily supposed to end on May 24, but later it was extended till June 24. Similarly, a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued on Monday, extending the closure to one more month until 24, 2025. The NOTAM confirmed that Indian airspace will be unavailable for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines and operators, along with their military flights. In the meantime, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft by another month, until July 24. Also read: Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, a diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated resulting in announcement of several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties due to cross-border links to the massacre. A day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced several retaliatory measures against Pakistan that include, Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and dampening of the diplomatic ties due to the cross-border tensions. Complexities in aircraft travelling longer durations As per the Indian Express, both nations will keep their respective airspace, including military flights, till 5:29 am Indian time on July 24. Following the closures, around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being affecṭed for the aircraft travelling longer durations due to an increase in fuel burn. It has also come up with a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, as well as an increase in operational costs for the carriers. Flight tracking data indicates that several of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights to and from North America have been making scheduled technical stops, such as for refuelling or crew changes, at European airports like Vienna and Copenhagen, disrupting what are typically non-stop services. This situation is similar to 2019, when Pakistan shut its airspace after the Indian Air Force’s Balakot strikes, forcing Air India to regularly incorporate mid-journey halts for its North American routes. During that four-month closure of Pakistani airspace in 2019, Indian carriers reportedly incurred losses of nearly Rs 700 crore, largely due to increased fuel consumption and operational challenges arising from longer alternative routes. Air India bore the brunt of the impact, as it operated a larger number of west-bound international flights than other Indian airlines. Now under the Tata Group, Air India is believed to have conveyed to the government that a prolonged Pakistani airspace closure could cost the airline around $600 million annually. Meanwhile, in recent years, other Indian airlines—especially IndiGo—have expanded their international services using narrow-body aircraft to reach various short- and medium-haul destinations.

In a fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which was issued on Monday, it was announced that closures of airspace were extended to one more month until July 24, 2025. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft.

India, Pakistan extends airspace ban till this date: Here's why it was done thrice

In a major reminder or rural health infrastructure gap, a pregnant woman was carried in a makeshift palanquin or ‘Doli’ to the ambulance due to lack of an access road to her village in western Indian state of Maharashtra.&nbsp;The incident occurred in Thane district’s Shahapur area, which is 100 kms from India’s financial capital city Mumbai, highlighting critical gaps in health infrastructure in rural areas.&nbsp;In a heart breaking journey now viral on social media, 21-year old woman identified as Sangita Mukane was transported in a Doli for a kilometre from her village to the nearest ambulance.&nbsp;Villagers say this is not the first instance, but every third day they get to witness such a site and women in the neighbourhood have to go through the same ordeal when pregnant.&nbsp;“She needed urgent medical assistance as she had gone into labour, but there is no way for ambulance to come in due to lack of access to our road. Despite repeated requests, authorities have failed to develop the necessary infrastructure,” said her husband Ravindra Mukane.&nbsp;Due to the delay, she suffered a seizure before reaching the ambulance, after which she was rushed to Thane Civil Hospital, where doctors have said her condition is stable.&nbsp;Maharashtra's rural infrastructure faces significant gaps, particularly in road connectivity and other essential services like irrigation, sanitation, and healthcare.&nbsp;While the state has made strides in rural road development, a large portion of rural roads remain unsealed, impacting accessibility and mobility.&nbsp;Disparities exist across different regions, with Marathwada and Vidarbha lagging behind in infrastructure development compared to regions like Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Pune and Mumbai. &nbsp;

The incident occurred in Thane district’s Shahapur area, which is 100 kms from India’s financial capital city Mumbai, highlighting critical gaps in health infrastructure in rural areas.

In a major reminder or rural health infrastructure gap, a pregnant woman was carried in a makeshift palanquin or ‘Doli’ to the ambulance due to lack of an access road to her village in western Indian state of Maharashtra. The incident occurred in Thane district’s Shahapur area, which is 100 kms from India’s financial capital city Mumbai, highlighting critical gaps in health infrastructure in rural areas. In a heart breaking journey now viral on social media, 21-year old woman identified as Sangita Mukane was transported in a Doli for a kilometre from her village to the nearest ambulance. Villagers say this is not the first instance, but every third day they get to witness such a site and women in the neighbourhood have to go through the same ordeal when pregnant. “She needed urgent medical assistance as she had gone into labour, but there is no way for ambulance to come in due to lack of access to our road. Despite repeated requests, authorities have failed to develop the necessary infrastructure,” said her husband Ravindra Mukane. Due to the delay, she suffered a seizure before reaching the ambulance, after which she was rushed to Thane Civil Hospital, where doctors have said her condition is stable. Maharashtra's rural infrastructure faces significant gaps, particularly in road connectivity and other essential services like irrigation, sanitation, and healthcare. While the state has made strides in rural road development, a large portion of rural roads remain unsealed, impacting accessibility and mobility. Disparities exist across different regions, with Marathwada and Vidarbha lagging behind in infrastructure development compared to regions like Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Pune and Mumbai.

The incident occurred in Thane district’s Shahapur area, which is 100 kms from India’s financial capital city Mumbai, highlighting critical gaps in health infrastructure in rural areas.

Pregnant Indian woman carried in a ‘Doli’ to ambulance due to lack of road, suffers seizure on the way

The vote counting for by-elections held in five assembly constituencies across Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab has begun today. The bypolls were held on June 19 (Thursday) for two Assembly seats in Gujarat's Visavadar and Kadi, and one each in Nilambur constituency of Kerala, West Bengal's Kaliganj and Punjab's Ludhiana West, where voting remained mostly peaceful. It was held due to the death of sitting legislators in one constituency each in Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab, and the resignation of two MLAs in Gujarat and Kerala.<h2>Congress secured victory in Kerala's Nilambur&nbsp;</h2>According to the Election Commission, Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath has won from the Nilambur constituency of Kerala by securing 77737 total votes. He leads CPI(M) leader and former MLA M Swaraj by more than 11077 votes. The lead was largely attributed to strong polling in the Moothedam panchayat region.<h2>AAP's Sanjeev Arora wins Ludhiana West Seat</h2>AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora has won from the Ludhiana West Assembly seat with a total of 35179 votes. Meanwhile, the BJP leader Jiwan Gupta has lost by a margin of 10637 votes.&nbsp;<h2>Gujarat By Election Results: BJP wins in Kadi, AAP in Visavadar</h2>BJP leader Rajendra Chavda has won from the Kadi Assembly constituency by securing 99742 votes. He defeated Rameshbhai Chavada by a margin of 39452 votes. Whereas, Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Italia has defeated BJP leader Kirit Patel by a margin of 17554 votes in Visavadar.<h2>TMC's Alifa Ahmed wins from West Bengal's Kaliganj seat</h2>The Election Commission of India (ECI)&nbsp;began counting of votes for the Kaliganj Assembly by-election in West Bengal at 8 a.m. on Monday (June 23). After all rounds of the counting ended, TMC leader Alifa Ahmed won by 50049 votes. From this seat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Ashish Ghosh, and the Congress has fielded Kabil Uddin Shaikh. &nbsp;

All rounds of vote counting in Nilambur, Ludhiana West, Visavadar, and Kaliganj ended. Check the winning candidate list of by election 2025 result city-wise at Wionews.com. 

The vote counting for by-elections held in five assembly constituencies across Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab has begun today. The bypolls were held on June 19 (Thursday) for two Assembly seats in Gujarat's Visavadar and Kadi, and one each in Nilambur constituency of Kerala, West Bengal's Kaliganj and Punjab's Ludhiana West, where voting remained mostly peaceful. It was held due to the death of sitting legislators in one constituency each in Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab, and the resignation of two MLAs in Gujarat and Kerala. Congress secured victory in Kerala's Nilambur According to the Election Commission, Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath has won from the Nilambur constituency of Kerala by securing 77737 total votes. He leads CPI(M) leader and former MLA M Swaraj by more than 11077 votes. The lead was largely attributed to strong polling in the Moothedam panchayat region. AAP's Sanjeev Arora wins Ludhiana West Seat AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora has won from the Ludhiana West Assembly seat with a total of 35179 votes. Meanwhile, the BJP leader Jiwan Gupta has lost by a margin of 10637 votes. Gujarat By Election Results: BJP wins in Kadi, AAP in Visavadar BJP leader Rajendra Chavda has won from the Kadi Assembly constituency by securing 99742 votes. He defeated Rameshbhai Chavada by a margin of 39452 votes. Whereas, Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Italia has defeated BJP leader Kirit Patel by a margin of 17554 votes in Visavadar. TMC's Alifa Ahmed wins from West Bengal's Kaliganj seat The Election Commission of India (ECI) began counting of votes for the Kaliganj Assembly by-election in West Bengal at 8 a.m. on Monday (June 23). After all rounds of the counting ended, TMC leader Alifa Ahmed won by 50049 votes. From this seat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Ashish Ghosh, and the Congress has fielded Kabil Uddin Shaikh.

All rounds of vote counting in Nilambur, Ludhiana West, Visavadar, and Kaliganj ended. Check the winning candidate list of by election 2025 result city-wise at Wionews.com.&nbsp;

By Election 2025 result Highlights: AAP wins in Ludhiana and Visavadar, Congress in Nilambur; Check all updates

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be in China this week for key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO meetings, where the defence and NSAs meet. China is the chair of the grouping and will be holding a number of SCO-related meetings, including the foreign minister meetings and the summit, likely on September 1 in&nbsp;Tianjin.&nbsp;The Indian side will meet not only the Chinese counterpart, being the host, but also counterparts from Russia and Central Asia. The visits come as India, China normal ties after the meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS summit. Since then, the Indian defence minister and the Chinese defence minister have met once &amp; Indian NSA has travelled to China for the Special Representative Level (SR) talks. Later this year, the Chinese FM Wang Yi is expected to travel to India for the SR level talks, on border issues.&nbsp;No meetings are scheduled with Pakistani counterparts, giving the continuous&nbsp;attempts by the country to support cross-border terror in India.&nbsp;Both Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif&nbsp;and newly appointed Pakistan's NSA, also the ISI Chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik are likely to be present at the SCO meetings given close ties with China.&nbsp;The visit by NSA Doval and Defence Minister Singh coincides with the visit of the 1st batch of Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar. The pilgrimage was suspended after the COVID crisis and the 2020 India-China clashes in Eastern Ladakh. India's Ministry of external affairs is the nodal ministry to coordinate the visit, and though an online format accepts the applications. This year, of the 5,500 applications, 750 were accepted.

China is the chair of the grouping and will be holding a number of SCO-related meetings, including the foreign minister meetings and the summit, likely on September 1 in Tianjin.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be in China this week for key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO meetings, where the defence and NSAs meet. China is the chair of the grouping and will be holding a number of SCO-related meetings, including the foreign minister meetings and the summit, likely on September 1 in Tianjin. The Indian side will meet not only the Chinese counterpart, being the host, but also counterparts from Russia and Central Asia. The visits come as India, China normal ties after the meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS summit. Since then, the Indian defence minister and the Chinese defence minister have met once & Indian NSA has travelled to China for the Special Representative Level (SR) talks. Later this year, the Chinese FM Wang Yi is expected to travel to India for the SR level talks, on border issues. No meetings are scheduled with Pakistani counterparts, giving the continuous attempts by the country to support cross-border terror in India. Both Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and newly appointed Pakistan's NSA, also the ISI Chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik are likely to be present at the SCO meetings given close ties with China. The visit by NSA Doval and Defence Minister Singh coincides with the visit of the 1st batch of Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar. The pilgrimage was suspended after the COVID crisis and the 2020 India-China clashes in Eastern Ladakh. India's Ministry of external affairs is the nodal ministry to coordinate the visit, and though an online format accepts the applications. This year, of the 5,500 applications, 750 were accepted.

China is the chair of the grouping and will be holding a number of SCO-related meetings, including the foreign minister meetings and the summit, likely on September 1 in&nbsp;Tianjin.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval to be in China this week

US President Donald Trump on Friday expressed confidence that Washington would soon clinch trade agreements with both India and Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking to reporters upon arrival in New Jersey, Trump’s remarks signal a renewed American push for deeper economic engagement in South Asia, as diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours appear to ease.<h2>What did Trump say?</h2>As per Reuters, President Trump stated he was optimistic about reaching trade deals with both India and Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;While addressing reporters in New Jersey, Trump said, “We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India,” and suggested that Pakistan would also come to the negotiating table.&nbsp;His comments follow high-level diplomatic engagements involving both countries. On June 18, Trump met Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir at the White House, a rare and symbolic move aimed at reducing regional tensions.&nbsp;&nbsp;As quoted by Reuters, Trump later claimed that his intervention helped avert a full-blown crisis between India and Pakistan, remarking, “I stopped the war … I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man.”<h2>Talks underway with India and Pakistan</h2>According to Reuters, US and Indian trade negotiators recently concluded four days of talks in New Delhi, making significant progress towards an interim trade agreement.&nbsp;&nbsp;The proposed deal, which may be finalised by the end of June, reportedly includes market access for US agricultural exports such as wheat, dairy and corn, and discussions around reducing Indian tariffs.Meanwhile, Pakistan is also preparing to send a delegation to Washington to begin formal trade discussions.&nbsp;&nbsp;As per Reuters, Pakistan’s commerce ministry has confirmed that upcoming talks will address US tariffs and potential investment opportunities, particularly in sectors like mining. Islamabad is expected to offer concessions to attract US companies in an effort to diversify its struggling economy.<h2>Why it matters?</h2>The prospect of simultaneous trade deals with India and Pakistan is geopolitically significant. For the US, deeper trade ties with India could boost exports and enhance supply chain resilience, especially as Washington looks to reduce reliance on China.&nbsp;&nbsp;India, already the largest destination for US exports in South Asia, is seen as a critical partner in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.&nbsp;At the same time, opening talks with Pakistan indicates a broader American strategy to stabilise regional dynamics through economic diplomacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Reuters, Islamabad hopes trade ties will ease pressure from existing US tariffs and attract new foreign investment, particularly in strategic sectors.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Trump, this dual-track approach strengthens US influence in the region ahead of the 2026 elections and underscores his transactional style of diplomacy.<h2>What’s next?</h2>While Trump’s prediction is optimistic, any future deals will require complex negotiations, compromises on tariffs, and clarity on long-standing issues such as market access and intellectual property.&nbsp;&nbsp;Still, with talks already underway and Trump personally invested in the outcome, the coming months may see major movement on US trade policy in South Asia.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies) &nbsp;

Trump says US is close to trade deals with India and Pakistan, as talks advance on tariffs, market access, and investment amid a push to stabilise regional ties.

US President Donald Trump on Friday expressed confidence that Washington would soon clinch trade agreements with both India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters upon arrival in New Jersey, Trump’s remarks signal a renewed American push for deeper economic engagement in South Asia, as diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours appear to ease. What did Trump say? As per Reuters, President Trump stated he was optimistic about reaching trade deals with both India and Pakistan. While addressing reporters in New Jersey, Trump said, “We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India,” and suggested that Pakistan would also come to the negotiating table. His comments follow high-level diplomatic engagements involving both countries. On June 18, Trump met Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir at the White House, a rare and symbolic move aimed at reducing regional tensions. As quoted by Reuters, Trump later claimed that his intervention helped avert a full-blown crisis between India and Pakistan, remarking, “I stopped the war … I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man.” Talks underway with India and Pakistan According to Reuters, US and Indian trade negotiators recently concluded four days of talks in New Delhi, making significant progress towards an interim trade agreement. The proposed deal, which may be finalised by the end of June, reportedly includes market access for US agricultural exports such as wheat, dairy and corn, and discussions around reducing Indian tariffs. Meanwhile, Pakistan is also preparing to send a delegation to Washington to begin formal trade discussions. As per Reuters, Pakistan’s commerce ministry has confirmed that upcoming talks will address US tariffs and potential investment opportunities, particularly in sectors like mining. Islamabad is expected to offer concessions to attract US companies in an effort to diversify its struggling economy. Why it matters? The prospect of simultaneous trade deals with India and Pakistan is geopolitically significant. For the US, deeper trade ties with India could boost exports and enhance supply chain resilience, especially as Washington looks to reduce reliance on China. India, already the largest destination for US exports in South Asia, is seen as a critical partner in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy. At the same time, opening talks with Pakistan indicates a broader American strategy to stabilise regional dynamics through economic diplomacy. According to Reuters, Islamabad hopes trade ties will ease pressure from existing US tariffs and attract new foreign investment, particularly in strategic sectors. For Trump, this dual-track approach strengthens US influence in the region ahead of the 2026 elections and underscores his transactional style of diplomacy. What’s next? While Trump’s prediction is optimistic, any future deals will require complex negotiations, compromises on tariffs, and clarity on long-standing issues such as market access and intellectual property. Still, with talks already underway and Trump personally invested in the outcome, the coming months may see major movement on US trade policy in South Asia. (With inputs from the agencies)

President Trump signals imminent trade deals with India and Pakistan, leveraging diplomacy to boost US ties and economic influence in South Asia.

Trump eyes trade pacts with India and Pakistan amid renewed diplomacy

Amid the ongoing Israel-Iran war the Indian government has taken initiative to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. On Saturday, (Jun 21) a third special evacuation flight with 117 Indian nationals from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in Delhi under Operation Sindhu. The total number of &nbsp;Indians that have returned home is 517, according to the external affairs ministry.&nbsp;Lauding the successful evacuation, Indian Minister of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal took to X and wrote, "A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home." He added that with this, "so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu".&nbsp;Evacuation to begin from Israel now&nbsp;The Indian government will now extend the Operation Sindhu evacuation to Israel. &nbsp;Speaking to the media on Thursday, (June 19) the external affairs ministry said they have decided to evacuate those Indian nationals who wish to leave Israel. Their travel from Israel will be facilitated through the land borders and thereafter by air to India, the EAM further said.&nbsp;Requesting Indian nationals to register themselves with the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv, the government said, "In view of the above, the embassy of India in Tel Aviv would be making arrangements for the evacuation of Indians."&nbsp;The evacuation of Indian nations from Israel is likely to begin from Sunday (June 22).&nbsp;Nepal, Sri Lanka request help&nbsp;Meanwhile, India's neighbouring countries Nepal and Sri Lanka have requested help from Indian government to rescue their citizens stranded in Iran due to the conflict with Israel.&nbsp;India has agreed to the request of it neighbours.&nbsp;"On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka," said the Indian embassy in Iran on X.&nbsp;The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers 989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⚠️ On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka. <a href="https://t.co/eHIOhmNN7M">https://t.co/eHIOhmNN7M</a>&mdash; India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) <a href="https://twitter.com/India_in_Iran/status/1936282218865082611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Indias neighbouring countries Nepal and Sri Lanka have requested help from Indian government to rescue their citizens stranded in Iran due to the conflict with Israel.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Iran war the Indian government has taken initiative to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. On Saturday, (Jun 21) a third special evacuation flight with 117 Indian nationals from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in Delhi under Operation Sindhu. The total number of Indians that have returned home is 517, according to the external affairs ministry. Lauding the successful evacuation, Indian Minister of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal took to X and wrote, "A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home." He added that with this, "so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu". Evacuation to begin from Israel now The Indian government will now extend the Operation Sindhu evacuation to Israel. Speaking to the media on Thursday, (June 19) the external affairs ministry said they have decided to evacuate those Indian nationals who wish to leave Israel. Their travel from Israel will be facilitated through the land borders and thereafter by air to India, the EAM further said. Requesting Indian nationals to register themselves with the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv, the government said, "In view of the above, the embassy of India in Tel Aviv would be making arrangements for the evacuation of Indians." The evacuation of Indian nations from Israel is likely to begin from Sunday (June 22). Nepal, Sri Lanka request help Meanwhile, India's neighbouring countries Nepal and Sri Lanka have requested help from Indian government to rescue their citizens stranded in Iran due to the conflict with Israel. India has agreed to the request of it neighbours. "On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka," said the Indian embassy in Iran on X. The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers 989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109.

India's neighbouring countries Nepal and Sri Lanka have requested help from Indian government to rescue their citizens stranded in Iran due to the conflict with Israel.

Operation Sindhu: Nepal, Sri Lanka seek help from India to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid war with Israel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 20) hit out at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress party while addressing a rally in Bihar's Siwan, where he dedicated development projects worth Rs 10,000 crore. He spoke about the 'jungle raj' during the RJD regime in the state and urged people to vote the party out in the Bihar assembly elections &nbsp;to be held later this year.&nbsp;"Those who brought ‘jungle raj’ to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. People who are ready to put the brake on the journey towards a prosperous Bihar have to be kept at bay,” PM Modi said at the rally.&nbsp;He also spoke about how businesses suffered in Bihar and infrastructure was in a poor state during the Congress-RJD coalition.&nbsp;Calling both the parties anti-Bihar and anti-investment, he said, “RJD and Congress actions are anti-Bihar and anti-investment. Whenever they talk about development, people see locks hanging on shops, businesses, industries and trades… These people have been the nurturers of poor infrastructure, mafia raj, gunda raj, and corruption.”&nbsp;"Bihar became a symbol of poverty under the rule of ‘Panja’ (Congress) and ‘Laltern’ (RJD)… They looted so much that poverty became Bihar’s misfortune,' he further said.&nbsp;The PM also highlighted how the poor condition of Dalit and backwards communities during their regime.&nbsp;"Congress’s ‘License Raj’ kept Bihar poor for a long time… the Dalit and backwards communities were the biggest victims of this. Some families became millionaires and billionaires by showing these people false dreams of being free from poverty," PM Modi said.&nbsp;This is PM Modi's fifth visit to Bihar in the past five months as the JD(U)-BJP coalition looks to regain power again.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

He also spoke about how businesses suffered in Bihar and infrastructure was in a poor state during the Congress-RJD coalition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 20) hit out at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress party while addressing a rally in Bihar's Siwan, where he dedicated development projects worth Rs 10,000 crore. He spoke about the 'jungle raj' during the RJD regime in the state and urged people to vote the party out in the Bihar assembly elections to be held later this year. "Those who brought ‘jungle raj’ to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. People who are ready to put the brake on the journey towards a prosperous Bihar have to be kept at bay,” PM Modi said at the rally. He also spoke about how businesses suffered in Bihar and infrastructure was in a poor state during the Congress-RJD coalition. Calling both the parties anti-Bihar and anti-investment, he said, “RJD and Congress actions are anti-Bihar and anti-investment. Whenever they talk about development, people see locks hanging on shops, businesses, industries and trades… These people have been the nurturers of poor infrastructure, mafia raj, gunda raj, and corruption.” "Bihar became a symbol of poverty under the rule of ‘Panja’ (Congress) and ‘Laltern’ (RJD)… They looted so much that poverty became Bihar’s misfortune,' he further said. The PM also highlighted how the poor condition of Dalit and backwards communities during their regime. "Congress’s ‘License Raj’ kept Bihar poor for a long time… the Dalit and backwards communities were the biggest victims of this. Some families became millionaires and billionaires by showing these people false dreams of being free from poverty," PM Modi said. This is PM Modi's fifth visit to Bihar in the past five months as the JD(U)-BJP coalition looks to regain power again.

He also spoke about how businesses suffered in Bihar and infrastructure was in a poor state during the Congress-RJD coalition.

PM Modi hits out at RJD, Congress with 'jungle raj' dig at rally in Siwan, calls them anti-Bihar

In a tragic incident, an Indian student enrolled at the University of Calgary in Canada died under suspicious circumstances, said the Consulate General of India in Vancouver on Thursday (June 19). The student identified as Tanya Tyagi was in Canada for higher studies.&nbsp;Making a statement in this regard on X and expressing condolences to the family, the consulate wrote, "We are saddened by the sudden demise of Ms. Tanya Tyagi, an Indian student at University of Calgary."&nbsp;The consulate assured it will keep in touch with the family of Tanya and promised of all possible help.&nbsp;“The Consulate is in touch with the authorities and will provide all required assistance to the bereaved family. Our heartfelt condolences &amp; prayers are with his family &amp; friends of the deceased,” the post by the consulate further read. &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are saddened by the sudden demise of Ms. Tanya Tyagi, an Indian student at University of Calgary. The Consulate is in touch with the authorities and will provide all required assistance to the bereaved family. Our heartfelt condolences &amp; prayers are with his family &amp; friends…&mdash; India in Vancouver (@cgivancouver) <a href="https://twitter.com/cgivancouver/status/1935739873723662759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

An official statement is waited in this regard from Canadian officials which could reveal the exact reason behind Tanya's death.&nbsp;Though, the reason for her death is yet to be revealed, a post on social media that also tagged the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) claimed that Tanya died of a heart attack.&nbsp;The authenticity of the post could, however, not be independently verified by WION.&nbsp;“Appeal 4 help. Tanya Tyagi, a student from Northeast Delhi residing at 559/11D, Lane No 12, Vijay Park, had gone to Canada for studies. She died on June 17, 2025, due to a heart attack. The student's family has appealed to PM Modi for help in bringing her body back,” the unverified post read.&nbsp;This is not the first time that such an incident has come to light. In March this year, a 20-year-old Indian student and a &nbsp;permanent US resident Sudiksha Konanki had lost her life while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.

The Indian consulate assured it will keep in touch with the family of Tanya and promised of all possible help.

In a tragic incident, an Indian student enrolled at the University of Calgary in Canada died under suspicious circumstances, said the Consulate General of India in Vancouver on Thursday (June 19). The student identified as Tanya Tyagi was in Canada for higher studies. Making a statement in this regard on X and expressing condolences to the family, the consulate wrote, "We are saddened by the sudden demise of Ms. Tanya Tyagi, an Indian student at University of Calgary." The consulate assured it will keep in touch with the family of Tanya and promised of all possible help. “The Consulate is in touch with the authorities and will provide all required assistance to the bereaved family. Our heartfelt condolences & prayers are with his family & friends of the deceased,” the post by the consulate further read.

The Indian consulate assured it will keep in touch with the family of Tanya and promised of all possible help.

Indian student dies in Canada, cause of death unknown

On Thursday (June 19), Iran’s Sejjil missile roared into the spotlight, striking Israel in a bold attack that shook the region. This was no test launch—Sejjil proved its mettle in battle, hitting targets with its long-range, solid-fuel power. As videos of the two-stage missile lighting up the skies spread, the world took notice. With a range of 2,000–2,500 km and a payload of around 700 kg, Sejjil showed it’s a force to be reckoned with. But how does it stack up against India’s Agni-II, a battle-hardened missile that’s been a cornerstone of India’s defense? Both are medium-range ballistic missiles, designed to dominate the skies, but which one truly rules? Let’s dive in, comparing their strengths in simple Indian English to see who comes out on top.&nbsp;Sejjil’s battle debut is a game-changer for Iran. Launched from Iranian soil, it reached Israel in just seven minutes, targeting military sites and even hitting a hospital in Be’er Sheva. Its solid-fuel tech means it can be fired quickly, unlike older liquid-fuel missiles that need hours to prep. This speed caught Israel off guard, with reports saying some missiles slipped through their famed air defenses, causing damage in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Petah Tikva. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim Sejjil used a new method to confuse Israel’s defense systems, letting it hit targets with precision. For a country under sanctions, this show of strength is huge, proving Sejjil isn’t just talk—it’s a missile that can deliver in war.&nbsp;Now, let’s talk about Agni-II, India’s trusted warrior. With a range of 2,000–2,500 km, it matches Sejjil’s reach but carries a heavier punch with a 1,000 kg payload. Like Sejjil, it uses solid fuel, making it quick to launch and hard to detect. Agni-II has been tested multiple times since the 1990s, proving its accuracy and reliability. Its advanced navigation and guidance systems ensure it hits targets spot-on, and its carbon-composite re-entry vehicle can survive the heat of re-entering the atmosphere. India’s missile is road and rail-mobile, letting it be moved around to avoid enemy satellites. While Sejjil made headlines yesterday, Agni-II has a longer track record, quietly guarding India against threats from Pakistan and China.&nbsp;Comparing the two, Sejjil’s battle-proven status gives it a fresh edge. Hitting Israel’s military sites and bypassing some defenses shows it’s not just a prototype—it’s ready for war. Its 2,500 km range and Mach 12–14 re-entry speed make it a nightmare to intercept. But Agni-II’s heavier payload means it can carry bigger warheads, conventional or nuclear, giving it more destructive power. Agni-II’s lighter weight—18,000 kg compared to Sejjil’s 23,600 kg—makes it easier to transport. India’s open testing also proves Agni-II’s accuracy, while Iran’s claims about Sejjil’s precision are less verified, though yesterday’s strikes suggest they’re not bluffing.&nbsp;Technology-wise, Agni-II might have the upper hand. India’s decades-long missile program, backed by scientists like APJ Abdul Kalam, has fine-tuned Agni-II’s systems. Its re-entry vehicle and guidance tech are world-class, ensuring it can strike deep and true. Sejjil, while impressive, is newer, and Iran’s tech likely leans on help from countries like China or North Korea. Still, Sejjil’s performance yesterday shows Iran’s engineers have done something right. The missile’s ability to evade defenses, as claimed by Iran, could give it an edge in chaotic battlefields, though Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow systems still stopped many missiles.&nbsp;Strategically, the missiles serve different goals. Sejjil is Iran’s shield and sword, designed to deter enemies like Israel or the US. Its quick launch and proven strike power make it ideal for surprise attacks, as seen yesterday. Iran’s focus is survival in a hostile region, and Sejjil’s battlefield success boosts its credibility. Agni-II, however, is part of India’s bigger plan to counter China and Pakistan. It’s one of a family of missiles, from Agni-I to Agni-V, built for long-term deterrence. India’s stable testing environment and global partnerships give Agni-II a more polished edge, while Iran’s secretive approach leaves some doubts about Sejjil’s consistency.&nbsp;In the end, who dominates the skies? Sejjil’s fiery debut yesterday proves it’s a serious contender, hitting Israel with speed and impact. Its battle-proven status gives Iran bragging rights, and its evasion tactics could trouble even the best defenses. But Agni-II’s heavier payload, proven reliability, and India’s technological depth make it a stronger all-rounder. Sejjil may have stolen the spotlight, but Agni-II’s quiet strength and versatility keep it ahead. Both missiles are symbols of national pride—Sejjil for Iran’s defiance, Agni-II for India’s rise. The skies belong to those who can strike smart and sure, and for now, Agni-II holds the crown, even as Sejjil’s star burns bright.

With a range of 2,000–2,500 km, Agni matches Sejjil’s reach but carries a heavier punch with a 1,000 kg payload.

On Thursday (June 19), Iran’s Sejjil missile roared into the spotlight, striking Israel in a bold attack that shook the region. This was no test launch—Sejjil proved its mettle in battle, hitting targets with its long-range, solid-fuel power. As videos of the two-stage missile lighting up the skies spread, the world took notice. With a range of 2,000–2,500 km and a payload of around 700 kg, Sejjil showed it’s a force to be reckoned with. But how does it stack up against India’s Agni-II, a battle-hardened missile that’s been a cornerstone of India’s defense? Both are medium-range ballistic missiles, designed to dominate the skies, but which one truly rules? Let’s dive in, comparing their strengths in simple Indian English to see who comes out on top. Sejjil’s battle debut is a game-changer for Iran. Launched from Iranian soil, it reached Israel in just seven minutes, targeting military sites and even hitting a hospital in Be’er Sheva. Its solid-fuel tech means it can be fired quickly, unlike older liquid-fuel missiles that need hours to prep. This speed caught Israel off guard, with reports saying some missiles slipped through their famed air defenses, causing damage in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Petah Tikva. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim Sejjil used a new method to confuse Israel’s defense systems, letting it hit targets with precision. For a country under sanctions, this show of strength is huge, proving Sejjil isn’t just talk—it’s a missile that can deliver in war. Now, let’s talk about Agni-II, India’s trusted warrior. With a range of 2,000–2,500 km, it matches Sejjil’s reach but carries a heavier punch with a 1,000 kg payload. Like Sejjil, it uses solid fuel, making it quick to launch and hard to detect. Agni-II has been tested multiple times since the 1990s, proving its accuracy and reliability. Its advanced navigation and guidance systems ensure it hits targets spot-on, and its carbon-composite re-entry vehicle can survive the heat of re-entering the atmosphere. India’s missile is road and rail-mobile, letting it be moved around to avoid enemy satellites. While Sejjil made headlines yesterday, Agni-II has a longer track record, quietly guarding India against threats from Pakistan and China. Comparing the two, Sejjil’s battle-proven status gives it a fresh edge. Hitting Israel’s military sites and bypassing some defenses shows it’s not just a prototype—it’s ready for war. Its 2,500 km range and Mach 12–14 re-entry speed make it a nightmare to intercept. But Agni-II’s heavier payload means it can carry bigger warheads, conventional or nuclear, giving it more destructive power. Agni-II’s lighter weight—18,000 kg compared to Sejjil’s 23,600 kg—makes it easier to transport. India’s open testing also proves Agni-II’s accuracy, while Iran’s claims about Sejjil’s precision are less verified, though yesterday’s strikes suggest they’re not bluffing. Technology-wise, Agni-II might have the upper hand. India’s decades-long missile program, backed by scientists like APJ Abdul Kalam, has fine-tuned Agni-II’s systems. Its re-entry vehicle and guidance tech are world-class, ensuring it can strike deep and true. Sejjil, while impressive, is newer, and Iran’s tech likely leans on help from countries like China or North Korea. Still, Sejjil’s performance yesterday shows Iran’s engineers have done something right. The missile’s ability to evade defenses, as claimed by Iran, could give it an edge in chaotic battlefields, though Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow systems still stopped many missiles. Strategically, the missiles serve different goals. Sejjil is Iran’s shield and sword, designed to deter enemies like Israel or the US. Its quick launch and proven strike power make it ideal for surprise attacks, as seen yesterday. Iran’s focus is survival in a hostile region, and Sejjil’s battlefield success boosts its credibility. Agni-II, however, is part of India’s bigger plan to counter China and Pakistan. It’s one of a family of missiles, from Agni-I to Agni-V, built for long-term deterrence. India’s stable testing environment and global partnerships give Agni-II a more polished edge, while Iran’s secretive approach leaves some doubts about Sejjil’s consistency. In the end, who dominates the skies? Sejjil’s fiery debut yesterday proves it’s a serious contender, hitting Israel with speed and impact. Its battle-proven status gives Iran bragging rights, and its evasion tactics could trouble even the best defenses. But Agni-II’s heavier payload, proven reliability, and India’s technological depth make it a stronger all-rounder. Sejjil may have stolen the spotlight, but Agni-II’s quiet strength and versatility keep it ahead. Both missiles are symbols of national pride—Sejjil for Iran’s defiance, Agni-II for India’s rise. The skies belong to those who can strike smart and sure, and for now, Agni-II holds the crown, even as Sejjil’s star burns bright.

With a range of 2,000–2,500 km, Agni matches Sejjil’s reach but carries a heavier punch with a 1,000 kg payload.

Agni-II's enduring legacy: Why India's missile still outclasses Iran's Sejjil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with world leaders on Day 2 of the G7 summit in Kananaskis on Wednesday (Jun18) and issued a statement on terrorism - which is being seen as a jibe at the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing the G7 Outreach Session, PM Modi warned against double standards on terrorism and called for unified global action. He also said that sanctions are being imposed as per preferences and those promoting terrorism are being rewarded. Prime Minister's Modi remark comes as US President Donald Trump is all set to meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir over lunch today.&nbsp;Apart from terrorism, PM Modi emphasised that affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy remains India’s top priority in an increasingly technology-driven world. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted key takeaways from the Prime Minister’s address.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> participated in the Outreach Session on Energy Security at the 51st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G7Summit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G7Summit</a> in Kananaskis, Canada. In his address, PM highlighted the need to ensure energy security for all through a sustainable &amp; green pathway and elaborated upon 🇮🇳’s global initiatives such… <a href="https://t.co/t73x0Qvpj5">pic.twitter.com/t73x0Qvpj5</a>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1935135946711674998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>PM Modi's comment on terrorism: Jibe on US?</h2>PM Modi's G7 remark is being viewed as a jibe on United States as it is hosting Pakistani Army chief Munir in the White House. This comes after India gave substantial proof to the world about the involvement of Pakistani Army with terror group in Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;The Indian Prime Minister strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam in April this year, describing it as an attack on humanity and democratic values. “There should be no place for double standards on terrorism,” he said, urging the global community to adopt a consistent and firm stance against terror networks. “For global peace and prosperity, our thought and policy must be clear — if any country supports terrorism, it will have to pay the price for it. On one hand, we are quick to impose all kinds of sanctions based on our own preferences. On the other hand, countries that openly support terrorism are rewarded,” PM Modi added.&nbsp;<h2>PM Modi and Trump phone call</h2>&nbsp;Earlier today, setting the record straight, PM Modi in a phone call with US President Trump told him that India had never accepted any mediation role between India and Pakistan and there was no discussion on a US-India trade deal during the hostilities. PM Modi also declined Trump's invite for a stop-over visit to Washington DC on his way back from the G7 Summit in Canada, citing his scheduled visit to Croatia on June 18.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">POTUS <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> called PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>. 🎥 Listen to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s statement on the telephone conversation. <a href="https://t.co/7TcZHDzXDd">pic.twitter.com/7TcZHDzXDd</a>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1935191636809761216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Addressing the G7 Outreach Session, PM Modi warned against double standards on terrorism in what is seen as a jibe against United States ahead of Pakistan Asim Munir's luncheon in White House

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with world leaders on Day 2 of the G7 summit in Kananaskis on Wednesday (Jun18) and issued a statement on terrorism - which is being seen as a jibe at the United States. Addressing the G7 Outreach Session, PM Modi warned against double standards on terrorism and called for unified global action. He also said that sanctions are being imposed as per preferences and those promoting terrorism are being rewarded. Prime Minister's Modi remark comes as US President Donald Trump is all set to meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir over lunch today. Apart from terrorism, PM Modi emphasised that affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy remains India’s top priority in an increasingly technology-driven world. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted key takeaways from the Prime Minister’s address.

Addressing the G7 Outreach Session, PM Modi warned against double standards on terrorism in what is seen as a jibe against United States ahead of Pakistan's Asim Munir's luncheon in White House

Jibe at US? PM Modi calls out 'double standards on terrorism' at G7 ahead of Trump's luncheon with Pak's Asim Munir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have again garnered attention for their warm camaraderie on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Canada’s Kananaskis. After the summit ended on Wednesday (June 18) morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's informal interaction went viral.&nbsp;Giorgia Meloni during her interaction with the PM Modi, a video of which has gone viral on social media, seems to be telling him that he was “the best" and that she was “trying to be" like him.&nbsp;While Prime Minister Modi can be seen laughing and showing a ‘thumbs up’ gesture to the Italian Prime Minister in the video shared across various social media platforms.WION could not verify the authenticity of this claim.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 G7 Summit | Giorgia Meloni to PM Modi: “You are the BEST, I am trying to be as you.” 🥰 <a href="https://t.co/INHY2SuAQj">pic.twitter.com/INHY2SuAQj</a>&mdash; Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1935222673417670840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A picture of their meeting was also shared by the Italian Prime Minister on her Instagram page with the caption, "Italy and India, bound by a great friendship."&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi reshared the picture on X and wrote &nbsp;“Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. India's friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. India’s friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people!<a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GiorgiaMeloni</a> <a href="https://t.co/LaYIIZn8Ry">https://t.co/LaYIIZn8Ry</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1935097584823230921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Their interaction revived the popular term "Melodi" used by netizens during their COP28 meeting in Dubai and the G20 Summit in India.&nbsp;During COP28, Meloni had shared a selfie with Modi and captioned it "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi". The post immediately went viral and the term "Melodi" is used by the netizens whenever both leaders meet.&nbsp;G7 Summit&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders during the Group of Seven summit in Canada.&nbsp;At the international summit, PM Modi interacted with leaders of Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, South Korea, and Japan.&nbsp;In a post on X, the prime minister wrote, “Together for global progress!”&nbsp;“Productive exchanges with G7 leaders on key global challenges and shared aspirations for a better planet,” PM Modi added.

Prime Minister Modi can be seen laughing and showing a ‘thumbs up’ gesture to the Italian Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have again garnered attention for their warm camaraderie on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Canada’s Kananaskis. After the summit ended on Wednesday (June 18) morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's informal interaction went viral. Giorgia Meloni during her interaction with the PM Modi, a video of which has gone viral on social media, seems to be telling him that he was “the best" and that she was “trying to be" like him. While Prime Minister Modi can be seen laughing and showing a ‘thumbs up’ gesture to the Italian Prime Minister in the video shared across various social media platforms. WION could not verify the authenticity of this claim.

Prime Minister Modi can be seen laughing and showing a ‘thumbs up’ gesture to the Italian Prime Minister

'You're the best,' says Giorgia Meloni to PM Modi, video goes viral: WATCH

The Meghalaya police on Tuesday (June 17) recovered the second machete allegedly used in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman. The police recreated the crime scene with four accused to recover the second murder weapon.&nbsp;Sonam, including three other accused were taken to Meghalaya's Sohra, around 65 km from capital Shillong, to recreate the scene, said the police.&nbsp;“We have conducted a crime scene recreation, during which the accused reenacted their actions. This has given us a clearer picture of what transpired. The second machete used in the murder has also been recovered by the SDRF.” said Vivek Syiem, Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, as quoted by ANI.&nbsp;Raja Raghuvanshi was brutally murdered by his wife Sonam, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and three hitmen while on a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya.&nbsp;According to the police, the machetes were the weapons used by the hitmen to attack Raja. Vishal was the first one to attack followed by Anand and then Akash.&nbsp;After being hit, 29-year-old Raja started bleeding and screaming for help but was not spared and attacked multiple times before he died. Soon after it was confirmed that he had died, his 24-year-old wife left the spot.&nbsp;“When he started bleeding and screaming, Sonam ran away. Vishal and the other hitmen continued to attack Raja with the machete," a police officer said.&nbsp;After Sonam left, the three others then dumped his body into the gorge.&nbsp;Raja's body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2. A search continued for Sonam, who emerged in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, around 1,200 km away, in the early hours of June 9 and surrendered.&nbsp;Five people, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and three men identified as Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi have been arrested in the case by the Meghalaya police.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Sonam, including three other accused were taken to Meghalayas Sohra, around 65 km from capital Shillong, to recreate the scene.

The Meghalaya police on Tuesday (June 17) recovered the second machete allegedly used in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman. The police recreated the crime scene with four accused to recover the second murder weapon. Sonam, including three other accused were taken to Meghalaya's Sohra, around 65 km from capital Shillong, to recreate the scene, said the police. “We have conducted a crime scene recreation, during which the accused reenacted their actions. This has given us a clearer picture of what transpired. The second machete used in the murder has also been recovered by the SDRF.” said Vivek Syiem, Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, as quoted by ANI. Raja Raghuvanshi was brutally murdered by his wife Sonam, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and three hitmen while on a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya. According to the police, the machetes were the weapons used by the hitmen to attack Raja. Vishal was the first one to attack followed by Anand and then Akash. After being hit, 29-year-old Raja started bleeding and screaming for help but was not spared and attacked multiple times before he died. Soon after it was confirmed that he had died, his 24-year-old wife left the spot. “When he started bleeding and screaming, Sonam ran away. Vishal and the other hitmen continued to attack Raja with the machete," a police officer said. After Sonam left, the three others then dumped his body into the gorge. Raja's body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2. A search continued for Sonam, who emerged in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, around 1,200 km away, in the early hours of June 9 and surrendered. Five people, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and three men identified as Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi have been arrested in the case by the Meghalaya police.

Sonam, including three other accused were taken to Meghalaya's Sohra, around 65 km from capital Shillong, to recreate the scene.

Sonam fled after Raja Raghuvanshi was attacked by machetes and started bleeding, reveals police

The death toll in the collapse of the iron bridge on the Indrayani river in Pune district has risen to four, and two bodies have been recovered in the ongoing rescue operations, with divers and emergency personnel deployed on the site, said officials.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Cyprus, spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the incident. While expressing grief over the loss of lives, PM Modi assured all possible assistance in relief measures.&nbsp;&nbsp;The collapsed bridge was frequently used by tourists to cross the river or stop for photographs. Authorities believe the structure may have given way under the weight of the weekend crowd.&nbsp;NDRF teams and Pimpri-Chinchwad police officials were mobilised to manage the rescue operations.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi had imposed prohibitory orders, limiting tourist access to water bodies and specific natural locations, citing safety risks amid the intensified monsoon conditions.&nbsp;The bridge collapse took place near Kund Mala in Talegaon, a popular tourist destination 30 km from Pune, known for its natural sinkholes, gorges, and unique rock formations.&nbsp;<h2>CM Fadnavis announces financial assistance</h2>&nbsp;Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the bridge collapse. The state government will also bear the cost for the medical treatment of the injured.&nbsp;“CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state government will provide a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the bridge collapse incident on the Indrayani river near Talegaon in Pune district. Additionally, the state government will also bear the cost for the medical treatment of the injured,” Maharashtra CMO posted on X.&nbsp;The bridge, which connects two sides of the Kundmala area, collapsed while several tourists were standing on it. Being a weekend, a large number of visitors were present at the spot. The incident took place around 3:30 pm and 32 people have been rescued.&nbsp;Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said that the rescue operation is going on a war footing.&nbsp;“... This was a narrow bridge only meant for the movement of farmers, but 250-300 tourists stood on it, and the bridge collapsed due to excessive load,” Mahajan added.&nbsp;NCP MLA Sunil Shelke said that the bridge was built 30 years ago. Shelke said the bridge was periodically repaired, and tourists were prohibited from entering it.&nbsp;“This bridge was constructed for the movement of farmers 30 years ago. But due to the excessive load of tourists and two-wheelers, this bridge collapsed,” Shelke told ANI.&nbsp;Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said 38 people have been rescued so far, and 30 of them have been hospitalised, while six others sustained serious injuries.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said that the rescue operation is going on a war footing. It was a narrow bridge only meant for the movement of farmers, but 250-300 tourists were on it, so it collapsed due to excessive load, he added.

The death toll in the collapse of the iron bridge on the Indrayani river in Pune district has risen to four, and two bodies have been recovered in the ongoing rescue operations, with divers and emergency personnel deployed on the site, said officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Cyprus, spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the incident. While expressing grief over the loss of lives, PM Modi assured all possible assistance in relief measures. The collapsed bridge was frequently used by tourists to cross the river or stop for photographs. Authorities believe the structure may have given way under the weight of the weekend crowd. NDRF teams and Pimpri-Chinchwad police officials were mobilised to manage the rescue operations. Earlier this month, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi had imposed prohibitory orders, limiting tourist access to water bodies and specific natural locations, citing safety risks amid the intensified monsoon conditions. The bridge collapse took place near Kund Mala in Talegaon, a popular tourist destination 30 km from Pune, known for its natural sinkholes, gorges, and unique rock formations. CM Fadnavis announces financial assistance Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the bridge collapse. The state government will also bear the cost for the medical treatment of the injured. “CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state government will provide a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the bridge collapse incident on the Indrayani river near Talegaon in Pune district. Additionally, the state government will also bear the cost for the medical treatment of the injured,” Maharashtra CMO posted on X. The bridge, which connects two sides of the Kundmala area, collapsed while several tourists were standing on it. Being a weekend, a large number of visitors were present at the spot. The incident took place around 3:30 pm and 32 people have been rescued. Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said that the rescue operation is going on a war footing. “... This was a narrow bridge only meant for the movement of farmers, but 250-300 tourists stood on it, and the bridge collapsed due to excessive load,” Mahajan added. NCP MLA Sunil Shelke said that the bridge was built 30 years ago. Shelke said the bridge was periodically repaired, and tourists were prohibited from entering it. “This bridge was constructed for the movement of farmers 30 years ago. But due to the excessive load of tourists and two-wheelers, this bridge collapsed,” Shelke told ANI. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said 38 people have been rescued so far, and 30 of them have been hospitalised, while six others sustained serious injuries.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said that the rescue operation is going on a war footing. It was a narrow bridge only meant for the movement of farmers, but 250-300 tourists were on it, so it collapsed due to excessive load, he added.

Pune bridge collapse toll rises to 4, rescue ops underway; PM Modi speaks to CM Fadnavis

In a harrowing incident, several people are feared to be drowned after a bridge near Pune collapsed. The bridge built over the Indrayani river in Kundmala was a popular tourist destination.&nbsp;There is heavy rush on the bridge during the monsoon. Due to the weekend crowd, the bridge was heavily loaded when it gave way.&nbsp;According to preliminary reports, 10 to 15 people are feared trapped, while 5 to 6 people have been rescued.&nbsp;The has been six casualties reported so far. The numbers are likely to rise further.&nbsp;Teams from the local police, disaster response units, and villagers are carrying out rescue operation.&nbsp;The decades old bridge served as a pedestrian route for tourists and pilgrims visiting the Kund Mala area, near Talegaon Dabhade in Pune. It is popular for its naturally hollowed-out rocks formed by the Indrayani River on which the bridge was built.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a harrowing incident, several people are feared to be drowned after a bridge in Pune collapsed.

In a harrowing incident, several people are feared to be drowned after a bridge near Pune collapsed. The bridge built over the Indrayani river in Kundmala was a popular tourist destination. There is heavy rush on the bridge during the monsoon. Due to the weekend crowd, the bridge was heavily loaded when it gave way. According to preliminary reports, 10 to 15 people are feared trapped, while 5 to 6 people have been rescued. The has been six casualties reported so far. The numbers are likely to rise further. Teams from the local police, disaster response units, and villagers are carrying out rescue operation. The decades old bridge served as a pedestrian route for tourists and pilgrims visiting the Kund Mala area, near Talegaon Dabhade in Pune. It is popular for its naturally hollowed-out rocks formed by the Indrayani River on which the bridge was built.

In a harrowing incident, several people are feared to be drowned after a bridge in Pune collapsed.

At least 6 dead as bridge collapses near Pune, rescue operations underway

The Air India plane crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad was an incident the country would want to forget. The horrific accident claimed the lives of 241 people with only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh&nbsp;The British national of Indian origin may be happy of surviving the crash but deep down he knows the loss suffered by people. In fact he was travelling to the UK with his brother who was also in the same plane, Ramesh's brother &nbsp;sitting in a different row was not fortunate like him as he was among the 241 fatalities.&nbsp;“We are happy Viswash has been saved, but on the other hand we are just heartbroken about Ajay,” Hiren Kantilal, Ramesh’s cousin, said speaking to Hindustan Times.&nbsp;Both the brothers were on a vacation to India and were leaving for UK.&nbsp;Ramesh survived as a portion of the plane where he was seated (11A) fell on the ground and the door broke open.&nbsp;“Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the hostel premises after the plane crash-landed. When I saw that the door of the plane was broken, I told myself I can try and get out,” said Ramesh.&nbsp;There were 51 other British nationals on the Air India flight, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals.&nbsp;Victims identified by DNA test&nbsp;Meanwhile, 31 victims of the incident have been identified via DNA test. Among the identified bodies, 12 have been handed over to the respective families.&nbsp;The bodies taken out of the debris are being taken to the Additional Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital. Dr Rajnish Patel of the hospital said, "The bodies of 31 DNAs have been matched. 12 bodies have been handed over to their respective family members. We are waiting for others to come and collect the remains of their relatives." &nbsp;

Ramesh survived as a portion of the plane where he was seated (11A) fell on the ground and the door broke open.

The Air India plane crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad was an incident the country would want to forget. The horrific accident claimed the lives of 241 people with only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh The British national of Indian origin may be happy of surviving the crash but deep down he knows the loss suffered by people. In fact he was travelling to the UK with his brother who was also in the same plane, Ramesh's brother sitting in a different row was not fortunate like him as he was among the 241 fatalities. “We are happy Viswash has been saved, but on the other hand we are just heartbroken about Ajay,” Hiren Kantilal, Ramesh’s cousin, said speaking to Hindustan Times. Both the brothers were on a vacation to India and were leaving for UK. Ramesh survived as a portion of the plane where he was seated (11A) fell on the ground and the door broke open. “Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the hostel premises after the plane crash-landed. When I saw that the door of the plane was broken, I told myself I can try and get out,” said Ramesh. There were 51 other British nationals on the Air India flight, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals. Victims identified by DNA test Meanwhile, 31 victims of the incident have been identified via DNA test. Among the identified bodies, 12 have been handed over to the respective families. The bodies taken out of the debris are being taken to the Additional Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital. Dr Rajnish Patel of the hospital said, "The bodies of 31 DNAs have been matched. 12 bodies have been handed over to their respective family members. We are waiting for others to come and collect the remains of their relatives."

Ramesh survived as a portion of the plane where he was seated (11A) fell on the ground and the door broke open.

One flight, two fates: Lone survivor Vishwas Kumar walked away from crash that killed his brother

A helicopter crashed in Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand on Sunday morning (June 15).&nbsp;&nbsp;The accident took place near Trijuginarayan Narayan in Gaurikund area. The helicopter belonged to Aryan Company and was going from Kedarnath Dham to Phata. All the 7 people on board, have been killed in the accident. The accident reportedly happened due to bad weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in a post on X said, "Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers."&nbsp;Meanwhile, &nbsp;Uttarakhand ADG Law and Order, Dr V Murugeshan said, “The helicopter that went missing in Gaurikund has crashed. There were six people on board the crashed helicopter. More details awaited.”&nbsp;This is the fifth accident since the portals of the Himalayan temple Kedarnath opened on May 2. Earlier, on June 7, a helicopter on its way to Kedarnath was forced to land on a highway in Uttarakhand after developing a technical snag during take-off. It came dangerously close to buildings, and its tail rotor fell on a parked car. The five pilgrims on board came out safely, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.&nbsp;Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a high-level meeting. Chief secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation secretary, disaster secretary, UCADA officials, DGCA officials, DG information are all part of the meeting and are connected through video conferencing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav. The incident spot was located in a very inaccessible and dense forest area, where a fast-paced and coordinated rescue operation was carried out by the joint teams of SDRF, NDRF, and local police.

All 7 killed in Kedarnath helicopter crash, Centre calls high-level meeting

A helicopter crashed in Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand on Sunday morning (June 15). The accident took place near Trijuginarayan Narayan in Gaurikund area. The helicopter belonged to Aryan Company and was going from Kedarnath Dham to Phata. All the 7 people on board, have been killed in the accident. The accident reportedly happened due to bad weather. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in a post on X said, "Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers." Meanwhile, Uttarakhand ADG Law and Order, Dr V Murugeshan said, “The helicopter that went missing in Gaurikund has crashed. There were six people on board the crashed helicopter. More details awaited.” This is the fifth accident since the portals of the Himalayan temple Kedarnath opened on May 2. Earlier, on June 7, a helicopter on its way to Kedarnath was forced to land on a highway in Uttarakhand after developing a technical snag during take-off. It came dangerously close to buildings, and its tail rotor fell on a parked car. The five pilgrims on board came out safely, while the pilot sustained minor injuries. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a high-level meeting. Chief secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation secretary, disaster secretary, UCADA officials, DGCA officials, DG information are all part of the meeting and are connected through video conferencing. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav. The incident spot was located in a very inaccessible and dense forest area, where a fast-paced and coordinated rescue operation was carried out by the joint teams of SDRF, NDRF, and local police.

The accident reportedly happened due to bad weather

All 7 killed in Kedarnath helicopter crash, CM Dhami calls high-level meeting

If all goes well, the American Axiom-4 astronaut mission will liftoff of June 19th, Thursday, which is 20 days after the original launch date of 29th May. Over the last two weeks, the mission has faced multiple delays owing to - replacement of parts on the Crew Dragon Spacecraft, technical issues with a Falcon 9 rocket engine, unfavourable weather, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and an anomaly in the Russian Zvezda module on the International Space Station. Indian Air Force test pilot and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second-in-command of this mission.&nbsp;Announcing the new targeted launch date, the Indian Space agency ISRO said that the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket has been successfully resolved. ISRO says this based on the outcome of a meeting between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. "Axiom Space informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Russian Zvezda Service Module onboard the International Space Station," read the statement from ISRO.&nbsp;Opportunities for launch till June 30th or from mid-July&nbsp;"In terms of launch opportunities, we have opportunities all the way to June 30th," said Dana Weigel, Manager, International Space Station Programme, NASA. Typically, every rocket launch mission has a launch window/launch opportunity- an ideal period of a few days or weeks within which the launch can take place. On each of these specific days within the launch window, there are a few minutes when the rocket can blastoff to space. All of these launch times are precisely planned down to the second, based on various technical parameters. Which is why many rocket launch missions happen at odd hours, and no two missions(even of the same type) follow the same launch time or schedule.&nbsp;In case SpaceX and Axiom Space are unable to launch in the month of June, there are opportunities in July as well, Weigel had said. "Russians have a Progress cargo vehicle undocking from the International Space Station and new one docking, so we have a brief cut out for that.&nbsp;And then, a brief cut out for high solar beta. And then we have launch opportunities in the second week of July/middle of July. Plenty of opportunities to fly the vehicle," she had elaborated.Predominantly, only America and Russia launch crafts to the International Space Station.&nbsp;Therefore, the two have to plan their traffic accordingly and coordinate the arrivals and departures with regards the Space Station. This is why Dana mentioned of a break in the month of July.&nbsp;Further, while launching astronaut-carrying spacecrafts to the Space Station, a technical parameter called Solar Beta needs to be factored in- it determines how much during each orbit the spacecraft is exposed to sunlight or Earth's shadow. This affects the heating or cooling of the spacecraft, ability of solar panels to generate power. For example, while circling the earth, when a spacecraft is exposed to a lot of sunlight, it could suffer overheating issues. Therefore the next window for the Axiom-4 launch is in Mid-July.&nbsp;About Axiom-4 Human spaceflight mission&nbsp;Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule. Peggy Whitson, veteran NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot or second-in-command. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.&nbsp;This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation’s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crew members will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance.&nbsp;Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station, and the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on a Soviet Mission in 1984. The Indian Government has paid almost $64mn(Rs.550cr) for Shukla's training and spaceflight as part of Axiom-4. As he circles the earth, Shukla will also be performing experiments in STEM(Science, Tech, Engineering, Math), and these will be made available as recorded educational videos, as part of the Axiom-4 mission outreach activity.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Announcing the new targeted launch date, the Indian Space agency ISRO said that the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket has been successfully resolved.

If all goes well, the American Axiom-4 astronaut mission will liftoff of June 19th, Thursday, which is 20 days after the original launch date of 29th May. Over the last two weeks, the mission has faced multiple delays owing to - replacement of parts on the Crew Dragon Spacecraft, technical issues with a Falcon 9 rocket engine, unfavourable weather, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and an anomaly in the Russian Zvezda module on the International Space Station. Indian Air Force test pilot and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second-in-command of this mission. Announcing the new targeted launch date, the Indian Space agency ISRO said that the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket has been successfully resolved. ISRO says this based on the outcome of a meeting between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. "Axiom Space informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Russian Zvezda Service Module onboard the International Space Station," read the statement from ISRO. Opportunities for launch till June 30th or from mid-July "In terms of launch opportunities, we have opportunities all the way to June 30th," said Dana Weigel, Manager, International Space Station Programme, NASA. Typically, every rocket launch mission has a launch window/launch opportunity- an ideal period of a few days or weeks within which the launch can take place. On each of these specific days within the launch window, there are a few minutes when the rocket can blastoff to space. All of these launch times are precisely planned down to the second, based on various technical parameters. Which is why many rocket launch missions happen at odd hours, and no two missions(even of the same type) follow the same launch time or schedule. In case SpaceX and Axiom Space are unable to launch in the month of June, there are opportunities in July as well, Weigel had said. "Russians have a Progress cargo vehicle undocking from the International Space Station and new one docking, so we have a brief cut out for that. And then, a brief cut out for high solar beta. And then we have launch opportunities in the second week of July/middle of July. Plenty of opportunities to fly the vehicle," she had elaborated. Predominantly, only America and Russia launch crafts to the International Space Station. Therefore, the two have to plan their traffic accordingly and coordinate the arrivals and departures with regards the Space Station. This is why Dana mentioned of a break in the month of July. Further, while launching astronaut-carrying spacecrafts to the Space Station, a technical parameter called Solar Beta needs to be factored in- it determines how much during each orbit the spacecraft is exposed to sunlight or Earth's shadow. This affects the heating or cooling of the spacecraft, ability of solar panels to generate power. For example, while circling the earth, when a spacecraft is exposed to a lot of sunlight, it could suffer overheating issues. Therefore the next window for the Axiom-4 launch is in Mid-July. About Axiom-4 Human spaceflight mission Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule. Peggy Whitson, veteran NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot or second-in-command. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation’s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crew members will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station, and the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on a Soviet Mission in 1984. The Indian Government has paid almost $64mn(Rs.550cr) for Shukla's training and spaceflight as part of Axiom-4. As he circles the earth, Shukla will also be performing experiments in STEM(Science, Tech, Engineering, Math), and these will be made available as recorded educational videos, as part of the Axiom-4 mission outreach activity.

Announcing the new targeted launch date, the Indian Space agency ISRO said that the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket has been successfully resolved.

Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 spaceflight to launch on June19

The Air India plane crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad in which 241 people lost their lives has shocked the entire nation. A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight. &nbsp;&nbsp;Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed and turned into a fireball near the Ahmedabad airport.&nbsp;This is another major tragedy to have struck the country this year.&nbsp;Maha Kumbh fires, stampede&nbsp;The 45-day Maha Kumbh from from January 13 to February 26 this year witnessed multiple fire accidents and a stampede that left over 30 people dead.&nbsp;A fire broke out in a 'Kalpvasi' tent in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh on February 9. The reason for the fire was attributed to a gas cylinder leak, according to official.&nbsp;On February 7, a fire erupted in the ISKCON camp in Sector 18. The fire engulfed approximately 20 tents in its vicinity, however, no injuries were reported. On January 19 too a major fire broke out in Sector 19 of the Kumbh Mela due to a cylinder blast, but no casualties were reported.&nbsp;But tragedy struck on January 29 when 30 people lost their lives and 60 were injured just before the crucial ‘Amrit Snan’ on Mauni Amavasya. The massive gathering, close to 10 crore pilgrims, led to chaos as devotees surged towards the sacred Triveni Sangam.&nbsp;New Delhi railway station stampede&nbsp;A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, 2025, had claimed the lives of 18 people, while 15 others were injured in the incident. The mishap was triggered due to confusion among passengers between the "Prayagraj Express" and "Prayagraj Special" train.&nbsp;Pahalgam terror attack&nbsp;On April 22, terrorists having links to Pakistan gunned down 26 tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The militants mainly targeted Hindu tourists. However one Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also killed in the dastardly attack.&nbsp;In retaliation India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and struck multiple terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir killing over hundred terrorists.&nbsp;RCB victory parade stampede&nbsp;A stampede at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and left 56 others injured on June 4. An estimated 2.5 lakh fans had gathered at the stadium and its surrounding areas to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes following an IPL team’s title celebration, which was their first victory ever.&nbsp;AIR India plane crash tragedy&nbsp;An Air India plane crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12) in which 241 people lost their lives. A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight. &nbsp;&nbsp;Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed into medical students' hostel and turned into a fireball.&nbsp;“It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC,” said the DGCA in a statement.&nbsp;Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who is currently in hospital is the only survivor of the crash. &nbsp;

Approximately 20 tents at the Maha kumbh mela were engulfed after a blaze erupted in the ISKCON camp in Sector 18.

The Air India plane crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad in which 241 people lost their lives has shocked the entire nation. A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight. Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed and turned into a fireball near the Ahmedabad airport. This is another major tragedy to have struck the country this year. Maha Kumbh fires, stampede The 45-day Maha Kumbh from from January 13 to February 26 this year witnessed multiple fire accidents and a stampede that left over 30 people dead. A fire broke out in a 'Kalpvasi' tent in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh on February 9. The reason for the fire was attributed to a gas cylinder leak, according to official. On February 7, a fire erupted in the ISKCON camp in Sector 18. The fire engulfed approximately 20 tents in its vicinity, however, no injuries were reported. On January 19 too a major fire broke out in Sector 19 of the Kumbh Mela due to a cylinder blast, but no casualties were reported. But tragedy struck on January 29 when 30 people lost their lives and 60 were injured just before the crucial ‘Amrit Snan’ on Mauni Amavasya. The massive gathering, close to 10 crore pilgrims, led to chaos as devotees surged towards the sacred Triveni Sangam. New Delhi railway station stampede A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, 2025, had claimed the lives of 18 people, while 15 others were injured in the incident. The mishap was triggered due to confusion among passengers between the "Prayagraj Express" and "Prayagraj Special" train. Pahalgam terror attack On April 22, terrorists having links to Pakistan gunned down 26 tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The militants mainly targeted Hindu tourists. However one Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also killed in the dastardly attack. In retaliation India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and struck multiple terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir killing over hundred terrorists. RCB victory parade stampede A stampede at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and left 56 others injured on June 4. An estimated 2.5 lakh fans had gathered at the stadium and its surrounding areas to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes following an IPL team’s title celebration, which was their first victory ever. AIR India plane crash tragedy An Air India plane crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12) in which 241 people lost their lives. A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight. Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed into medical students' hostel and turned into a fireball. “It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC,” said the DGCA in a statement. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who is currently in hospital is the only survivor of the crash.

Approximately 20 tents at the Maha kumbh mela were engulfed after a blaze erupted in the ISKCON camp in Sector 18.

Air India plane crash to Pahalgam terror attack, 5 tragedies that have struck India this year

A day after the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport in which 241 passengers lost their lives, the US officials said on Thursday they have not seen any immediate safety data that would require halting Boeing 787.&nbsp;Speaking to the media, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau said they have been looking at the video of the deadly plane crash and have spoken to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy in this regard, reported news agency Reuters.&nbsp;An NTSB and FAA team, with support from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, was going to India to take stock of the matter, said Duffy.&nbsp;"They have to get on the ground and take a look. But again right now it’d be way too premature,” he said adding, ”People are looking at videos and trying to assess what happened, which is never a strong, smart way to make decisions on what took place."&nbsp;He emphasised on prioritising safety and said, "will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and put safety first."&nbsp;Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau said they are ready to mitigate any risk that comes to their knowledge during their visit to Ahmedabad for the investigation."As we proceed down this road with the investigation itself, if there’s any information that becomes available to us regarding any risk, we will mitigate those risks," said Rocheleau.&nbsp;A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight that crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12).&nbsp;Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed and turned into a fireball.Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who is currently in hospital is the only survivor of the crash.&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An NTSB and FAA team, with support from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, was going to India to take stock of the matter.

A day after the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport in which 241 passengers lost their lives, the US officials said on Thursday they have not seen any immediate safety data that would require halting Boeing 787. Speaking to the media, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau said they have been looking at the video of the deadly plane crash and have spoken to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy in this regard, reported news agency Reuters. An NTSB and FAA team, with support from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, was going to India to take stock of the matter, said Duffy. "They have to get on the ground and take a look. But again right now it’d be way too premature,” he said adding, ”People are looking at videos and trying to assess what happened, which is never a strong, smart way to make decisions on what took place." He emphasised on prioritising safety and said, "will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and put safety first." Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau said they are ready to mitigate any risk that comes to their knowledge during their visit to Ahmedabad for the investigation. "As we proceed down this road with the investigation itself, if there’s any information that becomes available to us regarding any risk, we will mitigate those risks," said Rocheleau. A total of 242 passengers, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew were onboard the Ahmedabad-Gatwick Air India flight that crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12). Among the passengers 53 were Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. Within 5 minutes of takeoff at 1:39 PM the plane crashed and turned into a fireball. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who is currently in hospital is the only survivor of the crash. (With inputs from agencies)

An NTSB and FAA team, with support from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, was going to India to take stock of the matter.

Ahmedabad plane crash: No immediate reason to ground Boeing 787, will mitigate any risk, says US

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