Month: June 2025

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended warm birthday greetings to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, lauding her commitment to national development and justice.

In a post on X, Kharge conveyed the Indian National Congress’s wishes to the President on her special day.

On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our warm birthday wishes to the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji.

May her wisdom and unwavering dedication to the nation’s progress, welfare, and justice continue to lead the country on the path of truth and…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 20, 2025

“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our warm birthday wishes to the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji. May her wisdom and unwavering dedication to the nation’s progress, welfare, and justice continue to lead the country on the path of truth and virtuousness. We wish her a long, healthy, and fulfilling life,” Kharge wrote.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wished President Droupadi Murmu a happy birthday and prayed for her long and healthy life.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Honourable President Draupadi Murmu ji on her birthday.”

“I wish you a healthy and long life,” the post read..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished President Droupadi Murmu a happy birthday and praised her life, leadership, and dedication to serving the nation.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Warmest birthday wishes to Rashtrapati Ji. Her life and leadership continue to inspire crores of people across the country. Her unwavering commitment to public service, social justice and inclusive development are a beacon of hope and strength for everyone.

In his message, PM Modi also lauded President Murmu’s lifelong efforts to uplift the underprivileged. “She has always worked to empower the poor and downtrodden. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people,” he added.

Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President of India on 25 July 2022. Previously, she was the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. According to the President of India’s website, she has devoted her life to empowering the downtrodden and marginalised sections and deepening democratic values.

Born in a Santhali tribal family on 20 June 1958 at Uparbeda village, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, Murmu’s early life was marked by hardships and struggle. After completing primary education from the village school, she went to Bhubaneswar on her own initiative to continue her studies. She earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Ramadevi Women’s College, Bhubaneswar and became the first woman from her village to receive college education. (ANI)

As the world prepares to celebrate International Day of Yoga, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Director General K Nandini Singla has hailed Yoga’s transformation from an ancient Indian tradition to a global wellness movement. She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for its international recognition and called it one of India’s greatest cultural diplomacy achievements.

Speaking to ANI, Singla said, “I think Yoga has been the biggest success story in our cultural diplomacy so far. I think it’s one of those elements of ancient Indian traditional knowledge that has become a truly global brand today. It is no longer just India’s Yoga; it has become a global wellness movement. The entire credit for this goes to PM Narendra Modi because he took it to the United Nations. It was his visionary leadership that made June 21, International Day of Yoga — with the result that every country in the world now observes International Day of Yoga every year on June 21. I think this has been a key factor in the growing popularity of Yoga.”

She also highlighted the role played by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ICCR in promoting Yoga globally since the UNGA recognition in 2014.

Commenting on this year’s theme — ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, Singla said that it reflects the true essence of Yoga, which goes beyond physical exercise to focus on inner peace and holistic health.

“Yoga for One Earth, One Health’ is the theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga. I think it’s an excellent theme because Yoga is not just about ‘asanas’, making your body more flexible, it’s about discovering the stillness within, connecting with your breath and finding inner peace. Today, all doctors and scientists in the world are saying that your health is very closely connected to how peaceful you are on the inside, and how calm your nervous system is. Because we are a whole, we are energy, we are ‘prana’, and we in India know this. But today, the whole world is discovering the mind-body connection,” she said.

She added that preparations for International Day of Yoga began months ago, with Indian missions and cultural centers around the world hosting events in the run-up to June 21.

“Preparations started six months ago because we do a 100-day countdown, 75-day countdown, 50-day countdown, 25-day countdown and finally the International Day of Yoga on 21st June. So, more than 200 Indian Embassies all over the world have already been doing Yoga events for more than 100 days. A number of events have already happened, and the biggest one will happen on 21st June. So, we have been very busy. All the funding for these events, monetary support, comes from ICCR. So, we draw up a budget plan and allocate funds to embassies, consulates, and cultural centres. So, that work began quite a few months ago,” she said.

This year, PM Modi will lead the national celebrations from Visakhapatnam, where he will participate in the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session at the city’s beachfront. Nearly 5 lakh participants are expected to join him in the mass yoga demonstration.

Simultaneously, Yoga Sangam events will be held at over 3.5 lakh locations across India, making this one of the largest coordinated Yoga celebrations.

In addition, citizen engagement initiatives like ‘Yoga with Family’ and youth-focused campaigns under ‘Yoga Unplugged’ have been launched on digital platforms such as MyGov and MyBharat to promote participation and awareness.

According to the release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 2025 theme — “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” — highlights the interconnectedness of human and planetary health and echoes the global vision of collective wellness, rooted in India’s philosophy of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be free from disease).

Since 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India’s proposal to observe 21st June as IDY, the Prime Minister has led the celebrations from various locations, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York (UN Headquarters), and Srinagar. IDY has since evolved into a powerful global health movement. (ANI)

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were seen together at the special screening of Aamir Khan’s upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par in Mumbai on Thursday evening. The event, held ahead of the film’s release, drew several big names from the industry.

In a video that is now going viral online, SRK is seen meeting and interacting warmly with the debutant actors from the film. He was also seen giving them hugs and chatting with them.

For the event, King Khan kept it casual in a black jacket, cargo jeans, a black cap, and dark sunglasses.

Take a look

Salman Khan, on the other hand arrived in an all-black outfit and posed with Aamir Khan for the photographers. He also shared a light moment with Aamir and smiled while interacting with the paparazzi.

Several other stars, including Rekha, Vicky Kaushal, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Jeetendra, Tushar Kapoor, Kriti Kharbanda, Sunny Kaushal, and Tiger Shroff, also attended the event.

Sitaar Zameen Par, directed by Prasanna, also stars Genelia D’Souza. The film is set to release in cinemas on June 20. (ANI)

Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor attended the last rites of her ex-husband Sunjay Kapur in Delhi today.

She was accompanied by her kids Samaira and Kiaan. Kareena Kapoor Khan and brother-in-law Saif Ali Khan were also seen attending the ceremony.

Sunjay Kapur’s wife Priya Sachdev was also present at the ceremony.

Karisma was seen getting emotional as she attended the last rites ceremony.

Sunjay Kapur’s final rites were performed at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground (Dayanand Muktidham), with family and close associates.

Kapur, a prominent figure in the automotive sector and Chairman of Sona Comstar, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest while participating in a polo match in England. According to a statement from family friend and actor Suhel Seth, a bee sting incident during the match may have triggered the heart attack.

Seth confirmed the tragic news on X, stating, “Deeply saddened at the passing of @sunjaykapur… a terrible loss and deepest condolences to his family and colleagues… Om Shanti.”

Kapur was known not only for his leadership in the industry but also for his love of polo. He leaves behind his wife Priya Kapur, children Samaira, Kiaan (from his previous marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor), and Safira and Azarias.

Earlier today, Karisma Kapoor, along with Samaira and Kiaan, were spotted at a private airport in Mumbai. They were all dressed in white. The former couple had married in 2003 and divorced in 2016 after filing for mutual separation in the year 2014.

Karisma’s sister, actor Kareena Kapoor, and Saif Ali Khan were also spotted earlier at a private airport in Mumbai.

A prayer meeting in Kapur’s memory is scheduled for June 22, from 4 pm to 5 pm at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. A note shared by the family on social media includes names of his mother, Rani Surinder Kapur; wife, Priya Kapur; and all four children Samaira, Kiaan, Safira, and Azarias. (ANI)

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi on Thursday said that 215 DNA samples have been matched, and the mortal remains of 198 deceased in the Air India AI-171 plane crash have been handed over to their respective families.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi said, “215 DNA samples have been matched, of which the mortal remains of 198 deceased have been handed over to their families…Of the 198 deceased, 149 are Indian nationals, seven Portuguese, 32 British and one Canadian.”

He added that the mortal remains of 15 victims were dispatched by air and 183 by road via ambulances.

Earlier in the day, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said that 222 victims of the AI-171 plane crash have been identified so far, including 214 based on DNA samples and eight without DNA matching. He said their remains have been handed over to their families.

“Police also do their part of the investigation, but other agencies and the experts do the technical part, like analysing the black box, and the investigation is underway… 222 people have been identified so far, 214 based on DNA samples and eight were identified without DNA and their bodies have been handed over to their families,” Malik told reporters.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu held a high-level video conference with all Airport Directors across the country to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms in the light of rescheduling of flights happening due to multiple reasons like post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions, etc.

According to a release from the Civil Aviation Ministry, several directives were issued during the meeting, including Close liaison with airlines, which was emphasised to ensure passenger issues are addressed swiftly and on the spot. Availability of food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, particularly during flight delays or congestion. Sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touchpoints to manage passenger grievances proactively.

On June 12, the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (ANI)

NASA has postponed the planned launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla-led mission was rescheduled for June 22 (Sunday).

The ISS said on Friday morning that NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, and that it will target a new launch date in the coming days.

“@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days,” the ISS wrote in a post on X.

According to the ISS, additional time is needed to evaluate station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module. Due to the highly interconnected nature of the orbital laboratory’s systems, NASA is reviewing relevant data to ensure readiness for the arrival of additional crew members.

Highlighting the global significance of the mission, ISS noted that the agencies “appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world.” The four-member crew remains in quarantine in Florida and is prepared to launch once the station is cleared to receive them.

Axiom Mission 4 will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla from ISRO will serve as the mission’s pilot. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain in good condition and are stationed at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Axiom-4 space mission — which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — will not launch before June 22, as safety assessments are still underway before clearing the final launch timeline.

“We have been told that it won’t be before 22nd June. There is a safety angle also involved here,” Singh said at a press conference.

Following the rescheduling, Axiom Space had said in a statement earlier that NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX were targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch. The change allows NASA time to continue evaluating station operations after recent repairs in the Zvezda service module.

In a post on X, Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the updated launch timeline, writing: “Axiom Mission 04 to the International Space Station (ISS)… After assessing key parameters, including module fitness, crew health, and weather, @Axiom_Space has indicated that June 22, 2025, may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among others, the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to the ISS.”

He added that further updates would be shared accordingly.

On the 11th anniversary of the Modi government, Singh also highlighted the socio-economic impact of administrative reforms over the past decade. “The administrative reforms that happened in the last 11 years were not limited to governance. They had extreme socio-economic ramifications,” he said.

He emphasized the push toward digital governance aimed at enhancing ease of living for common citizens, and noted that reforms created a more automated system that helped the government achieve key milestones.

“During the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, not only has governance improved but also had significant socio-economic consequences,” Singh said.

He added that schemes and reforms were aimed at ensuring justice for marginalised groups. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump is expected to make a decision about whether to take direct action against Iran in the next two weeks, the White House Press Secretary said.

Karoline Leavitt, told reporters at a briefing here on Thursday (local time) that she had a message directly from Trump in response to speculation about whether he would get directly involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” the White House press secretary quoted Trump as saying.

Leavitt said communication between the US and Iran “has continued” as the two sides engage in negotiations. She, however, did not provide specifics about whether they were direct or through intermediaries.

Iran must agree to no enrichment of uranium, and Tehran must not be able to achieve a nuclear weapon as part of any diplomatic agreement, Leavitt said.

Trump, on Wednesday, when asked about a potential US strike on Iran, remained noncommittal.

“I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters. “I can tell you this, that Iran’s got a lot of trouble. And they want to negotiate. And I say, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction?'”, the US President said.

Trump demanded that Iran give up its entire nuclear programme and has warned Iran to quickly surrender to a deal or face even more dire repercussions.

On June 13, Israel launched an attack against Iran, carrying out strikes including against Iran’s state television station. Tehran carried out a retaliatory attack, firing ballistic range missiles at Israel, targeting military and security installations, and hitting the Haifa oil refinery among others.

The two countries have since then exchanged strikes.

As per an analysis by Al Jazeera, Iran had long relied on its ally, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, to provide deterrence from direct Israeli attacks, but Hezbollah was significantly weakened after fighting an all-out war against Israel last year. In addition, Iran lost another ally when Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024. Iran could also make Americans feel the impact of the war economically. It has threatened to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which would affect global trade and increase oil prices. (ANI)

Rajesh Patel, a businessman and an eyewitness to the tragic AI171 plane crash on June 12, has claimed that while helping in the rescue efforts, he discovered around 70 tola gold and around Rs 70,000 in cash from the debris, which he handed over to government authorities.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Rajesh Patel said, “The crash took place around 300 meters from my house. We rushed to the site in the ambulance of a doctor who lives next to me… Nothing was visible when we reached the crash site. Our eyes were burning due to the fuel and fire pouring all around us, and there was no place to go inside due to the smoke… After the fire was extinguished, we approached the crash and saw that the bodies of people were lying everywhere.”

“We tried to find survivors so we could take them to the hospital. But after witnessing the scene, it was clear there could be no one alive. The entire plane’s debris and bodies were lying in a heap. We helped collect the bodies using old sarees, dupattas and wheat rags… After all the bodies were recovered, we thought since we could not save anyone, we should at least take care of their belongings,” said Patel.

Adding further, Patel said, “We found British passports, Indian passports, burnt mobiles, laptops, and iPads in the debris. We found a passenger’s mobile still on, whose screen was broken, and the phone was not working. We found a lot of jewellery. We found 70-80 tolas of gold. We gave that to the officer there. Our effort was that at least the last remains of the deceased could be given to their families… We also found a Gita and idols of Lord Krishna. We collected all this and gave it to the government officer… We just wanted to help the people. I have not even taken a single photograph of that site… We also found Rs 50,000 to 70,000 in cash. We gave all this to the government officer.”

Earlier in the day, Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital stated that 211 DNA samples of those who were killed in the Air India 171 crash had been matched, further stating that other samples were being verified.

He also stated that the administration had been trying its best and would call on families to collect the remains as soon as the reports of the DNA samples came.

“211 (DNA) samples have been matched. All other samples are being verified… The administration is trying its best. As soon as the report comes, the families will be called immediately. We try not to waste even a single minute. We are here to assist the families,” Joshi told ANI.

The mortal remains of the co-pilot of the flight, Clive Kunder, were brought to his residence in Mumbai today.

Kunder lived with his mother and father in the Goregaon (West) area. His body arrived earlier today at Mumbai Airport and was transported to his residence.

Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson on Thursday said that the flight AI-171, which crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad on June 12, was “well-maintained” and both the aircraft and its engines were regularly monitored, showing no issue before the flight.

In a statement for its customers, Air India’s CEO informed that the plane had undergone its last major check in June 2023, while its right engine was overhauled in March of this year, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025.

Air India CEO also raised the recent incidents of delays and technical issues and apologised for the inconvenience.

He further added that Air India has elected to continue enhanced pre-flight safety checks on Boeing 787 fleet as a “confidence-building measure” while also noting that these checks may have impact on schedules.

On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (ANI)

In a historic first, Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) will host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs in Bengaluru at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. The Playoffs will feature 21 nations split into seven groups of three teams each.

In a unique format, every group tie will be hosted by a nation and the venues were formally announced following a draw held today in London, as per a release from the Billie Jean King Cup.

The Playoffs are scheduled to begin from 14th November 2025, with Bengaluru set to host on 14th, 15th and 16th November – this will be the first time ever that the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs will be held on Indian soil, the release said.

India recently qualified for the Playoffs, only for the second time in its history, following a spectacular performance in the Asia/ Oceania Group I tie held in Pune. India qualified along with New Zealand for the playoff, following its 2-1 win over Korea. Both New Zealand and India had four wins each in the six-team competition. The only other time India qualified for the playoffs was in April 2021 when they played in Latvia that saw Jelena Ostapenko lead her team to a 3-1 victory over India.

KSLTA has been at the forefront of hosting international tennis events and have been a host to Davis Cup ties, ATP World Doubles Championships, WTA Tour Events, ITF Women’s $100K, ATP Challengers, ITF World Tennis Tour events and this would also be a first for KSLTA to host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup. In their endeavour to provide invaluable exposure to young players and fans across the country, the leadership at KSLTA bid to host the Billie Jean King Cup play-offs when India qualified last month.

India are in group G along with Slovenia and the Netherlands and the five-member Indian team will feature Ankita Raina (rank 292), top singles player from the country along with Sahaja Yamalapalli (rank 301), Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (rank 313), Vaidehi Chaudhari (rank 405) and Prarthana Thombare, the top-ranked Indian doubles player ranked no.136.

In other groups, Canada, Mexico and Denmark will feature in group A, and group B includes Poland, New Zealand and Romania while group C features Slovakia, Switzerland and Argentina. Group D will have Czechia, Colombia and Croatia, group E will have Australia, Portugal and Brazil. Germany, Belgium and Turkiye are in group F.

“Hosting the prestigious BJK Cup playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium will be a historic moment for us at KSLTA and we believe it will elevate India’s profile in the global women’s tennis. It has always been our endeavour to host top international tennis events in Bengaluru, and we have world-class facilities here which equip us to host an event of this repute. We shall leave no stone unturned to make this a successful event to ensure Bengaluru lives up to the reputation of being a Global city,” expressed Priyank Kharge, Senior Vice President of KSLTA and Karnataka Minister.

Maheshwar Rao IAS, Secretary of KSLTA and Chief Commissioner, BBMP, said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to host the BJK Cup Playoffs at Bengaluru, and we are thankful to AITA for giving us this opportunity. This is another feather in the cap of KSLTA, which has been hosting big International events in the city. I’m sure we will do a good job of this and shall make it a good experience for the visiting teams and the fans.”

Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of KSLTA and Tournament Director of the event, said, “We were absolutely thrilled when India qualified for the playoffs, and their performance was outstanding. There is a lot of promise with young tennis players performing exceptionally well, and a home playoff tie can be a huge fillip in boosting the growth of the sport, particularly in the grassroots, and also inspire potential talent. We are very delighted to be chosen as one of the host countries for the playoffs, and we look forward to welcoming the players and officials to Bengaluru. I believe this would be a rare opportunity for sports-loving citizens of Bengaluru to witness this prestigious event happening for the first time in India. We also feel this would be great opportunity for Indian team to perform at its best as all the players are well adapted to the conditions here. We thank the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for choosing Bengaluru to host this exciting event.” (ANI)

Congress Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has written to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and urged the government to take immediate action to ensure the safety and evacuation of Indian nationals, particularly Punjabis, stranded in the affected regions.

“Ensure the immediate safety and well-being of all Indian citizens, especially Punjabis, currently stranded in Israel and surrounding areas,” the letter read.

Further, the Congress MP urged Jaishankar to “initiate urgent evacuation measures to bring our fellow countrymen and women home without delay.”

He has also emphasised the need to protect Gurdwaras and other places of religious and cultural significance in Israel.

“Ensure the safety, security, and sanctity of Gurdwaras and other places of religious and cultural significance in Israel, which are not just centres of worship but symbols of India’s spiritual heritage abroad,” the letter read.

“The Indian community abroad looks to their motherland in times of distress with the utmost hope and faith. We must not let them down. The situation is volatile and deteriorating rapidly. A delay in response could lead to irreversible consequences. We must act now to save lives, uphold India’s global responsibility, and send a strong message that India stands firmly by every India –everywhere,” it added.

The death toll from Israel’s attacks on Iran has risen to more than 240, including 70 women and children. At least 24 people have been killed in Iranian attacks on Israel. (ANI)