Month: June 2025

Indian batter Karun Nair, who is making his return to the national side after eight years, opened up on his recall to the Team India and also received a special message from his ex-Karnataka teammate and close friend, KL Rahul, who will also a part of the Indian squad for England series along with him.

Nair could get his first Test appearance in eight years, as India aims for a smooth transition from seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin during a five-match Test series against England away from home. Nair is the only second triple centurion in Indian cricket after legendary opener Virender Sehwag.

Nair’s inclusion comes at a transitional phase on the back of a dream domestic season last year. The dream season for Vidarbha star concluded with the 863-run season in Ranji Trophy 2024-25, with an average of 53.93, four centuries and two fifties in 16 innings across nine matches. His best score of 135 came in the final and his team emerged victorious. During the warm-up unofficial Tests for India A against England Lions, he scored 259 runs in three innings, including a double ton.

A massive highlight of his season was the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament, where he top-scored with 779 runs in nine matches and eight innings at a stunning average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with five centuries and a fifty and best score of 163*.He played a massive role in his team’s run to the finals, where they lost to his former team, Karnataka.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition, Nair made 255 runs in six innings, averaging 42.50 at a strike rate of 177.08, with three half-centuries and the best score of 77. His team was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Nair had last played a Test for India in March 2017 against Australia and did not get any chances as his form tapered off after a triple ton against England at Chennai in 2016. He has played six Tests overall, having made 374 runs in seven innings.

Speaking about his return to the national set-up, Nair said in a video posted on Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) X handle, “Feels very special, very grateful, very fortunate to be able to get this opportunity again. Really looking forward to grabbing this opportunity with both hands. I am sure there will be a lot of feelings, ones I cannot express right now. It will be a special feeling.”

KL said that he has known Nair for a long time and is well aware of his time in UK, grinding it out in county cricket.

“The months he spent here in UK playing cricket and how hard, how lonely it was and for him be able to do all of that and come back into the team is special for him, his family and friends like us who have seen his journey. It is really inspiring. We hope his experience and learning from county cricket here will hold him in good stead and he plays Test matches,” he added.

Nair represented Northamptonshire in County Championship in 2023 and 2024 seasons, scoring 736 runs in 10 matches and 14 innings at an average of 56.61, with two centuries and four fifties and best score of 202*.

The series will be held from June to August 2025, with matches scheduled at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.

India’s Test squad for England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav. (ANI)

Indian Oil ensured seamless fuel supply to the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which went up at least four times, said Rakesh Kumar, Chief Terminal Manager (CTM) of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

“During Operation Sindoor, the demand from defence has gone up at least four times, and we were there to supply the product just as I told you earlier. We positioned our vessels from Paradip and Haldia refineries and met their demands just in time,” Indian Oil Corporation CTM said.

Mentioning the demand during Operation Sindoor, he said, “In case of need, just like a few months back, at the demand of the Indian Navy, we positioned our vessels from Paradip refinery and Haldia refinery at a notice of just three days.”

Indian Oil demonstrated its strategic preparedness and operational efficiency and played a pivotal role in ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply during Operation Sindoor, the official said, adding that despite a fourfold increase in fuel demand from defence establishments, the state-owned oil PSU successfully met requirements by mobilising vessels from its mainland refineries within days.

“We have a very high level of good coordination with defence, almost on a daily basis. Since they are taking products from us, they have requirements. We interact with them on a weekly basis, and we hold meetings with their supply department as well,” he said about coordination with defence and security agencies in fuel supply or infrastructure planning.

During a field visit to the Indian Oil POL Terminal in Port Blair, organised by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for the press, when asked if there are any protocols in case of an emergency situation, Kumar said, “In case of need, just like a few months back, at the demand of the Indian Navy, we positioned our vessels from Paradip refinery and Haldia refinery at a notice of just three days.”

“We are at the smart terminal of Indian Oil. Here, we have a tanking of 27,000 KL. We are dealing with four products over here, which are petrol, diesel, low-sulphur HFHSD and HSD,” he added.

In response to the questions on emergency protocols in place for fuel shortages or natural disasters like cyclones or tsunamis, he said, “We have emergency protocols. Sufficient tankage is there. On average, we have 25 days of coverage for all the products.”

He said the state-run oil major is planning to expand services or upgrade existing infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“We have plans. This terminal is a 27 TKL terminal and a POL terminal. We have requested one more station and we are in an advanced stage of getting new land in Hope Town, where our bottling plant is situated,” he added.

Speaking with ANI, V. Ranganathan, Chief General Manager from West Bengal State Office and Port Blair said, “Port Blair is one of the unique locations where a lot of challenges are there with respect to logistics, as well as product availability.” (ANI)

The southwest monsoon has become active again after a brief halt of nearly two weeks, with rains lashing out in several parts of Karnataka in the early hours on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a seven-day warning for Karnataka, predicting “widespread” rainfall in nearly all districts until June 17.

The Hubballi area in the Dharwad district of Karnataka witnessed torrential rainfall early on Thursday, which caused massive waterlogging in several parts of the district, especially in Hanashi village.

According to the weather department, rainfall will remain widespread in coastal and north interior Karnataka until June 17. Meanwhile, rainfall will be “fairly widespread” in the districts of south interior Karnataka until June 14 before turning “widespread” for the next three days.

In coastal Karnataka districts, the IMD has forecast “heavy to very heavy rain with sustained wind at 30 to 40 kilometre per hour (kmph), which likely to occur at a few places and extremely heavy rain likely to occur at one or two places over Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts.”

In north interior Karnataka, “Heavy to very heavy rain with sustained wind at 50 to 60 kmph likely to occur at a few places and extremely heavy rain with sustained wind likely to occur at one or two places over Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag districts.”

“Heavy rain with sustained wind at 40 to 50 kmph likely to occur at one or two places over Koppal, Haveri, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalburgi and Raichur districts. Moderate rain with sustained wind at 40-50 kmph is likely to occur at most places over Bidar and Yadgir districts,” IMD said in its report.

In south interior Karnataka, the weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy rain with sustained wind at 50-60 kmph, which are likely to occur at a few places and extremely heavy rain with sustained wind at the same speed is likely to occur at one or two places over Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts.

“Heavy rain with sustained wind (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at one or two places over Ballari, Bengaluru (Rural), Bengaluru (Urban), Chikkaballapura, Mandya, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Davangere, Hassan and Vijayanagar districts. Moderate rain with sustained wind (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at most places over Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga and Kolar districts,” IMD said.

These weather predictions are likely to remain relevant till June 17. (ANI)

Israel is fully ready to launch an operation into Iran, US officials have been told, multiple sources told CBS News.

The US anticipates Iran could retaliate on certain American sites in neighboring Iraq. This is part of the reason the US advised some Americans to leave the region earlier Wednesday, with the State Department ordering non-emergency government officials to exit Iraq due to “heightened regional tensions”, CBS News reported.

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still planning to meet with Iran for a sixth round of talks on the country’s nuclear program in the coming days.

Trump on Thursday while attending a performance of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center said that the US military personnel are being moved out of some countries in the Middle East because it would otherwise be perilous.

Trump said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.

“They (US military personnel) are being moved out (of some countries of the Middle East) because it could be a dangerous place and we will see what happens…We have given notice to move out,” he said.

The comments come after failed round of talks of the US with Iran.

“They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to allow that,” he said.

The US is withdrawing the presence of people who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East due to the potential for regional unrest, the US State Department and military said Wednesday as tensions with neighboring Iran rose amid deteriorating nuclear talks, as per The Times of Israel.

“President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad. In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq,” a State Department official told The Times of Israel.

The department also authorized the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait, giving them an option on whether to leave the country, as per The Times of Israel.

Tensions in the region have been rising in recent days as talks between the US and Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program appear to have hit an impasse. (ANI)

Security tightened in the Rabindra Nagar area of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal on Thursday after a clash broke out between Police and miscreants yesterday.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP leaders in the state alleged that a Shiva Temple was vandalised in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, under the Metiabruz Assembly constituency, near Rabindra Nagar Police Station.

Meanwhile, Adhikari on Thursday approached the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and DGP of West Bengal to visit Maheshtala and meet the victims of the Hindu families.

In a post on X, Adhikari said the visit is a step towards understanding the grievances of affected Hindu shopkeepers and families and ensuring their voices are heard.

“I have approached the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and DGP @WBPolice so that today, I, along with one MLA can visit Maheshtala under Rabindranagar Police Station to meet and express solidarity with the victims of the Hindu families and the affected Hindu shopkeepers who came under the attack of the Jihadis yesterday. This visit is a step towards understanding their grievances and ensuring their voices are heard. “I hope that the Administration doesn’t obstruct my visit,” Adhikari said on X.

This comes months after violence in some parts of West Bengal in the wake of protests against the Waqf Board Amendment Act.

Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday said the Trinamool Congress only extends full support to terrorism and is turning the state here into a “valley of extremists”.

Adhikari’s response came in response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s reported statement on the Pulwama attack.

“TMC party extends full support to terrorism and extremists… People of Mamata Banerjee’s party are turning Bengal into a valley of extremists and are protecting them,” Adhikari said.

The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution conveying appreciation for the Indian armed forces for their recent action targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The resolution moved in the state Legislative Assembly on Tuesday also condemned the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J-K) Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists. (ANI)

Srinivas Mukkamala was elected President of the American Medical Association, the first person of Indian origin to lead the organisation in its 178-year history.

“To call this moment humbling doesn’t capture it,” said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, an otolaryngologist and the AMA’s newly inaugurated 180th President. “It’s moving. It’s awe-inspiring,” he said.

For many in attendance at the AMA presidential inauguration in Chicago, that inspiration was reciprocal. Last November, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam revealed an 8-cm temporal lobe tumour on the left side of Mukkamala’s brain. Three weeks after the startling discovery, the 53-year-old father of two underwent surgery, as per a statement by AMA.

The removal of 90 per cent of the tumor was a best-case scenario for Mukkamala. During his decades working in organised medicine, Mukkamala has been a fierce advocate for patients. His cancer battle reaffirmed the purpose of his position–to use his platform and lived experience to advocate for a better, more equitable US health system.

Mukkamala went on to highlight that he, without question, benefited from the best possible treatment. But for many patients, the process of getting care comes with far more troubling questions than reassuring answers: whether insurance will cover a procedure, how much a medication costs, or how long they will wait to see a specialist for something as serious as a lump in their neck, as per the statement.

“Our health system needs the input of many skilled physicians–physician leaders across every state and specialty–who are working together with incredible purpose and urgency,” he said. “It needs the AMA more than ever, with leaders in our profession speaking with one firm and commanding voice.”

AMA House of Delegates’ meeting ran from June 6- June 11, as per the statement.

The AMA has adopted a new policy aimed at promoting public awareness and education about the differences between unhealthful, ultraprocessed foods and healthful foods, as well as the benefits of minimally processed and unprocessed foods. As part of this effort, the policy encourages the integration of nutrition education into all levels of medical education to empower physicians to best counsel patients on reducing unhealthful consumption of ultraprocessed foods. (ANI)

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid a visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE on June 10. His visit was a follow-up to the 15th Joint Commission Meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of UAE Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held in New Delhi on December 13, 2024, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi said in an official statement.

During his visit, Foreign Secretary Misri held a bilateral meeting with Reem Al Hashim, Minister of State for International Cooperation, UAE to review the entire gamut of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE.

Discussions focussed on expanding the canvas of the multi-dimensional bilateral partnership in various sectors, including trade, investments, energy, culture, defence, technology, consular matters. Both sides agreed to work closely in the multilateral and international fora to promote mutual interests. He appreciated the support and solidarity extended by the UAE leadership following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the statement by the Indian Embassy noted.

As per the statement, Foreign Secretary met with Nahyan Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence, UAE. He thanked Nahyan for the care extended to 4.3 million Indians, who have made UAE their second home.

Notably, Foreign Secretary also held a productive meeting with Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, member of the UAE Federal National Council and Chairman of the Defence Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the Council and Chairman of the International Steering Board of Hedayah, The International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism based in Abu Dhabi. The discussions provided yet another opportunity to reaffirm the shared determination of both countries to fight terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

The statement underscored that the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the UAE is in continuation of the regular high-level exchanges between the two sides, reflecting the deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. (ANI)

The court has remanded all five key accused, including Sonam Raghuvanshi, to eight-day police custody in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, police said on Wednesday.

SIT chief and SP (City), East Khasi Hills, Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor confirmed the same after all the accused were presented before the District Court.

The accused, Raja Rahuvanshi’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Singh Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand, were then brought back to the Shillong Sadar Police Station.

This development comes as the police continue their probe into the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, whose body was discovered in a gorge near Sohra, close to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, on June 2.

Raja was on his honeymoon with his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, to the northeastern state in May, 2025. Both had been reported missing earlier during the trip.

Following the discovery of Raja’s body, Sonam was located near a roadside dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway. She, along with four others, has been accused in connection with the alleged murder.

Earlier in the day, Sonam Raghuvanshi’s brother, Govind, made a shocking statement claiming he’s “100% sure” of his sister’s involvement in the murder of her husband.

During a press conference here, Govind demanded severe punishment for Sonam on the matter and stated that she should be hanged if found guilty. He further publicly distanced himself and his family from his sister, noting that he had apologised to Raja’s family as they lost their son and said that he would do anything to make amends for his sister’s actions.

“According to the evidence found so far, I am 100 per cent sure that she has committed this murder… All the accused in this case are related to Raj Kushwaha… I am no one to ask for forgiveness from the (Raja’s) family. But I have apologised but this family had lost their son… We have broken our ties with Sonam and now I have become a part of the family and I will do everything against Sonam as Raja was very close to me,” Govind stated.

“If Sonam is guilty, she should be hanged,” he added.

Govind also pointed to the close ties between Sonam and one of the accused, revealing details about Sonam’s relationship with Kushwaha.

“Raj Kushwaha always used to call Sonam ‘Didi’ and his family is saying the same thing… For the last three years, Sonam has been tying a rakhi to Raj Kushwaha,” Govind stated.

“Sonam does not considered herself guilty. There has been no contact between us… We have severed all ties with her… I will fight on behalf of Raja (Raghuvanshi),” he added.

Kiran Raghuvanshi, Sister-in-law of Raja Raghuvanshi revealed that Sonam had two phones and used them to constantly send messages.

“Sonam had two phones, she used to tell us that one of those was for her office purposes and the other for her personal usage…I didn’t see her regularly speaking over phone but she used to keep sending messages over the phone. She always had her phone with her…I demand that she be hanged at the earliest…We have lost a loved one, nothing can satisfy us. He (Govind – Sonam’s brother) did apologise to us and told us that if her sister is at fault, she should be hanged…But as far as I am concerned, we do not need anyone’s apology; she should be hanged,” she said.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, also revealed that there is adequate evidence pointing to the involvement of Sonam Raghuvanshi in the murder, emphasising that a conclusive confirmation would only emerge after thorough interrogation of those who were involved.

“Investigation is going on; we have to confirm a lot of things. There is evidence against her (Sonam Raghuvanshi) of her involvement in the murder. But things will be clearer after the interrogation. We have to tie up a lot of loose ends… Our evidence has proven that she was very much involved, but after the interrogation, we can only confirm,” SP Syiem stated. (ANI)

The decision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to slash the policy rate will boost growth amidst easing price pressures and infuse liquidity along with supporting credit flow, said a report by Bank of Baroda.

The BoB report added that the RBI’s surprise 50 basis-point rate cut, along with a phased 100 basis-point reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), has signalled a strong pro-growth stance.

The announcements have been welcomed by markets and are expected to spur economic activity in the coming quarters.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained its GDP growth forecast for FY26 at 6.5 per cent. The RBI revised the inflation projection downward to 3.7 per cent, highlighting its confidence in the current macroeconomic environment.

On June 6, RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reduced the policy repo rate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent.

Consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate, which is the SDF Rate, shall stand adjusted to 5.25 per cent, and the Marginal Standing Facility MSF Rate and the Bank Rate shall stand adjusted to 5.75 per cent.

“These measures are expected to boost growth amidst easing price pressures and infuse liquidity along with supporting credit flow,” the report added.

“In the coming week, focus would shift towards the US Fed, wherein a pause is expected, especially since the labour market has been signalling some strength,” the report added.

India’s monetary move comes against a backdrop of renewed optimism in the global economy, as the United States and China begin working towards concluding new trade terms.

The report added that global central banks have adopted a watchful stance, closely monitoring the inflation risks with growth.

“Global central banks closely monitored the evolving dynamics between growth and inflation,” the report added.

The European Central Bank (ECB) recently cut rates by 25 basis points.

As per the report, the attention now turns to the US Federal Reserve, which is widely expected to pause its rate changes given recent labour market resilience.

“In the coming week, focus would shift towards the US Fed, wherein a pause is expected, especially since the labour market has been signalling some strength,” the report added. (ANI)

The security forces gunned down two Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district during an encounter, including a Local Organisation Squad (LOS) Commander of Pedaras, according to a statement on Wednesday.

The LOS commander has been identified as Baman, who was carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head.

The exchange of fire happened in the Pusgunna area under the Kukanar Police Station of the Sukuma district.

The other body recovered from the site is of a woman cadre whose identity is yet to be ascertained, according to a statement.

The security forces have also seized one INSAS rifle, one 12-bore rifle, along with other arms, ammunition, and explosive materials.

The search operation launched by a joint team of Kukanar Police Station staff and Sukma DRG based on reliable intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Naxal cadres of the banned CPI Maoist outfit in the region, the statement added.

Additionally, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded security forces over the success of the operation.

In a post on X, Vishnu Deo Sai wrote, “Police personnel and the joint police team of Sukma DRG have achieved a major success in the anti-Naxal operation in the Pusgunna area under Kukanar police station in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. During the search operation, the jawans neutralised two naxalites in an encounter, including Pedaras LOS commander Baman, who was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.”

“Our security forces are fighting against Naxalism with full force. Congratulations to the soldiers for this success in the anti-Naxal operation,” he added.

Additional reinforcement teams have been deployed, and intensive search operations are ongoing in the surrounding dense forest areas to trace and apprehend other Maoist cadres who may have escaped taking advantage of the terrain. (ANI)