Month: June 2025

The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams have successfully completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of their scheduled liftoff on Tuesday, June 10, SpaceX said in a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday,” SpaceX stated.

The Ax-4 mission, launched by Axiom Space, features an international crew from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary.

Representing India is Ax-4 mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, announced by Axiom Space on their X handle, alongside acknowledgment from ISRO.

The mission is targeted for launch at 8:22 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

The International Space Station also acknowledged the upcoming mission on their official X handle.

According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While this is the second human spaceflight mission in history for these countries, it will be the first time all three will execute a mission aboard the International Space Station. This historic mission highlights how Axiom Space is redefining access to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally.

The Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation’s first mission to the space station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years, according to Axiom Space.

Shubhanshu Shukla will be India’s second national astronaut to go to space since 1984.

Slawosz Uznanski, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, will be the second Polish astronaut since 1978.

Tibor Kapu will be the second national Hungarian astronaut since 1980.

Peggy Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

Ax-4 will be the second commercial spaceflight mission made up of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts. The Ax-4 mission stands as a beacon of opportunity for India, Poland, and Hungary, each poised to leverage this mission to advance their national space programs.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date, underscoring the mission’s global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO), per Axiom Space.

The mission emphasizes scientific portfolios led by the US, India, Poland (in partnership with ESA), and Hungary. It aims to boost participation in these countries by involving diverse stakeholders, showcasing the value of microgravity research, and fostering international collaboration.

The studies will enhance global knowledge in human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, demonstrating the space research capabilities of the crew’s home nations. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday addressed the Kisan Samman Samaroh in Auraiya, highlighting the government’s efforts to support farmers.

He emphasised that farmers have become a crucial part of the government’s political agenda since 2014 thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives. Adityanath did an aerial survey of the maize crop on his way from Lucknow to Auraiya.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Kisan Samman Samaroh, said, “You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government, when PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme”.

He highlighted various initiatives of the central government to secure farmers’ future – Soil Health Card Scheme; Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme; Prime Minister’s Agricultural Insurance Scheme against crop failures and Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, 12 crore farmers nationwide benefit from this scheme, receiving financial support.

” After the Soil Health Card, the Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme and then the Prime Minister’s Agricultural Insurance Scheme were implemented and the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was implemented,” said the UP CM.

The government’s efforts have shown positive results, with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi emerging as the world’s largest direct benefit transfer scheme. Over Rs 3.25 lakh crore have been transferred into farmers’ bank accounts, benefiting crores of farmers.

“12 crore farmers in the country benefit from the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. This double-engine government is also working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state. When our government came in 2017, farmers were committing suicide. There were no facilities anywhere,” he added.

Yogi Adityanath also said that in 2017, the government implemented a Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver program for 86 lakh farmers/

“In 2017, when we came, first of all, we took forward the loan waiver program of Rs 36000 crore for 86 lakh farmers, and after the loan waiver, we resorted to the Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme to develop the irrigation capacity in the state “, said the UP CM. (ANI)

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is not an avid social media user, but whenever he posts something on Instagram or X, his digital activity gets viral in no time.

On Saturday, his comment under the latest Instagram post of his daughter Suhana Khan caught the attention of his eagle-eyed fans.

Adidas India and Suhana shared a couple of pictures as a collaborative post. The post features Suhana flaunting flexible moves in athleisure wear.

Reacting to Suhana’s images, SRK commented, “Looking so good!!”

Suhana made her acting debut with Netflix’s film ‘The Archies’ in 2023. It was directed by Zoya Akhtar.

If reports are to be believed, Suhana will next be seen in ‘King’ with her dad Shah Rukh Khan.

‘King’ was supposed to be directed by Sujoy Ghosh earlier. However, Siddharth Anand, who directed SRK in ‘Pathaan’, later took over as the director.

A few months ago, at an event in Dubai, SRK opened up about King, saying, “I’m not just shooting it here, I’m shooting it in Mumbai now when I go back in a couple of months. My director, who is Sidharth Anand, is very strict. He made Pathaan. So he is very strict. He said, ‘Don’t tell people about the film, what you are doing in it.’ So I can’t tell you but I can assure you it will entertain you, you will have fun. I’ve used many titles…Now we have run out of titles…Now Shah Rukh Khan as Shah Rukh Khan in King. That was a bit of a show-off.”

The film went on floors in Mumbai recently. Reportedly, Abhishek Bachchan has a key role in ‘King’. (ANI)

Actor Sonali Bendre recently opened up about her evolving equation with co-star Salman Khan and how the actor surprised her with his heartfelt support during one of the most difficult phases of her life, her battle with cancer.

In a candid conversation with ANI, Bendre reflected on how her impression of Khan transformed over the years.

Recalling their time on the sets of ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, she shared that the two were far from being close back then.

“Let me put it mildly, we were not the best of friends at the time,” she said, adding that Salman’s mischievous side often got under her skin.

“I have had my close-ups when he’s standing behind the camera, making faces at me. At that point, I was most offended, like, what is this behaviour?” she recalled.

But time, as Bendre revealed, brought perspective and understanding. “Salman is like a child, and everything about him is to the extreme, even his care and concern,” she said.

This side of Khan became evident years later, when Bendre was undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer in the United States.

Recounting the period, she revealed that Salman personally visited her in New York, not once, but twice, and was actively involved in ensuring she was receiving the best medical care.

“He called up my husband Goldie [Behl] and asked, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right doctors? You should speak to these doctors too,’ and even shared contacts. He wanted to make sure we had ticked every box,” she shared, adding, “It was like he had taken on the role of an elder from the fraternity, making sure everything was in place.”

This show of empathy deeply touched Bendre, who admitted she hadn’t expected such a gesture from someone she initially misunderstood.

“I’ve had my issues with him, but I’ve grown to appreciate that side of him,” she said.

Salman Khan and Sonali Bendre starred together in the 1999 family drama ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, where she played Preeti, the on-screen wife of Khan’s character Prem.

Directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya, the film was a commercial blockbuster and remains one of the most beloved family entertainers of its time.

Today, Bendre stands as a cancer survivor and advocate for awareness. Diagnosed in 2018, she underwent extensive treatment in the US and emerged victorious.

Since then, she has used her platform to educate others and share her journey of strength and recovery.

On the professional front, she recently made her OTT debut with ZEE5’s ‘The Broken News’, portraying journalist Amina Qureshi. (ANI)

Actor and filmmaker Boman Irani recently took a nostalgic leap into his childhood dreams by attending the French Open for the very first time, a long-cherished aspiration finally brought to life.

In an emotional note shared via his social media, Irani expressed heartfelt gratitude to his wife and sons for the special gift that turned this dream into a reality.

“My childhood dream coming true. Thank you @zenobia.irani, @daneshirani, and @kayozeirani for this amazing birthday gift! Here in Paris for the #FrenchOpen and it’s all kinds of amazing — the energy, the city, the whole experience… just WOW! Feels surreal to see childhood dreams come to life like this…” he wrote.

Boman Irani has never hidden his admiration for sports, especially tennis.

Fans chimed in the comments section and dropped heartfelt messages for Irani.

Actor Anupam Kher also wrote, “Aap aisa kaise kar lete ho janab????”

On the professional front, Boman Irani is soon to be seen portraying the role of Raza Saab, a musical figure, in the upcoming film ‘Tanvi The Great’, directed by Anupam Kher.

The film features music by Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani and marks Shubhangi Dutt’s debut in the lead role.

‘Tanvi The Great’ follows the inspiring journey of 21-year-old Tanvi Raina, a woman with autism, who sets out to fulfil the unaccomplished dream of her late father, an Indian Army officer.

Her goal, to stand at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, and salute the national flag, is met with resistance, but her unwavering resolve forms the heart of the narrative.

The film received international attention when it premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Produced by Anupam Kher Studios in association with NFDC and Lower Middle Class Corporation, the movie will be released on July 18. (ANI)

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has begun advanced planning to ensure that if urban roads across the state are severely damaged due to heavy rains during this year’s monsoon, resurfacing and repair work can begin without delay.

For this purpose, the Chief Minister has approved the allocation of a total grant of Rs 107 crore to 149 municipalities across the state from the Mukhyamantri Shaheri Sadak Yojana, under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhya Mantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, according to the release.

During the monsoon season, heavy rainfall is likely to cause significant damage to roads in urban areas of the state. Thereby adopting a people-centric approach, CM Patel has prioritised prompt resurfacing and repair of these roads to enhance road safety and improve urban infrastructure.

Besides, if roads in certain municipalities are in poor condition due to excavations for sewerage, drinking water pipelines, and other works, the state government provides funds for road repairs in those areas before the monsoon, based on requests from the respective municipalities.

He has approved the allocation of grants to municipalities based on their category as part of the planning for road repair and resurfacing across the state.

Accordingly, a total grant of Rs 37 crore will be allocated to 37 ‘A’ category municipalities, with Rs1 crore allotted to each, Rs 27 crore will be allocated to 34 ‘B’ category municipalities, with Rs80 lakh allotted to each, Rs 36 crore will be allocated to 61 ‘C’ category municipalities with Rs 60 lakh, allotted to each, Rs 6.80 crore will be allocated to 17 ‘D’ category municipalities with Rs 40 lakh allotted to each, said release.

Thus, a total grant of Rs 107 crore will be allocated to the respective municipalities from the Mukhyamantri Shaheri Sadak Yojana by the Gujarat Urban Development Mission.

Furthermore, if roads in the state’s urban areas suffer further damage due to heavy rainfall during the monsoon, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has adopted a people-centric approach to allocate additional funds for road repairs based on the municipalities’ needs and demands, over and above the amounts already allocated. (ANI)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing him of consistently misunderstanding the country’s mood and misplacing blame.

Speaking to mediapersons in Hindi, Fadnavis said, “Ta-umr Rahul Gandhi aap yahi galti karte rahe, dhool chehre pe thi aur aap aina saaf karte rahe” (Throughout your life, Rahul Gandhi, you have always made the same mistake; the dust was on your face, but you kept cleaning the mirror).

Earlier in the day, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, strongly backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the BJP of hijacking constitutional institutions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule.

Speaking to the mediapersons on Sunday, Tejashwi said, “Ever since Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister, all constitutional institutions have been hijacked. Before the ECI announces the elections, the BJP IT Cell knows the schedule. We have our eyes on everything. The constitutional institutions must carry out their duties honestly… Everyone needs to stay alert. Everyone knows that all institutions work as a proxy of the BJP.”

“Everyone is working together, not to form the government, but to strengthen Bihar,” he added.

The statement came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called upon the Election Commission to publish consolidated, digital, machine-readable voter rolls for the most recent elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas of all states, including Maharashtra. Gandhi said that “telling the truth” will protect the poll panel’s credibility.

Earlier on Saturday, in a post on X, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, referred to the ECI’s response to his allegations concerning the Maharashtra polls and said, “releasing unsigned, evasive notes to intermediaries is not the way to respond to serious questions.”

In response, ECI described Rahul Gandhi’s Maharashtra election poll rigging as “unsubstantiated allegations.”

“Unsubstantiated allegations against the Electoral Rolls of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to the INC on 24th December 2024, which is available on ECI’s website. It appears that all these facts are completely being ignored while raising such issues repeatedly,” it said.

“Any misinformation being spread, by anyone, is not only a sign of disrespect towards the Law, but also brings disrepute to the thousands of representatives appointed by their political party and demotivates lakhs of election staff who work untiringly and transparently during elections. After any unfavourable verdict by the voters, trying to defame the Election Commission by saying that it is compromised, is completely absurd,” it added. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered puja at the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai on Sunday.

In a post on X, Shah said, “Fortunate to have offered puja at the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai today. Prayed, seeking the blessings of the Maa for the continued progress of the nation and well-being of our citizens.”

Shah arrived in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, late Saturday evening. The state BJP leadership, including BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagendran, received him.

Highlighting the NDA government’s efforts to redefine women-led development in the last 11 years, Shah said that empowered women are the foundation of Aatmnirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

In a post on X, Shah wrote, “Empowered women are the foundation of a self-reliant India. For the Modi government, nothing is more important than mother and motherland. In #11YearsOfSashaktNari , the Modi government has given a new boost to the spirits of women by making them self-reliant. From ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ to toilets, Ujjwala, ban on triple talaq, their dignity and ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ and recruitment in armed forces are ensuring their historic participation in nation-building.”

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that various government initiatives are intended to empower the country’s “Nari Shakti.”

In a post on X, PM Modi said that women are excelling and inspiring several people in all sectors, including science, education, sports, StartUps and the armed forces.

“Over the last 11 years, the NDA Government has redefined women-led development. Various initiatives, from ensuring dignity through Swachh Bharat to financial inclusion via Jan Dhan accounts, the focus has been on empowering our Nari Shakti,” PM Modi said.

“In all sectors, including science, education, sports, start-ups, and the armed forces, women excel and inspire several people,” the prime minister said.

PM Modi highlighted the key schemes launched by his government, such as Ujjwala Yojana and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

“Ujjwala Yojana brought smoke-free kitchens to several homes. MUDRA loans enabled lakhs of women entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams on their own terms. Houses under the women’s name in the PM Awas Yojana too have made a remarkable impact. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ignited a national movement to protect the girl child,” he said. (ANI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that May 2025 was the wettest since 1901, with the country receiving an average rainfall of 126.7 mm last month.

The early onset of the southwest monsoon brought continuous rainfall across southern and eastern India, contributing to this record.

In a social media post on X, the IMD wrote, “The average monthly rainfall for May 2025 over All-India (126.7 mm) and Central India (100.9 mm) was highest since 1901.”

As per the Met Department, rainfall over the country in the month of May 2025 was 126.7 mm, which is 106 per cent more than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm.

An official press release from the IMD reads, “Rainfall over the country as a whole for the month of May 2025 was 126.7 mm, which is 106% more than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm…”

“The average monthly rainfall for May 2025 over All-India (126.7 mm) and Central India (100.9 mm) was the highest since 1901. While the monthly rainfall over South Peninsular India reached 199.7 mm, marking the second highest total since 1901, it was surpassed only by 201.4 mm recorded in 1990. Similarly, the monthly average rainfall over Northwest India (48.1 mm) was the 13th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001. The monthly rainfall over East & Northeast India region was 242.8 mm, which is the 29th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001,” it added.

According to the IMD, during May, 25 subdivisions received large excess rainfall, five subdivisions received excess rain, and six subdivisions received normal rainfall.

In May 2025, extremely heavy rainfall (>204.4 mm) was recorded along the West Coast, as well as in Assam and Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Madhya Maharashtra, and South Interior Karnataka.

As per the weather department, very heavy rainfall (115.6-204.4 mm) occurred in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, East Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Marathwada, North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema, Saurashtra and Kutch, Telangana, Vidarbha, and West Madhya Pradesh.

Additionally, heavy rainfall events (64.5-115.5 mm) were observed across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat Region, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and West Uttar Pradesh.

The IMD stated that there were seven Western Disturbances (WDs) observed over the Indian region, which caused frequent occurrences of rain and thunderstorm activities accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorms across the Western Himalayan region, plains of Northwest and central India.

In the month of May, most parts of India experience thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and activities at regular intervals.

The average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during May were below normal.

The release reads, “The average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during May were 35.08oC, 24.07oC and 29.57oC respectively, against the normal of 36.60oC, 24.17oC and 30.38oC based on data of 1991-2020. Thus, the average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature were below normal with departure from normal of -1.52oC, -0.10oC and -0.81oC, respectively, for the country as a whole.”

Notably, this year, the Southwest Monsoon set in over Kerala on May 24, eight days earlier than its normal onset date of June 1. (ANI)

Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday claimed that the BJP is resorting to dishonest means to win elections and similar “dishonest” attempts are being made by the party ahead of the ensuing Bihar polls.

On Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, Congress leader Udit Raj said, “BJP has decided that it will not lose any election. They will win the Bihar elections in the same manner. Everywhere, elections will be won by dishonesty. After Lok Sabha, they won Haryana and Maharashtra dishonestly… We are informing the citizens of the whole country, including the civil society, that this pattern will be there; they will not lose elections anymore, they will win them anyway.”

“The Election Commission is responsible for ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in India. Voter turnout can be influenced by various factors, including voter enthusiasm, awareness, and accessibility to polling stations. Rahul Gandhi has raised questions about the Election Commission’s transparency, specifically regarding the release of CCTV footage from electoral rolls, which demands answers”, further added the Congress leader to the statement.

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Maharashtra assembly election held in November 2024 was “rigged” and claimed the same could happen in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.In a post on X, Gandhi shared his article published in a newspaper, explaining the “rigging” in the Maharashtra assembly polls. “Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy. My article shows how this happened, step by step,” Gandhi said on X.The former Congress President explained a five-point process.

He said that step one includes rigging the panel that appoints the Election Commission, followed by adding fake voters to the electoral roll. He further claimed that the next steps include inflating the voter turnout, targeting the bogus voting exactly where the BJP needs to win and hiding the evidence.”Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission;Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll;Step 3: Inflate voter turnout;Step 4: Target the bogus voting exactly where the BJP needs to win;Step 5: Hide the evidence,” Gandhi said.

He further labelled rigging as “match-fixing,” saying that while the cheating side might win, such actions damage institutions and destroy public trust in election results.

Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November. (ANI)