Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, H.E. P. Kumaran, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, they exchanged ways to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with SOM Leader of India appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Syncfusion, Inc.®, the enterprise technology provider of choice, today announced a partnership with Evrotrust, a premier qualified trust service provider (QTSP), to deliver qualified electronic signatures (QES) directly inside Syncfusion’s e-signature platform, BoldSign™. The integration enables BoldSign customers to request and apply Evrotrust QES for legally binding signatures across the European Union (EU), without disrupting existing workflows.
“We believe every team, no matter its size or location, deserves signing workflows that inspire confidence,” said Daniel Jebaraj, CEO of Syncfusion. “Partnering with Evrotrust lets us bring the highest assurance level of e-signatures to BoldSign, helping customers close deals faster while staying fully compliant across Europe.”
The Evrotrust integration builds on BoldSign’s recent investments in regional data centers and advanced compliance features, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to secure, affordable, and globally trusted e-signing.
“By combining Evrotrust’s eIDAS-notified qualified electronic signatures with BoldSign’s intuitive experience, organizations can protect their most important agreements without adding friction,” said Konstantin Bezuhanov, CEO of Evrotrust. “Together, we deliver the legal certainty and user simplicity modern businesses expect.”
Key benefits of the partnership for BoldSign users include:
For more information on BoldSign’s QES capabilities, visit boldsign.com/qes.
About Syncfusion, Inc.
Headquartered in the technology hub of Research Triangle Park, N.C., Syncfusion, Inc.® delivers an award-winning ecosystem of developer control suites, embeddable BI platforms, and business software. Syncfusion was founded in 2001 with a single software component and a mission to support businesses of all sizes—from individual developers and start-ups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Though its pilot product, the Essential Studio® suite, has grown to over 1,900 developer controls, its mission remains the same. With offices in the U.S., India, and Kenya, Syncfusion prioritizes the customer experience by providing feature-rich solutions to help developers and enterprises solve complex problems, save money, and build high-performance, robust applications.
About Evrotrust
Evrotrust is an electronic identity and qualified trust service provider certified under the eIDAS regulation. The company’s mission is to help businesses and governments transform their processes and develop sustainable digital channels. The Evrotrust platform is an end-to-end solution for digital onboarding and electronic signing that enables users to remotely register and authenticate for any service using only their smartphone. It is easily integrated into third party backend systems and mobile applications. Working with Evrotrust empowers any organization to provide excellent user experience while staying compliant with regulations and keeping fraud away.
Contact: Brittany Kearns
Phone: 571-271-7211
Email: brittany@crossroadsb2b.com
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Mr Richard Lindsay has been appointed the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan. Mr Lindsay will take up his appointment during June 2025.
Full name Richard Stephen Lindsay
| Year | Role |
|---|---|
| 2022 to Present | FCDO, Deputy Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan |
| 2020 to 2021 | FCDO, Head of Strategic Engagement Department |
| 2017 to 2020 | Brunei Darussalam, British High Commissioner |
| 2014 to 2016 | FCO, Head of Security Policy Department |
| 2014 | FCO, Head of Crisis Management Department |
| 2013 to 2014 | Brasilia, Prosperity Counsellor |
| 2010 to 2013 | FCO, Deputy Head, Security Policy Department |
| 2009 to 2010 | FCO, Conflict Group |
| 2006 to 2009 | Canberra, First Secretary, Foreign and Security Policy |
| 2003 to 2005 | FCO, Head, Pakistan and India-Pakistan Relations Team, South Asia Group |
| 2001 to 2003 | FCO, Head, Economic Summits (G8) and Institutions (OECD) Team, Economic Policy Department |
| 2001 | FCO, Political/Military Team, Afghanistan Emergency Unit |
| 1998 to 2001 | Harare, Second Secretary, Political |
| 1996 to 1998 | FCO, Resource Planning Department |
Media enquiries
Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk
Telephone 020 7008 3100
Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
RBI/2025-26/61 June 20, 2025 All Small Finance Banks Madam/ Dear Sir, Review of Priority Sector Lending norms – Small Finance Banks Please refer to the ‘Guidelines for Licensing of Small Finance Banks in Private Sector’ dated November 27, 2014 and the ‘Guidelines for ‘on-tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in Private Sector’ released by Reserve Bank on December 5, 2019. In terms of paragraph II (9) of the aforesaid Licensing Guidelines, a small finance bank (SFB) is required to extend 75 per cent of its Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to the sectors eligible for classification as priority sector lending (PSL) by the Reserve Bank. Further, while 40 per cent of its ANBC should be allocated to different sub-sectors under PSL as per the extant PSL prescriptions, the bank can allocate the balance 35 per cent to any one or more sub-sectors under the PSL where it has competitive advantage. Revised provisions 2. On a review, it has been decided that financial year 2025-26 onwards, the additional component (35 per cent) of PSL shall be reduced to 20 per cent, thereby making the overall PSL target as 60 per cent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBE), whichever is higher. The SFB shall continue to allocate 40 per cent of its ANBC or CEOBE, whichever is higher, to different sub-sectors under PSL as per the extant PSL prescriptions, while the balance 20 per cent shall be allocated to any one or more sub-sectors under the PSL where the bank has competitive advantage. 3. These instructions are issued in exercise of the powers conferred on the Reserve Bank of India under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Yours faithfully, (Manoranjan Padhy) |
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
JAKARTA, 20 June 2025 – The Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN held an informal meeting with Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, P. Kumaran, today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting exchanged views on the progress of ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
The Meeting took note of the substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial ASEAN-India CSP, and highlighted the progress of cooperation across various sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the CSP through various frameworks of cooperation and commended the substantial progress in implementing the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (POA) 2021-2025 and its Annex. The Meeting looked forward to the adoption of the succeeding POA that will guide both sides in realising the full potential of ASEAN-India CSP over the next five years, with a view to bringing tangible benefits to the people of both sides.
Looking ahead, the Meeting agreed to continue their close engagement and consultations to further advance the ASEAN-India CSP, and looked forward to explore opportunities to further enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as defence; maritime; combatting transnational crimes; cybersecurity, trade and investment; agriculture; science and technology, including space technology; connectivity, including land, air, sea and people-to-people connectivity; digital economy and infrastructure; artificial intelligence; tourism; culture; health; education; youth; sustainable development; renewable energy; climate change; disaster management; capacity-building initiatives; and people-to-people exchanges.
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Source: US Government research organizations
Dr. Shyam Sunder
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that S. Shyam Sunder has been selected as its new Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP), effective June 1, 2025.
In this role, Sunder will provide leadership and oversight to NIST’s laboratories, which provide vital measurement and research services that underpin technology innovation in the United States. NIST’s non-regulatory science mission is executed in close partnership with industry through its laboratory programs by supporting new technologies, services and markets, and industry-led, consensus-based standards that help American companies compete around the world.
“Shyam’s expertise and practical background, as well as his more than 30 years in leadership roles at NIST, make him an invaluable asset as we continue to push boundaries in critical and emerging technologies,” said Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director Craig Burkhardt. “Shyam will play a crucial role in helping NIST accelerate advances at the forefront of measurement science, which is the foundation for unleashing technological innovation and U.S. economic competitiveness.”
Sunder previously served as director of NIST’s Special Programs Office and Acting Director of the Standards Coordination Office. In these roles, he established and managed the NIST Safety Commission, which issued a comprehensive set of findings and recommendations to improve NIST’s safety culture and the effectiveness of its safety protocols. In response to the CHIPS for America Act, he led NIST’s cross-laboratory team, engaging more than 800 stakeholders to assess and publish seven “grand challenges” to advance the U.S. semiconductor industry. He further led NIST’s efforts to establish a competitively selected Standardization Center of Excellence to accelerate U.S. engagement in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies through a cooperative agreement with the private sector-led U.S. standards system.
Sunder’s prior positions include founding director of NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, director of its Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), and chief of BFRL’s Structures and Materials Division. He co-chaired White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) panels that set the federal R&D agenda for Net-Zero Energy High-Performance Buildings and Cyber-Physical Systems.
Before joining NIST in 1994, he served on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty. He received master and doctor of science degrees from MIT, and a bachelor of technology with distinction from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
Sunder is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award, its highest honor, for distinguished leadership of the federal building and fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center disaster after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2012.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elton Santos, Reader in Theoretical and Computational Condensed Matter Physics, University of Edinburgh
Diamonds might be forever but that doesn’t stop them being bought and sold. One stone thought to have once belonged to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, has just sold for US$14 million (£10 million) at an auction in New York – about three times the asking price. Set into a platinum ring and weighing a total of 15.5 grams, the clue to the diamond’s uniqueness is in its name: the Marie-Thérèse pink.
This 10.38 carat pink diamond has been changing hands for generations, and previously sold at an auction in Geneva for an unknown amount. Pink diamonds are very rare and there are many things that scientists still don’t know about them.
Diamonds are generally formed under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s mantle, roughly 150–200 kilometres below the surface. Most natural diamonds crystallise over billions of years, composed almost entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a tightly packed, cube-like structure.
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Coloured diamonds are geological anomalies. Variations include pink, blue, orange, yellow, red, green, brown and black, most of which can be explained by impurities in their crystal lattice. Yellow diamonds contain nitrogen, for example, while blue ones contain boron.
Pink diamonds are not caused by such impurities. Scientists believe that the pink hue arises from a distortion in the diamond’s atomic lattice structure. Intense pressure deep underground creates forces (known as shear forces) that twist and compress atomic layers, which alter how the stone reflects light.
It’s this “plastic deformation” which results in the pink coloration, reducing the green light in the visible spectrum so that it shifts the overall colour that we see towards pink.
Only a small fraction of diamonds undergo such extreme and precise pressure and temperature conditions during their formation. These factors make them very difficult to be created and even harder to predict where they will be formed. As a result, pink diamonds are the rarest of all coloured diamonds apart from red ones, which are formed by an even more intense version of the same process.
For decades, the Argyle mine in western Australia was the world’s primary source of pink diamonds (and also red ones), producing over 90% of the global supply. The mine is located at a unique geological area by a so-called lamproite volcanic pipe, as opposed to the more common kimberlite pipes found at most other diamond mines. Without getting too much into the technicalities, lamproite pipes tend to be less explosive and have more unusual minerals like leucite and rich potassium.
The Argyle mine is located in the Kimberley region, which experienced intense tectonic activity during the Paleoproterozoic era, over 1.6 billion years ago. This meant that the lamproite pipe was formed under extreme pressures and temperatures.
This is believed to have caused the lattice defects in the diamonds that were pushed to the Earth’s surface, which are responsible for their pink and red colours. The deep mantle depths in the mine were also crucial, since this translates into higher internal pressures and temperatures.
Even so, less than 0.1% of the diamonds extracted from Argyle were classified as pink (and only 0.00000002% were red, if you calculate the proportion of red carats found). The mine then closed in 2020 after 37 years of production because its reserves were exhausted, making pink diamonds even more scarce and valuable.
Other known sources include Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa, but these mines yield pink diamonds far less frequently. The rarity of high-quality pink diamonds has made them highly sought-after by collectors and investors alike, as demonstrated by the high sale price of the Marie-Thérèse pink. That diamond was actually pink-purple, with the purple hue caused by hydrogen being absorbed into the atomic structure during the stone’s formation, making it rarer still.
Advanced techniques involving shining infrared light and X-rays into the stones – respectively known as infrared spectroscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction – have provided scientists with insights into the structural changes that cause pink and red diamonds.
Yet many questions remain unanswered, and the study of pink diamonds continues to be an active area of scientific investigations in mineral physics and crystallography. This has included creating pink diamonds (and other colours such as blues) in the laboratory by replicating the natural processes that form them, but in a more controlled, accelerated way.
These lab-grown pink diamonds look nearly identical to their natural versions to the human eye, but can yet be differentiated through optical techniques. One method is infrared absorption, which detects how the diamond absorbs light and vibrates at specific frequencies.
Another clue is the presence of sharp peaks in the visible light spectrum that indicate certain impurities, like hydrogen or nitrogen, which are often found in natural stones. In the same style as a CSI investigation, these techniques provide the last word in whether a pink diamond is from a mine such as Argyle, a lab-grown pink, or a clear natural diamond that has been treated pink artificially.
Even after years of improving the process for making pink diamonds synthetically, the mechanical distortions responsible for their exotic colour still can’t be replicated precisely under laboratory conditions. Scientists
don’t understand all the atomic processes involved in their colouring becoming permanent to be able to recreate them perfectly.
The same is actually also true for other synthetic diamonds, though they are becoming harder and harder to detect as the technology improves. In short, pink diamonds (and red ones) remain among the most remarkable precious stones in the world. Unless and until that changes, we can keep expecting them to change hands for ridiculous amounts of money.
Elton Santos receives funding from EPSRC, Royal Society, and is affiliated with the Donostia International Physics Center, San Sebastián, Spain.
– ref. A pink diamond just sold for over US$ 14 million – no wonder, when you look at the mysteries behind their chemistry – https://theconversation.com/a-pink-diamond-just-sold-for-over-us-14-million-no-wonder-when-you-look-at-the-mysteries-behind-their-chemistry-259392
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) is set to be celebrated on June 21, with unprecedented scale and grandeur, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national event from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He will perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) alongside over 3 lakh participants at the main venue. Joining him will be Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The event at Visakhapatnam will be part of the nationwide ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, which will see simultaneous yoga sessions at more than 10 lakh locations across India. The mass demonstration is scheduled to take place from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM and is expected to draw participation from over 2 crore people at more than 1 lakh locations across Andhra Pradesh alone. The state government is also coordinating an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record, while also planning to distribute over 50 lakh yoga certificates to registered participants.
In a symbolic and culturally rich prelude to the main event, approximately 25,000 tribal children today performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes at Andhra University. The initiative underlined the enthusiastic engagement of tribal communities and the growing grassroots reach of yoga.
Delhi will also actively participate in the celebrations with events planned at 109 locations across the national capital. A notable highlight will be a grand yoga session at the historic Red Fort, organized by Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, supported by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and the Archaeological Survey of India.
This year’s theme for IDY 2025, Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects India’s holistic vision of well-being. It underscores the interconnectedness of human and planetary health and draws upon the traditional Indian ethos of Sarve Santu Niramaya (May all be free from disease).
Ahead of the celebrations, Prime Minister Modi addressed a letter to all Gram Pradhans, emphasizing yoga’s transformative impact and its growing global acceptance. His message has sparked renewed enthusiasm at the grassroots, resulting in widespread yoga activities in Panchayats, Anganwadis, and Community Health Centers.
Marking the 10-year milestone of International Day of Yoga, the Ministry of Ayush introduced 10 Signature Events rolled out over 100 days to enhance public participation. These include the mass yoga demonstrations under Yoga Sangam, international collaborations through Yoga Bandhan, and environmental initiatives via Harit Yoga. The campaign also featured youth-centric programs like Yoga Unplugged, a global online summit under Yoga Connect, and large-scale celebrations through Yoga Maha Kumbh. Additionally, Samyoga highlighted the integration of yoga with modern healthcare, while Yoga Prabhava presented a 10-year impact report on the IDY movement.
Rajasthan led in registrations for Yoga Sangam with over 2.25 lakh sign-ups, followed by several other states crossing the one lakh mark. Overall, more than 11 lakh organizations and groups have registered their participation through the Ministry of Ayush’s dedicated yoga portal.
Globally, Indian embassies and cultural centres have been conducting yoga demonstrations and awareness campaigns, reinforcing India’s role as a global wellness leader.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI), a crucial gauge of the performance of key infrastructure sectors in the Indian economy, rose marginally by 0.7% year-on-year in May 2025, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. This modest uptick highlights continuing challenges in several critical sectors despite gains in a few industries.
The eight industries that comprise the index — Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity — collectively account for 40.27% of the overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP). In May, positive growth was reported in Cement, Steel, Coal, and Refinery Products, while the remaining sectors recorded year-on-year contractions.
Coal production, which holds a weight of 10.33% in the index, increased by 2.8% compared to the same month last year. On a cumulative basis, production during April–May 2025-26 rose by 3.1%. However, the crude oil sector, with a weight of 8.98%, contracted by 1.8% in May and by 2.2% over the two-month period.
Natural gas output witnessed a sharper year-on-year fall of 3.6% in May, contributing to a cumulative decline of 2.3%. Meanwhile, petroleum refinery products — the largest component of the index with a weight of 28.04% — posted a modest 1.1% increase in May. Despite this, cumulative output during the April–May period dropped by 1.7%.
The fertilizer sector reported the steepest decline, shrinking by 5.9% in May and registering a cumulative decrease of 5.1%. In contrast, the steel industry, which holds significant weight at 17.92%, saw a healthy 6.7% rise in output in May and a 5.5% increase over the two-month period.
Cement production delivered the strongest performance among all eight industries, recording a robust 9.2% growth in May. Its cumulative output also showed significant momentum, rising by 7.8%. However, electricity generation, a major sector with a 19.85% weight, fell sharply by 5.8% in May and declined by 2.2% cumulatively — contributing to an overall drag on the index.
Source: South Africa News Agency
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the Constitutional Court for its critical role in deepening democracy, advancing human rights, and promoting national cohesion and reconciliation over the past three decades.
Speaking at a special event marking the 30-year anniversary of the court’s establishment on Friday in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa described the apex court as not only a legal institution but a “noble symbol of our democratic order; both immortal and legal compass”.
“This moment calls not only for celebration, but also for reflection, for recommitment, and for a renewed vision of constitutionalism in action in South Africa,” the President said.
Reflecting on the court’s founding in 1994, the President noted its symbolic location, built on the ruins of the infamous Old Fort prison in Braamfontein as a reminder of South Africa’s painful past and a testament to the transformative promise of constitutional justice.
“This court was established on the ruins of an oppressive legal system and was built on the grounds of a former prison, embodying the hope that law could become an instrument of justice rather than repression,” he said.
Recalling the adoption of the Constitution on 8 May 1996, President Ramaphosa, who then chaired the Constitutional Assembly, likened the document to “our new nation’s birth certificate”, describing it as a legal foundation that affirms dignity, equality, and freedom for all South Africans.
“Just like a person cannot enjoy their rights without a birth certificate, without the Constitution our country would be cast adrift, and be vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power.
“We celebrate the existence of this court over the 30 years in which it has defended our democratic vision as set out in our birth certificate, our Constitution. This court has been the guardian, watching over our nation’s legal health just as a parent would attend to the health of their growing child,” he said.
Building a culture of rights
The President credited the court for cultivating a rights-based culture by issuing transformative and far-reaching judgments, including in S v Makwanyane that abolished the death penalty; the Grootboom case that centred on the right to housing; and Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign that dealt with the right to healthcare and access to HIV/Aids treatment.
“The Constitutional Court has developed a rich and transformative jurisprudence. These judgements are not merely legal decisions – they are decisions that have changed lives, shaped our society, and strengthened our democracy,” he said.
He praised the court’s jurisprudence for affirming the rights of the vulnerable, including same-sex couples, women in traditional marriages, children, the poor, and the infirm.
“The court’s judgments have advanced the rights of same-sex couples, of women in traditional marriages, of the sick and infirm, of children, of voters, and of the most marginalised members of society. They have affirmed that dignity, equality and freedom are not reserved for the powerful, but guaranteed to all,” he said.
He acknowledged the international legal influences that helped shape South Africa’s Constitution, with insights drawn from jurisdictions such as Canada, Germany, India and the United States.
Quoting former Justice Albie Sachs, President Ramaphosa said: “We borrowed ideas, concepts and structures from Canada, Germany, India and the United States, but made them South African.”
Challenges and shortcomings
While lauding the court’s role, President Ramaphosa also acknowledged ongoing challenges in realising the full promise of constitutionalism, particularly in the delivery of socio-economic rights.
“It will forever remain a blight on our democracy that the applicant in the ground-breaking Grootboom judgment, Ms. Irene Grootboom, died in 2008 without her dream of a decent house being fulfilled,” he said.
He stressed that citizens should not have to resort to litigation to claim rights that the state is obligated to fulfil.
“There is a disconnect between the promise of our Constitution and the lived realities of South Africans. Persistent inequality, threats to judicial independence, lack of implementation of court orders, and erosion of trust in institutions remain pressing challenges,” he warned.
Commitment to the judiciary
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the judiciary and upholding its independence. He cited budget allocations to improve court services, judicial education, and infrastructure as part of efforts to bolster the judiciary’s effectiveness.
“To ensure that the judiciary execute their duties independently, effectively, and with dignity – government must and will provide a range of institutional, infrastructure, financial, administrative, and legal support. The support is crucial to maintaining judicial independence, which is a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
He confirmed that a joint committee between the executive and judiciary will finalise an action plan in the coming weeks to strengthen the judicial system and institutional independence.
Tribute to pioneers
The President paid tribute to current and former Constitutional Court Justices, legal clerks, scholars, and practitioners who have contributed to the court’s legacy.
Among those honoured were retired Justices Albie Sachs and Kate O’Regan, who were part of the inaugural bench. He also recalled stories shared by his legal advisor, Advocate Nokukhanya Jele, who clerked for the court in its early days, sharing memories of operating in cramped temporary offices, and of rain leaking onto legal papers during the Court’s relocation to its current premises in 2004.
“For all who had the privilege of being part of those early days working at the court, there was a sense of elation at being part of history in the making. Of being part of something far greater; something that all one’s years of legal training had prepared one for.
“As a nation we can be nothing short of immensely proud of the constitutional court, of what it has achieved, and of its ongoing and pre-eminent role in our society,” he said.
Looking ahead
President Ramaphosa called on legal professionals, government leaders and citizens alike to recommit to the Constitution and its values of accountability, ethics, and public service.
“Thirty years on, the Constitutional Court remains a beacon of democracy. A compass for our future journey. May it continue to stand as a testament to justice, accountability, and the resilience of the South African people,” the President said.
He added that the country faces many challenges including poverty, inequality, joblessness and under-development.
“Yet we move forward as a collective with confidence, fortified by the knowledge that that you, the guardians of our constitutional order, are with us, alongside us, guiding us.
“As we look to the next 30 years, let us ensure that the Constitutional Court remains a living institution—responsive, principled, and deeply rooted in the values of ubuntu, accountability, and human dignity. We wish the court well on this auspicious occasion, and into the future,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today inaugurated the Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University (ACU) in Karnataka, hailing it as a milestone in the pursuit of affordable healthcare and education for all.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Shah praised the efforts of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt in upholding the cultural ideal of “Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya” — the welfare and happiness of all. He commended the Mutt’s initiatives in running health centres in rural areas, offering free medical treatment to the underprivileged, and setting up educational institutions for children.
The newly inaugurated campus, constructed at a cost of ₹200 crore, spans 20 lakh square feet over 16 acres and is designed to accommodate 4,000 students. It houses a modern 1,000-bed hospital that offers comprehensive healthcare facilities, including free and affordable treatment for the poor. In his address, the Home Minister said this establishment would emerge as a true centre of service through its integration of education and healthcare.
Shah paid tribute to Jagadguru Dr. Balagangadharanatha Swamiji for preserving and enhancing the 1,800-year-old spiritual heritage of the sacred Adichunchanagiri Hills by intertwining it with service and education. He also lauded the continued efforts of Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji in carrying forward this legacy.
He noted that the Mutt’s work has fostered a deep connection with thousands of families, especially from poor and middle-income backgrounds, by promoting spirituality and Karma Yoga through community service. The Mutt’s holistic outreach is based on nine key pillars — Anna (food), Akshara (education), Arogya (health), Adhyatmika (spirituality), Aashraya (shelter), Aranya (environment), Aakaalu (disaster relief), Anukampa (compassion), and Anubandh (social connection). According to Shah, this inclusive approach has significantly strengthened social unity and serves as a model for other religious and cultural institutions.
Highlighting the university’s role in combining tradition with innovation, he emphasized its efforts in reconnecting the youth with India’s cultural roots while equipping them with cutting-edge education. He credited Mahaswami Ji with ensuring that students not only receive quality education but also free accommodation, giving them an opportunity to lead dignified lives. The university, he said, has become one of the country’s premier institutions, offering advanced medical care at low cost. The 1,500-bed hospital includes facilities for critical care, cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology, and complex transplants like kidney, liver, and cornea.
Shah further highlighted the Modi Government’s commitment to healthcare reform. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks that illness and its related expenses are among the leading causes of poverty, he stated that Modi’s vision had materialized through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which now provides free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh to 60 crore citizens.
He elaborated on other major health and welfare initiatives launched under PM Modi’s leadership, including the construction of nearly 12 crore household toilets, the Fit India Movement, the celebration of International Day of Yoga, and the Mission Indradhanush vaccination campaign for children up to 15 years of age. He also mentioned the Poshan Abhiyan, which addresses maternal and child nutrition, and the Jan Aushadhi Yojana, through which essential medicines are available at just 20% of market prices at over 15,000 locations.
In addition, Shah pointed to the dramatic expansion of medical education infrastructure in the country. Since 2014, the number of AIIMS institutions has increased from 7 to 23, medical colleges from 387 to 780, MBBS seats from 51,000 to 1,18,000, and postgraduate medical seats from 31,000 to 74,000.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW DELHI, June 20 (Xinhua) — At least nine people were killed on Friday when a car collided head-on with a truck in India’s eastern West Bengal state, local police said.
The accident took place on National Highway 18 near Namshola in Balarampur police station area of Purulia district, about 284 km west of the state capital Kolkata.
The car collided head-on with a truck traveling at high speed in the opposite direction. The incident killed all nine people in the car, a local police spokesman said. They were immediately taken to the nearest hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.
A preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of the vehicle lost control, causing a collision with a truck. –0–
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer D. Oliva, Professor of Law, Indiana University
Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a given patient’s physicians.
One of the most common examples is prior authorization, which is when your doctor needs to
receive payment approval from your insurance company before providing you care. Many insurers use an algorithm to decide whether the requested care is “medically necessary” and should be covered.
These AI systems also help insurers decide how much care a patient is entitled to — for example, how many days of hospital care a patient can receive after surgery.
If an insurer declines to pay for a treatment your doctor recommends, you usually have three options. You can try to appeal the decision, but that process can take a lot of time, money and expert help. Only 1 in 500 claim denials are appealed. You can agree to a different treatment that your insurer will cover. Or you can pay for the recommended treatment yourself, which is often not realistic because of high health care costs.
As a legal scholar who studies health law and policy, I’m concerned about how insurance algorithms affect people’s health. Like with AI algorithms used by doctors and hospitals, these tools can potentially improve care and reduce costs. Insurers say that AI helps them make quick, safe decisions about what care is necessary and avoids wasteful or harmful treatments.
But there’s strong evidence that the opposite can be true. These systems are sometimes used to delay or deny care that should be covered, all in the name of saving money.
Presumably, companies feed a patient’s health care records and other relevant information into health care coverage algorithms and compare that information with current medical standards of care to decide whether to cover the patient’s claim. However, insurers have refused to disclose how these algorithms work in making such decisions, so it is impossible to say exactly how they operate in practice.
Using AI to review coverage saves insurers time and resources, especially because it means fewer medical professionals are needed to review each case. But the financial benefit to insurers doesn’t stop there. If an AI system quickly denies a valid claim, and the patient appeals, that appeal process can take years. If the patient is seriously ill and expected to die soon, the insurance company might save money simply by dragging out the process in the hope that the patient dies before the case is resolved.
This creates the disturbing possibility that insurers might use algorithms to withhold care for expensive, long-term or terminal health problems , such as chronic or other debilitating disabilities. One reporter put it bluntly: “Many older adults who spent their lives paying into Medicare now face amputation or cancer and are forced to either pay for care themselves or go without.”
Research supports this concern – patients with chronic illnesses are more likely to be denied coverage and suffer as a result. In addition, Black and Hispanic people and those of other nonwhite ethnicities, as well as people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, are more likely to experience claims denials. Some evidence also suggests that prior authorization may increase rather than decrease health care system costs.
Insurers argue that patients can always pay for any treatment themselves, so they’re not really being denied care. But this argument ignores reality. These decisions have serious health consequences, especially when people can’t afford the care they need.
Unlike medical algorithms, insurance AI tools are largely unregulated. They don’t have to go through Food and Drug Administration review, and insurance companies often say their algorithms are trade secrets.
That means there’s no public information about how these tools make decisions, and there’s no outside testing to see whether they’re safe, fair or effective. No peer-reviewed studies exist to show how well they actually work in the real world.
There does seem to be some momentum for change. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which is the federal agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, recently announced that insurers in Medicare Advantage plans must base decisions on the needs of individual patients – not just on generic criteria. But these rules still let insurers create their own decision-making standards, and they still don’t require any outside testing to prove their systems work before using them. Plus, federal rules can only regulate federal public health programs like Medicare. They do not apply to private insurers who do not provide federal health program coverage.
Some states, including Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Maine and Texas, have proposed laws to rein in insurance AI. A few have passed new laws, including a 2024 California statute that requires a licensed physician to supervise the use of insurance coverage algorithms.
But most state laws suffer from the same weaknesses as the new CMS rule. They leave too much control in the hands of insurers to decide how to define “medical necessity” and in what contexts to use algorithms for coverage decisions. They also don’t require those algorithms to be reviewed by neutral experts before use. And even strong state laws wouldn’t be enough, because states generally can’t regulate Medicare or insurers that operate outside their borders.
In the view of many health law experts, the gap between insurers’ actions and patient needs has become so wide that regulating health care coverage algorithms is now imperative. As I argue in an essay to be published in the Indiana Law Journal, the FDA is well positioned to do so.
The FDA is staffed with medical experts who have the capability to evaluate insurance algorithms before they are used to make coverage decisions. The agency already reviews many medical AI tools for safety and effectiveness. FDA oversight would also provide a uniform, national regulatory scheme instead of a patchwork of rules across the country.
Some people argue that the FDA’s power here is limited. For the purposes of FDA regulation, a medical device is defined as an instrument “intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” Because health insurance algorithms are not used to diagnose, treat or prevent disease, Congress may need to amend the definition of a medical device before the FDA can regulate those algorithms.
If the FDA’s current authority isn’t enough to cover insurance algorithms, Congress could change the law to give it that power. Meanwhile, CMS and state governments could require independent testing of these algorithms for safety, accuracy and fairness. That might also push insurers to support a single national standard – like FDA regulation – instead of facing a patchwork of rules across the country.
The move toward regulating how health insurers use AI in determining coverage has clearly begun, but it is still awaiting a robust push. Patients’ lives are literally on the line.
Jennifer D. Oliva currently receives funding from NIDA to research the impact of pharmaceutical industry messaging on the opioid crisis among U.S. Military Veterans. She is affiliated with the UCSF/University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and Georgetown University Law Center O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law.
– ref. How artificial intelligence controls your health insurance coverage – https://theconversation.com/how-artificial-intelligence-controls-your-health-insurance-coverage-253602
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer D. Oliva, Professor of Law, Indiana University
Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a given patient’s physicians.
One of the most common examples is prior authorization, which is when your doctor needs to
receive payment approval from your insurance company before providing you care. Many insurers use an algorithm to decide whether the requested care is “medically necessary” and should be covered.
These AI systems also help insurers decide how much care a patient is entitled to — for example, how many days of hospital care a patient can receive after surgery.
If an insurer declines to pay for a treatment your doctor recommends, you usually have three options. You can try to appeal the decision, but that process can take a lot of time, money and expert help. Only 1 in 500 claim denials are appealed. You can agree to a different treatment that your insurer will cover. Or you can pay for the recommended treatment yourself, which is often not realistic because of high health care costs.
As a legal scholar who studies health law and policy, I’m concerned about how insurance algorithms affect people’s health. Like with AI algorithms used by doctors and hospitals, these tools can potentially improve care and reduce costs. Insurers say that AI helps them make quick, safe decisions about what care is necessary and avoids wasteful or harmful treatments.
But there’s strong evidence that the opposite can be true. These systems are sometimes used to delay or deny care that should be covered, all in the name of saving money.
Presumably, companies feed a patient’s health care records and other relevant information into health care coverage algorithms and compare that information with current medical standards of care to decide whether to cover the patient’s claim. However, insurers have refused to disclose how these algorithms work in making such decisions, so it is impossible to say exactly how they operate in practice.
Using AI to review coverage saves insurers time and resources, especially because it means fewer medical professionals are needed to review each case. But the financial benefit to insurers doesn’t stop there. If an AI system quickly denies a valid claim, and the patient appeals, that appeal process can take years. If the patient is seriously ill and expected to die soon, the insurance company might save money simply by dragging out the process in the hope that the patient dies before the case is resolved.
This creates the disturbing possibility that insurers might use algorithms to withhold care for expensive, long-term or terminal health problems , such as chronic or other debilitating disabilities. One reporter put it bluntly: “Many older adults who spent their lives paying into Medicare now face amputation or cancer and are forced to either pay for care themselves or go without.”
Research supports this concern – patients with chronic illnesses are more likely to be denied coverage and suffer as a result. In addition, Black and Hispanic people and those of other nonwhite ethnicities, as well as people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, are more likely to experience claims denials. Some evidence also suggests that prior authorization may increase rather than decrease health care system costs.
Insurers argue that patients can always pay for any treatment themselves, so they’re not really being denied care. But this argument ignores reality. These decisions have serious health consequences, especially when people can’t afford the care they need.
Unlike medical algorithms, insurance AI tools are largely unregulated. They don’t have to go through Food and Drug Administration review, and insurance companies often say their algorithms are trade secrets.
That means there’s no public information about how these tools make decisions, and there’s no outside testing to see whether they’re safe, fair or effective. No peer-reviewed studies exist to show how well they actually work in the real world.
There does seem to be some momentum for change. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which is the federal agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, recently announced that insurers in Medicare Advantage plans must base decisions on the needs of individual patients – not just on generic criteria. But these rules still let insurers create their own decision-making standards, and they still don’t require any outside testing to prove their systems work before using them. Plus, federal rules can only regulate federal public health programs like Medicare. They do not apply to private insurers who do not provide federal health program coverage.
Some states, including Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Maine and Texas, have proposed laws to rein in insurance AI. A few have passed new laws, including a 2024 California statute that requires a licensed physician to supervise the use of insurance coverage algorithms.
But most state laws suffer from the same weaknesses as the new CMS rule. They leave too much control in the hands of insurers to decide how to define “medical necessity” and in what contexts to use algorithms for coverage decisions. They also don’t require those algorithms to be reviewed by neutral experts before use. And even strong state laws wouldn’t be enough, because states generally can’t regulate Medicare or insurers that operate outside their borders.
In the view of many health law experts, the gap between insurers’ actions and patient needs has become so wide that regulating health care coverage algorithms is now imperative. As I argue in an essay to be published in the Indiana Law Journal, the FDA is well positioned to do so.
The FDA is staffed with medical experts who have the capability to evaluate insurance algorithms before they are used to make coverage decisions. The agency already reviews many medical AI tools for safety and effectiveness. FDA oversight would also provide a uniform, national regulatory scheme instead of a patchwork of rules across the country.
Some people argue that the FDA’s power here is limited. For the purposes of FDA regulation, a medical device is defined as an instrument “intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” Because health insurance algorithms are not used to diagnose, treat or prevent disease, Congress may need to amend the definition of a medical device before the FDA can regulate those algorithms.
If the FDA’s current authority isn’t enough to cover insurance algorithms, Congress could change the law to give it that power. Meanwhile, CMS and state governments could require independent testing of these algorithms for safety, accuracy and fairness. That might also push insurers to support a single national standard – like FDA regulation – instead of facing a patchwork of rules across the country.
The move toward regulating how health insurers use AI in determining coverage has clearly begun, but it is still awaiting a robust push. Patients’ lives are literally on the line.
Jennifer D. Oliva currently receives funding from NIDA to research the impact of pharmaceutical industry messaging on the opioid crisis among U.S. Military Veterans. She is affiliated with the UCSF/University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and Georgetown University Law Center O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law.
– ref. How artificial intelligence controls your health insurance coverage – https://theconversation.com/how-artificial-intelligence-controls-your-health-insurance-coverage-253602
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
The geopolitical fragmentation of the global economy opens up new opportunities for Russia to cooperate with the countries of the Global South and strengthen its own role in global processes. This is stated in the HSE report presented at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum as part of the VTB session.
Analysts emphasize that the global economy is currently divided into three large blocs – the United States, China and non-aligned countries, which is accompanied by a reduction in trade and investment between them by 12% and 20% since 2022. Despite this, developing countries are increasing their share in world trade: the volume of trade between the countries of the Global South has grown from $2.3 trillion in 2007 to $5.6 trillion in 2023. This indicates the formation of new economic ties and growth centers.
The report notes that the reversal of trade imbalances in 2024 – with the US deficit widening and China’s surplus rising, and the EU moving into positive balance – creates risks of new trade wars and investment reallocation, requiring companies to diversify supplies and expand their partner networks. Logistics challenges caused by conflicts in the Middle East and problems in the Suez and Panama Canals are stimulating the development of alternative routes, including the Northern Sea Route and “green corridors” for the accelerated delivery of critical cargo.
Particular attention is paid to the role of the so-called connector countries – Malaysia, Vietnam and India, which are strengthening trade ties with individual partners, while Russia, Australia and the EU are reducing their dependence on traditional markets, which contributes to the formation of sustainable regional trade turnover.
In the Russian context, experts note that human capital is becoming the main resource for economic growth: the average length of education for Russians aged 25–44 is 14 years, which is higher than in the US and Europe, but further investment in science and R&D is needed to realize this potential. In the context of the crisis, Russia has seen an increase in the production of high-tech products, the development of domestic tourism and paid services, as well as an increase in exports, which are less sensitive to sanctions.
Investment activity is most noticeable in the small and medium enterprise sector and in the production of investment goods, which contributes to the diversification of the economy and the creation of new jobs. Key challenges include tightening monetary policy, rising credit costs, labor shortages and tax pressure, especially in the manufacturing industry.
The authors of the report emphasize that a balanced budget policy and support for those employed in the public sector are necessary for macroeconomic stability, and sustainable growth is possible only with the simultaneous strengthening of the internal and external sustainability of the economy. In conditions of turbulence, Russia can play a key role in the formation of a new architecture of the global economy, focused on cooperation with the countries of the Global South and the creation of alternative development models.
The report was prepared as part of the VTB session “In Search of New Sources of Growth: Is a Different Model of Global Financial and Trade Architecture Possible” at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The session was attended by: Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank; Yaroslav Kuzminov, Academic Director of the Higher School of Economics; Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayyed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of Qatar; Oleg Deripaska, Founder, En Group; Serhat Keksal, President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank; Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank; Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated June 06, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹29.60 lakh (Rupees Twenty Nine Lakh Sixty Thousand only) on Fino Payments Bank Limited (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Licensing of Payments Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2024) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty: The bank breached the regulatory ceiling of end of the day balance, as applicable for a payments bank, in certain accounts on several occasions. The action is based on the deficiencies in the regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2025-2026/574 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Today, the Reserve Bank released its quarterly house price index (HPI)1 (base: 2010-11=100) for Q4:2024-25, based on transaction-level data received from the registration authorities in ten major cities2. Time series data on all-India and city-wise HPIs are available at the Bank’s database on Indian economy (DBIE) portal (https://data.rbi.org.in/DBIE/#/dbie/home> Statistics > Real Sector > Prices & Wages). Highlights:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/573 |
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
British lawmakers held their final debate ahead of a historic vote on Friday on whether to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people, in what would be a major step toward the biggest social reform in the country for a generation.
The vote is expected at about 2:30 p.m. (1330 GMT) and if it goes in favour, the proposed new law will have cleared its biggest parliamentary hurdle. That would pave the way for Britain to follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some U.S. states in permitting assisted dying.
A vote against would stop the bill in its tracks.
Last November, lawmakers voted 330 to 275 in favour of the principle of allowing assisted dying, but since then the bill has been scrutinised and amended, and some lawmakers have publicly changed their position, citing changes to provisions that they say weaken protections for vulnerable people.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is neutral on the legislation meaning politicians can vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Last year, Starmer voted in favour of the legislation and has indicated he continues to support it.
The law was proposed under a process led by an individual member of parliament rather than being government policy, which has limited the amount of parliamentary time allocated to it.
Some lawmakers have said that such a major social change should be allocated more parliamentary time for debate and involve a greater degree of ministerial involvement and accountability.
If Friday’s vote is in favour, assisted dying stays on the road to legalisation, a process that could still take months.
The Labour lawmaker who proposed the new law, Kim Leadbeater, said there could be a reduction in the number of members of parliament who support the bill on Friday compared with last year’s vote, but that she was confident it would still be approved.
Opening the debate, Leadbeater said that the legislation was “desperately needed” and would provide dignity and compassion to people suffering. She argued it had robust safeguards that made it practical and safe.
“This is not a choice between living and dying. It is a choice for terminally ill people about how they die,” she said.
On Thursday, four Labour lawmakers switched sides to oppose the bill, joining the dozens who earlier this month said there had not been enough time to debate the details of such a consequential law change.
“The bill before us simply does not do enough to safeguard people who may want to choose to live,” the four lawmakers said in a letter.
Leadbeater said her biggest fear was that if the legislation was voted down, it could be another decade before the issue returns to parliament. It was last considered in 2015, when lawmakers voted against it.
PUBLIC SUPPORT
Opinion polls show that a majority of Britons back assisted dying, and supporters say the law needs to catch up with public opinion.
Under the proposed law, mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less to live would be given the right to end their lives with medical help.
In the original plan, an assisted death would have required court approval. That has been replaced by a requirement for a judgement by a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist, which is seen by some as a watering down.
Lawmakers have also raised questions about the impact of assisted dying on the finances and resources of Britain’s state-run National Health Service and on the need to improve palliative care.
If the vote passes, the proposed new law is sent to the House of Lords, parliament’s upper chamber. But the unelected Lords will be reluctant to block legislation that has been passed by elected members of the House of Commons.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Iran said on Friday it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, as Europe tried to coax Tehran back into negotiations and the United States considers whether to get involved in the conflict.
A week after it began attacking Iran, Israel’s military said it had carried out new strikes on dozens of military targets overnight, including missile production sites and a research organisation involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran.
Iran launched at least one new barrage of missiles early on Friday, striking near residential apartments, office buildings and industrial facilities in the southern city of Beersheba.
The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump would decide on “whether or not to go” with U.S. involvement in the conflict in the next two weeks, citing the possibility of negotiations involving Iran in the near future.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday there was no room for negotiations with Israel’s superpower ally the United States “until Israeli aggression stops”.
But he was due to meet European foreign ministers in Geneva later on Friday for talks at which Europe hopes to establish a path back to diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Two diplomats said before the meeting involving France, Britain, Germany and the European Union’s foreign policy chief that Araqchi would be told the U.S. is still open to direct talks. Expectations for a breakthrough are low, diplomats say.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.
Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons. It neither confirms nor denies this.
Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based human rights organisation that tracks Iran. The dead include the military’s top echelon and nuclear scientists.
Israel has said at least two dozen Israeli civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks.
Reuters could not independently verify the death toll from either side. Details of casualties in the latest strikes were not immediately known.
CIVILIANS KILLED
Both sides say they are attacking military and defence-related targets, but civilians have also been caught in the crossfire and each has accused the other of hitting hospitals.
An Iranian news website said a drone had struck an apartment in a residential building in central Tehran on Friday, but did not give details.
Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear installations so far pose only limited risks of contamination, experts say. But they warn that any attack on the nuclear power station at Bushehr could cause a nuclear disaster.
Israel says it is determined to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities but that it wants to avoid any nuclear disaster in a region that is inhabited by tens of millions of people and produces much of the world’s oil.
The meeting in Geneva was due to start on Friday afternoon. The Swiss city is where an initial accord was struck in 2013 to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions being lifted. A comprehensive deal followed in 2015.
Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in 2018. A new series of talks between Iran and the U.S. collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12.
Trump has alternated between threatening Tehran and urging it to resume nuclear talks. His special envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say.
The Middle East has been on edge since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked it in October of 2023, triggering the Gaza war, and Israel has been fighting on several fronts against Iran’s regional allies.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned on Friday of further action against Iranian ally Hezbollah, a day after the Lebanese militant group suggested it would come to Iran’s aid.
Western and regional officials say Israel is trying to shatter the government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday “the downfall of the regime … may be a result, but it’s up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom.”
Iranian opposition groups think their time may be near, but activists involved in previous protests say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest with their nation under attack, and Iranian authorities have cracked down hard on dissent.
“How are people supposed to pour into the streets? In such horrifying circumstances, people are solely focused on saving themselves, their families, their compatriots, and even their pets,” said Atena Daemi, a prominent activist who spent six years in prison before leaving Iran.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Source: WTO
Headline: WTO members examine LDC trade interests, trade and development priorities
LDC trade interests
At the meeting of the WTO Sub-Committee on LDCs on 16 June, members considered several LDC related proposals, including those on LDC graduation, LDC accessions and the future of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). They exchanged views on the latest proposal on LDC graduation, which focuses on three areas: subsidies, trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights and agriculture. A communication on strengthening the implementation of the LDC accession guidelines was submitted by India and Djibouti on behalf of the LDC Group.
Members exchanged views on the future of the EIF, an Aid for Trade programme aimed at enhancing LDC integration into global trade, which was implemented in two phases (2008 to 2015 and 2016 to 2022). Delegations considered the report of the EIF Task Force that included a set of proposed recommendations for a third phase covering the period from 2025 to 2031.
An experience-sharing session in the Sub-Committee on LDCs explored new pathways for LDC trade growth. United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) presented its 2024 report “Leveraging carbon markets for development”. Capital-based officials from Bangladesh and The Gambia shared insights on accessing green investment and leveraging trade-related climate finance for strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of key export sectors, including textiles and agriculture. The European Union and the LDC Fund for the Global Environmental Facility shared examples of support offered to LDCs with a view to achieving sustainable development and transitioning to net zero for greenhouse gas emissions.
Aid for Trade
At the Aid for Trade session of the Committee on Trade and Development on 17 June, members continued sharing experiences on trade policy and regulatory support. Capital-based officials from Canada, China, Japan and Lao PDR participated in the discussion.
Members welcomed Canada’s Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development, implemented by Cowater International, which supports developing economies in defining negotiating positions and implementing trade agreements. Representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) highlighted Japan’s “co-creation” approach, which involves collaboration with the private sector, civil society and other donors. It was also noted that the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) would be held in August 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, under the theme “Co-create innovative solutions with Africa”.
China and Lao PDR shared South-South cooperation initiatives, including efforts to improve quarantine capacity and trade readiness. Investments in railway infrastructure between the two countries were also acknowledged. UNCTAD’s efforts in measuring South-South flows were highlighted.
Members reviewed a communication from Australia and Barbados proposing a draft ministerial decision titled “Reinforcing members’ commitment to Aid for Trade”. The proposal, set against the backdrop of declining official development assistance, calls for stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and the establishment of a digital platform on existing trade-related technical assistance and capacity building programmes.
During the experience-sharing session, key trends and challenges in global value chain (GVC) integration for developing economies were explored. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted that global trade remains resilient, though uncertainty remains. Professor Juan Carlos Hallak, University of Buenos Aires, emphasized the importance of public-private sectoral roundtables in Latin America. He recommended a bottom-up approach that begins with trade facilitation and regulatory reforms before tackling more complex issues such as investment and technology.
The Lowy Institute, Australia, highlighted Southeast Asia’s trade openness and manufacturing diversification, while stressing the need to boost services productivity and ease regulatory barriers. PrimeSilicon Technology showcased Bangladesh’s experience in supplying digitally delivered services in the semiconductor value chain. The B20, represented by Ms. Trudi Makhaya, outlined three policy priorities: restoring trust in multilateral trade, advancing African integration through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting a climate-responsive trading system.
Revitalizing trade and development work
At the Committee on Trade and Development meeting on 18 June, the Secretariat presented a note on the implementation of the special and differential treatment provisions in the Agreement on Agriculture and the TRIPS Agreement. Members appreciated the Secretariat’s efforts in analysing special and differential treatment provisions. Members also explored how to revitalize trade and development deliberations. Follow-up to the WTO Development Retreat was also discussed.
Members reviewed a communication from China titled “ Heightened Trade Turbulence and Responses from the WTO”. Other topics included the development aspects of the work programme on electronic commerce and duty-free, quota-free market access for LDCs. The Chair of the Committee on Trade and Development, Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo of South Africa, will consult members on a request by the co-convenors of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement to discuss progress made on the needs assessments under the WTO Committee on Trade and Development.
Technical assistance
The Secretariat presented the 2024 WTO Technical Assistance Report, highlighting four key results related to i) implementing WTO agreements; ii) accompanying new accessions; iii) advancing academic research; and iv) reaching out to various stakeholders. It was noted that in 2024 the Secretariat expanded its curriculum to include technical assistance activities on transparency in customs valuation and import licensing. As a result, 35 draft customs valuation notifications were received, with 22 circulated. The Secretariat also acknowledged technical assistance support to facilitate the WTO accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste.
On academic research, the WTO Chairs Programme saw a 13 per cent increase in WTO-related courses and a 16 per cent increase in trade-related research. Five new universities joined the programme in 2024. However, due to budget constraints, the full potential of outreach activities to various stakeholders is yet to be fully explored.
Members exchanged views on preparations for the next biennial WTO Technical Assistance and Training plan (2026 – 2027). The Secretariat provided an update on its ongoing work, including insights from beneficiaries. The Secretariat also highlighted that in view of limited resources, evolving approaches in the delivery of technical assistance and various funding scenarios were being considered going forward. Members welcomed the Secretariat’s efforts and expressed willingness to engage further in developing the WTO technical assistance plan.
The next WTO Development Week is scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 November 2025.
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Source: Greenpeace Statement –
New Delhi, 19 June 2025 – A global survey shows a strong support for holding fossil fuel companies accountable for environmental damage. 80% Indian respondents believe the fossil fuel corporations should be taxed for environmental damage they cause. The data from the survey reflects a growing public consensus that the industries driving the climate crisis should be held financially accountable for the destruction they caused.
A remarkable 86% of people support government spending on climate disaster relief–provided it is funded by tax on coal, oil, and gas polluters. Notably, 89% of BJP supporters and 82% of Congress (INC) supporters agree on the need to increase taxes on oil and gas corporations to support those hit hardest by extreme weather events, highlighting rare cross-party unity on climate accountability.
The study, jointly commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International, was launched today at the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn (SB62), where government representatives are discussing climate policies, including ways to mobilise at least US$ 1.3 trillion annually in climate finance for Global South countries by 2035. The survey was conducted across 13 countries, including most G7 countries.
Selomi Garnaik, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace India said: “Communities in developing countries are paying the price for a crisis they did not cause, while fossil fuel companies continue to profit. The science is clear—over a century of burning coal, oil, and gas has fueled the climate damage we face today. This new survey reveals strong public support for making polluters pay. As we head into COP30, governments have a clear public mandate to act- stand with the people, not the polluters, and make fossil fuel companies pay for the harm they have caused.”
The study, run by Dynata, was unveiled alongside the Polluters Pay Pact, a global alliance of communities on the frontlines of climate disasters. The Pact demands that governments make oil, gas and coal corporations – not the people – pay their fair share for the damages they cause, through the introduction of new taxes and fines.
The Pact is backed by firefighters and other first responders, trade unions and worker groups, and mayors from countries including Australia, Brazil, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and South Africa, the US, and plaintiffs in landmark climate cases from Pacific island states to Switzerland.
The Pact is also supported by over 60 NGOs, including Oxfam International, 350.org, Avaaz, Islamic Relief UK, Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA), Indian Hawkers Alliance, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Jubilee Australia and the Greenpeace network.
The survey’s findings published today reveal broad public support for the core demands of the Polluters Pay Pact, as climate impacts worsen worldwide and global inequality grows.
Key findings of the survey include:
Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: “Fossil fuel companies have known for decades about the damage their polluting products wreak on humanity. Corporations continue to cash in on climate devastation, and their profiteering destroys the lives and livelihoods of millions of women, men and children, predominantly those in the Global South who have done the least to cause the climate crisis. Governments must listen to their people and hold polluters responsible for their damages. A new tax on polluting industries could provide immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries, and finally incentivise investment in renewables and a just transition.”
The Polluters Pay Pact demonstrates popular support for the campaign to make polluters pay. The campaign is being waged throughout 2025 in countries worldwide and in critical international forums, including the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), and negotiations for a UN tax convention that could include new rules to make multinational oil and gas companies pay their fair share for their pollution.
ENDS
Notes:
[1] The research was conducted by first-party data company Dynata in May-June, 2025, in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US, with approximately 1200 respondents in each country and a theoretical margin of error of approximately 2.83%. Together, these countries represent close to half the world’s population. Statistics available here.
Additional background information available here.
[2] Learn more about the Polluters Pay Pact: polluterspaypact.org
[3] Additional quotes here from people around the world who are backing the Polluters Pay Pact, including first responders, local administration, youth, union representatives and people bringing climate cases to courts.
Contacts:
For Greenpeace India:
Nibedita Saha, Media Officer, [email protected]
For Greenpeace International:
Tal Harris, Greenpeace International, Global Media Lead – Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign, [email protected], +41-782530550
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia will celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga tomorrow in partnership with the Saudi Yoga Committee and the Indian diaspora.
The event, to be held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, will see participation from students of the International Indian Public School and Al Alia International Indian School. In Jeddah, celebrations took place a day earlier with students from the International Indian School showcasing their enthusiasm for yoga and its unifying spirit.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Qatar, in collaboration with the Indian Sports Centre, will observe International Day of Yoga 2025 on June 21 at Ideal Indian School, Doha. The event will bring together members of the Indian community and yoga practitioners for an evening dedicated to well-being and cultural exchange. Highlights will include a rhythmic yoga display by children, a yoga quiz, a challenge session, guided meditation, and a mass yoga practice based on the Common Yoga Protocol.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Indian stock market witnessed a powerful rally on Friday, with benchmark indices closing significantly higher, buoyed by widespread buying across sectors and strong investor sentiment.
The BSE Sensex surged 1,046.30 points to settle at 82,408.17, while the NSE Nifty jumped 319.15 points, ending the day at 25,112.40. Among the Nifty 50 constituents, 44 stocks ended in the green, with only 6 closing in the red, indicating broad-based market strength.
Commenting on the market action, Sundar Kewat, Technical and Derivatives Analyst at Ashika Institutional Equity – Ashika Stock Broking, noted, “In a bullish session, the Nifty opened flat at 24,787 and briefly dipped to 24,783 before staging a sharp rally. The index gained momentum right from the opening tick and scaled an intraday high of 25,078, closing firmly in the green.”
Kewat highlighted the widespread sectoral participation, with Construction, PSU Banks, Financial Services, Auto, and Metal stocks leading the gains. The broader markets mirrored this optimism, as the Nifty Midcap 100 rose over 1 per cent, and Smallcap stocks continued to attract buying interest.
On the derivatives front, market breadth remained robust with 186 advancing stocks versus 36 declining. Noteworthy open interest build-up was seen in Kaynes Technology, Mankind Pharma, Hero MotoCorp, JSW Steel, and LTIMindtree, signaling increased trader participation and bullish sentiment.
Adding to the positive outlook, Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, said, “Nifty moved up sharply after three days of consolidation, resuming its short-term rally. Moreover, the index has reclaimed the 21-day EMA, which could provide further momentum for an upward move.”
De added, “Support is now placed at 24,850, and the index remains a ‘buy on dips’ as long as it holds above this level. On the higher side, it may continue advancing towards 25,350 and beyond.”
With upbeat technical indicators and sector-wide buying, Friday’s market performance reflects growing investor confidence and sets the stage for continued momentum in the sessions ahead.
(ANI)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Israeli military said on Friday it carried out strikes on dozens of military targets in Iran overnight, including the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research that it said is involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons development.
An industrial plant in northern Iran was damaged in an attack, Iranian media reported on Friday, hours after Israel issued a warning for residents to move away from nearby areas.
Earlier media reports said the plant in the Sefidrud industrial area was involved in the production of carbon fiber, which can be used in the manufacturing of weapons systems such as missile bodies.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Israeli military said on Friday it carried out strikes on dozens of military targets in Iran overnight, including the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research that it said is involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons development.
An industrial plant in northern Iran was damaged in an attack, Iranian media reported on Friday, hours after Israel issued a warning for residents to move away from nearby areas.
Earlier media reports said the plant in the Sefidrud industrial area was involved in the production of carbon fiber, which can be used in the manufacturing of weapons systems such as missile bodies.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (2)
rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated a series of development projects in Bihar, with a focus on rail connectivity, sanitation, power infrastructure, and affordable housing.
The highlight of the Prime Minister’s visit to the Saran district was the flagging off of a state-of-the-art export locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant. Manufactured under the “Make in India – Make for the World” initiative, the locomotive will be exported to the Republic of Guinea, marking the plant’s first international dispatch.
These advanced locomotives feature high-horsepower engines, AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomically designed cabs, and regenerative braking technology, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in rail manufacturing.
As part of efforts to enhance regional connectivity, PM Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur, passing through Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, significantly boosting rail access in North Bihar.
In addition, he inaugurated the Vaishali–Deoria railway line, a project valued at over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service along the route to strengthen connectivity across the region.
Under the Namami Gange programme, the Prime Minister inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined investment of over ₹1,800 crore. These plants aim to enhance sanitation and water quality in towns situated along the Ganga River.
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for a series of water supply and sanitation projects worth more than ₹3,000 crore, which are set to benefit several towns across Bihar by ensuring access to safe and clean drinking water.
In a major step toward modernizing the state’s energy infrastructure, the Prime Minister launched a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. These standalone units will be installed at 15 grid substations in locations including Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. With storage capacities ranging from 20 to 80 MWh, the BESS installations are expected to help electricity distribution companies meet peak demand more efficiently and reduce procurement costs, ultimately passing on the benefits to consumers.
On the housing front, PM Modi released the first instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) to more than 53,600 beneficiaries in Bihar. He also handed over keys to select recipients as part of a Grih Pravesh ceremony, marking the completion of over 6,600 new houses built under the scheme.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
China has no right to decide whether or not Taiwan is a country given it chooses its own government, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said on Wednesday, adding that he would be happy to shake the hand of his Chinese opposite number in friendship.
China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games, saying the island is one of its provinces with no right to be called a state.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his government strongly reject that view, and have offered talks with China multiple times but have been rejected. China calls Lai a “separatist”.
Asked by Reuters what he would say to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi should they ever meet, Lin said that given the opportunity he would definitely shake hands with him.
“What the nature is of cross-Taiwan Strait relations can be discussed, but we are all human. First, extend the hand of friendship. If he shook my hand, that would be a good start,” he said at a press briefing to mark the first anniversary of Lai taking office. “If he takes his hand back, that’s his problem.”
Taiwan’s formal name is the Republic of China, the name of the government which in 1949 fled to the island after losing a bloody civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, who established the People’s Republic of China.
“Whether or not Taiwan is a country is not up to Wang Yi, nor the People’s Republic of China, to say. The whole world sees us as a country. We choose our governments democratically. It is our business what our name is.”
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The chances Lin and Wang could meet are low. Neither government recognises the other, officials do not visit each other, and Taiwan is not a member of most international bodies due to China’s objections.
Lai on Tuesday reiterated an offer to talk to China, saying he sought peace but that the island must also boost its defences.
China responded by saying his comments were a “two-faced tactic” that were a “waste of effort and doomed to fail”.
Taiwan’s government has warned that Beijing could mark the anniversary with more military drills.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Gaza is facing a man-made drought as its water systems collapse, the United Nations’ children agency said on Friday.
“Children will begin to die of thirst … Just 40% of drinking water production facilities remain functional,” UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva.
“We are way below emergency standards in terms of drinking water for people in Gaza,” he added.
UNICEF also reported a 50% increase in children aged six months to 5 years admitted for treatment of malnutrition from April to May in Gaza, and half a million people going hungry.
It said the U.S.-backed aid distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was “making a desperate situation worse.”
On Friday at least 25 people awaiting aid trucks or seeking aid were killed by Israeli fire south of Netzarim in central Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities. On Thursday at least 51 people were killed by Israeli gunfire and military strikes, including 12 people who tried to approach a site operated by the GHF in the central Gaza Strip.
Elder, who was recently in Gaza, said he had many testimonials of women and children injured while trying to receive food aid, including a young boy who was wounded by a tank shell and later died of his injuries.
He said a lack of public clarity on when the sites, some of which are in combat zones, were open was causing mass casualty events.
“There have been instances where information (was) shared that a site is open, but then it’s communicated on social media that they’re closed, but that information was shared when Gaza’s internet was down and people had no access to it,” he said.
On Wednesday, the GHF said in a statement it had distributed three million meals across three of its aid sites without an incident.
On Friday at least 12 people were killed in an airstrike on a house belonging to the Ayyash family in Deir Al-Balah, taking the day’s death toll to 37.
(Reuters)