NewzIntel.com

Category: India

  • IAEA chief says no further damage at Iranian enrichment facilities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi provided an update on Monday on the situation at Iran’s nuclear facilities after Israel launched military strikes and said there was no sign of further damage at the Natanz or Fordow enrichment sites.

    Grossi and the International Atomic Energy Agency he heads had previously reported that the smallest of Iran’s three enrichment plants, an above-ground pilot plant at the sprawling Natanz nuclear complex, had been destroyed.

    While there was no sign of a physical attack on the bigger underground enrichment plant at Natanz, its power supply was destroyed, which may have damaged the uranium-enriching centrifuges there. No damage was seen at the Fordow plant dug into a mountain.

    “There has been no additional damage at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site since the Friday attack, which destroyed the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant,” Grossi said in a statement to an exceptional meeting of his agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors.

    Having said over the weekend that Israeli strikes damaged four buildings at the Isfahan nuclear facilities including the uranium conversion facility that processes “yellowcake” uranium into uranium hexafluoride, the feedstock for centrifuges, so it can be enriched, he elaborated on the damage there.

    “At the Esfahan nuclear site, four buildings were damaged in Friday’s attack: the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing plant, and the UF4 (uranium tetrafluoride) to EU metal processing facility, which was under construction,” he said.

    “The (International Atomic Energy) Agency is and will remain present in Iran. Safeguards inspections in Iran will continue as soon as safety conditions allow, as is required under Iran’s NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) safeguards obligations,” he added.

    (Reuters)

  • India poised to lead globally in disaster response, says HM Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that India is on the cusp of becoming a global leader in crisis management, thanks to a decade of transformative efforts by its disaster response forces. Speaking at the Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces Conference, Shah highlighted the remarkable progress made in capacity, speed, efficiency, and accuracy in disaster management over the past ten years.

    “Speed is critical in disaster response. Our focus on timely action and saving lives has seen significant advancements through workforce training, cutting-edge technology, and robust early warning systems,” Shah said. He lauded the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for earning widespread respect and recognition across the country, noting its pivotal role in training State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) personnel.

    Shah credited the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NDRF, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for elevating India’s disaster management capabilities to global standards. He emphasized that India has shifted from a reactive relief-based approach to a proactive “Zero Casualty Approach,” which has garnered international acclaim.

    “Ten years ago, disaster management was about post-calamity relief. Today, we are redefining it with a proactive strategy that has surprised the world,” Shah said. He underscored the importance of research to enhance early warning systems and the adoption of a unified approach involving central and state governments, local bodies, and communities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

    Looking ahead, Shah envisioned a future where every Indian youth is equipped to contribute to disaster response efforts. He also highlighted the government’s multi-dimensional approach, including a significant increase in funding. The NDRF budget rose from Rs 28,000 crore (2004–2014) to Rs 84,000 crore (2014–2024), while SDRF funding surged from Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 1.44 lakh crore over the same periods.

    The CDRI, launched by PM Modi, was also praised as a global partnership of 49 members, including governments, UN agencies, multilateral banks, private sectors, and academia, dedicated to climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure solutions.

    (IANS inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: From Jaipur to Nagpur, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ignites a Nation of Problem-Solvers

    Source: Samsung

    Your classroom could be the next stop in this journey of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
     
    From the sunlit classrooms of Jaipur to the buzzing lecture halls of Nagpur, a powerful question echoed across campuses: “What problem will you solve for India?”
     
    That question lies at the heart of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, a national innovation challenge that is transforming students into changemakers—and campuses into launchpads for the future.
     
    After a powerful launch on April 29, the design thinking workshops and college Open Houses swept across India—reaching not just major metros but also the vibrant heartlands of the Northeast.
     
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.
     
    At Neerja Modi School in Jaipur, over 1,000 students filled the auditorium with their ideas, ambitions, and dreams. Among them, Naman Lakhani found himself thinking beyond textbooks:
     
    “I’ve always wanted to build something that could solve real-world issues. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow showed me that someone out there actually wants to listen to us—and help make those ideas real.”
     
    Anshika Gupta, another student, added: “It felt like a spark. This programme is not just about innovation—it’s about inclusion. It made me feel like I could be a part of building India’s future, even while I’m still in school.”
     
    The journey continued to Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School, also in Jaipur, where Ishan Sharma, part of a 850-strong student turnout, found his perspective shift:
     
    “I realised that I don’t need to wait to graduate or become an adult to solve problems. If we have ideas now, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow wants to hear them. That’s empowering.”
     
    In Nagpur, the vibrant community of Ramdeobaba University welcomed the campaign with open minds and open notebooks. Among 640 participants, Manya shared her dream of building AI-driven solutions for public health:
     
    “For once, a platform came to us—to our campus, to our city—and said, ‘Let’s build something that matters.’ It’s not just a competition. It’s a launchpad.”
     
    Even virtually, the momentum didn’t stop. Shanti Business School in Ahmedabad hosted one of the largest online Samsung Solve for Tomorrow open houses yet, with over 1,700 students tuning in. Discussions ranged from clean energy to accessibility tech.
     
     “It felt like a national classroom of creators,” one student shared in the chat. “We were miles apart, but our ideas connected.”
     
    In Bhopal, Oriental Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) brought the conversation to ground zero—how students can use tech to tackle local problems. With 290 students in attendance, the event had a quiet, determined energy.
     
    “We don’t just want to dream. We want to build,” a student said. “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is giving us the blueprint.”
     
    As Samsung Solve for Tomorrow rolls across India, it’s making one thing clear: Innovation doesn’t belong to labs or big cities. It belongs to every student with a question and the courage to find an answer.
     
    So, if you’re a student with an idea that could solve a real problem—this is your moment. Apply now to Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Your classroom could be the next stop in this journey. And your idea? It could change everything.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • TN fishing ban ends, boats remain docked as IMD issues alerts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Even though the annual fishing ban period officially ended on June 14, mechanised fishing vessels along the South Tamil Nadu coast are yet to resume operations due to adverse weather conditions.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of squally winds with speeds ranging from 45 to 55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, expected to persist over the South Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar, and the adjoining Comorin region for five days starting from June 14.

    In response to the alert, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has temporarily suspended the issuance of sailing tokens for mechanised fishing vessels. These tokens are mandatory for vessels to set sail, and without them, fishermen have no option but to remain ashore.

    The continued grounding of fishing boats has left the fishing communities in distress, particularly after enduring the 61-day ban period aimed at marine conservation during the breeding season.

    Fishermen say they are financially strained and struggling to make ends meet, as the prolonged break has dried up their savings and pushed many into debt. “We’ve already been idle for two months due to the fishing ban. Now, just when we were preparing to resume, the weather has turned hostile,” said Antony John, a fisherman leader from Mattakadai.

    “Many of us have borrowed money for household expenses and school fees. Unless we start fishing soon, we won’t be able to repay our loans,” he said.

    A senior fisheries department official confirmed that no vessels would be allowed to sail until conditions improve. “Fishermen have been advised to stay on shore due to safety concerns. The IMD has predicted wind speeds that exceed safe operational limits. Once the conditions are deemed safe, sailing tokens will be issued immediately,” the official said.

    A recent survey revealed that 550 mechanised fishing vessels – comprising 35 bottom trawlers from Vembar, 250 bottom trawlers from Thoothukudi, and 265 gill netters – were registered and compliant under the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983. However, 66 vessels were found unregistered due to violations related to boat length and engine capacity.

    Meanwhile, the extended halt in fishing activities has led to a noticeable shortage of fresh fish in local markets, causing prices to spike and affecting consumers across coastal districts. Traders warn that unless boats resume operations soon, the shortfall will worsen in the coming days.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • TN fishing ban ends, boats remain docked as IMD issues alerts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Even though the annual fishing ban period officially ended on June 14, mechanised fishing vessels along the South Tamil Nadu coast are yet to resume operations due to adverse weather conditions.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of squally winds with speeds ranging from 45 to 55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, expected to persist over the South Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar, and the adjoining Comorin region for five days starting from June 14.

    In response to the alert, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has temporarily suspended the issuance of sailing tokens for mechanised fishing vessels. These tokens are mandatory for vessels to set sail, and without them, fishermen have no option but to remain ashore.

    The continued grounding of fishing boats has left the fishing communities in distress, particularly after enduring the 61-day ban period aimed at marine conservation during the breeding season.

    Fishermen say they are financially strained and struggling to make ends meet, as the prolonged break has dried up their savings and pushed many into debt. “We’ve already been idle for two months due to the fishing ban. Now, just when we were preparing to resume, the weather has turned hostile,” said Antony John, a fisherman leader from Mattakadai.

    “Many of us have borrowed money for household expenses and school fees. Unless we start fishing soon, we won’t be able to repay our loans,” he said.

    A senior fisheries department official confirmed that no vessels would be allowed to sail until conditions improve. “Fishermen have been advised to stay on shore due to safety concerns. The IMD has predicted wind speeds that exceed safe operational limits. Once the conditions are deemed safe, sailing tokens will be issued immediately,” the official said.

    A recent survey revealed that 550 mechanised fishing vessels – comprising 35 bottom trawlers from Vembar, 250 bottom trawlers from Thoothukudi, and 265 gill netters – were registered and compliant under the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983. However, 66 vessels were found unregistered due to violations related to boat length and engine capacity.

    Meanwhile, the extended halt in fishing activities has led to a noticeable shortage of fresh fish in local markets, causing prices to spike and affecting consumers across coastal districts. Traders warn that unless boats resume operations soon, the shortfall will worsen in the coming days.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Reserve Bank of India relocates its Andhra Pradesh Regional Office to Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today, Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), inaugurated the new office of the Reserve Bank in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

    The Regional Office shall be functioning at Vijayawada with Integrated Banking Department (IBD), Financial Inclusion and Development Department (FIDD), Foreign Exchange Department (FED), Department of Supervision (DoS) along with Human Resource Management Department (HRMD), Centralised Establishment Section (CES), Rajbhasha Cell, Audit Budget and Control Cell (ABCC), Department of Information Technology Cell (DIT) and Protocol & Security Establishment (P& SE). The currency management for the state of Andhra Pradesh will continue to be conducted by the RBI’s office in Hyderabad.

    The Regional Office is headed by Shri Attah Omar Basheer, Regional Director whose contact details are given below:

    Postal Address: –
    The Regional Director
    Reserve Bank of India
    ‘Stalin Central’,
    D. No: 27-37-158, MG Road,
    Governorpet, Vijayawada
    Andhra Pradesh
    Telephone No: 0866-2523410
    E-mail

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/548

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Shri Sandeep Sood appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Guinea


    Download logo

    Shri Sandeep Sood (YOA:2009), presently Director in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Guinea.

    2. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen becomes first Scottish university with plans to open campus in India The University has taken a significant step forward in its global expansion ambitions after India’s University Grants Commission granted permission to progress with proposals to open a branch campus in Mumbai with a target launch of September 2026.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    British High Commissioner H.E. Lindy Cameron, Secretary Higher Education & Acting Chairman University Grants Commission (UGC) Shri Vineet Joshi, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, Vice-Principal Global Engagement at the University of Aberdeen; and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis.

    The University has taken a significant step forward in its global expansion ambitions after India’s University Grants Commission granted permission to progress with proposals to open a branch campus in Mumbai with a target launch of September 2026.
    The University of Aberdeen is the first of the UK’s ancient universities and the first Scottish university to be granted permission for a branch campus in India. The proposal will now go to the University’s governing body Court for approval next month.
    The successful application to the Indian Government followed discussions – which are ongoing – with the UGC and the University’s Transnational Education partners in India.
    The University was granted a Letter of Intent at a special ceremony on Saturday (June 14) in Mumbai hosted by the Indian Government.
    The proposals underpin the University’s commitment to India and its vision of fostering world-class education, cutting-edge research and transformative innovation in collaboration with Indian institutions.
    Building on decades of University partnerships with more than 200 Indian universities and research centres including IITs – the Indian Institutes of Technology; AIIMS – All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Manipal Academy, ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Delhi University, the proposed branch campus would be a hub for academic excellence and global problem-solving.
    Aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020, the proposed campus would initially offer programmes in Computing and Data Science, Business Management, Economics, Artificial Intelligence and an MBA with future expansion into Mathematics and International Business Management and Information Systems, Public Health, Film Studies and Psychology – strategic areas where Aberdeen and India share common priorities.

    As the first Scottish university to be granted permission to set up a campus in India, this is more than just an institutional milestone; it underscores how education can serve as a bridge between nations, fostering cultural exchange, mutual respect, and creating global opportunities for students and academics alike.” Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council

    A follow up second phase would see the University aim to establish a research and innovation office on the proposed new campus to expand research collaborations and industry partnerships in critical areas such as AI, Energy and Life Sciences.
    Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, Vice-Principal Global Engagement at the University of Aberdeen, said: “We are excited to progress our global ambitions after the Indian Government gave us approval to proceed with our intention for a campus. As a country of over 1.4 billion where 50% of the population are below the age of 25, India has long been a priority area for our global engagement strategy focusing on student recruitment, articulation partnerships, research collaborations and alumni networks.
    “The proposed campus aims to empower students, accelerate joint research with Indian partners and contribute to India’s dynamic knowledge economy. By combining the University of Aberdeen’s research expertise with India’s innovation ecosystem, this initiative aims to tackle global challenges while enabling student exchange, faculty collaboration and industry-led innovation.
    “It also reinforces the University of Aberdeen’s role as a leader in international education, committed to shaping the future of global higher education and strengthening the deep and historic ties between India and the UK.
    “We are looking forward to collaborating with our Indian partners to bring this vision to life and further bolster ties between Scotland and India through education and research.”
    Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council, said: “The University of Aberdeen’s decision to progress with a campus in Mumbai marks an important moment in deepening the education partnership between India and the UK. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing the internationalisation of higher education, research, and innovation, as envisioned in India’s National Education Policy 2020.
    “As the first Scottish university to be granted permission to set up a campus in India, this is more than just an institutional milestone; it underscores how education can serve as a bridge between nations, fostering cultural exchange, mutual respect, and creating global opportunities for students and academics alike. We are proud to support initiatives that bring world-class education closer to students in India.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • India’s WPI inflation eases to 14-month low of 0.39 per cent in May

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s annual rate of inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) eased further to a 14-month low of 0.39% in May, down from 0.85% in April and 2.05% in March, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday.

    The month-over-month change in WPI inflation during May was in the negative zone at (-0.06%) compared to April, reflecting a continuing downward trend in inflation. A decline in the prices of food items as well as fuels such as petrol and diesel contributed to the negative month-on-month inflation rate.

    The country’s inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) also declined to 2.82% in May 2025, compared to the same month in the previous year. This marks the lowest level of retail inflation since February 2019, according to figures released last week.

    Food inflation declined to 0.99% in May — the lowest since October 2021. This is the seventh consecutive month of decline in food inflation, largely due to improved agricultural output.

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its inflation outlook for 2025–26 downward — from the earlier forecast of 4% to 3.7%, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday. The sharp decline in inflation has enabled the RBI to implement a 50 basis point cut in the repo rate, reducing it from 6% to 5.5%, as part of its latest monetary policy review to spur economic growth.

    Additionally, the RBI announced a 100 basis point reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), from 4% to 3%, to be implemented in four tranches of 25 basis points each. This measure is expected to inject Rs 2.5 lakh crore into the banking system, enhancing liquidity and supporting credit flow.

    Malhotra highlighted that inflation has significantly softened over the past six months — falling from above the upper tolerance band in October 2024 to well below the target. He noted signs of broad-based moderation.

    “The near-term and medium-term outlook now gives us the confidence not only of a durable alignment of headline inflation with the target of 4%, as expressed in the last meeting, but also the belief that during the year, it is likely to undershoot the target slightly,” he said.

    IANS

  • Centre issues Census notification: J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, U’Khand in 2026, rest in 2027

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government on Monday formally notified the conduct of the next decennial census to be held in 2027, exercising its authority under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948. The new notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs supersedes an earlier order from March 2019, which had set the schedule for the Census originally planned for 2021 but later postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to the notification, the census will be carried out across the country with the reference date set on March 1, 2027. This reference date will be applicable throughout India, with the exception of certain snow-bound and hard-to-reach regions.

    For the Union Territory of Ladakh and the snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the census reference date has been set on October 1, 2026. These regions have traditionally followed an earlier reference date owing to logistical constraints posed by extreme weather and terrain.

  • Centre issues Census notification: J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, U’Khand in 2026, rest in 2027

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government on Monday formally notified the conduct of the next decennial census to be held in 2027, exercising its authority under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948. The new notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs supersedes an earlier order from March 2019, which had set the schedule for the Census originally planned for 2021 but later postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to the notification, the census will be carried out across the country with the reference date set on March 1, 2027. This reference date will be applicable throughout India, with the exception of certain snow-bound and hard-to-reach regions.

    For the Union Territory of Ladakh and the snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the census reference date has been set on October 1, 2026. These regions have traditionally followed an earlier reference date owing to logistical constraints posed by extreme weather and terrain.

  • An overview of Iran’s main gas field and oil infrastructure

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel struck an installation at Iran’s South Pars gas field on Saturday, the first attack on Iran’s oil and gas sector as part of what the Israeli government had warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

    Iran has partially suspended gas production from the South Pars field, Iran’s portion of the world’s largest natural gas reserve, which lies beneath the Gulf and is shared with major gas exporter Qatar.

    Israel also struck a Tehran fuel depot and an oil refinery near the capital on Saturday, Iran said, but authorities said the situation was under control.

    Following are some facts on the country’s energy industry, exports, and the impact of previous Western sanctions.

    WORLD’S LARGEST GAS RESERVE

    Iran produces natural gas from the offshore South Pars gas field, which makes up around a third of the world’s largest reservoir of natural gas.

    Iran shares the reservoir with major gas exporter Qatar, which calls its field the North Dome.

    Sanctions and technical constraints have meant most gas Tehran produces from the South Pars field is for domestic use in Iran.

    Iran’s total natural gas production totalled 266.25 billion cubic meters in 2023, with domestic consumption accounting for 255.5 bcm, according to data by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, a grouping of gas exporter nations.

    About 15.8 bcm of natural gas were exported, the Forum said.

    Saturday’s attack struck four units of Phase 14 of South Pars, around 200 kilometres from Qatar’s gas installations, many of which are joint ventures with major international energy firms, including U.S. giants ExxonMobil and ConocoPhilips.

    Doha has made hundreds of billions of dollars exporting liquefied natural gas to global markets for nearly three decades.

    The entire reservoir contains an estimated 1,800 trillion cubic feet of usable gas – enough to supply the entire world’s needs for 13 years, or to generate enough electricity to supply the U.S. for more than 35 years.

    SANCTIONS AND OPEC

    Iran’s oil production was at its peak in the 1970s, with record output of 6 million bpd in 1974, according to OPEC data. That amounted to more than 10% of world output at the time.

    In 1979, the U.S. imposed the first wave of sanctions on Tehran. Since then the country has been the target of several waves of U.S. and European Union sanctions.

    The U.S. tightened sanctions in 2018 after Trump exited a nuclear accord during his first presidential term. Iran’s oil exports fell to nearly zero during some months.

    Exports rose steadily under Trump’s successor President Joe Biden’s administration, with analysts saying sanctions were less rigorously enforced and Iran had succeeded in evading them.

    Iran is exempt from OPEC+ output restrictions.

    WHO IS THE MAIN BUYER OF IRANIAN OIL?

    Iran’s crude exports have risen to a multi-year high of 1.8 million bpd in recent months, the highest since 2018, driven by strong Chinese demand.

    China says it does not recognise sanctions against its trade partners. The main buyers of Iranian oil are Chinese private refiners, some of whom have recently been placed on the U.S. Treasury sanctions list. There is little evidence, however, that this has impacted flows from Iran to China significantly.

    Iran has for years evaded sanctions through ship-to-ship transfers and hiding ships’ satellite positions.

    PRODUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

    Iran, the third largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, extracts about 3.3 million barrels per day of crude oil, and another 1.3 million bpd of condensate and other liquids, totalling about 4.5% of global supplies.

    It exported about 1.8 million bpd of crude and condensate in May, close to a 2018 peak, according to Kpler, processing the remainder of its production in its domestic refineries with a total capacity of 2.6 million bpd, according to consultancy FGE.

    It exported nearly 750,000 bpd of oil products, including LPG, in May, according to Kpler.

    The country also produces 34 billion cubic feet of gas per day, according to FGE, accounting for 7% of global production. All gas is consumed domestically.

    Iran’s hydrocarbon production facilities are primarily concentrated in the southwest, in the Khuzestan province for oil and in the Bushehr province for gas and condensate from the giant South Pars field.

    It exports 90% of its crude via Kharg Island.

    Analysts say Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members could compensate for the drop of Iranian supply by using their spare capacity to pump more. However, with a number of producers in the group currently in the process of raising output targets, their spare capacity is becoming more strained.

    (Reuters)

  • ISRO, Axiom Space coordinate ahead of June 19 launch of Ax-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday said it is working closely with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens, following the rescheduling of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for June 19.

    In a post on X, ISRO said: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the #Ax4 mission to the @Space_Station. Indian Principal Investigators & @isro are coordinating with @Axiom_Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens. #Space #AxMission4 #ISRO #ISS.”

    The Axiom-4 mission includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

    Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed the new launch date in a June 14 post on X, saying: “Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.”

    He added that the technical issues which caused the initial delay had been resolved: “The SpaceX team has confirmed that all the issues that led to the earlier postponement of the launch have been duly addressed.”

    The delay was first announced by SpaceX on June 11, when the company cited a need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. “Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date” SpaceX said on X.

    The Ax-4 mission is Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS. The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. According to Axiom, this will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for the three nations since the 1980s.

  • ISRO, Axiom Space coordinate ahead of June 19 launch of Ax-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday said it is working closely with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens, following the rescheduling of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for June 19.

    In a post on X, ISRO said: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the #Ax4 mission to the @Space_Station. Indian Principal Investigators & @isro are coordinating with @Axiom_Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens. #Space #AxMission4 #ISRO #ISS.”

    The Axiom-4 mission includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

    Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed the new launch date in a June 14 post on X, saying: “Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.”

    He added that the technical issues which caused the initial delay had been resolved: “The SpaceX team has confirmed that all the issues that led to the earlier postponement of the launch have been duly addressed.”

    The delay was first announced by SpaceX on June 11, when the company cited a need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. “Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date” SpaceX said on X.

    The Ax-4 mission is Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS. The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. According to Axiom, this will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for the three nations since the 1980s.

  • PM Modi conferred Cyprus’s highest civilian honour, dedicates it to people of India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”, the highest civilian honour of the Republic of Cyprus. The award was presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the country.

    In his acceptance remarks, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the President, the government, and the people of Cyprus. Accepting the honour on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, the Prime Minister said the recognition was a tribute to the enduring friendship between the two nations, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and cooperation across diverse fields.

    “This honour is not just for me, but for 1.4 billion Indians,” he said. “It reflects our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – which continues to guide India’s approach to global peace, progress and cooperation.”

    PM Modi described the Grand Cross as a symbol of the deepening ties between India and Cyprus and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to uphold peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity.

    Instituted in 1981 by then President Spyros Kyprianou, the Decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III is one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Cypriot state. It is granted under the powers of Article 47b of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and is reserved for distinguished personalities who have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting global goodwill.

    The honour has previously been awarded to several distinguished world leaders, including former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in March 1983, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in April 1990, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in July 2022, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in March 2023, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands earlier this year.

    PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus comes at a time when both countries are seeking to deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, from economic engagement to cultural ties and innovation.

  • PM Modi conferred Cyprus’s highest civilian honour, dedicates it to people of India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”, the highest civilian honour of the Republic of Cyprus. The award was presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the country.

    In his acceptance remarks, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the President, the government, and the people of Cyprus. Accepting the honour on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, the Prime Minister said the recognition was a tribute to the enduring friendship between the two nations, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and cooperation across diverse fields.

    “This honour is not just for me, but for 1.4 billion Indians,” he said. “It reflects our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – which continues to guide India’s approach to global peace, progress and cooperation.”

    PM Modi described the Grand Cross as a symbol of the deepening ties between India and Cyprus and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to uphold peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity.

    Instituted in 1981 by then President Spyros Kyprianou, the Decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III is one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Cypriot state. It is granted under the powers of Article 47b of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and is reserved for distinguished personalities who have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting global goodwill.

    The honour has previously been awarded to several distinguished world leaders, including former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in March 1983, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in April 1990, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in July 2022, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in March 2023, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands earlier this year.

    PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus comes at a time when both countries are seeking to deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, from economic engagement to cultural ties and innovation.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in April 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in April 2025 
         In April 2025, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 12.3% and 13.4% respectively over April 2024.
     
         Comparing the first four months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 9.6% and 8.9% respectively.
     
         Comparing the three-month period ending April 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 10.4% and 10.3% respectively.
     
         Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 2.2% and 2.1% respectively.
     
         As regards price changes in the first four months of 2025 over the same period in 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 2.0%.
     
         Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
     
         The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2024, the index increased by 0.1% in April 2025, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first four months of 2025.
     
         Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: Vietnam (45.3%), India (23.2%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (20.2%), Taiwan (18.2%) and the USA (0.3%).
     
         Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Taiwan (4.8%), the Mainland (2.3%), Vietnam (2.0%) and the USA (0.9%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 1.2%.
     
         Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, increases were recorded for the import volume from Vietnam (93.6%), Taiwan (41.8%), the Mainland (14.5%) and Singapore (5.0%). On the other hand, the import volume from Korea decreased by 25.8%.
     
         Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (5.3%), Taiwan (5.2%), Singapore (2.4%), Vietnam (0.7%) and the Mainland (0.6%).
     
    Further information
     
         Details of the above statistics are published in the April 2025 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230 
         Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).
    Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Canon, Coral Spawning Lab, and Nature Seychelles Team Up to Regenerate Coral Reefs


    Download logo

    Canon EMEA (Canon-CNA.com) is partnering with Nature Seychelles, a leading non-profit organisation in the Western Indian Ocean, and the Coral Spawning Lab (CSL), to lead a first-of-its-kind project designed to safeguard the Seychelles’ vital marine ecosystems. The project aims to restore and protect coral reefs against climate change by embracing a new method of coral regeneration in the region.

    Canon will provide investment to Nature Seychelles for the construction and operation of a coral breeding facility as well as Canon imaging equipment to enhance observation and documentation of coral spawning, to be used in citizen science, and for education and awareness. Canon’s equipment will allow researchers to witness coral spawning events in detail previously not seen before.

    This will be the first of its kind in the region and will enhance Nature Seychelles’ new Assisted Recovery of Corals (ARC) facility, a land-based coral aquaculture facility aimed at boosting coral restoration efforts to save reefs from the impacts of climate change.

    With support from Canon and CSL, Nature Seychelles will develop a deeper understanding of coral reproductive timing, post-settlement growth, and survival. The technology provided will also facilitate photomicrography, photogrammetry, and the production of high-quality imagery and videos for researchers.

    The new cutting-edge coral breeding facility will create a genetic bank of resilient coral and document the process like never before. It will be built by CSL – a UK-based team of researchers that work to better understand the life cycles of reefs to equip communities with the information they need to regenerate coral ecosystems. CSL will also provide training in Seychelles to operate the facility.

    Coral reef restoration in the Seychelles has traditionally relied on the “coral gardening” (http://apo-opa.co/45rAo7K) technique where coral fragments are selected from existing reefs and grown in nurseries, before being transplanted back into degraded areas. However, given this process results in a reef populated by genetically identical corals, the technique falls short of creating corals that can routinely withstand the events that degrade them; for example, coral bleaching events, where stress triggered by rising ocean temperatures causes damage to their tissue. The lack of genetic diversity within gardened reefs is a critical weakness, rendering the technique only a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution for improving reef health and resiliency in the region.

    “Currently, we’re essentially cloning corals, creating reefs of genetically identical species,” explains Dr Nirmal Shah, CEO of Nature Seychelles. “Evolution thrives on diversity – the strong, the weak, the healthy, and everything in between. To build truly resilient reefs, we need to embrace true diversity. Canon’s partnership, alongside Coral Spawning Lab’s expertise allows us to do just that, by enabling us to breed corals and create a genetic bank of resilient species. Canon’s technology will also allow us to unlock the secrets of coral reproduction, leading to more effective conservation strategies and, ultimately, inspiring true change in how we protect and regenerate these vital ecosystems “

    Canon’s support is part of its broader commitment to environmental sustainability and using its imaging technology from cameras to satellites to further enable conservation efforts.

    Healthy coral reefs are crucial for the Seychelles’ tourism, fisheries, coastal protection, and biodiversity – and this partnership supports a more sustainable future for the islands.

    “Coral reefs are the foundation of our economy, our environment, and our way of life,” says Dr. Shah. “This partnership with Canon is not just about restoring reefs; it’s about safeguarding the future of the Seychelles.”

    Dr Jamie Craggs, marine biologist and co-founder of the Coral Spawning Lab, says: “The Coral Spawning Lab has always pushed the boundaries of coral reproductive science. This partnership with Canon and Nature Seychelles allows us to continue that tradition of innovation, combining our expertise with their cutting-edge imaging technology to develop new and more effective approaches to coral conservation.

    Working together, we can raise awareness about the urgent need for conservation with a broader audience. As a former underwater cameraman, I know the power of imagery to communicate complex scientific concepts and inspire action. By partnering with Canon, we can share the beauty and fragility of coral reefs with the world.”

    Peter Bragg, Sustainability and Government Affairs Director at Canon EMEA, says “Our partnership with Nature Seychelles and the Coral Spawning Lab in this innovative effort to protect the Seychelles’ vital coral reefs, demonstrates our commitment to biodiversity. The power of our imaging technology and expertise can play a significant role in building a more sustainable future for small island nations facing the challenges of climate change. By providing the tools to see, understand, and share the story of coral reefs, we hope to empower communities and raise awareness to protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

    Media enquiries, please contact:
    Canon Central and North Africa
    Mai Youssef
    e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

    APO Group – PR Agency
    Rania ElRafie
    e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

    About Canon Central and North Africa:
    Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

    Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

    Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/4jTcjtZ) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

    For more information: Canon-CNA.com

    About Nature Seychelles:
    Nature Seychelles is a leading environmental organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of the Seychelles’ natural resources. Through research, education, and community engagement, Nature Seychelles works to protect the Seychelles’ unique biodiversity and promote a sustainable future for the islands.

    About Coral Spawning Lab:
    Coral Spawning Lab are pioneers in land-based sexual coral reproduction. Their groundbreaking research, technical expertise in coral propagation, and extensive experience in restoration projects enable them to advance research and selective breeding programs—helping repair damaged coral reefs at scales that can make a meaningful difference to our oceans and our planet. Their goal is to empower and equip every practitioner, reef manager, and restorer with the tools and knowledge needed to spawn coral in land-based facilities.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India Inc’s operating profit margins likely to rise to 18.5% in Q1 FY26: ICRA report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India Inc’s operating profit margins are expected to rise by 10 to 40 basis points to 18.2–18.5% in the first quarter (April–June) of FY2026, continuing the sequential recovery seen over the past few quarters, according to a report released by rating agency ICRA on Monday.

    “This, coupled with a moderation in interest costs due to the Reserve Bank of India’s recent cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points, is expected to improve the interest coverage ratio for India Inc. to around 5.1–5.2 times in Q1 FY2026, compared to 5.0 times in Q4 FY2025,” the report stated.

    Kinjal Shah, Senior Vice President at ICRA, noted, “Given the uncertain global environment, the private capital expenditure (capex) cycle is expected to remain measured. However, certain sunrise sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and niche segments within the automotive space like electric vehicles will continue to attract investment, supported by the Government of India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes.”

    He further added that entities linked to Indian Railways and the Defence sector are likely to see their large order books translating into higher revenues and earnings.

    ICRA’s analysis of 589 listed companies (excluding financial sector entities) for Q4 FY2025 revealed a 7.6% year-on-year revenue growth. This was driven by improved demand across consumption-oriented sectors such as consumer durables, retail, hotels, and airlines, as well as infrastructure-related sectors like power, real estate, and construction. In contrast, sectors such as iron and steel experienced a decline due to weaker global demand and an influx of cheaper imports from China.

    India Inc is expected to post stable revenue growth in Q1 FY2026, supported by resilient domestic demand. Rural demand is projected to remain healthy, while urban demand is likely to recover, aided by income tax relief measures, easing food inflation, and lower EMIs.

    However, ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on sentiment, particularly for export-oriented sectors such as agrochemicals, textiles, auto and auto components, cut and polished diamonds, and IT services.

    In Q4 FY2025, India Inc recorded a 63-basis-point year-on-year increase in operating profit margins to 18.5%, marking the highest level since Q4 FY2022. This expansion was driven by improved operating leverage on the back of strong demand in sectors like power, airlines, and real estate, along with some moderation in input costs. Sequentially, margins improved by around 41 basis points during the quarter.

    ICRA also observed that the interest coverage ratio of its sample set—adjusted to exclude sectors with relatively low debt levels such as IT, FMCG, and pharmaceuticals—improved on a year-on-year basis to 5.0 times in Q4 FY2025, up from 4.8 times in Q4 FY2024, owing to better profitability.

    Furthermore, range-bound debt levels and improved profitability across industrial, capital goods, and construction sectors in FY2025 contributed to a stronger financial position, as reflected in improved gearing and better debt-to-operating profit ratios.

    — IANS

  • India Inc’s operating profit margins likely to rise to 18.5% in Q1 FY26: ICRA report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India Inc’s operating profit margins are expected to rise by 10 to 40 basis points to 18.2–18.5% in the first quarter (April–June) of FY2026, continuing the sequential recovery seen over the past few quarters, according to a report released by rating agency ICRA on Monday.

    “This, coupled with a moderation in interest costs due to the Reserve Bank of India’s recent cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points, is expected to improve the interest coverage ratio for India Inc. to around 5.1–5.2 times in Q1 FY2026, compared to 5.0 times in Q4 FY2025,” the report stated.

    Kinjal Shah, Senior Vice President at ICRA, noted, “Given the uncertain global environment, the private capital expenditure (capex) cycle is expected to remain measured. However, certain sunrise sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and niche segments within the automotive space like electric vehicles will continue to attract investment, supported by the Government of India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes.”

    He further added that entities linked to Indian Railways and the Defence sector are likely to see their large order books translating into higher revenues and earnings.

    ICRA’s analysis of 589 listed companies (excluding financial sector entities) for Q4 FY2025 revealed a 7.6% year-on-year revenue growth. This was driven by improved demand across consumption-oriented sectors such as consumer durables, retail, hotels, and airlines, as well as infrastructure-related sectors like power, real estate, and construction. In contrast, sectors such as iron and steel experienced a decline due to weaker global demand and an influx of cheaper imports from China.

    India Inc is expected to post stable revenue growth in Q1 FY2026, supported by resilient domestic demand. Rural demand is projected to remain healthy, while urban demand is likely to recover, aided by income tax relief measures, easing food inflation, and lower EMIs.

    However, ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on sentiment, particularly for export-oriented sectors such as agrochemicals, textiles, auto and auto components, cut and polished diamonds, and IT services.

    In Q4 FY2025, India Inc recorded a 63-basis-point year-on-year increase in operating profit margins to 18.5%, marking the highest level since Q4 FY2022. This expansion was driven by improved operating leverage on the back of strong demand in sectors like power, airlines, and real estate, along with some moderation in input costs. Sequentially, margins improved by around 41 basis points during the quarter.

    ICRA also observed that the interest coverage ratio of its sample set—adjusted to exclude sectors with relatively low debt levels such as IT, FMCG, and pharmaceuticals—improved on a year-on-year basis to 5.0 times in Q4 FY2025, up from 4.8 times in Q4 FY2024, owing to better profitability.

    Furthermore, range-bound debt levels and improved profitability across industrial, capital goods, and construction sectors in FY2025 contributed to a stronger financial position, as reflected in improved gearing and better debt-to-operating profit ratios.

    — IANS

  • Amitabh Kant steps down as G20 Sherpa after 45 years of government service

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Amitabh Kant on Monday announced his decision to step down as the G20 Sherpa. His resignation comes after 45 years of government service in various roles, including G20 Sherpa, CEO of NITI Aayog, and Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion, among others.

    “After 45 years of dedicated government service, I have made the decision to embrace new opportunities and move forward in life,” Kant said in a post on X, titled ‘My New Journey’. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and for entrusting him with key policy responsibilities during his tenure.

    Describing the G20 Summit in India as a “significant milestone” in his career, Kant wrote in a LinkedIn post: “India’s G20 presidency was people-centric and inclusive, with meetings held across all states and union territories. This strengthened cooperative federalism, celebrated local culture, and upgraded infrastructure nationwide.”

    Kant also highlighted the successful inclusion of the African Union in the G20, which fulfilled India’s commitment to global equity and to amplifying the voice of the Global South.

    During his time at NITI Aayog, Kant led flagship initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, aimed at improving governance and development indicators in 115 of India’s most underdeveloped districts. He also played a pivotal role in shaping India’s digital public infrastructure, and championed innovation through the Atal Innovation Mission, manufacturing reforms via the PLI scheme, and sustainability through missions such as Green Hydrogen and Advanced Chemistry Cells.

    As Secretary of the DIPP, Kant played a significant role in rolling out major initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, and Startup India.

    Tracing his career to its roots in Kerala, Kant said his early exposure to grassroots development informed his later efforts — including the globally recognised Incredible India tourism campaign, which he described as inspired by the sector’s potential for job creation and economic growth.

    Kant’s next chapter, he said, would focus on contributing to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by empowering enterprise and innovation.

  • Amitabh Kant steps down as G20 Sherpa after 45 years of government service

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Amitabh Kant on Monday announced his decision to step down as the G20 Sherpa. His resignation comes after 45 years of government service in various roles, including G20 Sherpa, CEO of NITI Aayog, and Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion, among others.

    “After 45 years of dedicated government service, I have made the decision to embrace new opportunities and move forward in life,” Kant said in a post on X, titled ‘My New Journey’. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and for entrusting him with key policy responsibilities during his tenure.

    Describing the G20 Summit in India as a “significant milestone” in his career, Kant wrote in a LinkedIn post: “India’s G20 presidency was people-centric and inclusive, with meetings held across all states and union territories. This strengthened cooperative federalism, celebrated local culture, and upgraded infrastructure nationwide.”

    Kant also highlighted the successful inclusion of the African Union in the G20, which fulfilled India’s commitment to global equity and to amplifying the voice of the Global South.

    During his time at NITI Aayog, Kant led flagship initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, aimed at improving governance and development indicators in 115 of India’s most underdeveloped districts. He also played a pivotal role in shaping India’s digital public infrastructure, and championed innovation through the Atal Innovation Mission, manufacturing reforms via the PLI scheme, and sustainability through missions such as Green Hydrogen and Advanced Chemistry Cells.

    As Secretary of the DIPP, Kant played a significant role in rolling out major initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, and Startup India.

    Tracing his career to its roots in Kerala, Kant said his early exposure to grassroots development informed his later efforts — including the globally recognised Incredible India tourism campaign, which he described as inspired by the sector’s potential for job creation and economic growth.

    Kant’s next chapter, he said, would focus on contributing to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by empowering enterprise and innovation.

  • Nvidia’s pitch for sovereign AI resonates with EU leaders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nvidia NVDA.O CEO Jensen Huang has been pitching the idea of “sovereign AI” since 2023. Europe is now starting to listen and act.

    The concept is based on the idea that the language, knowledge, history and culture of each region are different, and every nation needs to develop and own its AI.

    Last week, the CEO of the artificial-intelligence chipmaker toured Europe’s major capitals – London, Paris and Berlin – announcing a slew of projects and partnerships, while highlighting the lack of AI infrastructure in the region.

    In a place where leaders are increasingly wary of the continent’s dependency on a handful of U.S. tech companies and after drawing ire from the U.S. President Donald Trump, his vision has started to gain traction.

    “We are going to invest billions in here … but Europe needs to move into AI quickly,” Huang said on Wednesday in Paris.

    On Monday of last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) in funding to scale up computing power in a global race “to be an AI maker and not an AI taker.”

    French President Emmanuel Macron called building AI infrastructure “our fight for sovereignty” at VivaTech, one of the largest global tech conferences.

    After Nvidia laid out plans to build an AI cloud platform in Germany with Deutsche Telekom DTEGn.DE, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it an “important step” for the digital sovereignty and economic future of Europe’s top economy.

    Europe lags behind both the U.S. and China as its cloud infrastructure is mostly run by Microsoft MSFT.O, Amazon AMZN.O and Alphabet’s GOOGL.O Google, and it has only a few smaller AI companies such as Mistral to rival the U.S. ones.

    “There’s no reason why Europe shouldn’t have tech champions,” said 31-year-old Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch, sitting beside Huang, who has led Nvidia for more than three decades, at a panel at VivaTech.

    “This is a gigantic dream.”

    GIGAFACTORY PLANS UNLEASHED

    In France, Mistral has partnered with Nvidia to build a data centre to power the AI needs of European companies with a homegrown alternative.

    It will use 18,000 of the latest Nvidia AI chips in the first phase, with plans to expand across multiple sites in 2026.

    In February, the European Union announced plans to build four “AI gigafactories” at a cost of $20 billion to lower dependence on U.S. firms.

    The European Commission has been in touch with Huang and he had told the EU executive that he was going to allocate some chip production to Europe for these factories, an EU official told Reuters.

    Nvidia’s chips known as Graphics Processing Units or GPUs are crucial for building AI data centres from the U.S. to Japan and India to the Middle East.

    In Europe, a push for sovereign AI could reshape the tech landscape with domestic cloud providers, AI startups, and chipmakers standing to gain from new government funding and a shift toward in-region data infrastructure.

    Nvidia also wants to cement demand for its AI chips, ensuring that even as countries seek independence, they still rely on its technology to get there.

    POWER COSTS

    The push is not without challenges.

    High electricity costs and rising demand could strain sourcing of electricity for data centres. Data centres account for 3% of EU electricity demand, but their consumption is expected to increase rapidly this decade due to AI.

    Mistral, which has raised just over $1 billion, is trying to become a European homegrown champion with a fraction of the money U.S. hyperscalers or large data-centre operators spend in a month.

    “Hyperscalers are spending $10 billion to $15 billion per quarter in their infrastructure. Who in Europe can afford that exactly?” said Pascal Brier, chief innovation officer at Capgemini CAPP.PA, a partner of both Nvidia and Mistral.

    “It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything, but we have to be cognizant about the fact that there will always be a gap.”

    Mistral has launched several AI models which are used by businesses but companies tend to mix them with models from other companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta Platforms META.O.

    “Most of the time it’s not Mistral or the rest, it’s Mistral and the rest,” Brier said.

    (Reuters)

  • World Test Championship format needs revamping despite riveting final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A riveting World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa went a long way to boost the sagging credentials of the five-day game, but the format of the competition is in need of a revamp, according to many of the game’s top observers.

    South Africa beat Australia by five wickets at lunch on the fourth day of a fluctuating contest at Lord’s in which the bowlers dominated the opening two days. A total of 24 wickets were taken, but the tables were turned as wickets turned benign and the batsmen changed the course of the match.

    It was classic test cricket, as good as the excitement from any limited overs contest, but the overall WTC is a bewildering competition, devoid of uniformity and an unbalanced points system.

    There was much criticism of how South Africa managed to reach the final without playing either Australia and England in the two-year qualifying period.

    “It’s very hard for the average cricket fan to understand who’s the best team in the world and how exactly the top two teams make it to the final,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan, now a television pundit.

    The two finalists are decided by a table of test results, with points awarded for wins and draws. The pair with the highest percentage of points available to them advance to the final, which in 2027 could again be at Lord’s or in India, according to International Cricket Council officials.

    But there was a major discrepancy in South Africa playing only 12 tests compared to 19 for Australia and India, and even more by England (22).

    “I can’t remember if I’ve ever even given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship to be honest because it’s utterly confusing,” added England captain Ben Stokes.

    Countries are free to decide how many tests they want to play, and in South Africa’s case, there is much less of an appetite for test cricket because they lose money.

    In the next cycle, which starts on Tuesday when Bangladesh begin a two-test series in Sri Lanka, the new champions will play 14 tests, this time including three test series against each of Australia and England but only two against India.

    Five test series are now only the preserve of contests between Australia, England, and India.
    “The fixture list is uneven; not everyone plays everyone else, and some have an easier ride than others,” wrote Michael Atherton last week.

    “Everyone knows the WTC in its present guise is flawed, and that solutions, with so many competing interests, are fiendishly difficult,” added the former England skipper.

    (Reuters)

  • Australia coach McDonald backs stuttering Labuschagne

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Batter Marnus Labuschagne is still a key part of Australia’s future in test cricket despite failing to impress in their five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, coach Andrew McDonald said.

    Labuschagne opened alongside Khawaja, scoring 17 runs off 56 balls in the first innings and 22 off 64 in the second, with South Africa completing a remarkable turnaround on Saturday after successfully chasing down an imposing 282-run target.

    The 30-year-old has scored one hundred in his last 28 tests and has come away with single-digit tallies in four of his last 11 matches.

    “He’s a big part of the future of the team. Anyone that averages 45, 46 in test cricket at that age is important. We’ve got older players there that are closer to the end than the start,” McDonald told reporters.

    “We’ve got some younger players that are coming in. If he can get his game in good order for the next four or five years, he can underpin that batting order. But at the moment, he’d be disappointed with the returns. He’s missed out on big scores.

    “But we’re confident that he could return to his best and hence why we keep picking him. And at what point do we stop picking him? I think most players across their journey get dropped at some point in time…”

    Khawaja also struggled against South Africa, departing for a duck in the first innings and scoring just six runs in his second, but McDonald said the 38-year-old veteran’s presence in the team was invaluable.

    “He’s on contract, he’s an important player. He gives us stability at his best at the top. And we like to look at our players at their best,” McDonald said.

    “No doubt, a couple of failures here and people then start to talk about maybe it’s the end. I don’t see an end date with the way he’s training, the way he’s preparing, the way he’s moving.”

    Australia next travel to the Caribbean for a three-test series against West Indies beginning on June 25.

    (Reuters)

  • Steve Smith in doubt for Australia’s tour of West Indies

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Steve Smith will miss Australia’s first test against the West Indies in Barbados later this month and could sit out the entire three-test series with a finger injury, captain Pat Cummins said.

    Smith, one of the mainstays of the Australian team, suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger fielding on the third day of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on Friday, missing the rest of the match.

    He was taken to hospital for x-rays but no surgery was required. However, he faces some time on the sidelines.

    “I’d say first test maybe unlikely, and then go from there, but it’s a bit early to tell,” Cummins said after Australia’s surprise defeat against a South Africa team that wrapped up their five-wicket victory on Saturday.

    The 36-year-old Smith was standing far closer to the stumps than normal when he dropped South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who had scored two runs but went on to hit 66 in a significant contribution to his team’s success.

    Australia begin their three-test series in the Caribbean in Bridgetown over June 25-29 and play the other two tests in Grenada and Jamaica.

    (Reuters)

  • Police forces being modernized under the leadership of PM Modi: Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday handed over appointment letters to 60,244 newly recruited Civil Police Constables of the Uttar Pradesh Police during a grand ceremony held in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

    Describing the recruitment as historic, Shah said the new recruits would become an integral part of India’s largest police force. He praised the Yogi Adityanath-led government for restoring law and order in the state, noting that the recruitment process was conducted with complete transparency — free from bribery, political influence, or caste considerations. Of the selected candidates, over 12,000 are women.

    Shah highlighted that modernization of the police force has accelerated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and said the new recruits would carry forward the vision of a secure and developed Uttar Pradesh. He called on the youth to serve with the values of “security, service, and sensitivity.”

    Referring to recent legal reforms, the Home Minister said the implementation of the new criminal codes — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — would ensure faster justice, with a target of verdicts within three years from FIR to the Supreme Court.

    He also praised Uttar Pradesh’s transformation from a riot-prone state to one governed by law and order. “Goons and mafias should fear the police, while the poor, Dalits, and backward classes should see them as protectors,” Shah asserted.

    Highlighting achievements of the Modi government over the past 11 years, Shah cited the upliftment of 25 crore people from poverty, significant infrastructure development, and enhanced national security — including responses to terrorist attacks and India’s advancements in space and technology.

    Shah concluded by urging the new recruits to uphold justice and contribute to the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.

  • Dr. P. K. Mishra reviews relief and rescue operations following Ahmedabad plane crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, visited Ahmedabad on Sunday to oversee ongoing relief and rescue operations following the tragic plane crash near B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar. His visit followed directives issued by PM Modi, emphasising swift action, a thorough investigation, and support for the victims and their families.

    Dr Mishra conducted an on-site review of the crash location, where he was briefed by senior officials from the state government, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Authorities outlined the timeline of the incident and the immediate response measures undertaken.

    During his visit to Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Dr Mishra met injured passengers and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. He instructed officials to ensure that bereaved families are given full assistance in a seamless manner.

    Later, Dr Mishra visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where he reviewed the DNA sampling process. Stressing the need for both accuracy and urgency, he directed forensic teams to expedite the identification of victims while ensuring scientific rigour.

    Chairing a high-level meeting at Circuit House, Ahmedabad, Dr. Mishra reviewed investigation and relief efforts with senior officials from the centre, the state, AAIB, and AAI. The AAIB has launched a detailed probe into the crash.

    Since the aircraft involved was US-manufactured, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting a parallel investigation under international protocols.

    Dr Mishra reaffirmed Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to ensuring a coordinated and compassionate response, with all necessary resources deployed to support victims and their families. He was accompanied by senior PMO officials, including Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Mangesh Ghildiyal, Deputy Secretary, PMO.

  • Indian stock market opens in green, defies geopolitical tensions

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian equity indices opened in the green on Monday despite rising tensions in the Middle East, with early trade showing no signs of panic among investors.

    As of 9:21 a.m., the Sensex was up by 265.05 points or 0.33 per cent at 81,396.52, while the Nifty rose by 93.40 points or 0.38 per cent to reach 24,812.

    Buying interest was observed in both the midcap and smallcap segments. The Nifty Midcap 100 index rose by 65.45 points or 0.11 per cent to 58,292.50, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index gained 17.15 points or 0.09 per cent to reach 18,391.95.

    According to analysts, the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has introduced uncertainty and a risk-off sentiment in global markets.

    “The safe-haven demand is keeping gold firm, but the dollar continues to remain weak. Interestingly, there is no panic in equity markets,” said V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    Markets, he noted, will face severe pressure only if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a sharp spike in crude prices. However, he added that this currently appears to be a low-probability scenario.

    On the sectoral front, IT, financial services, pharma, FMCG, metal, energy, infrastructure, and public sector enterprises (PSEs) emerged as major gainers. On the other hand, auto, PSU banks, metal, and realty stocks witnessed some profit-booking.

    Within the Sensex pack, top gainers included Power Grid, UltraTech Cement, L&T, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Infosys, NTPC, and Tech Mahindra. Among the major losers were Tata Motors, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sun Pharma, M&M, SBI, and Maruti Suzuki.

    Given the current environment of heightened volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, market experts are advising traders to adopt a cautious approach, particularly with leveraged positions.

    “Partial profit-booking during rallies and the use of tight trailing stop-losses is recommended,” said Aakash Shah of Choice Broking.

    Asian markets were trading mixed. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Jakarta were in the green, while Bangkok and Hong Kong were trading in the red. On Friday, US markets closed in negative territory.

    From an institutional standpoint, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers on June 13, offloading equities worth ₹1,263 crore. Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net buyers, purchasing equities worth ₹3,041 crore.

    Analysts believe the prevailing trend of steady retail participation and sustained fund inflows into mutual funds will keep valuations elevated over the long term. Consequently, they suggest that long-term investors consider using this risk-off phase to accumulate relatively undervalued stocks, particularly in the financial sector.

    — IANS

  • US police arrest suspect Vance Boelter for Minnesota lawmakers’ shooting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A massive two-day manhunt ended on Sunday with the arrest of Vance Boelter, 57, for allegedly killing a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker and her husband while posing as a police officer, Governor Tim Walz said.

    Boelter allegedly shot dead Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, in their home on Saturday – a crime Governor Tim Walz characterized as a “politically motivated assassination.”

    Authorities said Boelter also allegedly shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette at their home a few miles away.

    “After a two-day manhunt, two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter,” Walz told a news conference. “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota.

    “A moment in this country where we watch violence erupt, this cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences. Now is the time for us to recommit to the core values of this country, and each and every one of us can do it.”

    Walz said Hoffman, who had been hit with nine bullets, came out of his final surgery and was moving towards recovery.

    Boelter has links to evangelical ministries and claimed to be a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to online postings and public records reviewed by Reuters.

    Boelter was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, the criminal complaint showed.

    Three of those charges are punishable with jail terms of up to 40 years, according to the complaint unsealed on Sunday.

    Boelter had been impersonating a police officer while carrying out the shootings, wearing an officer’s uniform and driving a Ford SUV with police-style lights, according to a Hennepin County criminal complaint unsealed on Sunday.

    Boelter fled on foot early on Saturday when officers confronted him at Hortman’s Brooklyn Park home, said authorities who had warned residents to stay indoors for their own safety and unleashed the state’s biggest manhunt.

    When police searched Boelter’s SUV after the shootings they discovered three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9-mm handgun, and a list of other public officials including their addresses, the criminal complaint showed.

    Working on a tip that Boelter was near his home in the city of Green Isle, more than 20 SWAT teams combed the area, aided by surveillance aircraft, officials said. Boelter was armed but surrendered with no shots fired.

    “The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest,” Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol told the briefing. “The suspect was taken into custody without any use of force.”

    The operation to capture Boelter, drawing on the work of hundreds of detectives and a wide range of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, was the largest manhunt in state history, Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said.

    “Now begins the hard work of looking at what the motive is,” Bruley said.

    The killing was the latest episode of high-profile U.S. political violence.

    Such incidents range from a 2022 attack on former Democratic U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their home, to an assassination bid on Donald Trump last year, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house in April.

    (Reuters)