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Category: India

  • Crush at Gaza aid site kills at least 20, GHF blames armed agitators

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators.

    The GHF, which is supported by Israel, said 19 people were trampled and one fatally stabbed during the crush at one of its centres in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

    “We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd – armed and affiliated with Hamas – deliberately fomented the unrest,” GHF said in a statement.

    There has been no immediate comment from Hamas.

    Palestinian heath officials told Reuters 21 people had died of suffocation at the site. One medic said lots of people had been crammed into a small space and had been crushed.

    On Tuesday, the U.N. rights office in Geneva said it had recorded at least 875 killings within the past six weeks in the vicinity of aid sites and food convoys in Gaza – the majority of them close to GHF distribution points.

    Most of those deaths were caused by gunfire that locals have blamed on the Israeli military. The military has acknowledged that Palestinian civilians were harmed near aid distribution centres, saying that Israeli forces had been issued new instructions with “lessons learned”.

    The GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a U.N.-led system that Israel alleges has let Hamas-led militants loot aid shipments intended for civilians. Hamas denies the accusation.

    The U.N. has called the GHF’s model unsafe and a breach of humanitarian impartiality standards – an allegation GHF has denied.

    Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network, accused the GHF on Wednesday of gross mismanagement, saying its lack of crowd control and failure to uphold humanitarian principles had led to chaos and death among desperate civilians.

    “People who flock in their thousands (to GHF sites) are hungry and exhausted, and they get squeezed into narrow places, amid shortages of aid and the absence of organization and discipline by the GHF,” he told Reuters.

    The war in Gaza, triggered in October 2023 by a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, has devastated large swathes of the coastal enclave, displaced almost all of the territory’s population and led to widespread hunger and privation.

    ISRAELI ARMY ROAD

    Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had finished paving a new road in southern Gaza separating several towns east of Khan Younis from the rest of the territory in an effort to disrupt Hamas operations.

    Palestinians see the road, which extends Israeli control, as a way to pressure on Hamas in ongoing ceasefire talks, which started on July 6 and are being brokered by Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar with the backing of the United States.

    Palestinian sources close to the negotiations said a breakthrough had not yet been reached on any of the main issues under discussion.

    Hamas said Israel wanted to keep at least 40% of the Gaza Strip under its control as part of any deal, which the group rejected. Hamas has also demanded the dismantlement of the GHF and the reinstatement of a U.N.-led aid delivery mechanism.

    Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the road showed Israel was not serious about reaching a ceasefire deal.

    “It confirms the occupation’s long-term intentions and plans to remain inside the Strip, not to withdraw, and not to end the war. This contradicts everything it claims at the negotiating table or communicates to mediators,” Naim said in a post on his Facebook page.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas is disarmed and removed from Gaza.

    Gaza local health authorities said Israeli military strikes have killed at least 17 people across the enclave on Wednesday.

    Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

    Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. An estimated 50 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including 28 hostages who have been declared dead and whose bodies are being withheld.

    (Reuters)

  • India’s EV sales projected to cross 7% market share by FY28: CareEdge report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s electric car sales are projected to cross a 7 per cent market share by FY28, provided supply chain challenges around rare earth elements (REEs) are addressed in time, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

    The report by CareEdge Advisory highlighted that India’s electric car market has witnessed robust growth over the past three years, expanding from just over 5,000 units in FY21 to more than 1.07 lakh units in FY25 — a 21-fold increase.

    While electric four-wheelers currently form a small part of India’s overall EV sales — which are led by two- and three-wheelers — the segment is expected to see rapid expansion in the coming years, driven by fresh model launches, strengthening public policy support and growing private sector participation.

    The Indian government has set a target of achieving 30 per cent EV penetration by FY30 and is rolling out multiple initiatives to boost adoption.

    Schemes such as FAME III, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for advanced chemistry cell (ACC) batteries, and customs duty exemptions for critical battery minerals are expected to lower production costs and enhance domestic supply chains.

    “India’s electric car sales penetration is likely to cross 7 per cent by FY28, provided rare earth disruption is resolved in a timely manner. With a robust pipeline of new models, expanding charging infrastructure and battery localisation under the PLI scheme, India is well-positioned to accelerate EV adoption,” said Tanvi Shah, Senior Director and Head, CareEdge Advisory & Research.

    The report underlined that charging infrastructure, historically seen as a major hurdle in EV adoption, is witnessing rapid expansion.

    The number of Public EV Charging Stations (EVPCS) in India has grown nearly fivefold in the past three years, from 5,151 in 2022 to over 26,000 by early FY25 — recording a compound annual growth rate of more than 72 per cent.

    The FAME III scheme includes dedicated support for charging infrastructure, while states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have introduced targeted incentives, including land subsidies and capital expenditure support for setting up new stations.

    Urban local bodies are also implementing policies mandating EV-ready parking in new residential and commercial buildings, aiming to reduce range anxiety for potential buyers.

    Private charge point operators are expanding networks rapidly, often in partnership with local municipal corporations and power distribution companies. Efforts are also underway to standardise charging protocols to ensure interoperability and ease of use for consumers.

    In addition, the Union Budget for FY26 introduced zero basic customs duty on 16 key minerals used in battery manufacturing. This is expected to reduce India’s reliance on imports and lower production costs.

    CareEdge estimates that India’s dependence on lithium-ion cell imports could drop to 20 per cent by FY27, compared to nearly 100 per cent in FY22, supported by new investments in integrated battery manufacturing facilities.

    The report comes as global EV leader Tesla begins its operations in India, signalling further momentum for the country’s electric mobility landscape.

    (IANS)

  • India’s EV sales projected to cross 7% market share by FY28: CareEdge report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s electric car sales are projected to cross a 7 per cent market share by FY28, provided supply chain challenges around rare earth elements (REEs) are addressed in time, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

    The report by CareEdge Advisory highlighted that India’s electric car market has witnessed robust growth over the past three years, expanding from just over 5,000 units in FY21 to more than 1.07 lakh units in FY25 — a 21-fold increase.

    While electric four-wheelers currently form a small part of India’s overall EV sales — which are led by two- and three-wheelers — the segment is expected to see rapid expansion in the coming years, driven by fresh model launches, strengthening public policy support and growing private sector participation.

    The Indian government has set a target of achieving 30 per cent EV penetration by FY30 and is rolling out multiple initiatives to boost adoption.

    Schemes such as FAME III, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for advanced chemistry cell (ACC) batteries, and customs duty exemptions for critical battery minerals are expected to lower production costs and enhance domestic supply chains.

    “India’s electric car sales penetration is likely to cross 7 per cent by FY28, provided rare earth disruption is resolved in a timely manner. With a robust pipeline of new models, expanding charging infrastructure and battery localisation under the PLI scheme, India is well-positioned to accelerate EV adoption,” said Tanvi Shah, Senior Director and Head, CareEdge Advisory & Research.

    The report underlined that charging infrastructure, historically seen as a major hurdle in EV adoption, is witnessing rapid expansion.

    The number of Public EV Charging Stations (EVPCS) in India has grown nearly fivefold in the past three years, from 5,151 in 2022 to over 26,000 by early FY25 — recording a compound annual growth rate of more than 72 per cent.

    The FAME III scheme includes dedicated support for charging infrastructure, while states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have introduced targeted incentives, including land subsidies and capital expenditure support for setting up new stations.

    Urban local bodies are also implementing policies mandating EV-ready parking in new residential and commercial buildings, aiming to reduce range anxiety for potential buyers.

    Private charge point operators are expanding networks rapidly, often in partnership with local municipal corporations and power distribution companies. Efforts are also underway to standardise charging protocols to ensure interoperability and ease of use for consumers.

    In addition, the Union Budget for FY26 introduced zero basic customs duty on 16 key minerals used in battery manufacturing. This is expected to reduce India’s reliance on imports and lower production costs.

    CareEdge estimates that India’s dependence on lithium-ion cell imports could drop to 20 per cent by FY27, compared to nearly 100 per cent in FY22, supported by new investments in integrated battery manufacturing facilities.

    The report comes as global EV leader Tesla begins its operations in India, signalling further momentum for the country’s electric mobility landscape.

    (IANS)

  • UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after five years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain has lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply to resume UK flights just as Islamabad steps up efforts to privatise its national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. 

    The ban was imposed in 2020, days after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilot licences issued in the country following a PIA plane crash that killed 97 people.

    The British High Commission said on Wednesday the lifting of the ban followed safety improvements by Pakistani authorities. The decision comes just months after the European Union took similar steps.

    While several private Pakistani airlines operate domestically and on regional routes, primarily to the Middle East, PIA has historically been the only carrier to operate long-haul flights to Britain and the European Union.

    PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around 40 billion rupees ($144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport that could become active again.

    PIA’s spokesperson said the airline was finalising preparations to resume UK flights “in the shortest possible time” and had submitted its proposed schedule.

    Flights would resume with the Islamabad-Manchester route, with three weekly flights planned initially pending schedule approval, the spokesperson added.

    Earlier this month, Pakistan approved four groups to bid for a 51-100% stake in PIA. Final bids are expected later this year.

    The government is hoping that recent reforms, which led to the airline’s first operating profit in 21 years – will help attract buyers under a broader IMF-backed privatisation push.

    Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a press conference on Wednesday that the resumption of all routes would improve PIA’s value ahead of the privatisation. He also said there were plans to restart flights to New York.

    (Reuters)

  • UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after five years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain has lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply to resume UK flights just as Islamabad steps up efforts to privatise its national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. 

    The ban was imposed in 2020, days after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilot licences issued in the country following a PIA plane crash that killed 97 people.

    The British High Commission said on Wednesday the lifting of the ban followed safety improvements by Pakistani authorities. The decision comes just months after the European Union took similar steps.

    While several private Pakistani airlines operate domestically and on regional routes, primarily to the Middle East, PIA has historically been the only carrier to operate long-haul flights to Britain and the European Union.

    PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around 40 billion rupees ($144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport that could become active again.

    PIA’s spokesperson said the airline was finalising preparations to resume UK flights “in the shortest possible time” and had submitted its proposed schedule.

    Flights would resume with the Islamabad-Manchester route, with three weekly flights planned initially pending schedule approval, the spokesperson added.

    Earlier this month, Pakistan approved four groups to bid for a 51-100% stake in PIA. Final bids are expected later this year.

    The government is hoping that recent reforms, which led to the airline’s first operating profit in 21 years – will help attract buyers under a broader IMF-backed privatisation push.

    Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a press conference on Wednesday that the resumption of all routes would improve PIA’s value ahead of the privatisation. He also said there were plans to restart flights to New York.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Atos awarded Golden Certificate by SAP as Global Operations Partner

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Global News

    20 years of trusted partnership: Atos awarded Golden Certificate by SAP as Global Operations Partner

    Atos is the second SAP Global Operations Partner to date to receive the Golden Certificate

    Paris, France, July 16, 2025 – Atos proudly announces that it has received the Golden Certificate from SAP and is thus certified for the 10th time in a row as SAP® Global Operations Partner. This exemplifies the enduring partnership between Atos and SAP in providing managed services to our clients, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of quality, scope, and global availability. Additionally, Atos has achieved the distinction of being only the second SAP Global Operations Partner to receive the prestigious golden certificate recognizing this significant milestone.

    With more than 10,000 SAP experts worldwide, Atos is a SAP Platinum Partner and has strong expertise and flexible global delivery capabilities. Through its longstanding alliance with SAP, deep industry insights and an extensive partner network, Atos goes beyond technology to meet the needs of customers, employees and business. Since 2004 Atos has always certified all critical global operations service areas. Recently Atos has globally re-newed its certification in five core business areas:

    • Global SAP S/4HANA® solutions operations and works with RISE with SAP
    • Global SAP SuccessFactors® solutions operations
    • Global SAP HANA® operations and works with RISE with SAP
    • Global SAP BTP operations and works with RISE with SAP
    • Global DevOps

    As part of SAP’s audits, four local Atos entities are recognized as SAP Operations Partners holding various SAP operations certifications: India, United States, Germany and Poland. Visit the SAP Operations Partner Guide for details on our local SAP Operations Partner certifications.

    “This certification reflects our dedication to our long and trusted partnership with SAP. Our experts at Atos constantly work hard to both exceed the expectations of our customers as well as further strengthen our partnership with SAP to deliver the best possible outcome. It makes me proud to continue this long-standing partnership”, says Chetan Manjarekar, Atos Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Smart Platforms & Transformation.

    Stefan Kallweit, Partner Engagement Expert at SAP, adds: “We are proud to count Atos among our longstanding global partners, part of a select group of certified organizations that meet our highest standards across all regions. Atos earns our trust especially by their broad expertise across multiple SAP products and their integration.”

    Atos SAP services and accelerators empower organizations to unleash the full potential of SAP Business Suite. By integrating best-in-class SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP applications, data, and AI solutions we enhance decision-making, improve efficiency, drive innovation and fuel growth. We support our customers end-to-end—guiding them from initial strategy and implementation through ongoing service innovation and management —helping them navigate the complexities of modern business with ease and confidence.

    ***

    About Atos Group

    Atos Group is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 72,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion, operating in 68 countries under two brands — Atos for services and Eviden for products. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, Atos Group is committed to a secure and decarbonized future and provides tailored AI-powered, end-to-end solutions for all industries. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contact

    Laurent Massicot | laurent.massicot@atos.net | +33 (0)7.69.48.01.80

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The BRICS + summit in Brazil raises the banner of multilateralism

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 16 July 2025

    Alexandre Brum – BRICS Brasil

    by Cosimo GrazianiRio de Janeiro (Agenzia Fides) – On July 6 and 7, the annual summit of the so-called BRICS countries took place in Rio de Janeiro. This forum of states was founded in 2009 and has grown in recent years to include eleven countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. This year’s meeting was preceded by a series of events that affected its members and fueled expectations about its implementation, most notably the brief conflict between Israel and Iran, in which the United States intervened on the side of the Jewish state. However, expectations of a clear stance on this and other issues were dashed. The geopolitical actor that best took advantage of the international visibility associated with the summit was the host country, Brazil, which organized events such as the G20 summit last year, assumed the presidency of MERCOSUR, and will host the next UN climate conference. This series of events, which also included the organization of the BRICS Summit, enabled the Brazilian government to reaffirm its international stance in favor of multilateralism. Multilateralism was also the first topic addressed by Brazilian President Lula in his introductory speech. Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva specifically criticized the threat to the progress made in recent years by organizations such as the United Nations. The Brazilian president explicitly mentioned the setbacks on issues such as climate and trade, in the latter case a not-so-disguised allusion to Donald Trump’s tariff policy.The topics of multilateralism and tariffs were mentioned in the summit’s final declaration, along with health, artificial intelligence, climate change, and the promotion of peace and security. Criticism was also directed at Israel’s actions in the Middle East and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. These accusations were also extended to the 5% increase in military spending ordered by NATO countries: Lula particularly criticized the lack of investment for peace. At the same time, little was said about the war in Ukraine. What caused a stir during the summit was the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping: the former likely to avoid embarrassing Brazil in connection with the international arrest warrant issued against the Russian president by the International Criminal Court; the latter officially had other concurrent commitments. Analysts’ eyes were on the summit because of its increasing importance for the so-called Global South. The organization now represents a large portion of the world’s population and an equally large share of global GDP—37% to be precise. The decisions of this group clarify whether and how the Global South will be able to exert a similar importance in global governance as the G7 countries, or even replace the G20 summit in its importance, the only forum that currently offers countries in this category the opportunity to gain visibility and significance in global scenarios. Compared to the G20, the BRICS forum is composed exclusively of countries that seek to relativize the influence of Western and developed countries. Whether this succeeds will depend on whether the member countries manage to negotiate common positions on key issues and achieve some form of political or economic integration. Regarding the latter, all BRICS members agree in proposing and advocating de-dollarization and the replacement of the US dollar with individual states’ currencies in trade transactions.The problem is that not everyone is ready for this transition, which would mean distancing themselves from Washington: countries like Russia and China are strongly in favor of it, while others like Saudi Arabia, due to their ongoing relations with Washington, do not accept such a prospect. It remains to be seen, therefore, whether US President Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on the group’s countries as they move away from the dollar will become reality. If so, the reactions of individual states to such a threat will be a true test of their loyalty to the group. Overall, it can be said that the results of the summit were mixed and that the only country that stood out somewhat more was Brazil as the organizer, because it was able to promote the main points of its foreign policy, starting with the call for multilateralism. It is premature to say that the group does not have what it takes to become an alternative to the West. However, many analysts believe that the overly diverse interests of its members will hinder the organization’s development. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the BRICS members have reached their 17th summit and that a “hard core” has emerged within the organization, in which Russia and China play a key role in finding an alternative approach to the world’s problems, different from that of the ruling groups in many Western countries. All these elements indicate that the path toward an organization of the Global South could gain weight in international relations and surpass the role played by the G20 so far. (Agenzia Fides, 16/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The BRICS + summit in Brazil raises the banner of multilateralism

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 16 July 2025

    Alexandre Brum – BRICS Brasil

    by Cosimo GrazianiRio de Janeiro (Agenzia Fides) – On July 6 and 7, the annual summit of the so-called BRICS countries took place in Rio de Janeiro. This forum of states was founded in 2009 and has grown in recent years to include eleven countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. This year’s meeting was preceded by a series of events that affected its members and fueled expectations about its implementation, most notably the brief conflict between Israel and Iran, in which the United States intervened on the side of the Jewish state. However, expectations of a clear stance on this and other issues were dashed. The geopolitical actor that best took advantage of the international visibility associated with the summit was the host country, Brazil, which organized events such as the G20 summit last year, assumed the presidency of MERCOSUR, and will host the next UN climate conference. This series of events, which also included the organization of the BRICS Summit, enabled the Brazilian government to reaffirm its international stance in favor of multilateralism. Multilateralism was also the first topic addressed by Brazilian President Lula in his introductory speech. Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva specifically criticized the threat to the progress made in recent years by organizations such as the United Nations. The Brazilian president explicitly mentioned the setbacks on issues such as climate and trade, in the latter case a not-so-disguised allusion to Donald Trump’s tariff policy.The topics of multilateralism and tariffs were mentioned in the summit’s final declaration, along with health, artificial intelligence, climate change, and the promotion of peace and security. Criticism was also directed at Israel’s actions in the Middle East and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. These accusations were also extended to the 5% increase in military spending ordered by NATO countries: Lula particularly criticized the lack of investment for peace. At the same time, little was said about the war in Ukraine. What caused a stir during the summit was the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping: the former likely to avoid embarrassing Brazil in connection with the international arrest warrant issued against the Russian president by the International Criminal Court; the latter officially had other concurrent commitments. Analysts’ eyes were on the summit because of its increasing importance for the so-called Global South. The organization now represents a large portion of the world’s population and an equally large share of global GDP—37% to be precise. The decisions of this group clarify whether and how the Global South will be able to exert a similar importance in global governance as the G7 countries, or even replace the G20 summit in its importance, the only forum that currently offers countries in this category the opportunity to gain visibility and significance in global scenarios. Compared to the G20, the BRICS forum is composed exclusively of countries that seek to relativize the influence of Western and developed countries. Whether this succeeds will depend on whether the member countries manage to negotiate common positions on key issues and achieve some form of political or economic integration. Regarding the latter, all BRICS members agree in proposing and advocating de-dollarization and the replacement of the US dollar with individual states’ currencies in trade transactions.The problem is that not everyone is ready for this transition, which would mean distancing themselves from Washington: countries like Russia and China are strongly in favor of it, while others like Saudi Arabia, due to their ongoing relations with Washington, do not accept such a prospect. It remains to be seen, therefore, whether US President Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on the group’s countries as they move away from the dollar will become reality. If so, the reactions of individual states to such a threat will be a true test of their loyalty to the group. Overall, it can be said that the results of the summit were mixed and that the only country that stood out somewhat more was Brazil as the organizer, because it was able to promote the main points of its foreign policy, starting with the call for multilateralism. It is premature to say that the group does not have what it takes to become an alternative to the West. However, many analysts believe that the overly diverse interests of its members will hinder the organization’s development. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the BRICS members have reached their 17th summit and that a “hard core” has emerged within the organization, in which Russia and China play a key role in finding an alternative approach to the world’s problems, different from that of the ruling groups in many Western countries. All these elements indicate that the path toward an organization of the Global South could gain weight in international relations and surpass the role played by the G20 so far. (Agenzia Fides, 16/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Heavy rains continue across eastern and southern India amid dual low-pressure systems; Delhi-NCR also gets drenched

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Two well-marked low-pressure areas – one over northwest Rajasthan and its neighbourhood and another over southwest Bihar and adjoining eastern Uttar Pradesh – are currently influencing weather conditions across large parts of India. These systems are likely to sustain heavy to very heavy rainfall over eastern and adjoining central India over the next two days, while persistent wet conditions are predicted for Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu over the next week.

    According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to extremely heavy rainfall (exceeding 21 cm) was recorded at isolated locations in Uttarakhand, Konkan, and the ghat areas of central Maharashtra.

    Several other regions, including Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya, witnessed very heavy rainfall (ranging between 7 and 20 cm).

    Heavy rainfall was also observed in parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Odisha, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, western Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

    Very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in isolated locations across North India on July 16, affecting Jammu & Kashmir, northern Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand. This very heavy rainfall trend is also expected to continue over Uttarakhand on July 17, and again from July 20 to 22.

    Eastern Uttar Pradesh can also anticipate very heavy showers on July 16 and 17, with western Uttar Pradesh likely to receive similar rainfall conditions on July 17. Moving to the northern hilly region, the state of Himachal Pradesh is expected to receive heavy rainfall on July 21 and 22. In southern India, specifically Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, rainfall is predicted consistently from July 16 through July 22.

    The weather in Delhi-NCR is currently being influenced by the monsoonal changes, leading to generally cloudy skies and intermittent rain. Looking at the forecast for the coming days, today, July 16, is expected to bring light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, with temperatures around the seasonal normal, ranging from 32°C to 34°C. Winds from the southeast will be under 15 kmph.

    Forecast for the following day, July 17, suggests very light to light rain with thunderstorms. Temperatures are likely to be slightly below normal, with highs between 32°C and 34°C and lows between 24°C and 26°C. The wind pattern will remain similar, blowing from the southeast at speeds under 16 kmph.

    On July 18, Delhi will continue to experience light rainfall and partly cloudy skies, with temperature ranges remaining consistent. Light northwesterly winds are expected to become dominant.

    By July 19, the rain is likely to ease, giving way to partly cloudy skies. Daytime temperatures are expected to increase slightly to 34°C–36°C. The winds will shift from the southwest in the afternoon, returning to the northwest by evening, with gentle speeds remaining below 12 kmph.

     

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) Announces 20th Plenary Assembly in Rwanda

    Source: APO – Report:

    The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (https://SECAM.org) is pleased to announce its 20th Plenary Assembly, scheduled to take place from 30 July to 4 August 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme: “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace.” This Assembly, coinciding with the Jubilee Year, offers a moment of deep ecclesial grace to evaluate the life and mission of the Church in Africa and to set forth a visionary roadmap for the next 25 years (2025–2050).

    A Continental Ecclesial Milestone

    The Plenary Assembly of SECAM is the most important gathering of the Catholic Church in Africa and its Islands. Held every three years, it brings together a significant number of Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from across the continent and beyond. This 20th edition is expected to host approximately 250 participants from all 54 African countries and its islands, along with invited dignitaries and Church partners from other continents, making it a truly continental and global ecclesial event. It will serve as a privileged moment of reflection, communion, and decision-making for the life and mission of the Church in Africa.

    The Assembly will be presided over by His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM. Building on the mandate of the 19th Plenary Assembly in Accra (July 2022), the Kigali Assembly will evaluate progress in strengthening synodality, institutional autonomy, theological foundations, and regional collaboration across the Church in Africa.

    Advancing a Shared Vision

    Since 2022, SECAM has worked through its Standing Committee and Secretariat to promote greater communion and mission through:

    • Advancing synodality and participation at all levels;
    • Strengthening institutional and financial self-reliance;
    • Enhancing theological reflection and pastoral care;
    • Fostering intercontinental and ecumenical partnerships;
    • Raising Africa’s voice on global issues such as climate change, justice, and peace.

    Addressing Pastoral and Cultural Realities

    One major issue under review will be the pastoral accompaniment of Catholics in polygamous unions, a complex cultural reality in African societies and beyond. SECAM has engaged theologians across the continent to explore this topic theologically and pastorally.

    The Assembly will also feature key presentations, including:

    • A theological reflection on the theme: “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace”
    • A draft document entitled: “The Vision of the Church–Family of God in Africa and its Islands: 2025–2050”
    • A pastoral document on “Accompaniment of Persons in Polygamous Situations”

    These will be complemented by plenary discussions, working groups, liturgical celebrations, departmental reports, and a concluding message to the Church and society.

    The Twelve Pillars of the Church’s Future

    Earlier this year, in preparation for the Assembly, SECAM held a high-level seminar in Accra (April 2025) to develop a long-term vision for the African Church. Discussions centered around twelve key pillars:

    1. Evangelization (Catholic education and theological formation)
    2. A self-reliant Church;
    3. Family-based models of leadership;
    4. Missionary discipleship and synodality;
    5. Care for creation;
    6. Youth engagement and ecclesial renewal;
    7. Justice, peace, and integral human development;
    8. Ecumenism and interfaith dialogue;
    9. Digital evangelization;
    10. Health and well-being of God’s people;
    11. Liturgical life in African contexts;
    12. Church and political engagement.

    This strategic vision document will be presented for discussion and possible adoption by the bishops at the Kigali Assembly.

    Engaging Africa’s Socio-Political Challenges

    In keeping with its prophetic mission, SECAM will also assess current political and social dynamics across the regions of Africa, with a focus on:

    • Governance and public leadership;
    • Human rights and social justice;
    • Poverty and debt;
    • Climate and environmental stewardship;
    • Dialogue, peacebuilding, and interreligious relations;
    • Safeguarding and youth protection.

    – on behalf of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

    For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
    communications.secam@gmail.com
    www.SECAM.org

    Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Júnior
    Secretary General, SECAM
    Accra, Ghana

    About SECAM:
    Founded in 1969 during Pope St. Paul VI’s historic visit to Africa, SECAM is the continental structure of the Catholic Church in Africa and Madagascar. Its mission is to foster communion, promote evangelization, and be the moral and spiritual voice of the Church across the continent.

    Its key departments include:

    • Commission for Evangelization;
    • Justice, Peace and Development Commission (JPDC);
    • Department of Social Communication.

    In addition, SECAM operates a Liaison Office to the African Union based in Addis Ababa to ensure Church participation in continental policymaking and advocacy.

    SECAM is composed of eight regional episcopal bodies:

    • ACEAC (Central Africa), ACERAC (Central Africa), AHCE (Egypt), AMECEA (Eastern Africa), CEDOI (Indian Ocean), CERNA (North Africa), IMBISA (Southern Africa), RECOWA-CERAO (West Africa).
    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Iran parliament rules out resumption of US talks until preconditions are met

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s parliament said the country should not resume nuclear negotiations with the United States until preconditions are met, in a statement reported on Wednesday by Iranian state media.

    “When the U.S. use negotiations as a tool to deceive Iran and cover up a sudden military attack by the Zionist regime (Israel), talks cannot be conducted as before. Preconditions must be set and no new negotiations can take place until they are fully met,” the statement said.

    The statement did not define the preconditions, but Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said there should be guarantees there will be no further attacks against Tehran.

    Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last month, saying that they were part of a programme geared towards developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes.

    Tehran and Washington had held five rounds of indirect negotiations mediated by Oman prior to the 12-day air war, with U.S. demands that Tehran drop its domestic uranium enrichment programme reaching a dead end.

    Last week, Araqchi reiterated Tehran’s position that it would not agree to a nuclear deal that prevents it from enriching uranium and would refuse to discuss extra-nuclear topics such as its ballistic missile programme.

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was in no rush to negotiate with Iran as its nuclear sites were now “obliterated”, but the U.S., in coordination with three European countries, has agreed to set the end of August as the deadline for a deal.

    French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Paris, London and Berlin would trigger the United Nations sanctions snapback mechanism, which would reimpose international sanctions on Iran, by the end of August if there is no concrete progress regarding an agreement.

    (Reuters)

  • MoS Margherita to visit Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa for G20 Meet

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the Republic of South Africa from 18 to 25 July.

    During the first leg of his visit, the Minister will be in Eswatini from 18 to 22 July. He is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on King Mswati III and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Margherita will also hold meetings with the Foreign Minister of Eswatini to discuss matters of mutual interest and review the progress of bilateral relations.

    The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, capacity building, development partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges. The Minister will also engage with the Indian community and participate in events showcasing India’s development partnership initiatives in Eswatini. The visit is expected to further deepen the long-standing friendly relations between India and Eswatini.

    In the Kingdom of Lesotho, Margherita will pay a courtesy call on King Letsie III and the Right Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of Lesotho. He will also hold bilateral discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, as well as other senior ministers, including those responsible for Information, Communications, Science, Technology & Innovation, Education & Training, and Labour and Employment.

    This Ministerial visit to Lesotho is taking place after a gap of ten years. The last visit was in July 2015, when Dr. Mahesh Sharma visited Lesotho as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to extend invitations for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.

    In South Africa, Margherita will lead the Indian delegation at the G20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM) scheduled to be held on 24–25 July 2025 in Skukuza. On the sidelines of the DMM, he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the South African Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa, along with other Ministers and Heads of Delegations from G20 member states, invited countries and international organisations.

    The Minister is also scheduled to have bilateral engagements with business leaders and members of the Indian community during his visit to Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa.

  • Air India crash rekindles debate over cockpit video recorders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The deadly Air India crash last month has renewed a decades-old debate in the aviation industry over installing video cameras monitoring airline pilot actions to complement the cockpit voice and flight data recorders already used by accident investigators.

    One of the industry’s most influential voices, International Air Transport Association head Willie Walsh, a former airline pilot, said on Wednesday in Singapore there was a strong argument for video cameras to be installed in airliner cockpits to monitor pilot actions to complement voice and flight data recorders already used by accident investigators.

    Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing BA.N 787’s engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation.

    The crash in Ahmedabad, India, killed 241 of the 242 people aboard, as well as 19 people on the ground.

    As of now, “based on what little we know now, it’s quite possible that a video recording, in addition to the voice recording would significantly assist the investigators in conducting that investigation on the issue of mental health,” Walsh said.

    Advocates for cockpit video cameras say the footage could fill in gaps left by the audio and data recorders, while opponents say concerns about privacy and misuse outweigh what they argue are marginal benefits for investigations.

    Video footage was “invaluable” to Australian crash investigators determining what led to Robinson R66 helicopter breaking up in mid-air in 2023, killing the pilot, the only person aboard, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s final report, which was released 18 days after the Air India crash.

    The video showed “the pilot was occupied with non-flying related tasks for much of this time, specifically, mobile phone use and the consumption of food and beverages,” the report said.

    The ATSB commended Robinson Helicopters for providing factory-installed cameras and said it encouraged other manufacturers and owners to consider the ongoing safety benefits of similar devices.

    In 2000, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall urged the Federal Aviation Administration to require commercial airliners be equipped with cockpit image recorders.

    Hall’s recommendation came in the wake of 1999’s Egyptair Flight 990 crash, when the first officer intentionally crashed the Boeing 767, according to the NTSB, killing all 217 people on board.

    “In the balance between privacy and safety, the scale tips toward safety, unequivocally,” air safety expert and former commercial airline pilot John Nance said. “Protecting the flying public is a sacred obligation.”

    Another aviation safety expert, Anthony Brickhouse, said that as an accident investigator, he is in favor of cockpit video, but acknowledged that commercial pilots have real concerns.

    Video on Air India flight 171 “would have answered lots of questions,” he said.

    Air India declined to comment. India’s AAIB, which is expected to release a final report within a year of the crash under international rules, did not reply to request for comment.

    PILOT OBJECTIONS

    U.S. pilots’ unions such as the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Allied Pilots Association (APA) say the voice and data recorders already provide enough information to determine the cause of a crash and that the cameras would be an invasion of privacy and could be misused.

    Calls for cockpit cameras are an understandable reaction to “the stress of not knowing what happened immediately after an accident,” said APA spokesperson Dennis Tajer, an American Airlines AAL.O pilot.

    “I can understand the initial reaction of the more information, the better,” but investigators already have enough data to adequately determine an accident’s cause, leaving no need for cameras, he said.

    To make flying safer, current safety systems should be enhanced to record higher-quality data, rather than adding video cameras, an ALPA spokeperson said.

    There are also concerns the footage could be used by airlines for disciplinary actions or that video could be leaked to the public after a crash, said John Cox, an aviation safety expert, retired airline pilot and former ALPA executive air safety chairman.

    A pilot’s death being broadcast on “the 6 o’clock news is not something that the pilot’s family should ever have to go through,” he said.

    If confidentiality can be assured around the world, “I can see an argument” for installing cameras, Cox said.

    Cockpit voice recordings are typically kept confidential by investigators in favor of partial or full transcripts being released in final reports.

    Despite that, International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations said it was skeptical that confidentiality could ever be assured for cockpit videos.

    “Given the high demand for sensational pictures, IFALPA has absolutely no doubt that the protection of (airborne image recorder) data, which can include identifiable images of flight crewmembers, would not be ensured either,” the organization said in a statement.

    Boeing declined to disclose whether customers are able to order cockpit video recorders, while Airbus did not reply to request for comment.

    (Reuters)

  • Israeli research finds that when plants talk, insects listen

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    There is evidence that plants and insects interact through sound, researchers at Tel Aviv University said on Tuesday, opening a new frontier in the study of acoustic communication in nature.

    The study, published in the journal eLife, suggests that female moths detect ultrasonic distress signals emitted by dehydrated tomato plants and use this information to decide where to lay their eggs.

    Moths usually lay their eggs on tomato plants to provide food for their larvae after they hatch.

    The research was led by Rya Seltzer and Guy Zer Eshel in the laboratories of Yossi Yovel and Lilach Hadany, both professors at the university’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences.

    “We revealed the first evidence for acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect,” the team said in a statement.

    The findings build on previous research by the group, which revealed that plants emit ultrasonic sounds when under stress.

    The discovery could have implications for agriculture and pest control, opening up possibilities for managing crop health and insect behaviour through sound.

    While the ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants are outside the range of human hearing, they can be picked up by many insects and some mammals, such as bats.

    Investigating this preference, the researchers presented female moths with two healthy tomato plants – one with a speaker playing sounds registered from a drying plant, and one that was silent.

    The moths preferred the silent option, suggesting they use these cues to identify optimal sites for laying eggs.

    Further experiments confirmed that the moths’ choices were guided specifically by sound and only to sounds from the plants.

    “Here, we’ve seen that there are animals that are capable of making sense of these sounds,” said Hadany.

    “We think that this is just the beginning. So, many animals may be responding to different plants.”

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Visit of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles [MoS (PM)] to Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles [Mos (PM)] will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho from 18-22 July 2025 and to the Republic of South Africa from 23-25 July 2025.

    2.​ During his visit to Eswatini, MoS (PM) is scheduled to pay courtesy call on His Majesty King Mswati III and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. He is expected to hold meeting with Foreign Minister of Eswatini to discuss matters of mutual interest and to review the progress of bilateral relations. The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade & investment, capacity building, development partnership and people-to-people exchanges. MoS (PM) will also engage with the Indian diaspora and participate in events highlighting India’s development partnership initiatives in Eswatini. This visit is expected to further enhance the longstanding and friendly relations between India and the Kingdom of Eswatini.

    3. ​In the Kingdom of Lesotho, MoS (PM) is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on His Majesty King Letsie III, and the Right Honourable Mr. Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Lesotho. MoS will also have bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is expected to meet the Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology & Innovation, the Minister of Education & Training, and the Minister of Labour and Employment in Maseru. This Ministerial visit to Kingdom of Lesotho is being undertaken after a gap of 10 years following the first-ever Ministerial visit from India to Lesotho by Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) Culture, Tourism & MoS for Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, on 9 July 2015 as Special Envoy of Hon’ble Prime Minister to deliver invitations for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit to the leadership of the Government of Lesotho.

    4.​ In South Africa, MoS (PM) will lead a delegation to participate in the upcoming G-20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM) on 24-25 July 2025 in Skukuza, South Africa and is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the South African Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Hon’ble Ms. Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa and other Ministers responsible for Development and Heads of Delegations of other G20 Members, invited countries and International Organizations participating in the DMM.

    5. ​MoS (PM) is also expected to have bilateral engagements and interactions with prominent leaders of businesses and members of the Indian community in Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa.

    – on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India launches talent hunt for young chefs to blend tradition with innovation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, on Wednesday launched the National Young Chef Competition (NYCC), a nationwide talent hunt designed to discover and nurture India’s next generation of culinary innovators.

    The grand curtain-raiser for the competition was held at PHD House in New Delhi, marking the beginning of a series of zonal rounds that will span the country. The initiative targets final-year hospitality students, providing them with a national platform to blend traditional Indian culinary practices with contemporary techniques.

    Speaking at the launch event as Chief Guest, Mr Suman Billa (IAS), Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, underscored the importance of preserving India’s diverse culinary traditions. “Our culinary heritage is built on cultural memory and regional techniques. We must reinforce these traditions and expand India’s footprint in the global fine dining space,” he said, urging aspiring chefs to think creatively and represent India with pride on international platforms.

    The competition, themed ‘Celebrating Indian Culinary Heritage: Blending Tradition with Innovation’, is being organised in partnership with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC).

    The zonal rounds will be held as follows:

    * North Zone: 6 August 2025, AIHM Chandigarh
    * East Zone: 18 September 2025, IHM Kolkata
    * West Zone: November 2025, IHM Mumbai
    * South Zone: 18 December 2025, IHM Kovalam

    Winners from each region will compete in the grand finale, scheduled for January 2026 at IHM Pusa, New Delhi.

    In addition to the competition, the NYCC will host career sensitisation workshops for students of Classes 11 and 12 at each zonal venue. These workshops aim to address the declining enrolment in hospitality education and introduce young students to career opportunities in the culinary industry.

    Calling the NYCC a “movement” that brings together industry, academia and youth, Mr Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair of the Tourism Committee, PHDCCI, said the initiative is vital for celebrating India’s gastronomic wealth. Dr Chef Manjit Gill, President of IFCA, added, “NYCC is not just a contest but a cultural revival. It’s a call to preserve and modernise India’s diverse food legacy.”

    The event also saw the presence of notable figures from the culinary and hospitality sector, including Chef Sudhir Sibal, Chef Anil Grover, Mr Rajan Bahadur (THSC), Prof Kamal Kant Pant (IHM Pusa), Mr Amarjit Singh Ahuja (Le Meridien), and Ms Shalini S Sharma of PHDCCI, who outlined the detailed roadmap for the competition.

    The NYCC has garnered support from over 130 hospitality institutions nationwide and is backed by leading industry partners such as Venus Industries, Nestlé Professional, Wagh Bakri Tea Group, Cremica, McCain Foods and others. Winners will receive cash prizes, internship opportunities, international exposure, and special recognition for the ‘Best Sustainable Dish’.

  • CDS Anil Chauhan urges push for indigenous counter-drone systems

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday underlined the importance of developing indigenous counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to strengthen India’s security and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

    Speaking at an event at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, General Chauhan said that depending on imported systems limits preparedness, production scalability, and critical spare parts availability.

    “Operation Sindoor has shown us why indigenously developed counter-UAS systems, built for our terrain and needs, are crucial. We must invest and build to safeguard ourselves. Dependence on foreign technologies weakens our preparedness and gives adversaries an advantage,” he said.

    He pointed out that during Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, Pakistan used unarmed drones and loitering munitions against India, but failed to cause any damage. Most drones were neutralised through kinetic and non-kinetic means.

    “The employment of drones is evolutionary, but their impact on warfare has been revolutionary,” he added.

    General Chauhan also visited an exhibition showcasing efforts to indigenise critical components in UAV and counter-UAS systems, currently imported from foreign manufacturers.

    — ANI

  • England fined, docked two WTC points for slow over rate at Lord’s

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England were docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 10% match fees on Wednesday for their slow over rate in the third test against India at Lord’s.

    The hosts went 2-1 up in the five-test series with a thrilling 22-run victory but were found two overs short of target in a match where the Dukes ball went out of shape several times and had to be replaced.

    “England captain Ben Stokes pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

    Players lose 5% of their match fees for every over their team fail to bowl in the allotted time. It also costs the team one WTC point.

    England slipped from second to third in the WTC standings behind Sri Lanka following the points deduction. Australia, who completed a 3-0 sweep of West Indies earlier this week, lead the standings in the new 2025-2027 cycle.

    (Reuters)

  • Air India to restore some international flights following reduction over crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Air India said on Tuesday it would partially restore its international flight schedule that was scaled back following the crash involving its flight last month that killed 260 people.

    As part of the restoration, Air India will start a thrice-weekly service between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow from August 1 to September 30, replacing the currently operating five-times-a-week flights between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick.

    A Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London from the Indian city of Ahmedabad began to lose thrust and crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. All but one of the 242 people on board and 19 others on the ground were killed.

    Air India reduced some of its international flights following the crash as part of a “safety pause” that the carrier said allowed it to perform additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft.

    The partial service resumption will see some flights being restored from August 1, with full restoration planned from October 1, 2025, Air India said.

    As part of the partial resumption, Air India has reduced flights to some destinations in Europe and North America. These include reductions in the frequency of Delhi-to-Paris flights to seven times a week from 12, effective August 1.

    Flights on the Delhi-Milan route have been reduced to three times a week from four earlier.

    The frequency of flights from Mumbai and Delhi to New York JFK has been cut to six times a week from seven earlier, the airline said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Trust and human-AI collaboration set to define the next era of agentic AI, unlocking $450 billion opportunity by 2028

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact: 
    Mollie Mellows
    Tel: +44 7342 709384
    Email: mollie.mellows@capgemini.com

    Trust and human-AI collaboration set to define the next era of agentic AI, unlocking $450 billion opportunity by 2028

    • AI agents are poised to deliver up to $450 billion in economic value by 2028 through revenue gains and cost savings, yet the path to scale is currently elusive
    • Confidence in fully autonomous AI agents dropped from 43% to 27% in the past year amidst privacy and ethical concerns
    • However, AI agents are expected to be involved in most business tasks within three years, with effective human-agent collaboration projected to increase human engagement in high-value tasks by 65%

    Paris, July 16, 2025 – Agentic AI is poised to deliver up to $450 billion in economic value by 2028 yet, despite strong momentum, only 2% of organizations have fully scaled deployment and trust in AI agents is declining. Organizations are discovering that AI agents deliver the greatest impact when humans remain actively involved. Nearly three-quarters of executives say the benefits of human oversight outweigh the costs, and 90% view human involvement in AI-driven workflows as either positive or cost-neutral. This is according to the Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report “Rise of agentic AI: How trust is the key to human-AI collaboration”, that finds trust and human oversight are critical factors in realizing the potential of agentic AI, and the gap between intent and readiness is now one of the biggest barriers to realizing the $450 billion opportunity.

    Agentic AI is one of the fastest-emerging technological trends, but organizations are still in the early stages of application. While nearly a quarter have already launched pilots and a small number have begun implementation (14%), the majority remain in planning mode. This steady progress stands in contrast to executive ambition – nearly all (93%) business leaders believe that scaling AI agents over the next 12 months will provide a competitive edge, yet nearly half of organizations still lack a strategy for implementing them.

    “The economic potential of AI agents is significant but realizing this value depends on more than just the technology, it requires a comprehensive and strategic transformation across people, processes and systems,” said Franck Greverie, Chief Portfolio & Technology Officer, Head of Global Business Lines, and Group Executive Board Member at Capgemini. “To succeed, organizations must remain focused on outcomes, reimagining their processes with an AI-first mindset. Central to this transformation is the need to build trust in AI by ensuring it is developed responsibly, with ethics and safety baked in from the outset. It also means reshaping organizations to support effective human-AI chemistry, creating the right conditions for these systems to enhance human judgment and help deliver superior business outcomes.”

    Organizations prioritize transparency as the agentic AI trust gap widens
    Trust in fully autonomous AI agents has dropped sharply, from 43% to 27% in the past year alone, with nearly two in five executives believing that the risks of implementing AI agents outweigh the benefits. Only 40% of organizations say they trust AI agents to manage tasks and processes autonomously, while most do not fully trust the technology.

    The report finds that as organizations move from exploration to implementation, trust in AI agents grows: for organizations in implementation phase, 47% have an above average level of trust, compared to 37% in exploratory phase. Therefore, organizations are prioritizing transparency, clarity around how AI agents make decisions, and ethical safeguards to drive greater adoption.

    Human-AI chemistry is key to lasting adoption
    The real promise of agentic AI lies in tackling core business challenges and reimagining how work gets done. Within the next 12 months, over 60% of organizations expect to form human-agent teams where AI agents function as subordinates or enhance human capabilities. This means that AI agents can no longer be considered tools, they are becoming active participants in the team.

    70% of organizations believe AI agents will necessitate organizational restructuring, prompting leaders to rethink roles, team structures, and workflows. Enterprises are discovering AI agents deliver most value when humans remain in the loop. With effective human-AI collaboration, organizations expect a 65% increase in human engagement in high-value tasks, a 53% rise in creativity, and a 49% boost in employee satisfaction.

    The time to scale is now
    The $450 billion dollar opportunity for AI agents to deliver new economic value by 2028 includes both revenue uplift and cost savings, driven by the implementation of semi to fully autonomous AI agents. Scaled adoption is found to hold far greater potential, as organizations with scaled implementation are projected to generate approximately $382 million on average over the next three years, while others may realize around $76 million.

    In the near term, AI agents are expected to see most extensive adoption in customer service, IT, and sales, expanding into operations, R&D, and marketing over the next three years. However, most deployments remain at early stages of autonomy with only 15% of all business processes operating at semi-autonomous to fully autonomous levels in a year. While this is expected to rise to 25% by 2028, most agents today function as assistants or copilots, supporting routine tasks rather than independently managing complex workflows.

    AI-readiness remains a challenge
    Today, most organizations are not equipped to scale agentic AI effectively cites the report. 80% lack mature AI infrastructure and fewer than one in five report high levels of data-readiness. Ethical concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and lack of explainability remain widespread, yet few organizations are taking decisive action. For example, privacy is the primary concern for over half of organizations (51%), yet only 34% are actively taking steps to mitigate it. Compounding this, only half of business leaders say they understand what AI agents are capable of, and even fewer can identify where these systems outperform traditional automation.

    To harness the full potential of AI agents, organizations must move beyond the hype, recommends the report – working toward redesigning processes and reimagining business models, transforming organizational structure, and striking the right balance between agent autonomy and human involvement.

    For more information and to download the full report, click here.

    Report methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute conducted a global survey of 1,500 executives at organizations each with more than $1 billion in annual revenue across 14 countries. Organizations operate across 13 sectors and all have started to explore Agentic AI. The global survey took place in April 2025. Executives surveyed are at director level and above, and of these, 60% are from data and AI functions, while 40% are from diverse business functions.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.

    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • PM Modi announces ex-gratia for victims of Pithoragarh road accident

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the deaths in a road accident in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased.

    “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given ₹50,000,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.

    According to police, eight people were killed when a vehicle carrying 13 passengers crashed near the Suni bridge in Muwani town on Tuesday.

    Pithoragarh Superintendent of Police Rekha Yadav said rescue operations are underway. “Police officials have reached the spot and rescue operations are underway,” she said.

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed grief over the incident and said the district administration has been directed to ensure proper and timely treatment for the injured. He wished them a speedy recovery.

    — ANI

     

  • Thousands of Afghans secretly moved to Britain after data leak

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain set up a secret scheme to bring thousands of Afghans to the UK after their personal details were disclosed in one of the country’s worst ever data breaches, putting them at risk of reprisals from the Taliban after their return to power.

    Concerns that individuals could be targeted by the Taliban led the previous Conservative government to set up the relocation scheme, involving thousands of people and estimated to cost the government about 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion).

    The leak by the Ministry of Defence in early 2022, which led to data being published on Facebook the following year, and the secret relocation programme, were subject to a so-called super injunction preventing the media reporting what happened, which was lifted on Tuesday by a court.

    British defence minister John Healey apologised for the leak, which included details about members of parliament and senior military officers who supported applications to help Afghan soldiers who worked with the British military and their families relocate to the UK.

    “This serious data incident should never have happened,” Healey told lawmakers in the House of Commons. ”It may have occurred three years ago under the previous government, but to all whose data was compromised I offer a sincere apology.”

    The incident ranks among the worst security breaches in modern British history because of the cost and risk posed to the lives of thousands of Afghans, some of whom fought alongside British forces until their chaotic withdrawal in 2021.

    Healey said about 4,500 Afghans and their family members have been relocated or were on their way to Britain under the previously secret scheme.

    But he added that no-one else from Afghanistan would be offered asylum because of the data leak, citing a government review which found little evidence of intent from the Taliban to seek retribution against former officials.

    The review, a summary of which was also published on Tuesday, said more than 16,000 people affected by it had been relocated to the UK as of May this year, though some of those had been relocated to the UK under existing schemes.

    News of the leak comes as Britain’s public finances are tight and the right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK political party leads in the opinion polls.

    SUPERINJUNCTION LIFTED

    The government is facing lawsuits from those affected by the breach, further adding to the ultimate cost of the incident.

    Sean Humber, a lawyer at Leigh Day who has acted for Afghan citizens affected by previous data breaches, said those affected were “likely to have strong claims for substantial compensation” for the anxiety and distress caused by the leak.

    British forces were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 following the September 11 attacks on the United States, and they played a major role in combat operations there until 2014.

    In early 2022, a spreadsheet containing details of Afghans who had worked for the British government prior to the Taliban takeover in 2021 and had applied for relocation to Britain was emailed to someone outside of government systems by mistake.

    The super injunction was first granted in 2023 after the Ministry of Defence, under the former Conservative government, argued that a public disclosure of the breach could put people at risk of extra-judicial killing or serious violence by the Taliban.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left government, which was elected last July, launched a review into the injunction, the breach and the relocation scheme.

    (Reuters)

     

  • Iceland volcano erupts for 12th time since 2021

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A volcano erupted in south-west Iceland on Wednesday, the country’s meteorological office said, marking the latest in a series of outbreaks near the capital in recent years.

    Often referred to as a land of ice and fire, the North Atlantic island nation with its many glaciers and volcanoes has now seen a dozen eruptions since geological systems on its Reykjanes peninsula reactivated in 2021.

    The outbreaks, known as fissure eruptions, are characterised by lava flows emerging from long cracks in the earth’s crust, rather than from a central crater.

    The Reykjanes eruptions have not so far posed a threat to the capital Reykjavik, nor have they caused significant dispersals of ash into the stratosphere, avoiding air traffic disruption.

    The nearby fishing town of Grindavik, home to nearly 4,000 residents before an evacuation order in 2023, however remains mostly deserted due to the periodic threat from lava flows and related eartquakes.

    The Blue Lagoon luxury spa and the nearby Svartsengi thermal power station have also been at risk from lava in some of the previous eruptions.

    Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for decades, or even centuries.

    Iceland, which is roughly the size of the U.S. state of Kentucky and has fewer than 400,000 residents, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes.

    That makes the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism – a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers every year to sites from Mexico and Guatemala, to Sicily, Indonesia and New Zealand.

    (Reuters)

  • Nvidia’s resumption of AI chips to China is part of rare earths talks, says US

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nvidia’s planned resumption of sales of its H20 AI chips to China is part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Tuesday, and comes days after its CEO met President Donald Trump.

    “We put that in the trade deal with the magnets,” Lutnick told Reuters, referring to an agreement Trump made to restart rare earth shipments to U.S. manufacturers. He did not provide additional detail.

    Nvidia said late on Monday that it is filing applications with the U.S. government to resume sales to China of its H20 graphics processing unit, and has been assured by the U.S. it will get the licences soon.

    The planned resumption is a reversal of an export restriction imposed in April that is designed to keep the most advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands over national security concerns, an issue that has found rare bipartisan support. It drew swift questions and criticism from U.S. legislators on Tuesday.

    The decision “would not only hand our foreign adversaries our most advanced technologies, but is also dangerously inconsistent with this Administration’s previously-stated position on export controls for China,” Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, ranking member of the House of Representatives Select Committee on China, said in a statement.

    Republican John Moolenaar, chair of that committee, said in a statement he would seek “clarification” from the Commerce Department.

    “The H20 is a powerful chip that, according to our bipartisan investigation, played a significant role in the rise of PRC AI companies like DeepSeek,” Moolenaar said, referring to a Chinese startup that claims to have built AI models at a fraction of the cost paid by U.S. firms such as OpenAI. “It is crucial that the U.S. maintain its lead and keep advanced AI out of the hands of the CCP.”

    Shares of Nvidia, the world’s most valuable firm, closed up 4% and were nearly unchanged in after-market trading. Nvidia had estimated that the curbs would cut its revenue by $15 billion.

    Nvidia’s plan to resume sales has set off a scramble at Chinese firms to buy H20 chips, two sources told Reuters. The chips that Nvidia will resume selling are the best it can legally offer in China but lack much of the computing power of the versions for sale outside of China because of previous restrictions put in place by Trump’s first administration and then President Joe Biden’s administration.

    But critically, H20 chips work with Nvidia’s software tools, which have become a de facto standard in the global AI industry.

    CEO Jensen Huang, who is visiting Beijing and set to speak at an event on Wednesday, has argued that Nvidia’s leadership position could slip away if the company cannot sell to Chinese developers being courted by Huawei Technologies with chips produced in China.

    The significance of the shift depends on the volume of H20 chips that the U.S. allows to be shipped to China, said Divyansh Kaushik, an AI expert at Beacon Global Strategies, a Washington-based advisory firm.

    “If China is able to get a million H20 chips, it could significantly narrow, if not overtake, the U.S. lead in AI,” he said.

    CHINA IS CRUCIAL

    “The Chinese market is massive, dynamic, and highly innovative, and it’s also home to many AI researchers,” Huang told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.

    China generated $17 billion in revenue for Nvidia in the fiscal year ending January 26, or 13% of total sales, based on its latest annual report.

    Internet giants ByteDance and Tencent 0700.HK are also in the process of submitting applications for H20 chips, the sources familiar with the matter said. Central to the process is an approved list put together by Nvidia for Chinese companies to register for potential purchases, one of the sources said.

    Tencent did not respond to a request for comment. ByteDance denied in a statement that it is currently submitting applications. Nvidia declined to comment on the approved list system.

    Asked at a regular foreign ministry briefing in Beijing about Nvidia’s plans to resume AI chip sales, a spokesperson said: “China is opposed to the politicisation, instrumentalisation and weaponisation of science, technology and economic and trade issues to maliciously blockade and suppress China.”

    China halted exports of rare earths in March following a trade spat with Trump that has shown some signs of easing. It dominates the market for rare earths, a group of 17 metals used in cellphones, weapons, electric vehicles, and more.

    Huang’s visit is being closely watched in both China and the United States, where a bipartisan pair of senators last week sent the CEO a letter asking him to abstain from meeting companies working with military or intelligence bodies.

    The senators also asked Huang to refrain from meeting with entities named on the United States’ restricted export list.

    Rival AI chipmaker AMD also said the Department of Commerce would review its licence applications to export its MI308 chips to China; it plans to resume those shipments when licences are approved, it said. Its shares gained 7% in trading on Tuesday.

    (Reuters)

  • Millions benefitted, focus will remain on youth: PM Modi on 10 years of Skill India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a skilled and self-reliant workforce as the Skill India Mission completed ten years.

    Calling the mission a “transformative initiative”, PM Modi said it has empowered millions of young people across the country with new skills and opportunities.

    In reply to a post on social media platform X by MyGovIndia and Union Minister Jayant Singh, the Prime Minister said, “Skill India is strengthening the resolve to make our youth skilled and self-reliant.”

    “The Skill India initiative has benefited countless people, empowering them with new skills and creating opportunities. In the coming times as well, we will keep focusing on equipping our Yuva Shakti with new skills, in line with global best practices, so that we can realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat,” the PM added.

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1945137452588409051

    Launched in 2015, the Skill India Mission aims to train millions in industry-relevant skills to enhance employability and promote entrepreneurship. The government has said it will continue to expand skilling programmes to meet global standards and help India’s youth contribute to building a developed nation.

  • Trump to meet Qatar’s PM to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal, Axios reports

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday to discuss negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire deal, Axios reporter Barak Ravid posted on X.

    Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the conflict.

    Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had said on Sunday that he was “hopeful” on the ceasefire negotiations underway in Qatar, a key mediator between the two sides.

    U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators have been working to secure an agreement, however, Israel and Hamas are divided over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 and took about 250 hostages.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 58,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

    A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the U.N. and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”

    Trump and Sheikh Mohammed are also expected to discuss efforts to resume talks between the U.S. and Iran to reach a new nuclear agreement, Ravid added citing a source familiar with the matter.

    (Reuters)

  • US launches probe into Brazil’s trade practices, digital payment services

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday he had launched an investigation into Brazil’s “unfair” trading practices, a week after President Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff on imports from Latin America’s largest economy.

    Trump’s trade war, launched since starting his second term in January, sets tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, aiming to reorder the global economy and end decades of what he calls discrimination against the United States.

    The USTR investigation, announced last week by Trump, will decide if Brazil’s treatment of digital trade and preferential tariffs, among others, is “unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restrict” U.S. commerce, Greer said.

    “At President Trump’s direction, I am launching a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s attacks,” he added in a statement.

    Among victims of such attacks he cited U.S. social media and other companies, as well as workers, farmers, and technology innovators he described as harmed by Brazil’s “unfair trading practices”.

    Following extensive consultations, Greer added, “I have determined that Brazil’s tariff and non-tariff barriers merit a thorough investigation, and potentially, responsive action.”

    Trump justified his 50% tariff from August 1, well above the rate of 10% initially proposed, with a demand for an end to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly plotting a coup.

    The high tariff for Brazil surprised many trade experts since its U.S. goods imports exceed its exports, and because Trump linked the rate so clearly to Bolsonaro’s trial.

    Brazil offered no immediate reaction to news of the U.S. investigation. On Monday, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said it had yet to receive a response from Washington to an offer it made in trade talks two months ago.

    During his first term, Trump used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify a spate of tariffs against China. It was also used to investigate other countries for digital services taxes on U.S. tech firms.

    In a statement, USTR said Brazil disadvantaged U.S. firms by setting lower tariffs on exports of other trading partners and accused it of failing to battle corruption.

    It added that Brazil also charged substantially higher tariffs on U.S. ethanol exports, and “appears to be failing” to enforce laws against illegal deforestation, which it said harmed the competitiveness of U.S. timber producers.

    (Reuters)

  • Over 2.34 lakh perform Amarnath Yatra, another batch of pilgrims leaves for Kashmir

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Another batch of 6,064 pilgrims departed from Jammu on Wednesday to undertake the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, which has already seen over 2.34 lakh devotees perform darshan at the holy cave shrine in the past 13 days.

    According to officials, the 2025 Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, continues smoothly with strong participation. “Another batch of 6,064 yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu today in two escorted convoys headed for the Valley,” an official said.

    The first convoy, comprising 95 vehicles and carrying 2,471 pilgrims, departed at 3:30 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy of 139 vehicles, with 3,593 pilgrims on board, left at 4:07 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.

    The Meteorological Department has forecast widespread light to moderate rainfall across Jammu & Kashmir over the next 24 hours.

    Security arrangements have been significantly intensified this year following Pahalgam terror attack.

    This year’s Yatra spans 38 days, concluding on August 9, which coincides with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    (IANS)

  • 1.4 lakh new PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts opened since July 1: Finance ministry

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nearly 1.4 lakh new accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) have been opened across the country since July 1, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) said on Tuesday. More than 5.4 lakh fresh enrollments under the three Jan Suraksha Schemes have also been recorded during this period.

    The DFS has rolled out a three-month nationwide campaign, which began on July 1 and will run till September 30, to expand the reach of its flagship financial inclusion schemes — PMJDY, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). The campaign aims to cover all Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies to ensure that every eligible citizen can access these schemes.

    “The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to last-mile financial empowerment and greater socio-economic inclusion,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

    In the first two weeks of the drive, 43,447 enrolment camps have been organised in various districts to register beneficiaries and promote financial literacy. Progress reports for 31,305 camps have been compiled so far.

    The outreach campaign will cover about 2.7 lakh Gram Panchayats and urban bodies by September-end.

    Additionally, the finance ministry clarified that the government has not issued any order to banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts.

    “In connection with reports appearing in the media that the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, has asked banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, the DFS has clarified that it has not asked banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts,” the finance ministry said.

    So far, over 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in India, with women holding 56 per cent of them. Deposits in these accounts crossed Rs 2.5 lakh crore as of May 21 this year.

  • Sensex, Nifty open lower amid mixed global cues

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian benchmark indices opened on a flat note on Wednesday, reflecting weakness in Asian markets and investor caution ahead of corporate earnings releases and key global trade developments.

    At the start of the trading session, the BSE Sensex opened at 82,534.66, down 36.24 points, while the Nifty 50 at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slipped 0.80 points to open at 25,196.60.

    In early trade, market breadth remained moderately positive, with 1,271 stocks advancing, 818 declining, and 171 remaining unchanged.

    On the NSE, SBI Life Insurance, Trent, Tech Mahindra, Hero MotoCorp, and Tata Consumer were among the top gainers. Meanwhile, Shriram Finance, Cipla, Hindalco, Reliance Industries, and TCS were notable laggards.

    Market analysts flagged concerns around US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals, expected to be implemented this month, much sooner than his earlier indication of a 12–18 month timeline. Additionally, the threat of secondary tariffs up to 100% on countries engaging in trade with Russia, particularly those importing crude oil, is creating unease among investors. The deadline for these potential sanctions is September 2.

    “India is awaiting clarity on a US tariff deal. Trump’s abrupt announcement regarding pharma tariffs and the looming deadline for secondary sanctions on Russian oil imports are creating uncertainty. Disengaging from a strategic partner like Russia is not a viable option for India, which adds to investor anxiety,” said Ajay Bagga, Market and Banking Expert.

    Investors are also closely monitoring corporate margin pressures, global demand outlooks, and forward guidance from companies as earnings season progresses.

    Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities, noted: “The Nifty gained 113 points to close at 25,196 yesterday, marking its first rise in five sessions. Technically, a swing low has been confirmed at 25,000. A close above 25,245 today could fuel further optimism. However, for bullish momentum to return convincingly, we need a daily close above 25,340. Support is currently seen between 24,940 and 25,000. While Asian markets remain flat, US index futures are down about 0.2%.”

    Indian benchmark indices had snapped a four-day losing streak on Tuesday, driven by gains in the Auto and Banking & Financial Services (BFSI) sectors. Broader markets outperformed, with the Midcap and Smallcap indices rising 0.8% and 1.0%, respectively. Market breadth was robust, with a healthy 2:1 advance-to-decline ratio, according to SBI Securities.

    (ANI)