Category: India

BWF US Open: Ayush Shetty clinches men’s singles title, Tanvi Sharma finishes as runner-up

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Ayush Shetty clinched his maiden title on the BWF World Tour after defeating Canada’s Brian Yang in the final of the US Open, a BWF Super 300 badminton tournament, held at the Mid-America Center on Monday (IST).

The 2023 World Junior Championships bronze medallist Ayush registered a commanding 21-18, 21-13 victory over World No. 33 Yang in just 47 minutes, capping off a stellar week.

“Ayush Shetty clinches maiden BWF Super 300 title, winning the US Open 2025! He dismantled Brian Yang in straight games — 21-13, 21-18 — with commanding flair right from start to finish. A breakthrough triumph that cements his arrival among badminton’s elite and marks the rise of a new Indian powerhouse,” the Badminton Association of India (BAI) said in a post on X.

The fourth-seeded Ayush began his campaign with a 21-17, 21-19 win over Danish World No. 85 Magnus Johannesen, before defeating compatriot Tharun Mannepalli 21-12, 13-21, 21-15 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he registered a 22-20, 21-9 win over World No. 70 Kuo Kuan Lin.

His biggest win came in the semifinal, where he defeated World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen 21-23, 21-15, 21-14 — avenging his loss to Chou in the Taipei Open 2025 semifinal.

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma’s dream run ended with a runner-up finish after a hard-fought final against 34-year-old veteran Beiwen Zhang, which ended 11-21, 21-16, 10-21.

“What a run! 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma stuns the badminton world with a dream performance at the US Open 2025 finals! She defeated WR23, WR58, WR50 & WR40 before falling just short in a gripping final vs 34-year-old veteran Beiwen Zhang — 11-21, 21-16, 10-21. She may have missed the title, but Tanvi won hearts, turned heads, and sparked a new dawn for Indian women’s badminton,” the BAI said on X.

On Saturday, Tanvi became the youngest Indian badminton player to reach a BWF World Tour final, having already defeated second seed Nguyễn Thùy Linh of Vietnam and former junior world champion Pitchamon Opatniputh of Thailand in earlier rounds.

Tanvi has two international badminton titles to her name, both at the BWF International Challenge level — including a recent win in Denmark in May. She also reached the final of the Odisha Masters BWF Super 100 tournament last year.

IANS

June 30, 2025
How will the Dalai Lama’s successor be chosen?

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The choice of a successor to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, is a matter of riveting interest not only for followers of his religion, but also China, India, and the United States, for strategic reasons.

The Nobel peace laureate, who turns 90 on Sunday, is regarded as one of the world’s most influential figures, with a following extending well beyond Buddhism.

HOW WAS HE CHOSEN?

Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after his death.

The 14th Dalai Lama, born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in northeastern Tibet, was identified as such a reincarnation when he was just two years old.

A search party sent by the Tibetan government made the decision on the basis of several signs, such as a vision revealed to a senior monk, the Dalai Lama’s website says. The searchers were convinced when the toddler identified belongings of the 13th Dalai Lama with the phrase, “It’s mine, it’s mine”.

In the winter of 1940, Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of today’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibetans.

HOW WILL HIS SUCCESSOR BE CHOSEN?

In his book “Voice for the Voiceless”, released in March 2025, the Dalai Lama said his successor would be born outside China.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since 1959, after fleeing a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong’s Communists.

He wrote that he would release details about his succession around the time of his 90th birthday.

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, like the Dalai Lama, says a system has been established for the exiled government to continue its work while officers of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation will be charged with finding and recognising his successor.

The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 to “maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama” with regard to his religious and spiritual duties, it says on its website. Its senior officers include several of his aides.

WHAT DOES CHINA SAY?

China says its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama’s successor, as a legacy from imperial times. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty.

Chinese officials have repeatedly said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be decided by following national laws that decree use of the golden urn and the birth of reincarnations within China’s borders.

But many Tibetans suspect any Chinese role in the selection as being a ploy to exert influence on the community.

It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion, “to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas, let alone that of the Dalai Lama,” the Buddhist leader has said.

In his book, he asked Tibetans not to accept “a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China,” referring to the country by its official name.

Beijing brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a “separatist” and prohibits displays of his picture or any public show of devotion towards him.

In March 2025, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Dalai Lama was a political exile with “no right to represent the Tibetan people at all”.

China denies suppressing the rights of the Tibetan people, and says its rule ended serfdom in, and brought prosperity to, a backward region.

WHAT ROLE COULD INDIA AND THE U.S. PLAY?

Apart from the Dalai Lama, India is estimated to be home to more than 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists who are free to study and work there.

Many Indians revere him, and international relations experts say his presence in India gives New Delhi some kind of leverage with rival China.

The United States, which faces rising competition from China for global dominance, has repeatedly said it is committed to advancing the human rights of Tibetans.

U.S. lawmakers have previously said they would not allow China to influence the choice of the Dalai Lama’s successor.

In 2024, then U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that presses Beijing to resolve a dispute over Tibet’s demands for greater autonomy.

(Reuters)

June 30, 2025
President Murmu begins two-day visit to Gorakhpur, to open AYUSH university

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from Monday, during which she will attend the first convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur.

According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, the President will also inaugurate the state’s first AYUSH University in Pipri, Bhathat on July 1. The new university is aimed at boosting traditional medicine and holistic healthcare education across Uttar Pradesh.

This marks President Murmu’s fourth visit to Gorakhpur over the past seven years, once again at the invitation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It will also be the second time in recent years that a sitting President has visited both AIIMS and a major university in the city, underscoring Gorakhpur’s rising profile at the national level.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally reviewed the 31-kilometre route from the city to Pipri to ensure all preparations are in place. The President is also expected to offer prayers at the Gorakhnath Temple, where arrangements have been made for meals that reflect her dignity and stature.

Security measures have been tightened in and around Gorakhpur. SP (City) Abhinav Tyagi confirmed that the AIIMS auditorium and campus are under full security cover, with OPD services at AIIMS suspended on June 30. Authorities have declared a five-kilometre radius around the Circuit House as a no-fly zone and put in place a three-tier security system.

In April, Chief Minister Yogi laid the foundation stone for the 500-bed ‘Powergrid Vishram Sadan’ at AIIMS Gorakhpur. The facility, aimed at supporting patients and their families, is being developed under the CSR initiative of Power Grid Corporation of India at a cost of Rs 44 crore.

-IANS

June 30, 2025
Swiatek slams ‘intense’ calendar as players feel the grind to protect rankings

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Iga Swiatek criticised the relentless tennis calendar on Sunday, with the former world number one saying that players should not be forced to compete in more than 20 tournaments a year to maintain their rankings.

Now ranked fourth in the world, Swiatek described being trapped in a system where she had to choose between representing her country and focusing on herself after she reluctantly skipped Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in April.

The 11-month grind has been one of the cornerstones of the lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) against the sport’s governing bodies in March after the union described it as ‘unsustainable’.

“The scheduling is super intense, it’s too intense. There’s no point for us to play over 20 tournaments in a year,” Swiatek told reporters when asked about the biggest challenge to players in terms of mental health.

“Sometimes we need to sacrifice playing for your country because we need to keep up with playing these WTA 500s, for example, because we’re going to get a zero in the ranking.

“I think these kind of obligations and the rules about mandatory tournaments just put pressure on us… I think people would still watch tennis, maybe even more, if we played less tournaments. The quality would be better.”

Swiatek is the eighth seed at Wimbledon this year and she faces Polina Kudermetova in the first round on Tuesday.

The claycourt specialist with four French Open crowns fell in the semi-finals at Roland Garros this year and she quickly switched her focus to grass which has historically been her weakest surface.

She reached her first grasscourt final on Saturday at the Bad Homburg Open where she was left in tears after losing to top seed Jessica Pegula, but Swiatek is happy with her improvement on grass as she comes to grips with the faster surface.

“It’s not like a huge change. It’s not like 180 degrees change. I wouldn’t say now suddenly everything is perfect, because it’s still a difficult surface. It’s still tricky,” Swiatek said.

-Reuters

June 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on June 28, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India


(Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)

	Volume (One Leg)	Weighted Average Rate	Range
A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV)	0.00	–	–
I. Call Money	0.00	–	–
II. Triparty Repo	0.00	–	–
III. Market Repo	0.00	–	–
IV. Repo in Corporate Bond	0.00	–	–
B. Term Segment
I. Notice Money**	0.00	–	–
II. Term Money^@@	0.00	–	–
III. Triparty Repo	0.00	–	–
IV. Market Repo	0.00	–	–
V. Repo in Corporate Bond	0.00	–	–

	Auction Date	Tenor (Days)	Maturity Date	Amount	Current Rate / Cut off Rate
C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
I. Today’s Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
3. MSF^#	Sat, 28/06/2025	1	Sun, 29/06/2025	51.00	5.75
	Sat, 28/06/2025	2	Mon, 30/06/2025	385.00	5.75
4. SDF^Δ#	Sat, 28/06/2025	1	Sun, 29/06/2025	1,50,770.00	5.25
	Sat, 28/06/2025	2	Mon, 30/06/2025	5,074.00	5.25
5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-1,55,408.00
II. Outstanding Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo	Fri, 27/06/2025	7	Fri, 04/07/2025	84,975.00	5.49
3. MSF^#	Fri, 27/06/2025	2	Sun, 29/06/2025	0.00	5.75
	Fri, 27/06/2025	3	Mon, 30/06/2025	990.00	5.75
4. SDF^Δ#	Fri, 27/06/2025	2	Sun, 29/06/2025	47.00	5.25
	Fri, 27/06/2025	3	Mon, 30/06/2025	26,895.00	5.25
D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI^$				7,010.46
E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-1,03,916.54
F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-2,59,324.54
G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
(i) Cash balances with RBI as on		June 28, 2025		9,81,725.90
(ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending		July 11, 2025		9,52,318.00
H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on^¥		June 27, 2025		0.00
I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on		June 13, 2025		5,62,116.00
^@ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
– Not Applicable / No Transaction.
** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
^@@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
^$ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
^& As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
^Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
* Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
^¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
^# As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications)
Press Release: 2025-2026/621

MIL OSI Economics –

June 30, 2025

Indian stock market opens flat; Sensex holds above 84,000 mark

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Indian stock market opened on a steady note on Monday, with benchmark indices trading flat amid positive global cues and selective buying in PSU bank and IT stocks.

At around 9:27 am, the BSE Sensex was marginally higher by 1.35 points at 84,057.55, while the NSE Nifty gained 6.50 points, or 0.03 per cent, to trade at 25,644.30.

Analysts attributed the steady start to easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, a sharp correction in Brent crude prices to 67 dollars per barrel, and encouraging signals on the trade front, including possible deals between the US, China and India.

Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said that large-cap counters like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and L&T have been key drivers of the recent rally due to institutional accumulation.

The Nifty Bank index in early trade was up by 15.15 points at 57,459.05. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 100 advanced by 220.90 points to 59,606.05, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 153.35 points to trade at 19,130.15.

Within the Sensex pack, M&M, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, NTPC and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards in the opening session. On the other hand, Trent, SBI, L&T, Eternal, Axis Bank and Hindustan Unilever were trading in positive territory.

Continued weakness in the dollar index is supporting foreign fund inflows, while retail investor confidence remains strong. Market experts, however, advise caution when making fresh investments at elevated valuations despite the ongoing bull run.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers on June 27, picking up shares worth Rs 1,397.02 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors booked profits, selling equities worth Rs 588.93 crore.

In Asia, key markets such as China, Bangkok, Japan, Seoul and Jakarta were trading higher, while Hong Kong was in negative territory.

Overnight in the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher at 43,819.27, up 432.43 points or 1 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 32.05 points to end at 6,173.07, and the Nasdaq added 105.55 points to close at 20,273.46.

-IANS

June 30, 2025
China’s weak factory activity maintains pressure for more stimulus as tariff risks weigh

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

China’s manufacturing activity shrank for a third straight month in June, though at a slower pace, as increases in new orders, purchasing volumes and supplier delivery times signalled that policy support rolled out since late last year is taking effect.

But business sentiment remains subdued, Monday’s survey showed, with employment, factory gate prices and new export orders still languishing, and keeping alive calls for even more stimulus as authorities deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught and chronic weakness in the property sector.

The National Bureau of Statistics purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 49.7 in June from 49.5 in May, matching the median forecast in a Reuters poll but remaining below the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.

“Two months of successive improvement, that’s a decent reading given June was the first full month without Trump’s prohibitive 100%-plus tariffs,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“There is still evidence of frontloading in trade, but the tariffs are lower now and manufacturers are preparing to ship holiday season goods,” he added.

The new export orders sub-index remained in contraction for a 14^th straight month in June, inching up to 47.7 from 47.5 in May, while employment diverged from other indicators by deteriorating further. However, new domestic orders rose to 50.2 from 49.8, and purchasing volumes jumped from 47.6 to 50.2 — offering policymakers some hope that domestic demand may be starting to recover.

Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said the PMIs suggested the world’s second-largest economy had regained some momentum over the past month, but warned tensions with the West would continue to squeeze its exports and there were still signs of deflationary pressures.

The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes services and construction, grew to 50.5 from 50.3.

Activity in the food and beverages, travel, hospitality and logistics sectors fell this month, NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement. However, this drag was offset by a pickup in the construction PMI, which rose to a 3-month high of 52.8, Capital Economics’ Huang said.

“Fiscal support looks to have continued to support infrastructure spending,” Huang added, but cautioned that “a fading fiscal tailwind is likely to slow activity in the second half of the year.”

MORE STIMULUS

Uncertainty also lingers among factory owners, as the business outlook index – which normally moves in line with the headline PMI – dropped in June and suggested producers were waiting on a more durable trade deal to a fragile framework agreed between Beijing and Washington earlier this month.

That puts pressure on policymakers to roll out more support measures, as the government cannot afford for China’s vast manufacturing sector to stagnate or shrink, if its ambitious 2025 growth target of “around 5%” is to be met.

Profits at China’s industrial firms swung sharply back into decline in May, which officials attributed to weak demand and falling industrial product prices.

Policymakers are confident they can push ahead with reforms launched late last year to transition China’s economy from a manufacturing-led model to a consumer-driven one, Premier Li Qiang told delegates at World Economic Forum and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank meetings last week.

Such a shift in the engines of growth, which economists say is crucial to securing China’s future, could be progressed while maintaining strong growth, Li said.

But economists say the transition could take years, and that reform typically comes at the cost of a more subdued economy in the short term.

“Exports are expected to decelerate in the second half of the year, and domestic deflationary pressures will intensify,” said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group, who expects more stimulus in coming months.

“Household consumption cannot be a real short-term driver, but fiscal spending in things like infrastructure can deliver the kind of growth required to hit this year’s target.”

(Reuters)

June 30, 2025
Former supremo Ecclestone makes F1 podium debut at 94

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula One supremo who rarely stayed to watch races beyond halfway when he was in charge, made his first grand prix podium appearance at the age of 94 in Austria on Sunday.

The Briton was present at the Red Bull Ring to hand out a medal on behalf of the president of the governing FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to McLaren’s race winner Lando Norris.

Norris hopped off the top step of the podium so that he would be standing at the same level as his diminutive compatriot.

“I think it’s really nice that the president gives a personal congratulations to the winning competitor,” said Ecclestone, who ran the commercial side of the sport for some 40 years until being ousted in 2017.

“As he could not attend the race here in Austria, he asked me to present his medal for him which I am pleased and honoured to do.

“It was also great to be there as, though it might seem strange, this was the first time in almost 70 years in this sport that I’ve actually been on the podium.”

Norris won Formula One’s 1,136th championship grand prix and Ecclestone attended the first at Silverstone in 1950.

He once said he left races soon after the start because by then his business was done.

The President’s Medal was first presented to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the season-ending 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and each one carries the race number and highlights the event’s history.

-Reuters

June 30, 2025
Amit Shah inaugurates National Turmeric Board headquarters in Telangana, promises major boost to farmers and exports

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a major boost to India’s turmeric farming sector, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and other senior dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Shah highlighted that the creation of the Board fulfills a 40-year-old demand of turmeric farmers, particularly in Telangana. The initiative, he said, was a promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 and now stands fulfilled. Nizamabad, widely recognized as the “turmeric capital” of India, will now have the infrastructure to take its produce to global markets within the next few years.

“The Board will eliminate the role of middlemen and put in place an integrated framework for turmeric packaging, branding, marketing, and export,” Shah said. He also underscored the medicinal value of turmeric, referring to it as a “wonder drug” with anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties that are gaining international recognition.

The Centre has set a target to scale turmeric exports to $1 billion by 2030, with all required preparations already underway. The National Turmeric Board will spearhead efforts to ensure maximum value returns to farmers, promote GI-tagged organic turmeric, and facilitate training and capacity-building programs. The Board will also guide compliance with global standards for quality and safety and support research and development to further explore turmeric’s therapeutic benefits.

Shah revealed that turmeric prices in 2025 reached ₹18,000–₹19,000 per quintal, and the government is working to push that figure up by ₹6,000–₹7,000 over the next three years. He noted that turmeric was cultivated on over 3 lakh hectares across the country in 2023–24, yielding 10.74 lakh tonnes.

Key turmeric-growing districts in Telangana—Nizamabad, Jagtial, Nirmal, and Kamareddy—are expected to gain significantly from this institutional support. Shah also pointed to the establishment of the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) by the Modi government to promote farmers engaged in both exports and organic farming.

June 30, 2025
IRCTC’s upgraded system to handle over 1.5 lakh bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Indian Railways is set to introduce a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) by the end of this year, aiming to make the ticket booking process faster, smarter and more passenger-friendly. The upgraded system will be capable of generating over 1.5 lakh tickets per minute, nearly five times higher than the current capacity of 32,000 tickets per minute, according to the Ministry of Railways.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the progress of these reforms and highlighted the need for a ticketing system that is smart, transparent, accessible and efficient. Emphasising passenger convenience, the Minister said that the entire journey should be smooth and comfortable right from the stage of ticket reservation.

Indian Railways will advance the reservation chart preparation from the current four hours before departure to eight hours prior. For trains scheduled to depart before 2 pm, the reservation chart will now be prepared the previous evening by 9 pm. This change is expected to help passengers travelling from remote locations or nearby areas, giving them more time to plan or make alternative arrangements if their tickets remain unconfirmed.

The upgraded PRS, which is being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is designed to be agile, flexible and scalable, capable of handling ten times the current load. Apart from boosting ticket booking capacity, the system will also increase ticket enquiry capacity from the present four lakh to over forty lakh enquiries per minute. The new interface will be multilingual and user-friendly, allowing passengers to choose seats, view fare calendars and access integrated facilities for Divyangjan, students and patients.

In addition, Indian Railways is strengthening the authentication process for Tatkal bookings. From July 1, only authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app. By the end of July 2025, OTP-based authentication will also be introduced. The Railway Minister has directed that authentication should use Aadhaar or any other verifiable Government ID available in the user’s DigiLocker account.

June 30, 2025
Wimbledon 2025: Dates, top seeds and match schedule

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Wimbledon is a grasscourt Grand Slam organised by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The tournament was first held in 1877. Here is what you need to know about the year’s third major after the Australian Open and French Open:

WHEN IS WIMBLEDON 2025 HAPPENING?

* The Championships will run from June 30 to July 13.

WHERE IS WIMBLEDON TAKING PLACE?

* Wimbledon is held in London every year.

* The three main showcourts at the All England Club are Centre Court, Court One and Court Two. Unlike other Grand Slam venues, the All England Club does not name its courts after former players.

* Centre Court is the largest with a capacity of nearly 15,000 spectators. Court One has a capacity of 12,345 while Court Two, nicknamed the ‘Graveyard of Champions’ due to the many early upsets there over the years, seats 4,000.

WHO IS INVOLVED IN WIMBLEDON?

* The top-ranked players automatically enter the main draw with 32 seeds announced prior to the draw to ensure they do not meet in the early rounds. From the 2021 Championships, seedings for the men’s and women’s singles are based on world rankings.

* Italian Jannik Sinner, who won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, is the current men’s world number one. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, also a three-times major winner, is the women’s top-ranked player.

* Spanish world number two Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his second French Open title, is looking to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.

* American world number two Coco Gauff, the women’s champion at Roland Garros, is eyeing a first Wimbledon crown.

* World number five Novak Djokovic will resume his quest for a record-extending 25th men’s Grand Slam singles title, while five-times major winner Iga Swiatek chases a first Wimbledon crown. Czech Barbora Krejcikova is the defending Wimbledon women’s champion.

* Organisers also hand out wild cards for local hopes and notable players who have dropped down the rankings.

TOP SEEDS

Men:

1 Jannik Sinner

2 Carlos Alcaraz

3 Alexander Zverev

4 Jack Draper

5 Taylor Fritz

6 Novak Djokovic

7 Lorenzo Musetti

8 Holger Rune

9 Daniil Medvedev

10 Ben Shelton

Women:

1 Aryna Sabalenka

2 Coco Gauff

3 Jessica Pegula

4 Jasmine Paolini

5 Zheng Qinwen

6 Madison Keys

7 Mirra Andreeva

8 Iga Swiatek

9 Paula Badosa

10 Emma Navarro

June 30, 2025
Dalai Lama set to reveal succession plan as China watches

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday, as his followers wait for the Tibetan spiritual leader to share details about his succession in a move that could irk China.

Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.

Tibetan Buddhists hold that enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has said he would consult senior monks and others at this time to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death.

He has previously said he could possibly reincarnate in India, where he lives in exile near the northern Himalayan town of Dharamshala. He was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two.

Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said it was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China “tries to vilify him at every chance … it is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand”.

“China is trying to grab this institution … for its political purpose,” she said.

“We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity.”

Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle, said typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the “Chinese government is interfering”.

Beijing said in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had “no right to represent the Tibetan people at all”. China has said it is open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, a proposal the Tibetan government in exile has rejected.

‘AS IF HE’S NOT THERE’

The religious conference this week, being held for the first time since 2019, will be attended by more than 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders and will feature a video statement from the Dalai Lama.

Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, will be among those attending, organisers have said.

The Dalai Lama will attend prayers called by the Tibetan government in exile on July 5 and participate in his birthday celebrations a day later, according to a schedule shared by the organisers.

He will speak at the celebrations for about half an hour. India’s parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, and some other Indian officials are expected to attend.

Tibetans have been praying for his long health, especially since knee surgery in the U.S. last year, although the Dalai Lama told Reuters in December that he could live until he was 110. The previous Dalai Lama died earlier than expected at 58.

The Dalai Lama and Tibetan officials say there is a system in place for the government-in-exile to continue its political work while officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Foundation search and recognise the next Dalai Lama.

The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 and its senior officers include several of his aides.

Teykhang and other Tibetan officials said the Dalai Lama has been preparing his people for the day when he is gone, especially through his 2011 decision to hand his political role to a democratically elected government, ending a 368-year-old tradition of being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibetans.

“Since he has come in the form of a human, we have to agree that there will be a moment when he is not with us,” said Teykhang. “His Holiness has really prepared us for that day, he made us act as if he’s not there.”

(Reuters)

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-US trade deal kicks into gear: immediate tariff cuts for UK auto and aerospace sectors
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

UK-US trade deal kicks into gear: immediate tariff cuts for UK auto and aerospace sectors

The UK-US trade deal has today come into force, slashing US export tariffs for the UK’s automotive and aerospace sectors.
Immediate benefits for UK auto and aerospace sectors as tariffs are slashed under the UK-US trade deal, protecting British jobs across the country.

UK car manufacturers can now export to the US under a reduced 10% tariff quota saving hundreds of millions annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The UK aerospace sector also gains a major boost, with 10% tariffs on goods like engines and aircraft parts removed today and a commitment to maintain them at 0%.

From today, British car and aerospace manufacturers will benefit from major tariff reductions when exporting to the US, saving thousands of jobs, as the landmark UK-US trade deal comes into effect.

The UK is the only country to have secured this deal with the US, reducing car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10%, saving manufacturers hundreds of millions each year and protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

At the same time, the aerospace sector has seen the removal of 10% tariffs on goods such as engines and aircraft parts, helping make companies such as Rolls Royce more competitive and allow them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation.

These changes are a huge win for both sectors and will help ensure UK manufacturers remain globally competitive, protect British jobs and continue to lead in innovation and excellence.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Our historic trade deal with the United States delivers for British businesses and protects UK jobs. From today, our world-class automotive and aerospace industries will see tariffs slashed, safeguarding key industries that are vital to our economy.

We will always act in the national interest – backing British businesses and workers, delivering on our Plan for Change.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

We agreed this deal with the US to protect jobs and support growth in some of our most vital sectors – and today, we’re delivering on that promise for the UK’s world-class automotive and aerospace industries.

British car manufacturers can now export to the US at a significantly reduced 10% tariff rate – down from 27.5% – and aerospace goods will see 10% tariffs removed, saving sectors hundreds of millions each year and safeguarding thousands of jobs.

This is a clear example of our Plan for Change in action: cutting costs for businesses, speeding up delivery of trade benefits, and helping UK industries thrive in a challenging global environment.

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

News that tariffs on aerospace goods are to be relaxed is welcome to the industry and regulatory bodies alike.

The UK’s aerospace sector is renowned for its innovation and excellence, and thanks to our role in the global supply chain, more than 100,000 people are employed in highly skilled jobs in the sector throughout the country.

Efforts to reach this outcome are hugely appreciated by a sector that has remained resilient against a multitude of external pressures.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of SMMT said:

The implementation of the new trading agreement between the UK and US is good news for US customers and a huge relief for the UK automotive companies that export to this critically important market.

It immediately slashes the punitive tariffs that brought the US export market to a standstill and threatened the viability of some of the most famous names in British manufacturing.

Securing the deal – the first and, so far, only automotive deal in place with the administration – is a diplomatic coup and provides a foundation on which to grow trade in the future. Combined with the new Industrial and Trade Strategies that have automotive at their heart, UK companies can look to the future with more optimism.

We have worked with the US and all parts of UK industry to build a quota system which is as simple, fair and effective as possible.

Thanks to the UK-US deal, the UK is the only country to be exempt from the global tariff of 50% on steel and aluminium. As the Prime Minister and President Trump have again confirmed, we will continue go further and make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed.

Today’s announcement demonstrates the kind of agile, sector-specific agreement outlined in the UK’s Trade Strategy — designed to deliver rapid, practical benefits for British businesses and workers in key industries.

This deal is one of many international agreements this government has secured recently to boost our economy, including a trade deal with India which will add £4.8 billion to the UK economy and £2.2 billion in wages every year, and a renewed EU deal which will add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040 on SPS and emissions measures alone.

Today’s announcement is the result of work happening at pace between both governments to lower the burden on UK businesses, especially the sectors most impacted by the tariffs. We will now update Parliament on the implementation of quotas on US beef and ethanol, as part of our commitment to the US under this deal.

Background:

The updated federal notice from the US Government confirming the change regarding UK auto and aerospace tariffs is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/30/2025-12060/imports-of-automobiles-automobile-parts-civil-aircraft-and-civil-aircraft-parts-from-the-united.

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Published 30 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 30, 2025
Netanyahu sees Iran outcome opening door to Gaza hostage return

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the 12-day war with Iran had created opportunities for Israel, and the first was the return of hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

His remarks, coupled with the Jerusalem District Court’s postponement of his testimony this week in his long-running corruption trial, gave rise to speculation that progress may be made to end the Gaza conflict and secure the hostages’ release.

The court accepted on Sunday Netanyahu’s request for the delay, citing classified diplomatic and security grounds. U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested on Saturday the trial could interfere with the Israeli leader’s ability to negotiate.

Israel’s military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Friday the war in Iran, which ended on June 24, could help advance Israeli objectives against the Iranian-backed Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli public radio Kan said Israel’s security cabinet had met on Sunday evening and would meet again on Monday. Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu’s, was expected on Monday at the White House for talks on Iran and Gaza, Israeli media said.

On a Sunday visit to a security facility of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, Netanyahu said: “I want to inform you that as you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory, many opportunities.”

“First of all, to rescue the hostages. Of course we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both tasks,” he said, according to a statement issued by his office.

Israeli advocates for the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, known as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, said his statement prioritizing the hostages was a first.

“The families of the hostages welcome the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister,” they said.

“This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza,” their statement said. Of the 50 hostages, only 20 are believed to be alive.

Trump said on Saturday that Netanyahu was “right now” negotiating a deal with Hamas, though neither leader provided details, and officials on both sides have voiced scepticism over prospects for a ceasefire soon.

The U.S. has proposed a 60-day ceasefire and a release of half the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians. Hamas would release the remaining hostages once a permanent ceasefire was in place.

On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered Palestinians to evacuate areas in northern Gaza before intensified fighting against Hamas.

A Hamas official told Reuters the group had informed mediators it was ready to resume ceasefire talks, but reaffirmed the group’s outstanding demands that any deal must end the war and secure an Israeli withdrawal from the coastal territory.

Israel says it can only end the war if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 captives back to Gaza in their attack on Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

(Reuters)

June 30, 2025
EAM Jaishankar on US visit from June 30; to attend Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 1

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the United States from 30 June to 2 July at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to participate in the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM), scheduled for 1 July, an official said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the Quad Foreign Ministers will build upon the discussions held during the last QFMM, which took place in Washington on January 21 this year.

“They will exchange views on regional and global developments, particularly those concerning the Indo-Pacific, and review the progress made on various Quad initiatives in the run-up to the Quad Leaders’ Summit, which will be hosted by India. The Ministers are also expected to deliberate on new proposals aimed at advancing the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the MEA statement read.

EAM Jaishankar will also inaugurate an exhibition titled, “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on June 30.

“The exhibition will highlight the devastating toll of heinous terrorist acts around the world, and the steps taken by the international community to combat terrorism,” the statement noted.

India’s UN Mission said it will “highlight the devastating toll of heinous terrorist acts around the world”.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the upcoming QFMM, which will also be attended by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, next Tuesday in Washington.

Rubio’s first diplomatic engagement after he took office on January 21 was the Quad foreign ministers meeting, which took place a day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated.

Next week’s meeting “builds on that momentum to advance a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific”, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, Thomas Pigott, said.

“This is what American leadership looks like: strength, peace, and prosperity,” he said.

Earlier, S. Jaishankar posted on X that he had a phone conversation with Penny Wong on Thursday in preparation for the Quad meeting.

The Quad meeting will be the first time the ministers get together after the Pahalgam attack.

It will come a day before Pakistan takes over the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

The Quad meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for the Summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will bring US President Donald Trump, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Shigeru Ishiba of Japan to India.

At their meeting in February, PM Modi said he looked forward to hosting Trump at the summit.

The first foreign affairs meeting after Trump’s inauguration showed his administration’s regional priority as China’s threat loomed. However, the world’s attention turned to the Middle East and Ukraine.

The conflict between Israel and Iran appears to have ebbed for now, freeing some bandwidth to turn attention to the Indo-Pacific, where China poses a challenge to the nations of the region.

(IANS)

June 30, 2025
Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Joao Neves scored twice as Paris St Germain swept aside Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday to secure their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency.

The French side asserted their dominance within six minutes, with Neves moving unmarked to the far post to power home a precise header from a free kick.

Neves doubled their lead in the 39th minute after a flowing move as Bradley Barcola found Fabian Ruiz, whose exquisite cross was clinically converted by the Portuguese.

Any hopes of a Miami comeback were extinguished in the first half as Messi and company barely got a look in, and their misery deepened further when Tomas Aviles turned Desire Doue’s cross into his own net.

Achraf Hakimi added the fourth, pouncing after his initial shot struck the crossbar, on the stroke of halftime.

“It was an almost perfect match, we created a lot of chances, and I’m happy yet I think we still need to improve, that’s football,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

Messi became more involved after the break and his header was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma following a quick counter-attack, while he struck the wall with a late free kick that brought the crowd to their feet in anticipation of a consolation goal that never materialised.

“I’m very proud of my players. Today you could see the difference in class, but football has given us the chance to compete. This is probably the best team in the world with a great coach, but we took them on,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.

The Champions League winners march on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.

-Reuters

June 30, 2025
Union Home Minister Shah to chair ‘Manthan Baithak’ of states, UT’s Cooperation Ministers today

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah is scheduled to chair the Manthan Baithak of Cooperation Ministers from all States and Union Territories at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday. The high-level meeting organised by the Ministry of Cooperation will review progress and chart the future roadmap to strengthen the cooperative sector across India.

The meeting will bring together Cooperation Ministers, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries of Cooperation Departments from all States and UTs.

The primary objective of the Manthan Baithak was to evaluate the implementation of key initiatives, share best practices, and foster convergence towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).

A major focus of the conference was the establishment of two lakh new Multi-purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), along with cooperative societies in the dairy and fisheries sectors. These efforts aim to enhance last-mile service delivery in rural areas and empower farmers, fishers, and local entrepreneurs.

The meeting will review the progress of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme in the cooperative sector, which is expected to boost agricultural infrastructure and food security in the country.

Additionally, the role of states in supporting the three newly formed National Multi-state Cooperative Societies, National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL), and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd (BBSSL), is a key point of deliberation.

“States will also present their progress under the “Cooperation Among Cooperatives” campaign and the ongoing “International Year of Cooperatives 2025”, along with expectations for wider engagement,” said a press release by the Ministry of Cooperation.

“This Manthan Baithak will act as a catalyst in highlighting the critical role of States/UTs in transforming state-level cooperatives into vibrant economic entities, through close collaboration between Center & States, with the spirit of cooperative federalism,” it added. (IANS)

June 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on June 27, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India


(Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)

	Volume (One Leg)	Weighted Average Rate	Range
A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV)	6,44,354.46	5.27	0.01-6.35
I. Call Money	15,051.98	5.38	4.75-5.60
II. Triparty Repo	4,06,137.85	5.42	5.20-5.72
III. Market Repo	2,21,441.08	4.98	0.01-6.20
IV. Repo in Corporate Bond	1,723.55	5.51	5.45-6.35
B. Term Segment
I. Notice Money**	146.95	5.23	5.05-5.30
II. Term Money^@@	185.50	–	5.10-6.20
III. Triparty Repo	14,138.00	5.55	5.50-5.75
IV. Market Repo	0.00	–	–
V. Repo in Corporate Bond	481.00	5.72	5.72-5.72

	Auction Date	Tenor (Days)	Maturity Date	Amount	Current Rate / Cut off Rate
C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
I. Today’s Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo	Fri, 27/06/2025	7	Fri, 04/07/2025	84,975.00	5.49
3. MSF^#	Fri, 27/06/2025	1	Sat, 28/06/2025	75.00	5.75
	Fri, 27/06/2025	2	Sun, 29/06/2025	0.00	5.75
	Fri, 27/06/2025	3	Mon, 30/06/2025	990.00	5.75
4. SDF^Δ#	Fri, 27/06/2025	1	Sat, 28/06/2025	1,96,941.00	5.25
	Fri, 27/06/2025	2	Sun, 29/06/2025	47.00	5.25
	Fri, 27/06/2025	3	Mon, 30/06/2025	26,895.00	5.25
5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-3,07,793.00
II. Outstanding Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
3. MSF^#
4. SDF^Δ#
D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI^$				7,010.46
E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				7,010.46
F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-3,00,782.54
G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
(i) Cash balances with RBI as on		June 27, 2025		9,40,467.82
(ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending		June 27, 2025		9,54,173.00
H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on^¥		June 27, 2025		0.00
I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on		June 13, 2025		5,62,116.00
^@ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
– Not Applicable / No Transaction.
** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
^@@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
^$ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
^& As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
^Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
* Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
^¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
^# As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications)
Press Release: 2025-2026/620

MIL OSI Global Banks –

June 30, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu to visit UP today for AIIMS Gorakhpur convocation

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

President Droupadi Murmu is set to begin her two-day visit to Gorakhpur on Monday and will attend the first convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur.

According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), on July 1, she is scheduled to inaugurate Uttar Pradesh’s first AYUSH University in Pipri, Bhathat, a key initiative aimed at strengthening traditional medicine and holistic healthcare education in the state.

This will be President Murmu’s fourth visit to Gorakhpur in the last seven years, once again at the invitation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The event also marks the second time in recent years that a sitting President has visited AIIMS and a major state university in Gorakhpur, highlighting the city’s growing national importance.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally reviewed the 31-kilometre route to be taken by the President from the city to Pipri, ensuring that all arrangements meet the highest standards.

He has also directed that the Gorakhnath Temple, where the President is expected to offer prayers, provide specially prepared meals reflecting her stature and dignity.

Security has been significantly tightened. SP (City) Abhinav Tyagi confirmed that the AIIMS auditorium and campus are under full security cover, with OPD services suspended for June 30. A 5-km radius around the Circuit House has been declared a no-fly zone, and a three-tier security system is in place.

Earlier in April CM Yogi laid the foundation stone for a 500-bed ‘Powergrid Vishram Sadan’ at AIIMS Gorakhpur. The rest house, aimed at supporting patients and their families, is being developed for Rs 44 crore under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of Power Grid Corporation of India. (IANS)

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Benjamin Zala, Senior Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, Monash University

As the ceasefire between Israel and Iran seems to be holding for now, it is important to reflect on whether this whole episode was worth the risks.

Wider escalation was (and remains) possible, and we do not know whether Iran will seek a nuclear weapon with renewed vigour in the future.

So, could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran, if it does indeed continue to pursue a bomb?

Is an Iranian bomb an existential threat?

The conventional wisdom, at least in the Western world, is that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose an existential threat to Israel, and possibly the United States as well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were aimed at rolling back “the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described an Iranian bomb as “an existential threat, not just to Israel, but to the United States, and to the entire world”.

The same mantra has been repeated by leaders in Europe, at the G7 meeting, and in Australia.

Iran, of course, did not yet possess a nuclear weapon when the strikes occurred, as the UN nuclear watchdog attested. The strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from being able to do so in the future – a prospect seen by Israel and the US as simply “unthinkable”.

But if Iran had built a nuclear weapon before the Israeli and US strikes – or manages to do so in the future – would this pose an existential threat to Israel or the US?

The answer is no. And for a very simple reason: nuclear deterrence works.

Why deterrence works

If Iran had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, it would be different. But it does not.

Israel has maintained a robust nuclear arsenal for more than half a century. Every authoritative assessment of global nuclear weapons stockpiles includes Israel’s roughly 90 nuclear warheads.

The Israeli government officially neither confirms nor denies the existence of its nuclear arsenal. But thanks to leaks from inside the Israeli nuclear program – as well as the best assessments from around the world – we can be quite sure they exist. It also explains why Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty – it can’t without giving up this stockpile.

The US, of course, has been nuclear-armed since 1945 and openly maintains an inventory of thousands of nuclear warheads. These provide a deterrent against nuclear attacks on the United States.

Washington also provides extended nuclear deterrence guarantees to over 30 states, including members of NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It does not need to provide this for Israel given the Israeli arsenal. But if there was ever any doubt about Israel’s stockpile, it certainly could.

After 80 years of living with nuclear weapons, we know the deterrent effect of assured nuclear retaliation is very powerful. It deterred both the Soviets and Americans from using nuclear weapons against each other through multiple Cold War crises. It has deterred both India and Pakistan from using them in multiple standoffs, including quite recently. It has deterred both North Korea and the US from striking each other.

Similarly, Iran would no doubt be deterred from using a nuclear weapon by a certain Israeli or American response.

Iranian leaders have called for the destruction of Israel, and the chants of “death to Israel” and “death to America” are a common occurrence at rallies held by supporters of the regime.

But beneath the fiery rhetoric lies a truism: no Iranian leader would destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon if it came at the expense of the destruction of Iran.

In the history of the nation-state, not a single one has ever knowingly committed suicide. Not for any reason – ideological, religious, political or any other. All nations value survival over everything else because this allows for the achievement of other goals, such as power and prosperity.

Further, Iran is ruled by a brutally authoritarian, theocratic regime. And for authoritarian regimes, staying in power is the number one priority. There is no staying in power the day after a nuclear exchange.

Not a panacea

This does not mean an Iranian nuclear weapon would be a welcome development. Far from it.

Every new nuclear-armed state provides another opportunity for miscalculation or accident. It adds extra stress to an already fragile non-proliferation regime.

In addition, nuclear deterrence is not just and can be considered ethically questionable. It may not even be sustainable over the longer term.

There is no doubt the existence of over 12,000 nuclear weapons globally poses a potentially existential risk to all of humanity.

But the idea that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a unique risk to Israel or the United States simply does not stand up to scrutiny. If we can live with a nuclear-armed North Korea, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and for that matter, a nuclear-armed Israel, we can live, however reluctantly, with a nuclear-armed Iran.

Regardless of whether the current proposed ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, the military operation initiated by Israel and bolstered by the United States was extremely dangerous and unnecessary, based on both countries’ justification.

The regime in Tehran is brutal, authoritarian, openly antisemitic and worthy of our disdain. But there is no evidence it is suicidal.

The claim an Iranian nuclear bomb would pose an existential threat to Israel or the United States and justifies unilateral, preventive military attacks makes no sense.

It is time to stop repeating it.

Benjamin Zala has received funding from the Stanton Foundation, a US philanthropic group that funds nuclear research. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Leicester on a project that is funded by the European Research Council.

– ref. Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes – https://theconversation.com/could-we-live-with-a-nuclear-armed-iran-reluctantly-yes-259905

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Benjamin Zala, Senior Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, Monash University

As the ceasefire between Israel and Iran seems to be holding for now, it is important to reflect on whether this whole episode was worth the risks.

Wider escalation was (and remains) possible, and we do not know whether Iran will seek a nuclear weapon with renewed vigour in the future.

So, could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran, if it does indeed continue to pursue a bomb?

Is an Iranian bomb an existential threat?

The conventional wisdom, at least in the Western world, is that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose an existential threat to Israel, and possibly the United States as well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were aimed at rolling back “the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described an Iranian bomb as “an existential threat, not just to Israel, but to the United States, and to the entire world”.

The same mantra has been repeated by leaders in Europe, at the G7 meeting, and in Australia.

Iran, of course, did not yet possess a nuclear weapon when the strikes occurred, as the UN nuclear watchdog attested. The strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from being able to do so in the future – a prospect seen by Israel and the US as simply “unthinkable”.

But if Iran had built a nuclear weapon before the Israeli and US strikes – or manages to do so in the future – would this pose an existential threat to Israel or the US?

The answer is no. And for a very simple reason: nuclear deterrence works.

Why deterrence works

If Iran had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, it would be different. But it does not.

Israel has maintained a robust nuclear arsenal for more than half a century. Every authoritative assessment of global nuclear weapons stockpiles includes Israel’s roughly 90 nuclear warheads.

The Israeli government officially neither confirms nor denies the existence of its nuclear arsenal. But thanks to leaks from inside the Israeli nuclear program – as well as the best assessments from around the world – we can be quite sure they exist. It also explains why Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty – it can’t without giving up this stockpile.

The US, of course, has been nuclear-armed since 1945 and openly maintains an inventory of thousands of nuclear warheads. These provide a deterrent against nuclear attacks on the United States.

Washington also provides extended nuclear deterrence guarantees to over 30 states, including members of NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It does not need to provide this for Israel given the Israeli arsenal. But if there was ever any doubt about Israel’s stockpile, it certainly could.

After 80 years of living with nuclear weapons, we know the deterrent effect of assured nuclear retaliation is very powerful. It deterred both the Soviets and Americans from using nuclear weapons against each other through multiple Cold War crises. It has deterred both India and Pakistan from using them in multiple standoffs, including quite recently. It has deterred both North Korea and the US from striking each other.

Similarly, Iran would no doubt be deterred from using a nuclear weapon by a certain Israeli or American response.

Iranian leaders have called for the destruction of Israel, and the chants of “death to Israel” and “death to America” are a common occurrence at rallies held by supporters of the regime.

But beneath the fiery rhetoric lies a truism: no Iranian leader would destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon if it came at the expense of the destruction of Iran.

In the history of the nation-state, not a single one has ever knowingly committed suicide. Not for any reason – ideological, religious, political or any other. All nations value survival over everything else because this allows for the achievement of other goals, such as power and prosperity.

Further, Iran is ruled by a brutally authoritarian, theocratic regime. And for authoritarian regimes, staying in power is the number one priority. There is no staying in power the day after a nuclear exchange.

Not a panacea

This does not mean an Iranian nuclear weapon would be a welcome development. Far from it.

Every new nuclear-armed state provides another opportunity for miscalculation or accident. It adds extra stress to an already fragile non-proliferation regime.

In addition, nuclear deterrence is not just and can be considered ethically questionable. It may not even be sustainable over the longer term.

There is no doubt the existence of over 12,000 nuclear weapons globally poses a potentially existential risk to all of humanity.

But the idea that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a unique risk to Israel or the United States simply does not stand up to scrutiny. If we can live with a nuclear-armed North Korea, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and for that matter, a nuclear-armed Israel, we can live, however reluctantly, with a nuclear-armed Iran.

Regardless of whether the current proposed ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, the military operation initiated by Israel and bolstered by the United States was extremely dangerous and unnecessary, based on both countries’ justification.

The regime in Tehran is brutal, authoritarian, openly antisemitic and worthy of our disdain. But there is no evidence it is suicidal.

The claim an Iranian nuclear bomb would pose an existential threat to Israel or the United States and justifies unilateral, preventive military attacks makes no sense.

It is time to stop repeating it.

Benjamin Zala has received funding from the Stanton Foundation, a US philanthropic group that funds nuclear research. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Leicester on a project that is funded by the European Research Council.

– ref. Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes – https://theconversation.com/could-we-live-with-a-nuclear-armed-iran-reluctantly-yes-259905

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Showcases AI Home Appliance Innovations at DA Global Tech Seminars Across Five Regions

Source: Samsung

From March to June, Samsung Electronics hosted Digital Appliances (DA) Global Tech Seminars across five regions — the United States, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia — to showcase its latest innovations to audiences around the world. The seminars welcomed about 240 media representatives and tech influencers from 40 countries to experience Samsung’s latest AI home appliances firsthand and observe how the company is tailoring features to meet the unique needs of each region.1 Attendees also participated in Q&A sessions with product developers, who shared in-depth insights and explanations.

Samsung Newsroom recaps each regional seminar with on-site highlights and photos.

United States: Large-Capacity Washer-Dryers Win Praise for Practicality and Efficiency
▲ 2025 DA Global Tech Seminar held in the U.S.

The U.S. Tech Seminar took place on March 18 at Samsung Home, a Bespoke AI experience space in SoHo, New York City — a neighborhood synonymous with art and creative living.

American consumers tend to prioritize practicality and efficiency. Taking this into account, Samsung set up a dedicated experience zone for the large-capacity Bespoke AI Laundry Vented Combo, featuring a product cutaway mock-up that allowed visitors to intuitively understand the product’s core technologies and features. In addition, a live cooking demonstration showcased the AI capabilities of the Bespoke AI Oven, while the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator — which boosts energy efficiency using a semiconductor-based Peltier module — also mesmerized guests.

Europe: Bespoke AI Jet Ultra Takes Center Stage With Industry-Leading Suction Power
▲ 2025 DA Global Tech Seminar held in Germany

On the same day, the European Tech Seminar kicked off in Frankfurt, Germany, at World of Samsung — a global showcase designed to provide an in-depth look at Samsung’s products.

A key highlight was the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra, which features the world’s most powerful suction for a cordless stick vacuum cleaner at 400W. Samsung developers gave presentations, offering insight into the vacuum cleaner’s high-performance engineering. The Bespoke AI Jet Ultra recently earned 4.5 out of 5 stars from U.K.-based review outlet Trusted Reviews and ranked first among 43 cordless vacuums tested by German IT outlet Chip.

Latin America: SmartThings-Connected Home Appliances Growing at Twice the Global Rate
▲ 2025 DA Global Tech Seminar held in Mexico

The Latin America Tech Seminar took place on June 3 in the vibrant metropolis of Mexico City, Mexico, drawing media and influencers from 13 countries to experience Samsung’s new lineup firsthand. Consumers in the region have shown high interest in connected living, with SmartThings-connected appliance adoption growing at more than twice the global average.2

Reflecting this demand, demonstrations highlighted various features including Map View, Bixby, Routines — all easily accessible via SmartThings or the AI Home screen. Attendees also visited Sam’s House, a premium residential showroom where they engaged in hands-on interactions with Samsung’s connected products.

Southeast Asia: AI Appliances Optimized for Hot, Humid Climates
▲ 2025 DA Global Tech Seminar held in Thailand

On June 20, Samsung held the Southeast Asia Tech Seminar at a showroom in Bangkok, Thailand, where attendees explored the company’s latest products in settings simulating both commercial and residential spaces.

Through demonstrations, attendees experienced how the Voice ID feature on the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator can recognize individual voices to deliver personalized responses. They also saw how Samsung is localizing AI home appliances to better suit Southeast Asia’s hot and humid climate — for example, the 1-Way Cassette system air conditioner and the Bespoke AI Top Load Washer. “The use of AI to enhance user experience and facilitate both usage and energy savings is particularly valuable and useful,” said Kemachad Gunpai of Future Trends Thailand who attended the seminar.

Southwest Asia: AI-Powered, Efficient Cooling Solutions in the Spotlight
▲ 2025 DA Global Tech Seminar held in India

Held on June 25 in Gurugram, India, the Southwest Asia Tech Seminar focused on SmartThings-connected solutions and energy-efficient features tailored to local preferences.

Among the demonstrations were AI appliances responding to sleep patterns detected by motion sensors, alongside cooling solutions tailored for Indian consumers. Attendees also received detailed explanations on how to track energy usage via SmartThings, a particularly relevant feature amid rising electricity costs. Samsung employees also explained how each product operates in AI Energy Mode to maximize efficiency and minimize energy consumption.

“Samsung will continue to develop and expand the Global Tech Seminars in ways that reflect the unique local characteristics of each region,” said Soohyuk Ro, Vice President and Head of Tech Insight Group at Digital Appliances (DA) Business, Samsung Electronics, as the seminars came to an end. “In doing so, we will provide even deeper insights into how Samsung’s AI Home and innovative AI appliances can bring meaningful benefits to daily life for everyone.”

1 Product names and features mentioned in this article may vary by region.
2 Based on internal data from Samsung, aggregated via BDC (BI & Analytics), reflecting the cumulative annual ratio of Wi-Fi-connected devices.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill, The Marshall “Major” Taylor Congressional Gold Medal Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01) and Jim Baird (R-IN-04) led 43 of their colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Marshall “Major” Taylor Congressional Gold Medal Act. This legislation would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor — America’s first Black sports star, recognizing his significance to the nation as a trailblazing athlete.

Taylor managed to become the first African American world champion in any sport and earned the title of “world’s fastest man” despite the extraordinary challenges of the Jim Crow era. He endured attempts by white promoters in both the North and South to exclude him from races. White riders, too, subjected Taylor to curses, insults, and even physical harm during competitions. Despite these adversities, Taylor’s exceptional talent and tenacity turned him into a sensation, drawing tens of thousands at races across the United States, Europe, and Australia.

“It is without question that Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor was a man before his time, a stellar athlete, a leader in the field of cycling, and a trailblazer,” said Rep. Jackson. “I believe it is fitting that Congress award the ‘world’s fastest man’ one of our nation’s most prestigious honors.”

“Even when compared to today’s athletes, Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor is among the greatest cyclists of all time,” said Rep. Baird. “His accomplishments are especially impressive considering the challenges he faced on his climb to cycling greatness. Marshall Taylor is one of the greatest athletes in Indiana history, and I can think of no one better suited to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.”

“Marshall W. ‘Major’ Taylor challenged both the odds and the adversity of his time with dignity and determination, and he went on to ultimately triumph,” said Karen Brown Donovan, the great-granddaughter of Major Taylor. “The awarding of a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal would be a significant achievement towards honoring his life and legacy.”

Supporting Individuals and Groups

119th Congress

Co-lead: Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Original Cosponsors (44 total): Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI-AL), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), David Scott (D-GA-13), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Sharice Davis (D-KS-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Nanette Barragan (D-CA-44), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Shomari Figures (D-AL-02).

Supporting Organizations: Washington Area Bicyclist Association, The League of American Bicyclists, Major Taylor Association, Bike to the Beach, and Black Girls Do Bike, Inc.

118th Congress

Co-lead: Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Original Cosponsors (32 total): Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), André Carson (D-IN-07), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA-04), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Earl Blumenauer (D-WA-03), James McGovern (D-MA-02), David Scott (D-GA-13), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Al Green (D-TX-09), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), David Trone (D-MD-06), Ann Kuster (D-NH-02), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02).

Supporting Organizations: Bronzeville Trail Task Force, Inc., Major Taylor Association, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, League of American Bicyclists, ADD Impact Network & Bike to the Beach, and Black Girls Do Bike, Inc.

About Major Taylor

Taylor, the son of a veteran who fought in the Civil War, was born in 1878. Despite racial tension, Taylor was educated and viewed as an adopted son by an affluent white family from Indianapolis, Indiana, who also employed his father, Gilbert Taylor. Due to his relationship with the family, Taylor received gifts, including his first bicycle. Upon receiving the bicycle, Taylor displayed natural talent.

Taylor received the nickname “Major” as a child while performing bicycle tricks outside of his workplace at Hay & Willits Manufacturing, Indiana Bicycle Co., in Indianapolis. His employer was so impressed with his abilities that the company enrolled him in his first race, which he won at the age of eleven. Taylor moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his employer, mentor, and racing manager, Louis D. “Birdie” Munger, in 1895, because Munger was forced out of his Indianapolis-based firm due to his mentorship of Taylor.

In 1896, at the age of eighteen, Taylor received a professional racing license from the League of American Wheelmen, despite the league’s 1894 “white only” rule for amateur membership. This membership led to his eventual professional debut.

Later that year, Taylor gained notoriety in his first professional contest by competing in the “Six Day Race” at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This race was considered a test of endurance, where cyclists would test both their mental and physical ability in front of a packed house at the Garden. At the conclusion of day six, Taylor finished eighth out of twenty-six and cycled roughly 1,732 miles.

In 1899, Taylor would win the world one-mile sprint championship in Montréal, becoming the first Black American and the second Black athlete to win a world title. Taylor would go on to set seven cycling records and become the first Black world champion, which led to his being considered the first international superstar. Taylor would even revolutionize the sport by creating an innovative adjustable handlebar stem, which to date is called the “Major Taylor Stem.”

While experiencing racial prejudice throughout his career, Taylor became one of the first Black athletes to secure corporate sponsorships. He represented bicycle brands such as Iver Johnson, Sager, Stearns, and Orient, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest Black men in America. Due to his devout commitment to his faith, Taylor refused to race on Sundays, which led to him turning down a significant number of lucrative offers to race in Europe. However, once he achieved international superstardom, Taylor was able to negotiate “no Sundays” provisions in his European racing contracts.

Taylor retired from racing in 1910 and started many business ventures. In 1928, he published his autobiography “The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World” with the intent of impacting justice, equal rights, and the ‘square deal’ for African Americans in sports.

About the Congressional Gold Medal

Since the late 1700s, Congress has expressed public gratitude to individuals and groups by awarding medals and other similar decorations. The Continental Congress awarded the first Congressional Gold Medals. Since that time, Congress has awarded gold medals to express public gratitude for distinguished contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events. Two-thirds of both the House and Senate must cosponsor the legislation to advance it.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 30, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Zala, Senior Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, Monash University

As the ceasefire between Israel and Iran seems to be holding for now, it is important to reflect on whether this whole episode was worth the risks.

Wider escalation was (and remains) possible, and we do not know whether Iran will seek a nuclear weapon with renewed vigour in the future.

So, could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran, if it does indeed continue to pursue a bomb?

Is an Iranian bomb an existential threat?

The conventional wisdom, at least in the Western world, is that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose an existential threat to Israel, and possibly the United States as well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were aimed at rolling back “the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described an Iranian bomb as “an existential threat, not just to Israel, but to the United States, and to the entire world”.

The same mantra has been repeated by leaders in Europe, at the G7 meeting, and in Australia.

Iran, of course, did not yet possess a nuclear weapon when the strikes occurred, as the UN nuclear watchdog attested. The strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from being able to do so in the future – a prospect seen by Israel and the US as simply “unthinkable”.

But if Iran had built a nuclear weapon before the Israeli and US strikes – or manages to do so in the future – would this pose an existential threat to Israel or the US?

The answer is no. And for a very simple reason: nuclear deterrence works.

Why deterrence works

If Iran had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, it would be different. But it does not.

Israel has maintained a robust nuclear arsenal for more than half a century. Every authoritative assessment of global nuclear weapons stockpiles includes Israel’s roughly 90 nuclear warheads.

The Israeli government officially neither confirms nor denies the existence of its nuclear arsenal. But thanks to leaks from inside the Israeli nuclear program – as well as the best assessments from around the world – we can be quite sure they exist. It also explains why Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty – it can’t without giving up this stockpile.

The US, of course, has been nuclear-armed since 1945 and openly maintains an inventory of thousands of nuclear warheads. These provide a deterrent against nuclear attacks on the United States.

Washington also provides extended nuclear deterrence guarantees to over 30 states, including members of NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It does not need to provide this for Israel given the Israeli arsenal. But if there was ever any doubt about Israel’s stockpile, it certainly could.

After 80 years of living with nuclear weapons, we know the deterrent effect of assured nuclear retaliation is very powerful. It deterred both the Soviets and Americans from using nuclear weapons against each other through multiple Cold War crises. It has deterred both India and Pakistan from using them in multiple standoffs, including quite recently. It has deterred both North Korea and the US from striking each other.

Similarly, Iran would no doubt be deterred from using a nuclear weapon by a certain Israeli or American response.

Iranian leaders have called for the destruction of Israel, and the chants of “death to Israel” and “death to America” are a common occurrence at rallies held by supporters of the regime.

But beneath the fiery rhetoric lies a truism: no Iranian leader would destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon if it came at the expense of the destruction of Iran.

In the history of the nation-state, not a single one has ever knowingly committed suicide. Not for any reason – ideological, religious, political or any other. All nations value survival over everything else because this allows for the achievement of other goals, such as power and prosperity.

Further, Iran is ruled by a brutally authoritarian, theocratic regime. And for authoritarian regimes, staying in power is the number one priority. There is no staying in power the day after a nuclear exchange.

Not a panacea

This does not mean an Iranian nuclear weapon would be a welcome development. Far from it.

Every new nuclear-armed state provides another opportunity for miscalculation or accident. It adds extra stress to an already fragile non-proliferation regime.

In addition, nuclear deterrence is not just and can be considered ethically questionable. It may not even be sustainable over the longer term.

There is no doubt the existence of over 12,000 nuclear weapons globally poses a potentially existential risk to all of humanity.

But the idea that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a unique risk to Israel or the United States simply does not stand up to scrutiny. If we can live with a nuclear-armed North Korea, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and for that matter, a nuclear-armed Israel, we can live, however reluctantly, with a nuclear-armed Iran.

Regardless of whether the current proposed ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, the military operation initiated by Israel and bolstered by the United States was extremely dangerous and unnecessary, based on both countries’ justification.

The regime in Tehran is brutal, authoritarian, openly antisemitic and worthy of our disdain. But there is no evidence it is suicidal.

The claim an Iranian nuclear bomb would pose an existential threat to Israel or the United States and justifies unilateral, preventive military attacks makes no sense.

It is time to stop repeating it.

Benjamin Zala has received funding from the Stanton Foundation, a US philanthropic group that funds nuclear research. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Leicester on a project that is funded by the European Research Council.

– ref. Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes – https://theconversation.com/could-we-live-with-a-nuclear-armed-iran-reluctantly-yes-259905

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 30, 2025
MoSPI celebrates 19th Statistics Day honouring Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis and 75 years of National Sample Survey

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Sunday celebrated the 19th Statistics Day at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, marking the 132nd birth anniversary of renowned statistician Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. The event also commemorated the 75th year of the National Sample Survey (NSS), with the theme ‘75 Years of National Sample Survey’ highlighting the transformative impact of the NSS on India’s statistical landscape.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Rao Inderjit Singh, the Chief Guest, paid tribute to Prof. Mahalanobis and underlined the significance of robust statistical systems in policy planning. Emphasising reforms like digital transformation, integrated survey frameworks, and real-time data tools, he lauded MoSPI’s transparent and inclusive approach.

In his welcome address, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, reflected on the evolution of the NSS since 1950 and highlighted key reforms such as quicker data release, the use of digital tools like CAPI, the eSankhyiki portal, and adoption of administrative statistics.

Dr. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman of the National Statistical Commission, emphasized the role of statistics in broader governance and urged the statistical community to explore uniform methodologies in areas like online assessments and e-voting.

A commemorative coin, customized stamp, and several key publications, including the Sustainable Development Goals National Indicator Framework Progress Report 2025 and the NSS Report on Nutritional Intake in India 2022–24, were released. The GoIStat mobile app was also launched to enhance public access to official data.

Dr. Prajamitra Bhuyan, Assistant Professor at IIM Calcutta, received the 2025 Prof. C.R. Rao National Award for his notable contributions to statistics. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Shamika Ravi explored the impact of frontier technologies on official statistics, with insights from industry, academia, and public institutions.

The event saw participation from over 700 delegates, including government officials, international agencies, academics, and industry leaders, reinforcing MoSPI’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and a data-driven future.

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Maldives: President extends Independence Day greetings to Seychelles

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

Download logo

His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended warm greetings to His Excellency President Wavel Ramkalawan, the government, and the people of Seychelles on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day.

In a post shared via his official X account, President Dr Muizzu expressed hope that the festivities would be filled with joy and togetherness. He also reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to its stable bilateral partnership with Seychelles.

In a message sent to President Ramkalawan, President Dr Muizzu underscored the longstanding friendship between the two nations and highlighted their continued cooperation in promoting peace, security, and sustainable development across the Indian Ocean.

He further expressed hope that the occasion would serve as a moment of unity and progress for the people of Seychelles, and reiterated his commitment to strengthening the close ties between the two countries.

– on behalf of Republic of Maldives: The President’s Office.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 30, 2025
Over 1,000 Devotees Join 15th Rath Yatra Celebration by Odisha Samaj UAE in Dubai

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Marking a significant cultural milestone, Odisha Samaj UAE hosted its 15th annual Rath Yatra, drawing more than 1,000 devotees from across all seven emirates. The event has become one of the most prominent celebrations for the Odia diaspora in the region, bringing together families and faith communities in a shared expression of devotion.

Hosted at Star International School in Dubai, the celebration honoured Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra through a sequence of traditional rituals. Among the highlights was the ceremonial Pahandi Bije, during which the deities were ceremoniously escorted to the grand chariot, drawing the attention and devotion of all present and setting the tone for the main procession.The much-awaited chariot pulling began with devotees joining in with deep reverence and enthusiasm. After the procession, Mahaprasad was distributed to all attendees, reflecting the festival’s spirit of inclusivity and collective devotion.

Over 100 Odia families prepared the Chhappan Bhoga, a revered offering of 56 food items, continuing a custom rooted in Puri’s temple traditions. Cultural elements included Devadasi dance performances by children and collective chanting of the 108 Mahamantra, creating a spiritually immersive atmosphere. Evening sessions featured devotional singing and an Odissi dance performance, highlighting Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and maintaining the festive momentum.

Amiya Mishra, President of Odisha Samaj UAE, said the event goes beyond religious observance. “For 15 years, this celebration has brought a sense of home to the Odia community here. It’s about preserving identity, building community, and passing on traditions to the next generation.”

Now a key fixture in the Indian cultural calendar of the UAE, the Rath Yatra has grown into a platform of unity and cultural pride, connecting people across backgrounds and reaffirming ties to heritage while embracing life in a multicultural society.

June 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: India monsoon rains leave 34 dead, 4 missing

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua) — At least 34 people have been killed, four are missing and 74 others have been injured due to monsoon rains in northern India’s Himachal Pradesh state over the past nine days, officials said on Sunday.

According to a report released by the State Emergency Operations Centre, the total damage to infrastructure during the period is estimated at US$8.32 million.

The center also confirmed that homes, livestock pens, government buildings, roads, water systems and power lines were damaged.

The Himachal Pradesh state government has put emergency services on high alert.

Officials said the rains had caused water levels in all major rivers and streams in the state to rise.

Around 40 roads in the affected areas are reported to remain closed due to landslides.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state over the next two days. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 30, 2025
Monsoon reaches Delhi, covers entire country 9 days ahead of schedule: IMD

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country on Sunday, June 29 – nine days ahead of its normal schedule of July 8, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). With its further advance into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the entire Delhi region, the monsoon’s early arrival signals a robust spell of rain across India.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across large swathes of Northwest, Central, East, and Northeast India over the next seven days. Jharkhand is expected to witness isolated extremely heavy rainfall on June 29 and 30, while Odisha is likely to experience similar conditions on June 29.

The ongoing monsoon activity is anticipated to bring significant showers to Uttarakhand from June 29 to July 3, and to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana on June 29 and 30.

Gangetic West Bengal will receive heavy rain on June 29, while Odisha is expected to see continued rainfall from June 30 to July 5. Jharkhand may see another intense spell on July 1.

In Uttar Pradesh, heavy rainfall is likely to continue in the western parts from June 29 to July 2 and in the eastern parts on June 30 and July 1. Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are also forecast to receive heavy rainfall from June 30 to July 2. Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and East Rajasthan will also be affected, with East Rajasthan likely to receive intense rain on July 4 and 5.

The Northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, is expected to witness heavy rainfall between July 2 and 5. Rain will also continue in Konkan & Goa, the ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra, and Gujarat state over the next week.

Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR

In the national capital region, Delhi is set to experience a spell of rainy and relatively cooler weather through early July.

On June 29, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds ranging between 30–40 kmph during storms. The maximum temperature is forecast to stay between 31°C and 33°C, 4 to 6 degrees below normal, offering respite from the usual summer heat.

On June 30, the sky will remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Temperatures are likely to range from 25°C to 27°C at night and 31°C to 33°C during the day, with both minimum and maximum temperatures remaining below seasonal norms. Winds will be relatively calm in the morning, picking up slightly during the afternoon and evening.

Similar conditions are expected to prevail on July 1, with continued cloud cover and moderate rainfall. The temperature is likely to hover between 24°C and 26°C at night and 32°C to 34°C during the day, again remaining below normal levels. Light southwesterly winds in the morning are expected to shift to a northwesterly direction by afternoon, before settling again from the southwest in the evening.

On July 2, Delhi will see a partly cloudy sky with light rain and possible thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures will slightly rise to a range of 33°C to 35°C, while nighttime temperatures will stay between 25°C and 27°C. While the temperature will still be below normal, a gradual warming trend is expected. Winds will vary through the day, becoming stronger in the afternoon before easing at night.

June 30, 2025
MoSPI releases key SDG publications on 19th Statistics Day

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

On the occasion of the 19th Statistics Day, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released three major publications related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing India’s progress toward achieving the global targets. The publications include the Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025, Data Snapshot on SDGs – NIF Progress Report 2025, and the Sustainable Development Goals – NIF 2025.

Developed in consultation with concerned ministries, UN agencies, and other stakeholders, the SDG National Indicator Framework forms the backbone of India’s efforts to monitor and track SDG implementation at the national level. Each year, MoSPI releases these reports on June 29 to mark Statistics Day, providing critical insights and time-series data for policymakers, researchers, and the public.

The 2025 Progress Report presents comprehensive data from various government sources, reflecting substantial advances in multiple sectors. Among the highlights, the report notes a significant rise in social protection coverage, with 64.3% of the population now covered under social security schemes—up from 22% in 2016. Agricultural productivity has improved, with Gross Value Added per worker rising to ₹94,110 in 2024–25 from ₹61,247 in 2015–16. Access to improved drinking water in rural areas has reached 99.62%, and renewable energy’s share in total electricity generation has grown to 22.13%.

India’s waste management infrastructure has also seen a boost, with the number of recycling plants growing from 829 in 2019–20 to over 3,000 in 2024–25. The country’s entrepreneurial landscape is expanding rapidly, as reflected by the recognition of over 34,000 startups under the Start-up India initiative, up from just 453 in 2016.

The report also records progress in environmental sustainability and digital access. Forest cover has inched up to 21.76% of the total geographical area, while internet subscriptions have tripled from 302 million in 2015 to 954 million in 2024. The emissions intensity of GDP has reduced by 36% compared to 2005 levels, indicating a strong move toward a low-carbon economy. Additionally, the Gini coefficient—a measure of income inequality—has declined in both rural and urban areas, signalling improved income distribution.

These reports are publicly accessible on the MoSPI website and serve as valuable tools for tracking India’s commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

June 30, 2025

Category: India

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