NewzIntel.com

Category: Government of India

  • Students protest in Bangladesh after air force jet crash kills 31, mostly children

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Police used tear gas to disperse angry students in Bangladesh on Tuesday who demanded answers from the interim government after an air force fighter jet crashed into a Dhaka school and killed 31 people, at least 25 of them children.

    The children, many aged under 12, were about to return home from class on Monday when the Chinese-manufactured F-7 BGI Bangladesh Air Force jet ploughed into their school and burst into flames, trapping pupils in the fire and debris.

    The military said it had suffered mechanical failure.

    Students from the school and others from nearby colleges protested as two government officials visited the crash site, demanding an accurate death toll and shouting, “Why did our brothers die? We demand answers!”

    Elsewhere in the capital, hundreds of protesting students, some of them waving sticks, broke through the main gate of the federal government secretariat, demanding the resignation of the education adviser, according to local TV footage.

    Police baton charged them, fired tear gas and used sound grenades to disperse the crowd, leaving dozens injured, witnesses said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman said they had to use tear gas to disperse the protesters. He said he did not have information on the number of injured.

    Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. Some parents were inconsolable.

    Abul Hossain broke down as he spoke about his nine-year-old daughter, Nusrat Jahan Anika, killed in the crash. “I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her,” he said.

    She was buried on Monday night.

    Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase.

    “He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it,” she said. “He tore his shirt and vest inside, which saved him from severe burns.”

    The jet had taken off from a nearby air base on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the campus. The pilot was among those killed.

    On Tuesday, the military said in a statement that 31 people had died and 165 had been admitted to hospitals in the city. The health ministry said 68 remained in hospital and the condition of 10 of them was critical.

    STUDENT DEMANDS

    The government announced a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship.

    Pope Leo said he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life in the crash and prayed that families and friends may be consoled in their grief, and for the healing and comfort of the injured, according to a Vatican statement.

    The protesting students called for those killed and injured to be named, the decommissioning of what they said were old and risky jets, and a change in air force training procedures.

    A statement from the press office of Muhammad Yunus, the country’s interim administrator, said that the government, the military, school and hospital authorities were working together to publish a list of victims.

    It also said the air force will be told not to operate training aircraft in populated areas.

    The F-7  BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane’s Information Group. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013.

    The Chengdu F-7 is the licence-built version of the Soviet era MiG-21.

    The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground.

    Bangladesh has faced months of political uncertainty after then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country last August following weeks of deadly student protests.

    The interim government of Nobel laureate Yunus has promised to hold elections next year amid mounting demands from political parties to advance them.

    -Reuters

  • Focus on trade, investment during PM Modi’s UK visit: High Commissioner Doraiswami

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United Kingdom will prioritise trade, investment, and the advancement of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said on Tuesday.

    Speaking to IANS, Doraiswami underlined that preparations are in full swing to reinforce the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. “Our entire team is working in London to prepare for the visit,” he said.

    “We will be discussing a lot on trade and investment, especially how to implement the trade agreement once it is signed, and how both countries can further strengthen their economic relationship,” Doraiswami said. He added that Indian companies operating in the UK have been “largely satisfied” with market access.

    Doraiswami noted that while the core negotiations on the FTA were concluded in May, certain formalities remain. “The main negotiations have concluded, but some paperwork is still pending,” he said, adding that the process, known as ‘legal scrubbing,’ ensures the agreement is legally sound and all documents are in order.

    PM Modi is set to visit the UK from July 23–24 at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It will be his fourth visit to the country.

    According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit will include a review of progress under the bilateral strategic partnership. Discussions will cover trade, technology, defence, climate, health, education, and people-to-people ties.

    IANS

  • Fire still burns as Venus Williams becomes oldest WTA match-winner since 2004

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Venus Williams said she still has fire in her belly after the 45-year-old became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 with her 6-3 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday.

    Having returned to competitive action on Monday in the women’s doubles following a 16-month absence from the game, Williams defeated world number 35 Stearns to claim her first singles win since 2023 in Cincinnati.

    The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion is the oldest WTA singles match-winner since a 47-year-old Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004.

    “I think I just attacked the whole time. It’s just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough,” Williams said after the opening-round win.

    “It’s the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don’t have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win.

    “In some ways, I’m still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that.”

    Williams will next face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech.

    “I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it’s not easy. It won’t be easy. It’s not easy for anyone out here,” Williams said.

    “So I know I’ll have to fight for every match, but I’m up for that.”

    Emma Raducanu was among the big names that progressed after the 2021 U.S. Open champion beat Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk 7-6(4) 6-4 in her opener. The 22-year-old Briton will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

    “I think it’s a great match for a lot of spectators, which is great to be a part of,” Raducanu told reporters. “She’s been playing really good tennis this year. Yeah, it will be a great test of my own game and myself.”

    (Reuters)

     

  • Rains, floods and rising heat: South Asia’s growing climate crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    People in India and neighboring countries eagerly await the monsoon rains, which signal the end of the scorching summer heat and bring much-needed water for crops that sustain crores of people. However, the increasing frequency, intensity, unpredictability and eccentricity of extreme rainfall events are making things increasingly difficult for the people. In 2024 alone, hundreds of people died in India due to heavy rainfall. Across South Asia, hundreds more have already died this year. Experts warn that soaring temperatures and intense rain are also accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides.

    The recent monsoon rains claimed more than 110 lives across Pakistan and many more are left injured and missing. The heavy rains and unstable weather conditions cause much damage to life and property almost every year in the neighbouring country. The Met Department has further warned of possible flooding, disruptions and damages. However, at the same time, several cities in Pakistan are also experiencing a spell of intense heat.

    Similarly, around 100 people died in April this year after unseasonal heavy rain lashed parts of Nepal and India, although monsoon-related torrential rain usually starts in June in this part of the world. 82 people were reported to have died in rain-related incidents in Bihar alone over just two days in April, 2025. Just a week earlier Bihar catastrophe, deadly floods in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River killed several people and left dozens missing. It was said to have been triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region.

    In India, several regions are currently grappling with heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, resulting in major disruptions and extensive damages. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have been severely impacted by the monsoon-triggered floods. The relentless downpours cause rivers to overflow, inundate large areas and damage critical infrastructure, especially in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Similarly, cloud burst, lightning and storm-related incidents in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of the country also cause deaths almost every year. The situations become worse as, while some parts of India face flash floods, several other parts of the country confront heatwave-like conditions.

    Here, the question arises as to why India and its neighbouring countries face these kinds of unwarranted and untimely extreme weather conditions, which invariably cause a great deal of damage. Are these extreme weather conditions directly related to climate change?

    The answer is yes, the flooding across South Asia, especially in India, Nepal and Pakistan has sometimes been extensive and severe, affecting millions of people and causing widespread damage and destructions. Intense monsoon rains combined with glacial melt-water trigger floods and landslides in several parts, resulting in displacement, loss of lives and major damage to infrastructure.

    Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries with its 25.5 crore people increasingly being exposed to extreme weather events. In 2022, devastating monsoon floods submerged one-third of the neighbouring country and claimed the lives of over 1,700 people.

    Experts attribute this inconsistency in weather conditions to changing climate patterns and increased urbanisation, which reduce natural drainage and increase vulnerability to flooding. This is the reason why residents are often found struggling with power outages and property damage, and local authorities are seen working around the clock to manage the crisis and provide relief in affected areas. But most of the time, things appear to be going out of control.

    Floods are not an uncommon occurrence in India and across South Asia during this time of year as the region receives the bulk of its annual rainfall during this season only. However, climate change has made monsoon patterns increasingly unpredictable, bringing intense downpours within short periods, which are followed by extended dry spells that negatively impact crops, making things tougher for the farmers and also for the governments to manage things.

    Adding to the challenge, scientists now warn that a weather phenomenon also known as an atmospheric river, which is some kind of storm only, is exacerbating the situation. Fueled by global warming, these storms carry significantly more moisture, which lead to heavier and more destructive rainfall events across the region.

    These watery storms are also termed as flying rivers. These massive and invisible bands of water vapour are formed over warm oceans when seawater evaporates. They travel from the tropics to cooler regions and release heavy rain or snow that triggers floods and avalanches. Carrying about 90% of the water vapour moving across Earth’s mid-latitudes, these atmospheric rivers, experts say, can have nearly twice the flow of the Amazon River. As the Earth is warming more rapidly because of the climate change, scientists say that atmospheric rivers are becoming longer, wider, more intense and erratic, which significantly increase the flood risk for crores of people in this region and around the world.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that in recent years, weather conditions involving heavy rainfall and strong winds have increasingly been triggered by Western Disturbances also, which affect various parts of the country during same or different months. Notably, the frequency of these disturbances has risen, a trend directly linked to rising global temperatures. A new analysis by Climate Trends, a Delhi-based climate research organization indicates that changes in the behaviour of these weather systems are leading to heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides in hilly states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Moreover, major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and others are facing an increasing risk of urban flooding due to a combination of changing climate patterns, unplanned urbanisation and inadequate drainage systems. Intense and unseasonal rainfall events, often occurring within short durations, overwhelm city infrastructure, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and damages to property. Rising temperatures and the growing frequency of extreme weather events further compound the problem. Experts warn that without sustainable urban planning and climate-resilient infrastructure, these cities will remain highly vulnerable to frequent and more intense flooding in the years to come.

    In May this year, heavy rains brought Bengaluru to a standstill. Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi have also experienced devastating flash floods in recent years, which highlight the growing impact of extreme weather on India’s urban centres. Without doubt, climate vulnerability in this part of the world including India, is a growing concern, driven by the increasing frequency of hydro-meteorological extreme events occurring throughout the year.

    India receives 80% of its annual rainfall during the June-September monsoon, which is vital for farmers. However, the way weather conditions are becoming increasingly erratic and eccentric with unseasonal heavy rains, flash floods and heat-related droughts being often experienced in this part of world, make life miserable, which calls for urgent actions not only from the concerned governments but also from all stake-holders including people in general.   

  • Rains, floods and rising heat: South Asia’s growing climate crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    People in India and neighboring countries eagerly await the monsoon rains, which signal the end of the scorching summer heat and bring much-needed water for crops that sustain crores of people. However, the increasing frequency, intensity, unpredictability and eccentricity of extreme rainfall events are making things increasingly difficult for the people. In 2024 alone, hundreds of people died in India due to heavy rainfall. Across South Asia, hundreds more have already died this year. Experts warn that soaring temperatures and intense rain are also accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides.

    The recent monsoon rains claimed more than 110 lives across Pakistan and many more are left injured and missing. The heavy rains and unstable weather conditions cause much damage to life and property almost every year in the neighbouring country. The Met Department has further warned of possible flooding, disruptions and damages. However, at the same time, several cities in Pakistan are also experiencing a spell of intense heat.

    Similarly, around 100 people died in April this year after unseasonal heavy rain lashed parts of Nepal and India, although monsoon-related torrential rain usually starts in June in this part of the world. 82 people were reported to have died in rain-related incidents in Bihar alone over just two days in April, 2025. Just a week earlier Bihar catastrophe, deadly floods in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River killed several people and left dozens missing. It was said to have been triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region.

    In India, several regions are currently grappling with heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, resulting in major disruptions and extensive damages. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have been severely impacted by the monsoon-triggered floods. The relentless downpours cause rivers to overflow, inundate large areas and damage critical infrastructure, especially in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Similarly, cloud burst, lightning and storm-related incidents in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of the country also cause deaths almost every year. The situations become worse as, while some parts of India face flash floods, several other parts of the country confront heatwave-like conditions.

    Here, the question arises as to why India and its neighbouring countries face these kinds of unwarranted and untimely extreme weather conditions, which invariably cause a great deal of damage. Are these extreme weather conditions directly related to climate change?

    The answer is yes, the flooding across South Asia, especially in India, Nepal and Pakistan has sometimes been extensive and severe, affecting millions of people and causing widespread damage and destructions. Intense monsoon rains combined with glacial melt-water trigger floods and landslides in several parts, resulting in displacement, loss of lives and major damage to infrastructure.

    Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries with its 25.5 crore people increasingly being exposed to extreme weather events. In 2022, devastating monsoon floods submerged one-third of the neighbouring country and claimed the lives of over 1,700 people.

    Experts attribute this inconsistency in weather conditions to changing climate patterns and increased urbanisation, which reduce natural drainage and increase vulnerability to flooding. This is the reason why residents are often found struggling with power outages and property damage, and local authorities are seen working around the clock to manage the crisis and provide relief in affected areas. But most of the time, things appear to be going out of control.

    Floods are not an uncommon occurrence in India and across South Asia during this time of year as the region receives the bulk of its annual rainfall during this season only. However, climate change has made monsoon patterns increasingly unpredictable, bringing intense downpours within short periods, which are followed by extended dry spells that negatively impact crops, making things tougher for the farmers and also for the governments to manage things.

    Adding to the challenge, scientists now warn that a weather phenomenon also known as an atmospheric river, which is some kind of storm only, is exacerbating the situation. Fueled by global warming, these storms carry significantly more moisture, which lead to heavier and more destructive rainfall events across the region.

    These watery storms are also termed as flying rivers. These massive and invisible bands of water vapour are formed over warm oceans when seawater evaporates. They travel from the tropics to cooler regions and release heavy rain or snow that triggers floods and avalanches. Carrying about 90% of the water vapour moving across Earth’s mid-latitudes, these atmospheric rivers, experts say, can have nearly twice the flow of the Amazon River. As the Earth is warming more rapidly because of the climate change, scientists say that atmospheric rivers are becoming longer, wider, more intense and erratic, which significantly increase the flood risk for crores of people in this region and around the world.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that in recent years, weather conditions involving heavy rainfall and strong winds have increasingly been triggered by Western Disturbances also, which affect various parts of the country during same or different months. Notably, the frequency of these disturbances has risen, a trend directly linked to rising global temperatures. A new analysis by Climate Trends, a Delhi-based climate research organization indicates that changes in the behaviour of these weather systems are leading to heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides in hilly states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Moreover, major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and others are facing an increasing risk of urban flooding due to a combination of changing climate patterns, unplanned urbanisation and inadequate drainage systems. Intense and unseasonal rainfall events, often occurring within short durations, overwhelm city infrastructure, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and damages to property. Rising temperatures and the growing frequency of extreme weather events further compound the problem. Experts warn that without sustainable urban planning and climate-resilient infrastructure, these cities will remain highly vulnerable to frequent and more intense flooding in the years to come.

    In May this year, heavy rains brought Bengaluru to a standstill. Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi have also experienced devastating flash floods in recent years, which highlight the growing impact of extreme weather on India’s urban centres. Without doubt, climate vulnerability in this part of the world including India, is a growing concern, driven by the increasing frequency of hydro-meteorological extreme events occurring throughout the year.

    India receives 80% of its annual rainfall during the June-September monsoon, which is vital for farmers. However, the way weather conditions are becoming increasingly erratic and eccentric with unseasonal heavy rains, flash floods and heat-related droughts being often experienced in this part of world, make life miserable, which calls for urgent actions not only from the concerned governments but also from all stake-holders including people in general.   

  • Day 3 of Monsoon Session: Centre likely to table Sports Governance Bill as Parliament braces for opposition protests

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The third day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Wednesday, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha bracing for heightened political tensions.

    The Centre is expected to introduce three key legislations in the Lok Sabha: the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Additionally the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 will be taken up for consideration.

    According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s agenda, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya will move sports governance and anti-doping bills in the House, while Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will table the Merchant Shipping Bill.

    The Sports Governance Bill aims to promote the development of sports and ensure the welfare of sportspersons, while fostering ethical practices and governance aligned with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, global best practices, and established legal norms. It also seeks to create a unified and equitable system for resolving sports-related grievances and disputes. The bill is seen as part of India’s broader push to strengthen its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

    Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) is scheduled for the afternoon, to be chaired by Deputy Chairman Harivansh. The committee is expected to decide the timing and format of a debate on Operation Sindoor.

    Following the sudden resignation of Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Harivansh will preside over proceedings in the Upper House until a new Vice-President is elected. The House is also likely to take up several key maritime bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025.

    Tensions remained high on Tuesday as both Houses were adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by the Opposition. The disruptions were primarily driven by outrage over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation.

    The Monsoon Session will comprise 21 sittings spread over 32 days and will conclude on August 21. Both Houses will be adjourned on August 12 and reassembled on Monday, August 18, to facilitate Independence Day celebrations.

  • Day 3 of Monsoon Session: Centre likely to table Sports Governance Bill as Parliament braces for opposition protests

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The third day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Wednesday, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha bracing for heightened political tensions.

    The Centre is expected to introduce three key legislations in the Lok Sabha: the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Additionally the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 will be taken up for consideration.

    According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s agenda, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya will move sports governance and anti-doping bills in the House, while Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will table the Merchant Shipping Bill.

    The Sports Governance Bill aims to promote the development of sports and ensure the welfare of sportspersons, while fostering ethical practices and governance aligned with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, global best practices, and established legal norms. It also seeks to create a unified and equitable system for resolving sports-related grievances and disputes. The bill is seen as part of India’s broader push to strengthen its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

    Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) is scheduled for the afternoon, to be chaired by Deputy Chairman Harivansh. The committee is expected to decide the timing and format of a debate on Operation Sindoor.

    Following the sudden resignation of Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Harivansh will preside over proceedings in the Upper House until a new Vice-President is elected. The House is also likely to take up several key maritime bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025.

    Tensions remained high on Tuesday as both Houses were adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by the Opposition. The disruptions were primarily driven by outrage over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation.

    The Monsoon Session will comprise 21 sittings spread over 32 days and will conclude on August 21. Both Houses will be adjourned on August 12 and reassembled on Monday, August 18, to facilitate Independence Day celebrations.

  • England fight back to down Italy in extra time and reach Euro 2025 final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    hloe Kelly fired home the rebound from her own penalty to net a 119th-minute winner as reigning champions England pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Italy 2-1 after extra time on Tuesday and reach the Women’s European Championship final.

    England fell behind in the first half but hit back to level through Michelle Agyemang six minutes into second-half stoppage time and when Emma Severini pulled down Beth Mead in the box in extra time, Kelly grabbed the chance to decide the game.

    Her first effort was saved but she was quick off the mark to rifle in the rebound and send England through to the final where they will face either Spain or Germany.

    After a come-from-behind penalty shootout win over Sweden in the quarter-finals, England again flirted with disaster, but their late surge floored Italy, whose hopes of reaching a first final since 1997 were crushed.

    The win propelled England into a third successive major final after their Euro 2022 success and World Cup loss to Spain the following year.

    With the Italians riding a wave of confidence after a last-minute winner against Norway in their quarter-final, they defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break.

    Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semi-final when a ball from the right found its way to Barbara Bonansea, who took a touch before lashing it into the roof of the net.

    England then dominated possession and created a slew of chances as the Italians rode their luck, but too often the English attackers unleashed shots from distance that were easily dealt with or flew harmlessly over the bar.

    With their hopes of defending their title slowly slipping away, 19-year-old substitute Agyemang snapped up a loose ball in the box and fired home to send the game to extra time.

    Agyemang almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of the extra period, out-sprinting and out-muscling the Italian defence only to see her deft lob towards goal bounce back off the crossbar.

    Sensing that they could avoid a repeat of their quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, England poured forward and reaped their reward when Mead was fouled in the box, but there was one more twist in the tale.

    Kelly took her usual prancing run-up, but Italy keeper Laura Giuliani kept her nerve and saved, only for the England winger to score from the follow-up and seal her side’s spot in Sunday’s final in Basel.

    “I just tried my best for the team. It wasn’t supposed to go like that, that penalty, but (I was) ready for the rebound and ready for any opportunity given to me wearing an England badge,” a delighted Kelly said.

    England defender Lucy Bronze said they had been forced to dig deep to reach the final.

    “Yeah, we don’t know if it’s the easy way it seems this tournament, but we find a way to win,” she said.

    “I think it was the 96th minute and then the 118th minute … we just … found a way to get the goals and get the ball (in) the last minute.”

    For Italy, who had defended superbly until England’s equaliser, the loss was a devastating blow.

    “Obviously, going out like this hurts a lot. Having stood up to the champions should give us a lot of confidence for the future. There are no words to describe the emotions we have experienced on this journey,” coach Andrea Soncin said.

    “This evening, for as hard as the girls fought, we definitely deserved a different ending. Many difficult situations to comment on. It’s sad, but I am and we are very proud.”

    (Reuters)

  • WI vs AUS, 2nd T20I: Ruthless Aussies deny Russell a winning farewell

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    West Indies stalwart Andre Russell was denied a winning farewell after Josh Inglis and Cameron Green smashed unbeaten half-centuries to secure Australia’s eight-wicket victory in the second Twenty20 International on Tuesday.

    Put into bat, West Indies managed 172-8 as opener Brandon King topscored with a breezy 51 and Russell smashed 36 off 15 balls in his final knock in international cricket.

    Australia’s Inglis (78) and Green (56) then pulverised the West Indies attack in an unbroken 131-run partnership to complete the chase in 15.2 overs, putting the tourists 2-0 ahead in the five-match series.

    West Indies did not help their own cause by spilling six catches.

    “I’m very grateful to end my career here playing in front of my own crowd, family and friends,” Russell said.

    “The result didn’t go my way, but at the end of the day, I’m happy, I’m grateful.

    “I wish the boys all the very best, and I wish them luck moving forward,” added the 37-year-old two-time World Cup winner.

    Australia sprang a surprise by asking Glenn Maxwell (12) to open the innings with skipper Mitchell Marsh (21) but the ploy did not pay off, both departing caught behind inside six overs.

    However, Inglis smashed five sixes in an unbeaten 33-ball blitz, while Green’s second successive fifty of the series included four of them.

    “I think I felt like I managed the tempo pretty well at times,” player of the match Inglis said.

    “After probably being a bit lucky early being dropped, I felt like I managed those middle periods really well with Greeny.

    “We sort of identified spin was going to be really tough to play on that wicket, so we sort of took our medicine there and went after the quicks.”

    Australia, who won the preceding test series 3-0, can clinch the series with a third successive victory in Basseterre on Saturday.

    -Reuters

  • Shravan Shivratri: Devotees throng temples to perform jalabhishek, offer prayers to Lord Shiva

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A wave of devotion swept across the country on Wednesday as devotees gathered at Shiva temples to mark the auspicious occasion of Shravan Shivratri with jalabhishek and prayers.

    Pilgrims, who undertook the annual Kanwar Yatra, offered holy Ganga water to Shivling at nearby temples.

    Shravan Shivratri is considered one of the most sacred days to perform jalabhishek and offer reverence to Lord Shiva. Regarded as the second most important festival dedicated to Lord Shiva after Maha Shivratri, the day holds immense spiritual value.

    Although the entire month of Sawan is devoted to Lord Shiva’s worship, this Shivratri holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. According to scriptures, prayers and rituals performed on this day lead to spiritual upliftment and the fulfillment of wishes.

    Major Shiva temples organized special pujas and facilitated darshan for the devotees on the occasion. Lord Shiva was ceremoniously anointed with sacred Ganga water, accompanied by the chanting of mantras since early morning on Wednesday.

    Celebrations were particularly vibrant in the northern states of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar.

    In Uttar Pradesh, devotees began arriving at riverbanks from the early hours to take holy dips in the Saryu River. Shiva temples along the river were beautifully decorated. Security was tightened across the state to ensure the peaceful conduct of the festival. Long queues of devotees formed outside temples before dawn.

    In Varanasi, an overwhelming crowd thronged the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers.

    “The faith in Kashi is truly boundless. I had long desired to come here, and now I finally had darshan of Mahadev. I feel truly blessed,” said one devotee.

    Another devotee shared, “We’ve been standing here for four hours, but our enthusiasm is high. We will wait as long as it takes to have darshan inside the temple.”

    In Ghaziabad, a large number of Kanwariyas arrived at the Dudheshwarnath Mahadev Temple to perform jalabhishek.

    Mahant Narayan Giri told reporters, “The significance of Shravan Shivratri lies in the legend of the Samudra Manthan. When deadly poison emerged from the ocean, Lord Shiva consumed it. It is said that crores of deities performed abhishek on Lord Shiva to ease his suffering. Since ancient times, the tradition of offering jal at Dudheshwarnath continues.”

    In Prayagraj, devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam and used the sacred waters for jalabhishek rituals.

    “This is the Shivratri that falls in the month of Sawan. On this day, Lord Shankar is offered jalabhishek and panchamrit abhishek. Each offering has its own significance—some offer oil, some Ganga water, some water infused with belpatra. The form of abhishek varies with each devotee’s intention,” said a devotee.

    In Uttarakhand, large crowds gathered at the historic Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple – believed to be the abode of Daksh Prajapati, father of Goddess Sati.

    “We are here today at the temple, which is considered the home of Lord Shiva’s in-laws. It is believed that jalabhishek performed here pleases Lord Shiva. According to holy texts, Lord Shiva governs the world from here, and we truly feel his divine presence,” said a devotee.

    In Delhi, the Kalkaji Temple witnessed a heavy footfall of devotees. A beautifully adorned idol of Lord Shiva was installed, and jalabhishek was performed with devotion.

    Peethadheeshwar of Kalkaji Temple, Surendranath Avadhoot, told IANS, “The month of Shravan holds special significance for worshipping Lord Shiva. This year, Shravan Shivratri falls on July 23. Devotees performed jalabhishek at temples across the country. The auspicious muhurat for the ritual began at 3:35 a.m., as per scriptures.”

    He added, “During Samudra Manthan, when a deadly poison emerged threatening all creation, Lord Shiva drank it to save the universe, turning his throat blue and earning the name Neelkantha. Offering water to the Shivling honours this sacrifice and is believed to soothe his pain.”

    As the day progressed, devotion continued to flow across the nation, with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoing through temple premises, reaffirming the timeless bond between the devotees and their beloved Mahadev.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Trump accuses Obama of treason in escalating attacks over 2016 Russia probe

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of “treason” on Tuesday, accusing him, without providing evidence, of leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

    A spokesperson for Obama denounced Trump’s claims, saying “these bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

    While Trump has frequently attacked Obama by name, the Republican president has not, since returning to office in January, gone this far in pointing the finger at his Democratic predecessor with allegations of criminal action.

    During remarks in the Oval Office, Trump leaped on comments from his intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday in which she threatened to refer Obama administration officials to the Justice Department for prosecution over an intelligence assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

    She declassified documents and said the information she was releasing showed a “treasonous conspiracy” in 2016 by top Obama administration officials to undermine Trump, claims that Democrats called false and politically motivated.

    “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason,” Trump said on Tuesday, though he offered no proof of his claims. “They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody’s ever imagined, even in other countries.”

    An assessment by the U.S. intelligence community published in January 2017 concluded that Russia, using social media disinformation, hacking and Russian bot farms, sought to damage Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign and bolster Trump. The assessment determined that the actual impact was likely limited and showed no evidence that Moscow‘s efforts actually changed voting outcomes.

    A 2020 bipartisan report by the Senate intelligence committee had found that Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort, the WikiLeaks website and others to try to influence the 2016 election to help Trump’s campaign.

    “Nothing in the document issued last week (by Gabbard) undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,” Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement.

    TRUMP UNDER PRESSURE

    Trump, who has a history of promoting false conspiracy theories, has frequently denounced the assessments as a “hoax.” In recent days, Trump reposted on his Truth Social account a fake video showing Obama being arrested in handcuffs in the Oval Office.

    Trump has been seeking to divert attention to other issues after coming under pressure from his conservative base to release more information about Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

    Backers of conspiracy theories about Epstein have urged Trump, who socialized with the disgraced financier during the 1990s and early 2000s, to release investigative files related to the case.

    Trump, asked in the Oval Office about Epstein, quickly pivoted into an attack on Obama and Clinton.

    “The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama absolutely cold,” Trump said.

    Trump suggested action would be taken against Obama and his former officials, calling the Russia investigation a treasonous act and the former president guilty of “trying to lead a coup.”

    “It’s time to start, after what they did to me, and whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly,” he said.

    Democratic Representative Jim Himes responded on X: “This is a lie. And if he’s confused, the President should ask @SecRubio, who helped lead the bipartisan Senate investigation that unanimously concluded that there was no evidence of politicization in the intelligence community’s behavior around the 2016 election.”

    Former Republican Senator Marco Rubio is now Trump’s secretary of state.

    Since returning to office, Trump has castigated his political opponents whom he claims weaponized the federal government against him and his allies for the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters and his handling of classified materials after he left office in 2021.

    ATTACKS ON PREDECESSORS

    Obama has long been a target of Trump. In 2011 he accused then-President Obama of not being born in the United States, prompting Obama to release a copy of his birth certificate.

    In recent months, Trump has rarely held back in his rhetorical broadsides against his two Democratic predecessors in a way all but unprecedented in modern times.

    He launched an investigation after accusing former President Joe Biden and his staff, without evidence, of a “conspiracy” to use an autopen, an automated device that replicates a person’s signature, to sign sensitive documents on the president’s behalf. Biden has rejected the claim as false and “ridiculous.”

    Gabbard’s charge that Obama conspired to subvert Trump’s 2016 election by manufacturing intelligence on Russia’s interference is contradicted by a CIA review ordered by Director John Ratcliffe and published on July 2, a 2018 bipartisan Senate report and declassified documents that Gabbard herself released last week.

    The documents show that Gabbard conflated two separate U.S. intelligence findings in alleging that Obama and his national security aides changed an assessment that Russia probably was not trying to influence the election through cyber means.

    One finding was that Russia was not trying to hack U.S. election infrastructure to change vote counts and the second was that Moscow probably was using cyber means to influence the U.S. political environment through information and propaganda operations, including by stealing and leaking data from Democratic Party servers.

    The January 2017 U.S. intelligence assessment ordered by Obama built on that second finding: that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations to sway the 2016 vote to Trump.

    The review ordered by Ratcliffe found flaws in the production of that assessment. But it did not contest its conclusion and upheld “the quality and credibility” of a highly classified CIA report on which the assessment’s authors relied.

    -REUTERS

  • PM Modi pays tribute to Chandra Shekhar Azad and Lokmanya Tilak on birth anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to freedom fighters Chandra Shekhar Azad and Lokmanya Tilak on their birth anniversaries, praising their unparalleled valour and immense contributions to India’s independence movement.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister said: “Tributes to Chandra Shekhar Azad on his birth anniversary. He epitomised unparalleled valour and grit. His role in India’s quest for freedom is deeply valued and motivates our youth to stand up for what is just, with courage and conviction.”

    Azad, a key figure in India’s struggle against British colonial rule, is remembered for his fierce patriotism and unwavering commitment to the cause of independence. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians, especially the youth.

    Paying tribute to Lokmanya Tilak on his birth anniversary, the Prime Minister said on X: “Remembering Lokmanya Tilak on his birth anniversary. He was a pioneering leader who played a vital role in kindling the spirit of India’s freedom movement with unwavering conviction. He was also an outstanding thinker who believed in the power of knowledge and serving others.”

    Born in 1856, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak is well known for promoting Swaraj, or self-rule, across the nation during British rule. A strong critic of colonial rule, he founded two nationalist publications, Kesari and Mahratta.

  • Heavy rains lash Delhi-NCR, more showers expected this week: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Heavy rains lashed several parts of the Delhi-NCR region on Wednesday, following a short but intense spell on Tuesday that caused waterlogging in several areas of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted light to moderate rain for Wednesday as well.

    “Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning is likely to occur over Delhi on 22nd and 23rd July 2025, and light rain is likely thereafter,” the IMD said.

    Temperatures in Delhi are expected to range between 23°C and 36°C over the next week. Widespread rainfall is expected to persist across several regions of the country in the coming days, the IMD said.

    Isolated heavy rain is likely over Kerala, Mahe, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu from July 23 to 28, and over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Telangana from July 23 to 26. Telangana may witness very heavy rainfall on July 23, and Kerala from July 25 to 27, the department said.

    Strong surface winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph are likely over southern peninsular India during the next five days.

    In western India, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan and Goa, and the Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra through July 28. Marathwada and Gujarat are likely to receive heavy rain on July 26, with rainfall continuing over Gujarat until July 28.

    Central and eastern regions, including Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim, are also forecast to receive isolated heavy rain through July 28. Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand may experience heavy rainfall between July 24 and 28.

    The IMD has also predicted heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir on July 23 and 24, Himachal Pradesh from July 26 to 28, and Uttarakhand throughout the week. Isolated heavy rainfall is also expected in Punjab and Haryana on July 23, 27, and 28; in Uttar Pradesh from July 25 to 28; in West Rajasthan on July 27 and 28; and in East Rajasthan on July 23 and from July 26 to 28.

    “Light to moderaterainfall is likely at most places in the Western Himalayan region and at some locations in the northern plains over the next seven days,” the IMD said.

  • Heavy rains lash Delhi-NCR, more showers expected this week: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Heavy rains lashed several parts of the Delhi-NCR region on Wednesday, following a short but intense spell on Tuesday that caused waterlogging in several areas of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted light to moderate rain for Wednesday as well.

    “Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning is likely to occur over Delhi on 22nd and 23rd July 2025, and light rain is likely thereafter,” the IMD said.

    Temperatures in Delhi are expected to range between 23°C and 36°C over the next week. Widespread rainfall is expected to persist across several regions of the country in the coming days, the IMD said.

    Isolated heavy rain is likely over Kerala, Mahe, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu from July 23 to 28, and over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Telangana from July 23 to 26. Telangana may witness very heavy rainfall on July 23, and Kerala from July 25 to 27, the department said.

    Strong surface winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph are likely over southern peninsular India during the next five days.

    In western India, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan and Goa, and the Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra through July 28. Marathwada and Gujarat are likely to receive heavy rain on July 26, with rainfall continuing over Gujarat until July 28.

    Central and eastern regions, including Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim, are also forecast to receive isolated heavy rain through July 28. Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand may experience heavy rainfall between July 24 and 28.

    The IMD has also predicted heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir on July 23 and 24, Himachal Pradesh from July 26 to 28, and Uttarakhand throughout the week. Isolated heavy rainfall is also expected in Punjab and Haryana on July 23, 27, and 28; in Uttar Pradesh from July 25 to 28; in West Rajasthan on July 27 and 28; and in East Rajasthan on July 23 and from July 26 to 28.

    “Light to moderaterainfall is likely at most places in the Western Himalayan region and at some locations in the northern plains over the next seven days,” the IMD said.

  • Amarnath Yatra: Pilgrim count crosses 3.3 lakh in 20 days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The total number of pilgrims who have had ‘darshan’ at the Amarnath holy cave shrine has crossed the 3.31 lakh mark in its first 20 days, reflecting a continuous influx of devotees from across India.

    “Another batch of 2,837 yatris left Jammu in two escorted convoys comprising 118 vehicles. The first convoy, with 49 vehicles carrying 1,036 pilgrims, departed at 3:25 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy of 69 vehicles, carrying 1,801 yatris to the Pahalgam base camp, left at 3:58 a.m.,” officials said on Wednesday.

    The massive rush continues, with a significant number of pilgrims arriving directly—outside the escorted convoys – and opting for on-the-spot registration to reach the shrine.

    The Yatra is being conducted amid elaborate multi-tier security arrangements. In addition to the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police, 180 extra companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed. The Army alone has positioned over 8,000 special commandos to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

    The annual pilgrimage, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Amarnath Yatra: Pilgrim count crosses 3.3 lakh in 20 days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The total number of pilgrims who have had ‘darshan’ at the Amarnath holy cave shrine has crossed the 3.31 lakh mark in its first 20 days, reflecting a continuous influx of devotees from across India.

    “Another batch of 2,837 yatris left Jammu in two escorted convoys comprising 118 vehicles. The first convoy, with 49 vehicles carrying 1,036 pilgrims, departed at 3:25 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy of 69 vehicles, carrying 1,801 yatris to the Pahalgam base camp, left at 3:58 a.m.,” officials said on Wednesday.

    The massive rush continues, with a significant number of pilgrims arriving directly—outside the escorted convoys – and opting for on-the-spot registration to reach the shrine.

    The Yatra is being conducted amid elaborate multi-tier security arrangements. In addition to the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police, 180 extra companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed. The Army alone has positioned over 8,000 special commandos to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

    The annual pilgrimage, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump has decided to pull the United States out of the “woke” and “divisive” U.N. culture and education agency UNESCO, the White House said on Tuesday, repeating a move he took in his first term that was reversed by Joe Biden.

    The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect at the end of next year.

    The move is in line with the Trump administration’s broader “America-first” foreign policy, which includes a deep skepticism of multilateral groups, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the NATO alliance.

    White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said UNESCO “supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for.”

    The State Department accused UNESCO of supporting “a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy”.

    It said its decision to admit the Palestinians as a member state was “highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric.”

    UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Trump’s decision, but it was “expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it.”

    Posting on X, French President Emmanuel Macron professed “unwavering support” for the “universal protector” of world heritage and said the U.S. move would not weaken France’s commitment to UNESCO.

    UNESCO officials said the U.S. withdrawal would have some limited impact on U.S.-financed programs.

    Azoulay said UNESCO had diversified funding sources, receiving only about 8% of its budget from Washington.

    UNESCO was one of several international bodies Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement climate change accord, and the U.N. Human Rights Council. During his second term, he has largely reinstated those steps.

    Trump’s pick to be his U.N. envoy, Mike Waltz, said this month the United Nations needs reform while expressing confidence that “we can make the U.N. great again.”

    ISRAEL PRAISES US ‘MORAL SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP’

    Israel welcomed the U.S. decision with its U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, accusing UNESCO of “consistent misguided anti-Israel bias.”

    In a post on X, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, thanked Washington for its “moral support and leadership” and said that “Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional UN agencies.”

    U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the Republican-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Trump’s decision “short-sighted and a win for China,” which she said became the largest financial contributor to UNESCO after Trump last withdrew from the agency.

    UNESCO officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with both Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years.

    Azoulay said the U.S. had given the same reasons for its pullout as it had seven years ago “even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism.”

    “These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism,” she added.

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the U.S. Grand Canyon and Egypt’s pyramids.

    It lists 26 sites in the United States, including the Statue of Liberty, on its World Heritage List which highlights 1,248 global locations of “outstanding universal value.”

    Washington has had a troubled relationship with UNESCO over the years.

    It was a founding member in 1945 but first withdrew in 1984 to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias during the Cold War.

    It returned in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who said UNESCO had undertaken needed reforms, but in 2011 the Obama administration announced it was stopping funding for the agency following its vote to grant the Palestinians full membership.

    Trump’s first administration announced in 2017 it was quitting after accusing UNESCO of anti-Israeli bias, with Washington owing $542 million in dues, before former President Biden reversed the decision in 2023.

    (Reuters)

  • Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath’s bat-biting frontman, dies aged 76

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of 1970s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, earned his infamy biting the head off a bat on stage and pursuing a drug-fuelled lifestyle before reinventing himself as a loveable if often foul-mouthed reality TV star.

    Known to fans as “The Prince of Darkness” and the “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” Osbourne has died at the age of 76, his family said in a statement on Tuesday.

    “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love,” they said.

    Osbourne kicked off his career in the early 1970s as singer on Black Sabbath’s hits, from “Paranoid” to “War Pigs” to “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”. Those plus a string of solo releases saw him sell more than 100 million records worldwide.

    The hard riffs and dark subject matter – from depression to war to apocalypse – combined with an instinct for Halloween theatrics. As a performer, Osbourne sprinkled audiences with raw meat and, in 1982, had his encounter with a bat thrown on stage by a fan.

    He always insisted he thought it was a toy until he bit into it, realised his mistake and rushed to hospital for a rabies shot. He later sold branded bat soft toys with a removable head.

    Osbourne was a regular target for conservative and religious groups concerned about the negative impact of rock music on young people. He acknowledged the excesses of his lifestyle and lyrics – but poured scorn on the wilder reports that he was an actual devil-worshipper.

    “I’ve done some bad things in my time. But I ain’t the devil. I’m just John Osbourne: a working-class kid from Aston who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time,” he said in a 2010 biography.

    REALITY SHOW STAR

    John Michael Osbourne was the fourth of six children. Growing up in Aston, Birmingham, in central England, he struggled with dyslexia, left school at age 15, did a series of menial jobs, and at one point served a brief prison sentence for burglary. Then came Black Sabbath.

    “When I was growing up, if you’d have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn’t have put money on me, no fucking way,” he once said.

    Britain’s Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, a member of parliament representing a Birmingham constituency, wrote on X that she was devastated to hear the news of his death.

    “One of the greatest gifts my city gave the world,” Mahmood said.

    In 2002, Osbourne won legions of new fans when he starred in U.S. reality TV show “The Osbournes”.

    Cameras followed the aging rock god ambling round his huge house in Beverly Hills, pronouncing on events in his heavy Birmingham accent and looking on bemused at the antics of his family.

    Osbourne‘s family included wife and manager Sharon, five children including Jack, Kelly and Aimee, and several grandchildren.

    No cause of death was given, but Osbourne revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The illness made him unable to walk.

    In his final concert on July 5 in Birmingham, Osbourne performed sitting, at times appearing to have difficulties speaking as he thanked thousands of adoring fans, some of whom were visibly emotional.

    Osbourne‘s performance followed a number of tributes on stage and on stadium screens from rock and pop royalty including Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Metallica’s James Hetfield and Elton John.

    “Thanks for your support over the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you,” said Osbourne.

    -Reuters

  • Baby boy starves to death in Gaza as hunger spreads, medics say

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Six-week-old Yousef’s lifeless body lay limp on a hospital table in Gaza City, his skin stretched over protruding ribs and a bandage where a drip had been inserted into his tiny arm. Doctors said the cause of death was starvation.

    He was among 15 people to starve to death in the last 24 hours in Gaza, according to doctors who say a wave of hunger that has loomed over the enclave for months is now finally crashing down.

    Yousef’s family couldn’t find baby formula to feed him, said his uncle, Adham al-Safadi.

    “You can’t get milk anywhere, and if you do find any it’s $100 for a tub,” he said, looking at his dead nephew.

    Three of the other Palestinians who died of hunger over the last day were also children, including 13-year-old Abdulhamid al-Ghalban, who died in a hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis.

    Israeli forces have killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in airstrikes, shelling and shooting since launching their assault on Gaza in response to attacks on Israel by the Hamas group that killed 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages in October 2023.

    For the first time since the war began, Palestinian officials say dozens are now also dying of hunger.

    Gaza has seen its food stocks run out since Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March and then lifted that blockade in May with new measures it says are needed to prevent aid from being diverted to militant groups.

    At least 101 people are known to have died of hunger during the conflict, according to Palestinian officials, including 80 children, most of them in just the last few weeks.

    Israel, which controls all supplies entering Gaza, denies it is responsible for shortages of food. Israel’s military said it “views the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza as a matter of utmost importance”, and works to facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community.

    It has blamed the United Nations for failing to protect aid it says is stolen by Hamas and other militants. The fighters deny stealing it.

    Asked for comment, a White House official sided with Israel’s position that Hamas is to blame. The official said the United States supports the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid organisation.

    “It’s horrific that Hamas continues to target this crucial aid and hinder GHF’s ability to deliver life-saving assistance by placing bounties on aid workers, targeting contractors, and spreading disinformation,” the official said.

    More than 800 people have been killed in recent weeks trying to reach food, mostly in mass shootings by Israeli soldiers posted near GHF distribution centres. The United Nations has rejected this system as inherently unsafe, and a violation of humanitarian neutrality principles needed to ensure that distribution succeeds.

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation for the 2.3 million residents of the Palestinian enclave a “horror show”.

    “We are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles,” Guterres told the U.N. Security Council. “That system is being denied the conditions to function.”

    The Norwegian Refugee Council, which supported hundreds of thousands of Gazans in the first year of the war, said its aid stocks were now depleted and some of its own staff were starving.

    “Our last tent, our last food parcel, our last relief items have been distributed. There is nothing left,” its director Jan Egeland told Reuters. “Israel is not yielding. They just want to paralyse our work,” he said.

    The head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency said on Tuesday that its staff, as well as doctors and humanitarian workers, were fainting on duty in Gaza due to hunger and exhaustion.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that images of civilians killed during the distribution of aid were “unbearable” and urged Israel to deliver on pledges to improve the situation.

    FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES

    On Tuesday, men and boys lugged sacks of flour past destroyed buildings and tarpaulins in Gaza City, grabbing what food they could from aid warehouses.

    “We haven’t eaten for five days,” said Mohammed Jundia.

    Israeli military statistics showed on Tuesday that an average of 146 trucks of aid per day had entered Gaza over the course of the war. The United States has said a minimum of 600 trucks per day are needed to feed Gaza’s population.

    “Hospitals are already overwhelmed by the number of casualties from gunfire. They can’t provide much more help for hunger-related symptoms because of food and medicine shortages,” said Khalil al-Deqran, a spokesperson for the health ministry.

    Deqran said some 600,000 people were suffering from malnutrition, including at least 60,000 pregnant women. Symptoms among those going hungry include dehydration and anaemia, he said.

    Baby formula in particular is in critically short supply, according to aid groups, doctors and residents.

    The health ministry said at least 72 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and military strikes in the past 24 hours, including 16 people living in tents in Gaza City. The Israeli military said it wasn’t aware of any incident or artillery in the area at that time.

    (Reuters)

  • ENG vs IND, 4th Test: India look to level series amid injury crisis as Old Trafford Test beckons

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India will step onto the field at Old Trafford on Wednesday with the odds stacked heavily against them — trailing 2–1 in the series, grappling with a spate of injuries, and confronting a venue where victory has eluded them in the past.

    After a narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s, the visitors now face a must-win situation to keep the five-match series alive. England, meanwhile, look to ride their momentum and seal the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a match to spare.

    Injury woes for India

    India’s preparation has been hampered by a string of injuries to key players. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series, while pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh will miss the fourth Test. Adding to the woes, Akash Deep — who impressed with a 10-wicket haul in India’s win at Birmingham — is also unavailable.

    Speaking ahead of the match, skipper Shubman Gill acknowledged the team’s challenges but expressed confidence in the bench strength.

    “Akash Deep is unavailable, so is Arshdeep, but we have good players in the team to pick twenty wickets,” Gill said. “It is not ideal to have different bowlers, but I was prepared.”

    Gill also hinted at a possible debut for 24-year-old pacer Anshul Kamboj, who has taken 79 wickets in 24 First-Class matches. “We have seen his skill set. He’s very close to making his debut,” Gill said. “We believe he can win matches for us.”

    With a spot up for grabs, Kamboj is in contention alongside Prasidh Krishna to replace the injured quicks.

    Pant to keep, Nair gets backing

    Gill confirmed that Rishabh Pant will resume full wicketkeeping duties in Manchester. Pant had shared the gloves with Dhruv Jurel in the third Test due to injury concerns, with Jurel conceding 25 byes in England’s second innings.

    Karun Nair, who has managed just 131 runs in three Tests at an average under 22, retains the team management’s backing. “We think he is batting well. No issues with his form. We are hopeful he can turn it around,” Gill said.

    Old Trafford challenge

    The venue adds another layer of difficulty for India. Old Trafford has traditionally favoured fast bowlers, with overcast conditions forecast for the next five days likely to enhance that trend. Since 2000, pacers have taken 477 wickets here at an average of under 30, compared to 147 wickets by spinners at an average nearing 40.

    Chasing in the fourth innings is notoriously difficult at this ground — only four teams have ever succeeded, with 294 being the highest successful chase. As such, the toss could play a pivotal role, with the winning captain likely to bat first.

    England captain calls for reforms

    Ahead of the fourth Test, England captain Ben Stokes addressed the rising on-field intensity, stating that his team won’t shy away from confrontation if the match heats up.

    “It’s a massive series, and heat will be shown,” Stokes said. “Have England been nice? Potentially. But we’re not going to take a backward step. If the opposition wants to be confrontational, we’ll match it. We won’t start anything — but we won’t stand back either.”

    Stokes also weighed in on the debate around over-rate penalties, calling for more context-specific regulations — especially for seam-dominated conditions like those in England.

    “You can’t have the same rules in Asia, where 80% of overs are bowled by spinners, and here, where fast bowlers shoulder most of the workload.”

  • India extends airspace ban on Pakistani aircraft till Aug 23 amid security concerns

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India on Tuesday extended its ban on Pakistani aircraft entering Indian airspace till August 23, amid continued tensions between the two neighbours.

    Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a post on X, “Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting Pakistani aircraft from entering Indian airspace has been officially extended until 23rd August 2025.”

    “This extension reflects continued strategic considerations and is in line with prevailing security protocols. Stay tuned for further updates,” the minister added.

    The move follows Islamabad’s decision last week to extend its own airspace restrictions on Indian carriers till August 24. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said the ban will remain in effect until 5:19 a.m. (IST) on August 24.

    Meanwhile, India has issued a separate NOTAM for a large-scale Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise in Rajasthan, along the Pakistan border, from July 23 to 25. The exercise will cover areas from Barmer to Jodhpur.

    A NOTAM is issued when a specific airspace needs to be cleared of civilian air traffic. Similar notices were issued during previous tensions with Pakistan to ensure that no passenger aircraft would be caught in the middle of potential aerial operations. It helps prevent civilian casualties by keeping commercial aircraft away from zones of military activity.

    The latest NOTAM was issued against the backdrop of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched on May 7 in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 civilians.

    IANS

  • Trump strikes trade deal with Japan to cut tariffs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States and Japan struck a deal to lower the hefty tariffs President Donald Trump threatened to impose on goods from its Asian ally that included a pledge by Japan to invest $550 billion in the United States.

    The agreement – including a 15% tariff on all imported Japanese goods, down from a proposed 25% – is the most significant of the string of trade deals the White House has reached ahead of an approaching August 1 deadline for higher levies to kick in.

    “I just signed the largest TRADE DEAL in history with Japan,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan.”

    Ishiba, who is facing political pressure after a bruising election defeat on Sunday, hailed the deal as “the lowest figure among countries that have a trade surplus with the U.S.”.

    The two sides also agreed to cut tariff 25% tariffs already imposed on Japanese autos to 15%, Ishiba said. Auto exports account for more than a quarter of Japan’s exports to the U.S.

    The announcement ignited a rally in Japanese stocks, with the benchmark Nikkei climbing 2.6% to its highest in a year. Shares of automakers surged in particular, with Toyota 7203.T up more than 11%, and Honda 7267.T and Nissan 7201.T both up more than 8%.

    The exuberance extended to shares of South Korean carmakers as well, as the Japan deal stoked optimism that South Korea could strike a comparable deal. The yen firmed slightly against the dollar, and U.S. equity index futures edged upward.

    But U.S. automakers signaled their unhappiness with the deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%.

    Matt Blunt, who heads the American Automotive Policy Council which represents General Motors GM.N Ford F.N and Chrysler-parent Stellantis STLAM.MI, said “any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. auto workers.”

    ‘MISSION COMPLETE’

    Autos are a huge part of U.S.-Japan trade, but almost all of it is one way to the U.S. from Japan, a fact that has long irked Trump. In 2024, the U.S. imported more than $55 billion of vehicles and automotive parts while just over $2 billion were sold into the Japanese market from the U.S.

    Two-way trade between the two countries totaled nearly $230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a trade surplus of nearly $70 billion. Japan is the fifth-largest U.S. trading partner in goods, U.S. Census Bureau data show.

    Trump’s announcement followed a meeting with Japan’s top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, at the White House on Tuesday.

    “#Mission Complete,” Akazawa wrote on X.

    The deal was “a better outcome” for Japan than it potentially could have been, given Trump’s earlier unilateral tariff threats, said Kristina Clifton, a senior economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney.

    “Steel, aluminium, and also cars are important exports for Japan, so it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any specific carve-outs for those,” Clifton said.

    Kazutaka Maeda, an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute, said that “with the 15% tariff rate, I expect the Japanese economy to avoid recession.”

    Japan is the largest investor in the United States. Together with pension giant GPIF and Japanese insurers, the country has about $2 trillion invested in U.S. markets.

    Besides that, Bank of Japan data shows direct Japanese investment in the United States was $1.2 trillion at the end of 2024, and Japanese direct investment flows amounted to $137 billion in North America last year.

    Speaking later at the White House, Trump also expressed fresh optimism that Japan would form a joint venture with Washington to support a gas pipeline in Alaska long sought by his administration.

    “We concluded the one deal … and now we’re going to conclude another one because they’re forming a joint venture with us at, in Alaska, as you know, for the LNG,” Trump told lawmakers at the White House. “They’re all set to make that deal now.”

    Trump aides are feverishly working to close trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline that Trump has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. By that date, countries are set to face steep new tariffs beyond those Trump has already imposed since taking office in January.

    Trump has announced framework agreements with Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia and paused a tit-for-tat tariff battle with China, though details are still to be worked out with all of those countries.

    At the White House, Trump said negotiators from the European Union would be in Washington on Wednesday.

    -Reuters

  • PM Modi to begin two-nation tour of UK, Maldives today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives beginning Wednesday, with a focus on deepening strategic partnerships and regional cooperation.

    PM Modi’s visit to the UK from July 23–24 comes at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking his fourth trip to the country. Both sides are expected to review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with discussions centred around trade, innovation, defence, climate action, health, and education.

    According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks will also include regional and global developments of mutual concern. PM Modi is also likely to meet King Charles III during the visit. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), under negotiation for some time, is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.

    In the second leg, the Prime Minister will travel to the Maldives from July 25–26 at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. This will be the PM’s third visit to the island nation, and the first by any head of government during President Muizzu’s tenure.

    The visit coincides with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations on July 26, where Modi will be the Guest of Honour. The two leaders are expected to review the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.

    The visit underscores India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation. Key areas on the agenda include infrastructure development, defence collaboration, and regional economic connectivity.

    IANS

  • Defence, diaspora and digital: PM Modi’s UK trip to reinforce bilateral agenda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-nation visit from July 23 to 26, starting with the United Kingdom at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This will be his fourth official visit to the UK, reaffirming the growing depth and breadth of India-UK ties, particularly in defence, innovation, healthcare, education, and diaspora engagement.

    Defence cooperation between the two countries spans joint exercises, technological collaboration, and knowledge exchange. The Indian and British armed forces regularly participate in bilateral and multilateral drills. In 2023, the Indian Navy joined Exercise Konkan in the Arabian Sea, while the Indian Air Force took part in Exercise Cobra Warrior at Royal Air Force Waddington. The Indian Army participated in the seventh edition of Exercise Ajeya Warrior held in Salisbury, UK. A major multinational air exercise, Exercise Tarang Shakti, is scheduled for August 2024. These engagements reflect a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing operational synergy and promoting indigenous defence production under India’s Make in India initiative.

    In the area of science and technology, India and the UK have established themselves as close partners, with joint research programmes amounting to $387–516 million (approx. £300–400 million). The India-UK Science and Innovation Council, which convenes biennially, provides the framework for cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, pandemic preparedness, and quantum science. During the April 2023 SIC meeting in the UK, an MoU was signed for expanded collaboration, including the creation of a new India-UK Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focused on industrial decarbonisation. India was also named a partner country in the UK’s International Science Partnership Fund, building upon the Newton-Bhabha Fund legacy.

    Healthcare cooperation saw a pivotal moment during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the joint development of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the UK and the Serum Institute of India. In July 2022, both nations signed the India-UK Framework Agreement for collaboration on healthcare workforce, aiming to streamline the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals. As per UK government data from June 2023, 60,533 Indian nationals are working in the National Health Service (NHS), the second-highest after British citizens. Among doctors in the NHS, 18 percent are of Asian origin, including 10,865 Indians. There are 31,992 Indian nurses and 11,499 clinical support staff, reflecting India’s critical contribution to the UK’s healthcare system.

    Education continues to be a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. The number of Indian students enrolling in UK universities has consistently risen since 2015-16, with an estimated 170,000 currently studying in the country. A landmark development under India’s New Education Policy: the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus was recently inaugurated, becoming the first fully operational foreign university campus in India under UGC regulations. Further boosting collaboration, both nations signed a mutual recognition of academic qualifications MoU in July 2022.

    Mobility and migration are being actively facilitated under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement signed in May 2021. The Young Professional Scheme, announced in November 2022 by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the G20 Bali Summit, enables 3,000 young graduates between 18 and 30 years of age to live and work in each other’s countries for up to two years.

    The Indian diaspora in the UK remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations. According to the 2021 Census, 1.864 million people of Indian origin reside in the UK, forming 2.6 percent of its population. Of these, 369,000 hold Indian passports. The diaspora has made significant contributions across academia, medicine, science, arts, business, and politics. A report by Grant Thornton and FICCI in 2022 identified over 65,000 Indian diaspora-owned businesses in the UK. Among them, 654 companies with annual revenues exceeding $129,000 (approx. £100,000) together generated $47.5 billion (approx. £36.84 billion) in revenue, paid over $1.29 billion (approx. £1 billion) in corporate taxes, invested more than $2.58 billion (approx. £2 billion) in capital expenditure, and supported over 174,000 jobs.

  • PM Modi’s fourth UK visit to spotlight $53.75 billion bilateral trade and FTA gains

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit on Wednesday, beginning with an official tour to the United Kingdom at the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer from July 23-24. This will mark his fourth visit to the UK, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations, especially in the realm of economic cooperation.

    India and the UK share a strong and steadily growing economic partnership, reflected in robust trade figures and expanding investment flows. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately $53.75 billion in 2024, with Indian exports valued at around $32.5 billion and imports at about $21.25 billion. Trade in goods contributed $22.5 billion, while the services sector accounted for nearly $31.25 billion.

    Investment flows between the two countries continue to deepen. The UK ranks as the sixth-largest inward investor in India, with a cumulative equity investment of $35 billion as of September 2024. On the other hand, Indian investments in the UK amounted to $19 billion till March 2024. There are currently 971 Indian companies operating in the UK, employing over 1 lakh people. Meanwhile, 667 British companies are active in India, providing employment to more than 5 lakh people.

    A key development in bilateral economic relations has been the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Double Contribution Convention. These landmark announcements were made during a telephonic conversation between the two Prime Ministers on May 6, 2025, following three years of negotiations. The FTA, one of India’s most comprehensive, spans 26 chapters, covering sectors such as goods, services, rules of origin, intellectual property rights, government procurement, digital trade, telecom, financial services, environment, and labour.

    Two institutional mechanisms have played a pivotal role in driving the India-UK economic agenda. The India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), launched on January 13, 2005, is designed to strengthen strategic economic ties through a business-driven approach. The 15th JETCO meeting took place in New Delhi on January 13, 2022, co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and UK’s then Secretary of State for International Trade, Ms. Anne-Marie Trevelyan. It was during this meeting that both nations formally launched negotiations for the FTA.

    The India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), established on February 4, 2005, has been instrumental in shaping macroeconomic cooperation. The 13th EFD meeting was held in London on April 9, 2025, led by the Finance Ministers of both countries. Discussions focused on boosting infrastructure collaboration, enhancing fintech partnerships, promoting sustainable finance, and advancing knowledge exchange.

  • PM Modi’s fourth UK visit to spotlight $53.75 billion bilateral trade and FTA gains

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit on Wednesday, beginning with an official tour to the United Kingdom at the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer from July 23-24. This will mark his fourth visit to the UK, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations, especially in the realm of economic cooperation.

    India and the UK share a strong and steadily growing economic partnership, reflected in robust trade figures and expanding investment flows. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately $53.75 billion in 2024, with Indian exports valued at around $32.5 billion and imports at about $21.25 billion. Trade in goods contributed $22.5 billion, while the services sector accounted for nearly $31.25 billion.

    Investment flows between the two countries continue to deepen. The UK ranks as the sixth-largest inward investor in India, with a cumulative equity investment of $35 billion as of September 2024. On the other hand, Indian investments in the UK amounted to $19 billion till March 2024. There are currently 971 Indian companies operating in the UK, employing over 1 lakh people. Meanwhile, 667 British companies are active in India, providing employment to more than 5 lakh people.

    A key development in bilateral economic relations has been the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Double Contribution Convention. These landmark announcements were made during a telephonic conversation between the two Prime Ministers on May 6, 2025, following three years of negotiations. The FTA, one of India’s most comprehensive, spans 26 chapters, covering sectors such as goods, services, rules of origin, intellectual property rights, government procurement, digital trade, telecom, financial services, environment, and labour.

    Two institutional mechanisms have played a pivotal role in driving the India-UK economic agenda. The India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), launched on January 13, 2005, is designed to strengthen strategic economic ties through a business-driven approach. The 15th JETCO meeting took place in New Delhi on January 13, 2022, co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and UK’s then Secretary of State for International Trade, Ms. Anne-Marie Trevelyan. It was during this meeting that both nations formally launched negotiations for the FTA.

    The India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), established on February 4, 2005, has been instrumental in shaping macroeconomic cooperation. The 13th EFD meeting was held in London on April 9, 2025, led by the Finance Ministers of both countries. Discussions focused on boosting infrastructure collaboration, enhancing fintech partnerships, promoting sustainable finance, and advancing knowledge exchange.

  • India’s global outreach continues: PM Modi to visit UK, Maldives

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour on Wednesday, visiting the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, aiming to strengthen India’s global diplomatic engagements.

    At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Modi will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23 to 24. This will be his fourth visit to the UK, reflecting the growing warmth and depth of the bilateral relationship.

    India and the United Kingdom share historical ties that have evolved into a robust and mutually beneficial partnership. A major milestone in the relationship was achieved during the India-UK virtual summit on 4 May 2021, when Prime Minister Modi and then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and adopted an ambitious India-UK Roadmap 2030. This roadmap continues to steer cooperation across various sectors including trade, security, education, technology, and climate change.

    The visit also comes in the wake of the recent general elections in the UK held on 4 July 2024, where the Labour Party returned to power after 14 years, winning 412 out of 650 seats. Keir Starmer assumed office as Prime Minister, and PM Modi extended his congratulations during a telephonic conversation on 6 July, also inviting him for an early visit to India.

    In its election manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to pursue a new strategic partnership with India, focusing on the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deepening cooperation in critical sectors. The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil in November 2024 and briefly interacted again during the G7 Summit in Canada in June 2025.

    Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, Prime Minister Starmer had spoken to PM Modi to convey his condolences and support. On 6 May 2025, both leaders held a telephonic conversation and announced the successful conclusion of the India-UK FTA and the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, marking a historic development in bilateral ties.

    High-level exchanges have been a consistent feature of India-UK relations. President Droupadi Murmu visited London in September 2022 to attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and met King Charles III during her visit. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar represented India at the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 and engaged with global leaders during his visit. He also addressed members of the Indian community and interacted with Indian-origin UK MPs and students.

    Prime Minister Modi had earlier met former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on multiple occasions, including during the G20 Summit in India in September 2023 and at the G7 Summit in Italy in June 2024. Their discussions covered progress on the India-UK FTA and other key areas under the Roadmap 2030. Sunak’s official visit to India in 2023 and bilateral engagements in Japan and Bali further contributed to the growing momentum in the relationship. Notably, the Young Professionals Scheme was launched following their meeting in Bali in 2022, enhancing mobility for youth between the two countries.

    In April 2022, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited India and held wide-ranging discussions with PM Modi. The visit saw the announcement of an ‘Open General Export Licence’ for Indian companies and the signing of MoUs in nuclear energy and global innovation, along with a joint statement on cyber cooperation.

    Earlier, in November 2021, Prime Minister Modi had visited the UK to attend the COP26 World Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow, where he and Prime Minister Boris Johnson jointly launched the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative under the International Solar Alliance and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the UK in January 2025 and held bilateral talks with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, underscoring the strong parliamentary ties between the two democracies.

  • Vadhavan Port to add 23.2 million TEUs to India’s maritime capacity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Vadhavan Port, a major infrastructure initiative located on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), is expected to significantly boost India’s container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The development of this deep-draft port is set to strengthen India’s position as a leading global maritime hub.

    The project is not only focused on enhancing port infrastructure but is also creating avenues for skill development and livelihood generation for local communities.

    In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal shared key updates on the progress of the Vadhavan Port Project. He said that the project is not only focused on expanding maritime infrastructure but also aims to create employment opportunities through targeted skilling initiatives in the region.

    As part of these efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL) and Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) to promote education and training for local communities. Another MoU has been signed between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Directorate General of Shipping to provide skill development training to local residents and project-affected individuals through selected Maritime Training Institutes.

    To support rural entrepreneurship and the agricultural value chain, VPPL has also entered into a strategic partnership with Sahyadri Farms. In addition, skill training programmes for heavy vehicle driving and mechanical work are being conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations in the region.

    Further enhancing outreach, VPPL has launched a dedicated WhatsApp Chatbot to connect directly with the youth of Vadhavan. This platform enables interested candidates to easily access information and register for skilling programmes.

  • Trump’s Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk’s SpaceX

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Amazon.com’s Project Kuiper and big defense contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX’s dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

    The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk’s SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to U.S. military communications.

    It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defense shield, two of the sources said.

    Musk and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. After Reuters reported initially that SpaceX was a frontrunner to build parts of Golden Dome, Musk said on X that the company had “not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars.”

    Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say.

    Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration’s openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defense infrastructure and going beyond traditional defense players.

    Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be “primarily commercial,” but acknowledged “there will be defense uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt.”

    A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment for this story. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

    Golden Dome’s ambitions mirror those of Israel’s Iron Dome – a homeland missile defense shield – but a larger, more complex layered defense system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory.

    In the search for more vendors for the satellite layers of Golden Dome, “Kuiper is a big one,” a U.S. official said.

    While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched launch capabilities, its share of the program could shrink, two of the people said. Officials have reached out to new entrants like rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab RKLB.O are gaining traction and will be able to bid on individual launches as the program matures, according to the U.S. official.

    Later in the development of Golden Dome “each individual launch is going to get bid, and we have to actually give bids to other people,” besides SpaceX, the official said.

    NEED FOR SATELLITES

    There is an urgent need for more satellite production. Last year Congress gave Space Force a $13 billion mandate – up from $900 million – to buy satellite-based communication services in what was widely seen as one of many efforts to stimulate private sector satellite production.

    Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative led by former Starlink managers dismissed by Musk for slow progress, Reuters has reported, has lagged behind SpaceX in deployment. But its potential defense applications – such as communications that could aid missile tracking – have drawn renewed interest as the administration prepares to allocate the first $25 billion tranche of funding authorized under Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill.

    Traditional defense giants Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris are also in talks to support Golden Dome. L3Harris CFO Kenneth Bedingfield told Reuters in an interview the company has seen a surge in interest in its missile warning and tracking technologies, which are expected to play a key role in the system.

    Northrop, meanwhile, is pursuing several efforts including a space-based interceptor, a component that would enable missile strikes from orbit, Robert Flemming, the head of the company’s space business, told Reuters in an interview.

    “Lockheed Martin is ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner,” Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement.

    Golden Dome’s initial outreach this spring invited smaller, newer Silicon Valley firms seen as nimbler, more sophisticated and potentially less expensive alternatives to the big defense firms to the table – but that was before the Musk-Trump feud upended that calculus.

    Several with close ties to Trump aside from SpaceX, including Palantir and Anduril – were considered early frontrunners to win big pieces of the $175 billion project.

    But the Musk-Trump feud has reshaped the competitive landscape. Musk recently launched the “America Party,” a tech-centric, centrist political movement aimed at defeating Republicans who backed Trump’s tax-and-spend agenda.

    RAPID TIMEFRAME

    Trump launched the Golden Dome initiative just a week into his second term, pushing for rapid deployment. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed by the Senate on July 17, is set to lead the program with sweeping authority.

    Under a previously unreported directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein has 30 days from confirmation to build a team, 60 days to deliver an initial system design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station details, two people briefed on the memo said.

    The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper raises security concerns. Its satellites would need to be hardened against cyberattacks and electronic warfare, a challenge that has plagued even SpaceX’s Starlink network. In May 2024, Elon Musk said SpaceX was spending “significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts. This is a tough problem.”

    Beyond the technical and political challenges, Golden Dome could reshape global security dynamics. A fully operational space-based missile shield may prompt adversaries to develop new offensive capabilities or accelerate the militarization of space.

    (Reuters)

  • India implements world’s largest grain storage plan in cooperative sector

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government is moving swiftly to implement the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector,” an ambitious initiative aimed at revolutionizing rural agri-infrastructure and empowering Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across the country. Approved on May 31, 2023, the plan is currently being rolled out as a pilot project and is set to transform grain storage and agricultural logistics at the grassroots level.

    Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, shared these updates in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to transforming the cooperative sector into a pillar of rural economic development.

    The plan focuses on the creation of infrastructure at the PACS level, including godowns, custom hiring centers, food processing units, and Fair Price Shops. These developments are being implemented through convergence of various government schemes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), and the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.

    As part of the pilot phase, construction of godowns has been completed in 11 PACS across 11 states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Uttarakhand. The total storage capacity developed so far stands at 9,750 metric tonnes, with integrated facilities such as seed grading units, processing centers, and Grameen Haats also being established in some locations. More than 500 additional PACS have been identified for godown construction, with a completion target set for December 2026.

    To support the initiative’s expansion, the Government has approved a parallel plan to establish new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives, with the aim of reaching every panchayat and village within five years. Supported by NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, and State/UT governments, this plan has already resulted in the registration of 22,933 new cooperative societies since February 15, 2023—including 5,937 multipurpose PACS. A comprehensive implementation guide, Margadarshika, was launched on September 19, 2024, to outline the timelines and responsibilities of all stakeholders.

    Additionally, in a move to digitally empower PACS, the Government has approved a ₹2,925.39 crore project for their computerization. This project will bring all functional PACS under a common ERP-based national software, ensuring integration with NABARD through State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs). As of June 30, 2025, a total of 73,492 PACS across 31 States and Union Territories have been sanctioned for inclusion. Of these, 59,920 have already been onboarded onto the ERP system, with hardware delivered to 64,323 PACS.

    The project is not only streamlining agricultural operations but is also expected to improve transparency, record-keeping, and credit delivery across the cooperative sector. States like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh are leading in the number of PACS onboarded and operationalized under the ERP system.