Junior Digest

New Delhi, July 12,2025: A Preliminary report on the Air India flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 today revealed that fuel cutoff switches were moved from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ within a second of each other which led to the tragedy.

The crash led to i270 people loosing their lives.

The report reveals that within 90 seconds of take off, both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly during the initial climb leading to a loss of thrust and rapid descent. After the switches of both engines flipped, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner immediately shut down mid-air seconds after take-off and began to lose thrust and sink down, the report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AIB) said.

“The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off,” the 15-page report said.

The pilots attempted to restart the engines by moving the fuel control switches back to the ‘run’ position. Engine 1 started to recover but Engine 2 was unable to arrest core speed deceleration despite repeated attempts to reintroduce fuel and increase core speed acceleration.

The report also revealed that just seconds before the aircraft lost power and went down near Ahmedabad airport, one pilot asked the other why he had cut off fuel to the engines, the second pilot reportedly denied, saying, “did not do so.”

“In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report said.

“The EAFR recording stopped at 08:09:11 UTC At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted “Mayday Mayday Mayday ”. The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) enquired about the call sign but did not get any response and saw the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary.

Significantly the report rules out any doubt about the fitness of the pilots to operate the ill-fated flight. ‘’The crew of flight AI171 arrived at the airport and underwent preflight Breath Analyzer test at 06:25 UTC and were found fit to operate the flight. The crew is seen arriving at the boarding gate in the CCTV recording at about 07:05 UTC (12:35 IST).’’

It also rules out any shortage of fuel or bird activity in the adjoining areas.

“Fuel on board was 54,200 Kgs and as per the load and trim sheet of the flight, the Take-off Weight was 2,13,401 Kgs (Max. allowed – 2,18,183 Kgs). The take-off weight was within allowable limits for the given conditions.’’

“There was no ‘Dangerous Goods’ on the aircraft.”

The report also ruled out any bird activity saying ‘’No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path.’’

Boeing in its initial rection to the catastrophe said they would ‘’continue to support’’ the investigation and the customers. The aviation company said it would defer to the AIIB probe to provide information about AI 171, id adherence with the United Nations International Civil Organization Protocol.’

‘Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers Nd crew on board Air India Flight 171 as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad. We continue to support the investigation and our customer. We will defer to the AAIB to provide information about AI 171 in adherence with the United Nations International Protocol known as Annex 13,’ it said in a statement.

Air India in a statement acknowledged that it had received the preliminary report by AAIB and is working closely with stakeholders and would continue to fully cooperate with AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.

“We stand in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.”

Air India, however, did not comment on the findings of the report saying ‘’Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB.’’

The Report said ‘’Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.’’

Moscow/Washington, July 10,2025: Reiterating its warning to the United States, Russia has said that Washington’s move to resume weapons supplies to Ukraine will only further prolong the war and risk “uncontrolled escalation” of conflict, closing rooms for diplomatic engagement, reports state media TASS.

The statement comes amid the US’ move to resume its weapon supplies to Kyiv after they had to stop them due to a decline in domestic stockpile, as well as the Pentagon’s strategic shift to West Asia.

The supply includes an urgent consignment of the Patriot MIM-104 interceptor missiles for the Patriot missile defence system, guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets, Hellfire missiles, Stinger man-portable air-defence systems, HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), Howitzer artillery guns, and more, which form the backbone of Kyiv’s air defences.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, talking about the resumption, said “We have repeatedly said that the supply of weapons to the terrorist regime of Zelenskyy leads to a prolongation of hostilities, literally to the destruction of Ukraine and Ukrainians.

“It could also increase the risk of an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict, the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons and their falling into the hands of, including international terrorists, and in general does not contribute to the search for ways to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine,” she said.

Calling the move counterproductive to a peace process and possibly shutting windows for diplomatic engagement, she added “The consequences of such steps have yet to be assessed. What can be said for sure is that the continued pumping of the Kyiv regime with weapons is not facilitating a peaceful solution to the conflict, to put it mildly, while this is what the international community, including the West, is calling for.”

Trump had stated that Washington will continue its supplies to Ukraine for its “defensive capabilities”, but has shown increasing frustration with both Russian President Vladmir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over their inability to reach a settlement, even threatening to pull out of the peace process.

While the US President has praised Putin repeatedly, and has a friendly relationship with him, the Russian president has likewise shown considerable respect for Trump and thanked him for his mediation efforts. However, Trump has now voiced disappointment in the Russian leader’s decision to continue fighting.

COPENHAGEN/BRUSSELS, July 9,2025: Around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during the severe heatwave that ended last week, according to a rapid scientific analysis published on Wednesday.

The study targeted the 10 days, ending July 2, during which large parts of Western Europe were hit by extreme heat, with temperatures breaching 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in Spain and wildfires breaking out in France.

Of the 2,300 people estimated to have died during this period, 1,500 deaths were linked to climate change, which made the heatwave more severe, according to the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

“Climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous,” said Dr Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London.

The study covered 12 cities including Barcelona, Madrid, London and Milan, where the researchers said climate change had increased heatwave temperatures by up to 4 degrees Celsius.

The researchers used established epidemiological models and historical mortality data to estimate the death toll, which reflects deaths where heat was the underlying reason for mortality, including if exposure exacerbated pre-existing health conditions.

The scientists said they used peer-reviewed methods to quickly produce the estimated death toll, because most heat-related deaths are not officially reported and some governments do not release this data.

New Delhi, July ,2025: India abstained from voting at the UN on a Resolution on Afghanistan saying a “business as usual” approach without new and targeted initiatives is unlikely to deliver the outcomes the international community envisions for Afghan people.

The UNGA resolution on the ‘Situation in Afghanistan’ last night was moved by Germany.” The vote was 116 in favour and two against. Twelve countries including India, Russia, China and Iran abstained.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said in his speech that any coherent policy to address a post-conflict situation must combine a mix of policy instruments — incentivising positive behaviour and disincentivising harmful actions.

“An approach focused only on punitive measures is unlikely to succeed,’’ Ambassador Harish cautioned. He said the United Nations and the broader international community had adopted more balanced and nuanced approaches in other post-conflict contexts. However, no new policy instruments had been introduced to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since August 2021.

“A business-as-usual approach, without new and targeted initiatives, is unlikely to deliver the outcomes the international community envisions for the Afghan people,’’ he said.

The international community must direct its coordinated efforts towards ensuring that entities and individuals designated by the UN Security Council, Al Qaeda and their affiliates, ISIL and their affiliates, including Lashkar-i-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, along with their regional sponsors who facilitate their operations, no longer exploit the Afghan territory for terrorist activities.

India is closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan, he asserted.

Welcoming Afghanistan’s strong condemnation of the terrorist killings at Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22, he said External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had recently spoken with the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. The conversation followed a meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary and the Acting Foreign Minister where both sides discussed various bilateral issues and regional developments.

Ambassador Harish said India’s approach to Afghanistan, as its contiguous neighbour with deep historical and cultural ties, has always been guided by longstanding friendship and special relationship with the Afghan people. As a long-standing partner, India has direct stakes in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He said that since the UNGA last considered this issue in November 2022, India has been actively engaging with regional and international stakeholders to promote peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.

“We believe that international and regional consensus and cooperation on key issues concerning Afghanistan are essential. Our participation in UN meetings in Doha and other regional forums reflects our ongoing efforts, including our recent participation in the meetings held in Doha last week,’’ he said.

The Ambassador said India’s immediate priorities in Afghanistan include the provision of humanitarian assistance and the implementation of capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people.

India has been working closely with UN agencies to support the Afghan people in critical areas such as health, food security, education and sports. Also, India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction is demonstrated through more than 500 development partnership projects across all provinces.

Since August 2021, India has supplied around 50,000 MTs of wheat, over 330 MTs of medicines and vaccines, 40,000 litres of the pesticide Malathion, and 58.6 MTs of other essential items, supporting millions of Afghans in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

In partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India provided 84 MTs of assistance and medicines and 32 MTs of social support items for drug rehabilitation programmes in Afghanistan, particularly those focused on women.

India also continues to offer scholarships and fellowships to Afghan students. Since 2023, we have provided scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate courses to 2,000 Afghan students, including nearly 600 girls and women.

Reiterating India’s historic ties with the people of Afghanistan and enduring commitment to meeting their humanitarian and developmental needs, Mr Harish said India remains committed to continued engagement with all relevant stakeholders and broadly supports the international community’s efforts towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Brussels, July 9,2025: June 2025 was the world’s third-warmest June on record, trailing only 2023 and 2024, said the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on Wednesday.

The global average surface air temperature in June was 16.46 degrees Celsius, 0.47 degrees above the 1991-2020 average for the month and 1.3 degrees higher than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level, C3S said in its monthly bulletin.

Europe’s average temperature for the month was 18.46 degrees, making it the fifth-warmest June on record. Western Europe, however, experienced its warmest June ever, with temperatures averaging 20.49 degrees.

“June 2025 saw an exceptional heatwave impact large parts of Western Europe, with much of the region experiencing very strong heat stress,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

She warned that heatwaves are likely to become “more frequent, more intense and impact more people across Europe” in a warming world.

Beyond Europe, above-average temperatures for June were observed across the United States, northern Canada, central and eastern Asia and West Antarctica.

June’s global average sea surface temperature (SST) over latitudes from 60 degrees north to 60 degrees south was 20.72 degrees, the third-highest for the month.

An “exceptional” marine heatwave developed in the western Mediterranean, where daily SSTs peaked at 27 degrees, the highest ever recorded in the region for June, marking the largest daily SST anomaly globally for any month, C3S noted.

“The long-term trend of rising ocean temperatures is evident globally,” said Julien Nicolas, senior scientist at C3S. He noted that higher SST poses a rising threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity as oceans absorb around 90 percent of the excess heat caused by human-induced climate change.

Nicolas urged faster action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to improve climate resilience.

“Reducing emissions and adapting our cities and communities to a world with more extreme weather is critical,” he said.

Patna (Bihar), July 8,2025: Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved 43 schemes and projects, including the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission, 35 per cent reservation for women native to the State and Rs 100 diesel subsidy for farmers. Women native to the state will be allowed 35 per cent horizontal reservation on all posts in direct appointment in all government service cadres of Bihar state.

Apart from this, the cabinet approved a Divyangjan Civil Seva Protsahan Scheme, under which differently abled people will be given Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh on passing the prelims of UPSC and BPSC exams. Earlier today, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced the Bihar Youth Commission stating that move is aimed at providing more employment opportunities to the youth.

New Delhi, July 7,2025: India’s economic momentum remains untouched with a 6.5% GDP growth mark between the period of 2024-25, leaving other major economies behind in the race. Moreover, the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is expecting the same rate continuation also for 2025-26.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra also highlighted that the Indian economy is playing a prime role in global growth due to its strong domestic growth drivers, sound macroeconomic fundamentals, and prudent policies.

It’s a remarkable achievement for India as it came in the time of rising global tensions. Projections of the United Nations and the Confederation of Indian Industry also infuse optimism in the Indian economy.

This achievement is subject to multiple factors like the growth of domestic demand, the rise of spending capacity in cities, and the thriving of private investments. Moreover, businesses are also expanding their operational capacity and working at maximum output levels.

On the other hand, the United Nations has termed the world economic situation as a “precarious moment.” The report took into consideration trade tensions, uncertain policies, as well as a reduction in cross-border investments.

The Reserve Bank of India Financial Stability Report, which was released in June 2025, also highlighted the favorable inflationary conditions in the country. Prices of consumer goods will remain stable due to high crop production.

India’s capital market is also at a positive stage, and the results are visible as the stock markets maintained their strong performance in December 2024 with a mark of 13.2 crore compared to the 4.9 crore of 2019. This optimism is revealing a great public interest in the equity market with a belief in the country’s economic system.

The Foreign Exchange reserves also came to the mark of USD 697.9 billion as of June 20, 2025. This is good news for the Indian economy as these reserves are ideal to cover the imports for 11 months in times of recession or global economic shocks. External debt also remains at a moderate level at a mark of 19.1 % of the GDP as of March 2025.

The export performance of the country also remains to highlight the strong economic conditions. The total exports touched the mark of USD 824.9 billion in 2024-25. It’s almost 6.01% higher than the period of 2023-24, which was USD 778.1 billion.

The positive outlook of the Indian economy in different sectors showed a deep sense of stability and direction among policymakers. With real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) rising at a mark of 6.5% and inflation continuing to remain low, it marks the balanced expansion and price stability of the Indian economy. Sectoral growth of manufacturing, infrastructure, and services is also noted in these years.

Washington, July 7,2025: US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap an additional 10% trade tariffs which supported the alleged ‘Anti-American’ policies of BRICS nations.

“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump said on Truth Social.

The international multilateral bloc which was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as an alternative platform to challenge Western hegemony and promote the voices of developing countries, has long been criticised by the US President.

BRICS has been viewed as a favourable bloc by many countries who have expressed their wish to join, and last year expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Vietnam becoming a partner nation this year.

Trump’s comments came the bloc’s members criticised the US tariff policies as well as proposing reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and how major currencies are valued, reports BBC.

BRICS countries, who started a meeting in Rio de Janeiro this weekend, have called for reforms to global institutions and positioned the alliance as a platform for diplomacy amid escalating trade conflicts and geopolitical tensions.

A joint statement by the bloc’s Finance Ministers slammed the tariffs, labelling them as a threat to the global economy, and accused it of bringing “uncertainty into international economic and trade activities”.

The leaders also condemned the military strikes on Iran in June, criticising the attacks as a violation of international law.

The summit was attended in person by world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Russian President Vladmir Putin attended it online, while China was represented by Premier Li Qiang who stood in President Xi Jinping.

Tehran, June 27,2025: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi yesterday said that no arrangement or commitment had been made to resume negotiations with the United States, amid heightened tensions following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian territory.

In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi said the possibility of restarting talks was under consideration but would depend on whether Tehran’s national interests were protected.

“Our decisions will be based solely on Iran’s interests,” he said. “If our interests require a return to negotiations, we will consider it. But at this stage, no agreement or promise has been made and no talks have taken place.”

Araghchi accused Washington of betraying Iran during previous rounds of negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and lifting U.S. sanctions.

The Iranian diplomat also confirmed that a law suspending cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog had become binding after being passed by parliament and approved by the Guardian Council, a top constitutional oversight body.

“The law is now obligatory and will be implemented. Our cooperation with the IAEA will take a new shape,” he said.

Araghchi also said the damage caused by the 12-day war with Israel was “serious” and that experts from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were conducting a detailed assessment. He said the question of demanding reparations was high on the government’s agenda.

The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple targets across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

The attacks came just days before Iran and the United States were expected to resume indirect nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman, on June 15.

In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone strikes on Israel, causing casualties and damage.

On June 21, the U.S. Air Force struck three key Iranian nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on June 23.

The 12-day conflict ended with a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on June 24.

Thiruvananthapuram, June 27,2025: Amid rising cases of diabetes, over 5 crore Indians remain undiagnosed, prompting urgent calls for regular screening and lifestyle changes.

India faces an alarming diabetes prevalence of 11.4 per cent, with over 10 crore people currently living with the condition, Dr Naresh Purohit, Advisor for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, said.

Quoting his recent scientific report published in the Australian Journal of Public Health, acclaimed physician pointed out that God’s own country, ‘Kerala’, is witnessing a dramatic demographic shift in the surge of Type 2 diabetes in children.

“Once primarily associated with adults over 40, this disease is now increasingly affecting children as young as 10. It is now a public health crisis,” he said.

“This condition poses a major risk to young lives and will have severe consequences unless parents take immediate action to improve their children’s lifestyles, he cautioned.

“Diabetes results from the body’s impaired ability to metabolise carbohydrates due to insulin insufficiency or resistance, causing elevated blood sugar levels and serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and neuropathy. While type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90 per cent of cases, other forms such as type 1 and gestational diabetes also pose risks, he explained.

He emphasised that symptoms often remain vague, making early screening crucial to prevent disease progression. There is an urgent need for increased awareness and routine blood sugar testing, especially among high-risk groups, he added.

He recommended lifestyle interventions including regular moderate exercise, dietary changes focusing on higher protein and fibre intake, weight reduction, proper sleep, stress management, and avoiding smoking.

For those diagnosed with diabetes, regular medical follow-up and controlling HbA1c levels below 7 per cent are vital to reduce complications. With India’s national average HbA1c at 9.1 per cent, he called for intensified efforts to measure, monitor, and manage diabetes effectively to curb this growing health crisis.

ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, June 23,2025: Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced on Monday for Tehran’s response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites and U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea of regime change in the Islamic republic.

Iran vowed to defend itself on Sunday, a day after the U.S. joined Israel in the biggest Western military action against the country since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy from around the world.
Commercial satellite imagery indicated the U.S. attack on Saturday on Iran’s subterranean Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged or destroyed the deeply buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but the status of the site remained unconfirmed, experts said.

In his latest social media comments on the U.S. strikes, Trump said “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran.”

“The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump earlier called on Iran to forgo any retaliation and said the government “must now make peace” or “future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”

The U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions including bunker-buster bombs and more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles against three Iranian nuclear sites, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told reporters.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said no increases in off-site radiation levels had been reported after the U.S. strikes. Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, told CNN that it was not yet possible to assess the damage done underground.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow had been moved elsewhere before the attack. Reuters could not immediately corroborate the claim.

Tehran, which denies its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful purposes, sent a volley of missiles at Israel in the aftermath of the U.S. attack, wounding scores of people and destroying buildings in Tel Aviv.

But it had not acted on its main threats of retaliation, to target U.S. bases or choke off oil shipments that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

June 22,2025: United States President Donald Trump has announced the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, as Washington effectively joined Israel’s war against Iran.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a televised address early on Sunday, he said “the strikes were a spectacular military success”.

The US decision to intervene militarily to aid the Israeli attacks on Iran has prompted fears of a serious escalation across the Middle East and brought back memories of the devastation in Iraq following the 2003 US invasion. Israel launched unprecedented attacks on Iran on June 13, targeting its nuclear sites and top military commanders.

More than 400 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Iran, while retaliatory strikes by Tehran have killed at least 24 people in Israel.

NEW DELHI, June 21,2025: India will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Islamabad, and the water flowing to Pakistan will be diverted for internal use, Home Minister Amit Shah said in an interview with Times of India on Saturday.

India put into “abeyance” its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, after 26 civilians in Indian Kashmir were killed in what Delhi described as an act of terror. The treaty had guaranteed water access for 80% of Pakistan’s farms through three rivers originating in India.

Pakistan has denied involvement in the incident, but the accord remains dormant despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbours last month following their worst fighting in decades.

“No, it will never be restored,” Shah told the daily.

“We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” Shah said, referring to the northwestern Indian state.

The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, have dimmed Islamabad’s hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term.

Last month, Reuters reported that India plans to dramatically increase the water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of retaliatory action.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comments.

But it has said in the past that the treaty has no provision for one side to unilaterally pull back and that any blocking of river water flowing to Pakistan will be considered “an act of war”.

Islamabad is also exploring a legal challenge to India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance under international law.

Kananaskis (Alberta) [Canada], June 17,2025: Ahead of the critical G7 Summit meeting in Canada, leaders of the forum have issued a statement on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, reiterating their commitment to peace while endorsing Israel’s right to defend itself. “We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians,” the statement read. The G7 nations also labelled Iran as the principal source of instability and terror in the region. “Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza. We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability,” the G7 leaders’ statement read. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has left the G7 summit early, indicating that he is trying to strike a deal with Iran to end the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters at the G7 summit that Trump has made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, CNN reported. “There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions,” Macron told reporters.”If the United States of America can achieve a ceasefire, it is a very good thing and France will support it, and we wish for it,” Macron added.Earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social, urging people to evacuate Iran and strongly advocating the case for Iran not to have a nuclear weapon.”Iran should have signed the ‘deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and a waste of human life. Simply stated, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I have said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he posted”America First means many great things, including the fact that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Make America great again, he said in another post.The Israel-Iran conflict is in its fifth day, with both sides trading missile strikes. Civilians in key areas face waves of attacks. According to a CNN report, in Iran, at least 224 people have been killed since hostilities began. In Israel, 24 people have been killed.

June 16,2025: The Union Home Ministry on Monday issued a gazette notification, declaring that the Census will be carried out in 2027.
The notification stated that the reference date for the Census will be March 1, 2027, except for the Union Territory of Ladakh, the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. “In respect of the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date shall be 00:00 hours of the 1st day of October, 2026,” the notification added.

The last Census was held in 2011. The 2027 Census will include the first nationwide caste enumeration since 1931.

A day before issuing the notification, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Sunday reviewed the preparation for the forthcoming Census with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials in North Delhi.

“The census will be conducted in two phases. In phase one i.e. House listing Operation (HLO), the housing conditions, assets and amenities of each household will be collected. Subsequently, in second phase i.e. Population Enumeration (PE), the demographic, socio-economic, cultural and other details of every person in each household will be collected. In the census, caste enumeration will also be done,” the statement said.

Around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and around 1.3 lakh Census functionaries will be deployed for the exercise, as per the statement. “This census is the 16th census since the beginning and 8th after Independence. The ensuing census will be conducted through digital means using mobile applications. Provision of self-enumeration would also be made available to the people. Very stringent data security measures would be kept in place to ensure data security at the time of collection, transmission and storage,” the statement added.