Blog

India faced a shocking five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test of the five-match series on Tuesday in Leeds.

India faced a shocking five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test of the five-match series on Tuesday in Leeds. Chasing a target of 371, England did not face much hiccups as Ben Duckett smashed 149 runs and helped the hosts take 1-0 lead in the series. It was a horrific outing for India as despite scoring five individual centuries in the match, Shubman Gill and co ended up on the losing side. India’s new era in Test cricket, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, began on a forgettable note as former England skipper and Ravi Shastri brought out some issues in the young skipper’s leadership.

Speaking on Sky Sports with Ravi Shastri, Nasser pointed out that Gill lacked the on-field aura like Virat Kohli.

“I thought I saw someone just finding his way, honestly. You’ve got to be very careful in the first Test match, the people he’s taken over from, Kohli, and then Rohit Sharma. I thought he didn’t quite have that on-field aura as the names I mentioned there. You look down on those two previous names, and you immediately see who was in charge of India,” said Nasser on Sky Sports.

“I looked down from the press box, the commentary position, there were a lot of captains; it was a bit captaincy by committee, which can happen in your early days as a leader because you’re still senior players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul want to try and help you out as much as possible. I thought he followed the ball a lot. I thought he was reactive as opposed to proactive,” he added.

Nasser further stated that Ravi Shastri was constantly slamming all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for not bowling on the rough patch during Day 5 and Gill, as a captain, should have spoken to him about the conditions.

“A word with Jadeja, maybe as a young captain, to go to such an experienced spinner, and go, you do know the rough is out there. Ravi Shastri and Mark Butcher are up there, going, show us where that ball is pitching, and it was pitching nowhere near the rough,” said Nasser.

“Ravi was saying, a bit slow, a bit wide, bowl in the rough. I was surprised that not one of the senior players or captains went to Jadeja and said, Can we go a little bit wider. But Ravi’s right, they lost the game for two things that he couldn’t control,” he added.

AFI is planning to implement a “robust monitoring system” to enhance the performance of its athletes and increase the number of medals.

With the Asian and Commonwealth Games lined up next year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is planning to implement a “robust monitoring system” to enhance the performance of its athletes and increase the number of medals. Indian track and field athletes have traditionally done well at the Asian Games and the AFI wants to take that success a few notches higher at the 2026 continental showpiece in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan and also improve the tally in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

AFI has been encouraged by the fact that nearly 11 months after the decentralisation of the national coaching camps post the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the overall results showed marked improvement at the Asian Championships in South Korea last month and the domestic competitions.

AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said there were fears that the decentralised training model could be counterproductive, but, on the contrary, there have been a lot of positives.

“There was apprehension of doping and not-so-encouraging performance as top athletes were training across the country at different centres after decentralisation. But both the issues were successfully tackled due to a good monitoring system,” said Sumariwalla, World Athletics vice-president, during a meeting with government and private entities on the successful decentralisation training model, on Friday.

“The national team finished second with 24 medals, eight of them gold behind China in the medal tally in the continental meet. Several national records were also improved in Gumi (Asian Championships), which augurs well for the future,” he added.

He urged the stakeholders to work together for the common good of athletics.

“There is a big pool of over 1,000 athletes, including elite training across various centres. All the stakeholders, including departments and private entities, should work in tandem for holistic development of track and field in the country.” He asked the stakeholders to strictly follow AFI guidelines on annual competition calendar to give more opportunities to promising athletes.

“Domestic competition has become more competitive. AFI has also introduced regional competitions. Private institutions and government departments should encourage athletes to compete on home ground rather than send athletes abroad to compete in low key events,” he added.

On the doping menace, Sumariwalla urged the stakeholders to stay vigilant.

“AFI has no needle policy and zero tolerance to doping. But accountability of the officials/coaches at the district/state level whose athletes test positive for performance enhancing drugs should be fixed. Strict punishment will act as a deterrent,” he added.

The High Court gave the same relief to others as well, who were named as accused in the case and it includes, YSRCP Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy and former ministers, Ambati Rambabu and V Rajini.

Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday restrained the police from taking coercive action against YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy until July 1 over the death of a party supporter during his recent roadshow.

The High Court gave the same relief to others as well, who were named as accused in the case and it includes, YSRCP Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy and former ministers, Ambati Rambabu and V Rajini.

On June 18, Reddy visited Rentapalla village in Palnadu district to visit the family members of a party leader who had died by suicide a year ago due to alleged harassment by TDP leaders and police.

On his way towards the village, C Singayya, a supporter of YSRCP, allegedly fell under the wheels of a vehicle in which Reddy travelled and succumbed to his injuries. Police booked the former chief minister and others over Singayya’s death. Police named the vehicle driver as Accused-1 and Jagan as Accused-2.

Later, the YSRCP supremo filed a petition in the High Court to quash the FIR against him. Jagan’s counsel P Sudhakar Reddy said that the Andhra Pradesh High Court has adjourned the case to July 1, and until then, it has restrained police from taking any coercive action against the former chief minister.

The advocate further said he informed the court that generally vicarious responsibility (making others too responsible for an incident; though they may not be directly connected) is not applicable in criminal cases.

Police initially said Singayya did not fall under a vehicle belonging to Reddy’s convoy. Later, citing additional evidence, they said he had indeed fallen under Reddy’s vehicle, which they said prompted them to book the opposition leader.

The majority of evacuations were carried out through Mashhad, following Iran’s opening of its airspace for evacuation flights under Operation Sindhu on June 20 at India’s request.

The Indian government has initiated Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from conflict zones in Iran and Israel amid escalating tensions in West Asia. The operation, which began on June 18, has successfully evacuated over 4415 Indian nationals so far.

“A total of 4415 Indian nationals (3597 from Iran and 818 from Israel) have been evacuated so far using 19 special evacuation flights, including 3 IAF C-17 aircraft. 14 OCI card-holders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals and 1 Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also evacuated from Iran,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“The evacuated Indian nationals included more than 1500 women and 500 children,” it added.

According to MEA, on 17-18 June, Indian Missions in Tehran, Yerevan, and Ashgabat coordinated the evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran through land border crossings to Armenia and Turkmenistan. Special evacuation flights commenced on 18 June and facilitated the return of Indian nationals to New Delhi.

The majority of evacuations were carried out through Mashhad, following Iran’s opening of its airspace for evacuation flights under Operation Sindhu on June 20 at India’s request.

“We thank the Government of Iran for this gesture. A total of 3597 Indian nationals — including students, workers, professionals, pilgrims and fishermen – from more than 15 Indian states – were brought back to India from Yerevan, Ashgabat and Mashhad from June 18 to 26using 15 special evacuation flights,” as per MEA.

The Israel leg of Operation Sindhu commenced on June 23. Indian Missions in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman and Cairo facilitated the movement of Indian nationals across land borders to Jordan and Egypt.

A total of 818 Indian nationals were evacuated, including students, workers and professionals. They were evacuated from Amman and Sharm al Sheikh from June 22 to 25 using four evacuation flights including 3 IAF C-17 aircraft.

MEA noted that, “in view of the reopening of the airspace, evacuation operations were halted on June 25. Further actions will be taken based on the evolving situation in West Asia.”

The Government of India is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad. Under PM Narendra Modi’s guidance, Operation Sindhu is another demonstration of this commitment, said the MEA.

“We thank the Governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia and Turkmenistan for their support during Operation Sindhu. Indian Missions will stay engaged with host Governments and the Indian community in Iran, Israel and the wider West Asia region,” it added.

The central rath yatra celebration unfolded at Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, a prominent Vaishnavite shrine located in the heart of Imphal

The annual ‘Kang’ festival, Manipur’s own version of the Lord Jagannath rath yatra, was celebrated with hundreds of people coming out to see the pulling of the chariot. Many of those who came to pray also held the long ropes and helped in pulling the massive chariot.

The celebrations began with grandeur and deep spiritual fervour as thousands of devotees pulled elaborately decorated chariots bearing the sacred idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra through the streets of Imphal and across the valley.

Marking the auspicious beginning of the festival, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visited the historic Shree Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal, where he offered prayers for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the people. He also extended his greetings to the citizens of the state.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visits the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal on Friday

The central rath yatra celebration unfolded at Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, a prominent Vaishnavite shrine located in the heart of Imphal.

“Kang chingba at Shri Shri Govindaji Mandir, Imphal. May the Lord bless the people and state of Manipur with peace and prosperity,” Manipur MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba said in a post on X.

Devotees in large numbers took part in pulling the traditional chariot, locally known as “kang,” and offered seasonal fruits, flowers, sweets, and prayers at various halts along the procession route.

A local court had earlier granted the NIA a five-day remand of the two accused on Monday, which expired on Friday.

A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday granted a 10-day remand of the two accused who were arrested for harbouring Pakistani terrorists behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, officials said.

A local court had earlier granted the NIA a five-day remand of the two accused on Monday, which expired on Friday.

The NIA produced the duo before the special NIA court, which granted a further 10-day remand, they said.

The two men – Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote, Pahalgam; and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam – were arrested by the NIA on Sunday in the first major breakthrough in the investigation into the April 22 attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and 16 others injured.

According to the NIA, the arrested accused disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the terrorists at a seasonal ‘dhok’ (hut) in Hill Park before the attack, according to the NIA’s findings.

The two provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who, on the fateful afternoon, selectively targeted and killed tourists based on their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks in recent memory, the agency said.

The NIA continues its probe into the terror network that enabled the brutal killings in Kashmir’s tourism hub.

Four from the family, including two women, have been hospitalised.

In an incident that has, once again, raised troubling questions about caste violence and land rights in rural India, a Dalit family has been brutally attacked with sticks while cultivating land they claim belongs to them. 

On Friday, members of the family were sowing seeds in their land in Narayanpura village of Madhya Pradesh’s Lateri tehsil when some people, allegedly from the Gurjar community, attacked them. The men not only beat up members of the family, including two women, but also snatched their soybean seeds and sowed them in their own field.

Four people, including the women, suffered serious injuries and were admitted to the Lateri Government Hospital. A video of the attack has gone viral, triggering outrage and an attack on the government from the opposition. 

The victims, from the Ahirwar community, say the assault was unprovoked and targeted. Bhagwat Singh Ahirwar, who is among the injured, said, “We were sowing seeds on our own land when Murari, Hansraj, Gudda, Parvat, and Bunty came and started beating us. They hit the women too. They took away our seeds and later sowed them in their field as if to assert their dominance.”

Authorities have said a portion of the land in question could be government property, and that may have led to a dispute. The Ahirwar family, however, said the land legally belongs to them and that they were repeatedly pressured by the accused not to cultivate it. 

Vidisha Superintendent of Police Rohit Kashwani said: “There was a dispute between two parties. We are investigating based on the medical report. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty.”

The Congress has slammed the ruling BJP government and called the attack another example of rising atrocities against Dalits in Madhya Pradesh. District Congress President Mohit Raghuvanshi said, “This is not just a land issue – it is caste oppression. The Dalit family was cultivating their own land when they were attacked. The Congress stands with the victims and demands immediate arrest of the culprits.”

Vidisha Collector Anshul Gupta also hinted that part of the land may be government-owned. “The ongoing case between two parties would be decided expeditiously and no encroachment on government land will be allowed by anyone,” he said.

US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his claims that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan by telling his administration officials to “cancel all deals” with the two countries, after which they agreed to stop the fighting.

US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his claims that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan by telling his administration officials to “cancel all deals” with the two countries, after which they agreed to stop the fighting.

“We did some great work. India and Pakistan. That was going to be maybe nuclear. We did that. We did a lot of work. I don’t know if there’s ever been a president that’s done much more,” Trump said, as he spoke to reporters at the White House following several decisions from the US Supreme Court, including one limiting the power of lower courts regarding national injunctions in a birthright citizenship case.

Trump again repeated his claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan, which he claimed could have turned nuclear, after he told the countries that Washington would not “trade” with Delhi and Islamabad.

“Serbia, Kosovo is going to go at it, going to be a big war. I said, ‘you go at it, there’s no trade with the United States…. That’s what happened with India and Pakistan. I was negotiating with both of them and I said to (Treasury Secretary) Scott (Bessent), I said to (Commerce Secretary) Howard (Lutnick), cancel all deals with India and Pakistan. They’re not trading with us because they’re in a war,” Trump said.

Trump said the two countries “called back. ‘What do we do?’ I said, ‘Look, you want to have trade with the United States. It’s great, but you want to go and start using nuclear weapons on each other. We’re not going to allow that.’ And they both agreed, both have great leaders. They both agreed not to do it. So so we did a lot,” Trump said.

He added that “some of the bigger countries, India, I think we’re going to reach a deal where we have the right to go in and trade. Right now it’s restricted. You can’t walk in there. You can’t even think about it. We’re looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable and I’m not sure that that’s going to happen, but as of this moment, we’ve agreed to go into India and trade.” “We’re going to be trading in China. That’s going to come a little bit down the road, but we’re going to be trading in China. We have a lot of great things going and we’re getting along with countries, but some will be disappointed. Because they’re going to have to pay tariffs, and we’ve taken in already hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, no inflation,” Trump said.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

Trump has repeated the claim several times that he “helped settle” the tensions between India and Pakistan.

However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

In a nearly 35-minute phone call with Trump last week, PM Modi firmly stated that India does not and will “never accept” mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions were initiated at Islamabad’s request

The protest is being organised against the state government’s plan to implement a three-language formula under NEP 2020, which includes making Hindi compulsory from Class 1.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) on Friday said it will support the protest march scheduled for July 5 here against the “imposition” of Hindi in the school curriculum in Maharashtra through the National Education Policy 2020.

The protest is being organised against the state government’s plan to implement a three-language formula under NEP 2020, which includes making Hindi compulsory from Class 1.

In a open latter shared on social media, NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil, while announcing decision, said his party stands firmly with the people of Maharashtra on matters of regional interest.

“Whenever the interest of Maharashtra is at stake, we stand with Maharashtra. And when the interest of the nation is at stake, we stand with the nation, setting aside political lines. That is the core policy of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar),” Patil said.

The move has been opposed by educationists, parents, linguists and activists who argue that early education should take place in a child’s mother tongue, Patil said.

The Marathi-speaking population is not opposed to learning multiple languages, including Hindi, Patil said, but insisted that imposing Hindi at the primary level is unacceptable.

“If the three-language policy is being used as a tool to sideline the mother tongue, then the Marathi-speaking community will unitedly resist such moves,” he warned.

Asserting that the issue concerns linguistic and regional identities, he asked party office-bearers, elected representatives, and workers to participate in large numbers in the July 5 march.

The march is aimed at safeguarding the role of Marathi in school education, Patil added.

India on Friday banned imports of certain jute products and woven fabrics from Bangladesh through all land routes amid strained relations between the two countries.

India on Friday banned imports of certain jute products and woven fabrics from Bangladesh through all land routes amid strained relations between the two countries.

However, imports are allowed only through Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The goods under these curbs include jute products, flax tow and waste, jute and other bast fibres, jute, single flax yarn, single yarn of jute, multiple folded, woven fabrics or flex, and unbleached woven fabrics of jute.

Such port restrictions will not apply to Bangladeshi goods transiting through India to Nepal and Bhutan, it added.

It further said re-exports of these products from Bangladesh to India through Nepal and Bhutan will not be allowed.

“Import from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port on the India-Bangladesh border. However, it is allowed only through Nhava Sheva seaport,” the DGFT said, adding that “imports of certain goods from Bangladesh to India are regulated with immediate effect”.

Earlier in April and May, India announced similar curbs on imports from Bangladesh.

On May 17, India imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods like readymade garments and processed food items, from the neighbouring country.

On April 9, India withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting various items to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan.

These measures were announced against the backdrop of the controversial statements made by the head of Bangladesh’s interim government Muhammad Yunus in China.

The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines.

India-Bangladesh relations have nosedived dramatically after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus.

Bangladesh is a big competitor of India in the textile sector. The India-Bangladesh trade stood at USD 12.9 billion in 2023-24.

In 2024-25, India’s exports stood at USD 11.46 billion, while imports were USD 2 billion.

Bangladesh’s perceived growing proximity with Pakistan and China and the implications of India’s strained ties with its eastern neighbour were also discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday, according to sources.