In a heart-wrenching incident, six teenage girls drowned while bathing in the Yamuna River in the Sikandra area of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, the girls had gone to the river to rest after working in nearby fields. Eyewitnesses said they were initially playing and filming videos near the bank but eventually drifted into deeper waters and were swept away by strong currents. Four girls died on the spot, while two others succumbed during treatment.

India is grappling with a growing superbug crisis, where antibiotic-resistant infections are becoming harder to treat. Misuse and lack of access to life-saving antibiotics are driving the problem. A global study reveals only 6.9% of patients in low- and middle-income countries, including India, receive effective treatment. High costs, poor diagnostics, and weak regulation worsen the issue. Experts warn that without better antibiotic access and control, routine treatments, surgeries, and cancer care could be jeopardized. India’s strong pharma sector could lead solutions with better data and policy.

The deadly coronavirus has once again struck South Asia, with India reporting seven deaths from the virus across multiple states.
So far, around 3,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in India, with Kerala registering the highest number of cases. Maharashtra and Delhi follow closely behind.
According to official data, Kerala has recorded 1,147 cases, Maharashtra 424, Delhi 294, and Gujarat 223. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka each have reported 148 cases, while West Bengal has confirmed 116 infections.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has, for the first time, acknowledged that the country lost several fighter jets during a skirmish with Pakistan earlier this month. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, General Chauhan downplayed the significance of the aircraft losses, stating, “What matters is not that the planes were downed, but why. We’ve identified the tactical errors and adjusted accordingly. Just two days later, we carried out a successful long-range strike.” Meanwhile, BJP veteran Subramanian Swamy also confirmed Pakistan had shot down five Indian jets. He further alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter deal, claiming no investigation would occur as long as Narendra Modi remains Prime Minister.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that more than 1,000 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January this year. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal disclosed that 62% of these individuals were returned to India on commercial flights.

Meanwhile, the former Trump administration had earlier estimated that approximately 18,000 Indian nationals have illegally entered the US. Jaiswal also expressed concerns over the impact of the US government’s recent policies on international students, stating that these changes could significantly affect Indian students planning to enroll in American universities.

India's economic growth has declined to its lowest rate in four years, sparking concerns about further downturns due to US tariff policies. According to the BBC, the country recorded a 6.5% GDP growth in the 2024–25 fiscal year (April–March), compared to 9.2% in 2023–24.

Analysts predict the GDP growth could dip further to 6% in 2025–26. Despite plans by companies like Apple to shift production from China to India, the recent withdrawal of trade tariffs between the US and China may stall such investments.

An unexpected explosion occurred around 7:40 PM Wednesday behind the Diamond Harbour police station in West Bengal, where confiscated gunpowder was being stored. Fire services quickly brought the situation under control, and no casualties or significant damage were reported. Authorities believe rain may have prevented a major disaster, though the cause of the ignition remains unclear.

Assam police have arrested at least 50 individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi infiltrators from districts including Guwahati, Golaghat, Dhubri, Barpeta, and Cachar. However, families of the detainees claim they are all Indian citizens. A police official reported that the suspects are currently being held at the Rupnagar Police Reserve. Their families have started submitting necessary documents to prove their Indian nationality, and verification is underway.

Following the recent attack in Pahalgam, Muslims in Kashmir are living in fear. Homes are being demolished, travelers harassed, and men with beards and skullcaps are being labeled as “terrorists” without evidence. Farooq Ahmed, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, said his brother Mohammad Iqbal was killed in a madrasa during India-Pakistan border clashes on May 7. “Several Indian media outlets falsely labeled Iqbal a terrorist without any proof,” Farooq said. Police later contradicted those claims in an official statement. Manisha Pandey, Executive Editor of NewsLaundry, condemned the media’s coverage, calling the baseless allegations “heartbreaking and dangerous.”

In India’s Uttar Pradesh, four Muslim youths were brutally assaulted by members of a so-called "cow protection" group over suspicion of transporting beef. Three of the victims are reportedly in critical condition.
A disturbing video shows the attackers stripping the victims and beating them nearly naked with rods, sticks, bricks, and bladed weapons.
Despite the graphic nature of the incident, no arrests have been made. Police stated that meat samples from the vehicle have been collected for testing, and all allegations are being investigated.

In light of escalating tensions, both India and Pakistan have extended their airspace bans on each other’s aircraft. Pakistan announced that its airspace will remain closed to all Indian aircraft, including military planes, until 4:59 AM local time on June 24. India responded by extending its own ban on all Pakistan-registered, operated, owned, or leased aircraft, including military ones, until June 23.

During heightened India-Pakistan tensions, Turkey expressed strong support for Pakistan, both ideologically and militarily. Turkey reportedly supplied most of the 300–400 drones Pakistan used to target Indian military and civilian zones during “Operation Buniyanum Marsus” and sent warships to Karachi as a show of force—though it claims it was a “routine port call.” In response, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We hope Turkey urges Pakistan to halt its support for cross-border terrorism and take verifiable action against terrorist infrastructure.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that Pakistan will no longer receive water from rivers controlled by India. This statement comes after India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, which allowed water from three Indian rivers to flow into Pakistan—supporting nearly 80% of its agricultural land. On April 22, India officially halted the agreement. Modi warned that Pakistan would pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack—through its military and its economy. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar added, “If terrorists operate from Pakistani soil, we will strike them there.”

Following a deadly school bus bombing in Khuzdar, Balochistan, that killed six—including four children—and injured 42 others, Pakistan accused India of orchestrating the attack through its agents. India rejected the claims. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Pakistan has developed a habit of blaming India for its internal issues.” Pakistan's military PR wing, ISPR, labeled the attack a "cowardly and heinous act" planned under India's "state-sponsored terrorism."

Indian security forces have killed 27 Maoist insurgents, including Nambala Keshava Rao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), in a major counter-insurgency operation. Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the operation, saying this is the first time in three decades that a top Maoist leader has been neutralized.

Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, was a native of Telangana and took over the reins of India’s largest armed leftist insurgency group from Muppala Lakshmana Rao in 2018. The successful raid marks a significant milestone in India’s decades-long battle against Naxalite violence.