Source : THE HINDU

11 die in stampede as RCB victory celebrations turn tragic at Bengaluru

What began as a day of rapturous celebration over the IPL victory of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned into one of crushing tragedy in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening when 11 people -- all aged below 40 -- died and 33 were injured when a massive build up of fans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium led to chaos and stampede.

Next census to be completed by March 1, 2027: Centre

India will count its population by March 1, 2027, in a census to be held after an unprecedented 16-year gap, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday (June 4, 2025). This will be the country’s first digital census, and the first in independent India to include an enumeration of castes as well.

Centre asks States to ensure supply of medical oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators

Seven more COVID-19 deaths had been reported in the country in the previous 24 hours, as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) morning. Maharashtra reported the highest number of deaths (four). One death each has been reported from Delhi, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The total death toll stands at 44, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

Justice Varma impeachment: Government reaches out to political parties, wants all on board

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) underlined the government’s resolve to take all political parties on board in moving an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, saying corruption in the judiciary cannot be approached through a “political prism”. He said the government wants the exercise aimed at axing Justice Varma, embroiled in a case of alleged corruption and indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed committee, a “collaborative effort”. Mr. Rijiju told reporters that he has already initiated discussions with all political parties to bring the motion in Parliament’s Monsoon session, starting from July 21, against the Allahabad High Court judge.

Army men reach Sikkim's Lachen, 113 stranded tourists to be evacuated soon

Army personnel have established a walkway to north Sikkim’s Lachen village, which remained completely cut off due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rain in Mangan district, and reached out to 113 stranded tourists there, an official statement said on Wednesday (June 4, 2025). These tourists stuck in the village for the last few days will be evacuated soon, it said. Search operations are also underway to trace six missing people after a landslide struck a military camp at Chaten on June 1, 2025.

Middle East crisis could pose an obstacle to India-Middle East-Europe corridor: MEA official

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East could pose an obstacle to the completion of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit hosted by India in 2023, according to a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs. “It’s not like we have gone back to square one, but I think the crisis in the Middle East could become a problem or obstacle for the IMEC,” Dammu Ravi, Secretary, Economic Relations, in the Ministry of External Affairs, said while speaking at a conference on IMEC hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation on Wednesday (June 4, 2025).

Iran’s Khamenei rejects U.S. nuclear proposal, vows to keep enriching uranium

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal was against Tehran’s national interests, and that the country would not abandon uranium enrichment. The issue of uranium enrichment has been a sticking point in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Uranium enrichment remained key to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme, Mr. Khamenei said in a speech.

U.S.-backed Gaza aid group halts distribution, U.N. to vote on ceasefire demand

 The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) will not give out any aid on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) as it presses Israel to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites, a day after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed. The GHF said it has asked the Israeli military to “guide foot traffic in a way that minimises confusion or escalation risks” near military perimeters, develop clearer guidance for civilians, and enhance training to support civilian safety. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, where malnutrition is widespread and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade in late May.

Elon Musk calls Trump’s big tax break bill a ’disgusting abomination’

Elon Musk blasted U.S. President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” of tax breaks and spending cuts as a “disgusting abomination” on Tuesday (June 4, 2025), testing the limits of his political influence as he targeted the centerpiece of Republicans’ legislative agenda. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Mr. Musk posted on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” The legislation, which has passed the House and is currently under debate in the Senate, would curtail subsidies that benefit Tesla, Musk's electric automaker.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung says he’ll bolster U.S.-Japan ties, pursue talks with North

South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, vowed Wednesday (June 4, 2025) to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan as he laid out key policy goals for his single five-year term. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Mr. Lee said that his government will deal with potential North Korean aggressions with “strong deterrence” based on the solid South Korea-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.” He said he'll pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighbouring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation based on the robust South Korea-U.S. alliance.