TODAY NEWS ON June 12, 2025

Source: THE HINDU
World Bank cuts India’s FY26 growth forecast to 6.3%

The World Bank has cut its growth forecast for India to 6.3% in the current financial year 2025-26 from the 6.7% it had projected in January, citing dampened export and investment growth. This 0.4% point cut in India’s growth forecast is in line with an equivalent reduction in the global growth forecast to 2.3%.

Cabinet approves two multitracking projects across Jharkhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) two railway projects covering seven districts in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with a total cost of ₹6,405 crore. One of them is the doubling of the 133-km-long Koderma-Barkakana track, which not only passes through a major coal-producing area of Jharkhand but also serves as the shortest and most efficient rail link between Patna and Ranchi. The second project is the doubling of the 185-km Ballari-Chikjajur track that traverses through Ballari and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian, U.K. navies conduct joint exercise in North Arabian Sea

The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft participated in a passage exercise with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group in the North Arabian Sea on June 9 and 10, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday (June 11, 2025). The U.K. formation comprised the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and frigate HMS Richmond.

U.S., China say they have agreed on framework to resolve their trade disputes

Senior U.S. and Chinese negotiators have agreed on a framework to get their trade negotiations back on track after a series of disputes that threatened to derail them, both sides have said. The announcement came at the end of two days of talks in the British capital that wrapped up late on Tuesday (June 10, 2025).

Jury convicts Harvey Weinstein of top charge in the retrial of his landmark #MeToo sex crimes case

Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was convicted Wednesday (June 11, 2025) of one of the top charges in his sex crimes retrial but acquitted of another, and jurors were as yet unable to reach a verdict on a third charge. The split verdict meted out a measure of vindication to his accusers and prosecutors — but also to Weinstein — after the landmark case was thrown into limbo.

India-EU FTA will elevate strategic partnership: Jaishankar

India and the European Union have made progress in discussions related to a free trade pact that will be “comprehensive, balanced and meaningful”, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). Mr. Jaishankar made the remarks after meeting Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security in Brussels.

IRCTC Tatkal ticket booking will require Aadhaar from July 1

With the objective of ensuring equitable access to Tatkal tickets and curbing misuse, Indian Railways on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) announced a series of modifications to the Tatkal ticket booking system. The new provisions include Aadhaar-based authentication as a prerequisite for online Tatkal bookings. “Effective from July 1, Tatkal tickets booked through IRCTC’s official website and mobile app will be available only to users authenticated with Aadhaar,” a spokesperson of the Ministry of Railways said.

Government strengthening IT cells to counter terrorist propaganda on social media: Union Home Secretary

The government is strengthening Information Technology (IT) cells and cybersurveillance to counter terrorist propaganda being spread on social media, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said on Wednesday. He said terrorists were using social media and advanced drone technology “not just for surveillance and espionage, but also to carry out pinpointed and focused attacks.”

Axiom space mission postponed to repair rocket’s oxygen leak

SpaceX has said that it is standing down from Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space Ax-4 mission which will carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s to the International Space Station. “SpaceX is standing down from Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 11, to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date,” SpaceX said.

India unlikely to ratify ‘High Seas Treaty’ at U.N. Ocean Conference

India is unlikely to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement—also known informally as the ‘High Seas Treaty’—at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, sources indicated to The Hindu.

Constitution does not avert its gaze from caste, poverty, injustice: CJI

The Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has hailed the Indian Constitution as an unpretentious social document that does not avert its gaze from the brutal truths of caste, poverty, exclusion and injustice in the country.

Two Maoists killed in Sukma; anti-Maoist operations to continue through the monsoon season

Two Maoists, including a Local Organisation Squad Commander carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head, were killed by security forces during an operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma on Wednesday (June 11, 2025), the police said. Earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that such anti-Maoist operations, which are usually dormant during the rainy season, would continue through the monsoon.

U.S. reduces presence of staffers not deemed essential in West Asia as tensions with Iran rise

The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in West Asian and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest, the State Department and military said Wednesday (June 11, 2025). The State Department said it has ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad based on its latest review and a commitment “to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad.” The embassy already had been on limited staffing, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel.

Netanyahu’s government faces possible collapse as the opposition seeks to dissolve it

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces a major test on Wednesday after the opposition submitted a Bill to dissolve the government, with his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners threatening to support the measure and force early elections. The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service, an issue that has bitterly divided the Israeli public during the war in the Gaza Strip.

World Test Championship Final: Starc strikes as Australia fight back against South Africa

Mitchell Starc led Australia’s recovery as the defending champions fought back with the ball against South Africa on the first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). Australia were dismissed for just 212 after South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss in overcast, bowler-friendly, conditions, with spearhead quick Kagiso Rabada taking 5-51. But at stumps South Africa had slumped to 43-4 in reply, a deficit of 169 runs.