Top news of the day: June 8, 2025

The Hindu

5 hours ago

Bengaluru stampede: Police flagged lack of time to prepare and make security arrangements, document shows
Even as a blame game has broken out between the police and the State Government over mishaps during Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations, it has now emerged that the Vidhana Soudha security had flagged concerns of overcrowding, lack of time and shortage of security personnel for the felicitation for the team on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha. This letter is the only document that shows the State Government overruled concerns raised by the Bengaluru City Police and went ahead with RCB victory celebrations. While it is true that no untoward incidents happened at the Vidhana Soudha event, police have argued an open-air event at the administrative nerve centre of the state, coupled with a unilateral announcement by RCB of a victory parade on June 4 morning, brought lakhs to the street, eventually leading to a stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In 2026, NDA will form governments in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (June 8, 2025) asserted that the NDA would form governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Addressing party office bearers, he hailed Madurai as a city of 'Parivartan' and said his party's Karyakarta Sammelan (workers meet) would lead to change as well, of dislodging DMK from power. He said that in the 2026 Assembly election, the BJP-AIADMK will form the NDA Government in Tamil Nadu and will defeat DMK in the 2026 polls. 'The DMK is a 100% failure government,' he said. 'In 2026, in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the NDA will form governments.' Mr. Shah, before addressing the state, district and mandal level office bearers, chaired the meeting of the state core committee of the Tamil Nadu BJP. Ahead of leading the core panel parleys, he worshipped at the Madurai Meenakshi temple.
Write to EC formally: Poll panel sources on Rahul seeking reply on election rigging claim
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought the Election Commission's response on his article alleging rigging in Maharashtra polls, sources in the poll authority said on Sunday (June 8, 2025) the constitutional body would respond only if the Leader of the Opposition writes to it directly. They also pointed out that as part of its outreach, the EC had invited all six national parties for separate interactions. While the other five met the EC brass, Congress cancelled the May 15 meeting. Responding to a question on Gandhi's demand for CCTV footage of polling stations in Maharashtra of the evening hours, the sources said as per instructions of the EC, the CCTV footage of polling stations can always be scrutinised by the competent high court when an election petition is filed.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to visit France, EU and Belgium from June 8
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be on a 7-day official visit to France, EU and Belgium from June 8. According to Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Jaishankar's visit is expected to further deepen India's friendly relations with the European Union, France and Belgium and will give a renewed momentum to ongoing cooperation in diverse areas. As India and France complete 25 years of partnership, Mr. Jaishankar will be travelling to Paris and Marseille, where he will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart Jean Noel Barrot, the MEA press release said. The External Affairs Minister will also engage with France's senior leadership and interact with think tanks and media. During his visit to France, Mr. Jaishankar will be participating in the inaugural edition of the Mediterranean Rasina Dialogue which is being held in Marseille.
Cash discovery row: Resignation only option before Justice Varma to avoid removal by Parliament
Resignation is the only option before Justice Yashwant Varma to avoid impeachment by Parliament as the government pushes for bringing a motion to remove the Allahabad High Court judge over alleged corruption. Officials aware of the procedure to appoint and remove Supreme Court and high court judges pointed out that while defending his case before lawmakers in any of the House, Justice Varma can announce that he is quitting and his verbal statement will be considered as his resignation. 'Should he decide to resign, he will get a pension and other benefits entitled to a retired HC judge. But if he is removed by Parliament, he will be deprived of pension and other benefits,' they noted.
CBI arrests Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol activist from Imphal airport
CBI arrested a member of Arambai Tenggol from Manipur's Imphal Airport and brought him to Guwahati on Sunday (June 8, 2025). He will be 'produced before the competent court for police remand', the probe agency said. 'Kanan Singh was arrested by the CBI at the Imphal airport,' they added. The federal agency is probing cases related to the Manipur ethnic violence in accordance with a direction of the Supreme Court. 'The trials of the Manipur violence cases have been shifted from Manipur to Guwahati in view of the law-and-order situation in Manipur,' the spokesperson said. The situation in the state capital, Imphal, was tense after reports of the arrest of the AT leader started circulating on Saturday (June 7, 2025).
NDA government redefined women-led development in 11 years: PM Modi
A day before his government marks its first anniversary in third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday (June 8, 2025) that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has redefined women-led development in its 11 years in power. In all sectors, including science, education, sports, start-ups and the armed forces, women are excelling and inspiring several people, Mr. Modi said on X. He cited a number of welfare programmes which, he noted, have benefitted women immensely. Various initiatives, from ensuring dignity through Swachh Bharat to financial inclusion via Jan Dhan accounts, the focus has been on empowering the women, he said.
Israel vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza
Israel's Defence Minister has vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday (June 8, 2025) that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. Ms. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday (June 8, 2025).
Russia continues to accuse Ukraine of delaying planned exchange of dead fighters
Russian officials said Sunday (June 8, 2025) that Moscow is still awaiting official confirmation from Kyiv that a planned exchange of 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action will take place, reiterating allegations that Ukraine had postponed the swap. Russian state media quoted Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin, a representative of the Russian negotiating group, as saying that Russia delivered the first batch of 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to the exchange site at the border and is waiting for confirmation from the Ukrainian side, but that there are 'signals' that the process of transferring the bodies will be postponed until next week. Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide who led the Russian delegation, said that Kyiv called a last-minute halt to an imminent swap.
Trump deploys California National Guard to LA to quell protests despite the Governor's objections
U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom after a second day of clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear. Confrontations broke out again near a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, where federal agents were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office nearby. Agents unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls, and protesters hurled rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. Smoke wafted from small piles of burning refuse in the streets. Tensions were high after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, including in LA's fashion district and at a Home Depot, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100.
Infosys gets huge relief on GST as DGGI closes ₹32,400-crore pre-show cause notice
In a major relief for Infosys, the Director General of GST Intelligence has closed pre-show cause notice proceedings against the company for financial years 2018-19 to 2021-22 involving a staggering ₹32,403 crore in GST dues. The latest move effectively ends nearly a year-long GST saga for India's second-largest IT services firm. The GST demand, in fact, exceeds Infosys's annual profits — Infosys's net profit for full FY25 stood at ₹26,713 crore — and its closure now is bound to come as a significant relief for the tech major.
Exclusion of Arunachal weightlifter from Commonwealth trials slammed
The Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) and other organisations in the State have slammed the exclusion of weightlifter Sambo Lapung, a consistent gold medal winner, from the trials for the Commonwealth Championships 2025. Lapung appealed to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) a few days ago, requesting a chance to participate in the trials scheduled for June 13-14, but his plea was rejected. In a letter to Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha on June 5, AOA secretary general Bamang Tago sought justice for Lapung, who was allegedly ignored to accommodate Harshit Sehrawat of Haryana. A copy of the letter was sent to Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Director General of the Sports Authority of India.