11 June 2025: ₹65 Cr Blackmail Case, RTE Funds Blocked, RCB Blamed for Stampede, Kerala COVID Spike
India Today Podcasts Desk
UPDATED: Jun 11, 2025 19:54 IST
On News at 7 this 11th June, Prateek Lidhoo brings you the day's most crucial headlines. The Madras High Court slammed the Centre for stalling RTE funds over NEP disagreements with Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, the High Court is set to rule on interim bail pleas in the RCB stampede case, where 11 people died. Meanwhile in Noida, two journalists were arrested in a shocking ₹65 crore blackmail racket. Union Minister Khattar has proposed a nationwide AC temperature regulation between 20–28°C to combat climate change. And finally, Kerala sees a fresh COVID-19 surge with over 170 cases and new Omicron sub-variants, sparking renewed health warnings. Tune in for India's top stories, every evening at 7PM.
Produced by Prateek Lidhoo
Sound mix by Aman Pal
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Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tagore house attack: Urge B'desh to deliver justice, Didi writes to Modi
1 2 Kolkata: Reacting sharply to the vandalism of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore 's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Sirajganj, CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to PM Narendra Modi, urging him to take up the matter with Bangladesh and urge the neighbour to "to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act. " Stressing that Tagore's fame was not only limited to Bengal but extended to the entire world, Banerjee wrote, "Although untold damage is already done, a strong international protest would at least deter any future attack on monuments of cultural legacies that have withstood all tests of time." The CM added, "What is vandalised is not a mere house, but a towering fountain of creativity in our subcontinent." "For people of Bengal, this attack is an onslaught on the commonly held legacy of Tagore," said Banerjee, adding that the legacy of the poet's creations and his contributions to Bengali culture had been targeted by this act of vandalism. Stressing the importance of the Sirajganj house, Banerjee said that Tagore went there frequently and many of his finest works had been conceived or written there. The poet's creativity had close links to his association with this ancestral estate, she said. The CM wrote, "The incident is not only shocking but also unfortunate for our national pride and cultural legacy. It is a vile attack on our sensibilities, our cherished treasures and our common nostalgia for a past when Tagore could transcend all thresholds in pursuit of his immortal creations." She also wrote on how Tagore had raised his voice against the Partition of Bengal. Earlier, Trinamool Congress urged Centre to act on the issue, posting on X: "Gurudev is a symbol of Bengal's cultural heritage and a global icon of literature and humanism. Such acts of disrespect are an affront to every Bengali's identity and pride. We urge Central Govt to take cognisance of this grave incident and initiate bilateral dialogue to ensure that the concerned authorities in Bangladesh act swiftly and bring the culprits to justice. Our icons are not collateral damage for mob fury." Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X: "This shameful and utterly disgraceful act of destruction targeted a site that embodies Bengal's cultural soul and Tagore's universal message of humanity. Windows shattered, furniture ruined, and a Global Icon's memory insulted." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Mint
21 minutes ago
- Mint
Automakers urge Indian govt for diplomatic outreach to China for rare earths
New Delhi/Mumbai: Having failed to secure a meeting with China's commerce ministry despite receiving visas, Indian automakers have now sought the central government's intervention, according to two industry executives aware of the matter. The issue: China has paused exports to India of rare earth minerals, which are key to electric vehicle (EV) production, and are also not approving Indian companies' fresh applications for their export. If the minerals don't start showing up on Indian shores soon, it is likely to hit the auto industry hard, especially EVs. Indian EV makers have now urged the Centre to engage Beijing through diplomatic channels, mirroring American efforts. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the US and China have struck a 'deal' that will see China resume supply of magnets and rare earths to the US. 'An escalation from Indian authorities might be required," said one of the executives cited above on condition of anonymity. 'What would we do with the visa if there is no meeting fixed?" An appointment with China's ministry of commerce is key, since it is responsible for the restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and magnets. The two executives cited above said industry representatives met commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday before he left for Switzerland. They also made a presentation on Tuesday to senior officials at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), to request them for help in securing an appointment with the Chinese. The presentation, a copy of whichMinthas seen, notes that the industry delegation will request Chinese authorities to expedite licences for exporters of rare earth magnets to India. A footnote in the presentation also noted that India's ministry of commerce and industry was engaging with the Indian embassy in China to facilitate the meeting. Also read | Trump says China deal 'done'; Beijing will supply 'magnets, rare earths' The auto industry was represented at these meetings by the Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM), Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), and executives from Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW MG Motor India, Maruti Suzuki, and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), among others. Queries emailed to these organisations, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal's office, and the DGFT remained unanswered till press time. Support assured To be sure, at the meetings, the Indian leadership assured support to the auto industry, including assistance in developing a local rare earth production base. GMDC has been involved in rare earth exploration in India for some time now, and it was mooted to use the company's expertise. Other companies already present in the trade also offered to ramp up their production. However, there was no mention of a direct outreach from the political leadership to China at these meetings, the two sources said. 'For India, while we may have a problem with permanent magnets in the short run, we are already engaged with industry and with our startup ecosystem to find solutions," Goyal toldThe Economic Timesin an interview published on Thursday. 'And I assure you that we are solving this problem." Also read | Maruti Suzuki pulls back on EV push amid rare earths crisis During the consultations, automakers also cited examples of authorities from the west reaching out to Chinese officials, including US President Donald Trump and European Union trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, the first executive cited above said. To be sure, apart from the US and China reaching an agreement on a trade framework that may help in sorting the matter, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Sunday that it is willing to fast-track applications of European Union firms. Solutions to be political Manoj Kewalramani, the chair for Indo-Pacific Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution, a public policy school in Bengaluru, agreed that the solution to the current situation will be achieved through political means, especially considering the history between the two countries. 'In trade negotiations like these, both sides have in mind the question: How much is the situation hurting the other side politically?" he said. While China is holding the rare earth card, India also has leverage in terms of its high trade deficit with the Middle Kingdom. India's trade deficit with China widened to a record in FY25, just a whisker below $100 billion, as per data from the commerce ministry. 'The US deal with China could quicken the process of reaching a solution soon," Kewalramani said. Also read | Why are rare earths important for Chinese economy? Unless a quick resolution to the crisis is reached, automakers would be forced to curtail production, the industry sources said. Maruti Suzuki, the latest entrant in India's EV market, slashed production targets for e-Vitara, its first electric vehicle, by two-thirds because of the rare earth magnet shortages,Reutersreported on Tuesday. When contacted, a spokesperson for Maruti Suzuki said that while the situation was uncertain, so far there was no disruption to its operations due to the rare earth crisis. Also read | China's rare earths aren't as rare as you think
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Official work in Hindi, says Haryana education min — ‘I myself do not know English'
Gurgaon: Haryana education minister Mahipal Dhanda has directed his department to conduct all official work in Hindi. "I myself do not know English, and 90% of the people in our state are far from (understanding) English. Therefore, so that people can understand official work, I have ordered all work in the education department to be done in Hindi," the minister said at a press conference in Kurukshetra on Thursday. The announcement was made days after the directorate of higher education issued an order on June 10, saying all official correspondence "must henceforth be presented in Hindi". It also specified that any communication to the education minister and the additional chief secretary (education) should be in Hindi as well. Until now, the state education department had the option to use both Hindi and English. Calling Hindi the "rastrabhasha (national language)", Dhanda said that this policy is not "anti-English". "We are not enemies of English... We are not in favour of stopping English. Knowledge of other languages is also necessary. English-medium schools are still being opened in the state. For me, language is mainly to acquire knowledge, rather than becoming a barrier in practical work," the minister said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The Indian Constitution does not name any "national language", and both Hindi and English are recognised as "official languages". Dhanda on Wednesday pointed out that the policy is only for official communication and it is not related to academics. "What's the problem in this (policy)? It's a mode of communication, do it in any language... Hindi is better understood by people," a senior education department official in Panchkula said. Dushyant Thakran, a school teacher in Gurgaon, questioned if the policy would make any difference. "Schools are already focused on teaching children English," he said. Before this, controversy has erupted on the implementation of central govt's NEP, which pushes for a "three-language formula". Tamil Nadu govt has accused the Centre of trying to impose Hindi on the state, though the BJP govt has denied the charge as an unnecessary controversy. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
