Evening news wrap: PM Modi interacts with Shubhanshu Shukla; Parag Jain appointed new R&AW chief; and more
A suicide bombing by the Pakistani Taliban kills 16 soldiers in North Waziristan. Prime Minister Modi makes a veiled reference to
Operation Sindoor
during a spiritual event, drawing strong audience reactions.
Light rain brings relief to Delhi-NCR under an orange alert.
PM Modi
also interacted with Indian astronaut
Shubhanshu Shukla
. Meanwhile, Parag Jain is appointed the new chief of R&AW, bringing two decades of intelligence experience to the role.
PM Modi interacts with Astronaut Shubhanshu aboard ISS
In a historic interaction, Prime Minister Modi connected with Shubhanshu Shukla, India's space emissary aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The call underscored India's growing footprint in space exploration and private-public collaboration in orbital missions.
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16 soldiers killed in Taliban suicide attack in Pakistan
At least 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed and over two dozen others injured — including civilians — in a suicide bombing on Saturday. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack that targeted a military convoy in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to local officials and police speaking to AFP, a vehicle laden with explosives rammed into the convoy. The death toll rose from 13 to 16 as more details emerged.
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PM Modi hints at Operation Sindoor, sparks cheers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stirred excitement at a spiritual gathering in Vigyan Bhawan when he indirectly referenced Operation Sindoor, drawing loud applause. The phrase 'jo humein chhedega,' used in his speech, sparked "Modi, Modi" chants from the audience — a nod to India's recent military operations that have captured public imagination.
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Light rain brings relief to Delhi-NCR
Light to moderate rain brought much-needed relief to parts of Delhi-NCR on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert, warning of thunderstorms and wind speeds of 30–50 km/h. Showers were recorded across east, west, south.
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Parag Jain appointed new R&AW chief
The Centre on Saturday appointed Parag Jain as the next chief of the
Research and Analysis Wing
(R\&AW). A 1989-batch IPS officer from the Punjab cadre, Jain has served in key covert roles and is known for his involvement in Operation Sindoor. He currently heads R\&AW's Aviation Research Centre (ARC) and brings over 20 years of intelligence experience. He will officially take charge on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha.
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Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘800 kg of explosives': How suicide blast hit military convoy in Pakistan's North Waziristan, killing 14 soldiers
At least 14 soldiers were killed and 25 others, including civilians, injured in a suicide car bombing in northwest Pakistan's North Waziristan district on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest recent attacks in the region. At least 14 soldiers killed in suicide car bombing in Pakistan's North Waziristan.(Representational image/AFP File) The blast struck a military vehicle around lunchtime in Khadi village, despite a curfew that had been imposed in the area to facilitate the movement of security forces. An initial probe found that approximately 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of explosives were used in the bombing, causing severe damage to several nearby houses, according to the news agency Associated Press. Among the injured were 15 soldiers and 10 civilians, including children. However, Pakistan's military, in its official account, put the death toll at 13 soldiers and reported that three civilians had been wounded, the report added. Footage from the scene showed children with bandages lying near shattered glass and debris inside damaged structures. Pakistani Taliban faction Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claims responsibility The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the attack occurred, is home to several banned militant organisations that frequently target security personnel. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Kabul of offering safe haven to these groups, a charge Afghanistan denies. Earlier this year, security analyst Abdullah Khan called the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction as 'more lethal' than the Pakistani Taliban, noting its ongoing rivalry with the main group. Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, had also warned of a resurgence in activity by groups such as Lashkar-e-Islam, which operates out of the region and has contributed to rising militant violence in the country. Earlier in December 2023, at least 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed after militants linked to a Pakistani Taliban affiliate rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security forces' post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province With AP inputs
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
What Did PM Modi And Shubhanshu Shukla Talk About? From 16 Sunrise And Sunset To Astronaut Strapping His Feet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Astronaut, who made a new record by becoming the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS). The chat took place through video conferencing and was streamed live. Shubhanshu Shukla is currently on a space mission, orbiting 400 kilometres above the Earth. Here are the five things PM Modi and Shubhanshu Shukla talked about: 1- 'Hearts Of 140 Crore Indians…' The initial thing that PM Modi told the astronaut was, 'You may be far from us, but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you,' and congratulated Shubhanshu for raising the nation's pride globally. 'Your name itself carries the word 'Shubh' (auspicious). And your journey symbolises the direction in which 'New India' is heading,' he said. 2- PM Modi's Carrot Halwa Question The Prime Minister asked whether the carrot halwa that Shubhanshu Shukla carried from India had been shared with his fellow astronauts. The astronaut said that he brought along several traditional Indian delicacies to the space station, including carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and aam ras. He expressed his intent to offer his international colleagues a taste of India's rich culinary heritage. Shukla also informed PM Modi that the astronauts all sat together and enjoyed the dishes, which were very well received. 3- 16 Sunrise And Sunset The PM, stating that circumambulation, or 'parikrama', has been a revered Indian tradition for centuries, said that Shukla now had the rare honour of performing 'parikrama' of Mother Earth herself. PM Modi inquired which part of the Earth Shubhanshu might be orbiting over at that moment. Responding to that, the astronaut said a short while earlier, he had seen through the window that they were passing over Hawaii. He shared that they complete 16 orbits a day, witnessing 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets from space, an experience that continues to amaze him. 4- Did Shubhanshu Shukla Strap His Feet? Highlighting that Shubhanshu Shukla was the first Indian to be on board the ISS, the Prime Minister enquired with him about the contrast between his rigorous preparation on Earth and the actual conditions aboard the space station. The astronaut shared that despite knowing about zero gravity and the nature of experiments in advance, the reality in orbit was entirely different He remarked that the human body becomes so accustomed to gravity that even the smallest tasks in microgravity become unexpectedly complex. He humorously noted that during the conversation, he had to strap his feet down—otherwise, he would just float away. 5- Experiments In Space PM Modi asked whether any of the space experiments being conducted would benefit the agriculture or health sector in the future. Shubhanshu Shukla shared that, for the first time, Indian scientists have designed seven unique experiments which he has taken to the space station. He informed that the first experiment, scheduled for that day, focuses on stem cells and explained that in the absence of gravity, the body experiences muscle loss, and the experiment seeks to test whether specific supplements can prevent or delay this loss. He highlighted that the outcome of this study could directly help elderly people on Earth who face age-related muscle degeneration. Shubhanshu further stated that another experiment focuses on the growth of microalgae. He remarked that though microalgae are small in size, they are highly nutritious. He noted that if methods can be developed to grow them in larger quantities based on the findings in space, it could significantly aid food security on Earth. He underlined that one major advantage of conducting experiments in space is the accelerated pace of biological processes, enabling researchers to obtain results much faster than on Earth. Axiom 4 Mission Axiom 4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS on Thursday. The Dragon spacecraft was ahead of schedule, autonomously docking at 4:05 pm (IST) to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module. As per ANI, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary lifted off at Noon IST on June 25, on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Axiom-4 team will remain aboard the ISS for up to 14 days, engaging in science experiments, outreach, and commercial work.
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First Post
41 minutes ago
- First Post
'Exhausted, hungry, scared': Over 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, says UN
Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year. read more More than 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Saturday, warning that mass expulsions risk destabilising Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian situation. Many of those returning have never lived under Taliban rule and now arrive to uncertain futures, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. The wave of repatriations follows separate campaigns by Tehran and Islamabad to crack down on undocumented migrants, which have primarily impacted Afghan nationals. While both governments insist they are targeting all foreigners residing illegally in their territories, the scale and speed of Afghan deportations has raised concerns among rights groups and the UN. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to UNHCR, over half of the returnees came from Iran after its government imposed a March 20 deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave voluntarily or face forced removal. Iran alone has expelled more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including recognised refugees and those in refugee-like conditions. Tensions linked to Iran's brief war with Israel have also contributed to the uptick in returns, with the single highest number recorded on June 26, when over 36,000 Afghans crossed the border back into their homeland in one day. 'Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,' said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half of Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. 'Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us (so) that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. 'Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace.' On Saturday, the Taliban said a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The officials pledged 'swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,' according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. With inputs from agencies
