Gorakhpur Link Expressway Commissioned; Comprehensive Safety Fleet Rolled Out
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the 91.35 km Gorakhpur Link Expressway on 20 June 2025. Developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, the four‑lane road connects Jaitpur (Gorakhpur) to Salarpur (Azamgarh), seamlessly linking to the Purvanchal Expressway.
The project, costing approximately ₹7,283 crore, aims to significantly shorten travel time to Lucknow, Agra and Delhi. It serves the districts of Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ambedkar Nagar and Sant Kabir Nagar, enhancing regional transport and economic integration.
Alongside the opening, a dedicated safety fleet was flagged off. This comprises SUVs, ambulances stationed every 45 km, cranes, hydra and camper vehicles, all staffed by trained ex‑servicemen in eight‑hour shifts. The road also features an Advanced Traffic Management System, CCTV, speed cameras and number‑plate recognition—to monitor and enforce safe driving.
The expressway further includes two toll plazas, three ramp plazas, seven flyovers, 34 bridges and numerous underpasses and culverts, strengthening infrastructure resilience.
Veteran Pujara Joins Indian Nets Ahead of England Test Series
Cheteshwar Pujara made a surprise appearance at India’s official net session in Leeds on 20 June 2025, ahead of the opening Test against England. His presence offered a notable boost to the squad’s morale during preparations.
Although Pujara retired from Test cricket earlier this year, the former top-order batter joined the team at Headingley, engaging in batting drills and sharing technical tips with the players. The session forms part of Team India’s final warm-up before the series opener on 25 June. His visit coincides with the beginning of a new era, as India enters the five-match Test series under the leadership of newly appointed captain Shubman Gill.
Pujara’s role offered an unexpected mentorship presence, especially valuable for younger players adjusting to English conditions. The squad, including key members like Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, is focussing on acclimatisation and fine-tuning skills ahead of the five Tests forming the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Virat Kohli Absent from England Tests; Will Attend as Spectator
Former India Test captain Virat Kohli will not feature in India’s five-match Test series against England, confirming his retirement from the longest format. However, sources indicate he plans to attend certain matches as a spectator during the tour starting on 20 June 2025.
Kohli announced his decision to step away from Test cricket in May, concluding a 14-year career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches and 30 centuries, the fourth-highest by an Indian. His official retirement follows that of Rohit Sharma, marking a clear generational shift in the Test squad.
Despite his on-field absence, Kohli’s presence at the grounds is expected to provide moral support and motivation to the team. England’s squad, led by Ben Stokes, acknowledge the challenge of facing India even without its veteran stars. The opener begins at Headingley on 20 June, kicking off a crucial series under the new Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
Gorakhpur–Patliputra Mini Vande Bharat Express Flagged Off
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gorakhpur–Patliputra Mini Vande Bharat Express on 20 June 2025 via videoconference from Siwan. The new semi‑high‑speed train enhances connectivity between Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The eight‑coach express covers approximately 384 km in just over seven hours, calling at eight stations including Muzaffarpur, Bettiah and Narkatiaganj. It offers 1,130 seats across AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes, with four emergency windows per coach. Equipped with Wi‑Fi, infotainment systems, electric outlets and on‑board catering, the train also features the Kavach safety system and rotatable airline‑style seats.
Operations will run six days a week under North Eastern Railways, with train numbers 26501/26502. The service nearly halves travel time compared to existing conventional trains and strengthens regional linkage between Gorakhpur Junction and Patliputra Junction.
Passengers can book tickets as soon as the Railway Board finalises fare details and confirmed stoppages.
Tropical Storm Erick Strikes Southern Mexico with Devastating Force
Tropical Storm Erick made landfall near Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, on 19 June, following a period as a major Category 4 hurricane over the Pacific. The storm brought sustained winds of approximately 205 km/h, with gusts reaching 250 km/h, before rapidly weakening as it moved inland.
Authorities reported torrential rain, up to 41 cm in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, resulting in widespread flash flooding and mudslides. Coastal areas experienced waves as high as 10 metres, and key tourist zones such as Huatulco and Acapulco saw street inundation and infrastructure damage. Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying over 18,000 personnel, activating shelters, and evacuating vulnerable residents and tourists.
Tragically, one child drowned in a swollen river near San Marcos. Rescue teams continue to clear debris, restore power and assess structural safety. Erick is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by Friday after moving through mountainous terrain. Authorities maintain flood warnings as cleanup continues.
Iran Opens Airspace to Aid Indian Student Evacuation
Iran has made a rare exception by opening its airspace exclusively for India, facilitating the evacuation of around 1,000 Indian students amid escalating regional tensions. This decision, announced on 20 June 2025, allowed direct repatriation flights from Iran to New Delhi.
The measure follows Iran’s earlier agreement to keep all land borders open, enabling safe passage via Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan after its airspace closure. The reopening marks a humanitarian gesture despite ongoing conflict with Israel.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating logistics, with students first moving overland and then flying to Delhi under Operation Sindhu. About 4,000 Indian nationals remain in Iran, half of whom are students. The government continues to urge registrations via its embassy, maintaining 24/7 helplines to ensure safety.
Perplexity AI Launches ‘Ask Perplexity’ Text‑to‑Video on X
Perplexity AI has rolled out a new text‑to‑video generation feature called “Ask Perplexity” on Elon Musk’s X platform, announced earlier today. The tool allows users to submit text prompts and receive short, AI‑generated videos in response.
Videos last around eight seconds and include both visual and audio elements. Following the announcement, X users immediately began tagging “Ask Perplexity” with creative prompts. Examples included generating clips of eating traditional snacks like samosas or pani puri.
“Ask Perplexity” integrates seamlessly with Perplexity’s conversational search engine, leveraging its understanding of language to interpret prompts and produce corresponding video content. The feature represents the company’s expansion from search and query-based responses into generative multimedia.
Perplexity AI, founded in 2022, operates as a real-time answer engine using models like GPT‑4.1 and Claude. It has steadily added features including image generation and AI assistants. The introduction on X showcases its commitment to social-media‑integrated AI tools.
