IMD Issues Monsoon Alerts for Heavy Rainfall Across India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather alerts as the southwest monsoon intensifies across India. The monsoon covered the entire country, including Delhi-NCR, on June 29, 2025, nine days ahead of its usual July 8 schedule. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast until July 5 in northwest, central, east, and northeast India, with orange alerts for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. Red and orange alerts are active in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where schools are closed due to landslide risks. Delhi faces a yellow alert today, June 30, with moderate rain expected. The IMD warns of potential flash floods and waterlogging in affected areas. Residents are advised to stay updated and take precautions. The early monsoon arrival supports agriculture but raises concerns about flooding.
Russia Launches Largest Airstrike on Ukraine, F-16 Pilot Killed
Russia unleashed its largest aerial assault on Ukraine overnight on June 28, 2025, targeting multiple regions with 537 weapons, including 477 drones and 60 missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 249 weapons were shot down, but the attack caused widespread damage. A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, supplied by Western allies, crashed while repelling the assault, killing pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko.
The pilot downed seven targets before his jet was hit and crashed while steering away from populated areas. Strikes hit cities like Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv, damaging infrastructure and injuring at least seven civilians. NATO scrambled warplanes in response, with Poland confirming no airspace violations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the US for more Patriot missile systems to bolster air defences.
PM Modi Congratulates Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard ISS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), via video call on June 28, 2025. Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 mission, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
He is the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Modi praised Shukla, noting his journey marks an “auspicious beginning” for India’s space ambitions, including the Gaganyaan mission. Shukla shared that he brought Indian delicacies like gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aam ras, enjoyed by his international crewmates. He began a stem cell experiment on June 28 to study muscle degradation in zero gravity, aiming to benefit elderly people on Earth. Shukla described India as “grand” from space, highlighting its borderless unity.
Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par Surpasses ₹100 Crore Mark
Aamir Khan’s latest film, Sitaare Zameen Par, crossed the ₹100 crore milestone at the Indian box office by its 10th day, June 29, 2025. The sports comedy-drama, directed by RS Prasanna, earned an estimated ₹120 crore net in India, with a worldwide gross of approximately ₹165 crore, according to Sacnilk. The film saw a remarkable 92% jump on its second Saturday, collecting over ₹18 crore, outperforming its opening day of ₹11.5 crore. It stars Aamir Khan as a basketball coach mentoring differently-abled individuals, alongside Genelia D’Souza and 10 debutant actors.
The movie, a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par (2007), has outpaced Aamir’s Ghajini and is now the fifth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2025. Despite competition from new releases like Maa and Kannappa, positive reviews continue to drive its success.
Indian Railways to Prepare Reservation Charts Eight Hours Before Departure
Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will prepare reservation charts eight hours before train departures, up from the current four hours. The Railway Board announced this change on June 29, 2025, to reduce uncertainty for waitlisted passengers. The new system aims to provide earlier confirmation of berths or seats, allowing passengers, especially those from remote areas or suburbs, more time to arrange alternative travel plans if tickets remain unconfirmed. For trains departing before 2 PM, charts will be prepared at 9 PM the previous evening.
The initiative, approved by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, will be implemented in phases to avoid disruptions. Additionally, a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS), set for launch by December 2025, will handle 1.5 lakh bookings per minute, enhancing efficiency. This change is expected to improve passenger convenience across India’s vast railway network.
Maharashtra Scraps Hindi Language Policy Amid Protests
The Maharashtra government has withdrawn two resolutions mandating Hindi as a third language in schools, following widespread protests. On June 29, 2025, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the cancellation of Government Resolutions (GRs) issued on April 16 and June 17, which had made Hindi compulsory for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.
The decision came after opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), labelled it a “Hindi imposition,” sparking planned protests on July 5. A new committee, led by educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav, will review the three-language policy under the National Education Policy 2020 and submit a report within three months. Fadnavis emphasised a Marathi-centric approach, denying political motives. The rollback followed criticism from Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who called it a victory for Marathi unity.
Paresh Rawal Rejoins Hera Pheri 3 After Resolving Dispute with Akshay Kumar
Paresh Rawal has confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3 as Babu Rao, weeks after exiting the film due to a dispute. The veteran actor announced on June 30, 2025, that he reconciled with co-star Akshay Kumar, repaying ₹11 lakh to Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, to resolve a breach of contract issue. Rawal had initially quit citing creative differences, prompting Kumar to file a legal notice claiming ₹25 crore in damages for unprofessional conduct. Rawal described Kumar as a longtime friend, stating both needed to “fine-tune” their professional approach. The comedy sequel, directed by Farhad Samji, also stars Suniel Shetty and is set for release in 2026. Filming resumed in Mumbai after Rawal’s return, with fans eagerly awaiting the trio’s iconic chemistry.
Ayush Shetty Clinches Maiden BWF Title at US Open 2025
Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty won his first BWF World Tour title at the US Open 2025, a Super 300 tournament, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 29, 2025. The 20-year-old, ranked world No. 34, defeated Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in a 47-minute men’s singles final. Shetty, seeded fourth, overcame top seed Chou Tien Chen in the semi-finals, winning 21-23, 21-15, 21-14, after earlier victories over Magnus Johannesen and Tharun Mannepalli. This marks India’s first men’s singles title abroad since Lakshya Sen’s 2023 Canada Open win. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma reached the women’s singles final, losing 21-11, 16-21, 21-10 to top seed Beiwen Zhang. Sharma, the youngest Indian to reach a BWF World Tour final, defeated Polina Buhrova in the semi-finals.
