Shubman Gill Appointed as India’s Test Captain Ahead of England Tour
Shubman Gill has been officially named India’s new Test cricket captain for the upcoming five‑match series against England, beginning on 20 June 2025.
Gill, aged 25, succeeds Rohit Sharma following his retirement from red-ball cricket. With 1,893 Test runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries in 32 matches, Gill will now bat at number four, filling Virat Kohli’s former role. Rishabh Pant has been appointed vice‑captain.
Previously vice‑captain in white-ball formats and captain of Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Gill brings some leadership experience, including five first-class matches and a solid IPL record. BCCI sources report he was chosen over Jasprit Bumrah.
Gill addressed the honour and responsibility, stating that he regards it as a “tremendous honour” to lead in Tests . He emphasised his intention to lead with the bat and not let captaincy burden his game. He noted the importance of forging strong relationships with his teammates to maximise performance .
Gill emphasised that a Test series win in England carries immense significance, “bigger than winning the IPL”, as India has not secured a series victory on English soil since 2007.
India enters the series without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, marking a transitional phase . This tour is also India’s inaugural challenge in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Israel Launches Iran Strike, Hospital Hit in Major Escalation
Iran launched a missile strike on Israel overnight into 19 June 2025, marking a significant escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict. Among the targets was the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, where a Sejjil ballistic missile caused extensive damage and led to hundreds of casualties.
The strike involved a salvo of around 20 ballistic missiles, some carrying cluster munitions. The missile blast hit a hospital wing that had been partially evacuated in anticipation of strikes. As a result, medical staff reported a suspected chemical leak. Israeli officials confirmed the strike injured approximately 271 people, including 71 light injuries at the hospital, with several treated for shock among the staff and patients.
Iranian media released a statement suggesting the hospital was hit accidentally, asserting that the missile was aimed at a nearby military site and technology park. Meanwhile, Israeli leaders including Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned the attack as a war crime and held Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei responsible.
In response, Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the Arak heavy‑water reactor and uranium enrichment site at Natanz.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Faces Coalition Collapse After Leaked Phone Call
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under intense pressure after the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest member of her coalition, withdrew support following the leak of a phone call she held with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen .
In the leaked 15 June conversation, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and referred critically to a senior Thai military commander, describing him as wanting to “look cool”. This has stirred military and nationalist sentiment, prompting Bhumjaithai to resign in protest, citing damage to Thailand’s sovereignty .
Paetongtarn, 38, issued an apology and pledged unity, meeting with top security officials and pledging support for the armed forces . However, with her parliamentary majority now slim, the opposition People’s Party has called for snap elections, arguing the government lacks legitimacy.
The future remains uncertain. Parliament may seek a new prime minister or call an early election. Paetongtarn’s leadership hangs in the balance amid growing political turmoil.
Massive Data Breach Exposes 16 Billion Passwords
A vast data breach has emerged, revealing approximately 16 billion passwords linked to major platforms including Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, Telegram and government services.
Cybersecurity experts at Cybernews uncovered the breach, which spans 30 separate datasets. Each contains tens of millions to over 3.5 billion login records. Most appear to be freshly stolen and include usernames, passwords, URLs and login tokens gathered by “infostealer” malware .
The exposed credentials are believed to create a “blueprint for mass exploitation”. Though it is unclear how many users are affected, the compromised data puts individuals at heightened risk of phishing, identity theft and account takeovers .
Authorities including Google and the FBI have urged users to reset passwords immediately, activate two‑factor authentication, and avoid reusing passwords across services. Experts also recommend using password managers and adopting passkeys where possible to prevent future compromises.
Users are advised to remain vigilant and verify account activity regularly.
Aamir Khan’s “Sitaare Zameen Par” Opens to ₹12 Crore on Day 1
Aamir Khan is back on the big screen with his sports-comedy drama Sitaare Zameen Par, which has earned an estimated ₹12 crore on its opening day in India.
Directed by R. S. Prasanna, the film is a thematic successor to Taare Zameen Par and features Aamir alongside Genelia Deshmukh. It follows a former basketball coach tasked with training a team of adults with disabilities. The movie releases in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu across over 3,000 screens.
Trade analysts predict a modest first-day haul of between ₹8–10 crore. However, early excitement and fan anticipation contributed to the stronger-than-expected ₹12 crore opening . The film’s performance is expected to grow through word-of-mouth in the coming days.
Housefull 5, released two weeks earlier, may face stiff competition as Sitaare Zameen Par continues its run. The real momentum will be visible by the weekend, when audience response becomes clearer.
Aeroflex Industries Shares Surge 4% on Capacity Boost and Technical Momentum
Shares of Aeroflex Industries rose by approximately 4% today, propelled by enhanced production capacity and firm technical indicators.
The stock climbed from around ₹206 to ₹214 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The rally followed the commencement of commercial production at a newly expanded unit and the launch of a specialised metal bellows product. Alongside this, the company announced a capacity increase in its stainless‑steel hose and composite hose segments, further bolstering investor sentiment.
Heavy trading volumes amplified the move upwards. Noted small‑cap investor Ashish Kacholia recently increased his stake, lending confidence to market participants. Analysts highlighted positive technical momentum and strong market interest as key catalysts for the stock’s performance.
Aeroflex – which manufactures flexible flow solutions using stainless steel – has also seen its stock outperform metal indices. Its sustained operational growth underscores confidence in its expansion trajectory and product diversification strategy.
