Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom‑4 Launch Delayed Again After LOx Leak Discovered
LOx leak spotted during post‑static fire checks halts Falcon 9 liftoff; new date pending repairs and range clearance.
SpaceX has postponed the Axiom‑4 mission, carrying India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, after detecting a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in the Falcon 9 rocket. The anomaly emerged during post‑static fire booster inspections, prompting engineers to halt the scheduled liftoff.
The launch had previously faced delays from 8 June to 10 June due to weather, and again to 11 June as the LOx leak was identified. Now, SpaceX has postponed liftoff indefinitely until repairs are completed and range safety approval is secured.
The Axiom‑4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, alongside mission specialists Tibor Kapu (Hungary), Sławosz Uznanski‑Wiśniewski (Poland), and Shukla. On a successful flight, Shukla will become the first Indian to reside aboard the ISS and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
SpaceX confirmed that a new launch date will be announced once repairs are finalised and range availability confirmed.
Banks Closed in Shimla and Gangtok for Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti Today
Regional observance leads to local bank closures on Wednesday, 11 June.
Banks in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) and Gangtok (Sikkim) are closed today, 11 June, in observance of Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti, coinciding with the Saga Dawa festival in Sikkim, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday calendar. These closures are regional in nature and do not affect banking operations elsewhere in India.
Monday’s government notification under the Negotiable Instruments Act confirms today as a holiday only in the two listed regions. Customers in Shimla and Sikkim are advised to postpone in‑branch banking or use digital platforms. All other centres, including Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, remain operational with full services.
Digital and ATM services remain available nationally. The RBI has issued a list of 12 bank holidays for June 2025, including weekends, regional festivals and full‑moon occasions.
Covid‑19 Cases in India Climb by Over 6,800 as Karnataka and Gujarat Lead; Three Deaths Reported
India has reported a significant daily rise in Covid‑19 cases today, with Karnataka and Gujarat recording the highest counts.
India logged 6,815 active Covid‑19 cases in the past 24 hours, alongside three fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Karnataka and Gujarat emerged as the states with the greatest burden of new infections. Gujarat recorded 223 fresh cases, raising its active case total to 1,227, and reported one death in Rajkot.
Kerala also saw a sharp increase, with 96 additional cases; its active caseload now stands at 2,053. Nationally, the rise has been attributed to new variants under monitoring, including the XFG Omicron‑descended strain, which is believed to be more transmissible but not associated with increased illness severity.
The three reported deaths occurred in Delhi, Kerala and Jharkhand. Health authorities are advocating continued vigilance, basic hygiene, and mask use in crowded or enclosed settings.No new restrictions have been announced at this stage.
US and China Agree Trade Framework Following London Talks
After days of tensions, negotiators in London establish a renewed framework to revive the Geneva trade truce.
Senior US and Chinese officials concluded two days of negotiations at Lancaster House in London, agreeing on a provisional framework to implement commitments made during the Geneva discussions and bilateral calls between President Trump and President Xi Jinping.
The framework emphasises lifting export restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets, described by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as a “fundamental” component of the agreement.
The talks addressed disagreements that had threatened to unravel the earlier Geneva accord, including China’s curbs on critical materials and US export limitations. Both sides agreed to present the framework to Presidents Trump and Xi for approval.
Topics discussed but not finalised include semiconductors, student visa policies, and fentanyl precursor controls. A US appeals court also confirmed continuation of presidential tariffs during litigation. With approximately 60 days remaining in the Geneva truce, negotiators emphasised the need for swift follow‑up talks.
Los Angeles Mayor Imposes Overnight Curfew Amid Escalating Protests
Mayor Karen Bass declares local emergency as protests over ICE raids intensify in downtown LA.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced an overnight curfew in a roughly one‑square‑mile area of downtown LA, effective from 8 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday, following several consecutive nights of unrest, including vandalism and looting linked to anti‑ICE demonstrations. The curfew seeks to restore order amid growing tensions.
The unrest began after federal immigration enforcement actions triggered widespread protests. Demonstrators have clashed with law enforcement, blocked traffic, and engaged in vandalism, prompting the deployment of approximately 2,100 National Guard personnel and 700 US Marines to protect federal buildings. Over 150 arrests have been made since Saturday, with illegal activities occurring mainly during late‑night hours.
Mayor Bass stated she has declared a local emergency to curb the vandalism and looting. Curfew orders do not apply to residents, workers, or the homeless within the restricted zone. City authorities are monitoring compliance and urging non‑residents to avoid the area.
Google Launches Voluntary Buyout Scheme Amid Restructuring
Tech giant offers voluntary exit to US staff, including those in core divisions, alongside hybrid work policy.
Google has introduced a voluntary exit programme for its US-based employees, spanning core divisions such as Knowledge & Information (Search, Ads, Commerce), central engineering, marketing, research and communications. This move forms part of broader cost-cutting and workforce realignment following previous large-scale layoffs.
Eligible staff may receive a minimum of 14 weeks’ salary in severance, plus one additional week per year of service, with a decision window open until early July. A memo from K&I head Nick Fox emphasised that the offer is designed for those “not aligned with our strategy or struggling to meet expectations”.
Simultaneously, Google is tightening its return‑to‑office stance. Employees living within 50 miles of an office must adhere to a hybrid schedule, returning on-site at least three days a week.
The company’s spokesperson clarified that the programme supports Google’s evolving strategic objectives, while the finance chief aims to redirect resources towards AI infrastructure and innovation.
Apple Did Not Fire Designer Behind ‘Liquid Glass’ at WWDC
A viral social media claim suggests that Apple CEO Tim Cook dismissed the designer of the new Liquid Glass UI at WWDC.
Apple has not confirmed the firing of Jon Yongfook, the individual claiming to be the lead designer behind iOS 26’s new ‘Liquid Glass’ interface. In posts on X, Yongfook stated that he and his team were let go after 18 months of work on Gaussian blur effects. He also claimed to be seeking new opportunities in UI design at Samsung.
However, there is no record of Yongfook’s employment at Apple. Multiple social media users and reports indicate that he fabricated this role. One outlet noted that he “falsely claimed to be an Apple employee in a public post on X”.Apple has made no official announcement regarding any staff changes related to the Liquid Glass design. The widespread claim appears to be a misleading viral post, not based on verifiable fact.
