1 India’s Maya Rajeswaran won the women’s singles title at the ITF J200 Gladbach tennis tournament in Germany
India’s Maya Rajeswaran has won the women’s singles title at the ITF J200 Gladbach Tennis Tournament in Germany . 16-year-old Maya defeated Switzerland’s Nolia Manta 6-2, 6-4 in the final. This is Maya’s first ITF junior title in Europe. Earlier in the semi-finals, she defeated France’s Daphne Petsy Pericard 6-2, 6-1. This is Maya’s seventh ITF junior title overall.
2 Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to release compilations of President’s speeches titled “Wings to Our Hopes – Volume II” and “Aashaon Ki Udaan – Volume 2” on 23rd June
” Wings to Our Hopes – Volume 2 ” is a carefully compiled collection of 51 speeches that take a look at President Murmu ‘s vision, philosophy and priorities during her second year in office (August 2023 – July 2024) . Compiled by Rashtrapati Bhavan and published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting , the book follows its predecessor in chronicling the evolving discourse on governance, inclusiveness and national aspirations. The second volume of the President’s speeches, both in Hindi and English and in e-version will be released by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh at a function to be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex on June 23.
3 Indian Navy set to induct latest multi-purpose destroyer stealth frigate warship Tamal into its fleet in Russia
The Indian Navy is all set to launch its latest stealth frigate stealth destroyer and multi-role stealth frigate in Kaliningrad, Russia on July 1, 2025. VADM Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command will preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Several high-level government and defence officials from India and Russia will also be present on the momentous occasion. Known as ” Tamal “, the warship is the eighth stealth frigate in the series of Krivak class frigates acquired from Russia in the last two decades . The Tamal ship is the second in the Tushil class , an upgraded version of its predecessors Talwar and Teg class stealth frigates. Both these classes have three warships each. As part of the comprehensive contract for the Tushil class, India is also building two important warships named Triput class at its Goa Shipyard Limited with technology transfer and design assistance from the Russian side. Upon completion of construction of this series of ships, the Indian Navy will operate ten warships in four different classes with similar capabilities and equipment, and commonality in weapons and sensors. Tamal has been built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia and is the last warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy from foreign sources, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programmes of the Government of India. The ship is 26% indigenously built, including the BrahMos, a long-range cruise missile for both sea and land targets. The warship has been named Tamal, which symbolizes the mythical sword used by Indra, the king of gods, for war. The mascot of the ship is inspired by the similarity between the immortal bear king ‘Jambavan’ of Indian mythology and the Russian national animal – the Eurasian brown bear. The crew members of this destroyer take great pride in collectively calling themselves ‘The Great Bears’.
4 US carried out air strikes on Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites
US President Donald Trump has said that the US has attacked nuclear sites in Iran at Fardo, Natanz and Isfahan . The entire payload of bombs was dropped on the main nuclear center Fardo. Senior officials of the Defense Department have confirmed that the GBU-57A Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a “bunker buster” bomb, was used in this attack. The President said that Iran should now agree to end the war. He said that it is now time for peace. The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator has been designed by Boeing and manufactured by the US Air Force. It is said to be the most powerful non-nuclear bomb the US Air Force has. This bomb, which finds its target with GPS, is designed to destroy enemy bunkers under the ground . Work on the design of the bomb began in the early 2000s. Initially, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin formed a joint venture but later abandoned the project following budget constraints and technical difficulties. The project was restarted under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Initial testing began in 2004 after DTRA joined hands with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator weighs about 14,000 kilograms – the same as two African elephants combined. It is about 20.5 feet long and has a diameter of 31.5 inches . Its warhead, a mix of AFX-757 and PBXN-114 explosives , weighs about 2,500 kilograms . It is made of a special high-performance steel alloy. Estimates about the bomb’s penetration capabilities vary. Some reports say the MOP can reportedly penetrate 200 feet of concrete. Let us tell you that the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is currently the only aircraft in the US fleet that can carry and deploy MOPs. All B-2s can carry two MOPs.
5 Iran’s parliament approves closing the Strait of Hormuz, a major waterway for oil supplies, after US attacks on its nuclear installations
Iran ‘s parliament has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz , a key route for oil shipments, following the US bombing of its three nuclear plants . The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important choke points , through which a fifth of global oil and a third of the world’s liquefied natural gas supplies pass. Until now, most experts agreed that Iran would not close the strait, but the US action has changed that. The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean . The narrow channel, about 33 km wide at its narrowest point, separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula. Shipping lanes in the waterway have narrowed to three kilometres in each direction, making them vulnerable to attack. The Iranian parliament has now decided to close the waterway.
6 HAL bags ₹511 crore deal to manufacture and commercialise SSLV launches
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has secured a ₹511 crore Technology Transfer (ToT) agreement from ISRO for manufacturing and commercialisation of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) . The announcement was made public by IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) after a successful tender process. This is a major step towards commercial expansion in India’s space sector. SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle designed to send satellites weighing up to 500 kg into low Earth orbit (LEO). The aim is to enable private sector participation and create a robust commercial launch ecosystem in India. ISRO will now focus more on research and development (R&D), while manufacturing and operation of regular launch vehicles is being handed over to the industry.
7 Bajaj Allianz launches state-specific health insurance plans
Bajaj Allianz ‘s launch of state-wise health insurance plans on 20 June 2025 represents a significant innovation in India’s health insurance sector. There is a huge variation in healthcare infrastructure, cost of treatment and type of diseases across different states in India. This initiative meets the demand for affordable and need-based insurance plans, especially for those who have not yet got insurance as the premiums are high. Traditionally, health insurance in India was based on a ” zone-based premium model ” (metro, tier I/II/III cities). Bajaj Allianz’s state-based pricing takes a more nuanced, data-driven approach. This initiative can set a new standard in the field of micro-insurance and inclusive health finance.
In Punjab , Dr. B.R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali has achieved a new Asia Book of Records title for the largest yoga session by health professionals on the occasion of 11th International Yoga Day 2025. The event was attended by 3003 participants including doctors, MBBS students, nursing students, paramedics and health professionals. Last year, PGI, Chandigarh had won the Asia Book of Records title with the participation of 1924 health workers .
9 British Navy’s F-35 fighter jet stuck in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
British Royal Navy ‘s F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on 14 June 2025 due to fuel shortage and adverse weather . Monsoon has been activated in Kerala and heavy rains are lashing the state and conditions in the Arabian Sea have become adverse. The F-35B Lightning II took off from the United Kingdom ‘s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier , which is stationed in the Arabian Sea about 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. HMS Prince of Wales is part of the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group, which comprises HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond, which participated in Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Indian Navy in the North Arabian Sea on 9 and 10 June 2025. The F-35 is a single-engine stealth fighter aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a United States-based company. It is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft that will replace the US Air Force’s F-16 and A-10, the US Navy’s F/A-18, the US Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18, and the UK’s Harrier GR7 and Sea Harrier.
10 NPCI launches new facility of PAN-Bank account linking on Income Tax portal
Taking a significant step towards improving the efficiency and accuracy of tax-related processes in India , the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new digital solution that enables real-time verification of PAN and bank account through an advanced API (application programming interface) . The initiative is aimed at benefiting both taxpayers and government departments by simplifying and speeding up financial verification processes on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
11 The Thunder won the franchise’s first NBA title in Oklahoma City
On June 22, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103–91 in a decisive Game 7 to win their first NBA title , their first championship since moving to Oklahoma from Seattle in 2008. The win was a historic achievement not only for the team, but also for star player and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named Finals MVP. The match was emotionally charged when Indiana’s key player Tyrese Haliburton was ruled out early with an Achilles injury.