The NTA has officially released the NEET‑UG 2025 final answer key and results on June 14, for the exam held on May 4, with over 22.7 lakh registrants and 20.8 lakh takers. The cut‑off percentile dropped notably: General/EWS from 720‑162 in 2024 to 686‑144 in 2025; OBC/SC/ST and PwBD cut‑off now 143‑113, while OBC‑PwD/SC‑PwD/ST‑PwD are at 126‑113. Rajasthan’s Mahesh Kumar secured AIR 1 (99.9999547 percentile), followed by Utkarsh Awadhiya (AIR 2) and Krishang Joshi (AIR 3). Over 12.36 lakh candidates qualified and counselling is expected to begin in late June or July. (Hindustan Times)

India’s four-day intra-squad practice match against India A in Beckenham continues on Day 2, serving as crucial preparation ahead of the five‑Test England tour starting June 20. Captain Shubman Gill, in his first red-ball leadership role, impressed with a fluent half‑century on Day 1, alongside KL Rahul’s fifty and Shardul Thakur’s wicket-taking spell. Gill urged intensity in fielding and discipline in batting and bowling units. Tailenders Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh took batting drills, emphasising depth. Yashasvi Jaiswal remains under scrutiny after a modest start. Meanwhile, coach Gautam Gambhir returned to India due to a family emergency. (PC: X/BCCI)

Two Minnesota Democrats were targeted overnight on June 14, 2025, by a gunman impersonating a police officer. State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in Brooklyn Park, while State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded at their Champlin home and are now recovering post‑surgery. The suspect, described as a white male wearing police gear, fled after exchanging fire with arriving officers. A shelter‑in‑place alert and a statewide manhunt are underway, involving local, state, and federal agencies. Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar condemned it as targeted political violence. The public has been urged to verify any law enforcement before opening doors. (PC: Everything GP & X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his first foreign trip since Operation Sindoor, traveling to Cyprus (June 15–16), Canada for the G7 Summit in Kananaskis (June 16–17), and Croatia (June 18), marking India’s first PM visits in decades (Cyprus) or ever (Croatia). In Cyprus, Modi will hold talks with President Christodoulides and engage business leaders to deepen India‑EU ties, diplomacy, and security cooperation . At the G7, he’ll attend his sixth consecutive Summit to discuss global issues like energy, AI‑energy nexus and quantum, and reset bilateral ties with Canada’s PM Carney. In Croatia, bilateral dialogues will further India‑EU engagement. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar couldn’t contain his excitement as South Africa triumphed over India in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. Celebrating the historic win, Tendulkar posted on social media with sheer joy. Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh also joined the celebration, humorously addressing Australia, saying, “It’s okay to let go of one trophy.” The victory marks a significant moment in South African cricket history, being their maiden WTC title. The cricket fraternity, fans, and former players flooded social media with congratulatory messages, praising the team’s grit and determination. The win also sparked renewed enthusiasm for the future of Test cricket globally. (PC: Jagran Josh, Facebook & Hindustan Times)

India and China have agreed to accelerate the resumption of direct flights and bolster diplomatic engagement, the foreign ministries announced on Friday. This decision follows a Thursday meeting in New Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, currently visiting India. In October, both nations reached a patrol agreement along the Himalayan frontier, easing long-standing tensions that began in 2020. Earlier this January, they initiated discussions to resolve trade and economic issues, a move expected to revitalise aviation and bilateral ties. (PC: News18 & Getty Images)

South Africa’s long-awaited ICC breakthrough came at Lord’s on June 14, 2025, as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, veterans of the 2014 U‑19 triumph, delivered a masterclass to lift the World Test Championship title—ending a 27‑year drought. Markram’s blazing 136 in the chase, built on a shaky first innings duck, anchored a five‑wicket victory, with Kyle Verreynne sealing the win. Rabada was equally dominant, claiming nine wickets across both innings and dismantling Australia’s batting lineup. Temba Bavuma’s gritty 66 and David Bedingham’s solid contributions steadied early nerves. The Proteas shed their “chokers” tag with a performance rich in talent, composure and youthful vision finally realised on cricket’s grandest stage. (PC: The Telegraph, The Times of India & India Times)

Air India Flight AI‑171, a Boeing 787‑8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after departing Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 270 including 241 onboard and approximately 29 on the ground. The cockpit transmitted chilling final words, “Thrust not achieved, falling, Mayday” indicating a critical loss of engine power or lift. It was the first fatal 787 crash since its 2011 debut. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau recovered the black box 28 hours later; the DGCA has ordered enhanced safety inspections of all Air India 787‑8/9 aircraft, focusing on fuel, engine, and hydraulics. Only one passenger, British‑Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived and is recovering. The probe, supported by US and UK agencies, continues. (PC: The Nightly & NDTV)

India has clarified that it did not participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) June 14 statement condemning Israeli airstrikes on Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India’s consistent call, first articulated on June 13 for diplomacy and dialogue to de‑escalate the conflict. While the SCO, led by China and including Russia and Pakistan, issued a strong rebuke of Israeli actions, India maintained its neutrality, expressing concern over the escalation but deliberately distancing itself from the group’s collective stance. This move underscores India’s diplomatic balancing act, avoiding alignment with any escalatory condemnations while urging restraint and peaceful resolution. (PC: AP News & The New York Times)

On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171) crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, tragically killing at least 270 people, including students in a nearby hostel, the deadliest air disaster in a decade. CCTV footage shows the flight briefly climbing with its landing gear extended and no visible engine fire before descending and exploding into a fireball 33 seconds after departure. Investigators are probing engine thrust anomalies, flap malfunctions, and prolonged gear deployment; maintenance lapses are possible, while bird strike seems unlikely. The flight data recorder has been recovered; the cockpit voice recorder remains missing. India’s regulator has mandated additional checks on all Boeing 787‑8/9s, focusing on GEnx engines and takeoff parameters. (PC: CNN, CNBC, Reuters & The Economic Times)