India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir unexpectedly returned home on June 12, 2025, after his mother suffered a heart attack on June 11 and was admitted to an ICU in New Delhi . Gambhir had been in England preparing the national squad and overseeing India A’s intra-squad match ahead of the five-Test series against England. With his absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, alongside Sitanshu Kotak and Morne Morkel, stepped in to oversee training. Gambhir will remain by his mother’s side, planning to rejoin the team in time for the first Test in Leeds commencing June 20. (PC: ANI)

Following Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, ex‑U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, urging Iranian leaders to “make a deal before there is nothing left,” warning that planned future strikes could be even more brutal if diplomacy fails . Trump emphasized U.S. neutrality in the strikes while urging timely diplomatic resolution. Tehran responded by denouncing the bombings as a “declaration of war” and vowed a strong retaliatory response . Meanwhile, talks scheduled in Oman hang in the balance amid escalating regional tensions. (PC: AFP)

India’s rising shooting star Suruchi Inder Singh secured the gold medal in the women’s 10 m Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, marking her third consecutive World Cup gold in 2025 (following Buenos Aires and Lima) . Born in April 2006 in Haryana, Suruchi fired a clean final to top the podium, reinforcing her status as one of the world’s most promising young pistol shooters. Coached by Suresh Singh, she continues to build India’s strong showing in shooting and is expected to be a key contender in upcoming Olympics and qualification rounds. (PC: X)

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a massive air assault—Operation Rising Lion—targeting over 100 strategic sites in Iran, including nuclear facilities in Natanz, Tehran, and Isfahan. The strikes killed at least 78 people, including top Iranian military leaders Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, along with six nuclear scientists, and injured more than 300. In response, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed a “bitter and painful fate” for Israel. Iran officially labeled the attacks a “declaration of war,” escalating fears of a broader regional conflict. (PC: AP)

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has directed mandatory, pre-departure checks on fuel parameters and engine systems for all Air India Boeing 787‑8 and 787‑9 Dreamliners starting June 15, following the tragic AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 . These inspections cover cabin air compressors, electronic engine control systems, fuel-driven actuator and oil systems, hydraulic lines, and flight control systems. A “flight control inspection” must be added to transit checks, and power assurance tests are to be completed within two weeks, with findings submitted to the DGCA . The directive underscores heightened vigilance over GE‑powered Dreamliners in the aftermath of India’s deadliest aviation disaster. (PC: Reuters)

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 45-year-old British national, is the sole survivor of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people. Seated on 11A near an emergency exit, Ramesh said, “Even I can’t believe I survived.” The Boeing 787 crashed into a medical college complex shortly after takeoff. Ramesh recalled lights flickering before impact and crawling out through an opening in the fuselage. He was traveling with his brother, who perished in the crash. “There were bodies all around me,” he told HT. Authorities confirmed 169 Indians, 53 British, and others were on board. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Following a large-scale Israeli military operation targeting nuclear and military sites in Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning, declaring that Israel will face a “bitter and painful fate.” The strikes—reportedly involving over 200 aircraft and hitting more than 100 targets—killed top IRGC officials and several nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel. Khamenei condemned the attack as a grave crime, pledging an unlimited response. Global powers expressed alarm over the escalation, with the U.S. supporting Israel and others urging restraint. (PC: Reuters)

Former US President Donald Trump hailed Israel’s massive airstrike on Iran as “excellent,” warning there’s “a lot more to come.” On Friday morning, Israel launched strikes on around 100 Iranian sites, targeting nuclear facilities and military command centres. “They got hit hard, very hard,” Trump told ABC News. When asked if the US assisted, Trump declined to comment. The attack marks a major escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, raising fears of broader regional instability. Iranian officials have condemned the strikes, vowing retaliation. Global leaders have urged restraint as tensions threaten to spiral into a larger Middle East conflict. (PC: HT)

Rescue officials have retrieved one of Air India Flight 171’s black boxes—the flight data recorder—from the rooftop of a hostel building struck during the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad. Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying to London Gatwick, plunged seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, claiming over 240 lives onboard and on the ground—making it India’s deadliest aviation disaster in recent memory. The recovered device will be analyzed by India’s AAIB, assisted by UK and US investigators, to decode cockpit communications and system data, offering vital clues to the crash’s cause. Search efforts continue for the second recorder. (PC: Reuters)  

Israel renewed its strikes on Iran early on June 13, following a surprise overnight wave. State TV reported fresh explosions in Tabriz province, near the airport and military base, as missiles hit at least 10 locations killing a minimum of three people. Alarmingly, Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei, was injured in the early strikes. In response, Qatar condemned the raids, while France, the UK and Germany held urgent consultations with Iran. At least 20 top Iranian commanders have been killed, though Tehran claims only “cosmetic damage” at Natanz’s nuclear facility.