England vs. India’s prestigious Test series trophy, originally named in 2007 after Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor “Tiger” Pataudi, is now being rebranded as the Tendulkar–Anderson Trophy—honouring Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson. The ECB and BCCI announced the renaming ahead of the World Test Championship final and upcoming five‑Test series at Headingley. However, the change has ignited backlash. Sunil Gavaskar called it “disturbing” and “insensitive,” highlighting Pataudi’s legacy linking both nations . Harsha Bhogle and Shashi Tharoor echoed concerns on erasing historical resonance . Pataudi’s wife, Sharmila Tagore, also criticized being bypassed, calling it a “disrespect” to the family . The debate centres on whether modern branding should override cricket’s deep-rooted traditions. (PC: X/@CricCrazyJohns)  

For the first time in 270 years, Kerala’s Padmanabhaswamy Temple has performed the Ashtabandha Kalasam, a rare and elaborate 12-day consecration ritual involving intricate Vedic rites. The ceremony began on May 27 and concluded on June 8 with the Lakshadeepam, where one lakh oil lamps illuminated the temple. The ritual, involving the reapplication of a unique Ayurvedic paste to the idol’s base, ensures the sanctity and preservation of the deity. Massive public participation and meticulous arrangements were overseen by the temple trust. The last such event was held in 1755 under Travancore King Marthanda Varma, making this consecration historically and spiritually significant. (PC: GQ India)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 12,700 Nepalese nationals—a designation first granted in June 2015 following the catastrophic earthquake. Secretary Kristi Noem concluded that Nepal's substantial recovery and enhanced disaster preparedness no longer justify the designation. The current TPS will expire on June 24, 2025, with a 60-day transition period ending August 5, 2025. Nationals without permanent U.S. residency (about 7,000 individuals) must either adjust their immigration status or prepare to depart the U.S., or face deportation. Roughly 5,500 TPS holders have already secured green cards. The termination aligns with President Trump’s broader migration agenda, which also targets TPS protections for Venezuelans, Haitians, Afghans, and others. (PC: Reuters)

Canada's Bill C‑3, introduced on June 8 by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, aims to correct "injustices" in citizenship law. The bill abolishes the first‑generation ban on citizenship by descent, allowing Canadian parents born abroad—with at least 1,095 cumulative days of residence—to pass citizenship to children born or adopted overseas, even across multiple generations. It also restores citizenship for “Lost Canadians” affected by outdated statutes from former legislation. The reform particularly benefits Indian‑origin families, offering a path to citizenship for descendants born abroad. Now in parliamentary review, C‑3 requires three readings and Royal Assent before enactment. (PC: Pixabay)

FBI Director Kash Patel issued a stark warning on X after anti‑ICE protests erupted in Los Angeles following immigration raids: “Hit a cop, you’re going to jail…Doesn’t matter where you came from … If local police won’t back our thin blue line, we @FBI will.” His message triggered an online backlash, with critics highlighting alleged hypocrisy given the pardons granted to around 1,500 January 6 rioters, including those who assaulted officers. One user snapped, “Unless you're doing it for Trump.” Patel distanced himself from the pardons during his confirmation, affirming he “does not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement”. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the tough stance, labelling the protests a national security threat. (PC: AP)

A magnitude 6.3–6.5 earthquake rocked central Colombia on June 8, 2025, centered near Paratebueno in the Cundinamarca region at approximately 10 km depth. Authorities reported eight injuries including four in Paratebueno and two in Medina with structural damage ranging from collapsed homes and a church wall to landslides, cracked roads, and snapped power lines. In Bogotá, buildings swayed, elevators trapped occupants, some experienced panic attacks, and localized outages occurred. Multiple aftershocks between magnitude 4.0 and 4.6 followed. Authorities mobilized disaster response teams to assess safety and infrastructure impacts. Despite alarming scenes, no fatalities have been reported as evacuation and emergency protocols remain active.

Independent Canadian investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan reported being physically assaulted at a pro-Khalistan rally in downtown Vancouver on Sunday, June 8, 2025. He told ANI he was “surrounded like thugs,” grabbed, threatened, and had his phone snatched while attempting to record the event. Bezirgan, who has covered Khalistan-related protests globally, attributes the attack to his editorial independence and prior reporting. He said the rally, allegedly organized by Sikhs for Justice and backed by the Canada-based World Sikh Organization, celebrates killers of Indira Gandhi and calls for “killing Modi’s politics”. He has filed a police report; no arrests yet. This underscores growing safety concerns and diplomatic tensions amid rising extremist influence in Canada. (PC: IMDb)

In a reply dated June 6 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Eid‑ul‑Adha greetings, Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude for Modi’s “thoughtful message,” noting it reflects shared values between the neighbouring nations. Yunus affirmed confidence that “the spirit of mutual respect and understanding will continue to guide our nations to work together for the wellbeing of our peoples.” He highlighted Eid as a period of reflection uniting communities through festivity, sacrifice, generosity, and unity, inspiring collaborative efforts for global benefit. Modi’s letter, dated June 4, underscored Eid’s importance in India’s cultural heritage and emphasised timeless values of sacrifice, compassion, and brotherhood. (PC: AFP)

Fresh violence erupted across Imphal Valley on the evening of June 7, 2025, following the arrest of five leaders—including a commander—of the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol. Protesters attempted to block a police convoy, stormed a police station, set a bus ablaze, and blocked roads. Authorities imposed indefinite curfews in Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, and Thoubal, barred public gatherings, and suspended internet and mobile services for five days. In response, Arambai Tenggol called a ten‑day valley-wide bandh. The unrest highlights deep-seated ethnic tensions between the Hindu Meitei majority and Christian Kuki minority that have taken over 250 lives since May 2023 and displaced more than 60,000 residents. Rights groups accuse local leaders of exploiting divisions for political gain. (PC: AP)

Solar activity at the peak of the Sun’s 11‑year cycle has intensified geomagnetic storms, drastically increasing upper-atmosphere density. A NASA Goddard study focused on 523 Starlink satellites re-entering Earth from 2020 to 2024. It found that solar eruptions cause enhanced atmospheric drag, accelerating orbital decay and early re‑entry. Authors noted that the current Solar Cycle 25 is more active than predictions, leading to “significant impacts on Starlink reentries.” Researchers emphasized the unprecedented overlap of intense solar activity and a booming low-Earth orbit satellite population—marking a pivotal moment in orbital drag research. (PC: NDTV)