Amitabh Kant resigns as G20 Sherpa, concludes 45-year journey in public service to support startups and academia for Viksit Bharat
Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa from India, has officially resigned from his position, bringing to a close a distinguished 45-year career in public service. In his statement, Kant mentioned, “I have decided to pursue new opportunities and move ahead in life.”
He shared his appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “I am deeply grateful to the Prime Minister of India for accepting my resignation and for allowing me to spearhead various developmental initiatives, contributing to the advancement of India.”
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Gold approaches record high as Middle East conflict escalates
Gold prices have surged towards a record high as the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran drives investors toward safe-haven assets.
The precious metal increased by up to 0.6% in Asia, nearing $3,450 an ounce, just $50 shy of a historic peak set in April. The ongoing missile and drone attacks exchanged between the two nations over the weekend have raised energy prices due to threats to essential energy infrastructure and transport in the region. The recent rise in geopolitical risk has added momentum to a rally primarily fueled by the impacts of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies on global economic growth. Thus far in 2025, gold has risen by over 30%, with central banks diversifying away from the dollar also playing a significant role.
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US Embassy in Israel shut down following Iranian missile strikes near Tel Aviv
The US Embassy and its consulate in Israel will be closed on Monday due to a shelter-in-place order following Iranian missile strikes near its Tel Aviv facilities. While minor damages were reported, no injuries to US personnel were noted according to embassy statements.
The Israeli Defence Minister issued a stern warning, asserting that Tehran’s residents will “face the consequences” for the missile strikes directed at Israeli civilians. These comments come amid escalating cross-border hostilities resulting in growing civilian casualties on both sides.
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Lufthansa flight to Hyderabad returns to Frankfurt due to landing clearance issues
A Lufthansa flight headed for Hyderabad had to turn back to Frankfurt Airport on Sunday (June 15) evening, after passengers were informed that it had not received “permission to land” in India.
Flight LH752 departed from Germany at approximately 14:14 local time Sunday, scheduled to arrive at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport early Monday. However, flight tracker data indicated a diversion a few hours into the journey. A passenger on the flight told PTI from Frankfurt Airport that overnight accommodations were provided as their flight was rescheduled for Monday morning.
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Gujarat to observe state mourning for Ex-CM Vijay Rupani on June 16; last rites to be held in Rajkot
The Gujarat government has announced a day of state mourning on Monday, June 16, to honor former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically lost his life in the Air India flight AI171 crash on June 12. Rupani was among the 270 victims of the crash, which occurred soon after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
Three days after the incident, authorities confirmed on Sunday that Rupani’s identity was established through DNA matching. As a sign of respect, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings across the state on Monday, and there will be no official entertainment.
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#TechTalks????
Instagram introduces real-time Spotify sharing, allows users to rearrange profile grid
Instagram is launching new features designed to enhance user creativity — with a lower sense of pressure. In a blog announcement, Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed that users can now share the music they’re currently enjoying on Spotify directly through Notes, the brief text updates shown above direct messages.
While Notes has allowed music sharing since last year, this latest update reflects users’ real-time listening habits, displaying the track title and artist as the song plays. This feature builds upon Instagram’s collaboration with Spotify, which began with the “Add to Spotify” button. Additionally, Instagram is rolling out a highly requested feature: the ability to rearrange posts in the profile grid. This update enables users to curate their posts without the need to delete or archive older ones, making it simpler to shape a personal or professional aesthetic.
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Explained: Dia, a revolutionary AI browser that changes web interaction
After discontinuing its experimental Arc browser, The Browser Company has introduced a new product — Dia, an AI-driven browser that redefines how users interact with the web.
Currently in beta and exclusively available for existing Arc users on Mac, Dia focuses less on tab management and more on transforming your browser into a personal assistant. Here’s a breakdown of what Dia entails, what differentiates it, and why it’s significant in the AI era.
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#DailyData????
Daily Data
#PersonalFinance????
HDFC Life announces record ₹4,102 crore bonus for policyholders
HDFC Life Insurance Co. declared a bonus of ₹4,102 crore on its participating policies on Friday, marking its highest-ever payout, benefiting over 2.19 million policyholders. Of the total announced bonus, ₹3,232 crore will be disbursed in the current financial year through survival and maturity benefits. The remaining amount will accumulate and be paid out in future financial years as policy benefits, the insurer highlighted in a statement.
The company noted that its annual bonus declarations have nearly doubled every four years, showcasing consistent growth in its with-profits fund. To date, HDFC Life has distributed cumulative bonuses exceeding ₹22,500 crore across all eligible participating policies.
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Income tax return filing: Downloading Form 16 from TRACES website
Salaried taxpayers require Form 16 to accurately file their Income Tax Returns (ITR). This document is provided by employers to certify the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on salaries, summarizing the employee’s earnings and tax deductions throughout the financial year. Form 16 consists of two parts:
Part A: Displays employer and employee details, PAN, TAN, and total TDS.
Part B: Contains salary breakdown, tax exemptions, and deductions per the Income Tax Act.
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Women-oriented insurance products on the rise in India
The Indian insurance sector is experiencing steady growth in the development and uptake of women-centric insurance products. This trend coincides with increasing financial independence among women and a shift in how they approach health and financial planning. “There is a notable increase in women-focused insurance offerings. This highlights a growing recognition that women have distinct healthcare and financial needs that have historically been overlooked,” stated Bhaskar Nerurkar, Head – Health Administration Team, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, during an interview with CNBC-TV18.
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