In badminton, India’s PV Sindhu stormed into the women’s singles semi-finals of the Australian Open tournament in Sydney today. The third-seeded Indian outclassed Chinese Taipei’s Chen Su Yu 21–6, 21–9 in a one-sided quarter-final clash. Sindhu will next face top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the semi-finals. Earlier, Yamaguchi defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21–14, 21–14 in the quarter-final today.

After days of hot and dry weather, Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness a spell of rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds today, with the Meteorological Department warning that isolated intense showers could trigger flash floods and mudslides in vulnerable areas.

The local Meteorological Department said light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds is expected at many places across the Union Territory today. The MeT department said wind speeds may reach 40–50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph during the period, adding that isolated areas could also witness hailstorms.

The weather department said partly to generally cloudy conditions with one or two spells of light to moderate rain, brief intense showers, thunder, and lightning are likely at many places today.

According to the forecast, weather conditions are expected to remain partly to generally cloudy from June 13 to 17, with scattered spells of light rain, brief showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds at several places.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez have condemned the attack on a Palau-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman, in which three Indian seafarers were killed.

Spokesperson for the UN Chief, Stéphane Dujarric, said Mr Guterres is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the IMO underscored the need to protect seafarers, civilian shipping, and the freedom of navigation at all times.

The IMO said it is monitoring the situation closely and has called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

On the situation in West Asia, Mr Guterres urged the parties to return to full implementation of the ceasefire and to avoid any further deterioration. The Secretary-General underscored that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms, in accordance with international law, must be respected.

On Wednesday, the United States struck a Palau-flagged tanker, MT Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board.

In the UK, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has resigned from the Starmer government following the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey, amid a dispute with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over funding for the military.

Al Carns resigned yesterday, writing to Sir Keir that the government’s defence investment plan was neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded.

This came after Healey resigned in a scathing letter, stating that the level of military spending proposed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer falls well short of what is needed to protect the country.

Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister and a former British Army officer, has been appointed to replace Healey in the cabinet role.

The government has restricted institutional, industrial, and commercial customers from buying Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel from retail outlets and has asked them to source their requirements from their own consumer pumps.

The decision has been taken to prevent local shortages amid disruptions in global supply chains caused by the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel are essential commodities, and uninterrupted availability at fair prices is critical for transportation of goods and passengers, agricultural operations, emergency services, and national security.

In a notification, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry said the restrictions will be in place for up to 90 days. Retail outlets have been directed to sell up to 200 litres of High-Speed Diesel to a customer per day to prevent bulk purchase.

The government said the restrictions were necessary to prevent hoarding and maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies at fair prices. The Ministry added that many states have sought prevention of such practices, as they are causing inconvenience to retail customers and farmers.

It said the order is a temporary measure to curb practices that unscrupulous elements are resorting to during the crisis. It has asked Oil Marketing Companies and retail outlet dealers to ensure compliance with the order.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will visit Shillong on June 15 to participate in key events focused on infrastructure development and connectivity in the North Eastern Region.

The Minister will attend the CEOs Round Table during the North East India Infrastructure (NEIINFRA) Summit and Exhibition at the Lariti Performing Arts Centre, Shillong. The summit serves as a premier platform for discussions on infrastructure development, investment opportunities, and regional growth, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and other stakeholders from across the country.

Later in the day, the Union Minister will preside over the dedication to the nation and foundation stone laying ceremony of National Highway projects at Polo Ground, Shillong.

The projects are expected to provide a major boost to road connectivity, facilitate faster movement of goods and people, improve access to remote areas, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Meghalaya and the wider North Eastern Region.

In a social media post, PM Modi said that the growing participation of women in emerging fields such as drone technology is opening new avenues of opportunity and transforming the development landscape across the nation.

He noted that over the last 12 years, the NDA government has worked to further women-led development, and this is visible across sectors. He added that the government is actively supporting Self Help Groups, which are helping women become financially independent.

The Prime Minister further underlined that the government’s efforts are rooted in dignity, opportunity, and empowerment, which have helped create an environment where women can realise their full potential and contribute more strongly to nation-building. PM Modi expressed happiness at witnessing India’s Nari Shakti making a mark in sectors like science, space, and innovation.

Sharing a Sanskrit quote, the Prime Minister said that the country’s Nari Shakti is the cornerstone of nation-building. He added that the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the nation are enhancing the glory of Mother India with their extraordinary talent and skills in every field.

In another all-India pre-quarterfinal clash, Tanvi Sharma overpowered Malvika Bansod, 21-13, 21-15. 

In Men’s Doubles, Indian pair of MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan also cruised into the last eight beating New Zealand duo Michael Owen and Dylan Soedjasa, 21-17,21-7. 

Meanwhile, India’s challenge in the Men’s Singles ended in the first round following defeats of Kiran George, Saneeth Dayanand and Tharun Mannepalli in their respective matches.

 The 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup will begin from tomorrow, with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

 The month-long tournament will be hosted across England and Wales with the final is set to take place on July 5 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Indian womens team will start their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur led Indian women’s team will be looking to create history as they aim for their first T20 World Cup title. For the first time in the tournament’s history, 12 teams will compete, with 33 matches scheduled across seven venues, making it the biggest edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to date.

Benchmark domestic equity indices finished today’s trading session with moderate losses of 0.2 per cent. The Sensex slipped 151 points to close at 73 thousand 833, while the Nifty dipped 53 points to settle at 23 thousand and 162. In the broader market on the National Stock Exchange, the Midcap 100 index lost 0.8 per cent and Smallcap 100 index fell nearly 0.7 per cent.

Earlier, the markets opened lower today in line with weak global cues. Both the indices gradually pared their losses and moved into positive territory during the session, but selling pressure in the final hour erased gains, pushing them back into negative territory.

In the Sensex pack, shares of 21 out of 30 companies registered losses. Among the top under performers, Infosys plunged 2.7 per cent, HCL Tech dropped two per cent, and Adani Ports lost 1.9 per cent. On the other hand, ICICI Bank emerged as a leading gainer, rising 1.9 per cent, while Mahindra & Mahindra advanced 1.7 per cent and Kotak Mahindra Bank added 1.1 per cent.

Among the sectoral indices on the BSE, 20 out of 25 sectors ended in negative territory. IT was the top laggard, declining 1.8 per cent, followed by Focused IT, which fell 1.6 per cent, and Industrials, which dropped 1.4 per cent. On the gaining side, the Private Bank index rose 0.4 per cent, the Healthcare index advanced by a quarter per cent, and Bankex added 0.2 per cent.

The overall market breadth at the BSE was negative, as shares of 2 thousand 807 companies declined, 1 thousand 384 advanced, and 198 remained unchanged. 

The United States has carried out a second consecutive night of what it described as “self-defence” strikes against Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in West Asia.

US Central Command said the strikes targeted air defence, radar, and surveillance facilities in southern Iran, including sites used to monitor maritime traffic. Explosions were reported in and around Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, as the confrontation entered a more dangerous phase.

In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several US military facilities across the region, calling them retaliation for the latest American action.

Iranian military authorities also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to commercial shipping and warned that vessels attempting to pass through could be targeted. However, the United States rejected the claim, insisting that commercial traffic continued to move through the strait and denying reports of any US naval vessels being struck.

The conflicting statements have increased uncertainty in global energy markets, with oil prices rising amid fears of possible disruption to energy supplies.

The military confrontation is now spreading beyond Iran’s borders. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched missile and drone attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in retaliation for the latest American strikes. Iranian state media reported that twelve ballistic missiles were fired at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, with Tehran claiming damage to military facilities and aircraft shelters.

However, neither Jordan nor the United States has confirmed those claims. Reports indicate that air defence systems were activated and interceptions were carried out. Kuwait temporarily suspended air traffic as a precaution after reporting hostile aerial targets in its airspace, while Bahrain issued security alerts and reported interceptions of incoming drones.

Reports from Bahrain said drone debris fell in residential areas after interceptions, causing minor damage and injuries.  Governments in West Asia are urging residents to follow civil defence instructions as authorities monitor the rapidly evolving situation. With military activity reported across multiple countries and the security of key shipping lanes under strain, fears are growing that the conflict could enter a more unpredictable and dangerous phase.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Jordan issued an emergency advisory warning of missiles, drones and rockets in Jordanian airspace and urged citizens to seek shelter and remain indoors. The embassy advised residents to closely monitor official alerts as regional security conditions continue to deteriorate.

In Lebanon, local media reported an Israeli strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military. The incident comes as fighting between Israel and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon continues despite diplomatic efforts. 

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations at five premises in Hyderabad, Telangana, in connection with the alleged transport scam involving the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited.

According to ED officials, the accused persons allegedly caused a wrongful loss of more than 195 crore rupees to the government exchequer while deriving corresponding unlawful gains for themselves and their associates. During the searches, officials recovered cash worth 8 lakh rupees, two expensive watches, premium vehicles, as well as incriminating documents and digital devices.

The event was attended by Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi, and Akashvani Director General Rajeev Kumar Jain, among other senior officials.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Vaishnaw, focusing on strategic infrastructure, highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening communication in border regions. He said, today, a major initiative to cover border areas has commenced in Rajasthan. The Minister said, the plan is to provide comprehensive coverage across the entire border belt of the country, stretching all the way from Kashmir.