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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: June 11, 2026

CM Majhi attends NITI Aayog Governing Council meet

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New Delhi: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday participated in the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held under the theme “Viksit Bharat @ 2047 through Inclusive Human Development.”

The meeting brought together chief ministers and senior leadership from across the country for discussions on human development, good governance, and people’s participation as key pillars of national progress, Majhi said in a post on X.

The deliberations reaffirmed that a citizen-centric and inclusive approach remains central to India’s development journey.

Odisha reiterated its alignment with the PM’s vision of empowering citizens, strengthening grassroots institutions, promoting inclusive growth, and contributing to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat and a Samruddha Odisha.

Meanwhile, Modi said India’s growth trajectory continues to stand out globally even as several major economies face uncertainty and economic challenges, stressing the need to further strengthen the country’s resolve towards self-reliance and adoption of global best practices, particularly in the renewable energy sector.

He underlined the importance of cooperative federalism, stating that the Centre and States must work in close coordination to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat.

He said the vision of a developed India should become a shared resolve of every State, district, block, and village.

Highlighting India’s demographic strength, he noted that nearly 70 crore citizens are below the age of 25, calling it the country’s biggest asset. He described it as a demographic dividend and urged States to convert it into a development dividend through focused efforts in education, skill development, and capacity building to prepare youth for future opportunities and challenges.

Referring to India’s recent trade agreements with several countries, the PM encouraged States to create more opportunities for youth and MSMEs and to ensure stakeholders are equipped to benefit from these agreements. He also urged States to actively attract investments from partner nations, according to an official statement.

Emphasising women-led development, Modi called for efforts to double the number of Lakhpati Didis from 3 crore to 6 crore and stressed the need to ensure a safe and secure environment for women.

He also urged States to focus on the One District One Product initiative and develop export-oriented strategies around it. The PM further highlighted defence manufacturing as an emerging sector where India is building a strong global identity and encouraged States to frame policies to tap into its growing opportunities.

Sindhu, Tanvi storm into Australian Open quarter-finals

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NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising teenager Tanvi Sharma moved into the quarter-finals of the women’s singles event at the Australian Badminton Open 2026 after registering contrasting wins over their compatriots in Sydney on Thursday.

World No. 10 Sindhu overcame a stiff challenge from India’s Isharani Baruah, ranked 39th in the world, winning 22-20, 21-12 in a 42-minute contest. After a closely fought opening game that went into a tight finish, Sindhu took full control in the second game to seal her place in the last eight.

Sindhu will next meet Chinese Taipei’s Chen Su-yu in the quarter-finals, as she aims to reach her second semi-final of the season following her campaign at the Malaysia Open, according to reports.

In another all-Indian clash, 17-year-old Tanvi produced a strong performance to defeat senior player Malvika Bansod 21-13, 21-15 and book her place in the quarter-finals. The win marks her second quarter-final appearance of the year, despite an inconsistent season where she has progressed beyond the opening round in only a few BWF events so far.

Tanvi now faces a major challenge in the last eight against top seed and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.

However, another Indian shuttler, Tanya Hemanth, bowed out in the pre-quarterfinal stage after going down 21-12, 21-15 to Thailand’s second seed and world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong.

In men’s doubles, India’s MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan kept their campaign alive with a dominant 21-17, 21-7 victory over New Zealand’s Michael Owen and Dylan Soedjasa.

However, India’s mixed doubles challenge came to an end after Dhruv Rawat and Manisha Keer lost a close match 21-19, 21-18 to Japan’s Akira Koga and Natsu Saito.

BMC, Hindustan Coca-Cola sign MoU for PET bottles management

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BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Coca-Cola for the collection of used Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles and awareness on their usage and disposal. PET bottles are widely used across the world for single-use and reusable packaging.

The MoU was signed during a programme attended by Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, and several other senior officials of the civic body.

Under the MoU, Hindustan Coca-Cola will collect, transport, and dispose of plastic bottles at market rates for BMC. The agreement further stated that Coca-Cola will deploy a dedicated team to spread awareness among vendors of food courts, shopkeepers, and other waste generators across the capital city, BMC said in a post on X.

It is believed that the initiative will substantially generate revenue for BMC, as well as help raise public awareness about PET waste management and the impact of plastic pollution.

TCS partners with Anthropic to accelerate enterprise AI adoption

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NEW DELHI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced a global strategic partnership with Anthropic aimed at accelerating enterprise adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by combining TCS’ industry expertise and implementation capabilities with Anthropic’s Claude family of AI models.

As part of the collaboration, TCS will establish a dedicated business unit focused on delivering industry-specific AI solutions, developing joint customer offerings, and building deep expertise around Claude models through early access to Anthropic’s technology.

The partnership comes at a time when many AI initiatives, particularly in highly regulated sectors, struggle to move beyond pilot projects because of stringent requirements related to accuracy, governance, auditability, and oversight.

In a press release, TCS said the collaboration is intended to help enterprises overcome these challenges and deploy AI systems in production environments with greater confidence.

Under the agreement, TCS will serve as a Global Premier Partner in the Claude Partner Network and bring Claude models to enterprises seeking advanced AI capabilities with strong governance, resilience, and integration requirements.

The partnership will combine large-scale internal deployment, joint go-to-market initiatives, industry-focused innovation, and workforce training to support enterprise-wide AI adoption.

TCS will also roll out Claude across its own operations, providing enterprise-wide access to 50,000 associates working in engineering, finance, legal, marketing, and sales functions. The Indian company said the deployment would allow it to gain practical experience in transforming its internal processes while applying those learnings to customer engagements.

The two companies plan to jointly develop AI solutions and services for a range of industries, including financial services, public services, life sciences, healthcare, aviation, telecommunications, and medical technology.

The collaboration will focus on domain-specific workflows, technology modernisation, and customer experience transformation, supported by TCS’ consulting, engineering, and managed services capabilities.

The partnership will also extend to several TCS products and platforms. In the UK, Diligenta, TCS’ FCA-regulated life and pensions business serving more than 22 million customers, will use Claude to support agentic process transformation initiatives aimed at enhancing customer experience.

TCS said its banking, financial services, and insurance products and platforms teams would also utilise Claude Code to improve productivity in software engineering and IT operations.

Meanwhile, TCS iON, which conducts more than 75 million assessments annually across 1,500 cities in India, will offer learning and certification programmes focused on Claude models to help develop an AI-skilled workforce. TCS also plans to contribute domain-specific engineering expertise to the Claude Code ecosystem through reusable skills and plugins, including capabilities related to claims adjudication and lending advisory services.

Anthropic is an AI safety company that develops the Claude family of AI models and products, including Claude Code, Claude Cowork and Claude Enterprise, which are used by organisations worldwide.

US-Iran strikes intensify as fragile ceasefire faces collapse

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Trump warns of more strikes as US-Iran attacks intensify, Hormuz tensions rise and regional instability threatens fragile ceasefire efforts.

Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply on Thursday as the United States and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes for a second consecutive day, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire agreed earlier this year could unravel into a wider regional conflict.

The latest escalation followed a series of tit-for-tat attacks that began earlier this week after a US Apache helicopter was reportedly downed near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident triggered retaliatory military action by both sides and renewed concerns over regional stability, energy supplies and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end hostilities.

The United States military said it had completed a fresh round of strikes targeting multiple sites across Iran. In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces attacked Iranian “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites” in what it described as a response to Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”.

The strikes, carried out by the US Air Force, Navy and Marines, reportedly targeted locations across Iran, including southern areas near Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Minab, where explosions were reported by Iranian media.

US President Donald Trump also hardened his stance, warning Tehran of further military action if negotiations failed. According to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump said the current strikes could stop shortly but warned that the US would resume heavy bombing if Iran did not immediately agree to a peace deal. Yingst shared the remarks on X.

“The strikes would stop shortly,” Trump reportedly said, while cautioning that Iran would “pay the price” if talks remained stalled.

Iran, however, responded with retaliatory attacks against US military assets in the region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced strikes on American positions in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, including the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the al-Azraq air base in Jordan.

Iranian state-linked reports claimed ballistic missiles had been launched against at least 18 US-linked military targets. Authorities in Kuwait said their air defence systems intercepted hostile aerial objects, while Bahrain confirmed its defences had destroyed incoming threats.

According to Mehr News Agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said threats against the country’s critical infrastructure reflected “desperation” rather than strength. In a post on X, Pezeshkian said Iran would remain steadfast against pressure and threats while relying on national unity and domestic expertise.

The conflict has also reportedly affected civilian infrastructure inside Iran. According to Press TV, officials in Iran’s Hormozgan province said pre-dawn US strikes severely damaged water supply facilities in Sirik county, disrupting access to drinking water for more than 20,000 residents in Kuhestak town and 10 nearby villages.

Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, managing director of the Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company, claimed that reservoirs and pumping systems were destroyed, halting water distribution at a time when temperatures in the region are hovering between 45°C and 50°C. While US officials have maintained that their operations targeted military infrastructure, Iranian provincial authorities alleged that civilian facilities were directly affected.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts appeared increasingly strained. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the UN Security Council that Tehran would not negotiate “under threats and pressure,” urging Washington to refrain from military coercion if it sought a diplomatic resolution.

ALSO READ: India protests tanker attack off Oman as three crew members remain missing

The renewed confrontation has also rattled global energy markets. Oil prices rose nearly $3 after Trump’s warning of further escalation, with Brent crude extending gains in Asian trade amid concerns over disruptions to global energy flows.

Adding to market anxiety, Mehr News Agency reported that Iran’s military had ordered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships. The strategic waterway is one of the world’s most important transit routes for oil and gas shipments.

The conflict has also spilled beyond Iran and the US. Israeli military operations in Lebanon reportedly continued on Wednesday, with fresh strikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Reports suggested the death toll from Israeli attacks since March had risen to 3,696.

The latest round of exchanges marks the third major test of the ceasefire reached in April, significantly dimming hopes for a quick diplomatic breakthrough to end the war that began in late February following large-scale US-Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Holy Relics of Buddha’s chief disciples return to India after Mongolia exposition

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NEW DELHI: The Holy Relics of Lord Buddha’s two chief disciples, Arhant Sariputra and Arhant Maudgalyayana, returned to India on Wednesday after a 10-day public exposition at the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The exposition, held from May 31 to June 9, was organised by the National Museum of India under the Ministry of Culture in association with the government of Madhya Pradesh, the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, and the International Buddhist Confederation, following a request from the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery. The exhibition was opened to the public on the occasion of Buddha Purnima in Mongolia on May 31.

The Holy Relics were ceremonially handed over on May 30 by the Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, to Mongolia’s Education Minister Enkh-Amgalan and His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D. Javzandorj of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery.

The exposition had been announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the state visit of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to India in October 2025.

The event highlighted the longstanding civilisational and spiritual ties between India and Mongolia, which are rooted in Buddhism, according to an official statement.

According to the organisers, nearly one lakh devotees from across Mongolia visited the monastery during the 10-day exposition to pay homage to the sacred relics. Mongolia has a population of around 3.4 million.

The relics have previously been sent abroad only to Thailand and Mongolia. Officials noted that an earlier exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Mongolia in June 2022 had also received an enthusiastic response.

Several exhibitions focusing on Buddhism were organised alongside the exposition by the National Museum of India and the International Buddhist Confederation. These included Sariputta and Moggallana – A Journey of Wisdom, Devotion and Relics, From India to Mongolia: The Transmission of Buddha Dhamma Across Inner Asia, and Vessels of Light: Iconography, Relics and Path of Dhamma (Shakyamuni Buddha’s Journey through Museum Collections of India).

The Holy Relics enjoy the status of a Head of State for protocol and security purposes. They were transported to Mongolia on May 30 aboard a special Indian Air Force flight accompanied by an Indian delegation led by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya.

The relics were brought back to India on Wednesday aboard another special Indian Air Force flight, accompanied by a delegation led by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena. Ceremonial welcome and farewell events were organised at the monastery.

India clarifies no ban on mango exports to Nepal

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NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has clarified that reports claiming Nepal has imposed a ban or suspension on the import of Indian mangoes are incorrect and misleading.

In a statement, the ministry said the government of Nepal, through its Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center, had clarified on Wednesday that no ban had been imposed on Indian mango imports.

According to the clarification, imports continue to be permitted subject to prescribed phytosanitary requirements.

The ministry said import permits and release orders are being issued upon compliance with the required conditions and submission of valid phytosanitary certificates issued by the government of India.

It further stated that exports of Indian mangoes to Nepal remain unaffected. Since January 2026, India has exported 149 consignments comprising 2,005 metric tonnes of mangoes to Nepal. During June alone, 18 consignments totalling 266 metric tonnes have been exported so far, according to an official statement.

The ministry noted that Nepal has recently revised certain import conditions, including the requirement for Hot Water Treatment. It said India continues to facilitate exports in accordance with the prescribed requirements.

At the same time, India has conveyed its concerns over the introduction of new phytosanitary measures without prior consultation and is taking up the matter through appropriate bilateral channels in line with the World Trade Organization’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement and the framework of the International Plant Protection Convention.

The ministry advised stakeholders, traders, and the public to rely on official communications for information related to import and export regulations and to disregard unverified reports regarding alleged restrictions on Indian mango exports to Nepal.

Nari Adhikar Abhiyan signals desire for change in Odisha: Naveen Patnaik

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BHUBANESWAR: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the party’s Nari Adhikar Abhiyan had received overwhelming public support, which he claimed reflected a growing desire for political change in Odisha.

Addressing an organisational meeting at Shankha Bhavan with BJD leaders who had contested the 2024 Assembly elections, Patnaik said the regional party had consistently stood with the people and worked for their welfare.

Highlighting the BJD’s 24-year tenure in office, he said Odisha had earned national recognition through its achievements in disaster management, food security, healthcare, education, sports, irrigation, and infrastructure development.

He also credited the previous BJD government with implementing a range of welfare measures for farmers, women, and economically weaker sections.

The BJD supremo, however, launched a sharp attack on the BJP government in the state, alleging that the law-and-order situation had deteriorated over the past two years. He claimed that incidents of murder, rape, robbery, and crimes against women had increased, creating fear among the public.

Patnaik further alleged that Odisha’s economic condition had worsened despite the previous BJD government leaving behind a revenue surplus of Rs 45,000 crore. He claimed that the state’s debt burden was rising and alleged that social security pensions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities were not being provided under the current administration.

Referring to the party’s Nari Adhikar Abhiyan, Patnaik said the campaign was launched to oppose what the BJD described as the BJP’s failure to ensure 33% reservation for women. According to him, the response to the campaign indicated changing public sentiment across the state.

He urged party workers to move ahead with confidence and strengthen preparations for the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. Patnaik also called on party members to closely monitor the ongoing SIR process in Odisha and use social media platforms to raise public issues and concerns.

India protests tanker attack off Oman as three crew members remain missing

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NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday condemned an attack on a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman that left three Indian crew members missing and formally lodged a protest with the US over the incident.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the vessel, Settebello, was attacked in waters off Oman. According to the ministry, 21 of the 24 Indian crew members on board had been rescued.

As part of its response, India summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks to convey its concerns. According to media reports, Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu met the senior American diplomat and registered a strong protest, stressing that attacks endangering the lives of Indian seafarers were unacceptable.

The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

The Palau-flagged tanker had been sailing from Lianyungang in China to Fujairah in the UAE when it came under attack. The vessel carried a crew of 28, including 24 Indians, two Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Ukrainian.

Omani armed forces rescued 21 Indian crew members following the incident.

The attack came just two days after another strike on a tanker carrying an all-Indian crew, raising fresh concerns about the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its latest round of military operations against Iran had concluded. In a statement, CENTCOM said American forces targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defence sites.

It added that assets from the US Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy had carried out precision strikes on targets that were considered a threat to US forces and commercial shipping in regional waters.

CENTCOM maintained that the operations were launched in response to what it described as Iran’s continued aggression and said US forces remained prepared for further contingencies, according to theguardian.com.

Separately, Kuwait announced the temporary closure of its airspace after reporting that its air defence systems were intercepting what it described as hostile aerial targets. The country’s civil aviation authority said some flights would be diverted as a precautionary measure amid the heightened regional tensions.

Junior coach selection list released to boost grassroots sports in Odisha

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BHUBANESWAR: The preliminary list for the junior coach selection process has been released, marking a key step towards strengthening grassroots sports development and reinforcing Odisha’s high-performance sports ecosystem.

Sports & Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said a total of 25 eligible coaches have been included in the initial list. He noted that the selection process aims to ensure structured training support for emerging athletes across the state.

Among the shortlisted candidates, nine are women coaches, a move expected further to encourage women’s participation in the sports ecosystem and promote inclusivity in coaching roles.

In a post on X, Suraj said that the selected coaches will provide training across 12 major sporting disciplines, including hockey, athletics, swimming, kabaddi, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, fencing, basketball, kho-kho, gymnastics, and football.

He added that the initiative is designed to enhance the quality of coaching at the grassroots level, strengthen athlete development pathways, and create a more robust pipeline for competitive sports in the state.

Separately, the Odisha Sports Department has felicitated promising sub-junior, cadet, and junior karate players who delivered an impressive performance at the National Karate Championship 2026, organised under the aegis of the Karate India Organization.

The young athletes from the state brought laurels to Odisha by securing a total of 12 gold, 4 silver, and 16 bronze medals across various categories in the championship.

The sports minister said the achievement reflects the growing strength of karate in the state and the consistent progress of young sportspersons in competitive martial arts.