India summons U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission again after another attack on merchant ship with Indian crewFor the second time in three days, India summoned the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Jason Meeks, on Friday (June 11, 2026), after U.S. CENTCOM used missiles to target a tanker with an Indian crew near the Omani coast. “Yesterday, yet another vessel with 20 Indian crew on board came under attack. The U.S. envoy was called in by Additional Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),” sources told The Hindu.Supreme Court dismisses Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea against rejection of Rajya Sabha candidatureObserving that courts should ordinarily refrain from intervening in ongoing electoral processes, the Supreme Court on Friday (June 12, 2026) dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination papers from Madhya Pradesh. A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and A.S. Chandurkar observed that, in view of Article 329(b) of the Constitution, it had no jurisdiction to interfere with the order of the Returning Officer (RO) and that an election petition was the only remedy available in such cases. The provision stipulates that no election to either House of Parliament or a State Legislature can be called in question except through an election petition filed in the manner prescribed by law.Kane Williamson, former New Zealand captain, announces retirement from international cricketFormer New Zealand captain and all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson on Friday (June 12, 2026) announced his retirement from international cricket. “I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it’s become clear now is the right time,” the former skipper said in a statement. The 35-year-old Kiwi batter has played 110 Tests, scoring 9,515 runs at an average of 54.1 with a highest score of 251. He has scored 33 centuries and 38 half-centuries in Tests. Kane Williamson made his Test debut against India in 2010. In that Indian series, he also made his ODI debut. Kane Williamson played his last ODI in October 2025 against England.Dissident Trinamool faction to approach Lok Sabha Speaker, seek recognition as ‘real TMC’Dissident TMC MPs will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as the “real TMC”, rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia said on Friday (June 12, 2026), and claimed that 19 members are currently backing the faction. Mr. Basunia, the MP from Cooch Behar and among the lawmakers seeking to support the NDA in the Lok Sabha, told PTI Videos that the group has already submitted a representation to the Speaker. “We have submitted the letter... On Monday, we will go to the Speaker and stake our claim to form the real TMC parliamentary group. We will ask the Speaker to give recognition to our claim,” Mr. Basunia said.Proclamation orders executed against Syed Salahuddin, three others in 1996 case: J&K PoliceThe Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special wing, Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK), on Friday (June 12, 2026) executed proclamation orders issued by a special court against United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan and two others in connection with a case registered in 1996. “During the course of investigation, the accused were found to be evading arrest and deliberately avoiding legal proceedings. Consequently, proclamation proceedings were initiated by the court directing them to appear before it on July 14, 2026, at 10 a.m., failing which further action under law would follow,” said a police statement.BSF, BGB discuss illegal and forced border crossings at DG-level talksThe Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) discussed “illegal and forced border crossings”, among other issues along the India-Bangladesh border, during the three-day Director-General-level talks that concluded on Thursday, a BSF statement said. The 57th DG-Level Border Coordination Conference between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh was held in Delhi from June 8 to 11.J&K CM raises concern over 15-day closure of Srinagar airport with Defence, Civil Aviation MinistersFearing a negative impact on tourism, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (June 12, 2026) expressed concern over the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16 this year and met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi. A spokesperson of the J&K government said Mr. Abdullah, during the meetings, underscored the importance of maintaining uninterrupted air connectivity to the Union Territory, “particularly during the peak autumn tourism season when the Kashmir Valley attracts a large number of visitors from across the country”.Sensex jumps 1,695 points, Nifty rises 2% propelled by global rally as U.S. ends war with IranBenchmark indices ended sharply higher on Friday (June 12, 2026), with the Sensex climbing 1,695.40 points and the Nifty surging nearly 2 per cent, in tandem with a rally in global markets and a decline in crude oil prices after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that his country has ended the war with Iran. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,695.40 points, or 2.30%, to settle at 75,527.95. During the day, it surged 1,775.47 points, or 2.40%, to 75,608.02. The 50-share NSE Nifty ended sharply higher by 461.30 points, or 1.99%, to close at 23,622.90. Intra-day, the benchmark index zoomed 483.75 points, or 2%, to 23,645.35.Jairam Ramesh urges Centre to reconsider Great Nicobar airport, backs INS Baaz expansionCongress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, on Friday (June 12, 2026), wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to reconsider the rejection of a full runway expansion at INS Baaz on Campbell Bay. He argued that the alternative now being pursued — a greenfield airport at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar — carries far higher ecological and social costs than the government has acknowledged. The letter follows the Defence Ministry’s June 8 assertion that India would invest around ₹13,000 crore in a dual-use airport and runway for civilian and naval operations, to be completed within five years and jointly funded with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.NTA announces more rough-work space, extended exam window for NEET-UG 2026The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday (June 12, 2026) announced a series of student-friendly measures for NEET (UG) 2026, including additional rough-work space and an extended examination window. The medical entrance examination is scheduled to be held on June 21. According to the NTA, the examination will be conducted from 2 pm to 5:15 pm, providing a total window of 195 minutes. The duration of the examination has been extended by 15 minutes. “This window is designed to accommodate the invigilation formalities at the start and end of the examination, such as the signing requirements, which candidates earlier felt reduced their effective working time,” the agency said.British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron pays tribute to Air India plane crash victimsOn the first anniversary of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron on Friday (June 12, 2026) paid tribute to the victims, saying her thoughts were with all the families affected by the tragedy. She said 52 British nationals were among the 260 persons killed in the incident. Ms. Cameron reached the crash site in the city’s Meghaninagar area and offered floral tributes to those who lost their lives in the AI-171 plane crash on June 12 last year. The London-bound flight crash killed 260 persons, including 241 passengers and crew members and 19 persons on the ground. Only one passenger survived. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed. The plane crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College 32 seconds after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.Tehran would not cede control of Strait of Hormuz under draft U.S. deal, says IranIran’s state media said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that under a draft agreement with the United States, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “Iran makes no commitment in this text to cede the management of the strait or the restoration of conditions that existed before the American and Israeli military aggression,” according to the official IRNA news agency, which referred to “the broad outlines of the current text” being finalised. Iran’s state media said that the Islamic Republic would maintain the right to enrich uranium under any final agreement with the United States following 60 days of negotiations.India sends measles vaccines, medical supplies to Maldives amid rising casesIndia dispatched 20,000 doses of measles vaccines and around three tonnes of medical supplies to the Maldives to help address rising measles cases and strengthen immunisation coverage in the island nation. The Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a social media post on Thursday (June 11, 2026), expressed appreciation for the “timely assistance”, saying it reflected the close cooperation between the two countries.