As part of the ongoing efforts to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) native in telecommunication network, the third meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN) was inaugurated in New Delhi today. This ITU event is being organized by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Addressing at the inaugural session of the three-day event, Mr. Sanjeev Bidwai, Member (T), DCC, emphasized that AI-Native Networks (AI-NN) represent a fundamental shift in telecom design. He noted the growing role of AI in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, enabling intelligent orchestration across domains. Mr. Bidwai highlighted India’s ongoing efforts in this space, including national initiatives like ‘Bharat Gen’-India's first indigenously developed, government-funded, AI-based Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages, as well as other projects led by IITs and CDOT in AI-based network automation and digital twins. He also emphasized the importance of deploying AI in an ethical, inclusive, and secure manner, highlighting the need for explainability, digital sovereignty, and the evolution of regulatory frameworks.

The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) has authorised operations on the railway line from Hortoki to Sairang in Mizoram, the final clearance for a key stretch that will connect state capital Aizawl by rail for the first time.

The Hortoki-Sairang line is the last leg of the larger 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang rail project.

Sairang is a satellite town of Aizawl, around 20 km from the city. Bairabi in Kolasib district, near the border with Assam, has so far been the only railhead in Mizoram.

The inspection by the CRS, a railway safety audit body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is the final step before train operations commence.

The Indian Army contingent arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) to participate in the multinational military exercise Khaan Quest, scheduled to be conducted from June 14 to 28.

The annual exercise brings together military forces from across the globe to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities. The previous edition of Khaan Quest was held in Mongolia from July 27 to August 9, 2024.

The exercise, which began as a bilateral initiative between the United States and the Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003, evolved into a multinational peacekeeping endeavour from 2006 onwards. The current edition marks the 22nd iteration of the exercise, the Ministry of Defence said.

The strategically important Shipki La Pass on the India-China border in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district would be opened to tourists and adventure enthusiasts from June 10, Himachal Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Monday.

“The move will boost tourism in the remote tribal belt and reaffirm India’s presence in the sensitive border region,” he said.

Shipki La, a high-altitude mountain pass located at an elevation of over 4,000 metres, has so far remained largely inaccessible to civilians due to its sensitive location and harsh winter conditions.

Known as the City of Nawabs, Lucknow has been the undisputed king of mouth-watering Awadhi cuisine. From kebab and korma to flavourful biryani and delightful sweets, one can’t ignore Lucknow’s indulgent recipes and hearty flavours. Now, the city is gearing up to add a feather in its cap, as its rich culinary heritage has been nominated for the title of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) under the gastronomy category.

As per the Divisional Commissioner of Lucknow, Roshan Jacob, the Indian government has put forward the city’s name for this renowned and prestigious tag, reported Hindustan Times.

“We have to provide some more data by the end of June, following which UNESCO authorities may visit to verify our claims. The state capital is famous for a wide range of Awadhi delicacies, and food buffs both from India and abroad have been talking about it for a long time now. The city’s food scene is an endless treasure of delicious dishes that will tantalise your taste buds," he added.

India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate dropped to 2.82% in May 2025, marking the lowest year-on-year rate since February 2019, according to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. This provisional figure, measured against May 2024, reflects a 34-basis-point decline from April 2025’s 3.16%, signaling robust economic stability.

Food inflation, a key driver, fell sharply to 0.99% in May 2025, the lowest since October 2021, down 79 basis points from April’s 1.78%. Rural areas recorded a food inflation rate of 0.95%, while urban areas saw 0.96%. The decline is attributed to lower prices for pulses, vegetables, fruits, cereals, household goods, sugar, confectionery, and eggs, supported by a favorable base effect.

Headline inflation in rural areas decreased to 2.59% in May 2025 from 2.92% in April, while urban areas saw a reduction from 3.36% to 3.07%. Rural food inflation dropped from 1.85% to 0.95%, and urban food inflation fell from 1.64% to 0.96%. Other sectors showed varied trends: housing inflation, measured only in urban areas, rose slightly to 3.16% from 3.06%, while education and health inflation stood at 4.12% and 4.34%, respectively. Transport and communication inflation increased to 3.85% from 3.67%, and fuel and light inflation eased to 2.78% from 2.92%.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, 69, was among those who perished in the crash of Air India 171 flight from Ahmedabad to London on Thursday (June 12, 2025), confirmed Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil, who described the loss as one “deeply felt by the BJP family”.

Rupani was en route to London to join his wife and other members of his family.

Born in Yangon in Myanmar in 1956, he moved with his family to Rajkot in Gujarat as a child and studied law at the University of Saurashtra. He held the post of Chief Minister of Gujarat between 2016 and 2021 in two terms, following which he was replaced by the current Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel.

The world experienced its second-warmest May since records began this year, a month in which climate change fuelled a record-breaking heatwave in Greenland, scientists said on Wednesday.

Last month was Earth's second-warmest May on record - exceeded only by May 2024 - rounding out the northern hemisphere's second-hottest March-May spring on record, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a monthly bulletin.

Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, C3S said.

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has recommended R Doraiswamy for the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO & MD) of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

According to an official notification dated June 11, 2025, the Bureau interfaced with four candidates from LIC for the top post. The selection was based on their performance during the interface, overall experience, and evaluation against the extant parameters.

"Keeping in view their performance in the interface, their overall experience and the extant parameters, the Bureau recommends Shri R Doraiswamy for the position of CEO & MD in LIC," the FSIB stated.

Cipla Health, a leading player in consumer healthcare, announced the launch of its latest campaign, 'Cipladine - Aapka Fast Aid Expert', featuring acclaimed actress Neena Gupta as the brand ambassador. The campaign reinforces Cipladine's positioning as India's No.1 trusted solution for cuts, wounds, burns, and infections -- delivering fast and effective healing when it matters most.

In a world where every second counts, everyday injuries like cuts, burns, and wounds can disrupt a person's journey towards new experiences. Consumers seek a quick-acting reliable solution that empowers them to get back to their daily lives without delay. Backed by its Povidone Iodine (PVPI) formula, Cipladine is proven to stay longer on the skin, penetrate deeper, and start acting within just 30 seconds, making it not just a first aid but true Fast Aid Expert. [1]