The Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday reported significant findings during a three-day survey in the Nallamala-Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), uncovering evidence of ancient habitation and identifying inscriptions spanning nearly 1,400 years.

The ASI team, led by Director (Epigraphy) K Muniratnam Reddy, identified rock paintings and geometric motifs in caves along the Krishna River near Alatam village in the Nallamala Tiger Reserve Forest. Preliminary assessments suggest paintings may date back to Megalithic and Early Historic periods, around 1500 BCE. “These rock paintings and geometric patterns should be studied further using scientific research methods, which will provide more information about them,” Muniratnam told TNIE.

Government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of 30th June. He is presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The present Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi is retiring from service the same day.

Defence Ministry said in a statement that Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. He has had extensive experience across the operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation over a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades.

The Vision 2031 policy roadmap of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government that emphasises women and child safety proposes to form a task force to investigate crime against children and a scheme, Avalkkoppam, to prevent domestic violence and dowry harassment of women.

The document takes serious note of the crime against children. It underscores a zero-tolerance approach to such crime, particularly against very young children. Cases of murder of children are on the rise. Investigation into a large number of them is closed citing that the death is by suicide, according to the roadmap document.

India continued to hold the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings following the annual update released today. However, their lead over New Zealand has reduced from eight to five points. India’s rating slipped by one point, from 119 to 118, while New Zealand gained two points, moving up to 113. Despite the marginal decline, India remains the leading ODI team in world cricket and continues to dominate the white-ball rankings after also retaining the No. 1 spot in the men’s T20 International rankings following last week’s update. Australia, the reigning ODI world champions, stayed third with an unchanged rating of 109. The biggest movement inside the top five came from South Africa, which climbed above Pakistan to move into fourth place.

The Central government has nominated Sanjay Lohiya, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, as a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India with immediate effect and until further orders.

Lohiya, who is an IAS Officer of 1994 batch (Assam Meghalaya cadre), nomination follows the superannuation of Nagaraju Maddirala on May 31, 2026, as DFS Secretary. Lohiya took over as Secretary, Department of Financial Services, with effect from June 1, 2026.

India is expected to remain the world's fastest-growing major economy in financialyear 2026-27, although growth is projected to ease to 6.6 per cent from 7.7 per cent in the previous fiscal year amid higher energy prices and rising input costs, according to the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report.

“Growth in India is projected to moderate to 6.6 per cent in fiscal year 2026/27 (April 2026 to March 2027), reflecting a slowdown in private demand growth owing to higher energy prices and other input costs,” the World Bank said in the report.

The multilateral lender expects India's growth to recover to 7.2 per cent in fiscal year 2027-28, supported by stronger domestic demand and an improvement in exports. Forecasts published in the report show India growing at 7.7 per cent in FY26, 6.6 per cent in FY27, and 7.2 per cent in FY28.

France has invited India to participate in all six sessions of next week’s G7 summit meeting, underscoring New Delhi’s status as a “top priority” partner and highlighting the special relationship between the two, according to French diplomatic sources.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Evian, France, at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron for the 52nd G7 Summit, which begins June 15.

This will be India’s 13th participation at the G7 summit and Prime Minister Modi’s seventh consecutive participation at the summit, the MEA noted.

India and Nepal have launched a peer-to-peer cross-border remittance mechanism to strengthen bilateral digital financial connectivity. The Ministry of Finance, in a statement said that the newly operationalized system establishes a direct link between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI). This integration enables citizens of both nations to make seamless, real-time, and secure instant money transfers directly through mobile banking applications and digital wallets. The UPI-NPI linkage represents a major advancement in financial inclusion, fostering stronger economic and digital ties between both the countries. The Ministry said, this initiative aligns with regional goals for accessible, safe, and affordable cross-border payments, reinforcing long standing social and economic bonds. The digital payment corridor represents a major shift in how commerce operates between the two countries. The Finance Ministry noted that the initiative will enhance traveler convenience, will provide economic boost for local merchants and improve operational efficiency. It noted that local merchants would benefit from optimized cash management, reduced overhead costs associated with physical cash handling, and secure, real-time transaction settlements.

Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who had been in a coma for more than three years, has died, the royal household has announced. She was 47.

She collapsed in December 2022 while exercising her dogs. Her doctors attributed it to a severely irregular heartbeat, caused by a mycoplasma infection in her heart.

With her death, the Thai royal family has lost its most visibly accomplished member, and someone who might have played a pivotal role in an as yet unclear succession.

She was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn's seven children, born on 7 December 1978 to his first wife and cousin, Princess Soamsawali.

In a significant development, the Centre has signed a historic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Governments of Assam and Nagaland for the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the two northeastern states.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio.

Speaking on the occasion, HM Amit Shah said that the signing of the MoU is a historic moment and that it will enhance the prospects for oil and natural gas exploration in the country. He said the MoU has successfully removed a major hurdle in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and developed North East.