Morning Digest: India moving citizens in Iran, Israel to safer places; FATF condemns Pahalgam attack, to release report on ‘state-sponsored terror’ for first time, and more

Smoke rises after a reported Israeli strike on a building used by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, part of Iran’s state TV broadcaster, on June 16, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Iran state TV briefly knocked off air by strike after missiles kill 11 in Israel

Iran’s state broadcaster was briefly knocked off air by an Israeli strike, and explosions rang out across Tehran on Monday (June 16, 2025), after a barrage of Iranian missiles killed 11 people in Israel on the fourth day of an escalating air war. In Tehran, the live feed of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was abruptly cut when an Israeli strike hit its building on Monday (June 16, 2025).

FATF condemns Pahalgam attack, to release report on ‘state-sponsored terror’ for first time

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the apex inter-governmental anti-terror financing watchdog, has issued a statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, noting that it “could not occur without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters”

Trump not signing G7 statement on Israel-Iran de-escalation, says official

A U.S. official said on Monday (June 16, 2025) that President Donald Trump would not sign a draft statement from Group of Seven leaders calling for de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict. The draft statement, seen by Reuters, also commits to safeguarding market stability, including energy markets, says Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, and that Israel has the right to defend itself.

Trump muses about turning G7 back into G8, or even G9 with China

U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his time at the Group of Seven summit on Monday (June 16, 2025) by suggesting that Russia and maybe even China should be part of the organisation. The U.S. leader indicated that he would rather have the G7 become the G8 or possibly even the G9, although Russia and China would notably be authoritarian governments in an organisation whose members are democracies.

Day after chopper crash, Uttarakhand government to resume helicopter services from June 17

A day after seven people, including a two-year-old child and the pilot, were killed in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath valley, the Uttarakhand government decided to resume chopper service for the Char Dham yatra from Tuesday (June 17, 2025). Sonika, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), announced the resumption of helicopter services on Monday (Jun e 16, 2025) evening.

Delhi-bound Air India flight returns to Hong Kong after snag

A Delhi-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Hong Kong returned to its airport of origin on Monday (June 16, 2025) within an hour of take-off after the pilot in command suspected a technical issue. The flight, AI 315, landed safely in Hong Kong, and all passengers have disembarked from the plane, the airline said in a statement, adding that the aircraft is undergoing inspection.

UAE-based entrepreneur pledges ₹6 crore to families of medical students killed in Air India crash

UAE-based entrepreneur Shamsheer Vayalil has expressed sorrow over the death of four medical students in last week’s Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad and pledged ₹6 crore to support their families and others affected by the tragedy. In a post on X, Dr. Vayalil, founder and chairman of VPS Healthcare, a multinational healthcare group, mourned the loss of the students — Manav, Aaryan, Rakesh, and Jaiprakash — describing them as “future frontline heroes.”

India starts relocating citizens from Tehran to other parts of Iran, considers exit routes from Israel for Indian citizens

As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues to escalate, the government has initiated efforts to move Indian citizens in both countries to safer areas, although no evacuation plans are currently in progress. It has also advised them to limit their movements, given the daily aerial strikes. 

Colombia Senator Uribe out of surgery but extremely critical, hospital says

Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe, who has been hospitalised since he was shot in the head earlier this month during a campaign event, is out of an emergency surgery performed on Monday (June 16, 2025) but is in “extremely critical” condition, the Santa Fe Foundation hospital said on Monday (June 16, 2025). 

EC to go for 100% webcasting of polling stations for closer monitoring of voting procedure

Seeking to ensure increased monitoring of the poll procedure on voting days, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday (June 16, 2025) decided to carry out webcasting at all polling stations, up from the present 50%. The webcasting data will be for internal consumption of the poll authority.

Don’t depend on agents for PF services, EPFO tells members

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has asked its subscribers not to depend on private agents for services related to their PF accounts. The EPFO said in a release that it had observed that several cybercafe operators and fintech companies were charging EPFO members large sums of money for services that were officially free.

Published - June 17, 2025 06:27 am IST