Uttarakhand Congress Releases District, block & Metropolitan Executive Committees Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Uttarakhand Congress has begun preparations for the upcoming 2027 assembly elections. The party has announced the executive committees of the various district and metropolitan Congress committees. This announcement was made by the Uttarakhand Congress following approval and recommendation from the All India Congress Committee. The executive committee announced by Congress General Secretary (Organization) Rajendra Singh Bhandari includes the executive committees of various districts and metropolitan areas, including the organizational districts of Uttarkashi, Purola, Kotdwar Metropolitan, Pauri Garhwal, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Devprayag, Haridwar, Roorkee, Dehradun, Rudrapur, and Kashipur Metropolitan, as well as Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Didihat, and Champawat. See the full list here
PM Modi’s Three-Country Tour Begins July 6, Focus on Trade, Business and Strategic Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a visit to three countries—Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand—from July 6 to July 11. During this tour, he will participate in business and sports-related events as well as CEO forums. Notably, he will become the first Indian Prime Minister to visit New Zealand in 40 years. Throughout the tour, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with the leaders of these nations, meet with prominent business figures, and address the Indian diaspora. During the Indonesia leg of the trip, PM Modi will visit a temple complex; in Australia, he will attend the India-Australia CEO Forum; and in New Zealand, he will meet with personalities from the business and sports worlds. As mentioned, this marks the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in nearly four decades.
Takaichi in Delhi: Japan and India Vow to Deepen Strategic Ties and Boost Economic Security
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in India on Wednesday for a three-day visit from July 1 to 3. This is her first visit to India since becoming Prime Minister. During this visit, she will participate in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides will also review and strengthen the scope of mutual cooperation, and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual benefit. The Japanese Prime Minister was given a grand welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, June 2, and received a guard of honor. Japan-India strategic partnership in light Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday, “Through this visit, I hope to advance concrete cooperation with Prime Minister Modi in three key areas: deepening the Japan-India strategic partnership in light of the current international situation, promoting cooperation in economic security, and strengthening cooperation between the businesses of our two countries in investment and innovation.” The Japan-India Join Economic Forum will be held on the occasion of this visit, in which representatives of more than 150 Japanese companies and business organizations will participate. He said that by working together with the private sector, I hope that the scope of Japan-India cooperation will expand and a stronger economy will emerge. Takaichi said that India and Japan have the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He said that he is looking forward to discussing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. India, along with Japan, is one of the leading democracies in Asia and shares the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rubio Says Trump Planning India Visit in Early 2027, US-India Trade Pact Close to Finalization
US President Donald Trump may visit India next year, in early 2027. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this on Saturday. The Secretary of State stated that the US administration is preparing for President Trump’s visit to India in early 2027. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the India-US trade deal is expected to be finalized very soon. President Trump will visit India early next year. He is traveling to India to finalize the President’s visit. He also stated that President Trump and PM Modi have a very good relationship. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s economic gains and emergence as a global power, saying that the United States is a big fan of him. Rubio also stated that the India-US trade deal is in the final stages of completion. Relations between Trump and Modi are going very well after the positive G7 meeting, and he is planning to visit India before the end of the year to prepare for President Donald Trump’s possible visit early next year.
UCC Expansion Continues: West Bengal Prepares to Table Uniform Civil Code Bill Amid Political Debate
After Uttarakhand, Assam, and Gujarat, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is now set to be implemented in West Bengal as well. The West Bengal government is preparing to table the UCC Bill in the Legislative Assembly on June 29, 2026. Under this law, regulations concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption will be uniform for all citizens. Key aspects of the UCC in West Bengal include the process of establishing legal timelines. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the UCC Bill would be introduced during the Assembly’s current budget session. Notably, the West Bengal government will follow the roadmap adopted by Uttarakhand, Assam, and Gujarat; a committee headed by a retired judge will be constituted for the UCC. It is worth noting that implementing the UCC in West Bengal was a key promise in the BJP’s election manifesto, in which the party pledged to enforce the UCC within six months of forming the state government. While this move is garnering support from Muslim women, it is also facing stiff opposition from the opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and the Congress. They argue that personal laws specific to certain religions are linked to cultural and religious identities, and that the UCC would effectively strip various religions of their distinct cultural identities.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Visit India from July 1–3 for 16th India-Japan Annual Summit
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit India next month for a three-day trip. At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will arrive in New Delhi for his first official visit to India, scheduled from July 1 to July 3. During this visit, he will participate in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit alongside Prime Minister Modi. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, both sides will use this occasion to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss areas of mutual interest as well as global issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Tokyo last year to attend the summit, during which he invited the Japanese Prime Minister to India for the summit. Following that invitation, the Japanese Prime Minister is now set to visit New Delhi for his first official trip to the country this coming July. The primary objective of this summit is to strengthen relations between the two nations, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and defense partnerships. The 16th India-Japan Annual Summit will focus on the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, trade, defense cooperation, the Indo-Pacific region, and various global issues. During the visit, the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation will be reviewed, and the two Prime Ministers will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest.
Narmada Court Sentences AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, Wife and 7 Others to 7 Years in Assault-Extortion Case
A Sessions Court in Narmada district has convicted AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, his wife, and seven others in a case involving the alleged assault of Forest Department officials and extortion in 2023. The court sentenced all the accused to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on each. The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge A.V. Hirpara. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the verdict. Gopal Rai, the party’s Gujarat in-charge, stated that AAP would organize support marches across the state starting June 26 to protest the decision. He said that party workers would stage demonstrations in every district to raise their voices in support of Chaitar Vasava. Gopal Rai alleged that the BJP is unsettled by Vasava’s growing popularity and that he has been targeted for political reasons. He claimed that the case is part of a conspiracy and that such politics cannot be accepted in a democracy. Rai added that, ultimately, the public would decide the truth. AAP has also made it clear that it will pursue all available legal avenues in this matter. Earlier, party national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed support for Vasava, stating that the charges against him were false and that he had been politically framed due to his rising influence within the tribal community.
End of an Era: Keir Starmer Quits as PM, Vows Smooth Transfer of Power Before Successor Takes Charge
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. He stated that he no longer commands sufficient support to lead the party into the next general election. Speaking to the media outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer revealed that he had informed King Charles III of his decision. He said he would remain in office until a new leader is chosen and oversee a smooth transition of power. The process to elect a new Labour Party leader will begin on July 9 and conclude before the parliamentary session starts in September. Thanking his colleagues, officials, and supporters, Starmer said that throughout his tenure, he had always prioritized Britain’s interests above all else.
“Italy Never Begs”: Meloni Releases Video Response After Trump’s Controversial Interview Remark
US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are making headlines. A heated exchange has erupted between the two, leading the Italian Foreign Minister to cancel his visit to the US. This all began when US President Donald Trump made a controversial remark during an interview on Friday, claiming that Meloni had begged him for a photo during the G7 summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also issued a strong statement regarding Trump’s claim. She released a video, saying, “I and my country, Italy, never beg.” The interview aired on the LA7 network. During the interview, the journalist questioned her about Ukraine. However, Trump brought up Meloni, and the conversation subsequently shifted to their meeting at the G7 summit. A video of the meeting also surfaced, showing Trump and Meloni having a serious discussion about the issue. According to LA7, Trump said that Meloni had begged him for a photo. Trump said he initially didn’t want to do it, but later felt sorry for Meloni and agreed to the photo. LA7 has posted a dubbed version of the interview online. In response, Meloni said in her video that she was responding to Trump’s claim because some things needed to be addressed immediately. She said Trump’s statement was completely fabricated. “I’m very surprised by this,” she said. “I don’t know why President Trump is behaving this way toward his ally,” she said, adding that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. This was apparently a reference to an interview Trump gave to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April, in which he criticized Meloni for not supporting the US-Israel Iran war. Meloni did not publicly respond at the time. It’s worth noting that Italy and the US are considered to have good relations, but the situation appears to be deteriorating after this incident.
President Droupadi Murmu Turns 68: From Odisha’s Tribal Heartland to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Today marks the birthday of India’s incumbent and 15th President, Droupadi Murmu. She was born on June 20, 1958, in Baidaposi village, located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Her father’s name was Biranchi Narayan Tudu. President Droupadi Murmu has also been a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She is the second woman to serve as the President of India, following former President Pratibha Patil. Additionally, she has been honored with the title of ‘Prabuddha Mahila Samrat’ (Enlightened Woman Empress) by the Prabuddha Samiti. President Droupadi Murmu is the second person from Odisha to hold the office of President and is the youngest President in the country’s history. Notably, she is the first President of India to have been born after the country gained independence. Prior to assuming the presidency, she served in various portfolios within the Odisha state government’s cabinet between 2000 and 2004 and also served as the 9th Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. Both President Droupadi Murmu’s grandfather and father served as the village head (Pradhan). She was married to Shyam Charan Murmu, and they had two sons and a daughter. Tragically, her husband and both sons met with untimely deaths at different times; her daughter is married and resides in Bhubaneswar. Droupadi Murmu began her career as a teacher before gradually entering the field of politics. She embarked on her political journey in 1997 by winning the election for Councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. She served as the Vice President of the BJP’s Scheduled Tribes Morcha and was also a member of the National Executive of the BJP’s Tribal Morcha. She won the election twice—in 2000 and 2009—from the Rairangpur constituency in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on a BJP ticket, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). In the coalition government formed by Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal and the BJP in Odisha, Draupadi Murmu served as a minister—first for Commerce and Transport, and later for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development. In 2015, she became the ninth Governor of Jharkhand, succeeding Syed Ahmed; Virender Singh, the then Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, administered the oath of office to her.