Modi becomes India’s longest-serving elected prime minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India’s longest-serving continuously elected prime minister, surpassing the record held by the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
On June 10, Mr Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, one day more than Mr Nehru’s elected tenure of 4,398 days.
Having first taken office in May 2014 and securing a third successive mandate in 2024, Mr Modi described public service as the true measure of good governance and thanked citizens for their continued trust.
India condemns ship attack off Oman, summons US diplomat
India has strongly condemned the attack on commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, which carried 24 crew members, including 21 Indians who have been rescued. Three Indians remain missing.
In a significant diplomatic move, New Delhi summoned United States Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks and issued a demarche over the incident.
India described attacks on commercial shipping as deeply worrying and urged immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East to restore safe maritime navigation.
Modi, Trump likely to hold bilateral talks at G-7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, from June 15 to 17. Trade ties, energy cooperation, and H-1B visa issues are expected to dominate discussions.
The meeting comes amid efforts by both countries to ease recent tensions over tariffs and diplomatic disagreements. Mr Modi will attend the summit before travelling to Slovakia as part of a five-day overseas visit.
Bodies of six abducted civilians recovered in Manipur
Security forces in Manipur have recovered the bodies of six civilians believed to have been abducted a month ago amid ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
Police said the bodies were found after an extensive search operation involving sniffer dogs and forensic teams.
The victims are believed to be members of the Naga community who were kidnapped on May 13. Ethnic clashes involving Meitei, Kuki, and Naga groups have claimed more than 250 lives since violence erupted in 2023.
Air India crash pilot’s father defends son’s reputation
The father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who died in last year’s Air India Dreamliner crash, has vowed to protect his son’s reputation amid speculation surrounding the investigation.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Pushkar Raj Sabharwal rejected reports suggesting investigators were focusing on the senior pilot.
The June 2025 crash near Ahmedabad killed 260 people. Investigators have yet to determine the cause and have not attributed responsibility to either pilot involved in the cockpit exchange cited in the preliminary report.
India deploys nuclear warheads in peacetime for first time: SIPRI
India has deployed 12 nuclear warheads in peacetime for the first time, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026.
SIPRI estimates India’s total nuclear arsenal has increased to 190 warheads, up from 180 a year ago.
The report suggests India may be moving towards keeping some warheads mated with missiles and deploying them aboard nuclear-powered submarines, marking a notable shift from its traditional practice of storing warheads separately during peacetime.
Nearly 5,000 Bangladeshis deported from West Bengal
West Bengal authorities have deported nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi nationals since the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election victory in the state in May.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 4,800 undocumented migrants had already been sent back, while another 836 were awaiting deportation.
The campaign follows the BJP’s pledge to “detect, delete and deport” illegal migrants. Holding centres have been established across the state as part of the intensified drive against illegal immigration.
India attracts record US$843 billion in FDI since 2014
India attracted cumulative foreign direct investment worth US$843 billion between 2014-15 and 2025-26, marking a 169 per cent increase over the previous 12-year period.
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the country received a record US$94 billion in FDI during 2025-26 alone.
Officials credited initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive scheme, noting that India now manufactures over 99 per cent of mobile phones used domestically.
Veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja dies at 84
Veteran filmmaker and actor Bharathiraja, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Tamil cinema, has died in Chennai at the age of 84. He had been battling age-related health complications and respiratory issues.
Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Mr Bharathiraja directed classics such as 16 Vayathinile, Alaigal Oivathillai and Mudhal Mariyathai. He also remained active as an actor in recent years.
He is survived by his wife Chandraleela and daughter Janani.
Meta, Reliance partner for India’s first AI-focused data centre
Meta and Reliance Industries have announced plans to develop India’s first AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The 168-megawatt facility will be built by Reliance and leased by Meta, with completion targeted within two years.
Reliance will manage design, construction, power supply and operations. The companies said the centre will run on renewable energy and use desalinated seawater for cooling.
The project is expected to strengthen India’s ambitions of becoming a major global artificial intelligence hub.
