India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, has officially stepped down from his role, bringing an end to his 45-year-long public service career.
Kant expressed his intention to support startups and academia for the development of a future-ready India, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the nation in various leadership roles.
Meanwhile, gold prices have surged again, nearing an all-time high of $3,450 per ounce.
This rise is largely driven by the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, which has pushed global investors toward safer assets.
The weekend saw both nations exchanging missile and drone attacks, escalating fears of wider instability in the Middle East and driving up energy prices due to risks to regional infrastructure.
As tensions grow, the US Embassy in Israel and its consulate will remain shut following missile strikes near Tel Aviv.
While the damage was minimal and no injuries were reported among American staff, Israel has warned Iran of severe retaliation, vowing that Tehran will face consequences for targeting civilians.
In travel news, a Lufthansa flight heading to Hyderabad had to return to Frankfurt after it was denied landing permission in India.
The flight had already covered a considerable distance before it was turned back.
Affected passengers were given overnight accommodation and rescheduled for another flight.
Gujarat has declared a state of mourning today to honour the late former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 270 people killed in the tragic Air India crash on June 12.
His body was identified through DNA testing, and his last rites will be held in Rajkot.
Government buildings across the state will fly the national flag at half-mast.
In the tech world, Instagram is introducing two new features.
Users can now share real-time music from Spotify in their Notes, displaying the track and artist as it plays.
Additionally, users will be able to rearrange the layout of their profile grid without deleting any posts , a long-awaited update that helps with customisation.
Also making waves is a new AI-powered browser called Dia.
Built by the creators of the now-shelved Arc browser, Dia aims to change the way people use the web, offering a more assistant-like experience rather than focusing on managing multiple tabs.
Currently, it’s only available to Mac users who previously used Arc.
In finance, HDFC Life has announced a record bonus of ₹4,102 crore for policyholders, its highest ever.
More than 2.19 million policyholders will benefit, with most of the payout distributed in the current fiscal year.
For taxpayers, the process of filing income tax returns is now easier with the ability to download Form 16 directly from the TRACES website.
This essential document provides a detailed breakdown of income, tax deductions, and exemptions, helping salaried individuals file their returns accurately.
Finally, there’s a noticeable rise in women-specific insurance products across India, driven by increasing financial independence among women.
These are the key updates across India, the world, technology, and finance from June 16, 2025.
