NEW DELHI: The Indian Embassy in Iran issued a fresh advisory on late Tuesday, urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to the country, citing recent security-related developments. The advisory, posted late evening on the embassy’s official handle on X, also asked those already in Iran to remain vigilant and consider returning using available commercial and ferry services.“In view of the security-related developments over the past several weeks, Indian nationals are advised to carefully consider the evolving situation before undertaking non-essential travel to Iran,” the embassy wrote.“They are also advised to continue to monitor the latest regional developments and follow updated advisories issued by the Indian authorities. Indian nationals already in Iran, and interested in leaving, may avail the commercial flight and ferry options which are available right now.”The warning comes amid heightened tensions in the region following a series of military escalations involving Israel, Iran, and the United States. Last month, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites including Natanz and Fordow. That was followed by Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, when the US struck multiple Iranian facilities. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and a US base in Qatar. Later, US President Trump announced a ceasefire, ending the 12-day-long conflict.During the days of conflict, the Indian Embassy had cautioned Indian nationals in Iran to avoid unnecessary movement and follow safety protocols following the regional flare-up. That advisory had come in the wake of multiple explosions and reports of casualties at strategic Iranian locations.Adding to the concerns, the US state department last week launched a public awareness campaign warning Americans, especially those with Iranian heritage, against travel to Iran. US spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Iranian regime routinely denies consular access to dual nationals and stressed that “it is not safe to travel to Iran,” despite the cessation of bombing.Meanwhile, Indian authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. The embassy has urged Indian citizens in Iran to stay connected via its social media platforms and to remain updated through official advisories.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that countries such as Brazil, China and India could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia.

Rutte made the comment while meeting with senators in the U.S. Congress the day after President Donald Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened “biting” secondary tariffs of 100% on the buyers of Russian exports unless there is a peace deal in 50 days. These secondary tariffs come into play as Trump tries to leverage sanctions to force Putin to agree to peace with Ukraine.

As per Reuters, a White House official in Washington said Trump intends to impose “100% tariffs on Russia” and secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a peace deal is not struck in 50 days.

“We can do secondary,” Trump said. “We’re probably talking about 100 per cent or something like that. We can do secondary tariffs without the Senate, without the House, but what they’re crafting also could be very good,” the US President added.

Reports by Reuters further indicate that eighty-five of the 100 U.S. senators are currently in the process of co-sponsoring a bill that would give Trump the authority to impose 500% tariffs on any country that helps Russia.

This warning from NATO’s Secretary General comes a day after his meeting with Trump, where the US president announced the decision to supply ‘sophisticated’ new weapons for Ukraine, which will include Patriot missiles that experts speculate to be crucial for Ukraine’s air defences.

Yesterday, in an interview with the BBC, Trump further expressed his disappointment in Putin over his peacemaking efforts, stating, “I am disappointed with him (Putin), but I’m not done with him. “We’ll have a great conversation. I’ll say: ‘That’s good, I’ll think we’re close to getting it done,’ and then he’ll knock down a building in Kyiv,”  he added. 

Russia’s reaction

Responding to Trump’s comments, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated, “Russia is ready to negotiate after U.S. President Donald Trump, but ultimatums are unacceptable and will not bring any results.”

Former  Russian President and deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, also commented on the matter, stating that Moscow does not care about Trump’s “theatrical ultimatum”, further stating that such ultimatums were ‘pointless’ in nature.

Potential disruption for India

Presently, China, India and Turkey remain the biggest buyers of crude from Russia and could stand to face repercussions of Trump’s tariffs if the US president follows through on his claims.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned to Earth after an 18-day journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. But his touchdown will translate into a big takeoff — India’s indigenous human spaceflight programme. Shukla’s safe splashdown off the California coast marked more than just the end of a pioneering spaceflight; it symbolized a new chapter for India’s ambitions in space exploration. Shukla’s mission represents the country’s first human presence aboard the ISS and serves as a vital stepping stone toward Gaganyaan, India’s mission to send people into space using its own technology. His experience offers both practical insight and symbolic momentum to a nation on the brink of joining the elite club of spacefaring powers with crewed capabilities.

What Shukla achieved on the Axiom-4 mission
As the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, Shubhanshu Shukla played a critical role in operating SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, including its launch, docking, undocking, and re-entry. His position made him the first Indian military pilot to execute real-time operations aboard a commercial spacecraft alongside a veteran like Peggy Whitson. This exposure to both the technical and psychological challenges of space travel was critical for an astronaut preparing for India’s future crewed missions.
In orbit, Shukla was actively involved in over 60 scientific experiments, a significant portion of which were India-led. These included studies on plant growth using Indian staples like moong and methi, analysis of cyanobacteria and microalgae for sustainable life-support systems, and experiments involving tardigrades to understand biological resilience in space. Other research explored muscle atrophy, diabetes monitoring, and the physiological effects of prolonged screen exposure in microgravity. These experiments were not abstract exercises. They provide essential insights into the design of life-support and medical systems for long-duration missions, key for India’s ambitions in independent space habitation.
Perhaps more subtly, Shukla also contributed to outreach and education. He interacted remotely with Indian schoolchildren and researchers, offering a glimpse into life aboard the ISS. From daily routines to adapting to life without conventional bathing and handling hygiene through wipes, his lived experience in microgravity offers ISRO a real-world dataset on human adaptation beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Also Read | Axiom 4 mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla ‘Shux’ returns to Earth as Grace splashes down in Pacific

Strategic impact on India’s space ecosystem
The Axiom-4 mission is far from a standalone achievement. It has directly enhanced India’s technical readiness for human spaceflight. Shukla’s mission provided ISRO with hands-on feedback on spacecraft systems integration, ground communication protocols, and emergency response procedures, all critical components for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. The scientific outcomes of his experiments will influence not only mission design but also academic and industrial research within India. From universities to biotech startups, many domestic players were involved in conceptualizing and building the payloads for Axiom-4. This collaborative structure lays the groundwork for a robust space-tech ecosystem within the country.Equally important is the human resource development angle. Shukla’s training regimen, which included simulations, quarantine protocols and rigorous health monitoring, serves as a model for preparing future Indian astronauts. It also underscores the physiological and psychological benchmarks ISRO must meet in its astronaut selection and training processes for Gaganyaan.Beyond technology and science, Shukla’s participation strengthens India’s space diplomacy. The Axiom-4 mission, executed in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, situates India firmly in global commercial and scientific space efforts. This enhances ISRO’s credibility as a partner in multinational missions and opens up avenues for joint research and investment.

Also Read | PM Modi welcomes Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as Dragon returns to Earth

Gaganyaan: The next giant leap
India’s Gaganyaan programme, for which Shukla and three others have been selected, is designed to send a crew of three astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to seven days using an indigenously developed launch system and crew module. With its first uncrewed test flights scheduled for 2025 and a human flight targeted for 2027, Gaganyaan will make India the fourth nation — after the United States, Russia and China — to independently send humans into space.

Technologically, Gaganyaan represents a significant leap. It requires a human-rated launch vehicle, advanced re-entry systems and life-support mechanisms that India is developing from the ground up. It also demands complex ground infrastructure, ranging from astronaut training facilities to mission control networks capable of handling the nuances of human spaceflight.

But Gaganyaan is more than a technical challenge. It is a strategic national goal that will elevate India’s global standing, drive research in advanced materials and bio-sciences, and serve as a catalyst for broader participation in lunar and interplanetary exploration. It also inspires a new generation of scientists and engineers by placing human spaceflight within the nation’s grasp.

Why Shukla’s mission is a turning point
The importance of Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation in Axiom-4 goes far beyond the symbolic. It marks India’s entry into the practical realities of living and working in space. His training and mission execution create a reference framework for ISRO as it prepares for human flight. The scientific results he helped gather will refine space medicine, agriculture, and life-support technologies. Economically, the mission — backed by Rs 550 crore in investment — has already sparked interest and growth in India’s nascent space start-up sector. Strategically, it sends a clear message: India is no longer an emerging participant in human spaceflight but an active contributor shaping its future.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful journey aboard Axiom-4 marks a significant inflection point in India’s space history. It merges symbolic achievement with functional progress, demonstrating both capability and intent. As India moves closer to launching its own astronauts aboard its own spacecraft, Shukla’s experience offers a blueprint as well as a boost.

New Delhi:

India has achieved remarkable success at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2025, held in Dubai from July 5 to 14, securing a total of four medals. All four participants have returned with two gold medals and two silver medals, garnering international recognition.

Who are the winners?

The gold medal winners from India are Devesh Pankaj Bhaiya from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, and Sandeep Kuchi from Hyderabad, Telangana. The silver medals were awarded to Debadatta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, and Ujjwal Kesari from New Delhi, according to a press statement.

India ranks sixth, an increase in gold proportion

The competition witnessed the participation of 354 students from 90 countries, including five observer nations. India ranked sixth in the overall medal tally, along with countries such as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Israel. This marks India’s 26th appearance in the IChO. Historically, India has achieved 30% gold, 53% silver, and 17% bronze medals. Notably, there has been an increase in higher-tier achievements over the last 10 editions of the event, with 38% gold and 58% silver medals.

The Indian team was trained by a dedicated team of academic experts. Prof. Ankush Gupta from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai,  under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). HBCE serves as the nodal centre for the selection and participation of students for international Olympiads across multiple subjects, including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Astrophysics.

In 2025, job opportunities are not just flowing into metros. They are branching outward into the industrial corridors of Vadodara, the technology clusters of Visakhapatnam, and the startup enclaves of Jodhpur. LinkedIn’s newly released report, Cities on the Rise 2025, places the spotlight firmly on India’s Tier 2 and 3 cities, revealing how a network of emerging regions is gradually becoming the country’s next engines of economic and employment growth.The report, published by LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team, is based on platform data from March 2023 to February 2025, covering job creation, professional migration, and hiring momentum across the country. This is the first time LinkedIn has released a location-based hiring index for India, and the results point to a clear shift in the country’s talent geography.While cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune have long dominated headlines, LinkedIn’s new findings share a different story altogether. One that highlights the rise of agile economies rooted in affordability, infrastructure upgrades, and expanding corporate footprints.

A new map of opportunity: What the data reveals

To determine the ranking, LinkedIn analysed two key trends: • Hiring growth and job postings (indicating demand)• Inflow-outflow ratio of LinkedIn members updating their city of work (indicating migration trends)To ensure that the focus remained on emerging markets, the report excluded cities with more than 1 million LinkedIn members, allowing attention to shift toward fast-growing hubs that are often overlooked in traditional economic rankings.The ten cities featured in LinkedIn’s Cities on the Rise 2025 list are Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Nashik, Raipur, Rajkot, Agra, Madurai, Vadodara, and Jodhpur.

Visakhapatnam: A rising tech and pharma hub

Once known for its port and natural beauty, Visakhapatnam is quickly evolving into a critical industrial and technology ecosystem. The state government’s focus on infrastructure, coupled with interest from pharmaceutical and data companies, has transformed the city’s economic identity. Employers such as Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Miracle Software Systems, and Laurus Labs are among the top recruiters in the region.

Ranchi: Where education meets enterprise

Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, is being reshaped by its emerging retail scene, smart city initiatives, and new hospitality ventures. Institutions like Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi and Xavier Institute of Social Service are adding strength to its talent pipeline. Corporates such as Tata Steel, Concentrix, and Reliance Retail are driving employment in the region.

Vijayawada: Culture meets commerce

Traditionally a destination for pilgrims and tourists, Vijayawada is now seeing large-scale investment from IT majors, thanks in part to planned upgrades in metro and airport infrastructure. Companies like HCLTech, Tata Consultancy Services, and Infosys are establishing operations here, supporting a more dynamic job market than ever before.

Nashik: Beyond vineyards

Known as India’s wine capital, Nashik is expanding its economic profile. The city is seeing growth in real estate, IT, and data services, boosted by an established manufacturing ecosystem. Top employers include WNS, Datamatics, and ESDS Software Solution Limited.

Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s tech bet

With ambitions to become a future technology hub, Raipur is attracting businesses in semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals. The ‘Naya Raipur’ initiative is a major catalyst, with investment proposals exceeding ₹4.5 lakh crore. Major recruiters include Jindal Steel & Power, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.

Rajkot: Sustainability and smart planning

Rajkot blends its manufacturing legacy with modern infrastructure planning. Concepts like sponge cities, eco-schools, and natural heat buffers are transforming how the city expands. Growth in MSMEs and improved road networks make it an attractive location for talent. Key employers are Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, and Nirma Limited.

Agra: The Taj and the tech parks

Agra, famous for its Mughal heritage, is becoming a hotspot for industrial development. The New Agra Project, covering over 12,000 hectares and valued at ₹1,046 crore, is expected to create extensive job opportunities. Torrent Power, HDFC Bank, and TP are among the top hiring companies in the city.

Madurai: Southern Tamil Nadu’s innovation centre

Madurai, known for its cultural and spiritual heritage, is now leveraging its geographic advantage and infrastructure investments to grow in sectors like technology and agriculture. Major employers include HCLTech, Bull IT Services, and Neeyamo.

Vadodara: Culture with capital

In Vadodara, culture coexists with construction. New investments in healthcare, housing, and transport are helping the city scale up. Leading recruiters such as Sun Pharma, L&T Technology Services, and Alembic Pharmaceuticals are strengthening its job market base.

Jodhpur: The talent magnet of Rajasthan

Jodhpur is seeing renewed interest from professionals drawn to its affordable cost of living and growing community of startups. The presence of firms like Genpact, ICICI Bank, and Ultratech Cement points to a decentralising job economy that offers both stability and growth.

Rethinking location in career planning

For young professionals, the findings from LinkedIn’s report hold strategic value. Traditionally, students and jobseekers have gravitated toward India’s metro cities for education and employment. However, the emergence of regional centres backed by policy reforms, digital infrastructure, and lower living costs is reshaping how and where careers are being built.These cities offer more than just employment. They bring in better quality of life, reduced competition, and rising investments in upskilling programs. For employers, the spread of talent across geographies presents new opportunities to decentralise operations and build diverse teams.As hybrid and remote work models continue to evolve, location is no longer a limiting factor. For many sectors, from tech to pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, India’s mid-sized cities are becoming the new frontier.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.

Panic gripped parts of Delhi on Tuesday morning after St. Thomas School in Dwarka and St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University received bomb threats via email. According to Delhi Police, both institutions were immediately evacuated, and security forces were deployed to investigate the threat.

The email to St. Stephen’s College was received at 7:15 AM, stating that a bomb had been planted inside the college library. Authorities from Maurice Nagar Police Station, Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS), Bomb Detection Team, and Dog Squad rushed to the site. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched. As of now, no suspicious items have been found, police confirmed.

St. Thomas School in the Dwarka area also reported receiving a bomb threat through email. Similar security protocols were initiated, and bomb disposal units and police teams are on-site. The school was evacuated, and a full search was conducted.

On Monday, Navy Children School in Chanakyapuri and CRPF Public School in Dwarka also received bomb threats via email. The Delhi Police conducted thorough searches and found nothing suspicious in either case.

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 10:45 IST

In reply to the target of 193 runs set by the English team, India could only manage to score 170 runs in 74.5 overs and went on to lose the fixture by 22 runs.

India suffered a heartbreaking defeat by 22 runs against England in third Test. (Picture Credit: AFP)

England bowled India out for 170 runs on Monday (July 14) to win the Lord’s Test and go 2-1 up after three matches in the ongoing five-match series. The Indian team was asked to chase down a target of 193 runs by the Englishmen in 108 overs but despite Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 61-run knock, Shubman Gill-led side could only manage to score a total of 170 runs in 74.5 overs.

The defeat in the closely fought contest at Home of Cricket was India’s fourth smallest defeat in Test cricket by runs margin and second smallest defeat in away Tests.

India’s smallest defeat by runs margin in Test cricket is by 12 runs against Pakistan. In the year 1999, India faced Pakistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from January 28 to 31, and in reply to the 271-run target set by the Wasim Akram-led side, could only manage to score 258 runs in 95.2 overs. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar scored 136 runs from 273 balls in the second innings of that fixture.

Smallest win in Tests against India (by runs)

In away Tests, India’s smallest defeat by run margin is 16 runs. In the year 1997, India fell short by just 16 runs against the Aussies at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Smallest win in away Tests against India (by runs)

The defeat on Monday was India’s 13th Test loss in 20 matches played so far at Lord’s. India has not lost more Test matches in any other venue in the world than at Lord’s.

India’s Test results at Lord’s

Only three Indian captains—Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli—in the last 93 years have managed to win a red-ball match at Lord’s.

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England vs India 3rd Test: The final day of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s on Monday was filled with excitement. Eleven years after a near-miss, the Indian team had a fantastic opportunity to rewrite history. In 2014, chasing a target of 192 runs, the Indian team was bowled out for 164. This time, it seemed like the story would change, but India was all out for 171, losing by 22 runs. Ravindra Jadeja played a 56-run innings off 153 balls, but his approach is now being questioned.