Times of India

Axis Bank's Chief Financial Officer, Puneet Sharma, has resigned, stepping down on Sunday, June 28, but will continue until August 31. Sharma, who joined in March 2020, oversaw finance, legal, and investor relations, during which the bank's stock nearly doubled. He is leaving to pursue new professional opportunities. Sharma brings over two decades of finance experience from previous roles at Tata Capital and Citibank.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal criticised the BJP government, alleging corruption and betrayal of faith regarding Ram Temple donations. He urged voters to oust the ruling party, citing broken promises and the "Achhe Din" slogan as false. This comes as an SIT investigates alleged embezzlement, leading to eight arrests. The Supreme Court will hear a related petition in July.

Three companies that make nearly all the world's memory chips—Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron—face a US class action lawsuit accusing them of restricting DRAM supply to inflate prices. Filed in California, the complaint alleges the trio cut DDR3 and DDR4 output, pivoted to pricey AI-focused HBM, and gouged consumers. It marks the third such price-fixing cycle among the same firms.

Champat Rai's brother Sunil Bansal said his brother began professional career as a teacher in Rohtak during 1970-71 before joining RSM Degree College in Dhampur as a physics lecturer in 1972. His remarks came after Champat Rai resigned as the trust's general secretary amid allegations of large-scale embezzlement of devotees' donations, with questions being raised over his alleged role in the matter.

Prime Minister Modi's Seychelles visit bolstered India's defence diplomacy, gifting the patrol vessel 'Lespwar' and other crucial assets. This move, part of the MAHASAGAR initiative, reinforces India's commitment as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean. The donation strengthens Seychelles' maritime capabilities and deepens collective security amidst growing regional geopolitical shifts, mirroring India's broader strategy of empowering partner nations with indigenous defence equipment.

India's industrial activity showed robust growth in May 2026, with the IIP climbing 5.1% year-on-year, driven by strong manufacturing and electricity output. Capital goods led the expansion, surging 12.9%. The Ministry of Statistics also announced a significant methodological shift, replacing WPI with Output PPI for a more accurate real output estimation, aligning with global standards.

Regional air forces are rapidly modernizing, with China and Pakistan inducting advanced fighters. India is enhancing its capabilities with Rafales and developing its own fifth-generation AMCA. The article traces the evolution of fighter jets from early jets to the stealth and networked warfare of fifth-generation aircraft, highlighting the shift towards integrated combat systems and information dominance in modern aerial combat.

Ajay Devgn's 'Chauhaan' faces fresh controversy as the Kshatriya Parishad accuses filmmakers of misusing Rajput history and identity for political gain. The organization decries the 'weaponisation of Rajput history,' asserting that the Chauhan legacy belongs to history, not partisan campaigns. This follows earlier criticism of the teaser's portrayal of the Kashmir conflict and a dialogue about pellet guns.

A Karnataka High Court ruling states that a wife earning more than her husband cannot automatically claim maintenance. The court emphasized that financial capacity, not gender, dictates maintenance awards. It overturned a family court's order for Rs 20,000 monthly interim maintenance, citing the wife's Rs 1 lakh monthly income against the husband's Rs 60,646. This decision applies only to the interim order, not the final outcome.

Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has shared her surprise at the hot weather in London ahead of the Wimbledon Championships 2026. The Canadian tennis star, who has joined the BBC’s team for this year’s tournament, admitted that she found the heat more difficult to handle than expected. Bouchard now spends much of her time in Miami.

Claiming a 'great victory,' Iran's President announced the expected release of $6 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar. This declaration arrives amidst increasing hostilities in the Persian Gulf, contributing to the volatility surrounding the U.S.-Iran negotiations. Iran is adamant regarding the fund release, though the U.S. asserts no assets have been unblocked. With Pakistan facilitating discussions, it remains uncertain whether Iran will engage in upcoming negotiations.

Ayodhya's Bar Association has taken a firm stance, refusing to represent eight suspects accused of misappropriating donations intended for the Ram temple. A penalty of Rs 5 lakh will be imposed for any breach of this decision. Furthermore, an ultimatum has been set for officials Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao to depart Ayodhya within three days, with threats of a city blockade should they fail to comply.

Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch has arrested former DGHS director Vatsala Aggarwal and ex-deputy controller Neeraj Chopra in a massive Rs 640-crore procurement scam. They are accused of manipulating tenders for medicines and equipment, causing significant losses by favouring specific suppliers for inflated-price purchases. This breakthrough follows an FIR and earlier arrest, revealing a deep-rooted conspiracy within the Central Procurement Agency.

The trend comes at a time when India remains heavily dependent on imported gold. During FY26, the country imported gold worth nearly $72.4 billion, while recycled gold contributed an estimated 125-150 tonnes in 2025.

Ireland completed a 2-0 sweep after beating India by one run in the second T20I on Sunday. It was Ireland's first-ever series win over India in any format. They had won the opening match by 34 runs a few days earlier against the reigning T20 world champions.

​India’s strive to be “atmanirbhar” in engines is not a story of 2026. In 1986, the government had tasked DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) with building the indigenous Kaveri engine to power the then-nascent Tejas light combat aircraft. What followed was four decades of heartbreak. Despite nine prototype engines, over 3,200 hours of testing, and a budget overrun of 642 per cent, the Kaveri produced only 70.4 kilonewtons (kN) of wet thrust against a required 81 kilonewtons.

Former England pacer and Ashes winner Steve Harmison has called for England head coach Brendon McCullum to step down following Ben Stokes' retirement. Harmison criticised McCullum's "Bazball" approach, calling it "amateur" and arguing that Stokes and McCullum were a joint project. Meanwhile, Stokes said he retired due to burnout and to rediscover his love for cricket.