The Economic Times

Japanese saying of the day Even a dog won't interfere in a married couple's quarrel explores timeless lessons about marriage, conflict, communication, forgiveness, and personal boundaries. It highlights why outsiders often misunderstand relationship disputes and how patience, understanding, and direct communication can help couples navigate challenges and strengthen family bonds.

An FIR has been registered against Samajwadi Party MLA Rakesh Kumar Verma in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly making objectionable remarks against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. A viral video purportedly showed the MLA making inappropriate comments, leading to a complaint by a BJP Yuva Morcha district president.

AI is now performing nearly 37% of entry-level tasks in India, exceeding the global average. HR leaders anticipate entry-level roles will evolve to supervising AI systems within five years, with AI also expected to create new job categories. Organizations are increasingly focusing on AI skills for all roles, enabling employees to concentrate on higher-value, strategic responsibilities.

Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that approximately 3 crore new ration cards can be issued. This follows state governments removing 2.21 crore ineligible beneficiaries from PDS lists. The Centre identified 8.51 crore ineligible individuals, and states have acted on a significant portion. Digitisation of the Public Distribution System has enabled this process.

Moroccan proverb of the day on love: A Moroccan proverb reminds us that only those who have felt the heat of love can truly understand its impact. Its wisdom extends beyond romance, highlighting how personal experiences shape our perspectives and emotions. The saying encourages empathy and patience, reminding us that other people's feelings are deeply personal and not always visible from the outside.

A 45-year-old woman was found dead on a terrace in South Delhi. Police arrested a doctor, Manish Gupta, who allegedly killed her with a bat and knife. The victim, Meena, worked as his domestic help for 15 years. The motive remains unclear, though a personal dispute is suspected. This incident follows a similar crime in the area two months prior.

FSSAI busted an inter-state counterfeit ghee racket, seizing over 6,500 litres of suspected adulterated products and raw materials in Delhi and Haryana. Investigations began after misleading advertisements prompted a decoy operation, revealing products mixed with vegetable oils. Raids uncovered significant quantities of fake ghee, leading to an FIR and ongoing investigations.

The CBSE Class 10 Second Board Exam Result 2026 is anticipated soon, with media reports suggesting a release in the last week of June. While an official date remains unconfirmed, students can access their results via the official website cbseresults.nic.in and other digital platforms like DigiLocker and UMANG App.

Many people repeatedly charge their phones not due to addiction, but a deep-seated fear of being unreachable. This anxiety stems from the possibility of missing an urgent call from family or friends needing help. A dead phone represents being cut off, leading to constant readiness.

The American idiom Don't take no wooden nickels originated from promotional tokens with no real value, evolving into advice to be cautious and avoid being tricked. This saying encourages vigilance against scams and bad deals, reminding people to trust their instincts and think critically in various situations.

Housing Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced plans to financially assist contractors for temporary labourer housing at project sites, funded by labour cess. The government is also considering mandatory durability certificates for buildings and promoting sustainable practices like waste management and water harvesting. An increased infrastructure budget and new cities in NCR are also highlighted.

Karnataka Assembly members cast votes for seven Legislative Council seats. High voter turnout was recorded. Key leaders including the Chief Minister and former CM participated. The ruling Congress aims to secure a majority. A contest is anticipated for the seventh seat. Legislators were sequestered amid fears of cross-voting.

A father claims two private hospitals refused to treat his critically injured daughter after an alleged sexual assault. The four-year-old died en route to a government hospital. The Supreme Court is hearing the case, questioning hospital accountability. A SIT found substance in the father's allegations of delayed care. The father seeks accountability beyond compensation.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has mandated a 20 percent reservation for ex-Agniveers in Group C government jobs. This includes positions like police constables, firemen, forest guards, jail warders, and wildlife guards. The initiative aims to utilize the discipline and skills of retired short-service Army personnel. Departments must complete necessary amendments by June 30.

State Bank of India has announced 1,500 Probationary Officer vacancies for 2026-27. Applications are open from June 18 to July 8 for graduates. The preliminary exam is in August, followed by mains in September. Final selection involves psychometric tests, group exercises, and interviews, with results expected by December 2026. Don't miss this opportunity!

A popular French saying, 'Ce nest pas la mer boire', offers a vivid way to describe tasks that are not difficult. Literally meaning 'it is not like you have to drink the sea', the phrase puts challenges into perspective. It reminds people that obstacles are often less daunting than they appear.

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) treasurer Aroop Biswas has sought an immediate freeze on the operation of party bank accounts, citing an ongoing dispute over the authority and control of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), according to a letter addressed to the Branch Manager of HDFC Bank's Central Plaza Branch in Kolkata.

Kevin Warsh's first Federal Reserve meeting as chair saw interest rates held steady, but a shift away from forward guidance blindsided traders. New projections and Warsh's emphasis on price stability led markets to price in potential rate hikes within months, injecting uncertainty into financial markets.

A startup founder's frustration over land acquisition for a satellite factory near Bengaluru has ignited a fierce competition between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Both states are actively wooing Pixxel, with Karnataka assuring support and Andhra Pradesh highlighting its investor-friendly initiatives and dedicated aerospace parks.

The Italian proverb Chi fa da s, fa per tre teaches the value of self-reliance and initiative. Meaning He who does things by himself, does the work of three, the saying suggests that personal effort and determination often produce efficient results. Popular for generations, it encourages individuals to take responsibility, trust their abilities and act decisively when faced with challenges.

Actress Sara Arjun, celebrating her 21st birthday on June 18, 2026, has established herself in Bollywood with her role in the Dhurandhar franchise. Beginning her career at a young age, she gained recognition for her breakthrough performance in the Tamil film Deiva Thirumagal and has since worked across multiple film industries.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe, contingent on allies taking greater responsibility for their own security. He criticized European nations for denying U.S. forces access to bases for potential attacks on Iran, deeming it shameful and putting American troops at risk.

Kerala lottery results today: Kerala Lottery Karunya Plus KN-628 results for Thursday, 18 June 2026, have been officially declared. Ticket holders can now check their numbers for the Rs 1 crore first prize and other attractive cash rewards. Full list of other winning numbers here.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed parents will accompany 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Ireland and England tour. This decision aims to ease the young cricketer into the senior team environment. Sooryavanshi earned his maiden call-up for the T20 setup. Saikia compared the situation to Sachin Tendulkar's early career. The board believes this support will help the young talent adjust.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced significant development plans for Unnao. A rapid rail corridor connecting Lucknow and Kanpur via Unnao is planned. An outer ring road will link Lucknow, Unnao, and other nearby districts. These projects aim to foster widespread development and create employment opportunities. The Chief Minister assured continued progress and funding for Unnao's development.

Anand Mahindra says a 15-cent disposable lighter made in China's Shaodong manufacturing hub offers a valuable lesson in industrial competitiveness. Highlighting how specialised suppliers clustered in one region drive efficiency and innovation, he argues that India should actively develop similar manufacturing ecosystems, such as Gujarat's Morbi ceramic cluster, to strengthen its position as a global manufacturing powerhouse rather than relying on chance for such success stories to emerge.

Washington's decision to rename the US Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command has sparked debate over India's strategic importance. Despite assurances from President Trump, analysts view the move as a symbolic downgrading, occurring amidst existing bilateral friction and concerns about US policy in Asia.

Nestled in West Sikkim, Khecheopalri Lake, known as the Wishing Lake, is a sacred site for Buddhists and Hindus, believed to grant wishes. Its unusually clean waters, attributed by locals to guardian birds, have captivated visitors, drawing renewed attention through viral videos showcasing its serene beauty and spiritual aura.

India's ban on Telegram stemmed from a dispute over alleged NEET exam paper leaks, with the government accusing the messaging platform of failing to proactively remove channels offering leaked papers and related scams. Documents reviewed by Reuters show weeks of exchanges between the IT Ministry and Telegram before New Delhi imposed an emergency ban on June 16.

A dried-up Bengaluru pond, Bikkanahalli Kunte, has been revived in just 24 hours by environmentalist Gurunandan Rao and volunteers. After months of securing permissions and addressing encroachments, the team cleared silt and waste, restoring the water body. The successful restoration has already attracted wildlife and improved local water storage capacity.

After 4.5 years at INR 70k, an employee was unexpectedly laid off. The same day, they received a WFH job offer paying INR 1.58 lakhs monthly in USD. This significant salary jump, while life-changing, has left the individual questioning their past worth and feeling a sense of disbelief.

The Delhi High Court has refused to relax the mandatory 30-day waiting period prescribed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, for a couple seeking early solemnisation of their marriage due to the groom's impending overseas employment.

Entrepreneur Ankiti Bose has received interim relief from a Delhi court. The Dwarka Court has ordered the removal of a defamatory article. The court restrained defendants from publishing similar content. Bose is a complainant in a Mumbai FIR. The court emphasized media caution in reporting ongoing investigations. This order protects Bose's reputation and ensures fair justice.

Claude AI users worldwide are experiencing a second major service disruption this month, with many reporting failed requests and login issues. This latest outage follows a significant global interruption on June 2, impacting various Claude services. Anthropic has yet to disclose the cause, leaving users and businesses concerned about reliability.

America's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is calling for a stronger NATO. He wants European nations to take charge of their continent's defense. This shift aims to create a powerful military alliance capable of deterring threats. The US is also boosting its own defense spending. Allies must step up to ensure collective security.

Indian businesses are urged to study Singapore's water recycling and reuse innovations. This is crucial for drinking water, industrial water, and sewage treatment needs. As India advances in manufacturing and data centers, water management becomes more important. Collaboration with Singapore's water ecosystem offers new business opportunities. Indian companies are looking to partner for globally recognized benchmarks in water management.

Claude AI down: Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude appeared to suffer a disruption on Wednesday, with users reporting that prompts were either returning blank responses or generating no reply at all. Thousands of reports surfaced on outage-tracking platforms, while users on community forums said the issue was affecting both the web and mobile versions of the service. Anthropic had not issued an official statement at the time of publication.

Chinese car companies are targeting wealthy buyers in right-hand-drive nations. They are introducing premium electric vehicles to new markets. This move comes as sales in China are slowing down. Brands like BYD and Zeekr are challenging established Japanese manufacturers. The Hong Kong auto show highlights these global ambitions. Chinese automakers aim for significant growth beyond their home country.

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, will become effective on July 15, 2026. This landmark deal opens new avenues for trade and investment between India and the United Kingdom. Businesses are encouraged to prepare for its implementation. The agreement is set to boost economic engagement and create employment opportunities in both nations.

Ancient marine fossils, locally called 'Asura Hadda', have been found in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. These 15-million-year-old discoveries point to a shallow sea that once covered the area. Researchers found shark teeth, vertebrae, fish bones, and mollusc shells. This site offers a glimpse into a rich prehistoric marine ecosystem. Further research is needed to understand the sea's recession.

Tesco's chief executive Ken Murphy stated that a recent slowdown in sales growth should not be overemphasized. He linked the performance to the weather. Last year's sales growth was exceptional due to outstanding weather conditions. Murphy believes the weather is the biggest factor impacting the market. The group faced a tough comparative period.