Germany has abolished the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals travelling to third countries through German airports, effective June 3, 2026. The German Embassy said the move was officially notified in the Federal Law Gazette on June 2 and reflects Berlin’s commitment to strengthening India-Germany relations, facilitating travel and deepening economic cooperation. The decision is expected to benefit thousands of Indian students, professionals and tourists who use German airports as transit hubs. The announcement follows German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India in January. It also comes months after France operationalised visa-free airport transit for Indian citizens in April 2026, further easing travel across Europe.kj

India will again miss the FIFA World Cup in 2026, but the tournament will feature a notable Indian connection through four players of Indian heritage representing different nations. New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh, born to Punjabi parents, headlines the list. Qatar winger Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, whose family hails from Kerala, is among the youngest players in the competition. Australia winger Nishan Velupillay carries Tamil and Anglo-Indian roots, while DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy traces his ancestry to the Tamil community. Their participation ensures Indian heritage will have a visible presence at football’s biggest event despite India’s absence. (PC: MSN)

British MP Rupert Lowe reignited debate over the UK’s grooming gangs scandal during an emotional parliamentary speech highlighting survivor testimonies, alleged institutional failures and demands for accountability. Referring to evidence gathered during an independent inquiry, Lowe cited accounts of organised child sexual exploitation, including claims that one victim was abused by “600 or 700 different men” over three years. He also highlighted allegations of failures by police, healthcare workers, children’s home staff and local authorities to intervene. The speech follows renewed scrutiny of historical grooming gang cases in towns including Rotherham and Rochdale, where organised abuse networks were previously uncovered.

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez will visit India from June 3 to 7 for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. During the visit, she is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss cooperation in energy, trade, investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, transportation and renewable energy. Rodriguez will be accompanied by senior ministers from her government. The visit comes as India increases crude oil imports from Venezuela, becoming its second-largest buyer after the United States. The Venezuelan delegation will also visit industrial and energy sites in India to explore business opportunities and learn about the country's technological capabilities.

The Maharashtra government has purchased Mumbai's landmark Air India building for Rs 1,601 crore. The building was bought from Air India Assets Holding Limited. The state plans to shift several government offices there, many of which currently operate from rented spaces across Mumbai. The move is expected to reduce rental costs and improve coordination between departments. The building offers over 46,000 square metres of office space near the Mantralaya. Renovation work will be carried out by the Public Works Department, and the building is expected to be ready within a year. Air India put the property up for sale in 2018. (PC: Getty Images)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met 17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant, who highlighted alleged irregularities in CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Sharing photos of the meeting, Gandhi told the student to "stay firm in your principles". He also criticised the government's action against CBSE officials, calling it a "cover-up". Gandhi said, "Officials removed. Minister spared," and demanded the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Earlier, the Centre transferred the CBSE chairman and secretary and ordered a probe into the procurement of digital evaluation services. A one-member committee will submit its report within a month.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement and said he would join its June 6 protest in Delhi if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign by June 5. Wangchuk said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke convinced him the movement is patriotic and driven by concerns of Indian youth. While acknowledging issues such as NEET paper leaks and examination controversies, he argued the larger problem is the failure of long-term education reforms. He questioned whether current policies can achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047 and urged accountability, saying education ministers in self-respecting democracies resign after such failures. (PC: The Indian Express)

India strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint communiqué issued after the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, calling them “unwarranted” and asserting that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said entities with no locus standi should refrain from commenting on India’s internal affairs. The communiqué noted that Pakistan briefed the European Union on Jammu and Kashmir, while the EU shared updates on the Ukraine conflict. India reiterated its longstanding position that no third party has any role in matters concerning the region. New Delhi also reaffirmed its opposition to CPEC projects in territories it claims.

Iran’s year-on-year inflation reached 77.2% in May, the highest level since World War II, according to the Central Bank. Prices for everyday essentials, including medicine, transport and communication services, surged 113.8% from a year earlier. The economic crisis has been intensified by damage from recent airstrikes, disruption to the oil industry and a US naval blockade targeting Iranian crude exports. Tax revenues have weakened as businesses struggle, while the rial has collapsed from 32,000 per US dollar in 2015 to over 1.7 million today. Analysts warn inflation could approach 80%, raising fears of renewed nationwide protests driven by worsening living costs and public hardship. (PC: AP/PTI)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has appointed Prashant Sitaram Lokhande as its new Chairman and Varun Bhardwaj as Secretary amid controversy surrounding the board’s on-screen marking (OSM) system. Lokhande replaces Rahul Singh, while Bhardwaj succeeds Himanshu Gupta. The OSM system, introduced for Class 12 examinations, has faced criticism over alleged irregularities, technical glitches, payment failures, and concerns regarding the award of a contract to a private company. A one-member committee is investigating the matter. CBSE has reopened its re-evaluation portal until June 6, allowing eligible students to seek verification and reassessment of evaluated answer sheets. (PC: X)