French naval forces, with support from the British military, intercepted and boarded a Russian-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. The vessel, named Tagor, was suspected of carrying oil in violation of international sanctions imposed on Russia.   French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation was carried out with help from allied countries, including the UK. British forces provided tracking and monitoring support before the tanker was boarded.   The ship is believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet", used to transport oil despite sanctions. Russia condemned the seizure and called such actions illegal.

Israel has ordered new strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, as fighting between the two sides intensifies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were in response to Hezbollah's rocket and drone strikes on Israel.   Following the announcement, many families fled the area, causing heavy traffic on roads leading out of Beirut. Lebanese officials said they were relying on US mediation efforts to prevent further violence.   Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli forces in response to Israeli attacks. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, both sides continue to exchange strikes, raising fears of a wider conflict in the region. (PC: Reuters)

The ICC announced several key decisions after its board meeting in Ahmedabad. It confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup. Instead, India's matches will be played at a neutral venue under the agreed hybrid model.   The ICC also approved trials of pink balls in Test matches to reduce time lost due to bad light. Head coaches will be allowed to speak with players during scheduled drinks breaks.   The Women's Champions Trophy 2027 has been moved to February. The ICC will also launch a new Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in 2026 and suspended Cricket Canada over governance issues. (PC: ICC, AP)

The United States and Iran exchanged fresh attacks over the weekend, raising tensions in the Gulf region. The US military said it carried out "self-defence strikes" on Iranian radar and drone control sites after a US drone was shot down.   Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it responded by targeting a US air base in Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities said missiles and drones were intercepted and no major damage was reported.   The latest attacks come as talks to extend a ceasefire remain stalled. Both sides have accused each other of violating agreements, while negotiations over a broader peace deal continue without a breakthrough. (PC: Reuters)

The success of the Bollywood film Dhurandhar has reportedly angered the Dawood Ibrahim-led D-Company, according to sources. The film features a character named Bade Saheb, who closely resembles Dawood and is shown on his deathbed. Sources claimed that D-Company later activated its network in Mumbai and began recruiting new members. The recruitment drive was allegedly handled by the Shakeel gang, while Pakistan's ISI was tasked with providing training and weapons. Sources also said the recruits were unaware of the larger plan and were allegedly motivated using local issues. Security agencies suspect the gang may be planning a major attack to regain influence. Recent arrests by Indian agencies have reportedly helped foil such plots.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the police of denying permission for a party protest in Kolkata over recent attacks on senior TMC leaders. She alleged that a "police raj" was prevailing in West Bengal and warned that she would protest in Delhi if the ban continued.   "If you don't give permission, I will protest in Delhi alone," Banerjee said during a virtual address to party workers.   She also claimed that TMC workers were facing intimidation and arrests. The BJP rejected the allegations and accused the TMC of trying to divert attention from its electoral setbacks. (PC: PTI)

Students protested outside the Education Ministry in Delhi on Monday over the NEET-UG paper leak and other exam-related issues. Members of AISA and KYS joined the demonstration, while police detained several protesters.   "We will not let this government play with our future. We are not scared of anything," a protesting student said. Protesters demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and criticised the handling of major exams.   Students also raised concerns over delays during the CUET-UG exam and issues with the CBSE paper-checking portal. They said repeated problems have affected the future of thousands of students across the country.

UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle will visit New Delhi on June 2 to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and discuss the early implementation of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deal aims to strengthen bilateral trade, already valued at £48 billion annually, amid global economic disruptions caused by conflicts and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Once in force, the agreement will remove 99% of UK tariffs and 90% of Indian tariffs, making trade easier and cheaper. Kyle will also meet business leaders from both countries to help firms prepare for the landmark trade deal.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi escalated his criticism of the government and CBSE over the digital evaluation controversy, alleging that Class 12 answer sheets were scanned using mobile phones instead of professional scanners. Citing claims by student researchers, Gandhi said key technical requirements were removed from the tender process, resulting in blurred scans, missing pages and evaluation errors. He accused CBSE of diluting norms to favour a private vendor and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue. The row has intensified amid reports of answer-sheet mix-ups, cybersecurity concerns and complaints from students over the online marking system.  

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has allegedly directed overground workers (OGWs) in Jammu and Kashmir to join mainstream political parties to conceal terror-related activities, according to findings from recent police interrogations. Investigators reportedly recovered membership cards of national political parties from several arrested OGWs. Security officials believe the strategy is aimed at helping operatives avoid scrutiny while facilitating recruitment, fundraising and movement of weapons. Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP S.P. Vaid said political party membership could be misused as a shield during security checks. Central agencies are now tracking suspected OGW networks and working to disrupt their logistical support systems. (PC: NDTV)