A Russian drone struck a 10-storey apartment building in Galați, eastern Romania, near the Ukraine border, injuring two people and sparking a fire. Romanian authorities said the drone was part of a wider overnight Russian attack on Ukraine and remained in Romanian airspace for several minutes before impact. Around 70 residents were evacuated as emergency teams controlled the blaze. Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets and summoned the Russian ambassador after the incident. NATO condemned the strike as a dangerous escalation and reaffirmed its commitment to defend alliance territory. Romanian officials called it the country’s most serious security incident since the Ukraine war began. (PC: Reuters)

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has expressed confidence that the proposed India-US trade agreement could be finalised in the coming weeks or months. Speaking at an event at IIT Delhi, he described India as a "trusted partner" and called the relationship between the two countries the defining partnership of the 21st century.   Gor said cooperation between India and the US is growing in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and space research. He also highlighted the TRUST initiative, aimed at strengthening collaboration in critical technologies and supply chains between the two nations. 

Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after the team finished 10th in IPL 2026. The franchise confirmed that Pant requested to be relieved of leadership duties, and the decision was accepted with immediate effect.   Pant joined LSG for ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He captained the team in 28 matches across two seasons and won 10 games.   LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody thanked Pant for his contribution as captain. He said the franchise will now focus on rebuilding and restructuring the team for future seasons. (PC: Creimas)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he directed the Israeli military to increase its control of Gaza from 60% to 70%. Speaking at a conference, he said the move is part of efforts to put more pressure on Hamas.   The announcement comes despite an existing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Indirect talks, backed by the United States, have remained stalled over the next steps of the peace plan.   Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza have continued. Local health officials reported more deaths in recent days. The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, triggering the ongoing war. (PC: Reuters)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the opening of its Class 12 post-result verification and re-evaluation portal to June 1, 2026. The board said the decision was taken to ensure a smooth and glitch-free application process for students. Students seeking verification or re-evaluation of their answer sheets will be able to apply through the Post-Result Activities portal once it becomes operational. CBSE said the extra time will help improve the system and prevent technical issues. The board has also set up a helpline and email support service to assist students with queries related to the process.

According to a report, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is set to leave the franchise after IPL 2026. Sources claimed that Pandya informed the team management of his decision during the season.   The report said the 32-year-old felt "mentally stressed and completely exhausted" after a difficult campaign. He also reportedly suffered a back injury. Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for the playoffs, adding to the disappointment.   Pandya took over as captain in 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma. Reports suggest both Pandya and the franchise have reached an understanding to part ways ahead of next season. (PC: BBCI)

India is likely to receive below-normal monsoon rainfall this year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather agency has lowered its forecast from 92% to 90% of the long-period average rainfall.   The IMD said weak El Nino conditions are expected to develop in June and may strengthen later in the season. Northeast India is likely to receive normal rainfall, while many other regions may see less rain than usual.   The department also warned of above-normal heatwave days in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, during June. (PC: HT)

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi will captain the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement ends doubts about Messi's participation after a recent injury scare while playing for Inter Miami.   Messi, 38, is set to play in his sixth World Cup, extending his record. Medical tests showed he is dealing with muscle fatigue, but Scaloni played down concerns over his fitness.   Argentina have named a 26-player squad for the tournament. The defending champions will begin their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in the United States. (PC: Reuters)

British MP Rupert Lowe has sparked controversy after saying, "I don't believe we should import millions of Pakistanis and Indians to do jobs that unemployed Brits should be doing." The remarks were made in a series of social media posts and triggered widespread criticism.   Lowe also criticised immigration policies and claimed that migration was changing the cultural identity of some parts of the UK. Critics accused him of promoting racial and religious divisions through sweeping statements about immigrant communities.   Official data, however, shows Indian and Pakistani communities form a small share of the population in his constituency. (PC: Reuters)

The Indian Air Force will help transport question papers for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. The move aims to strengthen security and prevent paper leaks.   Pradhan said the government is working with several departments, including the Home Ministry, postal services and state governments, to ensure a fair examination process. He added that the Air Force's support will help deliver question papers safely and on time, especially during the monsoon season.   The decision comes after the May 3 NEET-UG exam was cancelled following a paper leak controversy.