The Centre is considering using Indian Air Force logistics to transport NEET-UG 2026 question papers for the re-exam on June 21. The move comes after the cancellation of the May 3 exam following a paper leak controversy.   A high-level meeting was held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence to review preparations. Officials from the Education Ministry, NTA and PMO attended the meeting.   Around 23 lakh students are expected to appear for the re-exam. The government plans stricter security at every stage, including paper printing and distribution. So far, 13 people have been arrested in the paper leak case. (PC: PTI)

Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test at its launch pad in Florida on Thursday. The blast created a huge ball of fire and smoke around the test site at Cape Canaveral.   The company said the incident happened during a hotfire test ahead of an upcoming launch. All personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported. Local authorities said there was no threat to the public.   Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said it was too early to know the cause of the explosion. Investigations are underway. The company said it will rebuild damaged equipment and continue its space missions.

Sikkim has been declared a fully literate state under the ULLAS programme. The announcement was made during the convocation ceremony of Sikkim University in Gangtok. President Droupadi Murmu was present at the event.   With this achievement, Sikkim becomes the fifth fully literate state in India and the third in the Northeast. The ULLAS programme aims to improve adult literacy and lifelong learning.   Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said the achievement reflects the state's commitment to education and inclusive growth. He praised learners, teachers, and volunteers for their efforts in reaching every part of the state and making the mission successful.

7 Asiatic lions have died in Gujarat's Gir Forest after being infected by a suspected virus. Officials believe the disease may be Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), but tests are still underway. 17 lions have been placed in quarantine, and eight have tested positive for the infection. The Gujarat government has launched an emergency response to stop the disease from spreading. Around 250 forest staff and 12 veterinarians are monitoring and treating the animals. Health checks are being carried out across the Gir region. Authorities say no new cases have been found outside the affected areas so far.

A company reportedly received a staggering $500 million monthly bill for using Anthropic’s Claude AI after failing to impose usage limits on employee licences, according to an Axios report. AI tools typically charge based on token consumption, meaning higher usage results in significantly higher costs. The unnamed firm allegedly allowed unrestricted employee access, leading to massive token overuse and an estimated Rs 4,770 crore expense within a single month. The report highlights growing concerns among businesses over the rising operational costs of large-scale AI adoption. Microsoft has reportedly reduced Claude-related usage and plans to shift toward internal AI tools, while Uber previously exhausted its annual AI budget within months, reflecting broader industry concerns about AI sustainability. (PC: India Today)

The United Nations will posthumously honour two Indian peacekeepers on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers for their sacrifice during UN missions. Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), will receive the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN will also recognise Major Abhilasha Barak with the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for promoting women empowerment and gender sensitisation during her Lebanon deployment under UNIFIL. Major Barak is also India’s first woman combat helicopter pilot. (PC: X)

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a nuclear agreement, although unresolved issues remain regarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and uranium enrichment activities. Speaking to reporters, Vance said negotiations were still underway and described the talks as “not there yet”, while adding the United States could significantly set back Iran’s nuclear programme if necessary. According to Reuters sources, the US and Iran also agreed to extend their ceasefire and ease restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pending approval from President Donald Trump. Vance said discussions continue over specific language in the proposed memorandum of understanding, with both sides still negotiating key provisions before any formal signing. (PC: X)

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a hotfire static test at Launch Complex-36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending massive flames and smoke across the launch pad. The incident occurred while engineers were testing propulsion systems ahead of a planned mission carrying 48 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. Blue Origin confirmed an “anomaly” during the test and said all personnel were safely accounted for. Founder Jeff Bezos called it a “very rough day” and vowed the company would rebuild and resume operations. NASA said it is assessing possible impacts on Artemis and Moon Base programmes. Industry experts warned the blast and possible launch pad damage could significantly delay Blue Origin’s lunar mission ambitions.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa delivered a major statement at Norway Chess 2026 by defeating world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in round three, earning three full points in a tense classical contest. The victory lifted Praggnanandhaa to sole second place with 4.5 points, behind tournament leader Alireza Firouzja, who stands at 7.5 points. The win continues Praggnanandhaa’s impressive rise after strong performances in Bucharest and marks another classical victory over Carlsen following his breakthrough success at Norway Chess 2024. Meanwhile, reigning world champion D Gukesh endured another setback, losing to Firouzja in Armageddon after a marathon classical draw. Praggnanandhaa later described defeating Carlsen as a “really big win” and admitted feeling fortunate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised India’s strong support for Israel, saying the country shows “absolutely crazy love” for Israel at a time when many nations criticise it globally. Speaking at a conference in the West Bank, Netanyahu highlighted India’s growing importance in Israel’s diplomatic outreach and noted his large Indian follower base. His remarks follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 2026 visit to Jerusalem, where both nations upgraded ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity”. India and Israel agreed to expand cooperation across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, defence, biotechnology, agriculture, fintech, water management and space technology, while also exploring integration between India’s UPI and Israel’s payment system.