Lashkar-e-Taiba deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri has reportedly issued a public warning to Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against recognising Israel. Kasuri allegedly threatened that any Pakistani leader pursuing diplomatic ties with Israel would be “assassinated, destroyed and ruined.” The remarks have triggered major political controversy and renewed scrutiny over the influence of extremist organisations within Pakistan’s political and security landscape. The incident has also intensified debate around Islamabad’s foreign policy direction and the pressure militant groups may exert on the country’s leadership regarding relations with Israel and broader Middle East diplomacy.

A United States delegation led by its chief trade negotiator will visit India from June 1 to 4 for discussions on the proposed interim trade agreement and the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The talks follow earlier negotiations held in Washington DC in April and will focus on market access, customs facilitation, non-tariff barriers, investment promotion and economic security cooperation. Both countries had announced the trade framework in a joint statement on February 7, 2026, aimed at strengthening reciprocal trade ties. The upcoming negotiations also come amid tariff recalibration challenges and ongoing US investigations under Section 301. Separately, India and the US recently strengthened cooperation on critical minerals and strategic supply chains. (PC: X)

Mukulika Banerjee sparked debate after claiming in a podcast that poorer Indians pay a larger share of their income in taxes because of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. The London School of Economics academic argued that GST places a proportionally heavier burden on low-income households. However, several experts challenged the claim, pointing out that many essential daily-use items commonly consumed by poorer households are either exempt from GST or taxed at the lower 5% slab. The remarks triggered wider discussions on tax equity, indirect taxation and consumption patterns in India, with critics accusing Banerjee of oversimplifying the structure and real-world impact of India’s GST regime. (PC: LSE Website)

An Indian couple faced an alleged racist confrontation in the United States after a stranger aggressively told them to “leave the country” in a viral video circulating online. The man questioned the couple about their Indian origin and asked why they were in the US despite praising India. Remaining calm throughout the exchange, the couple said they were visiting to “explore the world.” The incident has reignited debates around racism and xenophobia faced by immigrants and Indians abroad. Social media users widely praised the couple’s composure, while others called for stronger responses against such discriminatory behaviour. 

Violence erupted in Thiruvananthapuram after CPI(M) protesters allegedly attacked an Enforcement Directorate (ED) vehicle outside former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence during raids linked to the CMRL money laundering case. Demonstrators accused central agencies of politically motivated action against Left leaders. Police intervened after protesters surrounded the area and damaged the vehicle carrying ED officials. Several people were reportedly detained following the clashes. The raids targeted locations connected to Vijayan and individuals linked to the investigation. The incident has intensified political tensions between the BJP-led Centre and Kerala’s Left parties, triggering protests in different parts of the state. (PC: The Hindu)

Hyderabad-based IT professional and mountaineer Arun Kumar Tiwari died while descending Mount Everest after successfully summiting the peak. The 53-year-old had previously climbed mountains including Kilimanjaro, Denali and Kanchenjunga. His family decided not to recover his body from Everest’s dangerous “death zone,” citing his deep love for the mountains, spiritual beliefs, and the extreme risks involved in retrieval operations. Family members said Tiwari considered the Himalayas his true passion beyond his corporate career. The incident has highlighted the dangers of Everest expeditions, where several climbers have died during the 2026 climbing season. (PC: The Indian Express)

A French court sentenced former bank manager Guillaume Bucci to 25 years in prison after convicting him of raping, torturing and exploiting his former partner, Laetitia R, over seven years. Prosecutors said Bucci manipulated her through psychological control, threats and violence, forcing her into prostitution with hundreds of men. The survivor testified that she “stopped counting at 487 men” and described living in constant fear. Evidence included threatening messages and recordings. The case has shocked France and drawn comparisons to the Gisèle Pelicot abuse trial, highlighting growing concerns over violence against women and coercive sexual exploitation. (PC: AFP)

C. Joseph Vijay met Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his first official visit to the national capital after becoming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. The 25-minute meeting took place at Seva Teerth and focused on major state issues, including pending central funds, Chennai Metro expansion, GST compensation, fertiliser supply, and the Mekedatu reservoir dispute. Vijay is also expected to meet Union ministers, President Droupadi Murmu, and Congress leaders during the visit. The meeting is being viewed as politically significant amid changing dynamics in Tamil Nadu politics. (PC: India Today)

India has opened its first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), to private companies in a historic defence sector shift. The Defence Ministry has shortlisted Tata Advanced Systems, the L&T-BEL-Dynamatic consortium and the Bharat Forge-BEML-Data Patterns consortium for the Rs 15,000 crore project. The selected partner will build five AMCA prototypes at a new facility in Andhra Pradesh with support from DRDO and ADA. The move marks the first time state-run HAL has been excluded from a major fighter aircraft programme, boosting India’s push for defence self-reliance and private-sector participation. (PC: NDTV)

Air India will reduce around 22% of its domestic flights from next month after already cutting 27% of international operations between June and August due to rising fuel costs. The airline said the temporary reduction was driven by the sustained impact of high jet fuel prices following the US-Israeli attack on Iran. Air India, which reported a record loss of over $2 billion in 2025-26, is also facing operational pressure from restrictions on using Pakistan’s airspace. The airline said affected passengers will be offered alternative flights, free date changes or full refunds during the temporary schedule rationalisation. (PC: X)