Venezuela has become India’s third-largest crude oil supplier in May, overtaking Saudi Arabia and the United States. Indian refiners increased purchases of Venezuelan crude because it is cheaper than many other global oil grades. According to Kpler data, Venezuela supplied around 417,000 barrels of crude oil per day to India this month. Experts said the ongoing West Asia conflict and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz also affected India’s oil imports. Saudi Arabia’s oil supply to India dropped sharply in May. Analysts said Venezuelan crude is attractive because it suits complex Indian refineries, including Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat.

India has sent 20 tonnes of vaccine materials to Afghanistan to support the country’s child immunisation programme. The shipment includes dry materials for BCG and Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccines. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said more consignments will be sent soon. He added that India remains committed to helping the “friendly people” of Afghanistan in the health sector. Earlier in April, India also delivered 13 tonnes of BCG vaccines and medical supplies to Afghanistan. India has regularly provided humanitarian aid to the country, including support for flood and earthquake-affected people.

India’s job market is facing mounting pressure from the Iran war and global trade disruptions, hitting both overseas employment and export-driven manufacturing. Gulf hiring has slowed sharply, forcing many Indian migrant workers to return home without comparable incomes, while sectors like leather, garments and glassware struggle with rising fuel, logistics and shipping costs. Industrial hubs such as Kanpur are witnessing weaker production, delayed hiring and shrinking workforces. Recruiters report collapsing overseas placements as Gulf economies weaken and employers postpone recruitment. Economists warn that AI-led restructuring, weak global trade, visa uncertainty and slowing wage growth could intensify unemployment and underemployment among millions of young Indians entering the workforce annually across manufacturing and service industries nationwide. (PC: Reuters)

Punjab Police have arrested Pathankot resident Baljit Singh for allegedly installing an internet-enabled CCTV camera along the sensitive Pathankot-Jammu corridor to monitor Indian Army and paramilitary movement and share the live feed with Pakistan-linked handlers. Investigators suspect the camera, mounted near a bridge on NH-44, was strategically positioned to capture real-time convoy activity heading toward Jammu and Kashmir. Police claim Singh received instructions and nearly Rs 40,000 from a Dubai-based contact. Authorities believe the operation reflects a growing pattern of low-cost digital espionage using commercially available surveillance tools. The investigation is now focused on tracing overseas links, financial transactions and possible wider espionage networks operating across India’s border states and regions.

Venezuela has become India’s third-largest crude oil supplier in May, surpassing Saudi Arabia and the United States as Indian refiners increased purchases of discounted Venezuelan crude. According to Kpler data, Venezuela supplied about 417,000 barrels per day this month, compared to 283,000 bpd in April, after nine months without exports to India. Russia and the UAE remained India’s top suppliers. The shift comes amid disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict, Strait of Hormuz tensions and halted Iranian shipments. Analysts said Venezuelan crude suits complex refineries like Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar facility and remains cheaper than competing grades. Saudi supplies sharply declined due to aggressive pricing, while Iraq imports also stayed significantly lower.

A Kolkata-born Indian living in Germany sparked online discussion after comparing India’s passport renewal efficiency with Berlin’s slow residence permit process. The man said it took nearly six weeks to renew his Indian passport through the Indian Embassy in Berlin, despite coordination between Kolkata’s passport office, local police verification, and international document transport. In contrast, he claimed getting an appointment at Berlin’s Foreigners’ Office alone took six weeks, while the new residence card would take another eight weeks. Investor Deepak Shenoy also shared that he renewed his passport in India within four days without Tatkal service. 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Kolkata resident Zafar Riaz alias Rizvi for allegedly spying for Pakistan Intelligence Officers. Officials said the case is linked to a larger espionage network connected to an anti-India terror conspiracy. According to the NIA, Rizvi was allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives and shared sensitive information. The agency said investigators are examining his links and digital records. Officials also confirmed that Rizvi is married to a Pakistani woman. The NIA carried out searches before making the arrest. The agency said the investigation is continuing and more details about the suspected network are being examined. (PC: NDTV)

Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Thursday. According to sources, Burhan was attacked by unknown assailants and died from multiple gunshot wounds. The Indian government had designated him a terrorist in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Official records identified him as Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Hamza Burhan, an associate of terror outfit Al Badr and a resident of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. The 2019 Pulwama bombing killed 40 CRPF personnel after a suicide attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar. (PC: X)

Thousands of Indian tech workers in the US are facing uncertainty after layoffs at companies like Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn. Many of them work on H-1B visas linked to their jobs. Under US immigration rules, laid-off workers usually get only 60 days to find a new employer or leave the country. The situation has created stress for many families. Some workers are trying to switch to visitor visas for more time, while others are considering moving back to India or searching for jobs in other countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India in September for the BRICS summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country since 2019 and the first after the 2020 eastern Ladakh military standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan before the BRICS meeting, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi. The anticipated visit reflects gradual stabilisation in India-China ties following disengagement efforts at the Line of Actual Control. Recent confidence-building measures include resumed visas, direct flights, eased restrictions on Chinese firms, renewed border trade and the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. (PC: PTI)