On Saturday, six Indian states and Union Territories — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh — will conduct coordinated civil defence mock drills under “Operation Shield.” Initiated by the Union Home Ministry following the Pahalgam terror attack, the drills aim to strengthen preparedness against wartime threats. Scenarios include air raids, drone attacks, and mass casualty events. A 15-minute blackout is scheduled in Haryana at 8 pm, excluding emergency services. Civil defence volunteers, NCC units, and hotlines between Air Force and civil authorities will be activated. The exercise follows an earlier nationwide drill held on May 7. (PC: PTI)

IndiGo will terminate its lease agreement with Turkish Airlines by August 31, following pressure over Turkey’s recent pro-Pakistan stance. The DGCA confirmed the final three-month extension was granted on the condition that no further extension would be requested. IndiGo operates two Boeing 777-300ERs leased from Turkish Airlines for Delhi and Mumbai-Istanbul routes. The move follows India’s diplomatic backlash against Turkey’s condemnation of Indian air strikes on terror camps. Security agencies have also acted, with BCAS revoking Turkish firm Celebi’s clearance. Despite defending the partnership's benefits, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed the airline’s full compliance with government regulations. (PC: India Today)

Humayun Kabir, a 35-year-old unemployed and recently divorced civil engineer from West Bengal, was arrested after a violent rampage that began with the murder of his parents in Memari. Authorities revealed that Kabir had been radicalised, consuming jihadi content online. He later travelled to Bongaon near the Bangladesh border, where he attacked four people at a madrasa-run orphanage. During interrogation, Kabir claimed he sought “Jannat” (heaven) and planned to cross into Bangladesh. Police are probing possible extremist links and his online activities that may have influenced his actions. (PC: Times of India)

Veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan has sparked a linguistic controversy during a promotional event for his upcoming film Thug Life. He stated that "Kannada was born out of Tamil," leading to backlash in Karnataka, including protests and calls to ban the film. Haasan responded by asserting, "If I'm wrong, I'll apologise. If I'm not, I won't," emphasizing his respect for all languages and cultures. He clarified that his statement was rooted in linguistic studies and affection, not intended to offend. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has demanded a public apology within two days, threatening to ban the film otherwise. Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, is scheduled for release on June 5. (PC: News 18)    

India's economy expanded by 6.5% in the fiscal year 2024-25, marking a slowdown from the 9.2% growth recorded in the previous year. However, the January-March quarter (Q4) witnessed a stronger-than-expected 7.4% growth, driven by increased rural consumption and government spending . Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran emphasized the need for aligning corporate profits with capital investment and employment to sustain growth . While the Reserve Bank of India projects a 6.5% growth for the next fiscal year, some analysts, like Barclays, caution that achieving this target may be challenging due to mixed economic indicators. (PC: ANI)    

A Kotdwar court on Friday sentenced Pulkit Arya, son of a former BJP minister, and his associates Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta to life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Rishikesh’s Vanantra Resort. The trio was convicted under IPC Sections 302, 201, 120B, and 354A, along with the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The case, which sparked statewide outrage and mass protests, revealed shocking abuse and illegal activities at the resort. Ankita’s mother, Soni Devi, demanded capital punishment. The court examined 47 key witnesses in a two-year trial. Ankita’s body was found in Chilla canal. (PC: ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that India had the capability to fragment Pakistan into four parts during Operation Sindoor, calling the operation merely a "warm-up" of India's military strength. Speaking about the Indian Navy's response post the Pahalgam terror attack, Singh praised its swift and precise missile operations. He warned that if provoked again, the Navy would be fully mobilized with unpredictable consequences for Pakistan. Highlighting India’s maritime vigilance, Singh emphasized the enemy was stunned not by action, but preparation. He stated Pakistan is lucky the Navy didn't unleash its full strength, showcasing India’s resolve and naval dominance. (PC: PTI)

Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy created history as the first Indian women duo to circumnavigate the globe under sail in double-handed mode. Aboard INSV Tarini, they covered over 25,400 nautical miles in eight months as part of the Navy’s Navika Sagar Parikrama II. They navigated perilous waters, including the three Capes and three cyclones, relying solely on wind power. Their return to Goa was met with thunderous applause and a warm welcome by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The voyage symbolizes women’s growing role in defence and maritime leadership, inspiring future generations through resilience, courage, and national pride. (PC: X/CISFHQrs)

On May 30, 2025, a devastating explosion occurred at a firecracker manufacturing and packaging unit near a village in Punjab's Sri Muktsar Sahib district, resulting in the deaths of five migrant laborers and injuring several others. The blast caused the building to collapse, trapping workers under the debris. Rescue operations are underway, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in India's fireworks industry, where inadequate safety measures and illegal operations have led to numerous tragedies in recent years. (PC: PTI)  

Amid internal discord sparked by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's assertion that India's first surgical strike occurred in 2016, the Congress party has reiterated its claim that six such operations were conducted during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure. Party general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala defended Tharoor as a "seasoned and experienced" leader but corrected his statement, emphasizing that surgical strikes were a regular feature under the UPA to counter terrorism. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly refuted this claim, citing a 2018 Right to Information (RTI) response from the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) stating no surgical strikes occurred under the UPA. The BJP accused Congress of disseminating false information, urging the party to "stop lying." (PC: PTI)