Megha Vemuri, MIT’s 2025 class president and an Indian-American student, was barred from attending her graduation after delivering an unsanctioned pro-Palestinian speech. Vemuri wore a keffiyeh and condemned the war in Gaza and MIT's ties to Israel during the OneMIT Commencement. The university stated she misled organizers and disrupted the ceremony, violating guidelines. Though she will receive her diploma by mail, Vemuri criticized MIT for punishing her without due process. Civil rights group CAIR condemned the action. The incident adds to rising tensions on U.S. campuses amid Gaza protests and ongoing debate over free speech and institutional accountability. (PC: The Hindu)

Mount Etna, Italy’s and Europe’s most active volcano, erupted on Monday, unleashing a dramatic pyroclastic flow and sending plumes of ash thousands of feet into the air. Italy’s national volcano monitoring agency confirmed the eruption from the central crater of the Sicilian giant. Despite its intensity, no damage or evacuations were reported, and Catania airport remained operational. Etna’s near-constant activity continues to fascinate scientists and attract tourists. Volcanologists are monitoring the event using seismic tools and drones, watching for potential air traffic disruption due to ash. The eruption highlights the raw power of Earth’s geology beneath one of Italy’s iconic landmarks. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party Indian delegation in Brazil, criticized China for shielding Pakistan-backed terrorist groups at the UN. In a discussion with Brazilian diplomat Celso Amorim, Tharoor took a veiled swipe, saying, “Your friend in China” helped remove references to the Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy—from a UNSC statement. He stressed the need for India and Brazil to secure permanent UNSC seats. Tharoor also addressed the Colorado terror attack, expressing concern and relief that no lives were lost. The delegation heads to the US next, advocating for global counterterrorism and Security Council reform. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul ended without a breakthrough, with both sides agreeing only to a prisoner exchange involving the sick, wounded, and those under 25. Ukraine demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Russia rejected, offering instead a limited local truce. Ukrainian negotiators expect Russia’s full response by the end of June and pushed for direct presidential talks. Russia also pledged to return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers. With Moscow still occupying 20% of Ukrainian territory, hopes for a swift resolution remain slim as the war grinds on into its third year. (PC: BBC)

Ukraine and Russia held a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, just a day after Kyiv launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russian airbases. The hour-long talks focused on a potential ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner exchange. Ukraine’s 14-member delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Russia’s side was headed by top Putin advisor Vladimir Medinsky. The drone barrage reportedly destroyed 40 Russian warplanes across four distant bases, causing damages exceeding $2 billion. President Zelenskyy praised the operation as “brilliant,” suggesting it may pressure Russia into serious diplomacy after months of stalemate. (PC: News18)

In a groundbreaking special operation, Ukrainian forces launched over 100 drones from disguised shipping containers, striking multiple Russian airbases in a coordinated assault. This unprecedented drone raid destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, severely crippling Russia’s air capabilities in the region. The operation, hailed as one of the largest and most sophisticated drone attacks in modern warfare, showcased Ukraine’s growing technological and tactical edge. Experts compare the scale and surprise of the strike to Russia’s own “Pearl Harbor” moment. The attack underscores the evolving nature of warfare where drones redefine the battlefield’s dynamics. Russia’s military faces significant setbacks. (PC: India Today)

Weeks after India's Operation Sindoor strikes dismantled terror hubs in Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has resurfaced at its Muridke headquarters. Fresh visuals accessed by intelligence sources show cadres holding Friday prayers in the damaged prayer hall once used by Hafiz Saeed and his son. “This is not the end of their operations,” warned a senior official, adding LeT is now using the destruction to raise funds abroad. Pakistan’s minister has pledged to rebuild the site. Meanwhile, top LeT commander Saifullah Khalid, accused of masterminding the April 22 Pahalgam attack, was seen at a Kasur rally vowing to “die as martyrs.” (PC:  News18)

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have arrived in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks, following a night of intense aerial assaults by both sides. Hours earlier, Kyiv launched 117 drones targeting military bases deep inside Russia, reportedly destroying at least 13 warplanes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the strike as “an absolutely brilliant result.” The Ukrainian attack came in retaliation to Russia’s largest aerial offensive on Ukraine the night before. Despite a previous round of talks in Istanbul last month yielding little progress beyond a prisoner exchange, hopes remain that diplomacy may ease tensions amid the ongoing war. (PC: BBC)

Six people were injured in Boulder, Colorado, after Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower in a targeted terror attack on a pro-Israel demonstration. The incendiary devices, made from bottles filled with flammable liquid and a lit wick, have roots in World War II. Named after Soviet minister Vyacheslav Molotov, the “cocktails” were coined sarcastically by Finns during the Winter War to fight Soviet tanks. The attack reignited concerns over terrorism and the use of improvised weapons in political violence. The FBI is investigating the assault, which Soliman reportedly carried out while shouting “Free Palestine.”

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in two to three phases before the current Assembly's term ends on November 22. The Election Commission is planning the schedule around major festivals like Diwali and Chhath. Polling reforms include reducing voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200, more booths in dense areas, and door-to-door verification by BLOs. The EC will deploy the new ECINET dashboard, replacing 40 older tools. Voter rolls will link to death records to avoid fraud, and a special AI cell will monitor synthetic content. CEC Gyanesh Kumar will visit Bihar later this month. (PC: India Today)