Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has dismissed negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, labeling it a "puppet" regime lacking real authority. He insists that meaningful dialogue can only occur with the military establishment, which he deems the actual power holders. Khan, incarcerated since August 2023 following his government's ousting in April 2022, accuses the current administration of fabricating political cases and suppressing his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), through forced abductions and coerced press conferences. He refutes claims of any negotiation attempts, stating no one has approached him for talks. Despite restrictions on family visits and medical care, Khan remains resolute, asserting his commitment to the nation's welfare. (PC: AP)

Despite a federal judge temporarily blocking the Trump administration's revocation of Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, fear persists among the over 7,000 affected students, comprising about 27% of Harvard's student body. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that students must transfer before the 2025–2026 academic year or lose legal status. Harvard's student body co-president, Abdullah Shahid Sial, highlighted the panic among students, many of whom are far from home and uncertain about their futures. Harvard's lawsuit claims the government's action is retaliatory and would have an immediate, devastating effect on the university and its international students. (PC: Hindustan Times & The Telegraph)

India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. At the UN, India's Permanent Representative, Ambassador P. Harish, accused Pakistan of being a "global epicentre of terror," citing over 20,000 Indian deaths from terrorist attacks in the past four decades. He emphasized that the treaty's suspension will persist until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. India also highlighted Pakistan's consistent violations of the treaty's spirit through wars and terror attacks. In response, Pakistan condemned the move as "water warfare." The international community has been urged to take collective action against terrorism. (PC: ABC & Lead the change)

On May 24, 2025, the BCCI appointed 25-year-old Shubman Gill as India's 37th Test captain, following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket. Gill will lead the team in the upcoming five-Test series against England, commencing on June 20, 2025, at Headingley. Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain. The squad includes newcomers Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, and Shardul Thakur, indicating a generational shift. Jasprit Bumrah was not considered for captaincy to manage his workload effectively. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar expressed confidence in Gill's leadership, citing his maturity and prior captaincy experience. This series marks the beginning of India's campaign in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship. (PC: Forbes & India Today)

On May 24, 2025, Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) experienced a significant global outage, leaving millions unable to access the app or website. Downdetector reported over 25,000 user complaints by 6:09 PM IST, with 69% related to app issues, 23% to website access, and 8% to server connectivity. The outage, the second in 24 hours, follows a series of disruptions, including a 30-minute downtime on March 10 attributed by Musk to a cyberattack. The company's engineering team cited ongoing issues from a previous data center outage, affecting logins, signups, notifications, and Premium features. X has yet to disclose the exact cause or full extent of the current disruption. (PC: Freepik)

At the 8th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized collaborative efforts between the Centre and states to achieve the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. The meeting focused on strategies for economic growth, poverty eradication, and infrastructure development. However, Chief Ministers from 10 states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, were absent, citing various reasons. NITI Aayog officials expressed concern that non-participation could hinder these states' developmental progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all Chief Ministers were united in their condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack last month during the NITI Aayog meeting held in Delhi on Saturday. All leaders extended support to Operation Sindoor, which was aimed at destroying terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK. The meeting underscored the importance of unity in addressing national challenges and implementing reforms. The absence of key state leaders highlighted ongoing tensions between the Centre and certain states, raising questions about cooperative federalism in India's governance. (PC: News 18 & The Hindu)

DMK MP Kanimozhi led an all-party Indian delegation to Russia, reinforcing India's unwavering stance against terrorism. In Moscow, she emphasized that India would make no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors if attacked again, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message. The delegation met with members of the Russian Parliament, including Leonid Slutsky, to discuss Operation Sindoor and India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Kanimozhi highlighted Pakistan's attempts to target religious sites in India and reiterated India's commitment to permanent peace, despite repeated provocations. The visit aimed to garner international support and solidarity in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. (PC: Mint & India Today)

A forthcoming biography, Love, Freddie by Lesley-Ann Jones, unveils a 48-year-old secret: Queen frontman Freddie Mercury fathered a daughter in 1976 during an affair with a close friend's wife. The woman, identified as "B," is now a 48-year-old medical professional and mother living in Europe. Her existence was known only to Mercury's inner circle, including Mary Austin, his parents, and sister. Despite being excluded from his will, Mercury maintained a close relationship with "B," providing her with 17 personal journals chronicling his life. "B" has chosen to come forward to correct misinformation and end decades of secrecy. The biography is set to be released on September 5. (PC: Mathrubhumi)

On Friday evening, a knife attack at Hamburg's central train station injured at least 18 people, including three critically. The assailant, a 39-year-old German woman, was arrested at the scene without resistance. The attack occurred on the platform between tracks 13 and 14. Authorities believe she acted alone, with no clear motive identified yet. Some victims received treatment on trains, while others were hospitalized. The station, a major transit hub, saw partial closures and train delays following the incident. Carrying weapons, including knives, is prohibited at the station and on local transport in Hamburg. Deutsche Bahn expressed deep shock over the event. Investigations are ongoing to determine further details.(PC: ABC & NBC)

The Indian government has ratified an 8.25% interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deposits for FY 2024-25, maintaining the previous year's rate. This decision, confirmed by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the EPFO, awaits formal notification from the Finance Ministry, after which interest will be credited to over seven crore subscribers' accounts. The EPF continues to offer competitive, tax-free returns compared to other fixed-income instruments. Additionally, the CBT approved enhancements to the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, including a ₹50,000 minimum benefit for deaths within one year of service and coverage for deaths occurring within six months of the last contribution, benefiting over 20,000 families annually. (PC: News18 & Outlook India)