Actor Idris Elba was formally knighted by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, receiving one of the United Kingdom’s highest honours. The recognition was awarded for his services to young people and extensive charitable work, reflecting contributions beyond his acclaimed acting career. Elba, known globally for roles in film and television, including The Wire and Head of State, marked the occasion by sharing and reposting coverage of the ceremony on Instagram. He expressed gratitude to the Royal Family for the honour and described the moment as deeply meaningful. The knighthood further acknowledges his influence in entertainment, philanthropy, and community development efforts across multiple sectors and public life.

The Supreme Court has held that voluntary sex work by consenting adults is not unlawful under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) and directed police not to harass or detain adult sex workers found during raids. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the law does not authorise action against adults engaged in sex work by choice, though operating a brothel remains illegal. The court ruled that rehabilitation cannot be imposed against a sex worker’s will and must be based on consent. Hearing a plea on protecting trafficking victims’ rights, the bench criticised the ITPA’s “one-size-fits-all” approach and called for individual assessment in rehabilitation decisions. (PC: X)

Russia launched one of the largest aerial assaults of the Ukraine war, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in a massive overnight barrage targeting Kyiv and several other cities. Ukrainian authorities said the attack involved 656 drones and 73 missiles, with air defences intercepting a significant number of incoming weapons. The strikes killed civilians, injured many others and damaged critical infrastructure, leaving around 100,000 people without power. Dramatic footage showed multiple missile impacts in Kyiv within seconds. Russia described the operation as retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks, while Ukraine said civilian areas were heavily affected. The escalation highlights the intensifying aerial dimension of the conflict.

Germany has abolished the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals travelling to third countries through German airports, effective June 3, 2026. The German Embassy said the move was officially notified in the Federal Law Gazette on June 2 and reflects Berlin’s commitment to strengthening India-Germany relations, facilitating travel and deepening economic cooperation. The decision is expected to benefit thousands of Indian students, professionals and tourists who use German airports as transit hubs. The announcement follows German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India in January. It also comes months after France operationalised visa-free airport transit for Indian citizens in April 2026, further easing travel across Europe.kj

India will again miss the FIFA World Cup in 2026, but the tournament will feature a notable Indian connection through four players of Indian heritage representing different nations. New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh, born to Punjabi parents, headlines the list. Qatar winger Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, whose family hails from Kerala, is among the youngest players in the competition. Australia winger Nishan Velupillay carries Tamil and Anglo-Indian roots, while DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy traces his ancestry to the Tamil community. Their participation ensures Indian heritage will have a visible presence at football’s biggest event despite India’s absence. (PC: MSN)

British MP Rupert Lowe reignited debate over the UK’s grooming gangs scandal during an emotional parliamentary speech highlighting survivor testimonies, alleged institutional failures and demands for accountability. Referring to evidence gathered during an independent inquiry, Lowe cited accounts of organised child sexual exploitation, including claims that one victim was abused by “600 or 700 different men” over three years. He also highlighted allegations of failures by police, healthcare workers, children’s home staff and local authorities to intervene. The speech follows renewed scrutiny of historical grooming gang cases in towns including Rotherham and Rochdale, where organised abuse networks were previously uncovered.

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez will visit India from June 3 to 7 for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. During the visit, she is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss cooperation in energy, trade, investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, transportation and renewable energy. Rodriguez will be accompanied by senior ministers from her government. The visit comes as India increases crude oil imports from Venezuela, becoming its second-largest buyer after the United States. The Venezuelan delegation will also visit industrial and energy sites in India to explore business opportunities and learn about the country's technological capabilities.

The Maharashtra government has purchased Mumbai's landmark Air India building for Rs 1,601 crore. The building was bought from Air India Assets Holding Limited. The state plans to shift several government offices there, many of which currently operate from rented spaces across Mumbai. The move is expected to reduce rental costs and improve coordination between departments. The building offers over 46,000 square metres of office space near the Mantralaya. Renovation work will be carried out by the Public Works Department, and the building is expected to be ready within a year. Air India put the property up for sale in 2018. (PC: Getty Images)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met 17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant, who highlighted alleged irregularities in CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Sharing photos of the meeting, Gandhi told the student to "stay firm in your principles". He also criticised the government's action against CBSE officials, calling it a "cover-up". Gandhi said, "Officials removed. Minister spared," and demanded the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Earlier, the Centre transferred the CBSE chairman and secretary and ordered a probe into the procurement of digital evaluation services. A one-member committee will submit its report within a month.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement and said he would join its June 6 protest in Delhi if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign by June 5. Wangchuk said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke convinced him the movement is patriotic and driven by concerns of Indian youth. While acknowledging issues such as NEET paper leaks and examination controversies, he argued the larger problem is the failure of long-term education reforms. He questioned whether current policies can achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047 and urged accountability, saying education ministers in self-respecting democracies resign after such failures. (PC: The Indian Express)