The Indian rupee hit a fresh all-time low on Friday, breaching the 96 mark against the US dollar for the first time amid rising crude oil prices and continued tensions in West Asia. The currency weakened to 96.05 per dollar, surpassing its previous record low touched a day earlier. Analysts said soaring oil prices, foreign fund outflows and global uncertainty have increased pressure on the rupee. India, which imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil needs, faces higher import costs as Brent crude stays near 110 dollars per barrel. The weaker rupee may also push up inflation and fuel prices. (PC: Ai)

A US court has sentenced Indian-origin man Jashanpreet Singh, founder of the ‘Punjabi Devils’ motorcycle gang linked to the Hells Angels, to five years and four months in prison on firearms charges. Prosecutors said Singh illegally sold assault weapons, machine gun conversion devices and other firearms to an undercover officer in California last year. A search of his home uncovered more weapons, explosives and a silencer. Singh was arrested by the FBI at San Francisco International Airport in July 2025 while allegedly attempting to flee to India after missing a court appearance in a state case. (PC: X)

Pakistan has reacted positively to remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who said India should keep channels of dialogue open with Pakistan despite continued tensions and terrorism concerns. Speaking during a press briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described voices in India supporting dialogue as a “positive development” and said it would watch for any official response from New Delhi. Hosabale had said India must continue taking a firm stand against terrorism while maintaining diplomatic engagement, trade and communication. He cited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s outreach efforts and stressed that dialogue opportunities between the two neighbours should not be completely shut. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a brief two-hour stop in the United Arab Emirates, where India and the UAE signed several major agreements covering defence, energy and infrastructure. The two sides signed a framework for strategic defence partnership, an MoU on strategic petroleum reserves, and an agreement on LPG supplies. A separate pact was signed to develop a ship repair cluster in Gujarat’s Vadinar. The UAE also announced investments worth $5 billion in Indian infrastructure, RBL Bank and Samman Capital. The agreements come amid rising global energy concerns linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict and fuel price hikes in India. (PC: HT)

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday ruled that the religious character of the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar is that of Bhojshala, describing it as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati. The court said historical literature and architectural records linked the site to Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty and identified it as a centre of Sanskrit learning.   The dispute involves claims by Hindus, Muslims and Jains over the ASI-protected monument. Hindus seek exclusive worship rights, while Muslims identify the site as Kamal Maula Mosque. The ASI’s 2003 order currently allows Hindu worship on Tuesdays and Muslim prayers on Fridays. (PC: The Indian Express)

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded two days of high-level talks in Beijing on Friday, with both leaders describing the meetings as positive and significant. Trump called the discussions “very successful, world-renowned, and unforgettable”, while Xi described the visit as “historic and landmark”, according to Chinese state media.   Trade, oil supplies, Iran and Taiwan were among the key issues discussed during the meetings. Trump earlier claimed that Xi had agreed to withhold military equipment from Iran and support reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also said China agreed to purchase oil from the United States, although no major policy agreements were officially announced. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special welcome in Abu Dhabi on Friday as UAE Air Force F-16 fighter jets escorted his aircraft while entering the country’s airspace during the first leg of his five-nation tour. Modi’s visit comes amid rising global energy concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East. During the one-day UAE visit, Modi is expected to hold talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on energy security, trade, investment and regional issues. His tour will also cover the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy as India looks to deepen strategic and economic ties with key partners. 

The Central government has announced that the NEET exam will be held in computer-based mode from next year. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made the announcement on Friday after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over paper leak allegations. He said the decision was taken to protect the interests of deserving students. The National Testing Agency will conduct the re-examination on June 21. Pradhan said strict action will be taken against those involved in the leak. The government has handed the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation. NEET is the national entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses in India. (PC: ANI)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday admitted a “breach in the chain of command” in the NEET paper leak controversy and said the government was taking responsibility for the lapse. Addressing a press conference at Teen Murti Marg, the minister announced that the cancelled NEET-UG exam will be conducted again on June 21, 2026.   Pradhan said complaints about “guess papers” matching actual exam questions surfaced soon after the May 3 exam. An investigation by the Higher Education Department and central agencies later confirmed the paper leak. He said the CBI would thoroughly probe the alleged involvement of insiders and organised “education mafia” networks.   The minister also announced that fresh admit cards will be issued by June 14, while students can choose exam cities and use existing application credentials for the re-exam. He further indicated that NEET may shift to a computer-based format from next year. (PC: India today)

National Testing Agency has announced that the cancelled NEET-UG 2026 examination will be reconducted on June 21 following allegations of large-scale irregularities and paper leaks. The medical entrance test was originally held on May 3 before being scrapped on May 12 amid mounting controversy. The NTA said the Central Bureau of Investigation is carrying out a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged malpractice linked to the examination process. The decision affects lakhs of medical aspirants across India and comes as multiple arrests and investigations continue in connection with the leak case. Authorities are expected to tighten security and monitoring measures for the nationwide re-examination process. (PC: AP)