Actor Kamal Haasan has decided not to release his upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka for now, his counsel told the Karnataka High Court. The move follows backlash over his past remarks on the Kannada language’s origins. Though Haasan expressed sincere respect for Kannada and its people in a letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the court noted the absence of a direct apology. The bench remarked that grace—not compulsion—should prompt an apology. Haasan’s legal team emphasized the actor's intention was never to offend. The court has adjourned the matter until June 10 for further dialogue. (PC: India Today)

Three Jammu and Kashmir government employees have been dismissed and jailed over alleged links to Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The action follows an April terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Those sacked include a police constable, a teacher, and a junior assistant at a medical college. Authorities claim they facilitated arms smuggling, coordinated with handlers across the border, and aided militants. One of them is linked to the 2018 assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the crackdown as part of efforts to dismantle terror support within official ranks in the Union Territory. (PC: NDTV)

Punjab Police arrested Gagandeep Singh from Tarn Taran for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s ISI during Operation Sindoor. Singh, a resident of Mohalla Rodupur, was reportedly in direct contact with Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla and had shared sensitive details on Indian Army movements. Police recovered a mobile phone with intelligence data and over 20 ISI contacts. According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Singh had been receiving payments via Indian channels and had been in contact with Pakistani handlers for five years. An FIR under the Official Secrets Act has been filed; investigations are ongoing into the wider espionage network. (PC: HT)

Wajahat Khan, whose complaint led to the arrest of influencer Sharmistha Panoli, has himself been booked by Kolkata Police for allegedly delivering hate speech and hurting religious sentiments. Khan, who heads the Rashidi Foundation, is facing two complaints—one filed by advocate Vineet Jindal with Delhi Police. The FIR against Khan was registered under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act. He is now reported missing from his Kolkata residence. Panoli was arrested for posting a video criticizing Muslim Bollywood stars’ silence on Operation Sindoor. Authorities maintain her arrest was due to communal and abusive content, not patriotic expression. (PC: News18)

India’s active Covid-19 tally rose to 3,961 on Monday, with 203 new cases and four deaths reported. Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu reported the fatalities, involving individuals with comorbidities. Delhi alone recorded 47 new cases. The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to submit a detailed report on testing protocols, collection centres, and SOPs. Kerala tops the active case chart with 1,435 infections. Officials across states have urged calm while enhancing preparedness. Delhi's former CM Kejriwal and other leaders emphasized vigilance and hospital readiness amid rising numbers, though authorities confirm no new variant has been detected. (PC: Hindustan Times)

A devastating landslide struck an army camp in Chatten, North Sikkim late Sunday night, claiming the lives of three army personnel, while nine others remain missing. The disaster was triggered by a sharp rise in the Lachen River's water level following relentless rainfall. Rescue operations are ongoing, according to SDPO Arun Thatal. Meanwhile, 1,600 stranded tourists in Lachung were safely evacuated Monday morning after being cut off since May 30. Heavy rainfall and multiple landslides continue to disrupt life in the region. Authorities confirm that around 150 tourists remain in Lachen, safe and sheltered, as rescue efforts intensify. (PC: Hindustan Times)

An IndiGo flight en route from Patna to Ranchi made an emergency landing after a mid-air collision with a vulture at around 4,000 feet altitude. The bird strike occurred 10–12 nautical miles from Ranchi, leading to visible damage to the aircraft, including a dent, officials confirmed. All 175 passengers aboard were reported safe. Engineers are currently assessing the damage. The incident follows a string of weather and bird-related challenges for IndiGo, including recent turbulence-hit flights to Delhi and Srinagar. The airline is under scrutiny over rising in-flight incidents tied to environmental hazards and operational risks. (PC: Bloomberg)

Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli, 22, arrested over a video with alleged communal remarks on Operation Sindoor, has filed a petition citing poor hygiene and medical neglect at Kolkata’s Alipore women’s correctional home. “She has kidney stones… not being given access to newspapers or magazines,” said her lawyer Md Samimuddin, calling for her basic rights. Kolkata Police stated the arrest followed due process and rejected claims of political bias. “The video promoted hatred,” they said. BJP's Sukanta Majumdar countered, “This is vote-bank vendetta, not justice.” Her bail was denied, and she remains in custody till June 13. (PC: Instagram)

In a recent address in London, former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran stated that India is fully capable of fighting terrorism on its own. Highlighting India’s strong internal security framework, he emphasized that the country does not rely on external powers to counter terror threats. However, Saran also acknowledged the importance of international cooperation, given terrorism’s global dimension. Referring to India's swift actions post-Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor, he reinforced India’s commitment to both national sovereignty and global security collaboration in counterterrorism efforts. (PC: NatStrat)  

Valmik Thapar, India's renowned wildlife conservationist and author, passed away at 73 after a battle with cancer. Over five decades, Thapar became synonymous with tiger conservation, authoring over 30 books and presenting acclaimed documentaries like the BBC's Land of the Tiger. His collaboration with Fateh Singh Rathore at Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve was pivotal in shaping India's conservation policies. Serving on over 150 government committees, he was a vocal critic of bureaucratic inertia, famously stating, "bureaucracy killed more tigers than bullets ever did." Thapar is survived by his wife, Sanjana Kapoor, and son, Hamir Thapar. His legacy continues to inspire conservation efforts across India. (PC: X)