Far left wins Berlin, far right in another state polls; Merz calls result ‘disaster’  India TodayFriedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections  The GuardianFive takeaways from Germany’s regional elections  ReutersGerman chancellor Merz vows to stay on despite ‘disaster’ in regional elections  Financial TimesIs Germany’s leader Friedrich Merz doomed as far right wins again?  CNN  Read More

Third IIT Bombay suicide this year puts student pressure under spotlight  The News MinuteWho Is Suryanarayana Doolla? IIT Bombay Professor At Centre Of Student Suicide Row  NDTVCrime Branch takes over probe into IIT-Bombay student suicide  RediffIIT student suicide: FIR filed against professor Suryanarayana over ‘casteist remarks’; VBA chief asks for accountability  Deccan HeraldIIT Bombay director’s resignation among 18 demands set by students; board to hear pleas  Hindustan Times  Read More

India, China faced-off at Doklam in 2017, a bank blinked 2,000 km away in Mumbai  The Indian ExpressChina’s ICBC froze $185 million in Mumbai loans during 2017 Doklam standoff, probe finds  firstpost.comNEWS: China’s biggest bank served sanctioned clients despite AML concerns  AML IntelligenceChinese bank helped Huawei move $1.3 billion amid US criminal charges  weeklyblitz.netICBC promoted corrupt executive, ignored employee misconduct as it pursued global expansion  International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – ICIJ  Read More

US tells citizens to leave Iran immediately, warns of travel disruptions  The Times of IndiaU.S. fears rapid escalation in West Asia after Houthis attack Riyadh  thehindu.comUS issues West Asia travel advisory, urges Americans to reconsider travel amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia  The New Indian ExpressU.S. urges Americans to reconsider Middle East travel as Iran tensions rise  CNBCUS warns Middle East conflict could ‘escalate rapidly’, urges citizens to reconsider travel  Dawn  Read More

Putin maintains grip on Russia as party leads wartime parliamentary elections | World News  Hindustan TimesRussia’s elections had few surprises – but how the Kremlin uses the results is far from clear  BBCEarly returns in Russia’s parliamentary election show main Kremlin party leading  thehindu.comPutin-backed United Russia leads Duma polls with 57.5% as Ukraine war overshadows votes  The Times of IndiaPolls close in Russian wartime election with ruling party set to dominate  Al Jazeera  Read More

Iran and US trade threats after Houthi attacks escalate regional conflict By Reuters  Investing.comIran war live: Tehran warns US against new strikes; fighting rages in Yemen  Al JazeeraIran and US trade threats after Houthi attacks escalate regional conflict  ReutersIran threatens ‘painful retaliation’ if US launches fresh strikes as Trump warns of ‘big things’  The Times of IndiaIran’s military command says it’s been informed US plans to resume strikes  The Times of Israel  Read More

Major travel alerts issued as Trump leaves Camp David early amid Middle East tensions, US warns of escalation | Hindustan Times  Hindustan TimesU.S. urges Americans to reconsider Middle East travel as Iran tensions rise  CNBCUS issues fresh warning, urges citizens to leave Iran  RediffU.S. fears rapid escalation in West Asia after Houthis attack Riyadh  The HinduUS issues new travel authorisation rules for government staff in Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu  Gulf News  Read More

Russia reports online attacks on electoral system on second day of parliamentary vote  ReutersRussia’s elections had few surprises – but how the Kremlin uses the results is far from clear  BBCEarly returns in Russia’s parliamentary election show main Kremlin party leading  The HinduPolls close in Russian wartime election with ruling party set to dominate  Al JazeeraUkraine war briefing: Kyiv denounces Russia’s inclusion of annexed regions in parliamentary elections  The Guardian  Read More

Iran sends 7 conditions to US via Qatar to restart talks, warns of ‘decisive war’  Moneycontrol.com”If US Wants To Get Out Of Quagmire…”: Iran Sends 7 Conditions To Trump  NDTVIran rules out reopening Strait of Hormuz, returning to US talks until conditions met  The Times of IndiaAccept 7 conditions or face ‘decisive war’: Iran tells Trump  RediffIran offers terms for US talks as Houthi attacks escalate in Saudi Arabia  National Herald  Read More

Meloni promises to ban burqas, niqabs in Italy’s schools  aljazeera.comMeloni plans to ban burqas and niqabs in Italian schools, cap foreign students in classrooms  The HinduItaly to ban veils in schools, limit foreign students per class, Meloni says  CNNItaly to limit foreign students, ban burqa and hijab in schools  The Times of IndiaItaly to ban burqa and niqab in schools, cap number of foreign students per class: Giorgia Meloni  India Today  Read More