International
Mumbai girl embraces Berlin, gives interesting reasons, tips to study in Germany

I originally completed my Bachelor’s in Management Studies at Smt. M. M. K. College of Commerce & Economics in Mumbai before working as a Research Analyst. I then decided to pursue my Master’s at ESMT Berlin.
‘Affordable cost of living and work-life balance’
When I made the decision to move abroad, I was looking for a country with not only a great education but also long-term stay possibilities with regard to visa and job opportunities. The affordable cost of living compared to other countries and the work-life balance in Germany helped me narrow my choice. The central location in Europe just added the cherry on top of a delicious cake!
I chose ESMT Berlin due to the curriculum and Social Impact Project. I was looking for a Master’s that not only had interesting classes but also gave me hands-on experience. After a six-month intensive course, I could apply my skills in the real world with an internship for another six months. On return to campus, I could choose the subjects that interest me most and end with a Social Impact Project to support a non-profit, before writing my thesis. During my course, I also had the opportunity to co-lead two student clubs – Net Impact ESMT Berlin and Meraki Club with the opportunity to organise the TEDx event.
Different cultures, beliefs, and cuisines
Living in Mumbai allowed me to experience different cultures, and living in Berlin added to this. I learned about different cultures and beliefs and tried some amazing cuisines from all around the world in authentic restaurants. I also lived in Munich during the summer and was mesmerised by the breathtaking nature there. Even though I had read about it before moving, witnessing supermarkets closing on Sunday took an adjustment period. It required some planning to ensure a steady supply of essentials on the weekends. It was also surprising to see restaurants and ice cream parlours close by 10 pm – especially coming from a city that never sleeps!
Advice for Indian students looking to study in Germany
- Research based on your needs:
Don’t just randomly read through all articles available online. Know what you want first. What is it that you are looking for in Germany? Are you just looking to study or planning for the long term? What type of German city or town would you like to live in?
- Talk to someone:
Reach out to someone who has been living in Germany – be it a friend, family member, counsellor, etc. Ask them about the things you are uncertain about, as well as what challenges they faced and what they loved most about the city they are in. Also, make some connections via LinkedIn – talk to someone from the university or job you are applying to and create a network!
- Learn the basics of the language:
It is true that in major German cities, such as Berlin, you can live without knowing German. But do you want to move to a new country and not even know how to say “thank you” or “sorry” in their language?
- Understand the document requirements:
Other than getting your visa sorted, there are a lot of formalities you need to complete once you land in Germany. You need to register your apartment, open a bank account, get your tax identity, start your insurance, etc. Know about these requirements in advance so that you can make the necessary bookings and give yourself some time to complete them.
Remember, things may not always go as planned, so give yourself some buffer time, take a deep breath, and relax – because in the end, it will all be worth it!
International
Pakistan confirms 11th polio case of 2025

Islamabad, June 2: Pakistan has confirmed its 11th case of wild poliovirus this year after the virus was detected in a child from the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said in a statement on Monday.
According to the ministry, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the presence of the virus in stool samples collected from a child in Diamer district.
The detection came shortly after the conclusion of the third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, which took place from May 26 to June 1. The campaign reached more than 45 million children under the age of five across 159 districts, including high-risk areas, according to health officials.
Health officials have urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, calling the current campaign a vital opportunity to shield children from the crippling virus, Xinhua news agency reported.
Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024, according to official data.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus remains endemic. Polio workers have frequently been targeted in attacks, particularly in the northwest and southwest regions.
One of the reasons for the presence of the virus is the refusal of the majority of people to have their children vaccinated. Polio health workers have been victims of targeted killings and attacks by militant groups, who have opposed anti-polio campaigns in the country.
According to the World Health Organization, Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio, marking the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Wild poliovirus cases have decreased by over 99 per cent since 1988, from an estimated 350,000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries to 6 reported cases in 2021. Of the 3 strains of wild poliovirus (type 1, type 2 and type 3), wild poliovirus type 2 was eradicated in 1999, and wild poliovirus type 3 was eradicated in 2020. As of 2022, endemic wild poliovirus type 1 remains in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
International
UN Security Council renews sanctions against South Sudan

United Nations, May 31: The Security Council adopted a resolution to renew for a year, until May 31, 2026, an arms embargo against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities.
According to media reports, Resolution 2781, which was adopted with nine votes in favour and six abstentions, also extends until July 1, 2026, the term of the panel of experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan sanctions committee.
The African members of the Security Council — Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia — abstained, along with China, Pakistan and Russia.
The resolution reiterates the Security Council’s readiness to review arms embargo measures, through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks as set out in Resolution 2577 of 2021, and encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard.
It also decides to keep the targeted measures under continuous review and expresses the Security Council’s readiness to consider adjusting the measures, through modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the situation.
The resolution requests the UN secretary-general, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than April 15, 2026, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks.
It also requests the South Sudanese authorities to report, by the same date, to the Sanctions Committee on the progress achieved in this regard.
Business
Trump to double steel tariffs to 50 pc from next week

Washington, May 31: US President Donald Trump has said that he planned to double tariffs on foreign imports of steel to 50 percent starting next week, further casting a cloud on steelmakers around the globe.
“We are going to be imposing a 25 per cent increase. We’re going to bring it from 25 per cent to 50 per cent — the tariffs on steel into the United States of America — which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States,” Trump said on X social media platform.
He later posted on social media that the higher tariff rate would take effect from June 4, Yonhap media reported.
“It is my great honour to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The planned rate hike is the latest in his trade policies that focus on tariff hikes, and came days after a trade court ruled his sweeping reciprocal tariffs illegal, which was later blocked by an appeals court to leave the tariffs temporarily alive.
The 25-percent tariffs on most steel imported to the U.S. went into effect in March as part of the Trump administration’s broader tariff scheme aimed at reducing America’s trade deficits and bolstering local manufacturing.
Data showed earlier Seoul’s U.S.-bound exports of steel products declined nearly 19 percent from a year earlier in March.
Outbound shipments of steel products to the U.S. came to US$340 million in March, down 18.9 percent from the same month last year.
It is difficult to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on Seoul’s steel exports as transactions are usually made months ahead, but there may still have been some influence.
Korean steelmakers have been devising response measures to the U.S. tariffs, with some companies planning to increase their production in the U.S.
Hyundai Steel Co. plans to invest $5.8 billion to construct an electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, its first overseas production facility.
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