Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal. The BJP secured a significant win in the 2026 assembly elections. Several prominent leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony. The new government includes ministers like Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik. The state saw record voter turnout.

Prime Minister Modi expressed profound gratitude to the people of Bengal, bowing with folded hands after the BJP's historic Assembly election victory. Alongside new chief minister Adhikari, he shared an emotional moment with 98-year-old veteran Makhanlal Sarkar, even touching his feet in a gesture of deep respect. This marks a significant shift in West Bengal's political landscape.

A fire aboard a wooden dhow near the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the death of one Indian sailor and injuries to four others. Seventeen Indian crew members were rescued by a passing vessel. The incident occurred amidst heightened regional tensions, with recent exchanges between Iran and the United States in the vital shipping lane.

A 23-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital on Thursday (May 7) night after the motorcycle he was riding was involved in an accident with a car in Jurong.The accident happened at about 9.55pm at the junction of Jurong East Avenue 1 and Jurong Canal Drive.  Map showing where the accident involving a motorcycle and car took place on Thursday (May 7) night. GRAPHIC: Google Maps Photos of the accident shared on a motoring chat group show the badly damaged motorcycle lying on its side. Debris, including parts of the motorcycle's bodywork, are seen strewn across the junction.A white Mazda saloon car, with its front bumper partially dislodged, was stopped in the middle of the junction. 

The recent cyberattack on global learning management platform Canvas has not compromised any sensitive information from students at the National University of Singapore (NUS).In a statement addressing the matter, a spokesperson for the university told AsiaOne on Saturday (May 9) that it is aware of the data breach.NUS was among multiple educational institutions affected by the cyberattack on May 7, which blocked access to the platform. Access was restored on May 8. Cyberextortion group ShinyHunters claimed to be behind the incident.Other local universities in the list of affected institutions include the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the Singapore Institute of Management.Assuring that data protection and security are its priority, the NUS spokesperson said the university is in touch with US-based company Instructure, which owns Canvas, to assess the impact. 

Four wet markets in Housing and Development Board (HDB) heartlands — at Fajar Shopping Centre, Yew Tee Square, Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre, and Woodlands North Plaza — will undergo upgrading works when their respective 30-year leases end between now and end-2027, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling.Sun, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport, made the announcement in a Facebook post on Saturday (May 9), after she visited the newly upgraded wet market at Serangoon Central Village a day earlier.The wet market was returned to HDB in 2024 after its lease expired. It later underwent upgrading works and now has a new layout with more stalls.«The stallholders I spoke to welcomed the bright, airy layout. Residents had also shared with me that they found the rejuvenated market to be a more pleasant experience for them. They were also glad to have more food options than before with a new eating house,» Sun wrote.

With close to 54 million YouTube subscribers, Internet sensation IShowSpeed has turned his visit to Jamaica into a global spectacle, giving the island major visibility among younger travellers.

Tehran and Washington continue “sporadic” exchanges of fire as they vie for control of the strategic waterway Read Full Article at RT.com

A woman who lost an eight-year-long battle with cancer shared her final words through a posthumous post on LinkedIn.Assistant human resources manager Grace Seah died aged 41 on Thursday (May 7) and her last letter to her loved ones went up the next day.«Thank you for your friendship, love, and kindness — I feel incredibly blessed to have had you in my life,» she wrote.Seah also invited those who saw her post to her wake, which was held from Friday to Saturday.«I hope it becomes a time of reconnection, with more flowing conversations than tears — and a reminder to live fully in the present,» she said.«I believe death ends life, not love or relationships. When you miss me, just think of me — the silly things I said or did, the moments we shared.»Thank you for loving me, and for grieving me," she added.Seah assured those who were unable to come that it was alright for them not to attend.

Singapore has to become better in defending itself against artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled threats, while becoming experts at using the technology for its own purposes, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam on Saturday (May 9).Speaking to the media after a community event in Yishun, Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, set out Singapore's approach to securing itself against AI-enabled threats following recent developments on frontier AI models.This comes as financial institutions across the globe scramble to assess cybersecurity risks brought about by Anthropic's frontier AI model Mythos.Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks.But concerns intensified after Anthropic said a preview of Mythos uncovered «thousands» of major vulnerabilities across every major operating system and web browser, raising fears about the resilience of traditional software security. 

Following a three-week long islandwide enforcement operation which ended on Friday (May 8), the police have arrested seven people and are investigating 65 others for their alleged involvement in registering SIM cards for illicit purposes.The police said in a news release on Saturday that the operation, which began on April 20, involved officers from its Anti-Scam Command and its seven land divisions.The operation targeted errant subscribers who registered postpaid SIM cards that were subsequently linked to criminal activities. A total of five men and two women, aged between 18 and 35, were arrested for their suspected involvement in providing registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gains.Another 62 men and three women, aged between 16 and 56, are also being investigated, said the police.Preliminary investigations revealed that these errant subscribers were offered cash rewards of between $10 and $20 per registered SIM card.These subscribers were purportedly instructed to register and buy SIM cards in bulk from different retailers, and handed over between 30 and 64 registered SIM cards to be the syndicate's courier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister-elect Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary, Pochishe Boishakh. Modi hailed Tagore as a timeless voice of Indian civilization, while Adhikari described him as an «eternal star» of Bengali literature. The occasion marks the Nobel laureate's enduring contributions to literature, philosophy, education, and culture.

A rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship with two Indian crew members has sparked international attention. Experts assure no immediate concern for India, citing previous sporadic cases. The Andes strain, linked to limited human-to-human spread, requires close exposure, unlike COVID-19. India's healthcare is prepared for potential cases.

New AI systems are now available to combat fraud in the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. These advanced tools can identify fake hospital bills and forged medical documents. The technology aims to speed up insurance claim settlements and enhance transparency. India is leading the Global South with its health AI benchmarking platform.

Tamil Nadu's government formation remains uncertain as TVK emerges as the single largest party but falls short of a majority. Allies are scrambling for numbers, with some extending support while others withdraw, creating a volatile political landscape. Efforts are underway to secure the necessary support to stake a claim to power.

The council is hopelessly split, with Reform, the Conservatives, Greens and Muslim sectarian independents all picking up seats.

RECAP: Follow the results and reaction from the UK local elections across England, Scotland and Wales in the biggest test of public opinion since Labour's landslide win in the 2024 general election.

The Supreme Court emphasized its reluctance to direct arrests, prioritizing evidence collection and witness protection. While monitoring investigations, the bench declined to comment on the merits of the Anil Ambani Group (ADAG) case, citing past collateral damage to reputations. The CBI has filed nine FIRs totaling Rs 27,337 crore against ADAG entities.

The Times of India secured top honors at the INMA awards in Berlin, winning first prize for «Thirukkural With The Times» in Best Use of Print (Regional) and third prize for «I am Kolkata, Amar Para» in Best Use of Social Media (Regional). The publication also received three honorary mentions for its reader engagement, video content, and revenue diversification strategies.

The Supreme Court has ordered the release of a murder convict after 22 years, criticizing the Orissa High Court for dismissing his appeal solely on grounds of delay. The apex court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142, highlighting the convict's satisfactory jail conduct and lack of legal aid.

The Supreme Court stated that illegal infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals is not a terrorist act, even as the BJP vows to expel them from West Bengal. The court granted bail to an individual arrested for facilitating illegal immigration, noting the porous border with Bangladesh and the large number of immigrants already in India.

The Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval of Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's controversial remarks, questioning the state government's decision on prosecuting him. Despite the Solicitor General suggesting the minister intended praise, the bench noted a lack of repentance and the statement's unfortunate impact. The court also directed the SIT to investigate other instances of the minister's objectionable statements.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection against AI-generated deepfake videos depicting him praising Pakistan and discussing sensitive political matters. He argued that such content could harm India's international standing and be exploited by foreign entities.

Families and researchers are advocating for Huntington's disease to be recognized as a rare disease in India to establish a much-needed registry. This recognition is crucial for quantifying patient numbers, improving treatment accessibility, and securing coverage under national health policies, offering hope for affected individuals and families.

Indian Haj pilgrims are questioning a mandatory Rs 7,000 GPS smartwatch, part of a Rs 10,000 airfare hike. Many devices, procured by the Haj Committee and supplied by Sekyo Innovations, reportedly fail to turn on or track pilgrims, causing distress, especially for the elderly. This initiative, aimed at safety, faces criticism over cost and execution.

The Russian pavilion’s return to Venice points to a wider European shift as cultural and sporting bans on Moscow now face growing resistance Read Full Article at RT.com

Congress leadership intervened as supporters of opposition leader V D Satheesan held demonstrations across Kerala, demanding his appointment as the next chief minister. Some activists allegedly tore down posters of AICC leader K C Venugopal, also a contender for the post, prompting the KPCC to direct workers to refrain from such actions.

Preparations are in full swing at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground to ensure Saturday's oath-taking ceremony for Bengal's first BJP government proceeds smoothly despite heavy rains. A massive waterproof hangar tent has been erected, and seating capacity has been significantly increased. Authorities are working round-the-clock to restore the grounds, with an indoor stadium on standby as a backup.