The Indian Youth Congress staged a shirtless protest at the AI Summit, calling the Prime Minister «compromised» and highlighting the anger of unemployed youth. The group stated their demonstration was against perceived compromises on national interests. The protest drew sharp criticism from the BJP, accusing the Congress of attempting to humiliate India.
India was among more than 100 countries and international organisations that condemned Israel's ongoing efforts to consolidate control over the West Bank in a joint statement at the UN, saying such measures violated international law and undermined the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region. India endorsed the statement late on Wednesday, just before the deadline for joint condemnation lapsed.
Calling Rahul Gandhi a «traitor,» a protesting BJP Yuva Morcha leader, who was being bundled into a van, said, «This shows their ideology against the country. If you want to protest, protest the policies. They have protested against their own country.» In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a «compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the Al Summit».
BJP has accused the Congress of disrupting the AI Impact Summit to damage India's global image, alleging the protest was directed by Rahul Gandhi. Youth Congress workers staged a demonstration, raising slogans against the Prime Minister, leading to detentions. BJP leaders condemned the act as an attempt to embarrass India on the world stage.
Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of leaving Assam's borders open to infiltrators, aiming to alter the state's demographics. He contrasted this with the BJP government's efforts under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who he stated cleared vast lands occupied by infiltrators. Shah also highlighted the BJP's infrastructure development achievements in Assam.
As Kerala gears up for the 2026 elections, the future of the Left beyond chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is a pressing concern. Despite his strong leadership, the absence of a clear successor and the need to connect with a new generation of voters pose significant challenges for the LDF's continued relevance and its status as India's sole communist-governed state.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, stating he is «rattled» by MP Gaurav Gogoi and resorting to personal attacks and «politics of polarization.» She asserted that Sarma's targeting of Gogoi and his family stems from the Congress leader pursuing the «politics of love» and walking the «right path.»
Rahul Gandhi appeared in a Sultanpur court on Friday for a 2018 criminal defamation case concerning remarks allegedly made about Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly elections. The case, filed by a BJP leader, accuses Gandhi of calling Shah an «accused in a murder case,» a statement Gandhi denies as politically motivated.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor hinted at an upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, emphasizing growing AI and semiconductor cooperation. India's signing of the Pax Silica Declaration, alongside US officials, signifies a pivotal moment for bilateral ties, fostering collaboration in advanced technologies among trusted nations.
India attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on Gaza as an observer. The US committed $10 billion to the board, which aims for redevelopment and lasting peace in Gaza, though India has not joined as a member.
Prime Minister Modi advocated for democratizing AI, emphasizing its role in global good and inclusion, particularly for the Global South. He urged for open sharing of AI codes, likening sunlight to a disinfectant for safety. Modi stressed a human-centric approach, cautioning against reducing individuals to data points and promoting India's «MANAV» framework for responsible AI development.
Home Minister Amit Shah will launch Phase 2 of the Vibrant Villages Programme in Assam, a Rs 6,839 crore initiative to develop 1,954 villages along international borders. This project aims to foster inclusive development, curb outmigration, and integrate border populations with national security efforts.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted his commitment against media censorship and using government advertisements for influence. He pledged to rationalize the advertisement policy for transparency, basing allocations on objective criteria like circulation and readership. Abdullah also highlighted efforts to fill thousands of vacant government posts and stressed the urgency of climate change response for the region.
Troops thwarted an infiltration attempt along the LoC in Jammu's Sunderbani sector. In a separate operation in Nowshera, a terror module was busted, leading to the arrest of a suspected associate and the seizure of a significant arms cache, dismantling a trans-border weapons racket.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the global community at the AI Impact Summit to leverage technological disruption as humanity's greatest opportunity, emphasizing «right action» guided by «right understanding.» The summit also saw the country's nameplate displayed as «Bharat,» a recurring practice at official global events, sparking renewed discussion.
A man identifying as a Karni Sena spokesperson was detained in Kota for allegedly uploading a video threatening to shoot Rahul Gandhi and 25 other Congress MPs. The threats were issued over alleged verbal abuse of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Both BJP and Karni Sena have denied any association with the accused.
