Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay appointed his spiritual advisor as Officer on Special Duty. Public outcry led to the swift revocation of this appointment. This event underscores the deep-rooted influence of astrology in Indian politics. Many leaders privately consult astrologers for crucial decisions. This practice continues despite public scrutiny and modern governance.

Kavery Nambisan is a surgeon and a novelist from Karnataka. She has won the Tata Excellence Award for her work in tea plantations in Tamil Nadu. She has written articles and essays on medical and literary issues. Her novels include ‘The Scent of Pepper’, ‘The Story That Must Not Be Told’ and ‘A Town Like Ours’. Her two non-fiction books are ‘A Luxury Called Health’ and ‘Cherry Red, Cherry Black’. Today she discusses her latest novel, ‘Rising Sons’.

India's Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the nation's «coexistence-based management» approach to tackle human-wildlife conflict amidst growing economies. He emphasized that conservation efforts extend beyond mere numbers, focusing on habitat expansion, connectivity, and multi-species protection, including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs, with the International Big Cat Alliance poised to foster cross-border cooperation.

The CPM has warned it will reconsider its support for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government. This comes if the ruling party includes the rebel faction of the AIADMK in its cabinet. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam stated this at a press conference. The party's support was initially to prevent President's Rule and BJP's influence.

Kerala's new UDF government, led by CM VD Satheesan, has formed a special committee to prepare a White Paper on the state's financial condition, headed by ex-cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar. This move follows allegations of financial mismanagement by the previous government. The cabinet also established an SIT to probe attacks during the Nava Kerala Yatra.

AI adoption is reshaping the job market, with significant tech job cuts reported and AI capable of performing a substantial portion of the US labor market's work. While AI automates tasks rather than eliminating entire jobs, younger workers in entry-level roles are disproportionately affected.

An alleged rape accused in Ghaziabad received a triumphant welcome from supporters upon his bail, with videos showing him being carried on shoulders amidst cheers and a procession. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the state government, calling the reception reprehensible and highlighting the perceived hypocrisy.

Following a water tank collapse in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh authorities have blacklisted construction firm NCC and inspection agency BLG Construction Services. An FIR has been lodged, and several officials, including an executive engineer and junior engineers, have been suspended or terminated. The firms face fines and are ordered to reconstruct the tank, with a statewide safety audit now mandated.

Indian mountaineer Shradha Gupta is currently on her Mount Everest expedition, marking another major milestone in her rapidly rising climbing journey after successfully summiting Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) -- the world's eighth-highest mountain.

Fuel prices have seen their second hike in less than a week, with petrol and diesel increasing by approximately 90 paise per litre. This follows a nearly four-year freeze by state-run oil companies, with prices now reaching their highest levels since May 2022. Opposition parties allege the freeze was timed to end after state elections.

West Bengal authorities have approved the prosecution of former R G Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh over alleged financial irregularities. This development follows a high-profile case involving a trainee doctor's rape and murder at the institution.

In a notable escalation, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has received a summons to report to Guwahati on May 23 as part of the Assam crime branch's investigation into a controversial passport matter involving Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife. This comes after Pawan Khera faced scrutiny related to her passport and citizenship claims.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed solidarity with the global Tamil diaspora on Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, pledging continued support for their rights. Observed annually on May 18, the day marks the bloody conclusion of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, a period that saw immense civilian suffering and wartime atrocities.