A devastating Delhi hotel fire claimed 21 lives, including 17 foreign nationals, with investigations revealing safety lapses and illegal expansion. In West Bengal, a TMC leader claimed rebel status as opposition leader. Meanwhile, India condemned a Kuwait airport attack that killed an Indian national. DK Shivakumar took oath as Karnataka CM, projecting Congress unity.
Expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee claims Speaker recognized him as opposition leader, signaling a major internal crisis. Fifty-eight rebel MLAs support this move, proposing a new leadership structure. This revolt, the party's biggest challenge, follows a significant election defeat and has prompted a TMC organizational overhaul.
Andhra Pradesh's new cash incentives for more children signal a policy U-turn, aiming to counter falling fertility and an ageing population. However, critics argue this approach ignores the high costs of raising children, gender inequality, and the need for robust social support systems, potentially reinforcing patriarchal norms rather than addressing demographic concerns effectively.
In a significant political message, the letter submitted to the assembly speaker referred to Mamata Banerjee as the party's chairperson, suggesting that the rebel camp is positioning its challenge against the current leadership of the legislature party rather than against the TMC chief herself. Sources aligned with the dissident group told news agency PTI that the legislators have also rejected any role for Abhishek Banerjee in determining the affairs of the legislature party.
In response to escalating regional tensions, IndiGo Airlines has suspended all its services to and from Kuwait, following a drone strike impacting the airport's passenger terminal. This closure of Kuwait's airspace has led to considerable disruptions for travelers.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a unique political formation born from an internet sensation, has appointed Saurav Das, Vijeta Dahiya, and Ashutosh Ranka as its official spokespersons. This move signals the party's ambition to reshape India's political discourse with a new generation of leaders.
Ahead of DK Shivakumar's Karnataka CM oath, BJP launched a sharp attack, criticizing the Congress government's handling of waterlogging and alleging neglect of farmers and Dalits. The party shared an AI-generated video and posts on X, accusing the new administration of governance failures and broken promises to key communities. Shivakumar is set to be sworn in today.
On May 9, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee wrote to the assembly speaker proposing senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay's name as the leader of opposition. TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, however, complained to the speaker alleging that «no resolution was adopted regarding the selection of the leader of opposition on May 6.»
Delhi's Opposition leader Atishi took a strong stance against the CBSE reevaluation portal, condemning its limited payment options to just four banks, which she argues puts unnecessary barriers in front of students seeking redress. This outcry follows a postponed launch of the portal amid a barrage of complaints from students about unclear answer sheets and persistent technical problems.
The Supreme Court has formed a five-member high-powered committee to redefine the 'Aravali hills and ranges', dropping the controversial 100m height criterion. This committee will assess the ecological impact of regulated mining and identify areas excluded from protection, aiming to prevent further degradation of the ancient mountain ranges.
Congress criticizes the government's action against CBSE officials over the OSM controversy as a «cover-up» and «eyewash.» The party demands the sacking of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of presiding over an «inept and incompetent ecosystem» that has harmed students.
National Testing Agency (NTA) swiftly addressed a security flaw in its NEETUG portal, identified by a 16-year-old cybersecurity researcher. The vulnerability, which could have exposed sensitive examination-related data, was promptly fixed. This incident occurred amidst a wave of cyber attacks targeting the CBSE website, raising concerns among students and parents.
India has firmly rejected the European Union's mention of Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement with Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that those without standing on such matters should refrain from commenting. The UTs of J&K and Ladakh are unequivocally integral parts of India, the government asserted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a crucial Niti Aayog governing council meeting on June 11, following a recent restructuring. The agenda includes reviewing chief secretaries' deliberations and actions taken on reforms aimed at boosting manufacturing and self-reliance. This comes as the nation grapples with economic pressures from the West Asia conflict, impacting the rupee and raw material prices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump are expected to cross paths at the G7 summit in France, with both leaders confirmed to attend. While a bilateral meeting is being explored on the sidelines, no official engagement has been finalized yet.
India has firmly rejected any third-party involvement in its border dispute with Nepal, emphasizing that such matters are strictly bilateral. This response comes after Nepal's Prime Minister suggested the UK's intervention, citing the dispute's origins during British rule. India maintains that established bilateral mechanisms are in place to address all boundary issues.
Cloudbursts hit Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar and Doda districts on Tuesday. Flash floods and landslides followed, blocking the Kishtwar-Jammu highway. Several roads were also affected. No casualties or property damage were reported. Authorities launched restoration operations and issued advisories. Emergency teams remain on alert.
The Centre will fund urban decongestion projects on national highways only if states contribute financially, as per the new Urban Congestion Policy. Projects will be fully access-controlled, 4-lane corridors with closed tolling. States can contribute through land acquisition cost sharing, GST reimbursement, land pooling, or value capture mechanisms.
PhysicsWallah has been fined ₹5 lakh by the CCPA for employing 'dark patterns' on its platform. The edtech firm allegedly auto-selected donations during checkout, collecting ₹2.5 crore from users without explicit consent. Concerns were also raised about inaccessible 'free courses' requiring personal data, impacting young consumers.
Companies are facing rising costs for both cans and glass bottles this summer, impacting beer and soft drink manufacturers. Supply disruptions from West Asia for aluminium cans and increased LPG costs have led to price hikes of 15-20% for packaging. Distributors anticipate a Rs 10 price increase for 300 ml Diet Coke cans.
Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti urged political parties and civil society to unite for dialogue with the central government, drawing inspiration from Ladakh's successful engagement. She called for an all-party meeting to address the region's despair and uncertainty, emphasizing the need for a broad consensus post-2019.
A CISF jawan, Jaswinder Singh, sustained a foot injury due to accidental firing of his INSAS rifle at Jammu Tawi railway station on Tuesday. The incident occurred while he was on duty within the station premises. He was promptly taken to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Shots were fired outside educator Khan Sir's coaching institute in Patna, injuring a security guard. The incident is suspected to be linked to rivalries between local coaching institute operators. The injured guard is receiving medical treatment, and authorities are gathering statements to further investigate the physical assault.