Category: India

A plane carrying the bodies of 45 Indian migrant workers, who lost their lives in a devastating housing block fire in Kuwait, arrived in Kochi, Kerala on Friday. Grieving relatives gathered at the airport terminal to receive the remains of their loved ones, as the Indian Air Force plane landed before 11 am.

Kangana Ranaut, now a parliamentarian, advocated for an “obsessive work culture” and criticized “Monday memes.” After her Lok Sabha victory, a CISF constable struck her at Chandigarh airport over Ranaut’s farmer protest views, leading to the constable’s suspension. Meanwhile, Ranaut is gearing up for her directorial debut “Emergency,” featuring an ensemble cast including Anupam Kher and Mahima Chaudhary. Photo: Collected

Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has been announced as India’s new army chief. Currently the vice chief of Army Staff, Dwivedi will take over from Gen Manoj C Pande on June 30. He has served in various command appointments, including as the Northern Command chief, and has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva and Ati Vishisht Seva medals.

A four-year-old child in West Bengal, India, was infected with the H9N2 bird flu virus after exposure to poultry. The child was hospitalised for severe respiratory issues and recovered after three months. This is the second human case of H9N2 bird flu in India, with the first reported in 2019. The World Health Organization warns of potential sporadic human cases due to the virus’s prevalence in poultry.

Trinamool Congress lawmaker Sagarika Ghose said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee switched off all lights and sat in darkness at her home during Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as Prime Minister on Sunday. Ghose claimed Modi had “lost the mandate” and should be replaced as BJP leader despite winning a third term. The TMC boycotted the ceremony while the main opposition Congress attended. Ghose alleged Modi could not get a majority despite campaigning centered around himself. Photo: Collected

Assuming office for his third term, Indian PM Narendra Modi signed his first file authorizing the release of Rs 20,000 crore to benefit 9.3 crore farmers under the ‘PM Kisan Nidhi’ scheme. Modi stated it reflects the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare. The decision comes after his alliance’s poll victory, albeit with a dip in rural and semi-urban votes compared to 2019, prompting a focus on rural outreach. Reuters file photo

India’s ongoing heatwave is the longest ever recorded, lasting around 24 days in different parts of the country, according to the head of India’s Meteorological Department. He warned that heatwaves will become more frequent, durable, and intense due to climate change caused by human activities and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite being a major emitter, India aims for net zero emissions by 2070. Photo: AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new cabinet will be sworn in on Sunday evening, the President’s office announced. President Droupadi Murmu appointed Modi as PM-designate after the BJP’s election victory. The BJP won 240 seats while its NDA alliance secured 293 seats, a majority. Murmu handed Modi’s appointment letter after NDA leaders submitted letters backing him as PM. Major NDA allies like JD(U), Shiv Sena, and LJP(R) are expected to get cabinet berths during the swearing-in ceremony. AFP

An Indian court granted bail to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the latest defamation case against him for accusing PM Narendra Modi or his party BJP of corruption. Gandhi, who has faced numerous such cases, was last year briefly disqualified from parliament after a criminal libel conviction. The latest case stems from Gandhi’s Congress party accusing BJP of taking commissions from projects in Karnataka. Critics have accused Modi and BJP of using the justice system to target political rivals.

A CISF constable, Kulwinder Kaur, allegedly slapped Mandi MP and actor Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport, citing Ranaut’s previous remarks against farmers protesting the farm laws. Kaur has been suspended, and a police case has been filed against Ranaut. The incident occurred when Ranaut was boarding a flight to Delhi after her election victory. Ranaut had previously made controversial statements against the farmers’ protest, leading to backlash. Photo: Collectedk

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi secured bail in a defamation case filed by the BJP in Bangalore. The case pertains to advertisements published by Congress during the Karnataka assembly polls, alleging corruption by the previous BJP government. Gandhi appeared in court today, complying with an earlier order, while the state Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister had secured bail earlier.

Narendra Modi was formally elected by lawmakers of his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to serve a historic third consecutive term as India’s Prime Minister. For the first time in a decade, Modi’s BJP needed support from regional parties to form the government, as they secured only 240 seats, short of the 272 required majority. The NDA won 293 seats, while the opposition INDIA alliance led by Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party won over 230 seats. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File photo

Indian PM Narendra Modi was set to meet allies on Wednesday after his BJP party lost its outright parliamentary majority in a surprise election result. The BJP won 240 seats, short of the 272 needed, forcing it to depend on regional parties. The opposition INDIA alliance led by Rahul Gandhi made gains but endorsements from BJP allies make an opposition government unlikely. Despite a reduced mandate, Modi promised to work harder in his third term after what some termed a “victory that feels like defeat.” Photo: Reuters

Narendra Modi’s BJP has won a third term but fell short of a majority, forcing him to lean on allies. Key issues like unemployment, inflation, and economic disparities must be urgently addressed. Though Modi claimed a ‘historic’ win, his smaller mandate means regional parties will extract concessions on populist welfare policies. Managing coalition pressures will test Modi’s strongman leadership style.  Photo: Reuters

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the single largest party by winning 240 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but fell short of a majority. The Congress won 99 seats, while key opposition alliances like INDIA performed well in states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. With the support of allies like TDP and JD(U), the BJP-led NDA is expected to form the government. Photo: Reuters

At Computex, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger unveiled the company’s latest Xeon 6 processors and Lunar Lake chips, asserting Intel’s leadership in the AI revolution. Facing stiff competition from rivals like Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm, Gelsinger claimed Intel’s offerings provide the best performance, efficiency, and affordability for AI applications. Amid intensifying AI chip race, Taiwan’s semiconductor prowess positions it as a crucial player, though geopolitical tensions over the island’s status raise concerns. Photo:Reuters

In a historic verdict, India’s parliamentary elections saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP falling short of a majority, while the opposition INDIA alliance led by Congress performed strongly. Modi hailed the BJP’s rare third term, but Rahul Gandhi said the results sent a clear message against Modi and BJP’s rule. The INDIA bloc will decide on approaching potential allies to attempt government formation. With neither having a clear majority, India faces an intriguing political scenario as parties explore coalition options to form the next government. File Photo: Reuters/Sahiba Chawdhary

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a third term in power, solidifying India’s position as a counterweight to China and strengthening ties with the United States, Europe, and Russia. Modi has leveraged India’s G20 presidency and hosting of major events to bolster his diplomatic ambitions. A third term could see further deepening of defense and trade partnerships with the West, while maintaining a delicate balance with rivals China and Pakistan, and asserting India’s role as a voice for the “Global South.”Reuters file photo

The ruling NDA led by BJP is projected by exit polls to secure a landslide victory, nearing PM Modi’s ‘400 paar’ target, while the opposition INDIA alliance struggles to cross 180 seats. The opposition has accused the EC of biased conduct and raised concerns over EVMs, prompting the BJP to seek EC’s intervention against potential unrest during counting. The results will determine Congress’ ability to challenge the BJP’s dominance amid its shrinking national footprint. Photo: NDTV

Opposition leaders dismissed exit poll predictions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s victory as “bogus” and “fraud,” accusing them of attempting to justify rigging. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge claimed their INDIA bloc would secure 295 seats, contradicting most exit polls that projected a resounding NDA win with over 350 seats. The official results will be announced on June 4.

Gautam Adani has surpassed Mukesh Ambani to reclaim the title of Asia’s richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Adani, the chairman of Adani Group, has a net worth of $111 billion, while Ambani’s stands at $109 billion. The surge in Adani Group’s stocks, driven by ambitious expansion plans, contributed to Adani’s wealth increase and his rise to the 11th position globally. Photo: Reuters

India’s mammoth parliamentary elections, the world’s largest, will conclude tomorrow with the 7th and final phase of voting across 57 constituencies. Over 10 crore voters will elect 57 MPs, including PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi. Key candidates like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Omar Abdullah and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee are also contesting. Voting has already concluded in 486 seats. Results will be announced on June 4, paving the way for a new government by mid-June after the nearly 2-month-long electoral exercise involving 97 crore voters. Photo: Reuters/Munish Sharma

India’s capital Delhi experienced a record-high temperature of 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, with the India Meteorological Department reporting severe heatwave conditions. Authorities have warned of potential water shortages and have reduced supply in some areas to ration water to deficient areas. Climate change is causing longer, more frequent, and intense heatwaves, while simultaneously parts of India like West Bengal and Mizoram are battling cyclone Remal, which has claimed over 38 lives and is attributed to climate change effects. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

The death toll in the massive fire at a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot city has risen to 27, including at least four children under 12. The owner and manager of the TRP Game Zone have been detained amid reports of lack of clearance from local authorities. The state government has assigned a Special Investigation Team to probe the incident, which left many victims charred beyond recognition. Condolences have poured in from the President, Vice President and Prime Minister.

A passenger airplane arriving in Mumbai flew through a flock of flamingos, killing at least 36 of the migratory birds. Wildlife experts fear many more may have died as carcasses and body parts were scattered over a large area. Mumbai airport has recorded over 600 bird strikes since 2018. Environmentalists are calling for measures to prevent such incidents in the crucial flamingo habitats along the city’s coast. Photo: Collected

India’s Supreme Court granted interim bail till June 1 to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, allowing him to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal, arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, will have to surrender on June 2. The court rejected his plea to extend the interim bail till June 5, a day after vote counting. Kejriwal is challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the case related to alleged corruption in Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Delhi goes to polls on May 25 for its 7 Lok Sabha seats.