India

Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal during Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville, joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the elite club, though his team was knocked out after a draw on away goals

India ranked 116th in the World Happiness Report 2026, improving by two places from last year but remaining behind neighbours Nepal and Pakistan, while Finland continued to top the rankings for the ninth consecutive year

US strategy to involve Kurds in a ground offensive against Iran may set the entire West Asia on fire

India termed the arrest of six Ukrainian nationals a legal matter under investigation, while considering Kyiv’s consular access request. The Ukrainians, charged under UAPA, remain in custody as Ukraine denies terror links and seeks transparency

Pakistan’s deadly airstrikes on Kabul have exposed deep flaws in its Afghan strategy, highlighting strategic miscalculations, rising internal threats, and widening regional consequences

Ukraine has sought a transparent probe into the detention of six of its nationals in Mizoram, denied any terror links, and offered cooperation to India, even as New Delhi said investigations are underway and a request for consular access is under consideration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with leaders of France, Oman and Malaysia, emphasising de-escalation in West Asia, diplomatic resolution of the crisis, and ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions

Chhattisgarh has tabled a stringent anti-conversion Bill proposing life imprisonment for mass conversions, mandatory declarations and strict penalties for violations, while exempting reconversion to ancestral religion and introducing tighter monitoring of religious conversions across the State.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced a population management policy encouraging larger families and joint family values. He also highlighted welfare schemes, job creation, irrigation plans and infrastructure projects during Ugadi celebrations in Vijayawada

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a job calendar for over 10,000 posts across departments. Notifications will be released between May and October, with recruitment exams to follow a fixed schedule, offering major employment opportunities for aspirants

Mamata Banerjee criticised the Election Commission over the transfer and removal of over 50 officials ahead of West Bengal Assembly polls, calling it political interference and alleging institutional bias, while questioning the Centre’s role in the developments.

The NIA has arrested seven foreign nationals, including a US security analyst, over alleged illegal entry via the Mizoram border and suspected links to training armed groups in Myanmar, raising concerns over security vulnerabilities and triggering diplomatic reactions.

Senior Congress leader A K Antony intervened to prevent K Sudhakaran from quitting the party amid a dispute over contesting the Kannur seat. The leadership has now agreed to field him, averting a potential crisis ahead of the Kerala elections

The CBI questioned industrialist Anil Ambani in connection with an alleged Rs 2,929 crore cheating case linked to SBI loans to Reliance Communications. The agency has alleged fund diversion and irregularities, while Ambani has denied all charges

Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has been conferred an honorary Knighthood by the UK for strengthening India-UK business ties. The honour recognises his leadership and the Tata Group’s significant investments and long-standing presence in the United Kingdom

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the organisation must increase its activism on social media as its work expands. He stressed using digital platforms for good causes and highlighted the need for decentralisation and better coordination with government and administration

Shashi Tharoor urged India to call for an end to the US-Israel–Iran conflict, while backing a cautious approach. He also said New Delhi should have offered public condolences on Ayatollah Khamenei’s death amid rising geopolitical tensions.

A special POCSO court in Thane sentenced Sandesh Ganpat Kharpade to life imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in Palghar in 2018. The court described the crime as "heinous" and upheld victim testimony

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s remarks comparing Rahul Gandhi to his sister Priyanka sparked controversy. Opposition leaders dismissed her comments as attention-seeking, while BJP accused Gandhi of undermining his role as LoP, intensifying the political row in Parliament

Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari defended India’s cautious stance amid the Iran-Israel-US conflict, describing the government’s measured diplomacy as responsible statecraft. They emphasized strategic autonomy, non-alignment principles, and prioritizing India’s national interests over taking sides in West Asia.

The Supreme Court quashed the FIR and proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav in the 2023 snake venom case, ruling the complaint under the Wildlife (Protection) Act was invalid and no narcotics or psychotropic substances were involved

Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran was conferred an honorary KBE by the British government for strengthening UK-India business ties. The award recognizes his leadership in Tata’s investments, employment, and innovation across technology, automotive, steel, and consumer sectors.

Indian agencies report that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar appears weak and ill in his latest Eid message. Internal bickering and leadership dilemmas suggest a potential change, while Lashkar-e-Taiba emerges more active in PoK amid JeM’s visible lull

President Droupadi Murmu visited the Ram Temple to install a 150-kg gold-plated Shri Ram Yantra. The yantra, based on Vedic mathematics, symbolizes divine energy, with heightened security and ceremonial rituals marking the occasion