In Assam's panchayat elections, Purabi Rajkhowa and Nalin Lekhathopi emerged victorious in Nagaon and Golaghat districts after a coin toss decided their fate due to a tie in votes. Both candidates and election officials were surprised by the tie-breaking method, which is permissible under election regulations. Despite the unusual circumstances, both winners and their opponents accepted the results gracefully.
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In a fiery address in Bikaner, Prime Minister Modi declared India's firm stance against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. He asserted that India retaliated by destroying nine terror hideouts in Pakistan within 22 minutes. Modi emphasized that India will respond strongly to any attacks, with the armed forces determining the time and manner.
Security forces in J&K's Shopian seized a large cache of weapons after neutralizing three LeT terrorists in Operation Keller. The slain terrorists, linked to the Pakistan-backed LeT, included two locals whose homes were demolished after the Pahalgam attack. One of the terrorists was involved in multiple attacks, including the shooting at Danish Resort.
Following Rahul Gandhi's questions about Indian jets shot down by Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, Shivraj Singh Chauhan urged prioritizing the nation over party politics. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Gandhi of echoing Pakistani propaganda and distrusting the armed forces. Gandhi questioned Jaishankar's remarks on informing Pakistan before strikes, prompting MEA clarification about the timing of the warning.
Donald Trump Jr. addressed speculation about a future presidential run at the Qatar Economic Forum, stating 'maybe one day' he would consider it. He later criticized Reuters for misrepresenting his remarks, clarifying he has no immediate interest in running for office. Trump Jr.
Israeli forces fired warning shots at Italian diplomats near Jenin after they allegedly strayed from an approved route in what the IDF termed an active combat zone. The incident, prompting condemnation and demands for clarification from Italy and the EU, involved diplomats from over 30 countries assessing the humanitarian situation.
Ajay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). President Droupadi Murmu approved his appointment, filling the vacancy left by Preeti Sudan. Kumar served as India’s defence secretary and will lead the UPSC, responsible for conducting civil services examinations for key services like IAS and IPS.
India is restricting ready-made garment imports from Bangladesh by land. This action will likely raise logistics costs and increase transit times. The move follows restrictions imposed by Bangladesh on Indian goods. Indian companies had set up units in Bangladesh for lower production costs. Dhaka's growing ties with China are also a concern.
Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Wednesday. While Nifty50 was above 24,600, BSE Sensex crossed 81,300.
IndiGo defends its partnership with Turkish Airlines, highlighting benefits for Indian travelers and the economy amid political tensions. The airline emphasizes that the codeshare agreement enhances connectivity to Europe and the USA, provides affordable fares, and increases tax contributions. IndiGo's long-haul expansion plans are supported by this collaboration, paving the way for self-sufficiency with new aircraft orders.
In a veiled critique of the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned bullying and trade wars, emphasizing collaboration for global stability. This statement followed a US-China agreement to lower tariffs after a period of escalating duties. The US will reduce tariffs on Chinese imports to 30%, while China will lower duties to 10%.