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.
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Dehradun police arrested five Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, for illegally residing in Clement Town without valid documents. They claimed to have fled Bangladesh due to persecution fears following political unrest. A local woman was also arrested for aiding their stay, while their children were placed in a shelter home.
Indian Railways successfully conducted a trial run of a special train on the Katra-Qazigund section. This section includes the Chenab Bridge. The train carried soldiers and completed a round trip with full security. This trial is significant due to the ongoing Indo-Pak conflict. The new rail line will improve connectivity to Kashmir.
President Trump has urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to shift iPhone production back to the United States, expressing concerns about Apple's expanding manufacturing presence in India. Trump claimed India offered a zero-tariff deal, but he wants Apple to prioritize domestic production, potentially utilizing advanced robotics. Apple's move to India was driven by COVID-19 disruptions and US-China tensions.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin urged non-BJP ruled states to unite against the Centre's alleged attempt to undermine the Supreme Court's verdict regarding the Governor's role. President Murmu sought SC's opinion on its ruling that set deadlines for Governors acting on bills. Stalin accused the BJP of using the President to challenge the judgment, potentially impacting states facing uncooperative Governors.
Over two days, Israeli airstrikes killed 120 people in Gaza, including 54 in Khan Younis. Amid the ongoing conflict, Gaza’s only cancer hospital shut down, and nearly 1 million face severe food shortages. The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, has killed over 53,000 Palestinians. Hostage tensions and a stalled ceasefire further complicate peace efforts.
Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber, has been arrested by Haryana Police on suspicion of espionage. Her father claims she visited Pakistan solely for YouTube content creation with proper permissions. Police allege Malhotra was in contact with Pakistani intelligence, met an officer in Delhi, and shared sensitive information. Authorities seized phones and laptops, registering a case under the Official Secrets Act.
A Maninagar resident, Bhavika Tilwani, experienced a horrifying incident after discovering a lizard's tail in her ice cream cone, leading to her hospitalization. Following the complaint, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation sealed Mahalaxmi Corner ice cream parlour and penalized Havmor Ice Cream Pvt Ltd Rs 50,000.
Virat Kohli's sudden Test retirement has sparked a frenzy of reactions online, with fans sharing tributes and speculations about his ODI future. Having already retired from T20s, it's widely assumed the 2027 Cricket World Cup could be his last appearance. His coach, Rajkumar Sharma, lauded Kohli's Test career and hopes for ODI success.
With 12 league games remaining, CSK, RR, SRH, and KKR are out of playoff contention. GT, RCB, and PBKS are almost certain to advance, while MI and DC have a fair chance, and LSG's chances are slim. Despite 4,096 possible result combinations, probabilities suggest RCB, GT, and PBKS have high chances of making the top four. For instance, GT finish in the top two in 2,800 of the possible combinations of match outcomes, translating to a 68.4% chance of being first or second, singly or jointly.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is embarking on a six-day visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany starting May 19. Discussions will encompass bilateral relations and global matters. His Germany visit aligns with Friedrich Merz's new role as Federal Chancellor, signaling continued commitment to the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.