Author: Gursimran Kaur
In a major decision aimed at respecting religious traditions, the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal announced it will remove the word “Dham” from the newly constructed Jagannath Temple complex in the coastal town of Digha. The decision effectively resolves a year-long inter-state dispute regarding the shrine’s nomenclature.
Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been conferred the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The honour recognizes her exceptional leadership, gender-responsive peacekeeping, and extensive community outreach while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In a move set to redefine the political landscape of rural West Bengal, newly appointed Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh has signaled a comprehensive review of panchayat delimitation across the state. The announcement marks a significant administrative shift following the recent change of guard in West Bengal, with the new administration targeting long-standing discrepancies in local governance structures.
In a major political blow to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party heavyweight and close Mamata Banerjee loyalist Firhad Hakim has resigned as the Mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The veteran leader, who had held the position since November 2018, stepped down after receiving formal permission from party supremo Mamata Banerjee.
In a historic diplomatic triumph for South Asia, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. In a high-stakes, closely contested secret ballot held at the UN Headquarters in New York, the veteran 1979-batch diplomat secured 99 votes, narrowly defeating Cypriot Ambassador Andreas Kakouris, who garnered 91 votes. Dr. Rahman will officially assume the prestigious global podium on September 8, 2026, succeeding Germany’s Annalena Baerbock. His highly consequential one-year tenure arrives at a structural crossroads for the 193-member world body, directly coinciding with the intense vetting and selection process to replace UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term expires in December 2026. Unveiling his vision statement themed “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All,” the incoming President-elect—who previously served as Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser—pledged to act as an impartial bridge-builder across six reformative pillars, prioritizing a comprehensive overhaul of global governance, climate finance mechanisms, and the ethical regulation of emerging artificial intelligence technologies
In a development that could trigger a massive political realignment in Tamil Nadu, reports indicate that former state BJP chief K. Annamalai is contemplating a complete exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The dynamic leader, who has been the prominent face of the saffron party in the Dravidian heartland, is reportedly planning to launch an independent political outfit.
In a major political blow to the ruling Congress government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a thumping victory in the Himachal Pradesh urban local body elections. According to the results declared by the State Election Commission on Sunday, the opposition BJP swept three of the four major municipal corporations that went to the polls.
In a devastating escalation of his multi-jurisdictional legal battles, BYJU’S founder Byju Raveendran was sentenced to six months in prison by a Singapore court on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, for contempt of court. The severe punitive order stems from an aggressive asset-tracing lawsuit filed by a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with the judiciary finding the entrepreneur guilty of systematically defying multiple mandates dating back to April 2024 to disclose his global holdings. Alongside the jail term, the court ordered Raveendran to immediately surrender to Singapore law enforcement, pay S$90,000 (~$70,500) in legal costs, and hand over hidden financial documents for Beeaar Investco Pte—the offshore vehicle used to shield remaining company equities. While Raveendran immediately issued a public statement downplaying the committal order as a mere “procedural disclosure dispute” rather than a finding of corporate fraud, his legal team under Clarence Lun is scrambling to secure an emergency stay of execution as parallel multi-million dollar insolvency procedures continue to crush the former $22 billion edtech empire back home in India
A breathtaking, history-making masterclass from skipper Shubman Gill completely eclipsed a heroic, record-shattering effort from teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, steering the Gujarat Titans (GT) into the IPL 2026 Final. In a high-octane Qualifier 2 clash at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday, May 29, 2026, the Titans successfully hunted down a mammoth target of 215, eliminating the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets with eight balls to spare. Earlier in the evening, the 15-year-old uncapped sensation Sooryavanshi lit up the stadium, blasting a fearless 96 runs off just 47 balls to become the first uncapped player to breach the 700-run mark in a single IPL edition. However, the night ultimately belonged to Gill, who showcased elite composure and regal strokeplay to score a magnificent 104 off 53 balls. Stitching a destructive 167-run opening partnership with Sai Sudharsan (58), Gill brought up his fifth IPL century off just 47 deliveries—registering the fastest hundred in IPL playoff history and setting up a blockbuster championship showdown against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In a move laden with historical and symbolic weight, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata early Saturday morning, May 23, 2026, initiating a high-stakes four-day diplomatic tour of India. Flanked by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, Rubio emphasized humanitarian ties with a visit to the Mother House and toured the iconic Victoria Memorial under heavily reinforced security. Beyond cultural diplomacy, the primary undercurrent of this historic stop centers on critical strategic interests. Pointing directly to the ongoing geopolitical volatility in West Asia and shipping blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio stated the US intends to heavily expand its presence in India’s energy portfolio. The high-profile tour will move next to New Delhi for meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, culminating in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 26 to reinforce a shared Indo-Pacific vision.