Author: Rumpa Rani Das
Speculation around the political entry of Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, intensified during the Bihar cabinet expansion on May 7, 2026. Multiple reports said Nishant Kumar was likely to be inducted as a minister in the new NDA government led by Samrat Choudhary.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has faced a significant political setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, as visible cracks emerged in its long-standing Muslim support base, reshaping the state’s electoral landscape. For over a decade, Muslim voters,who constitute nearly a third of the state’s population, had largely remained consolidated behind the TMC, playing a decisive role in its repeated electoral successes.
In a landmark move for South Asia’s green energy landscape, the Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank signed financing agreements totaling $515 million on May 5, 2026, for the Dorjilung Hydropower Project. Situated on the Kurichhu River, the $1.7 billion initiative will be Bhutan’s largest hydropower plant developed under a public-private partnership, with Druk Green Power Corporation (60%) and Tata Power (40%) leading the venture. Designed to generate 4,500 GWh annually, the project will eliminate Bhutan’s winter energy shortages while exporting surplus power to India. The innovative financing model, which includes grants and concessional credits, is expected to catalyze an additional $900 million in private investment and displace 3.3 million tons of CO2 every year.
One of America’s most iconic ultra-low-cost carriers, Spirit Airlines, officially went out of business on May 2, 2026, ending 34 years of service. The abrupt shutdown followed the collapse of last-ditch rescue talks between the Trump administration and bondholders over a $500 million federal loan. Already weakened by two bankruptcy filings in 14 months, Spirit’s fate was sealed by a “crude punch” as the Iran-Israel conflict drove jet fuel prices to historic highs. With all flights canceled and customer service shuttered, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has coordinated with United, Delta, and Southwest to offer “rescue fares” for hundreds of thousands of stranded travelers. The airline’s final flight landed at Dallas-Fort Worth on Saturday, marking the largest U.S. airline failure in decades.
The long-standing dispute over the Kohinoor diamond has returned to the global spotlight following a bold demand from US politician Zohran Mamdani. Labeling the gem’s retention in the Tower of London a symbol of “unresolved colonial injustice,” Mamdani has urged King Charles III to return the artifact to India. While the British government historically maintains that the 1849 acquisition was legally sanctioned through the annexation of Punjab, Mamdani’s remarks align with a growing international trend of repatriating colonial-era treasures like the Benin Bronzes. Despite competing claims from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the demand adds fresh diplomatic pressure on the British monarchy to address historical accountability.
In a significant development in global diplomacy, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 90-minute phone conversation on April 29, focusing on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War and escalating tensions involving Iran.According to official statements, the conversation was described as “frank and businesslike,” reflecting both cooperation and continuing disagreements on major geopolitical issues. Trump later termed the discussion “very good,” hinting at cautious optimism.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with the President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock during her official visit to India, with discussions centering on global challenges, multilateral cooperation, and reforms of international institutions.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday delivered a strong message against terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Bishkek, urging member nations to adopt a united and uncompromising stance against extremist threats.Addressing the high-level gathering, Singh emphasised that terrorism remains one of the most serious challenges to regional and global peace.
Air India has renewed its aviation insurance policy with only a modest 10% increase in premium, even after one of the deadliest crashes in its recent history.
In a critical effort to de-escalate the Israel–Lebanon border conflict, President Donald Trump has successfully mediated a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Following intensive high-level talks in Washington, D.C., both parties have agreed to maintain a tactical pause to allow for broader peace negotiations, including discussions on border delineation and prisoner exchanges. While the Lebanese government has welcomed the reprieve as a chance for reconstruction, the situation remains precarious; Hezbollah has expressed public skepticism, and the IDF maintains a defensive high-alert status following reports of intermittent truce violations. With regional stability closely tied to broader tensions with Iran, the next 21 days will be a decisive test for U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East.