- VD Satheesan has been chosen as Kerala’s next chief minister after the Congress-led UDF secured a decisive election victory.
- Donald Trump and Xi Jinping projected a cooperative tone during their Beijing summit amid efforts to stabilise US-China ties.
- The Election Commission of India has announced Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision exercise covering 16 states and 3 Union territories.
- Two more India-bound LPG carriers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, underlining India’s efforts to maintain energy supplies amid regional tensions.
- The CBI probe into the NEET-UG leak case has found that a handwritten question paper was allegedly scanned and circulated to students for large sums of money.
Here are your top stories of the day.
VD Satheesan named Kerala chief minister after UDF landslide
The Congress on Thursday announced VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala following the UDF’s sweeping victory in the Assembly elections. Satheesan emerged as the preferred choice over senior leaders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala after days of consultations within the party leadership. The decision marks the Congress-led alliance’s return to power after defeating the Left government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Read full story
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping stress cooperation at Beijing summit
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping struck a warm and optimistic tone during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, despite continuing tensions over trade, technology and security. Xi said the two countries should be “partners, not rivals”, while Trump praised Xi’s leadership and expressed confidence in future relations. The summit is being closely watched as Washington and Beijing attempt to reset ties between the world’s two largest economies. Read full story
Election Commission of India expands electoral roll revision exercise nationwide
The Election Commission has announced Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across 16 states and 3 Union territories. The exercise will involve more than 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers conducting door-to-door verification for over 36 crore electors. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh have been excluded for now due to census and weather-related considerations. Read full story
Two more India-bound ships cross Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions
Two additional LPG carriers carrying cooking gas supplies for India have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, taking the total number of vessels to 13. Officials said the ships were monitored through coordination involving multiple ministries and maritime authorities. The movement comes as India continues efforts to secure energy supplies amid instability in West Asia. Read full story
CBI probe finds NEET-UG paper was scanned and circulated in Rajasthan
The CBI investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 leak case has found that a handwritten question paper was allegedly scanned and converted into PDF files in Rajasthan before being circulated to students. Investigators said some aspirants reportedly paid between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for access to the leaked material. The probe follows the National Testing Agency’s decision to cancel the examination held on May 3. Read full story
