The Times of India

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump, stating they share a similarity in destruction which fuels their mutual praise. This comes after Trump expressed his love for PM Modi and India during a call to the US ambassador in New Delhi.

Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered swift action on sexual crime cases following a horrific incident in Coimbatore. He directed police to expedite investigations, ensure severe punishment for culprits and implement precautionary measures. The directive comes amid rising criticism over the state's law and order situation, with opposition leaders highlighting recent murders and assaults.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that India did not express concerns regarding Pakistan's mediation role in the US-Iran conflict. While India remains focused on terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil, this specific diplomatic engagement by Islamabad did not arise as a point of discussion.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized the Modi government for recent fuel price increases, alleging it burdens citizens despite stable international crude oil rates. He pointed to significant hikes in petrol and diesel prices over the past decade, contrasting them with the UPA era.

Mark Zuckerberg's goodbye memo to 8,000 fired Meta employees on May 20 doubled as a message to the 70,000 staff still standing. The Meta CEO made two promises: no further company-wide layoffs in 2026, and better communication after weeks of internal anxiety. The memo lands as Meta funnels $125-145 billion into AI infrastructure, shifts 7,000 staff to AI projects, and cancels 6,000 open roles.

Uttar Pradesh is the second-highest power consumer in India. Rising summer temperatures are straining the electricity grid. Several thermal power plants are shut down, causing significant power cuts, especially in rural areas. The state is facing a substantial shortfall in power generation. Efforts are underway to secure additional electricity from other states and through power exchanges to meet the demand.

Nearly 1.5 lakh tribal people from across India gathered at the Red Fort, demanding the removal of converted Muslims and Christians from the Scheduled Tribe category. Organized by the Janajati Suraksha Manch, the event aimed to build support for a constitutional amendment under Article 342 to de-list converted tribals.

BJP's Debangshu Panda secured a decisive victory in the Falta repoll, winning by over a lakh votes. The Election Commission ordered the repoll due to severe electoral offences during the initial April 29 polling. This high-stakes seat for TMC saw their candidate finish a distant fourth after withdrawing from campaigning but remaining on the ballot.

A school principal, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, was arrested by the CBI in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. She allegedly shared exam questions with students for money, conspiring with another lecturer. Havaldar admitted to sharing Physics questions and receiving payments, later deleting chats and burning notes.

A Supreme Court plea seeks a CBI probe into the Cockroach Janta Party and alleged fake advocates, amidst a political storm over the viral digital campaign. The group, which gained traction discussing unemployment and exam leaks, saw its website taken down. Founder Abhijeet Dipke accused the government of suppression and claimed to have received death threats.

IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur professors will now help CBSE fix its post-result services portal. This comes after students and parents reported widespread technical glitches and confusion regarding re-evaluation fees. The move aims to ensure a smooth, reliable, and transparent system for students seeking to review their exam papers.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk acknowledged a positive step in talks between Ladakh representatives and the Centre, but warned trust-building remains incomplete. He cited unresolved protest cases and institutional issues, fearing Ladakh could become another Manipur due to growing unrest. Wangchuk stressed that government intent will be judged by actions on these outstanding matters.

Following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, an AIIMS medical team has arrived in Bhopal to conduct a second post-mortem on Twisha Sharma. Her father, buoyed by the rule of law, is optimistic that the investigation will yield justice and curb the public shaming of his daughter even after her death.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke refutes BJP claims of Pakistani followers. He presented audience analytics showing over 94% Indian users. Union minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar had alleged significant Pakistani engagement. Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar called it a cross-border influence operation. The party gained traction online discussing unemployment and policy issues.