Speaking in The Hague during his five-nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and the Netherlands are building a “trusted, transparent and future-ready” supply chain to withstand repeated global shocks. He framed the current era as a “decade of disasters,” pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating wars and an emerging energy crisis. Modi warned that if countries fail to respond quickly, decades of development gains could be wiped out, driving large populations into poverty.
Investigating agencies probing the NEET-UG paper leak case say the accused allegedly operated with a strict division of labour, assigning different subject portions to different members based on expertise and networks. The compartmentalised approach, officials believe, kept suspicion low because no single person possessed the entire question paper. A Chemistry teacher in Latur allegedly shared Chemistry questions, while another accused used a student counselling institute to reach aspirants and handle much of the Biology section. Investigators also face hurdles recovering deleted Telegram chats, delaying digital evidence.
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India has rejected a new Court of Arbitration (CoA) award under the Indus Waters Treaty, calling the tribunal illegally constituted and without authority. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the CoA issued an “award on maximum pondage” on May 15, supplementing an earlier interpretation ruling. India reiterated it never recognized the CoA and declared any proceedings, awards, or decisions null and void. The move adds to India Pakistan tensions over Indus River water sharing and management, with India keeping the treaty framework in abeyance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Netherlands cricket team during a community event in The Hague, highlighting the role of Indian-origin players in lifting the squad. Speaking to the Indian diaspora, he noted the Netherlands’ strong showing against India’s champions at the recent T20 World Cup and pointed to Aryan Dutt’s contributions. Modi also drew a parallel to hockey, crediting Dutch coaches and head coach Sjoerd Marijne for shaping India’s women’s team, while encouraging support for the upcoming Hockey World Cup.
In conflict zones and developing regions, sport is emerging as an unexpectedly effective peace and development channel, according to the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP). Its programmes have reached over 60 million youth. The article argues the impact is measurable: investing $1 in sport-based youth development in fragile states can generate about $3.8 in social and economic value. It links sport to SDG gains across health, education, gender equality, inclusion, and reduced violence.
In a goodwill gesture after years of repatriation diplomacy, the Netherlands has handed Prime Minister Narendra Modi 11th-century Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates. The 21 large and three small plates document historical grants tied to Chola King Rajaraja I’s contributions to a Buddhist vihara in Nagappattinam. Notably, they track a linguistic change in administrative customs terminology from “ulgu” to “sunkam,” reflecting shifts during Chola rule. After arrival, the Archaeological Survey of India will examine and secure the artifacts.
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YouTube, Snap and TikTok have settled the first school-district case scheduled for trial over allegations that social media platforms worsen youth mental health. The claims came from Kentucky’s Breathitt County School District, while Meta Platforms must still face trial alone on June 15 in federal court in Oakland. Terms were not disclosed. The lawsuit is a bellwether for roughly 1,200 similar school district suits, including California cases numbering in the thousands.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his second stop of a five-nation tour, addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Netherlands, drawing cheers of “Jai Jai Modi.” He laid out four major aspirations for “Viksit Bharat,” linking them to modern India’s push for jobs and innovation. Modi cited a dramatic startup boom from about 500 in 2014 to over two lakh today, with 44,000 more seeking registration. He also highlighted plans to become a global manufacturing hub, use Olympics hosting for global stature, and lead in green energy through large-scale solar expansion.
From the 2026-27 academic session, CBSE will require students in Classes 9 and 10 to study three languages starting July 1, aligning with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. The languages will be labeled R1, R2, and R3, with at least two needing to be native Indian languages. In a key relief, CBSE says there will be no board exam for the third language at the Class 10 level. Until new textbooks arrive, schools will use Class 6-level third-language books and receive teaching guidance later.
In a major step in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak probe, the CBI has arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior woman biology lecturer from Pune and an expert on the NTA question-setting panel. Sources say she was detained first for interrogation before formal arrest. The agency claims she had complete access to the Botany and Zoology sections and allegedly mobilised candidates through special coaching at her residence, with questions reportedly matching those that appeared in the May 3 exam. The arrest follows PV Kulkarni’s detention as “kingpin.”
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South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo has named a 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, handing captaincy expectations to Son Heung-min as the tournament begins in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The squad marks Son’s fourth World Cup and extends Korea’s streak of successive appearances to 11, since 1986. Coach Hong’s primary target is reaching the round of 32, with Hwang In-beom called up despite an ankle injury. Korea opens in Mexico on June 11 vs the Czech Republic.
A disturbing viral video has sparked outrage in Delhi after a man was allegedly seen urinating inside a lift at Kalkaji Mandir Metro Station, reportedly in front of two female commuters. The incident has prompted demands for swift action from the DMRC and Delhi Police, with users urging review of CCTV footage and identification of the offender. Commuters say while metro platforms are monitored, remote lift areas, stairwells, and foot overbridges can remain under-supervised, raising renewed concerns about passenger safety and hygiene.
A major fire erupted at a private garment manufacturing unit in Noida’s Sector-63, quickly escalating from plot D-140 into two adjacent commercial structures. Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky and were reportedly visible from several kilometres away, sending panic through the crowded industrial area. Noida Police and the local fire department rushed multiple fire tenders and rescue teams to the spot. Crews are actively fighting the flames and working to stop the blaze spreading further.
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was convicted by a special MP-MLA court in Rampur over a remark he allegedly made during a 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign. The court held him guilty for an objectionable “will make you clean shoes” statement directed at the then District Magistrate, Anjaneya Kumar Singh. The case, filed for violating the Model Code of Conduct and using derogatory language toward a public servant, is expected to see the quantum of sentence pronounced separately. The verdict adds to his ongoing legal troubles and fuels claims of political targeting.
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Delhi Metro has extended last train timings across operational lines for the DC vs Rajasthan Royals IPL match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, May 17. With the game starting at 7:30 PM and expected to finish after 11:00 PM, DMRC has pushed back terminal departures to prevent fans from being stranded. Examples include a 11:35 PM last train from Dwarka Sector-21 to Noida Electronic City and a final Samaypur Badli to Millennium City Centre Gurugram service at 12:20 AM.
SBI Research warns the rupee is at a critical depreciation threshold, where any further fall could cancel out benefits from the recent Rs 3 per litre petrol and diesel price hike. The report says even an extra Rs 2 depreciation increases the effective crude oil price, raising landed import costs enough to fully offset the relief to Oil Marketing Companies. OMC under-recoveries are soaring to about Rs 1,000 crore per day, and SBI also flags inflation and external risks from crude market pressures.
A 43-year-old man, Indra Kumar Parihar, died in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district after reportedly eating watermelon at home; his 21-year-old son Vinod remains in critical condition. The father and son began feeling unwell on Thursday night, worsened by Friday morning, and were rushed to Sheopur District Hospital, where he died en route. Doctors suspect a severe stomach infection or food-related illness, but officials are still awaiting medical reports. The incident echoes similar watermelon tragedies in Chhattisgarh and beyond.
John Travolta received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes 2026, presented by festival chief Thierry Fremaux before the premiere of his Apple TV-backed directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.” The actor received a standing ovation and told Deadline the recognition was “an honour beyond the Oscars.” Fremaux praised Travolta’s cinematic impact, and Travolta reflected on his life and process, saying the film reflects his personal perspective, stitched to memories and music.
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As Kerala’s Congress-led UDF races to form its new cabinet after a decisive 2026 election win, Keralam Congress president Sunny Joseph says talks over ministerial berths will be conducted both individually and collectively with alliance partners. The statement comes as Congress leader VD Satheesan, announced as chief minister-designate on May 14, prepares to be sworn in on May 18. The political moment is heightened by a high-profile meeting with AMMA members at Satheesan’s residence and the UDF ending LDF’s decade-long rule.
S&P Global cut its outlook for global real GDP growth to nearly 2.4% in 2026, down from 2.6% in its March forecast, citing higher energy prices, persistent geopolitical tensions, and weaker demand. The firm expects only a modest rebound in 2027 to about 2.7%. In Asia-Pacific, growth was revised lower on energy import exposure. For India, real GDP growth for FY 2026–27 was reduced to around 5.9%, driven by inflation, currency pressure, and costlier energy imports.
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