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Sean “Diddy” Combs lost a mistrial bid in his sex trafficking case after lawyers argued prosecutors implied he destroyed evidence linked to a 2012 arson. Combs pleaded not guilty to racketeering and sex trafficking. Judge Arun Subramanian denied the mistrial, stating no prejudicial testimony was presented during the arson investigator’s questioning.
Satellite images show China has landed two upgraded H-6 bombers on the disputed Paracel Islands for the first time since 2020. Analysts view this as strategic signalling amid tensions with the Philippines and U.S. The move comes ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue and amid increased regional military activity, including U.S. and British presence.
Heavy rains in Telangana damaged crops across 29 districts, affecting 5,528 acres. The state government has released ₹51.52 crore as compensation. Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao ordered direct cash transfers to farmers’ accounts to provide quick relief. This move aims to support affected farmers promptly amid the recent crop losses.
Contract workers of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant staged a huge protest demanding the reinstatement of dismissed employees. Tensions escalated when the protesters attempted to storm the plant’s administrative building. A scuffle broke out as police intervened to stop them, and Authorities urged the workers to maintain peace.
The Bombay High Court slammed Maharashtra for arresting a 19-year-old student over a social media post on the India-Pakistan conflict, saying the State turned her “into a criminal” instead of reforming her. It questioned her college’s decision to rusticate her and called the State’s reaction radical, noting she had already apologized.
The state’s IMA branch issued an advisory urging doctors to remain vigilant with rising Covid-19 cases in Karnataka. Karnataka recorded 135 active cases, 73 from Bengaluru. CM Siddaramaiah stressed preparedness despite the strain being mild. The advisory follows concerns over new Omicron sub-variants NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, now under WHO monitoring.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized that peace stems from strength and urged citizens to balance fundamental rights with duties. He highlighted the need for economic nationalism through Swadeshi consumption, warning that unnecessary imports harm jobs, deplete foreign reserves, and weaken entrepreneurship. Duties, he said, uphold democratic strength.
A massive fire at a plastic bottle factory in Delhi’s Bawana area triggered a powerful explosion, collapsing the building early today. 17 fire tenders responded quickly. No injuries reported. Residents panicked as thick smoke spread. Police are investigating the cause, safety compliance, and ongoing efforts to extinguish flames and clear debris.
Indian-origin professor Ganesh Thakur has been appointed president of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology, becoming the first University of Houston (UH) faculty member to hold the post. His term runs through 2027, during which he aims to elevate UH’s research profile and foster state-wide scientific collaboration.
Security forces intensified operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district to trace 3-4 terrorists hiding in the dense Chatroo forest. Despite no fresh contact, Army Para Commandos, J&K Police SOG, and CRPF continue combing Singhpora and Beighpora villages. The terrorists, possibly split into two groups, remain elusive amid the rugged terrain.
Canada has slashed study permits for Indian students by 31% in Q1 2025, issuing just 30,640 permits. The drop follows immigration caps to ease housing and infrastructure strains. New rules require proof of CA $20,635 in funds and stricter letter verifications. Permit caps for 2025 and 2026 are set at 437,000 to stabilize temporary immigration.
Melania Trump released an audiobook narrated by AI using her voice. The seven-hour book costs $25. She says it shares her story and truth. The voice was created with her help. This comes after she warned about AI deep fakes. Melania is also filming a documentary with Amazon and supports laws against harmful online content.
Jaishankar accused Pakistan’s leadership, especially Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, of an “extreme religious outlook” after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He said Pak-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, targeting them for their Hindu faith to deliberately incite religious discord, speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS.
The ED uncovered a ₹40 lakh suspicious payment from Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara’s educational trust to Ranya Rao’s credit card amid a gold smuggling probe. Raids across 16 sites revealed hawala operators, shell companies, and fake consultancy payments, exposing a vast money laundering network with Rao as a key intermediary.
The Army clarified that no air defence guns or related resources were deployed within the Golden Temple premises during Operation Sindoor. This statement followed reports claiming the shrine’s management had permitted such deployment to counter drone and missile threats from Pakistan. The Army dismissed these claims, calling them incorrect and misleading.