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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.
Dr MR Srinivasan, renowned nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, passed away at 95 in Udhagamandalam. A pioneer of India’s civil nuclear programme, he worked with Homi Bhabha on Apsara and led key projects like Madras Atomic Power Station. He also founded NPCIL and shaped India’s nuclear infrastructure over five decades.
The Sensex and Nifty opened at fresh record levels in early trade on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The Sensex started trading today at 82116.17, up at 56.75 points or 0.07%, and the Nifty was at 24996.20, up at 50.75 points or 0.20%. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee was trading today at 85.46 against the dollar.
UK, France, and Canada warned Israel of “concrete” action if its Gaza offensive and aid blockade continue. In a joint statement, leaders called Gaza’s conditions intolerable and condemned Israel’s actions as breaches of international law. They urged lifting aid restrictions and vowed support for Palestinian statehood to achieve a two-state solution.
Trinamool Congress declined to send MP Yusuf Pathan on the Centre’s global anti-terror mission, citing no formal request. Mamata Banerjee emphasized the party must choose its representative. While backing India’s foreign policy and Operation Sindoor, TMC insisted that delegation names can’t be imposed unilaterally without consulting political parties.