Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai has reportedly informed the party leadership that he wants a "cordial separation" and plans to pursue an independent political path. According to sources, Annamalai conveyed his decision during a meeting with BJP president Nitin Nabin and organisation secretary BL Santhosh in New Delhi.   Despite efforts by the BJP to persuade him to stay, sources said the former IPS officer has made up his mind. Reports suggest he has also declined an offer of a Rajya Sabha seat. Annamalai is expected to launch a public movement before eventually forming a political party focused on grassroots participation and leadership development. (PC: NDTV)

A UK court has sentenced 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years, for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Prosecutors said Digwa fatally stabbed the teenager in December 2025 before falsely claiming he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence.   The case drew widespread attention after police initially handcuffed the injured victim at the scene based on Digwa's allegations. A judge ruled that no racist remarks were made and criticised Digwa for bringing "shame" on his family and religion. Police have apologised and an independent review of their response is underway. (PC: HT)

Myanmar President General Min Aung Hlaing has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Myanmar's territory will not be allowed to be used against India's security interests. The assurance came during wide-ranging talks in New Delhi as the Myanmar leader concluded his four-day visit to India.   The two leaders discussed cooperation in security, trade, energy, technology and infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's support for Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while highlighting the country's importance in India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.   Both sides also reviewed economic ties, with bilateral trade exceeding $2 billion, and explored opportunities to expand cooperation across key sectors. (PC: India Today)

The Union Home Ministry has revised registration rules for foreigners staying in India. Under the new rules, foreign nationals who wish to stay beyond 180 days must register before the 180-day limit expires. Earlier, they could register within 14 days after completing 180 days in the country. The government said permission for longer stays will be granted only in "emergent circumstances". The notification also eases birth reporting rules for children born to foreign nationals if one parent is an Indian citizen. In addition, hospitals and similar institutions must follow updated reporting and compliance requirements.

US President Donald Trump reportedly had a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's attacks in Lebanon. According to reports, Trump told Netanyahu, "You're f**king crazy," while criticising Israel's military actions. Trump also warned that continued strikes could increase Israel's isolation around the world. The call came as Iran threatened to suspend talks with the United States if attacks on Lebanon continued. Following the conversation, Israel reportedly dropped plans for strikes in Beirut. Later, Lebanon announced a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in an effort to reduce tensions in the region. (PC: AP)

India enjoyed a remarkable Round 7 at Norway Chess 2026 as R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh delivered crucial victories to strengthen their title hopes. Praggnanandhaa produced the standout result, defeating Alireza Firouzja in a hard-fought classical game to earn three full points and climb to third place with nine points. World Champion Gukesh held tournament leader Wesley So to a draw before winning the Armageddon tie-break with a bold queenside pawn grab, securing valuable extra points. In the women’s event, Divya Deshmukh also showed resilience and composure to register a vital sudden-death victory. The results significantly impacted standings as the tournament enters its decisive phase. (PC: Times Now)

The Union Home Ministry has amended the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, revising registration requirements for foreign nationals intending to stay in India beyond 180 days. Under the new rules, foreigners arriving on visas valid for 180 days or less must complete registration before the expiry of the 180-day period if they plan to extend their stay. Earlier, registration was permitted within 14 days after completing 180 days in India. The changes also apply to visa holders whose individual stays are capped at 180 days. The government stated that registrations beyond the prescribed period will be approved only in emergent circumstances. New relaxations have also been introduced for certain children born to foreign parents. (PC: X)

111-Word Summary Thousands of Punjabi truck drivers in the US face growing uncertainty as authorities begin deportation proceedings against 17,000 truckers identified during investigations into commercial driving licences. On Monday, 28 Punjabis were among 52 people arrested under Operation Checkmate, including 36 commercial truck drivers. The US Border Patrol initiative targets unlawfully present drivers operating commercial vehicles. Following a Trump administration push, California has moved to revoke thousands of non-domiciled CDLs issued to immigrants whose legal status allegedly expired. Punjabi Sikhs, a significant part of America’s trucking workforce, are particularly affected. Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran conflict are further squeezing incomes, worsening financial pressures on trucking families. (PC: iStock)

An Indian student has drawn widespread attention after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with six STEM majors simultaneously: Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Cognitive Science, and Environmental Economics and Policy. Arhaan Aggarwal reportedly completed more than 333 academic units during his time at Berkeley while also teaching graduate-level Accounting and Computer Science courses and pursuing advanced coursework. The achievement gained traction online after a family member shared images from his graduation celebrations. Social media users praised the scale and breadth of his academic accomplishments, with many describing the feat as extraordinary. The story sparked admiration, curiosity and widespread discussion across online platforms. (PC: NDTV)

A growing citizenship and migration dispute is straining relations along the India-Bangladesh border as authorities intensify checks on suspected undocumented migrants. Bangladesh has strengthened surveillance and launched awareness campaigns amid concerns over alleged “push-ins” of individuals without completed nationality verification procedures. The issue has gained urgency following expanded enforcement measures and detention operations in eastern India, where hundreds of people reportedly await citizenship verification. Bangladesh maintains it will accept verified nationals through formal channels but opposes unilateral transfers. Human rights groups have also raised concerns about due process and potential statelessness. The developments highlight the complex intersection of migration, citizenship, border security and regional politics.