The third edition of London Mahotsav will be held on June 27 and 28, 2026, at the Sattavis Patidar Centre in Wembley, London. Organisers said the two-day festival will celebrate Bengali culture through music, dance, literature, cinema, fashion and food. The event is expected to bring together the Indian Bengali diaspora from across the United Kingdom. Performers and brands from Kolkata are also set to participate in the festival. After successful editions in 2024 and 2025, organisers said London Mahotsav 2026 will be the biggest edition so far, featuring cultural performances, exhibitions and culinary experiences. (PC: T2)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that he would resign from the post following instructions from the Congress high command, paving the way for a leadership change in the state. Addressing cabinet colleagues at a breakfast meeting in Bengaluru, the veteran leader said the party leadership would decide the next chief minister. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, considered the frontrunner for the post, attended the meeting along with senior ministers. The development follows days of speculation over a power-sharing arrangement within the Congress. Siddaramaiah assured full support to whoever is chosen as his successor. (PC: X)

The United States carried out fresh strikes on Iran for the second time in three days, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said the site was preparing to launch attack drones and claimed four Iranian drones threatening the shipping route were shot down. Iran condemned the action as a violation of the ceasefire and warned it would respond to any hostility. The renewed tensions come amid ongoing negotiations to end the three-month conflict that has disrupted global oil shipments and pushed up energy prices worldwide. (PC: BBC)

Speculation over a leadership transition in Karnataka intensified after Congress MLAs claimed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had decided to resign, potentially paving the way for Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to take over. Congress MLA Ashok K Pattan said Siddaramaiah may resign after meeting Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, while senior legislator RV Deshpande claimed the chief minister told colleagues he had “decided to resign” in line with commitments made to the party high command. The developments follow marathon meetings in Delhi involving Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Congress leaders. While the Congress officially denied any final decision, supporters of Shivakumar celebrated across Karnataka amid reports of a possible power-sharing transition formula.

Global oil prices surged nearly 2% after fresh US strikes targeted Iranian military facilities near Bandar Abbas, intensifying fears of wider conflict and potential supply disruptions. According to Reuters, US forces struck Iranian drone-launching infrastructure after intercepting four attack drones allegedly targeting a US commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Following the operation, explosions were reported east of Bandar Abbas, triggering temporary activation of Iranian air defence systems. Brent crude climbed above $96 per barrel amid renewed geopolitical anxiety over the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil passes. Markets remain volatile as uncertainty grows around stalled US-Iran peace negotiations and risks to global energy supply chains worldwide. (PC: Times Now)

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh, nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its distinctive blond tuft of hair, has been spared from Eid al-Adha sacrifice after government authorities intervened at the last moment. The animal had gained widespread public attention and social media fame due to its unusual appearance and rarity. Officials reportedly stepped in to prevent the buffalo from being slaughtered during the Islamic festival, recognising its unique status and cultural curiosity value. The incident has sparked widespread reactions online, with many celebrating the decision to preserve the rare animal. The rescue also renewed discussions around animal conservation, rare genetic traits and the growing influence of viral public sentiment on local administrative decisions.

Assam has become the third Indian state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to pass a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, intensifying the national debate over equality and diversity. Passed on May 27, 2026, the legislation replaces religion-based personal laws with a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and guardianship. The Bill prohibits polygamy, mandates marriage registration, introduces legal regulation for live-in relationships and standardises succession and custody laws across communities. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government described the move as a step toward gender justice and equal treatment under law. Critics, however, argue the reform may affect cultural autonomy and religious freedoms in India’s plural social structure significantly.

A viral video showing an American man confronting an Indian couple and telling them to “go back to India” has sparked widespread criticism online. The clip, shared on X by a user named Tone, showed the man questioning the couple about their nationality and asking whether India or the United States was better. Although the couple responded calmly, saying both countries had positives, the interaction turned hostile when the man told them, “We don’t want you here” and “Get out of my country.” Social media users condemned the remarks as racist and discriminatory, with many defending immigrants who legally live and work in the US and contribute to society through taxes and skilled labour.

The United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian military targets near Bandar Abbas, marking the second American attack in 48 hours amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. According to US officials, the strikes targeted missile launch sites, drone units and Iranian vessels allegedly deploying naval mines threatening American forces and commercial shipping. Four Iranian attack drones aimed at a US commercial vessel were intercepted and destroyed before impact. Explosions near Bandar Abbas briefly activated Iranian air defence systems. United States Central Command said the operation was conducted in self-defence. Iran accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and warned of retaliation as disputes over control of the strategically critical Strait intensified further.

Red Balloon Aerospace successfully launched India’s first indigenous private super-pressure balloon carrying commercial payloads, marking a major milestone in the country’s near-space ambitions. The company’s VISTA platform rose nearly 25 kilometres above Earth during Mission SANA from Vijayawada, operating within the stratosphere between aircraft and satellites. Founded in 2025, the startup achieved commercial operational flight within eight months. The mission carried payloads from seven national and international partners, including biological experiments, propulsion systems and earth observation technologies. CEO C V S Kiran said the achievement places India among only five nations with indigenous stratospheric hydrogen balloon capability alongside the US, France, Japan and China.