The Centre has increased import duties on gold and silver to 15% from 6% as part of efforts to reduce imports and ease pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves. The revised structure includes a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC). The move comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to avoid buying gold for a year to help conserve foreign exchange amid global economic uncertainty. Industry bodies warned the sharp hike could hurt demand and revive gold smuggling, even as the government seeks to narrow the trade deficit and support the rupee. (PC: NDTV)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting at Downing Street ahead of the King’s Speech, as pressure grows within the Labour Party over his future as prime minister. Streeting is widely seen as a potential leadership contender if Starmer is forced out. The meeting comes after four ministers resigned and more than 80 Labour MPs reportedly urged Starmer to quit or announce a timeline for departure. However, over 100 Labour MPs have publicly backed him, saying this is not the time for a leadership battle. Starmer has so far refused to step down. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Special Protection Group (SPG) to reduce the size of his convoy by at least 50% as part of austerity measures aimed at cutting fuel consumption amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Officials said the reduction was implemented without compromising security protocols, while the PMO is also exploring the use of electric vehicles in the Prime Minister’s fleet. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also reportedly reduced his convoy size. The move follows PM Modi’s recent appeal urging citizens to save fuel, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, and limit gold purchases. (PC: India Today)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay comfortably won the trust vote in the 234-member Assembly on Wednesday, securing support from 144 MLAs, well above the majority mark of 118. The floor test witnessed intense political drama as legislators from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam staged a walkout during proceedings. Four MLAs from the Pattali Makkal Katchi and one BJP MLA abstained from voting. The rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam faction led by Shanmugam and SP Velumani, reportedly backed by 30 of the party’s 47 MLAs, appeared to support Vijay, with at least 24 AIADMK legislators believed to have voted in favour of the government.

Indian benchmark indices turned volatile on Wednesday after opening with marginal gains, as rising crude oil prices and continuing West Asia tensions weighed on investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex initially rose 75.64 points before slipping 182.60 points to 74,362.19, while the NSE Nifty fell below the 23,400 mark to 23,352.25. Power Grid, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, SBI, Titan and Axis Bank led the losses, while Asian Paints, Adani Ports and Tata Steel gained. Brent crude hovered near USD 106.6 per barrel amid fears surrounding the US-Iran standoff and energy supply risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz. FIIs also sold equities worth Rs 1,959.39 crore on Tuesday. (PC: The Telegraph)

US President Donald Trump departed for China aboard Air Force One ahead of high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a sitting US president to China since Trump’s 2017 trip. Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, with formal meetings planned for Thursday and Friday. Discussions are expected to focus on trade tensions, Taiwan, China’s rare earth export controls and broader economic ties. The Iran conflict is also likely to feature prominently, with reports suggesting Trump wants Beijing to pressure Tehran toward diplomacy. Trump will be joined by leading US business executives, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, as heightened security measures remain visible across Beijing.

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe has widened after investigators alleged that Rajasthan brothers Mangilal and Dinesh Biwal bought the exam paper from a Gurugram doctor for Rs 30 lakh on April 26, days before the May 3 examination. The paper was allegedly circulated through Sikar-based coaching and hostel networks, eventually reaching students across several states via WhatsApp and Telegram groups. Investigators claim the leak route stretched from a Nashik printing press to Haryana and Rajasthan. Rakesh Kumar Mandawaria, arrested in Dehradun, allegedly distributed the paper to nearly 700 students. Following the controversy, the NTA cancelled NEET-UG 2026, while the CBI launched a nationwide probe into the alleged interstate examination leak network. (PC: X)

A viral Instagram video by Pakistani content creator and journalist Sana Qadir sparked controversy after she claimed to have easily stepped into India near the Ganda Singh Border Crossing in Kasur, Pakistan. In the clip, Qadir pointed to a nearby construction site and claimed it was on the Indian side before crossing a temporary boundary and asserting she had entered India. The video triggered online concern, with some questioning border security. However, many netizens quickly debunked her claims, pointing out that the actual border gate remained behind her throughout the recording, indicating she never left Pakistani territory. Critics accused her of spreading misinformation and misleading viewers for viral attention.

Researchers have reportedly used artificial intelligence to analyse the 2,000-year-old Indian performance text Natya Shastra, uncovering 108 mathematically precise movement patterns linked to Bharatanatyam. According to the viral findings, the AI study identified deep connections between geometry, symmetry, rhythm and movement logic embedded within the ancient dance system. The discovery is being celebrated online as a striking fusion of traditional Indian knowledge and modern technology, with many describing it as evidence of the scientific sophistication present in classical Indian art forms centuries ago. The findings have renewed public interest in the mathematical and structural foundations of Bharatanatyam and the enduring relevance of India’s ancient cultural and intellectual traditions.

A new survey has found that nearly one in four Americans believe the April 2026 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner involving US President Donald Trump was staged, despite officials saying there is no evidence supporting the claim. The poll showed 24% believed the incident was fake, while 45% considered it a genuine assassination attempt and 32% remained uncertain. The survey also revealed a sharp political divide, with around one-third of Democrats expressing suspicion compared to roughly one in eight Republicans. Investigators maintain that the attackers in all three assassination-related incidents involving Trump acted alone. The White House strongly dismissed the conspiracy theories, calling such claims baseless and irresponsible. (PC: X)