India and Russia are in advanced talks to sign a preliminary agreement on critical minerals focused on exploration, processing and technological collaboration. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposed deal will primarily cover lithium and rare earths while also facilitating corporate investments between the two countries. The agreement could reportedly be signed within two months. India is seeking to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global critical mineral supplies and processing technology, while securing overseas resources for its energy transition and infrastructure growth. New Delhi has already signed similar agreements with Argentina, Australia and Japan, and is also negotiating with Peru and Chile. India may also revisit Rosatom’s lithium project in Mali if conditions stabilise. (PC: Shutterstock)

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested 30-year-old BAMS student Shubham Khairnar from Nashik in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Police sources claimed Khairnar bought the controversial “guess paper” for Rs 10 lakh from a Pune-based suspect and later sold it for Rs 15 lakh to a Haryana buyer. Four CBI teams reportedly reached Nashik to take custody of him after initial detention by the Nashik Crime Branch. The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET-UG 2026 after Rajasthan SOG investigators found all 90 Biology and 45 Chemistry questions allegedly matched a handwritten “guess paper”. Around 22 lakh students appeared for the May 3 examination nationwide. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Sri Ravi Shankar at the The Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru for the organisation’s 45th anniversary celebrations and Gurudev’s 70th birthday. The month-long event has brought together participants from 182 countries, including diplomats, policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, farmers and prison inmates rehabilitated through Art of Living programs. PM Modi inaugurated the Dhyan Mandir, a new international meditation and healing centre envisioned as a permanent space for collective well-being. Referring to the newly launched facility, Modi said, “Dhyan Mandir will become a centre of peace and solace for thousands of people in the coming generations.” Addressing the gathering, Modi linked mental well-being with national progress, stating, “The realisation of a developed future will be possible through youth who are mentally calm, socially responsible and sensitive toward society.” He further emphasised the role of collective participation, saying, “Society is more powerful than politics and governments.” Welcoming the Prime Minister, Gurudev Ravi Shankar praised India’s transformation and growing global influence. “Today, Mother India and the people of India walk with pride because you have taken India to a new level,” he said. The celebrations will culminate on May 13 with a Global Meditation for World Peace led by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, reinforcing the organisation’s broader message of mental wellness, social harmony and community-driven transformation. (PC: X/Narendramodi)

Dutch travel creator Meike Hijman went viral after sharing how three strangers helped her during a solo motorcycle journey across India when her bike suffered a flat tyre on a highway. In an Instagram video, Hijman said she panicked after being stranded alone without knowing how to repair the puncture or find assistance. The clip shows local men stopping to inspect the tyre, attempting a temporary repair and guiding her to a nearby mechanic. The video drew widespread praise online, with many users calling it a reminder of everyday kindness in India and highlighting how travellers often remember such unexpected acts of generosity.

India issued a strong response after reports claimed Chinese personnel provided technical support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor following the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Responding to the revelations, Randhir Jaiswal said responsible nations should reflect on whether backing attempts to shield terrorist infrastructure harms their global reputation. India reiterated that Operation Sindoor was a “precise, targeted and calibrated” strike aimed at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Reports cited Chinese engineer Zhang Heng admitting his team offered on-site support to Pakistan’s military operations involving Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets. Indian officials had earlier alleged China assisted Pakistan through intelligence, cyber activity and information warfare during the conflict.

Filmmaker Mira Nair has unveiled the first look of actor Anjali Sivaraman as celebrated painter Amrita Sher-Gil in her upcoming biopic Amri. The film traces Sher-Gil’s journey across Hungary, France and India, exploring how the pioneering artist shaped a modern Indian visual identity despite her European artistic training.   The film also stars Emily Watson, Jaideep Ahlawat, Jim Sarbh, Anjana Vasan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Nair said Sher-Gil’s art has inspired her cinema for decades. The makers confirmed that filming has wrapped across India and Europe, while global exhibitions of Sher-Gil’s artworks are planned for 2027. (PC: The Telegraph India)

Russia launched more than 200 drones across Ukraine overnight after a three-day ceasefire linked to World War II Victory Day celebrations ended, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday. Ukraine claimed Moscow rejected Kyiv’s proposal to extend the truce and instead targeted civilian and energy infrastructure, including a kindergarten and residential buildings. At least one person was killed and several others injured in the attacks across multiple regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia “chose to end the partial silence”, while officials reported blackouts and damage to transport and energy facilities following the large-scale overnight drone assault. (PC: India Today)

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak matter after the Centre cancelled the medical entrance exam over irregularities. National Testing Agency Director General Abhishek Singh said the schedule for the re-examination will be announced within seven to 10 days. He added that candidates will not have to pay fresh fees or register again for the re-test. The exam, conducted on May 3 for nearly 22.79 lakh students across India and abroad, was scrapped after leaked PDFs of question papers surfaced online, triggering protests and political attacks over exam integrity. (PC: X)

At least 269 people were killed after Pakistani airstrikes hit the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Kabul on March 16, according to a UN report. Families of victims say recovering addicts and staff members were among the dead, rejecting Pakistan’s claim that only militant targets were struck. Many bodies were burned or torn apart, forcing relatives to identify loved ones through clothes or birthmarks. The rehabilitation centre, operating since 2016, was widely known in Kabul. Human Rights Watch called the strike a possible war crime, while grieving families questioned why civilians seeking treatment were targeted in the deadly attack. (PC: BBC)

Anand Kumar has called for strict action against coaching centres after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over alleged irregularities. He said repeated exam controversies lower students’ morale and damage trust in the system. Kumar urged the government to adopt tougher rules similar to China, where authorities closely regulate coaching institutes and use strong anti-cheating measures. The National Testing Agency cancelled the exam held on May 3 and ordered a re-test. The Central Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the alleged paper leak. (PC: ITG)