Beef dishes are disappearing from restaurant menus across West Bengal after the BJP government enforced stricter cow slaughter rules following its election victory in the state. Several iconic eateries in Kolkata have stopped serving beef steaks, chops and biryani due to supply shortages and fears linked to the new restrictions ahead of Eid al-Adha. Restaurants such as Shaikh’s, Mocambo and Oly Pub confirmed disruptions in beef supply, while The Burger Shop announced the permanent removal of beef from its menu. The BJP government, led by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, has intensified enforcement of decades-old cattle slaughter laws after defeating former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (PC: The Independent)

Fear is growing across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as a deadly Ebola outbreak continues to spread, with officials reporting more than 130 suspected deaths and over 500 possible cases. Health authorities say the virus may have been circulating undetected for weeks before the outbreak was officially identified in April. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is harder to detect than previous strains, has now spread to several towns and cities, including Goma and Butembo. Poor healthcare access, conflict, misinformation and delayed reporting are making efforts to contain the outbreak increasingly difficult for authorities and aid agencies. (PC: BBC)

The satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and National Parasitic Front (NPF) have gone viral on social media after controversial remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites”. Founded by Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP quickly gained massive attention online with meme-driven campaigns, parody manifestos and mock political promises focused on unemployment, governance and electoral reforms. The NPF soon emerged as its satirical rival, presenting itself as an “opposition” movement. Though both groups describe themselves as satire, they have struck a chord with many young Indians frustrated over jobs, politics and rising economic pressures. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a light-hearted moment with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome by gifting her a packet of Parle’s popular Melody toffee. Meloni posted a video of the exchange on social media, where she smiled while showing the candy and called it a “very, very good toffee”. Modi then jokingly replied, “Melody”, triggering laughter and instantly reviving the viral “Melodi” meme online. The hashtag has long been used by internet users to describe the warm and friendly chemistry between the two leaders, and the latest moment quickly drew reactions across social media.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed to attend and Chinese President Xi Jinping likely to participate. Xi’s visit, if confirmed, will be his first trip to India since 2019 following years of strained ties after the Galwan Valley clashes and border tensions. India, which assumed the BRICS presidency in January 2026, will host leaders from the expanded 11-member bloc under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The summit is expected to focus on economic cooperation, global governance reforms and trade. (PC: India Today)

Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded 48.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, becoming the hottest place in India and setting a new temperature record for the district. Extreme heat has disrupted daily life, with markets emptying by 10 am and labourers avoiding outdoor work during peak hours. Researchers and activists linked the worsening heat to deforestation, large-scale mining, river sand extraction and falling groundwater levels across Bundelkhand. Farmers have started working at night to escape the scorching temperatures. Experts warned that continued ecological damage could make parts of Banda unliveable in the coming years as the district increasingly turns into a severe heat island. (PC: HT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed deeper strategic cooperation during Putin’s state visit to Beijing, signalling stronger alignment amid rising global tensions. Putin said both nations would expand bilateral cooperation and coordinate more closely on international platforms like BRICS. Xi responded that China-Russia relations had entered a “new stage of faster development”, adding that mutual trust between the two countries continued to strengthen. Chinese state media described the talks as “substantial”, while Putin called the partnership “exemplary”. The visit mirrored the ceremonial welcome recently accorded to US President Donald Trump, underscoring Beijing’s effort to project itself as a central hub of global diplomacy and strategic influence. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump may meet during the G7 Summit in France next month, with a possible pull-aside interaction expected to attract global attention amid ongoing India-US trade tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Modi to attend the June 15-17 summit in Evian-les-Bains as a special invitee. The potential meeting would mark the first in-person interaction between Modi and Trump since their White House talks in February 2025, where both leaders pledged to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Observers are expected to closely watch any discussions on trade, strategic cooperation and geopolitical developments. (PC: India Today)

The Indian rupee weakened by 33 paise on Wednesday to hit a record low of 96.89 against the US dollar, later slipping further to 96.92 during early trade. Analysts attributed the decline to elevated crude oil prices near $110 per barrel, pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves, strong US dollar demand and continued foreign investor outflows. India, which imports nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil requirements, faces increased dollar outflow as global energy prices surge amid geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran-US conflict. Rising US Treasury yields and expectations of tighter Federal Reserve policy have further strengthened the dollar. The rupee has reportedly fallen more than 8 per cent against the dollar in 2026 alone. (PC: News18)

Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten faced widespread criticism after publishing a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer during his Norway visit. The illustration, accompanying an opinion article, showed Modi holding a snake-like fuel pipe and triggered accusations of racism, xenophobia and colonial stereotyping online. Critics argued the imagery revived outdated portrayals of India associated with “snake charmers” and undermined the country’s global image. The controversy emerged alongside another diplomatic row involving Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng and Indian diplomat Sibi George during media interactions in Norway. The debate has further intensified discussions surrounding media portrayal, cultural sensitivity and India-Norway relations.