U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept a proposed Gaza ceasefire during his eighth Middle East visit since the October 7 attack. Blinken noted that while Israel, the UN, and other Arab nations have backed the six-week truce plan, Hamas remains non-committal. The call for ceasefire coincided with Blinken's participation in an emergency summit in Jordan addressing Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Despite diplomatic efforts, Gaza faced further Israeli strikes, adding to the conflict's heavy toll.

The Congress narrowly retained the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post in the Rajya Sabha after members K.C. Venugopal and Deepender Hooda transitioned to the Lok Sabha. Despite losing two seats, Congress maintains 26 members, just above the 25-member threshold required to hold the LoP post, currently held by Mallikarjun Kharge. Recent Lok Sabha victories caused 10 Rajya Sabha vacancies: seven from BJP, two from Congress, and one from RJD. The BJP, the largest party with 90 seats, will fill these vacancies, prompting a new Leader of the House due to Piyush Goyal's exit.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army were killed in the Ukraine conflict. Expressing deep concern, the MEA has urged Russia to halt the recruitment of Indians for its military forces, stating such actions contradict the bilateral relationship. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is actively pursuing the repatriation of the deceased's remains. Additionally, the MEA advised Indian citizens to exercise caution when seeking employment in Russia, emphasizing the need for verified procedures to prevent similar occurrences. The Indian government continues to press Russian authorities for swift resolution.

Pravati Parida, a first-time BJP MLA from Nimapara, is set to become Odisha's first female Deputy Chief Minister. Parida, a lawyer and former women’s wing president of the BJP in Odisha, won her seat in the recent state assembly elections. She will share the deputy CM role with KV Singh Deo, alongside the newly appointed Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Parida’s legal background includes an LLB from Utkal University and advocacy at the Odisha High Court. Her appointment, marking a significant milestone in Odisha's political landscape, is part of the BJP's strategy for leadership in the state.

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, has been found guilty on all three counts in his federal gun trial, marking the first criminal conviction of a sitting president’s child. The charges stem from Biden's 2018 purchase of a Colt Cobra Special revolver, during which he falsely claimed on federal forms that he was not a drug user. Despite his not guilty plea, a Delaware jury delivered its verdict after three hours of deliberation. Biden, who faces potential prison time, expressed disappointment with the outcome but thanked his family and community for their support.

The Indian government announced Lt General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of the Army Staff, effective June 30. He will succeed General Manoj Pande, becoming the 30th Army Chief. Lt Gen Dwivedi, a National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy alumnus, has held numerous key positions, including Vice Chief of Army Staff, Northern Army Commander, and Director General of Infantry. Commissioned in 1984 into the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, he brings over 39 years of experience in the Northern and Western theatres to his new role.

A person was killed in a terrorist attack on a house in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, near the International Border. This incident follows a terrorist attack two days earlier in Raesi district, where nine people were killed when their bus was shot at. The recent attack has raised concerns about escalating violence in the region. Local authorities are investigating the incident. Security measures have been heightened, and residents are urged to stay vigilant.

A Pakistani YouTuber, Saad Ahmed, was shot dead by a security guard while filming a vlog about the India vs Pakistan cricket match in Karachi. Saad was repeatedly questioning the guard, who lost his temper and fired at him. Saad was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. CCTV footage shows the confrontation before the shooting. The guard has been arrested by local police. Saad, the sole breadwinner for his family, had called a friend before going to the mobile market to shoot the video.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people for their support in the Lok Sabha polls and asked them to remove the 'Modi Ka Parivar' slogan from their social media profiles. In a post on X, he expressed gratitude for the affection shown during the campaign. Modi noted the NDA's third consecutive majority and emphasized the continued bond as one family striving for India's progress. He introduced the slogan in Telangana earlier this year, which many, including top BJP leaders, adopted. Modi assured that while display names may change, the unity and commitment to India’s development remain strong.

Mohan Charan Majhi, 52, has been named the next Chief Minister of Odisha by the BJP. Majhi is the third tribal to hold this position. He will be supported by two deputy CMs: Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. Majhi, who represents Keonjhar Sadar, was chosen unanimously at a BJP meeting. Known for his role in exposing a major mining scam, Majhi has been a key figure in Odisha politics. The BJP celebrated his appointment with slogans praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new CM. Majhi will take the oath on Wednesday.