US President Donald Trump has taken some of America’s biggest business and technology leaders on his official visit to China, highlighting the importance of trade, artificial intelligence and semiconductor ties between the world’s two largest economies.   Among the executives joining Trump in Beijing are Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook and BlackRock chairman Larry Fink. Leaders from Meta, Boeing, Visa, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Mastercard and Micron Technology are also part of the delegation.   The visit comes as Washington and Beijing remain locked in tensions over AI chips, technology exports and trade restrictions. Huang’s last-minute inclusion drew attention as Nvidia’s advanced AI chips are central to the US-China tech rivalry. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, technology and the ongoing Iran conflict. (PC: BBC)

National Testing Agency Director General Abhishek Singh defended the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, calling it a “short-term pain for long-term reform” after evidence suggested the exam’s integrity had been compromised. Singh said questions from a circulated “guess paper” matched the May 3 exam paper, prompting the NTA to cancel the test under its “zero-error, zero-tolerance” policy. He confirmed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe the alleged leak and warned strict action against anyone found guilty. Singh also said the NTA plans to replace contractual staff with permanent personnel within six to nine months. (PC: HT)

Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led Centre over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, alleging that most exam paper leaks since 2014 occurred under BJP governments. Referring to the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 after an alleged leak, Kejriwal claimed around six crore youths had been affected by such incidents nationwide. He also questioned the credibility of the CBI probe and urged India’s Gen-Z to protest against those responsible for exam scams. Over 22 lakh aspirants are awaiting fresh exam dates as the investigation into the leak continues.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has revoked the appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s Office following strong criticism from alliance partners and opposition parties. Vettrivel’s appointment a day earlier had triggered controversy, with parties including the VCK, CPI and CPM questioning the decision. Facing mounting political pressure, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government withdrew the order. The episode has sparked debate in Tamil Nadu politics over political appointments and the influence of personal advisers in government, especially in key administrative roles close to the Chief Minister. (PC: India Today)

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.