Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has been invited to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony this weekend. This comes after Muizzu congratulated Modi on his recent election victory. Leaders from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius are also expected to attend. Modi's third consecutive term marks a historic moment. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Modi's swearing-in ceremony will be held on June 8, with invitations extended to several key leaders from neighboring countries.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) investigation into what he calls the "biggest stock market scam." He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for giving investment advice to retail investors, suggesting they had inside knowledge of election results. Gandhi accused them of encouraging investments to benefit certain business groups under investigation by SEBI. He alleged that dubious investors made huge profits, harming Indian retail investors. Gandhi emphasized the need for a JPC probe to uncover the truth behind these alleged manipulations.

Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a CISF constable at Chandigarh airport. The incident occurred while she was heading to Delhi. The constable, Kulwinder Kaur, reportedly accused Ranaut of disrespecting farmers. This refers to Ranaut's controversial comments during the farmers' protests. Mobile footage shows Ranaut being escorted by security officers. The CISF Commandant is investigating the incident. Ranaut, safe but concerned about terrorism in Punjab, shared her views in a video statement. She had faced farmers' protests during her election campaign.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is set to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) on her third space mission, describing it as “going back home.” After a successful launch on June 5 from Cape Canaveral aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, Williams and co-astronaut Butch Wilmore have been testing manual piloting capabilities in orbit. Despite minor helium leaks detected post-launch, the mission is proceeding as planned. The crew will spend a week at the ISS conducting tests before final certification of the Starliner, developed for NASA's Commercial Crew Program .            

As discussions on the Modi 3.0 Cabinet intensify, the BJP has drawn a firm line on key portfolios like Defence, Finance, Home, and Foreign Affairs, despite demands from allies for significant roles. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, with 16 and 12 seats respectively, seek prominent positions, including the Lok Sabha Speaker post and several cabinet ministries. Other allies like Shiv Sena and LJP also push for cabinet spots. With the BJP securing 240 seats, 32 short of the majority, accommodating allies while retaining control of core ministries is a critical balancing act.

Canada's National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) has identified India as the second-largest foreign threat to its democracy, following China, and ahead of Russia. This development, unveiled amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, highlights concerns over alleged foreign interference in Canadian democratic processes. The report accuses India of expanding its influence operations beyond countering pro-Khalistan elements to intervening in Canadian politics and ethnic communities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed deep concern over these findings. India has dismissed these allegations as baseless, while Canadian officials cite increasing interference in their institutions.                      

As cabinet formation speculation heats up, sources reveal TDP's Chandrababu Naidu aims for 3-4 ministerial berths, prioritizing Andhra Pradesh's development. Naidu seeks MoS Finance and funds for Amravati. JD-U's Nitish Kumar eyes three cabinet berths, focusing on agriculture and rural development. BJP's ally LJP's Chirag Paswan expected to join cabinet, while Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde may secure ministerial positions. Jana Sena and JD-S also in contention. Praful Patel or Sunil Tatkare from NCP's Ajit Pawar faction may get consideration. Speculation arises ahead of Union Council of Ministers formation.

After a tragic trekking incident in Uttarakhand, the bodies of nine trekkers from Karnataka are set to be airlifted to Bengaluru on Thursday. The trekkers lost their lives due to extreme weather conditions while on a trek organized by the Himalayan View Trekking Agency. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, coordinating with Uttarakhand authorities, ensured swift arrangements for transporting the bodies. Post-mortem is underway, and after embalming in Dehradun, the bodies will be flown to Bengaluru. Eight trekkers have been rescued, while five more are to be airlifted today, as efforts continue to ensure their safe return.

Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's extensive campaigning in Maharashtra, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) suffered defeats in the majority of the seats. Out of the 18 Lok Sabha constituencies where PM Modi held rallies, the NDA could only secure victories in three. The BJP's dismal performance in Maharashtra, winning just nine seats out of 23 compared to 2019's 23, poses a significant concern ahead of state polls. Despite PM Modi's efforts, the NDA's failure to win in seats where he campaigned reflects a noteworthy setback for the alliance in the state.

Israel's military strike on a UN school in Gaza claimed numerous lives, with Hamas denouncing it as a "horrific massacre." The strike, targeting what Israel claimed was a Hamas compound within the school, resulted in at least 27 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident further exacerbates the ongoing conflict, with diplomatic efforts underway to secure a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages. Despite international backing for a truce proposal outlined by US President Biden, challenges persist as Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire. The situation remains tense, with heightened security measures in Jerusalem amid annual right-wing marches.