| | At a Glance | India and New Zealand signed a "once-in-a-generation" pact promising $20 billion in investment and expanded market access expected to double bilateral trade. In West Bengal, Phase II campaigning ended on a high-voltage note. In US, Donald Trump lashed out at media amid fallout from a shooting scare, as accused Cole Allen was charged with attempted assassination. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal refused to appear in court for a hearing related to the excise policy case, citing bias and invoking Gandhian protest. Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed Delhi Capitals after bundling them out for 75 in a one-sided IPL clash. | |
| | 'Once In A Generation': The Great Gains From India-New Zealand Pact |  | Mobility, Investment And Safeguards
- India and New Zealand signed what they called a “once-in-a-generation” pact.
- New Zealand committed $20 billion investment over 15 years, boosting sectors like technology, services, agriculture and innovation.
- The pact enables movement of 5,000 Indian professionals, alongside expanded student access and annual working holiday visas.
Market Access And Trade Gains
- The agreement grants Indian exporters zero duty access across all sectors, significantly enhancing competitiveness in New Zealand markets.
- Bilateral trade, currently about $2.4 billion, is projected to double to $5 billion within five years.
- A calibrated tariff structure allows phased liberalisation, while protecting sensitive sectors like dairy, agriculture and key commodities.
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| | Jhalmuri Jibe, PM Modi's Letter & Mamata’s Street Push: Bengal Campaigning Ends With A Bang |  | Phase II Campaigning Ends In West Bengal
- Phase II campaigning in West Bengal officially ended, marking the close of an intense outreach period that began on April 24 after the conclusion of Phase 1 voting on April 23.
- The campaign witnessed aggressive ground mobilisation by key leaders with narratives around governance, identity and electoral trust dominating the discourse.
- Record voter turnout of over 93% in Phase 1 heightened political stakes, prompting intensified campaigning, messaging and last-mile voter outreach across constituencies.
Moments That Defined Campaigning- Prime Minister Narendra Modi used ‘jhalmuri’ outreach and a Hooghly visit to pitch cultural connect, later reinforcing it with an emotional ‘Viksito Bangla’ letter.
- CM Mamata Banerjee dismissed the optics as staged, stepping up grassroots campaigning through roadshows and direct outreach.
- PM Modi, in the Matua belt, promised direct citizenship under CAA, sharpening the identity pitch ahead of polling.
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| | 'I Am Not A Rapist!': Trump Tears Into Manifesto Claims After DC Scare |  | Trump Snaps At Media
- Donald Trump lashed out as a journalist read from the manifesto of the gunman behind the Washington dinner shooting scare.
- Trump forcefully denied allegations from the gunman’s manifesto and called the journalist “a disgrace.”
- The interview deepened tensions between the White House and the media over coverage of the Washington dinner shooting scare.
Suspect Charged With Attempted Assassination
- Cole Allen (31) the California man accused of trying to storm the gala was charged with the attempted assassination of the US president.
- Authorities said the suspect in the Washington dinner shooting scare tried to breach security with multiple weapons near the venue.
- The Secret Service intercepted the gunman and evacuated top officials, including Donald Trump, safely from the event.
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| | Kejriwal Takes 'Gandhi Route', Refuses To Appear In HC In Excise Case |  | ‘No Faith In Hearing’
- Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, refusing to appear in person or through a lawyer in the excise policy case.
- He said he has “lost hope of getting justice” and will follow Mahatma Gandhi’s path of satyagraha.
- Kejriwal maintained he will challenge the order in the Supreme Court while skipping the HC proceedings.
Kejriwal Cited Perceived Bias
- Kejriwal cited perceived bias and conflict of interest, including links to the central government through the judge’s family.
- The court, however, rejected the plea seeking the judge’s recusal, calling allegations “conjectures and insinuations.
- The court warned such claims risk eroding judicial trust, asserting litigants cannot create a perception of bias to avoid hearings.
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| | 'You Are 80, Stop Fighting': SC Nudges Kapur Family Toward Mediation |  | Court Flags Prolonged Family Litigation
- The Supreme Court issued notice on Rani Kapur’s plea, seeking responses from Priya Sachdev Kapur and 22 others.
- The Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi urged mediation, noting that extended family disputes are often unproductive.
- The court remarked, “Why are you all fighting? You are 80… Go for mediation once and for all,” stressing an amicable resolution.
Plea Raises Concerns Over Estate Control
- Rani Kapur challenged Delhi High Court orders, arguing that the estate remains unsecured and assets may be dissipated.
- Senior Advocate Shyam Divan told the court that large estate disputes typically warrant early protective orders.
- The dispute centres on the Rani Kapur Family Trust, with claims that asset transfers occurred without informed consent after her 2017 stroke.
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| | Capitals Punishment: Delhi Brought Down To Size By RCB Storm |  | Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Rip Through DC - Josh Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/5) reduced Delhi Capitals to 13 for 6 in the Powerplay.
- KL Rahul, Sameer Rizvi and Axar Patel fell cheaply as Delhi slipped to 8 for 5 in just three overs.
- Delhi were bowled out for 75 in 16.3 overs, narrowly avoiding the lowest total in IPL history.
Kohli, Padikkal Finish Off Easy Chase
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 76 in just 6.3 overs to seal a nine-wicket win.
- Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 23, while Devdutt Padikkal scored a fluent 34 in the chase.
- Jacob Bethell made 20 before being dismissed by an exceptional catch from T Natarajan off Kyle Jamieson.
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| | Watermelon Kills A Family Of Four |  | What Happened
- A family of four, including a 40-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife and their two teenage daughters, died of suspected food poisoning in Mumbai on Sunday.
- The family had eaten dinner with five other relatives on April 25 at 10:30 pm, after which the other relatives went home.
- Later that night between 1:00 and 1:30 am, all four deceased consumed watermelon and soon fell severely ill.
What Police Say
- The family was attended by a doctor and then referred to JJ Hospital, where the younger daughter Zainab (13) died at 10:15 am on Sunday.
- The husband Abdullla Abdul Kadar was the last to die at 10:30 pm on Sunday night; the wife Nasreen (35) and elder daughter Aayesha (16) also succumbed.
- An accidental death case has been registered at JJ Marg police station; post mortem has been done and histopathology report is awaited.
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| | Bought For Rs 1 Lakh, Dumped For Being 'Unlucky': This Isn’t A Teddy But A Toddler |  | What Happened?
- A 2.5-year-old girl was found abandoned on National Highway-552 in Sheopur’s Soinkalan area after a Dial-112 alert.
- Police rushed to the spot and took the child into protection with the Child Welfare Committee.
- The child was medically examined and placed under care for safety and rehabilitation.
'Trafficking Network Exposed'
- Police had traced the abandoned vehicle to Bhopal using CCTV footage and technical evidence.
- The couple had initially claimed legal adoption but later admitted to buying the child for Rs 1 lakh.
- Investigators had uncovered links to an alleged trafficking network operating through Indore and other cities.
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| | May I Have Your Attention Please? Shatabdi & Jan Shatabdi Trains Set To Arrive With A Major Revamp |  | Railways Orders Rake Inspections, Amenity Upgrades
- The Railway Board has launched a nationwide plan to upgrade Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains with a focus on comfort, cleanliness, and modern passenger amenities.
- Zonal Railways have been instructed to inspect rakes thoroughly and prepare time-bound action plans to fix gaps in onboard facilities.
- The upgrade plan prioritises better seating, improved upholstery, charging ports, snack tables, and enhanced toilet infrastructure with upgraded fittings.
Safety and Digital Systems Get Major Boost
- The railways have planned improvements in coach interiors, including flooring, panels, vestibules, and gangways to ensure a smoother travel experience.
- The initiative includes better lighting, refreshed exterior design, clearer destination boards, and strengthened passenger information systems with digital displays.
- Officials have also emphasised CCTV surveillance upgrades and stricter monitoring mechanisms as part of a structured, passenger-centric modernisation drive.
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| | Geopolitics Comes Due: Pakistan Pays $3.5 Billion As UAE Tightens Screws |  | Why Pakistan Made Sudden Repayment
- Pakistan repaid about $3.5bn to the UAE after an unexpected demand, calling it a “routine transaction.”
- The move hit reserves already under pressure, risking a sharp dip in central bank holdings.
- Analysts said the timing was critical as Islamabad was working to meet IMF targets and stabilise its economy.
What It Reveals
- Reports said the UAE was unhappy with Pakistan’s neutral stance in the US-Iran conflict, where it acted as a mediator.
- Saudi Arabia stepped in with fresh financial support, highlighting Pakistan’s shifting dependence within the Gulf.
- Experts warned that growing geopolitical pressure could strain Pakistan’s economy and currency stability.
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