Trump and Pezeshkian sign deal to end war; U.S. lifts blockade

The U.S. on Thursday lifted a blockade of Iranian ports imposed during the West Asia war after President Donald Trump signed a deal to end the conflict, as uncertainty surrounded planned talks in Switzer-land aiming to take the ac-cord further.

'Only 10% of 31,429 poll candidates since 2023 were women'

Since the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in 2023, Assembly polls have been held in 20 States and Union Territories (UTs). Out of a total of 31,429 candidates who contested in these polls, only 3,273 (10.2%) were women. The proportion of wo-men candidates did not exceed 14% across these States and Union Territories, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms. The Women's Reservation Bill mandates that 33% seats be reserved for women.

Ruling ZPM's Laltluangkima secures party its first-ever representation in Rajya Sabha

Mizoram's ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) on Thursday secured its first-ever representation in the Rajya Sabha as party leader K. Laltluangkima won the election to the lone Upper House seat from the State.

Mr. Laltluangkima se-cured 26 of the 36 votes polled, defeating Zothansangi Hmar of the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), who received all 10 votes cast by her party's legislators, according to Assembly Secretary and Re-turning Zothansanga Ralte. Officer

NFHS-6 reveals progress amid nutrition challenges

The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 report presents a mixed progress card for India, offering reasons to cheer while also sending clear signals to pause and reflect. On the bright side, stunting levels (for children under five), which indicate long periods of sub-optimal food intake with other deprivations, have declined from 35.5% to 29.3%. Though a modest decline, any gain is welcome given the complexity of the task that involves strengthening women's access to knowledge and resources, improved water and sanitation, and ensuring access to healthy affordable diets.

Lopsided solution

In India, regulatory oversight for pharmaceuticals needs to improve

As part of an overarching attempt to res-tore confidence in India's pharmaceutical supply chain after a series of deaths damaged the country's reputation as a drug ex-porter, the government has required a doctor's prescription for individuals to purchase syrup-based medicines. However, while it seems like a credible measure, it is also defensive rather than reformist. The Union Health Ministry has re-moved the term "syrup" from Schedule K of the Drugs Rules 1945, a change it had signalled when it issued the draft notification in December 2025, thus requiring cough syrups to be sold only with a prescription, through licensed pharmacies.

The real barriers to trade are no longer tariffs

When India and the U.S. issued a joint statement in February 2026 agreeing on a framework for an interim trade agreement, the headlines highlighted the obvious: the tariff numbers. The U.S. reciprocal rate cut to 18%. India's pledge to move toward zero duties on American goods. The "$500 billion" purchase commitment. But the White House fact sheet buried the more consequential admission - that both sides needed to negotiate the removal of non-tariff barriers. The U.S. deploys its own formidable non-tariff barriers arsenal while India has its quality regulations. The tariff headline was the press release. The NTBs on both sides are the actual problem.

Essential upgrades

The updates to India's statistical system are welcome, albeit long overdue

The government has, in recent months, implemented several long-overdue but welcome upgrades to India's statistical databases. Wide-ranging, they cover the way the country measures Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial production, and price changes at the retail, wholesale, and producer levels. These updates have not only made India's key economic statistics more representative of reality, but have also brought them in line with inter-national best practices. The most basic change across all indices has been the updating of base years. Until recently, the base years for GDP, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Wholesale Price Index (WPI), and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) were either 2011 or 2012.

What is Kerala's risk profile for Nipah?

Why is Nipah recurring in Kerala?

Research has consistently identified the Indian flying fox bat (Pteropus medius) or the fruit bat as the natural reservoir of Nipah virus in Kerala. Serological studies and viral detection in bats have shown that the virus is circulating in bat colonies in the State, particularly in northern districts.

In the 2018 Kerala outbreak, about 25% of the sampled bats were found to be positive for Nipah viral RNA and in subsequent events too, bat samples had revealed the presence of NiV.

The Pteropus species are found across the State and very near human settlements. A mapping study of bat-roosting sites by Kerala Forest Research Institute's Department of Wildlife Biology had found that almost all of the roosts were near human habitats, increasing the risk of zoonotic exposure.

Telegram challenge once again puts spotlight on Section 69A of IT Act

The Centre's move to block Telegram has once again drawn attention to Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, a provision that gives the government the power to direct intermediaries block access to online in-to formation under specified circumstances. Section 69A of the IT Act authorises the Union government to block public access to any information via any computer re-source, including applications and websites, if it is satisfied that such blocking is necessary "in the inter-est of India's sovereignty and integrity, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence". But the restriction may interfere with Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and expression. Therefore, the orders un-der Section 69A must be is-sued with the procedural safeguards established by the Information Technology (Procedure and Safe-guards for Blocking Access to Information by the Public) Rules, 2009.

Amit Shah meets Gor, holds talks on measures against terrorism, narcotics

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at his residence in Delhi оп Thursday. The discussion centred around strengthening cooperation bet-ween the two countries on counterterrorism and counternarcotics. 

Mr. Gor is the third U.S Ambassador to have met Mr. Shah since he assumed charge as Home Minister for the first time in 2019. Mr. Shah had earlier met U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Juster in 2019 and Ambassador Eric Garcetti in 2023.

PM holds discussions with French firms on investments in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met leading business executives here and held discussions on investment opportunities and expansion plans in India. Discussions with CEOs of French companies focused on strengthening cooperation across sectors ranging from shipping and logistics to railways, construction and artificial intelligence, according to the External Affairs Ministry.

Govt. ratifies 8.25% EPF interest rate for FY26

The government has ratified 8.25% rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for the financial year 2025-26, which is likely to be credit-ed to over seven crore con-tributing members this month. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provides the rate of interest on EPF after it gets ratified by the government through the Finance Minis-try. The Finance Ministry has given its concurrence to the 8.25% rate of interest fixed by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision making body of the EPFO, a source said on Thursday.

PM to hand over ₹2,400-cr. incentives to employees

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will disburse ₹2,400 crore worth incentives un-der the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) here on Friday. Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told presspersons here on Thursday that 15 lakh beneficiaries will receive the incentive as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). He added that Mr. Modi will interact with a few first-time employees and employers benefiting un-der PM-VBRY. The total outlay for the scheme is ₹99,446 crore, and is targeted to create 3.5 crore jobs in two years. He said first-time employees will get benefits worth ₹15,000 and employers will receive up to 3,000 per month per new employee. The scheme is to boost employment in the manufacturing sector, he said.

Decision on fuel price cuts will be in line with global situation: Govt.

The government is aware of the decline in crude oil prices, and an appropriate decision on the corresponding change in fuel prices would be taken in line with the evolving global situation, Sujata Shar-ma, Joint Secretary at the Union Petroleum Ministry, told reporters at the bi-weekly inter-ministerial briefing on Thursday.

Revised pact with U.K. could save $500 million for Indians

The agreement on social security that India and the U.K. have signed and that will come into force on July 15 will save Indian companies and workers there about $500 million worth of social security payments that they otherwise would have had to pay in the U.K., ac-cording to sources in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

MoU opens door for Iran to stake claims in Strait of Hormuz

The Iran-U.S. memoran-dum of understanding (MoU), as described by U.S. officials and media re-ports, contains two significant shipping-related pro-visions. While it promises relief from sanctions on Iranian oil sales, it also opens the possibility of Iran asserting a formal role in managing transit through the Strait of Hormuz and potentially charging fees for passage. Before the conflict, Iran did not exercise such a right, and merchant vessels transited the strait without mandatory tolls.

Ukrainian drones set a Moscow refinery ablaze; flights disrupted

Ukraine struck a major Moscow oil re-finery on Thursday for a second time in a week, sending huge plumes of black smoke over the capital and disrupting flights at its airports in one of its biggest drone at-tacks since Russia's invasion over four years ago, officials said.

The refinery is one of Russia's biggest, according to its official website, and produces more than a third of the Moscow region's fuel. It was last attacked by Ukrainian drones on Tuesday, catching fire, but officials said the blaze was swiftly put out.

Cuban govt. approves economic reforms to boost private sector

The Cuban Communist Party on Wednesday ap-proved a package of re-forms aimed at opening up more sectors to private in-vestment as the island, un-der pressure from Washington, undergoes a major economic crisis.

Hegseth blasts NATO allies, says U.S. will review forces in Europe

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told NATO on Thursday the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within six months, as he lashed out at allies over defence spending and their response to the Iran war. "This will be a real re-view. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, step-ping up to take primary responsibility for the de-fence of Europe," Mr. Hegseth told a meeting of NA-TO Defence Ministers in Brussels. "It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours."