Good morning. It's Friday, and the world has once again declined to take a day off. Here are today's essential stories.
Absolutely Essential To Know 🚨 :
Nepal PM resigns, his wife burnt alive, government buildings burnt down
C.P. Radhakrishnan elected new Vice President of India
Israel bombs alleged Hamas headquarter in Qatar
And many more, read on…
Our structure is simple:
The blue blocks are quick factual summaries, and you can keep reading for the context (our expert analysis). Remember, our opinions aren't facts, so don't go quoting us in your next debate!
Click "🔗" for a randomly selected source article. We check a bunch of sites to keep our facts straight and our news unbiased, but hey, you know how the internet is. Just be a little skeptical of whatever you find on the other side.
Also, all our images are just for laughs. They're silly, satirical jokes and not meant to represent anyone, living or, well you get the idea. Now go on, be informed and have a good laugh.
🇳🇵 Nepal PM Resigns as Gen Z Protests Engulf Nation
PM K.P. Sharma Oli steps down amid violent youth-led anti-corruption protests.
President, Home minister, Youth and Sports minister, Water minister are among others who have resigned.
Multiple government buildings burned down, including Supreme court and PM’s house
Ex Nepal PM's (K.P. Sharma Oli’s) Wife Burnt Alive As Protesters Set His House On Fire
Nepal’s army is stepping in to try to maintain peace.
Triggered by a social media ban; people angered by corruption and nepotism; parliament vandalised, politicians' homes attacked.
Kathmandu airport shut, stranding nearly 700 Indian travellers; India tightens border security.
Why It Matters: Nepal's government learned you can't just switch off the internet for Gen Z. For India, this isn't just a neighbour's drama; it's a geopolitical migraine with China waiting to play the opportunistic new partner.
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🗳️ NDA's C.P. Radhakrishnan Elected India's New Vice-President
NDA candidate wins by 152 votes; secures 452 votes to Opposition's 300.
Radhakrishnan, a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu, calls it a "victory for Indian nationalism".
Opposition frames contest as an "ideological battle"; claims of cross-voting emerge.
The Deeper Take: This wasn't an election; it was a predicatable coronation with extra steps. Choosing an OBC leader from Tamil Nadu is the BJP's strategic masterstroke, planting a flag deep in Southern territory with upcoming elections, while others are still debating the seating chart.
🌊 PM Modi Surveys Floods in North, Announces Aid Package
PM conducts aerial survey of flood-hit Himachal Pradesh & Punjab.
Announces ₹1,500 crore for Himachal, ₹1,600 crore for Punjab.
Opposition calls it a "photo-op"; demands a much larger ₹20,000 crore package.
Why It Matters: Welcome to the disaster-politics playbook. The PM's visit projects control, while the aid announced is the opening bid in a long political negotiation where the real currency is public perception.
🕵️ NIA Raids 22 Locations in Pan-India Terror Crackdown
Searches across 5 states and J&K; linked to ISIS terror conspiracy case.
Case stems from arrest of man in Tamil Nadu with alleged links to Pakistan, Syria.
Aimed at dismantling networks involved in financing, recruitment, and online radicalisation.
The Bottom Line: The new face of counter-terrorism isn't just at the border. It's a nationwide digital manhunt for sleeper cells radicalised online, proving the internet's darkest corners are the new training camps.
🤝 Trump Signals Thaw in Trade War, Calls Modi "Friend"
US President Trump announces trade talks with India will continue.
Expresses confidence in a "successful conclusion"; plans to speak with PM Modi soon.
Follows weeks of tariff tensions and harsh rhetoric from US trade advisors.
Why It Matters: A calculated de-escalation. Both sides realised a full-blown trade war between strategic partners, with China and Russia in the wings, is a self-inflicted wound neither can afford right now.
🚧 Naga Council Imposes Trade Embargo in Manipur Hills
United Naga Council (UNC) blocks goods vehicles on national highways.
Protesting Centre's scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar.
Move to fence border seen as severing historical and cultural ties.
Argues it severs ancestral lands and Naga ethnic ties
The Deeper Take: A classic clash between New Delhi's national security map and the Northeast's lived reality. For the Centre, it's a border; for the locals, it's their backyard and their cousin's village.
🧐 Supreme Court to Examine "Creamy Layer" for SC/STs
SC issues notice to Centre on plea to introduce economic criteria for SC/ST quotas.
Aims to ensure benefits reach the most deprived, not just affluent families.
Could lead to the most significant reform of India's reservation policy in decades.
Why It Matters: The judiciary is wading into the third rail of Indian politics. This could fundamentally re-engineer affirmative action, sparking a massive political and social debate about who truly deserves a leg up.
Gunbattle between security forces and terrorists continues in Kulgam, J&K.
Two jawans and two terrorists killed so far in the ongoing operation.
Highlights the persistent, low-intensity conflict in the region.
The Bottom Line: A grim, routine headline that serves as a reality check. While grand political narratives about Kashmir shift, the bloody, grinding reality on the ground for soldiers and militants remains unchanged.
👑 16-Year-Old Makes History, Topples World Chess Champion
16-year-old Abhimanyu becomes youngest player to defeat World Champion Gukesh.
Achieved victory in a classical chess format.
A major milestone in the young prodigy's rapidly ascending career.
The Deeper Take: This isn't just a sports win; it's another sign that India is the world's new chess factory, producing grandmasters faster than you can say "checkmate." The assembly line of talent is truly terrifying. And another life lesson this and the Nepal news provides… If you’re the king today, doesn’t mean you’ll be tomorrow as well. You need to obey your duties and responsibilities to the people, that’s it.
⚽ Indian Football Team Scores Historic Win Over Oman
India secures bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
Achieved its first-ever win against the Oman national team (3-2 in penalty after 1-1)
A significant achievement for the Blue Tigers in a regional tournament.
Why It Matters: A rare and welcome headline that reminds everyone there are other sports besides cricket. A win like this is a vital shot of adrenaline for a sport that's been a "sleeping giant" for about a century.
🏫 Ex-Techie Ditches Germany to Build Free Dream School
Former IT professional Muneet Dhiman left his career in Germany to start a free school.
Vidyakshetra in Bengaluru educates 157 children without exams or fees.
Focuses on practical learning through farming, weaving, science, music, and Sanskrit.
The Deeper Take: A powerful story of reverse brain drain and a quiet rebellion against the soul-crushing, exam-obsessed education system. It's proof that some people still believe in learning over just getting marks. Shivaji the Boss who?
🕊️ India Repatriates 67 Pakistani Prisoners via Wagah Border
48 Pakistani fishermen and 19 civilian prisoners were sent home to Pakistan.
The individuals had all completed their sentences in India.
The repatriation took place at the Attari-Wagah border crossing.
Why It Matters: Amidst the constant political noise and tension between the two nations, this is a quiet, humane gesture. It's a reminder that behind the strategic posturing, there are actual human lives caught in the crossfire.
Bihar state government increases honorarium for Anganwadi workers
Recognises the contribution of frontline community health workers
Impacts thousands of 'Sevikas' and 'Sahayikas'
The Bottom Line: A small but meaningful investment in the people who form the backbone of India's rural healthcare and nutrition system. It's a recognition that public health starts at the grassroots level, and these workers are chronically underpaid for their critical role.
🇮🇱 Israel Rips Up the Rulebook with Strike in Qatar
Israel launches unprecedented missile strike in Doha, Qatar
Target: Hamas leadership, including ceasefire negotiators
Hamas leaders survive; six others killed
Qatar condemns "cowardly" attack; global outcry ensues
The Bottom Line: The gloves are off, and so is the map. By striking a diplomatic hub hosting peace talks, Israel has declared that no location is off-limits. This fundamentally alters the landscape of international conflict, making neutral ground a thing of the past.
🇨🇩 ISIL-Linked Rebels Massacre 60 at Funeral in Eastern Congo
At least 60 civilians were killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ISIL-affiliated group attacked people gathered for a burial in North Kivu province.
Many victims were reportedly beheaded or killed with machetes.
Why It Matters: A horrifying reminder of a forgotten war. While global attention is elsewhere, the conflict in eastern DRC rages on with unspeakable brutality, showing a complete collapse of humanitarian norms.
🚤 Gaza Aid Flotilla Claims Drone Attack; Tunisia Cries Foul
Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said a boat was hit by a drone in Tunisia.
Tunisian authorities disputed the claim, suggesting the fire was accidental, possibly from a cigarette.
The conflicting accounts have created an international incident of "he said, she said."
The Bottom Line: This is a masterclass in information warfare. Whether it was a drone or a stray Marlboro, the incident perfectly serves the narratives of both sides, making the actual truth almost irrelevant.
🇹🇭 Thai Court Orders Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to Serve Jail Time
Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a one-year jail term.
The decision is a significant blow to his politically powerful family.
The order relates to prison time he previously avoided while under hospital detention.
The Deeper Take: The endless soap opera of Thai politics adds another dramatic chapter. This move shows the country's royalist establishment is still determined to keep the influential, and populist, Shinawatra clan in check.
🌐 BRICS Leaders Meet Virtually Amid Global Trade Tensions
Leaders from BRICS nations held a virtual summit to discuss the global economic environment.
India's EAM Jaishankar called for fair trade and warned against rising barriers.
China's President Xi Jinping urged members to uphold multilateralism and solidarity.
Why It Matters: The BRICS bloc is trying to project a united front as a counterweight to the West, but the real story is the internal tension. India's call for fairer trade was a not-so-subtle jab at its massive trade deficit with China.
