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NATIONAL NEWS
Indian music legend Asha Bhosle dies aged 92
Two-time
Grammy nominee was one of Bollywood’s most versatile and celebrated voices
The Indian
singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood cinema and whose career
spanned almost eight decades, has died in Mumbai on April 12 at the age of 92. Bhosle, who
recorded more than 12,000 songs, became her country’s pre-eminent exponent of
playback singing – recording tracks that were then lip-synced on film by
actors. She also boldly embraced cabaret and western-influenced melodies to
forge a distinctive musical identity. Bhosle’s family said she died on Sunday
after being admitted to hospital for extreme exhaustion and a chest infection. News
of her death prompted tributes and fond memories from politicians, artists and
sports stars.
Source: The Guardian
Supreme
Court Orders CBI Probe into Arunachal PWD Contracts
The Supreme
Court of India has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe
allegations surrounding the award of public works contracts in Arunachal
Pradesh. The case involves claims that contracts were granted to firms linked
to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The court has asked the CBI to
submit its report within 16 weeks, stressing the need for a transparent
investigation into possible irregularities in the awarding of government
projects.
(Source:
Hindustan Times, April6,2026)
Poll-Bound
States See ₹650+ Crore Seizures, Bengal Tops List
The
Election Commission of India has seized over ₹650 crore worth of suspected
voter inducements across five poll-bound states and a Union Territory. West
Bengal accounted for the highest share at ₹319 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu,
Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The seizures, tracked since February 26 via the
ESMS system, include freebies, drugs, liquor, precious metals, and cash.
Officials said the intensified surveillance aims to prevent illegal inducements
and ensure free and fair elections.
(Source:
The Times of India, April 6,2026)
TMC Targets
Centre Over Alleged Pakistan Threat to Kolkata
Abhishek
Banerjee criticized Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh for their
silence over an alleged threat by Khawaja Asif to target Kolkata. Speaking at a
rally, Banerjee accused the Centre of ignoring a serious national security
issue and prioritizing election campaigning. He questioned their courage to
respond firmly, alleging negligence toward Bengal’s safety. His remarks
intensified political tensions ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections.
(Source:
Zee News, April 7,2026)
India–Türkiye
Talks Signal Possible Thaw in Strained Bilateral Ties
India and
Türkiye held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi,
indicating a possible improvement in relations strained since last year’s
conflict. The talks were led by Berris Ekinci and Sibi George, marking the
first such meeting since 2022. Ties had deteriorated following statements by
Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Kashmir and Türkiye’s support to Pakistan during the
Operation Sindoor. The latest dialogue signals cautious efforts by both sides
to rebuild diplomatic engagement.
(Source:
The Hindu, April 9,2026)
Jaishankar
Meets UAE President, Strengthens India-UAE Strategic Ties
External
Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today called on UAE President Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said that
he conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the gratitude of
the citizens for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community during the
West Asia conflict. The External Affairs Minister also thanked the UAE
President for his guidance on further strengthening the India-UAE Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership.
(Source:
The Times of India, April 12,2026)
REGIONAL NEWS
Mamata
Banerjee Warns Over Voter List Issues
Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee urged voters to verify electoral rolls and file
appeals if their names were missing. She set April 6 as the deadline for such
complaints, stressing that every eligible voter must have the right to
participate in the democratic process. Banerjee also raised concerns about
possible tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), warning citizens to
remain vigilant during the election period. Her remarks came amid heightened
political tension ahead of the state assembly elections, reflecting concerns
over electoral transparency and fairness.
(Source:
Economic Times, April 6, 2026)
Election
Commission Suspends Police Officer
The
Election Commission suspended a police officer in Kolkata just six days after
his appointment. The action was taken because he failed to include a known
criminal in a pre-election list of offenders. This step highlighted the
Commission’s strict approach toward maintaining law and order ahead of the West
Bengal assembly elections. The move was seen as part of broader efforts to
ensure free and fair polls by holding officials accountable for lapses.
Authorities emphasized that accurate reporting of criminal elements is crucial
for election security planning.
(Source:
The Times of India, April 7, 2026)
PM Modi
Promises 7th Pay Commission Benefits
During an
election rally in Purba Medinipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised
implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for West Bengal government employees
if his party comes to power. The proposal could impact nearly 10 lakh employees
and pensioners, offering higher salaries and arrears. West Bengal is among the
few states yet to adopt these recommendations, making the issue politically
significant. The announcement was viewed as a strategic move to attract
government employees and middle-class voters ahead of the assembly elections,
where economic promises are playing a central role.
(Source:
Economic times, April 9, 2026)
ED Raid on
Partha Chatterjee’s Residence
The
Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid at the residence of former West Bengal
Education Minister Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata. The operation is linked to the
ongoing investigation into the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment
scam. The raid occurred during an intense political campaign period, adding to
the charged atmosphere in the state ahead of elections. Authorities suspect
financial irregularities and corruption in teacher recruitment processes. The
timing of the raid has drawn political attention, with various parties
interpreting it in the context of electoral strategies and governance
accountability.
(Source:
Economic Times, April 11, 2026)
Warm, Dry
Spell Likely in Kolkata as Temperatures Rise
India
Meteorological Department has forecast a warm and dry spell across Kolkata and
south Bengal over the next week. Temperatures, which reached 33.6°C on
Saturday, are expected to climb to 35–36°C, with minimal chances of rain or
thunderstorms. According to weather scientist Sourish Bandopadhyay, only
isolated and mild thundershowers may occur. The current conditions follow
recent rainfall between April 5 and 9 that briefly reduced temperatures after
an earlier heat spell, with no clear signs yet of when this warm phase will
end.
(Source:
The Times of India, April 12, 2026)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Strait of Hormuz will
never return to previous status: Iran’s IRGC
The Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserts that the Strait of Hormuz has
underwent a definitive geopolitical transformation, stating that the strategic
waterway will never return to its former status of Western-led maritime
governance. This shift is characterized by the implementation of an
"indigenous security order," wherein Tehran exercises sovereign
control over transit through the establishment of a "Northern
Corridor" management system. By imposing selective access requirements and
non-Western financial tolls, the IRGC aims to permanently marginalize U.S. and
Israeli naval influence while cementing a new, Iran-centric regulatory
framework for Persian Gulf commerce.
(Source:
The Hindu, April 6, 2026)
China and Russia veto UN
resolution on protecting Hormuz shipping
The recent deadlock at
the UN Security Council highlights a deep and frustrating rift in how the world
handles maritime security. China and Russia stepped in to veto a resolution
designed to protect commercial shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, effectively
halting a plan that had the support of 11 other members. While proponents saw
the measure as a necessary step to stabilize global trade, Moscow and Beijing
argued the proposal was too narrow, claiming it ignored the broader regional
tensions and military actions that triggered the crisis in the first place. It
is a high-stakes stalemate: Western nations are pushing for immediate security
for the global economy, while the veto-holding powers refuse to back any plan
they feel grants too much leverage to their rivals in the region.
(Source: Reuters, April7,
2026)
Trump warns of 50%
tariffs on nations supplying weapons to Iran
the
White House essentially turned trade policy into a weapon, with Trump
threatening a massive 50% tariff on any country that keeps selling weapons to
Iran. This move feels like a direct "Plan B" after the UN deadlock,
basically telling the world that if the Security Council won't act, the U.S. will use its economy to force
the issue. It's a classic high-pressure tactic: he’s squeezing Iran’s suppliers
while simultaneously claiming he’s brokered a ceasefire and a nuclear halt,
trying to force a total reset of the region's rules on his own terms.
(Source: The Economics
Times, April 8, 2026)
Ceasefire threatened as
Israel expands Lebanon strikes
The Middle East was
pushed to its breaking point as Israel launched a massive 21-hour wave of
airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in the deadliest day of the conflict with
over 300 reported fatalities. While these strikes threatened to derail the
broader U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu
paradoxically opened the door to direct peace talks with Lebanon later that
day, specifically aimed at disarming Hezbollah. This intense military surge
created a high-stakes paradox, as the sheer scale of the 21-hour bombardment
indicated a deepening war even as diplomatic channels for a potential
"regime change" in Middle Eastern security were being tested for the
first time.
(Source: The Hindu,
April 9, 2026)
Netanyahu reacts after
Pakistan Defence Minister calls ‘to get rid of European Jews’ amid peace talks
The diplomatic climate
deteriorated significantly as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office formally
denounced inflammatory remarks made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister,
characterizing the rhetoric as a manifestation of hostile leadership
incompatible with professional diplomacy. This confrontation created a
precarious situation, as Israel publicly challenged the credibility of the host
nation just prior to the commencement of the high-stakes peace summit in
Islamabad. Notwithstanding this bilateral tension, Netanyahu monitored the
regional security situation, observing that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with
Iran remained intact and raising critical questions regarding whether this
diplomatic dispute would undermine broader efforts to secure stability in the
Middle East.
(Source: The Indian
Express, April 10, 2026)
US and Iran fail to
reach a deal after marathon talks in Pakistan
The United States and
Iran failed to reach a diplomatic agreement after 21 hours of intense marathon
talks in Islamabad, leaving the six-week conflict without a formal resolution.
Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that Tehran rejected the final American
proposal, primarily due to deadlock over Iranian nuclear activities and
maritime control of the Strait of Hormuz. While the negotiations ended in an
impasse, both nations have committed to maintaining a temporary two-week
ceasefire to allow room for potential future dialogue.
(Source: Al Jazeera,
April 12 , 2026)
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