The Hindu

A Russian drone crashed in Galati, Romania, on May 29, 2026, injuring two people during an overnight attack on Ukraine. Romanian authorities tracked the drone and scrambled aircraft in response, while NATO officials expressed solidarity. Lower-quality reports indicate impact on a residential building with limited evacuations and a roof fire.

On May 31, 2026, G.K. Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) called for awareness programs on tobacco harms citing annual global and Indian death tolls. In the Philippines, local groups urged bans on vapes citing youth transition data from a 2023 Johns Hopkins survey. Sources include The Hindu and Rappler.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28, 2026, dissolving the Council of Ministers while designating Siddaramaiah as caretaker until D.K. Shivakumar assumes the role. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are scheduled for consultations in Delhi with Congress leaders. Reports indicate consideration of four deputy chief ministers amid the transition.

A blast occurred on May 31, 2026, at a building storing mining explosives in Kaungtup village, Namhkam township, northeastern Myanmar, killing 46 people including six children and injuring about 70 others. The site lies in an area under Ta'ang National Liberation Army control near the Chinese border, with rescue operations ongoing and more than 100 houses damaged. The exact cause remains unconfirmed.

The U.S. military struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific on May 31, 2026, killing three men, according to statements from U.S. Southern Command reported by The Hindu and Straits Times. The strike was described as the second in two days and part of Operation Southern Spear, which began in September. Official statements identified the vessel as engaged in narco-trafficking along known routes, with black-and-white footage showing an explosion.

Rishabh Pant requested and received immediate relief from Lucknow Super Giants captaincy duties following the team's last-place finish in the IPL. The announcement occurred on May 29 after the side recorded four wins in 14 matches. Sources CNA and The Hindu confirm the request and acceptance while differing on the referenced season year.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated on May 30, 2026, that the Indian Navy confined Pakistan's fleet to port and conducted precision strikes during Operation Sindoor, which ran from May 7 to May 10, 2025, after the Pahalgam attack. Singh also inaugurated the Nausena Shaurya Vatika naval museum in Lucknow. Multiple details remain unverified by independent sources.

A Delhi court has ordered charges framed against actress Jacqueline Fernandez, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul and 15 others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with an alleged extortion of Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh. Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma found prima facie material sufficient to raise strong suspicion of offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA. Sukesh Chandrasekhar had previously been arrested by Delhi Police in 2017 and the Enforcement Directorate in 2021.

Abhishek Banerjee was attacked by a mob in Sonarpur on a date one day prior to an alleged attack on Kalyan Banerjee near Chanditala Police Station while the latter sought to submit a post-poll violence deputation. BJP countered with allegations, supported by an audio clip, that Mamata Banerjee pressured Belle Vue Hospital to admit Abhishek Banerjee despite limited injuries. Dates of the Kalyan Banerjee incident and specific attack methods remain disputed or unverified across outlets.

Supported reports confirm hailstorms and strong winds damaged Totapuri mango orchards in Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts, with prices falling to ₹2–5 per kg. Unverified reports describe multiple factors affecting Ratnagiri Alphonso yields and note sales of visually similar mangoes under the Ratnagiri label. GI status applies to Alphonso mangoes from Ratnagiri and Devgad.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan took command as India's Chief of the Naval Staff on May 31, 2026, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. He previously served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Swaminathan stated priorities include maintaining operational readiness, sustaining modernization, and inducting emerging technologies.

General N.S. Raja Subramani took charge as Chief of Defence Staff on May 31, 2026, succeeding General Anil Chauhan whose tenure ended May 30. He previously served as Military Advisor at the National Security Council Secretariat and retired as Vice Chief of Army Staff in July 2025. Subramani pledged to accelerate indigenous weapons integration while affirming commitments to sovereignty and professionalism.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated at the Shangri-La Dialogue that accusations of Japanese 'new militarism' are unfounded given China's nuclear arsenal. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has previously indicated possible Japanese military involvement regarding Taiwan. The exchange occurred amid ongoing regional security tensions.

Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, stated in a May 28, 2026 PTI interview that the government is informally examining foreign judicial appointment systems without a formal mechanism and that no tussle exists between the executive and judiciary. He described an existing consultation process for higher judiciary vacancies and noted the government's work on strengthening alternative dispute resolution. The statements were reported by Hindustan Times and The Hindu.

The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Union government and X regarding a petition challenging the blocking of the Cockroach Janta Party X account and declined immediate restoration of the original handle. The account was withheld on May 21 on national security grounds, after which a new handle appeared. The bench directed the petitioner to approach the review committee and scheduled further hearing after responses from the respondents.

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah told Parliament that Nepal has encroached on Indian territory in multiple places and that the Lipulekh Pass and Kalapani disputes date to the British India period. He stated the issues would be handled through dialogue, including prior outreach to the UK government. The remarks triggered parliamentary uproar and demands for clarification from the Nepali Congress.

Kalyan Banerjee, TMC MP from Sreerampore, visited Chanditala Police Station on May 31, 2026, to submit a memorandum regarding arrests of party workers. A crowd waved black flags and chanted 'chor' before Banerjee clutched his head and fell; he alleged an attack by BJP supporters, which the BJP denied. The event followed a similar reported incident involving Abhishek Banerjee one day earlier.

On 30 May 2026, reports indicated Israeli forces had expanded operations north of the Litani River in Lebanon, accompanied by airstrikes and evacuation warnings. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of a scorched-earth policy, while both Israel and Hezbollah continued mutual accusations of violating the April 2026 truce. U.S.-brokered security talks occurred in Washington on 29 May 2026 with further negotiations scheduled.

On May 29 2026, Israeli troops entered Dibbine and conducted airstrikes that killed at least six people in southern Lebanon, according to reports from The Hindu and Al-Monitor. A Lebanese military delegation met Israeli officials at the Pentagon the same day for the first direct military talks in decades, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that forces had crossed the Litani River. A nominal ceasefire has been in place since April 17 2026, though Hezbollah has refused to participate in the talks.

The Supreme Court on May 29, 2026, refused to interfere with a Delhi High Court order permitting wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30-31. The Wrestling Federation of India had challenged the May 22 Delhi High Court ruling. Justice P.S. Narasimha cited Phogat's prior contributions to the country in the bench's remarks.

DK Shivakumar was selected as leader of the Karnataka legislature party during a Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Saturday at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah, who became chief minister after the 2023 assembly elections, resigned on May 28, 2026, and proposed Shivakumar's name; the swearing-in is expected on June 3. The meeting was overseen by AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala [Hindustan Times].