Here are the top 5 stories of the day

India, Italy elevate ties to special strategic partnership; PM Modi highlights AI, space cooperation

India and Italy on Wednesday announced the elevation of ties to a special strategic partnership during the Prime Minister Narendra ModiDuring the visit to Rome, the two countries unveiled a joint strategic action plan for 2025-2029 focused on trade, technology and innovation. “Technology and innovation are the engines of our partnership. PM Modi said, there are endless possibilities for our partnership in the fields of AI, quantum, civil nuclear energy and space. Follow live updates

Kerala Portfolio Allocation: CM Satheesan has 35 ministries

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar approved the portfolio allocation recommended by Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Lok Bhavan said, two days after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government was sworn in. The UDF returned to power in Kerala after a decade, defeating the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the April 9 assembly elections. Satheesan, who served as the leader of opposition in the previous assembly, will oversee 35 departments including finance, law, general administration and ports. Read the full story

‘Pandemic not emergency’: WHO warns of high local Ebola risk, says global threat low

WHO said the risk of Ebola spreading in Congo and neighboring Uganda remains high nationally and regionally, although the global risk is currently considered low. WHO also said the Ebola outbreak does not currently meet the threshold to be declared a pandemic, although the agency warned that the spread of the virus suggests the outbreak may have started several months earlier. Read the full story

‘Stored at -4°C, need -80°C’: Police ‘request’ family to take Twisha Sharma’s ‘decayed’ body

Bhopal Police has urged Tvisha Sharma’s family to take possession of her body, warning that prolonged storage at AIIMS Bhopal could lead to decomposition as the mortuary lacks minus 80-degree preservation facilities. The family has refused to accept the body alleging irregularities in the initial autopsy and has moved court demanding a second post-mortem. Read the full story

As Afghanistan is ravaged by hunger, families ‘sell’ their young daughters for food

Disturbing incidents have emerged from economically impoverished Afghanistan, where families are selling their young daughters to be able to afford food, medical expenses and debt relief. Fathers struggling with extreme poverty and unemployment said they have been forced to make “impossible choices” as hunger deepens across the country, according to a BBC report from Afghanistan’s Ghor province. Read the full story

Alexander Zverev recorded his 500th match win on the ATP Tour in Toronto. (AP)

Alexander Zverev is finally entering the French Open 2026 with another golden opportunity to win his first Grand Slam title. The German star has been one of the most consistent performers on clay over the past few years, but he is still deprived of a major trophy. With current champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament, many people believe that the path has become a little easier for Zverev this time.Now second seed Zverev has reached Paris under pressure but with new hope. The 29-year-old has already reached several semi-finals and one final French Open In recent years. However, his biggest challenge may still come from world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who has dominated him in the current season. Despite struggling with fatigue and fitness concerns recently, Zverev is confident he can finally cross the line. He can become Grand Slam champion.

Alexander Zverev still looking for answers against dominant Jannik Sinner

Alexander Zverev has had a strong record at Roland Garros over the past five years. He reached the semi-finals from 2021 to 2023 and the final in 2024 before losing to Carlos Alcaraz. Last season their campaign ended in the quarter-finals Novak Djokovic.The German star is known for her powerful serve, strong backhand and effortless movement on clay courts. These qualities make him one of the hardest players to beat in Paris. However, questions have been raised over his repeated defeats against modern greats like Sinner. They’re about whether he can finally win a major title.This season, Zverev has faced Sinner four times and has lost every match in straight sets. Their latest meeting took place in the Madrid Open final, where the Italian player completely dominated the competition.Speaking after that defeat, Zverev acknowledged that many players are struggling to match Sinner’s current level. He explained that he keeps losing to the Italian because he consistently reaches the later rounds and faces him more often. The German also said that there is currently a clear gap between Sinner and the rest of the tour.Zverev recently had to make an early exit at the Italian Open, losing to Luciano Darderi. He later withdrew from the Hamburg tournament due to a back problem. Despite those setbacks, the German remains optimistic ahead of Roland Garros.He must maintain the belief that he can one day defeat Sinner and even dominate Djokovic again in the upcoming French Open 2026. According to Zverev, losing confidence would mean handing over the trophy. That too before the start of the tournament.

Disturbing incidents have emerged from economically impoverished Afghanistan, where families are selling their young daughters to be able to afford food, medical expenses and debt relief.The United Nations says three out of four people in Afghanistan are unable to meet basic needs amid widespread unemployment, a struggling healthcare system and dwindling international aid. It estimates that 4.7 million people, or more than 10% of the population, are one step away from famine.Fathers struggling with extreme poverty and unemployment said they have been forced to make “impossible choices” as hunger deepens across the country, according to a BBC report from Afghanistan’s Ghor province.

‘I am ready to sell my daughter’

Abdul Rashid Azimi, a resident of the province, said he was considering selling one of his seven-year-old twin daughters, Rokia and Rohila, because extreme poverty, debt and unemployment had left him unable to support his family.“I am ready to sell my daughters. I am poor, in debt and helpless,” Abdul Rashid Azimi tearfully told the BBC.“I come home from work with dry lips, hungry, thirsty, upset and confused. My children come to me and say ‘Baba, give us some bread.’ But what can I give? Where is the work?” He added. “I am heartbroken by this decision,” Abdul said while hugging and kissing Rohila while speaking to reporters, but called it the only option for his family’s survival.Another father, Saeed Ahmed, said he was forced to sell his five-year-old daughter Shaika to a relative because his daughter had appendicitis and liver cysts and he could not afford the medical treatment she needed.“I didn’t have the money to pay for the treatment. So I sold my daughter to a relative,” the BBC quoted him as saying.He said, “If I had taken the entire amount at that time, he would have taken her away. So I told him to give me enough money for her treatment now, and in the next five years you can give me the rest after which you can take her away. She will become his daughter-in-law.” Saeed said the money for Shaika’s surgery came from a 200,000 Afghani arrangement under which she would eventually be married into a relative’s family. He initially accepted only enough money to pay for the operation, delaying the rest of the payment so that his daughter could live with him for a few more years.Two years ago, his family, like millions of Afghans, received food aid, including flour, cooking oil, pulses and nutritional supplements for children. But sharp cuts in international aid, especially as the US cut nearly all aid to Afghanistan and other major donors reduced support, left families deprived of basic lifelines.

Why were daughters sold instead of sons?

Families are largely selling daughters instead of sons because boys are traditionally seen as future earners who can support families financially. In Afghanistan, this priority has become even more pronounced under Taliban sanctions that limit education and employment opportunities for women and girls. There is also an age-old practice in which the groom’s family gives money or gifts to the bride’s family during the wedding, making the daughters a source of immediate financial relief for poor families facing hunger, debt and medical crises.The practice of early marriage is widespread in Afghanistan and has reportedly increased since the Taliban prevented girls from getting an education. Experts said girls are often sold because restrictions on women’s education and employment have deepened gender inequality, while the Taliban’s policies towards women have also contributed to international donors withdrawing aid, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

New Delhi: For years, people suffering from kidney stones have been advised to drink more water to prevent recurrence of this painful condition. But now a major study published in The Lancet shows that hydration alone may not be enough.The researchers found that despite regular reminders, counseling and encouragement to encourage more water intake, kidney stones continued to recur at the same rate.The study included 1,658 participants aged 12 and older who had a history of urinary stones and low urine output, a known risk factor for stone formation. One group received standard medical advice, while the other received a behavioral program designed to increase fluid intake through coaching, reminders, and personalized hydration goals.After two years of follow-up, symptomatic stone recurrence occurred in 19% of participants in the intervention group and 20% of participants in the standard-care group, showing no major difference.The researchers said that participants who received the intervention increased their urine output, meaning they were drinking more fluids. However, it did not significantly reduce the incidence of new stone formation, stone growth, or painful stones.Dr Manoj Kumar Singhal, director of nephrology and kidney transplant at Medanta Super Specialty, said the findings reflect what doctors have seen in clinical practice over the years.He added, “Hydration alone rarely tells the whole story. Kidney stone recurrence is fundamentally a metabolic disorder, not simply the result of low water intake.”According to Dr. Singhal, many patients who continue to develop stones despite drinking enough water may have underlying factors such as high salt intake, high animal protein consumption, abnormal calcium or uric acid levels in the urine, or a specific type of stone that requires targeted dietary correction.He said, “In many cases, a 24-hour urine analysis is far more informative than simply advising to drink more water. Patients with recurrent stones require a comprehensive metabolic assessment and individualized prevention strategy.”Experts said the findings do not mean hydration is unimportant, as low urine volume remains a major risk factor for kidney stones. Instead, studies suggest that fluid intake alone may not be enough for many patients and that factors such as diet, obesity, genetics, and metabolic disorders may also contribute significantly.The study also found that people who increased fluid intake reported greater urinary frequency, urgency, and nighttime urination during the early months of follow-up. No major safety concerns associated with increased hydration were reported.Kidney stones are becoming increasingly common around the world, including India, especially during extreme heat when the risk of dehydration increases rapidly. Doctors say adequate hydration is important, but patients with frequent kidney stones may need comprehensive prevention strategies, including dietary changes, medical evaluation and treatment of underlying risk factors.

Standard Chartered’s plan to cut around 7,800 jobs globally by 2030 has sparked intense backlash online after CEO Bill Winters described some roles as “low-value human capital” while outlining an AI-driven overhaul of the bank.The London-headquartered lender, which has major back-office operations in India, said it will eliminate about 15 per cent of corporate-function roles over the next few years as it adopts automation and artificial intelligence.Bengaluru and Chennai are expected to be among the worst-hit centres, along with Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur and Warsaw.“We are replacing low-value human capital with financial capital and investment capital in some cases,” Winters said during an investor briefing in Hong Kong, adding that the move was “not cost cutting.”

India is also among the major centers facing cuts

The Asia-focused bank employs about 82,000 people globally, of whom more than 52,000 work in corporate functions which are now under review.According to the bank, the biggest impact will be on back-office and operational teams, including human resources, compliance and risk roles.With a large employee base in Bengaluru and Chennai, India is the hub of Standard Chartered’s global operations. The bank said the restructuring will provide affected employees with opportunities to retrain and move into new roles as AI reshapes banking operations.The move puts Standard Chartered among the growing list of global financial institutions that are aggressively adopting AI to reduce headcount and improve efficiency.

There was an uproar on social media over the CEO’s statement.

But it was Winters’ choice of term: “undervalued human capital”, which soon became an online flashpoint.Social media users accused the bank of reducing workers to disposable assets in the race for profits and automation.One user wrote: “A new name for the working class, ‘low-value human capital’.”Another posted: “Rich people now talk about real humans because of undervalued capital. Get them out.”A third user compared the comment to the infamous “let them eat cake” phrase associated with the elite’s indifference towards the common people.The reaction spread across LinkedIn, X and Facebook, especially in Asia, where Standard Chartered makes a large share of its profits.

Singapore’s former president joins the criticism

Among the prominent critics was former Singapore President Halimah Yacob, who criticized the terminology in a Facebook post, calling it “disturbing” to describe workers in such clinical terms.Singapore and Hong Kong serve as Standard Chartered’s two largest operating centres.Several LinkedIn users also threatened to sever ties with the bank over the comments.“You call humans ‘low-value human capital’? I live in Hong Kong and will never do business with your bank,” one commenter wrote under Winters’ post.

CEO attempts damage control

As outrage grew, Winters sought to assuage employees’ concerns in an internal memo circulated after the investor event.“Many of you may have seen the media coverage following the investor event in Hong Kong, particularly the reporting around automation, AI and workforce changes,” he wrote. “I know it can be irritating when it’s reduced to simple headlines or quotes taken out of context.”However, the clarification did not quell criticism, with many online users arguing that the CEO’s comments reflected how large corporations view workers in the AI ​​age.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the ticket sale schedule for the IPL 2026 playoffs, with online booking set to begin in phases later this week. District has been named the official ticketing partner for the knockout stage by Zomato.

Playoff action begins Qualifier 1 will be held at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala on May 26, followed by the Eliminator at New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on May 27. Qualifier 2 will be played on May 29 in New Chandigarh, while the final will be held on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

RuPay cardholders get early access

Ticket sales will first open for RuPay credit cardholders, who have been given priority through the special booking window. The first priority window will open on May 20 at 7:00 PM and will be active for 24 hours, allowing eligible users to book tickets for Qualifier 1 and Eliminator.

The second special booking window for RuPay cardholders will begin on May 22 at 7:00 pm, which will include the sale of tickets for Qualifier 2 and the Final.

General sale dates announced

For the general public, the sale of tickets for Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will begin at 8:00 pm on May 21, a day after the start of the RuPay pre-sale. Booking for Qualifier 2 and Final will open on May 23 at 8:00 PM.

BCCI said that tickets will be available only through authorized online platforms, fans will be able to purchase through the official IPL District by website as well as Zomato website and mobile application.

Demand is expected to be high

The phased rollout aims to manage demand for the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures, with interest expected to be high as teams battle for the title. The playoffs will mark the culmination of another competitive IPL season, with the final set to be played at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Fans have been advised to rely only on official booking channels to avoid fraud or fake tickets. With the knockout line-up confirmed, the race to secure seats for the decisive matches is expected to intensify in the coming days.

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Suvendu Adhikari; Narendra Modi; tariq rehman

The recent West Bengal assembly elections received wide coverage in Bangladesh, as did the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).BJP) a historic landslide victory, which brought the party to power for the first time in the strategically important eastern border state. The BJP’s success is the first time since 2014 – when the Narendra Modi government first took power at the Center – that the political system in Kolkata is ideologically aligned with New Delhi. The victory comes at a time when Bangladesh is also under new leadership: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) President Tariq Rahman became prime minister 18 months after public protests in February’s general election ended the 15-year uninterrupted rule of Awami League’s Sheikh Hasina.New Delhi–Dhaka relations fell to unprecedented lows under the caretaker Muhammad Yunus administration, which succeeded Sheikh Hasina and oversaw the transition to the BNP government.The BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal – the state that shares the longest border with Bangladesh – is expected to significantly shape bilateral relations, at least in the near future.

border fencing

The BJP now rules three of the five states bordering Bangladesh, while one, Meghalaya, is ruled by an ally (the National People’s Party). Of those, West Bengal’s 2,217-km-long border alone accounts for about 54% of the total 4,096-km-long border with the neighboring country – making the state particularly vulnerable to illegal immigration attempts. For years, the BJP accused Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) – which was voted out of power after 15 years in power – of protecting Bangladeshi “infiltrators” as a “vote bank” and obstructing the Border Security Force (BSF) from acquiring land needed to erect the border fence. In response, one of the first decisions of the new administration was to transfer the land to the Union Home Ministry, under which the BSF operates for fencing, and the acquisition was to be completed within six weeks.

India-Bangladesh border

The move drew an immediate reaction from Dhaka, with Prime Minister Rahman’s foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir saying Bangladesh was “not afraid of barbed wire.”