CBI nabs alleged mastermind behind NEET-UG 2026 chemistry paper leak

In a major breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Pune-based chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni, accusing him of being the kingpin behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The agency has so far arrested eight accused in the case. According to the agency, investigations revealed that Mr. Kulkarni had access to the question papers as he was allegedly involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA). During the last week of April 2026, he allegedly mobilised students with the help of co-accused Manisha Waghmare, a beauty salon owner who was arrested by the CBI on May 14.

BRICS members agree on ‘independent’ State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as capital

The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting that concluded on Friday (May 15, 2026), reaffirmed the grouping’s call for the creation of an ‘independent and viable State of Palestine’ within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. While consensus emerged on the Statehood for Palestine, several other issues saw the members disagreeing among themselves, which prevented the emergence of a Joint Statement, leading instead to the release of a ‘Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document’.

Israel and Lebanon agree to 45-day extension of ceasefire, says U.S.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire after another round of talks in Washington, the U.S. State Department said Friday (May 15, 2026). It comes after two “productive” days of talks and will be followed by more negotiations June 2-3, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. A shaky truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon had been due to end on Sunday (May 17, 2026).

PM Modi dismisses reports of government mulling tax on foreign travel

Dismissing news media reports that the government is considering levying taxes on foreign travel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 15, 2026) said that there is “no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel.” The Prime Minister’s response follows a news report that suggested that the government was considering levying a tax or a cess or a surcharge on foreign travel but no final decision had been taken yet. “This is totally false. Not an iota of truth in this. There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel. We remain committed to improving ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Ease of Living’ for our people,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X.

Rijiju raises concern over alleged undeclared foreign trips of Rahul Gandhi

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (May 15, 2026) expressed concern over the alleged “undeclared” foreign trips of Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi and asked him to share details of the travels with the authorities concerned to avoid action for any violation of law. “Serious questions have been raised regarding Rahul Gandhi. Every Indian must follow the rules and laws, and especially a Member of Parliament must adhere to the rules strictly. The questions raised are serious because if any MP wants to travel abroad, they must inform the Secretariat of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha three weeks in advance,” he told the reporters.

Election Commission orders probe into voting by foreign nationals in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a probe into the allegations of foreign nationals casting votes in the recent Assembly election in Tamil Nadu. A report has been sought from the returning officers of at least two cities and five districts across the State on how the foreigners managed to vote despite the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), official sources said on Friday (May 15, 2026). The investigation was launched after many foreign nationals of Indian origin were arrested or detained by law-enforcement agencies in Chennai and Madurai for fraudulently casting votes and immigration officials sent a report to the ECI.

Muslim side to move SC against Bhojshala verdict as Hindu groups celebrate amid heavy security in Dhar

Representatives of the Muslim community on Friday (May 15, 2026) said that they would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order declaring the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque site in Dhar a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Saraswati. Members of the Hindu community celebrated the verdict by the High Court’s Indore Bench, which granted them complete worship rights, even as strict security arrangements remained in place in Dhar and nearby areas. The district administration had already imposed preventive measures under Section 163 of the BNSS.

State’s duty is to ensure ‘living wages’ for workers, not label them as ‘terrorists’: Supreme Court

The Uttar Pradesh government should not think of those who protested for higher wages in Noida on April 13 as “terrorists”, the Supreme Court said on Friday (May 15, 2026), reminding the State of its obligation to provide a “living wage” to workers, in accordance with the Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy. “They were asking for higher wages… don’t think they are terrorists,” Justice B.V. Nagarathna, heading a two-person Bench including JustIce Ujjal Bhuyan, told the Uttar Pradesh counsel.

Growing ‘attacks’on the judiciary by ‘parasites’, CJI Surya Kant says

While hearing a lawyer’s plea seeking designation as a senior advocate, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday (May 15, 2026) came down heavily on what he described as growing and unwarranted “attacks on the judiciary” by “media, social media, and RTI activists”. “There are parasites in society who attack the system... they don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, and they start attacking everyone,” the Chief Justice observed.

Charity Commissioner directs Tata Trusts to defer Saturday’s Board meeting

The Maharashtra Charity Commissioner on Friday (May 15, 2026) directed the Board of Trustees of TATA Trusts to defer the meeting scheduled for Saturday (May 16, 2026). It has further directed the TATA Trusts not to hold any such meeting till the submission of Inspector’s inquiry report. The order followed recent developments in which the office of the Charity Commissioner received an email dated April 18, 2026, sent by Advocate Katyayani Agrawal. She had requested the urgent intervention of the Charity Commissioner for a violation of Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, which pertains to the number of perpetual trustees in a public trust.

Israel says carried out Gaza strike targeting head of Hamas armed wing

Israel said on Friday (May 15, 2026) that it carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Ezzedine Al-Haddad, whom it described as the chief of the armed wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas. “Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has carried out a strike in Gaza targeting arch-terrorist Ezzedine Al-Haddad, commander of Hamas’s military wing and one of the principal architects of the October 7 massacre,” a statement issued by the office of the Defence Minister said.

Iran FM says U.S. willing to continue talks, open to China’s help

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (May 15, 2026) he had “received messages” from the United States saying it is willing to continue talks and that he is open to any support, including from China. “We received messages again from the Americans saying that they are willing to continue the talks and continue the interaction,” Mr. Araghchi told reporters in New Delhi.

U.S. plans to indict Cuba’s Raul Castro, U.S. DOJ official says

 The ‌United States plans to indict Cuba’s Raul ​Castro, a U.S. Department ⁠of Justice official said late on Thursday (May 14, 2026). The timing of the potential indictment, which would ‌need to be approved by a grand jury, was not immediately ‌clear, but the official said it ‌sounds ⁠imminent. The potential indictment of the ⁠94-year-old former President of Cuba and brother of Fidel Castro is expected to focus on ​the downing of ‌aircraft, the official said.

ISL: CFC aims to end season on a positive note

Chennaiyin FC cannot wait for the ISL season to end. Seven losses, three draws and just two 1-0 wins have left the former champion languishing in 13th place, better only than relegation-threatened Mohammedan SC. And Chennaiyin is among two sides that have yet to hit double figures in goals this season. CFC head coach Clifford Miranda admitted that finishing woes had hampered his side. “Teams above us have created less but scored more. When we miss a chance and then the opposition scores, and when it becomes a pattern, the team starts losing confidence,” he said.