SRH captain Cummins fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining slow over rate against GT

Ahmedabad, May 13, 2026

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has been fined Rs 12 lakh after his team maintained a slow over rate during IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

IPL, in its statement, said, “As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Cummins was fined INR 12 lakhs.”

SRH suffered their biggest defeat by runs in the IPL after losing to GT by a massive 82 runs. Donning their special lavender jerseys to raise cancer awareness, GT delivered a masterclass to successfully defend the second-lowest total.

Put in to bat, Sai Sudharsan (61) and Washington Sundar (50) slammed brilliant fifties to power us to 168/5 in our 20 overs.

A 168-run total on the Ahmedabad surface initially seemed within reach, but an absolutely devastating Powerplay bowling display from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj blew SRH away, skittling them for just 86 in 14.5 overs.

Chasing 169, SRH were completely decimated by a fiery GT pace attack. Siraj set the tone in the very first over, dismissing the destructive Travis Head for a four-ball duck. In the second over, Rabada dismissed Abhishek Sharma and quickly removed Ishan Kishan (11 off 7) and Smaran Ravichandran (9) to leave the SRH reeling at 32 for 4.

Jason Holder (3-20) and Prasidh Krishna (2-23) relentlessly maintained the pressure through the middle overs. SRH captain Pat Cummins provided the only fleeting moment of resistance, smashing 19 off just 9 deliveries (1 four, 2 sixes) before mishitting a pull shot off Prasidh Krishna, smartly caught by Siraj at third man.

Rashid Khan (1-3 in 0.5 overs) provided the finishing touch, having Praful Hinge stumped by Buttler to wrap up the SRH innings for an abysmal 86.

The heavy defeat damages SRH’s NRR and serves as a major wake-up call for their batting unit. Despite the loss, they remain in the thick of the playoff race but must bounce back quickly in their upcoming fixtures to secure a top-two finish.(Agency)

Rangaswamy sworn in as Puducherry CM for 5th time; NDA govt takes charge

Puducherry, May 13, 2026

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by N. Rangasamy assumed office in Puducherry on Wednesday, with the veteran leader taking oath as Chief Minister for a record fifth term.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Puducherry Lok Bhavan, where Lieutenant Governor K. Kailasanathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rangasamy and the newly inducted ministers.

Along with the Chief Minister, BJP MLA A. Namassivayam and All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) MLA Malladi Krishna Rao were sworn in as ministers in the new Cabinet.

This marks Rangasamy’s second consecutive term as Chief Minister under the NDA alliance and further strengthens his position as one of the most influential political leaders in the union territory’s history.

With his latest swearing-in, Rangasamy has now become the first leader to hold the office of Chief Minister of Puducherry five times, setting a new political record in the UT.

The NDA alliance secured a comfortable majority in the recently concluded Puducherry Assembly elections. In the 30-member Assembly, Rangasamy’s All India N.R. Congress emerged as the dominant force within the alliance with 12 MLAs.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has four legislators, while the AIADMK and the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi have one member each.

Political observers view the continuation of the Rangasamy-led administration as a sign of political stability in Puducherry, especially at a time when regional parties continue to play a crucial role in the union territory’s governance.

Sources in the alliance indicated that the ministry expansion would take place at a later stage. Three more members are expected to be inducted into the Cabinet in the coming days as part of the alliance-sharing arrangement.

Senior BJP leaders, alliance partners, elected representatives and party workers attended the ceremony at Lok Bhavan. Tight security arrangements were put in place around the venue in view of the swearing-in event.

The new government is expected to focus on welfare measures, infrastructure development, employment generation and strengthening coordination between the union territory administration and the Central government.(Agency)

Gaurav Gogoi writes to HM Shah over attacks on Northeast citizens in Delhi

New Delhi, May 13, 2026

Congress MP and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern over repeated incidents of racial harassment and attacks on women and people from the Northeast in Delhi.

Gogoi urged immediate steps to strengthen institutional mechanisms for their safety.

In his letter, Gogoi referred to the recent incident at Nehru Place in the national capital, where two women from Assam and Bihar were allegedly molested, assaulted, and racially abused by a group of men in the early hours of May 10.

According to the letter, the women were reportedly having tea outside a hotel when a group of men allegedly began catcalling and making derogatory racial remarks, which later escalated into physical assault.

Gogoi noted that the Delhi Police had confirmed that the women were racially targeted and assaulted.

The Congress leader also cited other recent incidents involving Northeast citizens in the national capital, including the alleged racial abuse and assault of a lawyer from Manipur and her transwoman friend in South Delhi in March this year, and another case in February involving three women from Arunachal Pradesh in Malviya Nagar.

Gogoi stated that such incidents were not isolated but reflected a “deeply troubling pattern” of prejudice, profiling, and violence faced by people from the Northeast in Delhi.

He also recalled the killing of Nido Tania in 2014 and the death of Tripura student Anjel Chakma following an assault in 2025.

While acknowledging initiatives such as SPUNER, Helpline 1093, the North East Assistance Team (NEAT), and sensitisation measures introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police, Gogoi said recurring incidents indicated serious gaps in implementation and institutional confidence.

“As the national capital, Delhi must embody the constitutional values of equality, dignity, and security for every Indian citizen, irrespective of region, ethnicity, language, or appearance. Citizens from the North Eastern states contribute immensely to the social, educational, and economic life of the city. They deserve not only protection in law, but also confidence in the institutions meant to safeguard them,” the letter said.

He urged the Union Home Minister to review the effectiveness of existing support systems, strengthen accountability in racial harassment cases, expand awareness regarding helplines and legal protections, and ensure strict and time-bound action in such incidents.(Agency)

ETGE urges Trump to raise human rights abuses in East Turkistan, Tibet during Xi summit

Washington, May 13, 2026

The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) and the East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM) have called on the United States President Donald Trump to directly raise China’s “ongoing genocide” and “colonial occupation” of East Turkistan and Tibet during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

President Trump began his state visit to China on Wednesday for a high-stakes two-day summit, marking the first visit by a sitting US President to the country in nearly a decade.

In its appeal to Trump, the ETGE alleged that Jinping ordered the genocide targeting Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples in occupied “East Turkistan”, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, which the exile authorities said has now entered its thirteenth year.

The exiled authorities further urged the US President to reject any agreement enabling the “genocide and enslavement” of East Turkistanis and Tibetans during the summit.

“East Turkistan holds China’s largest reserves of beryllium and major deposits of lithium, zirconium, rubidium, titanium, magnesium, and rare earth elements, the very critical minerals under negotiation at this summit, all extracted from occupied territory under conditions the United Nations has assessed may constitute enslavement as a form of crimes against humanity,” they stated.

According to the ETGE, Jinping’s genocidal campaign has led to “mass internment; mass enslavement through forced labour exceeding the Communist regime’s projection of 13.75 million transfers; forced sterilisation; the separation of over one million Uyghur and other Turkic children from their families; and organ harvesting from hundreds of thousands of East Turkistanis”. It claimed that Beijing’s 2026 “Ethnic Unity Law” codified the erasure of non-Chinese identities.

“There is only one solution to guarantee our people’s human rights and survival: decolonisation and the restoration of East Turkistan’s national independence. On May 5, we submitted East Turkistan’s first-ever formal petition to the UN Decolonisation Committee, and we call on the international community, including the United States, to support our struggle to restore our independence,” said Mamtimin Ala, President of the ETGE.

The exiled authorities described China’s “occupation” of East Turkistan as a direct threat to American national security.

They alleged that Beijing conducted all of its nuclear tests on East Turkistani soil, including one in 2020, and was expanding its construction of hundreds of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos in the “occupied territory” aimed at the United States.

They further claimed that China had established critical AI and data centre infrastructure in the region.

“The critical minerals at this summit are extracted from occupied East Turkistan under conditions of genocide and enslavement. A restored free and independent East Turkistan would supply America these minerals at competitive rates, strengthening American industry and breaking Beijing’s chokehold,” said Salih Hudayar, Foreign Minister of the ETGE and President of the ETNM.(Agency)

SC halts Madras HC order restraining TVK MLA from Assembly floor test participation

New Delhi, May 13, 2026

In relief to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathi, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Madras High Court’s interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his one-vote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi passed the interim order while hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Court’s direction.

Terming the High Court order as “atrocious”, the apex court questioned how a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution could be entertained in an election dispute when the law provides for an election petition as the appropriate remedy.

“This is atrocious to say the least,” the Justice Nath-led Bench remarked during the hearing. It questioned senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for DMK leader K.R. Periakaruppan, how a writ petition challenging an election result could be maintained before the Madras High Court. “This is atrocious. The High Court says remedy is an election petition and still entertains the writ petition,” the Supreme Court remarked.

After hearing the submissions on behalf of the parties, the apex court ordered, “We have heard the senior counsels for the parties. Counsel for the respondent is granted two weeks to file a reply. In the meantime, the impugned order shall remain stayed. Further proceedings before the High Court also stayed.”

Sethupathi had moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from “voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test, including confidence motion, no-confidence motion, trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested, until further orders”.

A Bench of Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader K.R. Periakaruppan, who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one vote.

According to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Sethupathi secured 83,365 votes, while Periakaruppan polled 83,364 votes. Periakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No.185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No. 50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituency.

The Madras High Court had said that the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter, but arose from “an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itself”.

Referring to the razor-thin margin of victory, the High Court had observed that in an election decided by one vote, “every vote is not merely relevant; it is potentially determinative”.

During the hearing before the Madras High Court, the ECI had opposed the maintainability of the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared, any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Supreme Court’s interim order came on a day when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay successfully won the confidence motion in the Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favour, while 22 MLAs voted against the motion and five abstained.

The floor test witnessed dramatic scenes, including a walkout by the DMK, sharp exchanges between rival camps and visible divisions within the AIADMK. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin led the DMK members out of the House after accusing the Vijay-led government of encouraging political defections by meeting rebel AIADMK legislators ahead of the trust vote.

The situation further escalated after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced that all 47 MLAs belonging to his faction would oppose the confidence motion, while rebel AIADMK leader S.P. Velumani and supporting legislators eventually backed the TVK government during the voting.

Replying to the debate before the trust vote, Chief Minister Vijay asserted that his government would remain secular and committed to governance. “This government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse trading,” Vijay said.(Agency)

We are committed to implementing UCC in Assam: CM Himanta Sarma

Guwahati, May 13, 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday reiterated the BJP-led government’s commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that every promise made in the party’s election manifesto would be fulfilled.

Speaking to reporters here, CM Sarma said, “UCC is a part of our election manifesto. So every point in our election manifesto, not only UCC, all that we have mentioned in our election manifesto, we’ll try 100 per cent to implement.”

The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid renewed discussions on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in BJP-ruled states. The UCC seeks to replace religion-based personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption with a common set of laws applicable to all citizens.

Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to pass a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation after the BJP government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami cleared the bill in the Assembly earlier this year. The law is yet to be fully operationalised pending procedural implementation.

The BJP has consistently advocated for the UCC, maintaining that it would ensure gender justice, equality and national integration.

The issue has remained a longstanding ideological commitment of the party and forms part of its broader governance agenda.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders have repeatedly backed the introduction of a common civil law framework across the country, arguing that different personal laws for different communities are inconsistent with the principle of equal rights. However, opposition parties and several minority organisations have expressed reservations over the proposal, alleging that the move could undermine India’s cultural and religious diversity.

Critics have called for wider consultations before any nationwide implementation of the UCC.

In Assam, the BJP government has already introduced several measures related to marriage registration, polygamy restrictions, land reforms and encroachment-prone areas, which the ruling party says are aligned with its electoral commitments.(Agency)

Migration becomes ISI’s new tool to derail India-Bangladesh ties reset

New Delhi, May 13, 2026

Migration remains a sensitive issue between India and Bangladesh, which have recently sought to reset ties on several fronts following Tarique Rahman’s victory. Bilateral relations had strained after the fall of the Awami League government.

Ties, which deteriorated under the interim government, improved significantly after Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won the elections. Officials said migration is a sensitive issue and would be handled maturely by the two countries.

The worry is that many ISI-backed elements are trying to exploit this and spread a false narrative. The ISI, which has several of its stooges in Bangladesh, has been instructed to drum up a narrative about migration and spread false news about it.

This is not only to create communal discord, but also to ruin bilateral ties between the two countries. The ISI, since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, has managed to expand its footprint across Bangladesh. It has managed to set up several networks aimed at working against the interests of India and Bangladesh, another official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that currently, Pakistan’s ISI is operating covertly. It is trying to tap into ideologically driven groups in Bangladesh. The digital campaigns against India are being increased, and the primary focus would be on migration, the official added.

While this would be the first phase of the plan, the second would be to activate modules in the bordering states. Outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are all active currently. Most of their cadres have made several visits to Pakistan and have undergone training. They have managed to set up several of their modules in the areas that border India and Bangladesh.

Post the disinformation campaign that the ISI plans to run, the next step would be to get these modules to act. For India and Bangladesh, sharing good ties is of utmost importance. The relations are a pillar of stability in eastern South Asia. Relations between the two countries are also important as it helps reduce cross-border terror, battle insurgents, all of which are crucial to peace in the northeastern states.

Bangladesh watchers say that there will be repeated attempts to drum up false narratives by these ISI-backed groups. The Pakistanis have been attempting to make a strong imprint in Bangladesh, and for this to happen, derailing ties with India is something that they would try to do.

Experts say that the ISI’s Bangladesh project is nothing new. It has been in place since the Liberation War. This time around, it wants to enhance its operational reach, and hence, there is a sudden surge in activity, the experts also point out.

Officials say the thaw in relations between the two countries has not gone down too well for the Pakistanis. Since the BNP came to power, both India and Bangladesh have been closely working on border management, consular service, and Joint River Commission meetings. Both countries are looking to sort out the problem of illegal immigration amicably.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamiduallah flew to Dhaka on Tuesday to consult with the political leadership on how to engage with the Indian government on this issue. The Intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on the ISI-related activities that are taking place in Bangladesh. On the radar are the hardliners, some influencers who are pro-Pakistan, and also the two terror groups — HuJI and JMB, which could prove detrimental to India’s national security if not kept under check.(Agency)

CBI probe extends to Kerala in NEET leak case

Thiruvananthapuram, May 13, 2026

The widening investigation into the NEET question paper leak has now cast a shadow over Kerala, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the possible involvement of students from two districts in the state.

Investigators suspect that a ‘model question paper’, allegedly prepared from the leaked original NEET paper, had reached several students in Kerala days before the examination.

The Kerala connection surfaced after the Rajasthan Police handed over details of nearly 200 students believed to have accessed the leaked paper.

Among them are students linked to Kerala, while investigators are also probing the role of a medical student from Churu, Rajasthan, currently studying in the state.

Officials suspect he acted as a key link in circulating the paper among aspirants in Kerala.

The CBI has now widened its investigation to 10 states and formed a special investigation team, deploying four separate squads to track the network behind what is emerging as one of the biggest entrance exam frauds in recent years.

Preliminary findings suggest the leak originated not during transportation of question papers, as seen in earlier scams, but directly from the printing press in Nashik, Maharashtra, where this year’s NEET paper was printed.

Investigators allege that a medical student named Shubham Karniyar secured the original paper from the press and passed it through intermediaries in Haryana.

From there, it allegedly reached the masterminds operating from Sikar.

To avoid suspicion, the original leaked paper was reportedly modified into the form of a “model question paper” before being circulated through networks in states, including Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Investigators found that 90 Biology questions and 35 out of 45 Chemistry questions in the model paper matched the actual exam paper.

The papers were allegedly sold through platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp for amounts ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh, exposing what officials describe as a highly organised interstate examination racket.(Agency)

Pawan Khera appears before Assam Police

Guwahati, May 13, 2026

Senior Congress leader, Pawan Khera, on Wednesday appeared before the Crime Branch in Guwahati in connection with a case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Pawan Khera arrived at the Crime Branch office during the day and cooperated with the investigation, an official said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera in the matter, providing him protection from arrest while directing him to cooperate with the investigation process.

Speaking briefly to mediapersons outside the Crime Branch office, Khera said he has faith in the judiciary and would abide by the law.

The case stems from a complaint lodged by Riniki Bhuyan, at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.

The complaint was filed over Khera’s public allegations at a Press conference that she possessed multiple foreign passports and had financial interests abroad.

The FIR invokes several Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to false statements in connection with elections, cheating, forgery of valuable security, forgery of public records, using forged documents as genuine, intentional insult and defamation.

Khera had initially approached the Telangana High Court, which granted him one week’s transit anticipatory bail on April 10 to seek regular relief before the competent court in Assam.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the transit anticipatory bail and clarified that any plea filed before the competent court in Assam would be considered independently.

It later declined Khera’s request to vacate the stay or extend interim protection.

Khera then moved the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court rejected the plea, observing that the matter was not one of simple defamation and that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the source of the documents cited by him.

Earlier this month, the Assam Police had also conducted searches at Khera’s Delhi residence and pursued investigative steps in Hyderabad as part of its probe against the leader.(Agency)

CBI secures extradition of wanted fugitive Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan

New Delhi, May 13, 2026

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Delhi Police, has successfully secured the extradition of wanted fugitive Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan to India, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Prabhdeep Singh, who was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, was wanted in connection with a case registered at the Special Cell Police Station in New Delhi under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

According to officials, the case pertains to a major narcotics trafficking racket in which a substantial quantity of narcotic substances was recovered. Several co-accused persons had earlier been arrested during the investigation, while Prabhdeep Singh was identified as the key conspirator and main organiser of the syndicate.

Acting on a request from Delhi Police, the CBI, functioning as India’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, had got a Red Notice issued against the accused through INTERPOL channels.

Following sustained international coordination and intelligence-sharing, the fugitive was geo-located and apprehended by authorities in Azerbaijan.

Subsequently, Indian authorities initiated formal extradition proceedings through diplomatic and legal channels. After completion of due legal formalities in Azerbaijan, the extradition request was accepted, paving the way for his return to India.

A three-member escort team from the Delhi Police travelled to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to take custody of the accused. The team, along with Prabhdeep Singh, arrived in Delhi on Wednesday morning.

The CBI stated that it continues to coordinate closely with domestic and international law enforcement agencies through INTERPOL channels and the BHARATPOL platform to trace and bring back fugitives wanted by Indian agencies.

Officials added that due to the coordinated efforts of the MEA, MHA, CBI, and other law enforcement agencies, more than 160 wanted criminals and fugitives have been successfully brought back to India in recent years.(Agency)

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