7 MPs Join BJP
Seven rebel Rajya Sabha MPs from the AAP were officially inducted into the BJP, as the Secretariat updated party positions. Defectors including Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal had announced their exit last week. BJP’s tally rose to 113, while AAP dropped to three, with NDA strength increasing to 148.

Heatwave to Persist
The IMD said temperatures across Odisha will remain largely unchanged for two days before dipping by 2-3°C. A yellow alert has been issued for 11 districts, warning of heat and humidity. Kalbaisakhi thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are also likely in parts of southern and northern Odisha.

Iran Offers Deal!
Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the conflict with the US, while deferring nuclear negotiations, according to an Axios report citing officials. The proposal aims to break the deadlock, but analysts say lifting the blockade could weaken leverage held by Donald Trump in future nuclear negotiations.

US Gunman Manifesto
A gunman who breached security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner had declared members of Donald Trump’s administration as “targets” in a manifesto sent minutes before the attack. The 31-year-old suspect from California was subdued near the venue.

Campaign Ends
Campaigning ended for Phase 2 of West Bengal Assembly elections, with 142 constituencies set to vote on April 29 across eight districts. PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah and CM Mamata Banerjee led high-pitched campaigns, holding rallies and roadshows across key constituencies ahead of polling.

Five New Districts
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has announced the creation of five new districts — Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass — raising the total number of districts in the Union Territory from two to seven. The move, officially notified in April 2026, aims to decentralize administration, boost development in remote border areas, and meet long-pending local demands for better governance.

Sindhu joins BWF Council
PV Sindhu has officially assumed a full voting position on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council after being elected Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission for the 2026-2029 term. The two-time Olympic medallist and World Champion made her first appearance at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, marking her entry into the sport’s highest governing body.

Historic Journey
A Bengal tiger has made history by traveling nearly 1,500 km from Maharashtra to Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj. Confirmed through camera trap footage, this marks the longest natural journey ever recorded for a tiger in India. Forest officials and conservationists have hailed the arrival as a major boost for biodiversity, offering fresh genetic diversity to Similipal’s isolated black tiger population.