SIR Phase-3 Announced
The Election Commission of India on Thursday launched Phase-3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 16 states and three Union Territories, including Odisha, Delhi and Maharashtra. The exercise aims to update voter lists ahead of future elections through verification, rationalisation and claims-objection procedures under a time-bound schedule.

Odisha SIR Timeline
Odisha’s Special Intensive Revision exercise will begin with staff training on May 29, followed by house-to-house voter verification from May 30 to June 28. The draft electoral roll will be published on July 5, while the final list is scheduled for release on September 6. Odisha currently has over 3.34 crore registered voters.

Satheesan Named Kerala CM
Congress on Thursday announced VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala following the United Democratic Front’s victory in the Assembly elections. The decision came after days of internal consultations and leadership discussions. The UDF returned to power in the state after defeating the Left Front, ending a decade-long rule.

Driver, Conductor Arrested
Delhi Police arrested a bus driver and conductor on Thursday for allegedly gang-raping a woman inside a stationary sleeper bus in the Rani Bagh area earlier this week. The survivor, employed at a factory in Mangolpuri, alleged that the assault took place Monday night. Police seized the vehicle and said further investigation is underway.

Balianta Murder Accused Held
The Odisha Crime Branch on Thursday arrested the main accused in the sensational Balianta murder case reported from the Bhingarpur area on May 7. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Chinu alias Ranjit Patra, was held based on substantial evidence collected during the probe into the high-profile killing.

India Bans Sugar Exports
India has imposed a ban on sugar exports until September 2026 to ensure domestic availability and stabilise prices amid concerns over weak production forecasts. The Centre cited possible El Nino-related impact on sugarcane output and rising festive demand. The restriction applies to raw, white and refined sugar exports with immediate effect.

Trump-Xi Hold Summit
US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday for a crucial bilateral summit amid tensions over trade, Taiwan and the Iran conflict. Trump praised Xi as a “great leader” and expressed optimism about future ties, though major breakthroughs are considered unlikely during the high-stakes diplomatic engagement.

Book Sparks Buzz
A new book by French journalist Florian Tardif has claimed French First Lady Brigitte Macron shoved President Emmanuel Macron during a Vietnam visit after discovering alleged flirtatious texts with Iranian-born actress Golshifteh Farahani. The Macrons had earlier dismissed speculation surrounding the viral airport moment, calling it playful interaction between the couple.