1. Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress Alliance Wins Karnataka Floor Test
Newly sworn-in Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy won the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly on Friday, 25 May, even as Bharatiya Janata Party leaders staged a walk out. Congress MLA KR Ramesh has been elected the Speaker.
This is Kumaraswamy’s second term as chief minister of Karnataka. Meanwhile, Congress’ G Parameshwara was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister on Wednesday, 23 May.
While the JD(S) will have 12 ministers, Congress will have 22 ministers in the Cabinet.
Read the full story here.
2. Cobrapost Releases Part 2 of ‘Operation 136’ Media Sting Op
Cobrapost is back with the second installment of its ‘Operation 136’ campaign – that alleged that Indian media houses agreed to run political campaigns, defame Opposition leaders and propagate the Hindutva agenda for electoral gains, in exchange for money.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday, 24 May, ordered an ex-parte injunction against the screening of Operation 136: Part II at a press conference in New Delhi at 3 pm.
Read the full story here.
3. 47% of Indians Don’t Want BJP Government Back: CSDS Survey
Forty-seven percent of Indians believe the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government does not deserve a second innings in power, a survey conducted by ABP and CSDS showed on Thursday, 24 May.
The Mood of the Nation survey shows Congress taking lead in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while spelling unfortunate news for the ruling BJP, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) taking a hit in popularity in several states.
The survey polled responses from 15,859 participants across 19 states between 27 April and 17 May 2018, to arrive at its conclusions.
Read the full story here.
4. Why Isn’t the Indian Govt Slashing Fuel Prices?
Petrol and diesel prices have hit lifetime highs in India – in Delhi, petrol as of 24 May 2018 is Rs 77.51 a litre (it was Rs 77.13 on 23 May), while diesel is Rs 68.57 a litre (it was Rs 68.30 at BPCL pumps on 23 May 2018).
In the past one year, petrol has gone up over Rs 10 a litre and diesel has gone up by more than Rs 12 a litre. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Or is there?
Read the full story here.
5. ‘Parmanu’ Movie Review: The Pokhran Nuclear Tests Don’t Deserve This Dull Film
On 11 May 1998, India was declared a full-fledged nuclear state after the successful Pokhran tests. It was a huge victory, considering India cocked a snook at the world and managed to hoodwink the US spy satellites. The episode, considered a defining moment in the country’s history, is also touted to be one of the CIA’s biggest intelligence failures.
In Abhishek Sharma’s film Parmanu, Ashwath Raina, an earnest IAS officer, has in his possession a floppy disk containing a blueprint of India’s nuclear test as he desperately tries to get an audience with the Prime Minister. It’s another matter that John Abraham decides to play this inspiring character in a lumbering fashion.
Read the full review here.
6. Arjun Vajpai Climbs the Kanchenjunga, Says ‘Everest Was Easier’
Fifty days since he left his Noida residence to make his second attempt to summit the Kanchenjunga, 24-year-old Indian Arjun Vajpai successfully managed to climb the third-highest mountain in the world on 20 May at 8:05 am.
At Tsheram, near the base camp, The Quint caught up with the young mountaineer who has now climbed six of the 14 peaks in the world that are higher than 8000 meters. He is, in fact, the youngest to manage the feat.
Read the full story here.
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