Evening news wrap: India's GDP growth beats expectations in final quarter; K Annamalai launches new political movement & more

• India’s economy expanded by 7.8 per cent in the final quarter of FY26, lifting full-year growth to 7.7 per cent and surpassing estimates.
• Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has launched a new political movement, signalling a shift in his political journey after leaving the BJP.
• Expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed support for his rebel faction is growing, adding to political uncertainty in West Bengal.
• Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said he was present during the attack that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, offering new details about the conflict's early days.
• Russian president Vladimir Putin has renewed his offer to jointly develop and produce the Su-57 fighter jet with India, highlighting defence cooperation between the two countries.

Here are the top stories of the day

India’s GDP growth beats expectations in final quarter of FY26

India's economy grew 7.8 per cent year-on-year in the January-March quarter of FY26, exceeding expectations and pushing full-year growth to 7.7 per cent. Strong performance in services, manufacturing and construction sectors contributed to the expansion, reinforcing India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. Read full story

K Annamalai launches new political movement after exiting BJP

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has launched a political movement called "We The Leaders", inviting people interested in education, healthcare, sustainability and youth leadership to participate. He said the initiative aims to promote a growth-oriented political culture and outlined a governance model focused on community engagement and data-driven decision-making. Read full story

Ritabrata Banerjee claims growing support for rebel TMC faction

Expelled Trinamool Congress leader Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed that support for the rebel faction he is leading will continue to increase within the West Bengal Assembly. His remarks come amid ongoing turbulence in the state's political landscape, with competing claims over leadership positions and shifting political alignments. Read full story

Araghchi recounts attack that killed Iran’s former supreme leader

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said he was inside the office of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei when it was struck during the initial wave of US-Israeli attacks on Tehran. He described the uncertainty surrounding Khamenei's fate in the aftermath and reiterated Iran's position on regional security and the conflict's wider consequences. Read full story

Putin revives offer for joint India-Russia Su-57 fighter programme

Russian president Vladimir Putin has said Moscow remains ready to jointly develop and further advance the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet with India without restrictions. The proposal comes as India evaluates future air combat requirements while pursuing its indigenous Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft programme and broader defence modernisation plans. Read full story