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D.K. Shivakumar's bid for the Chief Minister post gained traction after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra intervened, persuading Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. Siddaramaiah reportedly conveyed his decision to resign, though he is hesitant about a national role. A press conference is expected before his resignation, with Shivakumar attending a breakfast meeting.

Kumaragurubaran replaces Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, who has now been posted as commissioner of labour. Dr S Swarna has been redesignated as principal secretary, tourism, culture and special initiatives department.

A fierce political faceoff had ensued three years back during the Left regime when Congress workers were thrashed for waving black flags at Vijayan's motorcade, leading to an intense war of words between two rival factions in the coastal state. Calling Vijayan Kerala's "most cruel" home minister, senior Congress leader MM Hassan had alleged that Youth Congress protesters were beaten up for waving black flags at the CM's motorcade.

Domestic brand Unix has launched its new Airbuds Z1 RUZO true wireless stereo earbuds in India, priced at Rs 899. These budget-friendly earbuds feature Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), Bluetooth V6.0, and Type-C fast charging, offering up to 52 hours of total playtime. They are available in Black and White, targeting users seeking clear calls and media consumption in noisy environments.

World Hypertension Day (May 17)

The Bench held that the wife’s refusal to cohabit with a husband who had openly taken another woman as wife and fathered children with her could not be treated as cruelty or desertion.

Indian parents are increasingly opting for bottle-feeding, but the containers themselves pose a growing concern. Recent scientific findings and a Supreme Court endorsement highlight the risks of microplastics and chemicals leaching from plastic bottles into infant formula. Experts now advocate for glass bottles as a safer alternative, emphasizing their inert nature and lack of health risks compared to plastic.

With the LDF's victory in Kerala, the race for Chief Minister heats up. A leaked list, shared by the BJP, suggests K C Venugopal might be favored by a majority of Congress MLAs. However, one MLA claims his preference was omitted, raising questions about the consultation process. V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are also contenders.

The Supreme Court has initiated an ambitious project, assigning eight National Law Universities the critical task of reevaluating the nationwide application of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. This initiative, known as 'Project Ability Empowerment', seeks to dig deeper than surface-level compliance checks, aiming to pinpoint areas for improvement in implementation.

The Congress is set to announce its Kerala chief ministerial pick by Sunday after consultations with newly elected MLAs and senior leaders. The party high command will make the final decision following a resolution authorizing them to choose the CM candidate. Frontrunners include V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala.

The Supreme Court has overturned the Uttarakhand High Court's grant of default bail to two individuals in the Banphoolpura violence case, deeming it a "grave error." The apex court ruled that the investigation was validly extended under UAPA, and the chargesheet was filed within the extended period, making the accused ineligible for default bail due to their delayed challenge.

Early trends for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections show a significant shift, with the Congress-led UDF projected for a commanding victory, leading in over 100 seats. The ruling LDF faces strong anti-incumbency, while the BJP remains a marginal player. This outcome suggests a return to Kerala's traditional pattern of alternating governments.

A massive fire engulfed eight flats across five floors of a Ghaziabad residential tower, trapping residents and causing minor injuries. Firefighters battled the blaze for two hours, facing access issues and initial equipment limitations. The fire, suspected to be from a short circuit in a renovated flat, spread rapidly, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting a swift rescue operation.

Accused told him he was linked to a fake money laundering and child trafficking case