Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Vietnam’s President To Lam at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday, following a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier in the day, which marked the start of the Vietnamese leader’s first State Visit to India. President To Lam was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting the strengthening strategic partnership between India and Vietnam. The ceremonial event featured cultural performances, with children dressed in traditional attire waving both the Vietnamese flag and the Indian Tricolour.
The Vietnamese President arrived in India on Tuesday and began his visit in Bodh Gaya, where he offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple. He was welcomed in Bihar by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary before traveling to Delhi. At the airport, he was received by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold comprehensive talks with President To Lam covering bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global matters. President Droupadi Murmu will also hold a separate meeting with him, while several senior officials are expected to engage in discussions with the visiting leader.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met President To Lam to discuss the expansion of the comprehensive strategic partnership. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both sides exchanged views on strengthening multifaceted cooperation, with the Vietnamese leader expressing anticipation for his meetings with Indian leadership. The MEA described the visit as an important milestone as both countries mark ten years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. President To Lam, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will stay in India until May 7.
His schedule also includes a visit to Mumbai, where he will participate in a business forum at the National Stock Exchange and meet state leaders to enhance economic engagement. India and Vietnam continue to share deep historical and civilisational ties that have evolved into a strong and growing strategic relationship.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Tamil Nadu Congress President K. Selvaperunthagai and state in-charge Girish Chodankar met TVK chief Vijay at the TVK headquarters in Chennai on Wednesday, officially confirming their support for the newly formed party in its bid to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. With Congress holding five seats and TVK securing 108 seats, the combined strength of the alliance has reached 113 seats, still falling short of the 118-seat majority by five seats. To overcome this gap, TVK has reportedly reached out to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, whose party has won 47 seats in the assembly election. If AIADMK joins the arrangement, it would comfortably push the alliance beyond the halfway mark.
The Congress party had formally announced its full backing for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and its leader Vijay, marking a significant political shift as it distanced itself from its long-standing ally DMK in the state’s power contest. In its debut electoral performance, TVK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, delivered a strong showing, outperforming expectations and challenging the dominance of established Dravidian parties like DMK and AIADMK. The result has been widely seen as a major disruption in Tamil Nadu politics.
A formal letter signed by Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar stated that the electorate had delivered a “clear, strong and overwhelming” mandate in favour of TVK under Vijay’s leadership. It further noted that both the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party had resolved to extend complete support to TVK in forming the government.
The decision has sparked criticism from DMK leaders. Senior DMK figure Saravanan Annadurai described Congress’s move as “short-sighted and myopic,” accusing the party of betraying INDIA alliance partners. He warned that such a shift could damage Congress’s credibility nationally, arguing that it sends a message of instability and unreliability in coalition politics. He also suggested that Congress may regret the decision in the long run, especially ahead of future national elections. The evolving political realignment has added fresh uncertainty to Tamil Nadu’s post-election scenario, with negotiations still ongoing and alliance equations yet to be fully settled.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from TVK.
South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index soared past the 7,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday, powered by a strong rally in artificial intelligence-linked semiconductor stocks that also lifted Samsung Electronics into the $1 trillion market-cap club. The index closed 6.45% higher at 7,384.56 after briefly hitting an intraday record of 7,426.60, while also triggering a rare “sidecar” trading curb during volatile trade. The surge followed gains in U.S. chip stocks overnight, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 4.2%, boosting investor sentiment across global markets.
Leading the rally were Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which jumped 14.4% and 10.6% respectively to record highs. Together, the two companies now account for nearly 44% of the KOSPI’s total market capitalization. Samsung’s valuation crossing $1 trillion makes it only the second Asian firm after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to reach the milestone.
The market rally reflects growing global demand for AI infrastructure and semiconductor chips, which has driven South Korea’s tech-heavy index to become one of the world’s best-performing major markets this year. The gains also followed strong manufacturing data and continued optimism around semiconductor exports.
So far in 2026, the KOSPI has surged 75%, following a 76% rise in the previous year, marking its strongest performance since 1999. Analysts attribute the rally to sustained foreign investment inflows and government-led market reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence. The South Korean won also strengthened sharply, reaching its highest level since February, reflecting increased capital inflows.
Market sentiment was further supported by upbeat earnings forecasts from global technology firms such as Advanced Micro Devices, which reported strong demand for AI-driven data center chips. Despite broad gains, most stocks in the index declined, highlighting the concentrated nature of the rally. However, financial and securities sectors also posted solid gains on expectations that a booming equity market will lift earnings.
Analysts remain divided on the outlook, with some suggesting the index could continue rising if AI chip demand remains strong, while others warn of potential volatility if global economic conditions weaken. Foreign investors played a key role in the rally, recording their largest-ever single-day net purchases of South Korean equities, further fueling the historic market surge.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Following the West Bengal Assembly election results, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is expected to visit the state tomorrow for a key meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. His visit comes amid heightened political activity after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a major victory in the state.
Yadav is scheduled to leave Lucknow airport at 11 a.m. and is likely to engage in discussions focused on the election outcome and strategies for upcoming polls. The meeting is also expected to centre on strengthening coordination among opposition parties, especially as the BJP’s expanding influence pushes rival parties to consider greater unity.
The political atmosphere in West Bengal has become tense following the election results, which marked a dramatic shift in the state’s power balance. The BJP emerged with a strong majority, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was pushed into second place. Outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign, alleging irregularities and accusing both the Election Commission and the BJP of undermining the democratic process. She maintained that although her party lost numerically, it remains the “moral winner” of the election.
Banerjee also claimed support from several INDIA bloc leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, and Hemant Soren, stating they stood in solidarity with her and the alliance. The BJP has marked a historic milestone with its performance in the state elections, further reshaping West Bengal’s political landscape and intensifying national-level political realignments.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Vietnamese President To Lam arrived in India on his first state visit, marking 10 years of the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He was welcomed by Minister Nityanand Rai, while leaders highlighted the visit’s importance in strengthening bilateral ties. His trip includes talks with PM Narendra Modi, meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, and visits to key cities like Bodh Gaya and Mumbai.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
In Singapore, bots account for about 58 percent of total internet traffic, with over half classified as malicious. As AI-powered bots become more advanced and harder to distinguish from real users, organizations now face the challenge of not just detecting bots but also interpreting their intent. With AI increasingly blurring the boundary between human and automated activity, businesses are under pressure to adapt. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications for online security, trust, and the internet’s future with Garen Ling, Area Vice President of Sales, ASEAN, App Security and Data Security at Thales.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
A 31-year-old man has been accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump following a foiled plot linked to Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Soon after the incident, false claims began circulating online suggesting the attempt was staged. This week, Jonathan Freedland discusses the rise of such conspiracy theories surrounding the US president with journalist Rachel Leingang.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In Destination Anywhere Melanie Oliveiro talks with Kimberly Lynn a travel content creator known as wholistictraveler on Instagram and TikTok. Lynn shares her experiences traveling through Egypt including visits to its oases sand dunes and salt lakes.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Justin McCurry reports on Japan’s prime minister known for her interest in heavy metal music and her proposal to revise the nation’s pacifist constitution. His coverage highlights political and cultural dimensions of her leadership and the broader debate over Japan’s defense policies and constitutional reform efforts in modern times and its implications for regional security and international relations today globally.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
