Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a nationwide 15-day awareness campaign, set to begin on May 29, aimed at educating 1-1.5 crore farmers about modern technologies and new seed varieties in preparation for the upcoming kharif sowing season. The initiative, titled 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,' will run from May 29 to June 12, covering 700 districts across India.

In collaboration with state governments, the Centre will form 2,000 teams consisting of farm scientists, officials, and progressive farmers. These teams will hold three meetings daily at the district level, targeting 10-12 lakh farmers each day. At a National Conference on Agriculture for the Kharif Campaign, Chouhan emphasized the importance of enhancing agricultural extension services to improve productivity and crop output. He stressed the need for rapid dissemination of new technologies and research findings to farmers in the field.

The campaign will focus on educating farmers about climate-resilient seed varieties, fertilizer availability, monsoon predictions, and the benefits of government programs. Chouhan also urged state agriculture ministers to lead the initiative in their states and stated he would write to State Chief Ministers to ensure its success.

Highlighting the potential for agricultural growth, Chouhan noted that India's crop productivity is below the global average and emphasized the need to adopt modern technology and best practices to boost yields. He also pointed out significant yield disparities between states and stressed the importance of bridging these gaps to meet global standards.

Chouhan also addressed soil health, encouraging the proper use of fertilizers through the Soil Health Cards issued by the government. He shared the government's progress in the agricultural sector since 2014, focusing on increasing production, reducing input costs, and ensuring fair prices for farmers through enhanced procurement at minimum support price (MSP).
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In light of 'Operation Sindoor', schools situated along the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan have been shut down amid rising tensions. According to recent reports, authorities have decided to suspend educational activities in the five border districts of Jammu—Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch—citing the prevailing security situation. Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar confirmed the decision on social media, announcing that all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in these areas would remain closed.

Similarly, in Punjab, the administration has closed schools in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, and Amritsar as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate. An official order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur specified that schools in Pathankot would remain closed for 72 hours as a precaution.

Rajasthan has also taken similar measures, with all government and private schools being shut in the border districts of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer. Officials cited security concerns for the closures, noting that Rajasthan shares a roughly 1,070 km-long border with Pakistan, putting these western districts on high alert.

The closures come in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a strategic military action launched by the Indian armed forces on the night of May 6 and 7. During the operation, missile strikes were carried out on nine terror infrastructure sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The offensive was conducted in retaliation for the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The missile strikes received strong support from across the Indian political spectrum. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, and Asaduddin Owaisi publicly praised the armed forces and backed the Centre’s response to the escalating cross-border threat.

The Pahalgam attack, which took place in the Baisaran Valley, drew widespread condemnation from international leaders, many of whom expressed solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism. Since the attack, relations between India and Pakistan have further deteriorated. Key bilateral agreements, including the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and the Simla Agreement, have been suspended. In addition, India has blocked access to the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities and taken down over 15 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading misinformation.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral discussions on Monday with his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani, in New Delhi. During the talks, Singh expressed appreciation to the Japanese government for standing in solidarity with India following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

Singh commended General Nakatani for his significant efforts in enhancing defence ties between the two nations. At the beginning of the India-Japan Defence Ministerial Meeting, Singh recalled their previous meeting in Vientiane, Laos, in November last year, where both sides had agreed to boost cooperation in defence industry, technology sharing, and military interoperability.

Welcoming Nakatani and his delegation, Singh remarked, “I remember our meeting in Vientiane where we agreed to strengthen defence cooperation. I appreciate Japan’s strong support following the Pahalgam attack.” Singh further lauded Nakatani for playing a key role in advancing India-Japan defence relations, particularly through agreements on defence equipment, technical collaboration, and military information protection. He expressed confidence that with Nakatani’s return as Defence Minister, bilateral defence cooperation will continue to grow stronger.

This marked their second meeting in six months, following their first encounter during the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Laos in November 2024. Earlier in the day, General Nakatani was welcomed with a Guard of Honour in Delhi. Singh personally received him, and the two leaders exchanged warm greetings. Nakatani also paid tribute at the National War Memorial by laying a wreath.

According to a Ministry of Defence press release, India and Japan enjoy a deep-rooted friendship, which has gained greater significance since the elevation of their relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. Defence and security remain vital pillars of this relationship. The Ministry also noted that defence cooperation between the two nations has grown steadily due to shared strategic perspectives, especially concerning peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday greeted the citizens of Maharashtra and Gujarat on their respective formation days, expressing hope that both states will contribute significantly to India’s development. Gujarat and Maharashtra were created on May 1, 1960, following the division of the Bombay state based on linguistic lines.

In her message to Gujarat, Murmu conveyed heartfelt greetings to all, especially to Gujaratis in India and abroad. She highlighted the state's legacy, mentioning Mahatma Gandhi, who promoted peace and non-violence globally, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who unified the nation. She praised the people of Gujarat for their dedication and hard work, which has enhanced India’s prestige worldwide, and expressed confidence that Gujarat will continue to set new standards of progress, helping India become a global power.

In her message to Maharashtra, Murmu praised the state’s history and its people’s spirit of patriotism, citing figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Babasaheb Ambedkar for their contributions to societal change. She emphasized that Maharashtra will play a crucial role in India’s development and wished the state prosperity and happiness.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended their greetings to both states. Modi praised Maharashtra’s significant role in India's progress, noting the state’s historical importance and its people’s courage. He also acknowledged Gujarat’s achievements in various fields and wished for its continued success. Dhankhar highlighted Gujarat’s legacy of leadership, resilience, and innovation.
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North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed troops to Russia. This acknowledgment comes amid US-led discussions aimed at ending the war, with former US President Donald Trump claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to concede Crimea—contradicting the Ukrainian leader's own statements. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman provide an analysis on the latest developments with Klaus Larres, Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professor of History and International Affairs, and Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, specializing in Peace, War, and Defense.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The Indian government convened an all-party meeting to update the opposition and discuss possible actions, while Pakistan held security talks to determine its course of action. This follows the deadly attack on Tuesday in the Indian-administered portion of the disputed Kashmir region, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman explore the implications of the attack on the already strained relationship between India and Pakistan, as well as the future of this decades-old conflict, speaking with Dr. Christopher Snedden, political scientist and author.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The Black Swan centers on a former master criminal who claims to have reformed and now secretly records her corrupt clients to expose them. However, doubts arise about her true intentions—is her transformation genuine, or is she still manipulating the game? At the same time, suspicions grow around the filmmaker himself, leaving viewers to wonder whether he, too, is bending the truth behind the camera. The film blurs the line between justice and deception, keeping audiences guessing until the end.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

As Donald Trump’s tariffs evolve into a trade war with China, a wave of defiant nationalism is rising. The Chinese government, sharing Mao-era rhetoric, shows no sign of backing down. However, China’s economy remains fragile post-pandemic, and fears of a global recession are growing. Despite efforts to diversify trade and boost domestic demand, many in China worry that worsening U.S.-China tensions could lead to broader conflict.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.