ED likely to summon Praful Patel again over Dawood aide links

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been reelected President of Brazil after defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff vote. With 100 per cent of the votes counted, Brazil's electoral authority confirmed that the 81-year-old secured nearly 52 per cent of the vote, establishing a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes over Bolsonaro. The result hands Lula a fourth term and leaves Latin America's two most populous nations, Brazil and Mexico, led by left-of-centre leaders. The declaration followed an evening marked by polling chaos after a Supreme Court justice's last-minute decision extended voting by two hours, a move that may trigger legal action from the Bolsonaro camp.

A intense political row has erupted following controversial remarks made at a public address in Patna regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The confrontation began when a person in the audience interrupted a speech on the ouster of power, prompting a sharp and contested verbal retort from the stage. The incident quickly triggered a severe confrontation, during which the man who voiced support for the Prime Minister was assaulted by party workers after the event. The Bharatiya Janata Party mounted an instantaneous counteroffensive, with Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders accusing the leadership of shattering norms of political decency and lowering public discourse. In response, party defenders remained defiant, alleging prior heckling and clarification around the terminology used. The clash highlights a recurring war of words and campaign rhetoric between both major political sides.

The Indian Air Force marked its 94th anniversary with a massive flypast over Varanasi's ghats, stretching from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Featuring 94 aircraft across 31 formations, the grand finale involved fighter jets, transport planes, and helicopters drawn from 12 activated Air Force stations. Key aerial formations included the Prachand formation showcasing frontline combat aircraft with operational weapon loadouts, the Su-30MKI Hanuman formation, the Rafale Neelkanth formation executing a trishul breakout, and indigenous LCA Tejas aerial displays. Multi-service integration was highlighted through joint formations like Tridev and Nataraj involving the Indian Navy and Air Force assets. Addressing the occasion, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh explained that the formations were given culturally resonant names inspired by Lord Shiva to connect with the heritage of Kashi, reflecting the synergy of faith and modern military capabilities.

Actor Dhanush has reorganised his fan network into a welfare movement named Dhanush Narppani Iyakkam, sparking speculation about a potential political foray in Tamil Nadu. As part of this transition, the actor organised a major gathering with 3,000 women fans from districts across the state, including Salem, Cuddalore, and Kanchipuram, for official interactions and photographs. Attendees from the newly formed women's wing arrived with merchandise and presented a traditional vel, expressing firm loyalty to Dhanush and voicing ambitions to see him enter active politics and potentially contest for Chief Minister in 2031. While Dhanush has not officially declared any political ambitions, the structured event and merchandise distribution signal a coordinated expansion of his organisation.