Mumbai building collapse: Blame game over mishap continues

The US administration has suspended access to the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme for eight major IT companies, including Indian giants Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech, alongside US firms Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, and France's Capgemini. The move halts fresh filings and freezes pending applications for employment-based permanent residency, delaying Green Card pathways for foreign workers. US Vice President JD Vance stated the companies are under scrutiny over alleged visa fraud and replacing American personnel with foreign labour, calling on Congress to reform the H-1B visa framework. Responding to the suspension, TCS stated that the move would not impact its workforce strategy or client engagements, noting that its PERM applications had already been in single digits over the past two years. While existing approved PERM applications and valid H-1B visas remain unaffected, affected IT firms may evaluate alternative routes like L-1 intra-company transfers or increase hiring of American workers.

Alliance discussions between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal have intensified ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. An internal survey by the BJP projects that the alliance could secure over 80 seats in the 117-member assembly. However, seat sharing and the chief ministerial face remain key points of contention. The BJP is seeking at least 45 assembly constituencies, expanding beyond its traditional urban footprint into rural belts following an increase in its vote share. Concerns also persist regarding Sukhbir Singh Badal as the chief ministerial face, with reservations over leadership choices as both parties negotiate terms to move beyond past seat arrangements.

A political war of words has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress following an online exchange between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Elon Musk. The controversy began over the issue of a Starlink licence in India, where Elon Musk questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the real boss of India. Rahul Gandhi responded to Musk's post, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey, to mount an attack on Gandhi. The ruling party questioned the exchange, comparing it to historical instances of inviting Babur to India and labelling the exchange as foolishness.

Counting of votes is underway for the high-stakes bypolls in West Bengal's Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. Nandigram recorded an 80.89 percent voter turnout in a fiercely fought contest where Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, backed by the Mamata Banerjee camp, is pitted against the Bharatiya Janata Party's Hasharani Roth. The bypoll was necessitated after West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari relinquished the Nandigram seat to retain Bhabanipur. Ahead of the counting, opposition parties alleged voting irregularities and demanded a repoll, accusations firmly dismissed by the BJP. In Murshidabad's Rejinagar, vacated by AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, multiple political forces including the Trinamool Congress, the rebel Democratic Trinamool Congress led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, Congress, Left, and Indian Secular Front are in contention alongside BJP nominee Shakharov Sarkar. The results serve as a crucial test of political influence, grassroots support, and evolving alliances across West Bengal following recent assembly elections.