1. BJD supports Murmu: Droupadi Murmu, the NDA presidential candidate, received support from BJD. CM Naveen Patnaik has appealed to lawmakers in Odisha to support the daughter of the state cutting across party lines.
2. PM says India will grow at 7.5% this year: Addressing a virtual BRICS business forum organized by China, PM Modi said India expects to grow at 7.5% this year to become the fastest-growing major economy.
3. MVA government in trouble: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, led by CM Uddhav Thackeray, is on the brink of collapse as Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde has claimed the support of 42 MLAs.
4. Sonia to get more time to appear before ED: Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, who is on her way to recovery after contracting Covid, has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking a few weeks to appear in front of the agency until she fully recovers.
5. India and Australia to boost defense ties: Given China’s aggressive positioning in the Indo-Pacific region, India and Australia have resolved to strengthen their defense ties with combat exercises, intelligence-sharing, reciprocal logistics, and military-industrial collaboration.
6. Cheating case against DHFL promoters: CBI has slapped fresh cases against DHFL promoters Kapil Wadhwan and Dheeraj Washwan for purportedly cheating a UBI-led consortium of 17 banks, a sum of Rs.34,615 crores.
7. Indian-origin physicist now top science advisor to Biden: US President Joe Biden has named Dr. Aarti Prabhakar (63), a leading scientist and physicist as his top science advisor. She is the first female, immigrant, and a person of color to assume the role at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
8. Tea buyers turn to India: As Sri Lanka is grappling with the worst economic crisis in its history, foreign Tea buyers of the country are approaching Indian planters and exporters seeking Orthodox Tea.
9. Sena chief moves back to family home Matoshree: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackrey after making an emotional appeal to Sena rebels has moved from his official residence to Matoshree along with his family.
10. Fears that Pakistan may cede Gilgit Baltistan to China: Pakistan might lease out Gilgit Baltistan, a part of Kashmir under its occupation, to China, as a measure to address its mounting foreign debts, said Mumtaz Nagri. Nagri is the chairman of the Karakoram National Movement.