1. Thomas Cup 2026 won by China, Uber Cup won by South Korea
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026 , the 34th edition of the Thomas Cup (men’s world team championship) and the 31st edition of the Uber Cup (women’s world team championship), was held in Horsens, Denmark from April 24 to May 3, 2026. The People’s Republic of China men ‘s team defeated France 3-1 to win the Thomas Cup 2026 title; this was their 13th title overall. The Republic of Korea women ‘s team defeated China 3-1 to win the Uber Cup 2026 title; this was their third title. Thomas Cup 2026: China won the gold, France won the silver, while Denmark and India won the bronze medals as the losing teams in the semi-finals. The Indian men’s team won their first gold in the year 2022. Uber Cup 2026 : Gold was won by South Korea, Silver by China, while Japan and Indonesia took bronze medals as losing semi-finalists. The BWF Thomas Cup and Uber Cup are biennial international badminton championships (men’s and women’s team events respectively).
2 DRDO and IAF successfully conduct first flight test of indigenous glide weapon – TARA
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force successfully conducted the first test flight of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha . The test was conducted from a Jaguar fighter jet off the coast of Odisha . TARA is a modular range extension kit , India’s first indigenous glide weapon system . TARA converts unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons . The Ministry stated that TARA was designed and developed by the Imarat Research Centre, Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories . It aims to enhance the lethality and accuracy of low-cost weapons for destroying ground-based targets. This is the first glide weapon to utilize this low-cost advanced system.
3 Bulgaria’s parliament approves Rumen Radev as new prime minister
Bulgaria ‘s parliament has approved Rumen Radev as the new Prime Minister . This decision has been taken to end political instability in the country and accelerate economic growth. 62-year-old Mr. Radev has also previously held the post of President. Mr. Radev resigned from the presidency in January this year, a few months before the end of his second term. Bulgaria’s previous conservative government fell in December after nationwide anti-corruption protests.
4 TVK chief Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, stakes claim to form government
Actor-politician and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam ( TVK ) chief C. Joseph Vijay on Friday formally staked claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu after securing the support of several opposition parties . His alliance has surpassed the majority mark in the 234-member assembly . Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai, where he submitted letters of support from allies and independent supporters. TVK emerged as the largest party in the assembly elections, winning 108 seats. However, the party initially fell short of the 118-seat majority needed to form a government in the 234-member house. The Congress was the first party to extend support to Vijay, with five of its newly elected MLAs supporting the TVK chief. On Friday evening, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) also formally announced their support to the TVK-led government bid. These four parties each have two MLAs in the new assembly, taking the victory camp’s total strength to 120, well above the simple majority mark.
Bharatiya Janata Dal (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari met Governor RN Ravi at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Friday . Adhikari met the Governor and staked claim to form the government. Many senior leaders including Dilip Ghosh, Locket Chatterjee and Tapas Roy were present with Suvendu Adhikari. With Suvendu Adhikari being elected as the leader of the legislative party, the speculations about the face for the post of Chief Minister in West Bengal have come to an end. Suvendu Adhikari’s name has been finalised for the post of Chief Minister. After defeating Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee by 15 thousand votes from the hot seat like Bhawanipur Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari was considered the strongest candidate for the post of Chief Minister.
6 N. Rangasamy stakes claim to form government in Puducherry
National Democratic Alliance-NDA Chief Ministerial candidate N. Rangasamy met with Lieutenant Governor K. Kailasanathan to stake claim to form the next government in Puducherry . Mr. Rangasamy presented letters of support from several MLAs to the Lieutenant Governor. He was accompanied by MLAs and leaders from the NDA coalition.
7 India’s first pearl farming cluster will be set up in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand has been declared India’s first pearl farming cluster , aiming to promote aquaculture-based rural livelihoods and sustainable income generation . Hazaribagh has officially been developed as India’s first pearl farming cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) , marking a major step forward in the fisheries sector. The project aims to promote scientific pearl farming, strengthen rural employment, and develop a systematic ecosystem for production, training, and marketing. Farmers, including women self-help groups, are being trained in advanced pearl farming techniques to enhance productivity and entrepreneurship. This initiative is expected to generate high-value rural incomes, as pearl farming offers significant profit potential compared to traditional agriculture.
On May 8th , the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) included crimes registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, for the first time in its ‘ Crime in India 2024’ report . Previously, animal cruelty cases were classified under the general category of ‘special and local laws ,’ but now they are recorded separately. This record will help improve animal protection. This data will reveal the scale of violence against animals in India. The inclusion of the Cruelty to Animals Act will enable the identification and monitoring of crimes against animals. According to the report, a total of 9,039 cases of animal cruelty were registered in 2024. 10,312 people were arrested in these cases, including 10,257 men. The total value of the crimes was estimated at approximately ₹488 crore. In 44.9 percent of these cases, stolen animals were recovered. This is higher than in cases of property crimes. Police filed charge sheets in 96.7% of cases, demonstrating proactiveness at the investigation level. However, at the end of the year, approximately 2,070 cases, or approximately 22.9%, remained pending investigation. This report will, for the first time, allow for an analysis of animal cruelty cases alongside other crime categories. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is a central law enacted by the Parliament of India in 1960.
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv will be celebrated to mark the 75th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple . Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv on May 11th . The Somnath Temple is a symbol of self-respect and courage. 75 years ago, on May 11th, 1951 , the renovated temple was inaugurated by India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad .
10 NISCPR signs MoU with RIS to strengthen science technology innovation policy and diplomacy
11 Two former defense ministers sentenced to death in China
On May 7 , China sentenced two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, to death in corruption cases . According to reports, both will initially serve two years in prison . After two years, the sentence can be reconsidered and commuted to life imprisonment. Li Shangfu was abruptly removed from his post last year, while Wei Fenghe was also the subject of a military corruption investigation. Both ministers were expelled from China’s ruling Communist Party in 2024. Former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was abruptly removed from his post in October last year. Now, for the first time, Chinese authorities have officially acknowledged the ongoing corruption investigation against him. He has been accused of accepting large-scale bribes, bribing others, and abusing his position. Former Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has been charged with accepting bribes and abusing his position. A Chinese military court has found him guilty of corruption.
12 Ashok Kumar Lahiri appointed as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
The government think tank NITI Aayog announced on Friday that Ashok Kumar Lahiri has assumed charge as Vice Chairman . Lahiri brings extensive experience in economic policy and public finance. He previously served as Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India and as a member of the 15th Finance Commission. According to NITI Aayog, his experience in academia, public institutions, and international organizations will further strengthen evidence-based policymaking and economic transformation efforts.
13 World Thalesemia Day
World Thalassemia Day , celebrated every year on May 8, symbolizes the suffering, struggle, and unwavering will to live of millions of people who, despite living with this disease, never lose hope. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body cannot produce hemoglobin in sufficient quantities or with the correct structure . Hemoglobin is an essential protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body . When its production is disrupted, the body becomes deficient in oxygen , resulting in anemia . This disease is passed down from generation to generation through an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning it is passed down from parent to child. Thalassemia is mainly found in three forms – Thalassemia Minor (Carrier): In this the person lives a normal life, but he is a carrier of the disease. Thalassemia Major: This is a very serious condition, in which the patient needs regular blood transfusion. Thalassemia Intermedia: This is a moderate category, in which the symptoms are relatively controlled, but the disease remains permanently present. World Thalassemia Day was started in the year 1994 by Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) . It was dedicated by TIF’s founder George Angeljos in the memory of his son, who after a long struggle with this incurable disease, ultimately lost the battle of life.
14 Cricketer Amanpreet Gill passes away
On May 6 , India’s Under-19 player Amanpreet Gill passed away . He was 36 years old. Amanpreet took 11 wickets in six first-class matches for Punjab. Amanpreet was also part of the Punjab franchise (Kings XI Punjab) in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League . Gill also served as a member of Punjab’s senior selection board. Gill was part of the Under-19 team in 2007 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. Gill played five youth ODIs and one youth Test for India in 2007. Gill took the wicket of former Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera.