Senior CPI(M) leader and former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Centre over the latest fuel price hike, accusing the government of deepening the financial distress of ordinary citizens while protecting corporate interests.

In a strongly worded statement, Vijayan described the Rs 3-per-litre increase in petrol and diesel prices as a “cruel betrayal” at a time when inflation and rising living costs are already straining household budgets.

“Instead of reducing the burden on people struggling with inflation, the government has chosen to intensify their misery through repeated fuel price hikes,” Vijayan said.

The CPI(M) veteran warned that the hike would trigger another round of price escalation across sectors, increasing transportation costs and pushing up prices of essential commodities.

According to him, workers, farmers and middle-class families would be hit the hardest by the decision.

“The latest fuel hike will have a cascading effect on transportation charges and the prices of essential goods, worsening the hardships faced by ordinary people,” he said.

Vijayan alleged that the Union government failed to pass on the benefits of lower global crude oil prices to consumers when international rates had declined.

He claimed the Centre was now using losses suffered by oil companies as justification for burdening citizens with higher fuel prices.

“The government is plundering the people to protect corporate interests,” he alleged.

The former Kerala chief minister also connected the latest increase in petrol and diesel prices to rising cooking gas prices and LPG shortages, arguing that flawed central policies had already made everyday life difficult for millions of households.

He said governments were expected to support citizens during difficult economic conditions rather than worsen their suffering through repeated price increases.

Demanding immediate intervention, Vijayan urged the Centre to withdraw what he termed an “unjust decision”.

The fuel price hike announced on Friday marks the first increase in petrol and diesel rates in more than four years and comes amid rising global crude prices linked to tensions in West Asia.

With IANS inputs

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the recently signed Indo-US trade agreement was aimed at securing relief for billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani in a US legal case.

Reacting to reports that the US government has agreed to settle a lawsuit linked to alleged bribery accusations against Adani, Rahul Gandhi claimed the prime minister had compromised national interests.

“Compromised PM did not strike a trade deal, but a bargain for Adani’s release,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also targeted the Centre, alleging that the Indo-US trade pact was “hopelessly one-sided” and served American interests more than India’s.

“It is now clear why the PM agreed to the hopelessly one-sided Indo-US trade deal that was really a steal by the US,” Ramesh wrote on X.

He further linked the issue to the government’s handling of Operation Sindoor, claiming the prime minister acted under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

“He abruptly halted Operation Sindoor on 10 May 2025, acting on President Trump’s threats rather than on our national interest,” Ramesh alleged. “How much more compromised can the PM get?” he added.

The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in late 2024 against Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, a director at Adani Green Energy.

According to the complaint, the Adanis allegedly agreed to pay nearly USD 265 million in bribes to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy supply contracts projected to generate around USD 2 billion in profits over 20 years.

The SEC also alleged that the Adani Group raised nearly USD 2 billion through loans and bonds, including from US investors, while making misleading statements regarding anti-bribery compliance and corporate governance practices.

The ports-to-energy conglomerate has strongly denied all allegations.

The Congress attack followed reports that the US administration is considering settling or dropping parts of the legal proceedings involving Adani.

The development has triggered fresh political sparring in India, with the Opposition accusing the Centre of protecting corporate interests, while the government has not officially responded to the allegations made by Congress leaders.

With PTI inputs

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Centre over the increase in petrol and diesel prices, accusing the government of burdening citizens immediately after key state elections concluded.

Reacting to the Rs 3-per-litre hike in petrol and diesel prices, the Rajya Sabha MP said the move exposed the Centre’s “pathetically predictable” approach towards voters.

“First they loot your vote, then they kick you where it hurts. Pathetically predictable,” O’Brien posted on X.

The fuel price hike — the first in more than four years — comes just 16 days after assembly elections ended in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Fuel prices had remained unchanged during the polling period despite rising global crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

O’Brien also took aim at the BJP in West Bengal, questioning whether the state government would now reduce VAT on fuel since the same party controls the Centre.

“Diesel and petrol prices hiked. Will Bengal Govt reduce VAT on petrol and diesel now that there's a Delhi-controlled government which doesn't have to worry about funds being blocked by Centre?” he wrote.

Fuel prices differ across states because of variations in Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed by state governments.

State-run oil marketing companies increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday, citing mounting losses due to soaring international crude prices.

The revision follows weeks of pressure on fuel retailers as global oil prices surged amid continuing geopolitical instability in West Asia.

With PTI inputs

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran faces “annihilation” unless it agrees to negotiate an end to the escalating conflict in the West Asia, while insisting that Washington will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.

Speaking during an interview with Fox News at the end of his three-day visit to China, Trump said Iran was now in a severely weakened position and had little choice but to strike a deal with the United States.

“They’re finished now; they can make a deal, or they will be annihilated,” Trump said after holding extensive discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on regional security, trade and economic cooperation.

Trump revealed that Iran was a central topic during his meetings with Xi, adding that the Chinese leader had expressed support for diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

According to Trump, Xi told him he would be willing to help facilitate a resolution to the crisis. The US president also claimed that China had assured Washington it would not provide military equipment to Iran despite its close strategic and energy ties with Tehran.

China remains one of Iran’s largest oil buyers and maintains strong military and economic relations with the country.

Trump also defended ongoing US military operations linked to the crisis, claiming Iran’s naval capabilities had already been dismantled and that its air force and anti-aircraft systems were largely ineffective.

He further stated that general Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had informed him the US military could neutralise Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal within minutes if required.

The president argued that the current military campaign was significantly shorter and more decisive than previous American conflicts in Iraq or Vietnam.

Alongside security issues, Trump used the visit to promote stronger economic ties with China. He said Xi had agreed to expand purchases of American products, including agricultural goods, oil and Boeing aircraft.

Trump claimed China was preparing to order 200 Boeing jets and expressed optimism about opening Chinese markets further to US companies.

The president was accompanied on the trip by several senior American business leaders, including Tesla chief Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, whom he said had performed “fantastically well” during meetings in China.

Trump also praised his personal relationship with Xi, describing the Chinese leader as “very powerful” and “all business”, while calling the official welcome ceremony in Beijing “incredible”.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump addressed remarks attributed to Xi suggesting the United States had become a nation in decline.

Trump said the comments referred to the period under former president Joe Biden, whom he blamed for economic weakness, high crime and failed domestic policies.

He argued that the US had undergone a dramatic recovery during the first 16 months of his administration, citing strong stock markets, foreign investment, military successes and improved economic performance.

“Two years ago, we were, in fact, a nation in decline,” Trump wrote. “But now, the United States is the hottest nation anywhere in the world.”

With PTI inputs

A sweeping Republican immigration proposal introduced by US Senator Tommy Tuberville could drastically reshape America’s legal immigration system, tightening rules for skilled workers, foreign students, asylum seekers, and family-based immigrants — with major implications for Indian nationals.

The 82-page bill, formally titled the “American System for Sustainable Immigration and Mass Immigration Limitations Achieved Through Imposing Oversight Nationally Act”, or the “ASSIMILATION Act,” seeks to overhaul the US immigration framework in favour of what its authors describe as a “merit-based system”.

The legislation has also been introduced in the House by Republican Congressman Andy Ogles.

One of the bill’s most significant provisions targets the H-1B visa programme, heavily used by Indian IT professionals and technology firms.

Under the proposal:

• The annual H-1B cap would be slashed to 50,000 visas

• Employers would be required to pay foreign workers at least 200% of the median wage for that role and location

• H-1B visas would be restricted to a single three-year term

• Extensions and renewals would be eliminated

• Visa holders would be barred from applying for permanent residency unless they remain outside the US for at least two continuous years after expiry of their visa

The proposed changes could significantly impact Indian professionals, who make up one of the largest groups benefiting from US employment-based immigration programmes.

The bill also proposes eliminating the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which currently allows international students to work in the United States after graduation.

The move could affect thousands of Indian students pursuing higher education in the US, particularly in STEM fields where OPT serves as a key pathway to employment and eventual H-1B sponsorship.

The legislation seeks to sharply narrow family-sponsored immigration.

If passed:

• Only spouses and unmarried children below 18 of US citizens would qualify as immediate relatives

• Parents of US citizens would no longer be eligible for permanent immigration status

• Parents could instead receive limited five-year nonimmigrant visas without work rights or public benefits

The proposal also raises the residency requirement for US citizenship from five years to 10 years and mandates B2-level English proficiency under international language standards.

The bill includes stricter asylum provisions as well:

• Asylum applicants would no longer receive work authorisation while claims remain pending

• A $500 asylum filing fee would be introduced

• Nationwide mandatory use of E-Verify for new hires would be enforced

• New civil and criminal penalties for visa overstays would be created

Backing the proposal, Tuberville said the US needed to reduce incentives for immigration beyond undocumented entry.

“Coming to this country is a privilege, not a right. If you hate this country and refuse to assimilate, we do not want you here,” he said in a statement accompanying the bill.

He also praised the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, including deportations and tighter asylum controls.

Immigration remains one of the most contentious political issues in the United States ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans under President Donald Trump have increasingly pushed for tougher border controls, reduced legal immigration pathways, and stricter enforcement measures.

The proposed ASSIMILATION Act is expected to intensify debate over the future of skilled immigration and America’s long-standing visa programmes.

With IANS inputs

Tamil Nadu chief minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate removal of the 11 per cent import duty on cotton, warning that the state’s textile and apparel industry is under “severe stress” due to rising raw material costs.

In his letter on Thursday, Vijay said the sharp surge in cotton and yarn prices has placed immense financial pressure on garment manufacturers and could threaten lakhs of jobs linked to the sector.

“The textile and apparel industry in Tamil Nadu is undergoing a severe crisis because of the unprecedented rise in cotton and yarn prices,” the chief minister wrote.

Sharp rise in cotton and yarn prices

Vijay highlighted a steep escalation in input costs over the past two months. According to him:

• Cotton prices have jumped from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy, marking nearly a 25 per cent increase

• Yarn prices have risen from Rs 301 per kg to Rs 330 per kg

He attributed the spike to domestic cotton supply shortages and increased trading activity across the country, which has disrupted the supply chain for textile manufacturers.

Industry dependence on imports

The chief minister said that with domestic availability tightening, imports have become essential to sustain production. However, the existing 11 per cent import duty on cotton is making imports costly and unviable for many units.

“Permitting duty-free cotton imports will help the industry meet increasing export commitments and remain globally competitive,” he said.

Employment concerns flagged

Calling Tamil Nadu India’s largest textile and apparel exporting state, Vijay stressed the sector’s importance in generating large-scale employment, particularly for women in rural and semi-urban areas.

“After agriculture, the textile and apparel industry remains one of the country’s largest job creators. There is a significant responsibility on the government to safeguard the employment of lakhs of people and ensure the sustainability of the textile value chain,” Vijay said.

Appeal to Centre

Vijay has urged the Union government to reduce the cotton import duty from 11 per cent to zero, arguing that the move would:

• Stabilise raw material supply

• Protect employment

• Boost exports

• Improve global competitiveness of India’s textile industry

The appeal comes amid growing concerns from textile clusters across Tamil Nadu over rising input costs and shrinking margins.

With IANS inputs

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by around Rs 3 per litre across India on Friday as state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) grapple with mounting losses triggered by soaring global crude oil prices amid the escalating West Asia crisis.

Retail fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, barring a one-time Rs 2 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices announced in March 2024. India had until now avoided raising pump prices by absorbing the pressure through state-run OMCs, tax adjustments and supply management measures.

However, with key state elections now concluded, oil companies have finally passed on the rising crude oil burden to consumers through the latest fuel price hike.

The revised prices came into effect immediately, with fuel rates in Delhi seeing petrol climb by Rs 3.14 per litre to Rs 97.77, while diesel rose by Rs 3.11 per litre.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices have also been revised upwards. From Friday, consumers in Delhi will pay Rs 79.09 per kilogram for CNG after a Rs 2 per kilogram increase.

The hike comes as Indian fuel retailers struggle to absorb the sharp rise in international crude oil prices, which have surged beyond the $100-per-barrel mark due to fears of prolonged supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran and the United States.

According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Union Petroleum Ministry, the combined under-recovery on petrol, diesel and LPG has now reached nearly Rs 30,000 crore per month.

She said OMCs were continuing to purchase crude oil at elevated prices while refraining from fully passing on the burden to consumers, placing significant pressure on their finances.

Sharma also noted that the Centre had already reduced excise duties on petrol and diesel, resulting in a monthly revenue sacrifice of nearly Rs 14,000 crore, but losses for fuel retailers continued to widen.

Earlier this week, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri warned that persistently high crude oil prices could wipe out the entire FY26 profits of India’s state-run fuel retailers.

Addressing the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Puri said the ongoing Middle East conflict had intensified financial stress on the sector, with public sector OMCs currently losing close to Rs 1,000 crore every day.

He estimated that combined quarterly losses for the companies could touch nearly Rs 1 lakh crore if crude oil prices remain elevated at current levels.

The minister cautioned that a single quarter of losses under prevailing market conditions could erase the full-year profit after tax of the OMCs for FY26.

Industry estimates cited during the summit suggested that Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation together could post losses of around Rs 1.2 lakh crore in the first quarter of FY27 if the crisis persists.

With IANS inputs

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday questioned the inclusion of a Union Cabinet minister in the three-member panel responsible for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), observing that the process must inspire public confidence in the independence of the Election Commission.

A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice S. C. Sharma was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

The court made the observations while Attorney General R. Venkataramani argued that the independence of the Chief Election Commissioner should be judged by the functioning of the office-holder after appointment.

“It is not sufficient to be independent, but it has to appear to be independent,” the bench observed during the hearing.

Justice Datta further remarked that the level of public confidence in the appointment process should be such “as if there had been a third neutral person in the selection committee”.

“Somebody who is a neutral person, he should select. Why should it be a minister from the Cabinet?” the judge asked.

Centre seeks larger bench hearing

The Centre urged the court to refer the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench, arguing that the petitions effectively sought judicial examination of policy choices made by Parliament.

The Attorney General contended that the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment in the Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India case had lost relevance after Parliament enacted a law governing appointments.

In the Anoop Baranwal ruling, a Constitution bench had directed that appointments to the Election Commission be made by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India until Parliament framed a law on the issue.

The 2023 legislation subsequently replaced the Chief Justice of India in the panel with a Union Cabinet minister.

Petitioners, including Association for Democratic Reforms, have argued that the law compromises the independence of the Election Commission by giving the executive a dominant role in appointments.

Court says focus is constitutionality of law

The bench, however, indicated that its examination would focus on the constitutional validity of the legislation rather than revisiting the earlier judgment itself.

The judges pointed out that the petitioners had challenged the law on grounds that it violated Article 14 of the Constitution relating to equality before law.

“If we are with them, we will say that for xyz reasons we feel that Article 14 is violated,” the bench told the Attorney General.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for one of the petitioners, argued that the matter concerned alleged constitutional violations and did not necessarily require reference to a larger bench.

The hearing remained inconclusive and is expected to continue next week.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is planning a nationwide protest in coordination with members of the INDIA bloc following the West Bengal Assembly election results, senior party leader Saugata Roy said on Thursday, 14 May.

Claiming that more than 100 seats had been “looted” by the BJP and alleging large-scale post-poll violence across West Bengal, Roy said leaders of the INDIA bloc were already in touch with the party. He also announced the formation of a fact-finding team to investigate the violence and alleged irregularities during the elections.

Against this backdrop of political tension and growing dissent within party ranks, TMC supremo and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee convened a crucial meeting with party MPs at her Kalighat residence on Thursday. The meeting focused on reviewing the party’s disappointing performance in several constituencies during the Assembly elections and discussing the future role of the TMC in both Parliament and state politics.

The party currently has 28 MPs in the Lok Sabha, taking into account the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. It also has 13 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.

According to party sources, discussions centred on identifying the reasons behind the electoral setback and preparing a political strategy to counter the state's new BJP government in the coming months.

A separate meeting with district-level leaders has been scheduled for Friday, 15 May. Written instructions have already been sent from the Kalighat party office to district presidents and senior leaders, requesting them to attend.

Among those present at Thursday’s meeting were MPs Mahua Moitra, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy and Yusuf Pathan.

During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee reportedly urged party MPs to actively file police complaints in connection with every incident of post-poll violence. Party general-secretary Abhishek Banerjee stressed that all complaints should be formally recorded and submitted online if necessary so they could be used during legal proceedings.

Mamata Banerjee also criticised the Election Commission of India and the Union government during the discussions, and reportedly invited party leaders to submit suggestions regarding the party’s future strategy and organisational restructuring.

Speaking outside the Kalighat residence, TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh launched a sharp attack on those leaving the party after the election defeat. “Those who are leaving Mamata Banerjee at this time are nothing but pollutants, and the faster they leave, the better it is for the party,” she said.

Ghosh also accused sections of the media of double standards over welfare schemes. Referring to the previous TMC government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, she claimed the media had previously mocked it as 'bhata (dole)' but were now praising similar schemes introduced by the BJP as a “masterstroke”.

She further said many leaders now criticising the party had been present with her on counting day, and that some of them had left the counting centre for lunch at Kolaghat Dhaba at around 1.00 pm. Ghosh also claimed roads across the state had appeared deserted even during daytime after the BJP came to power.

Meanwhile, senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee strongly criticised the police administration and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over the alleged post-poll violence. He warned that if the police failed to act against those attacking TMC workers, the party would pursue legal remedies. Referring to previous legal battles, he said he had earlier ensured that two IPS officers were jailed and warned that he “would not spare the director-general (of police)” if the police acted vindictively.

He also referred to proceedings in the Calcutta High Court regarding incidents of post-poll violence. According to him, the court directed the police to ensure the safe return of people who had been forced to flee their homes after the election results. He said the party had submitted a list of around 2,000 displaced individuals before the court.

Banerjee alleged that Trinamool workers, supporters and shop owners had been attacked and driven out of their homes while the police remained “silent spectators”. He further warned that the party would file contempt petitions if the high court’s directions were not implemented properly.

The TMC MP also accused chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and his lawyer Suryaneel Das of creating chaos inside Calcutta High Court and alleged that the BJP was attempting to eliminate all opposition forces in Bengal. “We will fight both on the streets and in the courts,” Banerjee said, adding that more legal cases would be filed in the coming days.

Drawing comparisons with the TMC’s earlier struggles against the Left Front government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Banerjee said the party would continue its political and legal battle against the BJP with the same intensity.

He also criticised BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya, claiming he was absent during the anti-Left movement but was now delivering lectures on social harmony.

Banerjee concluded by saying that while one faction of the BJP was allegedly involved in violence and vandalism, another was speaking about peace and harmony. He asserted that the TMC would continue its struggle against the BJP and “show them their rightful place” within the next two years.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday, 14 May sharply questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's recent appeal asking Indians to conserve fuel and avoid buying gold, asking why the government waited until after election results to acknowledge the gravity of the economic situation.

Pawar said if the country was indeed facing such a serious crisis due to the escalating West Asia conflict and global instability, the government should have alerted people earlier instead of waiting until the elections were over.

“Why did the prime minister take so long to make these decisions? Why wait till the election results? Why were people not made aware during the elections themselves?” Pawar asked at a press conference held at Modi Baug in Pune.

Against the backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia and fears of a wider economic fallout, Modi recently urged citizens to save fuel and avoid unnecessary gold purchases. Referring to the situation as serious and potentially damaging for the economy, Pawar said the prime minister must convene an all-party meeting immediately and attend it personally.

“Over the past three-four years, all-party meetings have been held. But the prime minister did not attend any of them. If he is now trying to tell the country that the situation is grave and may have serious consequences, then his personal presence becomes important,” Pawar said.

He added that Modi’s warnings should not be dismissed lightly and described the present circumstances as “worrying”. But Pawar reserved some of his sharpest criticism for what he called the performative reactions of ministers and leaders in Maharashtra’s ruling alliance following the prime minister’s appeal.

“I have been watching television since morning. Some people are riding motorcycles to Mantralaya (the Maharashtra secretariat) with the chief minister. Some are walking. One minister even said though he is a minister, he has reduced his convoy from 17 vehicles to eight,” Pawar said. “I was stunned. Why did he need 17 vehicles in the first place? It is beyond my understanding.”

In a pointed swipe at the political theatrics surrounding the austerity appeal, Pawar remarked sarcastically that people would take the exercise seriously only if the chief minister began travelling to Mantralaya by motorcycle every single day.

“If this is merely for one or two days, it means nothing. Do not make a spectacle of cuts and savings,” he said, questioning how long ministers would actually follow the prime minister’s advice.

Pawar said India had faced similar crises in the past and stressed that there were several ways for governments to reduce administrative expenditure meaningfully instead of resorting to symbolic gestures.

The NCP (SP) chief also criticised Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over his recent remarks against Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “I saw the Maharashtra chief minister’s statement yesterday and today. The language he used for Rahul Gandhi was inappropriate,” Pawar said.

“Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition. He is also a member of Parliament. The post of Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional position under the Lok Sabha. A chief minister should not use such language for a person occupying that office.”

Pawar also raised concerns over the weakening rupee and asked whether the economic turbulence could be blamed solely on tensions involving Iran. “The rupee is falling against the dollar. Why is this happening? We need to think about it,” he said. “It is true that there is an issue involving Iran and there are side effects because of that. But is that the only reason? And if that was the reason, why were these decisions not taken immediately after the war began?”

In another pointed remark aimed at the government’s messaging on austerity, Pawar referred to Modi’s recent visit to the Somnath temple after turning 75. “There is nothing wrong in visiting the temple,” he said. “But six Air Force aircraft participated in the programme overhead. The question is this: if the situation is truly serious, then everyone must display seriousness.”

The drama over the lack of an official broadcaster for the FIFA World Cup in India, with less than a month to go for the world's largest football extravaganza, seems like a poor reflection on the country’s desire to be seen as a sporting nation. A visit to the FIFA website shows that more than 100 countries have finalised their broadcast deals with the world governing body, but India does not feature among them.

With the days ticking by and the absence of any takers, the matter has now reached Delhi High Court, which on 11 May issued a notice to Prasar Bharati over a plea seeking directions to ensure that the marquee event is broadcast in India, especially through free-to-air platforms like Doordarshan and DD Sports.

Advocate Avdhesh Bairwa had filed the writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, raising fears that millions of football fans in India could miss out on live telecast of the ‘greatest show on earth’.

There are reports that Prasar Bharati has held exploratory discussions with FIFA as a fallback option should commercial negotiations with private broadcasters fail, which may see a throwback to the days when only knockout matches were beamed on Doordarshan. The world governing body, which initially sought close to $100 million for the combined India media rights package for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, is reported to have lowered it to the region of $35 million, but still there are no takers.

JioStar, formed through the Reliance-Disney merger, reportedly offered around $20 million for the upcoming edition but the bid was rejected and the impasse continues. The question that is quietly doing the rounds is: while the broadcasters would certainly be looking at a return on investment (RoI), are the exorbitant price tags to acquire media rights for cricket properties like ICC events or the IPL coming in the way of someone like JioStar playing ball?

The answer is yes and no. Despite the Indian media rights landscape being dominated by cricket, Viacom 18 had acquired the rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar for a reported price tag of $60 million. JioCinema, which provided free live streaming in India on its mobile app and website, recorded more than 110 million digital viewers during the tournament, with the Argentina vs France final alone drawing 32 million viewers.

‘’The match timings in India are making a huge difference in terms of marketability unlike the Qatar edition. Most of the matches have kick-off times of 12.30 am, 3.30 am or 6.30 am, and this is making broadcasters wary,’’ a well known industry insider told National Herald.

While the argument holds, he also broke down why it’s quite challenging to monetise a football match. ‘’Any broadcaster depends on two avenues for revenue generation from a sporting event — commercials and subscription. While the match timings for this World Cup are inconvenient in our time zone, FIFA has certain restrictions against pop-up ads etc during a game. Hence, the only window is half-time, but viewers mostly take a break rather than listen to experts,’’ he observed. ‘’It’s also not very tenable to levy additional subscription charges when people already have Jio connections.’’

What has also not helped is that since the merger between Viacom18 and Disney Star, JioStar now controls a dominant share of India’s sports broadcasting ecosystem and enjoys almost near-monopoly leverage in rights discussions. There have been reports that Sony explored the possibility of bidding, but eventually decided against a formal offer.

Football fans live in hope that there could be a late compromise between FIFA and JioStar. Reacting to a query on the subject, All India Football Federation deputy secretary-general M. Satya Narayan said: ‘’See, the AIFF has no role in this but we feel India is too big a market for FIFA to finalise a plan without us on the radar. The hesitation on the part of the broadcasters could be because of timings but hopefully, there will be a solution soon so that the million of football fans here are not deprived.’’

Key regional broadcasters:

USA: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock, Universo

Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS

UK: ITVX

Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport

Australia: SBS

Germany: ARD, ZDF

India: No official broadcaster yet; negotiations ongoing with broadcasters like JioStar

Digital and Global

YouTube: Will air live match action, including the first 10 minutes of games as an appetizer, in addition to select full matches per a March 2026 deal

FIFA+: FIFA's direct-to-consumer platform is available for streaming

At least five people, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed after Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war, with residential buildings in Kyiv among the targets.

The large-scale overnight bombardment came days after a three-day US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine collapsed, with Moscow resuming major aerial attacks across multiple Ukrainian cities.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched more than 670 drones and 56 missiles overnight, targeting over 180 locations across the country and damaging more than 50 residential buildings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian air defences intercepted around 93 per cent of the incoming aerial threats but described the assault as among the heaviest since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Apartment block hit in Kyiv

In Kyiv, rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of a partially destroyed nine-storey residential building after a direct strike overnight.

Police said the bodies of two men aged 21 and 30 and an unidentified woman were recovered from the debris of the collapsed section of the building. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later confirmed that the body of a 12-year-old girl had also been recovered nearby.

Another man reportedly died in hospital after a petrol station came under attack during the strikes.

Officials said more than 1,500 emergency responders and police personnel were deployed across affected areas, including nearly 600 in Kyiv alone. More than 10 people were feared trapped under rubble as rescue operations continued.

The strikes also damaged schools, veterinary clinics and water infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital.

Attacks spread across Ukraine

Apart from Kyiv, attacks were reported in Kremenchuk, Bila Tserkva, Kharkiv, Sumy and Odesa regions.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko appealed for stronger international air defence support, saying Ukraine urgently needed assistance to protect civilians and cities.

Zelenskyy urged allies to maintain pressure and sanctions on Moscow, saying the scale of the assault contradicted suggestions that the war was nearing an end.

“This is definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” he said.