Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), terming its victories in West Bengal and Assam Assembly polls a “theft” of the people’s mandate and a step towards “destroying Indian democracy”.

In a strongly worded post on X, Rahul Gandhi also came out in support of the Trinamool Congress, which was defeated in Bengal, and cautioned against political one-upmanship within opposition ranks.

“Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about TMC’s loss. They need to understand this clearly — the theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy,” he said.

Calling for unity, Rahul Gandhi urged political parties to rise above partisan considerations. “Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India,” he added.

The remarks come a day after the BJP swept to power in West Bengal, unseating the TMC, while also retaining Assam for a third consecutive term, consolidating its position in the region.

Rahul Gandhi’s comments signal the Congress leadership’s attempt to frame the electoral outcome as part of a larger ideological battle, even as it seeks to rally opposition forces in the aftermath of the results.

With PTI inputs

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and chairperson of Biocon, has set out a clear succession plan for the company, identifying her niece Claire Mazumdar as her eventual successor.

Mazumdar-Shaw said Claire, currently founder and chief executive of Bicara Therapeutics, is being prepared to lead the Bengaluru-based group into its next phase, Fortune India reported. While no timeline has been announced, she indicated that the transition would be gradual rather than immediate, with Claire expected to assume greater responsibilities over time.

The move brings clarity to longstanding questions over leadership at Biocon, one of India’s largest biotechnology firms. Mazumdar-Shaw, who has led the company for over four decades, said the decision reflects both trust and confidence in Claire’s capabilities. She noted that the next phase of growth would require strong leadership in advanced biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Moneycontrol said Claire Mazumdar brings a combination of academic and industry experience to the role. She holds degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, including a doctorate in cancer biology, and has worked with global biotech organisations. Bicara Therapeutics, incubated by Biocon, went public in 2024 and has since established a presence in the international market.

Mazumdar-Shaw said she is not stepping down in the near term and will oversee a phased transition to ensure continuity and stability within the company.

Alongside leadership planning, Biocon has been restructuring its operations. The company has consolidated its generics and biologics businesses, reduced debt and simplified its corporate structure. It is also strengthening its focus on biosimilars, which form a significant portion of its revenues, while expanding its research and development pipeline.

Senior management changes are also under way. Shreehas Tambe has taken charge of Biocon Biologics, while Siddharth Mittal is set to lead Syngene International from July.

Looking ahead, Mazumdar-Shaw said the company would continue investing in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to accelerate drug discovery and strengthen its innovation capabilities.

She added that while Claire has been identified as her successor, the broader family, including her brother Eric Mazumdar and husband Thomas Roberts, could also contribute to the company’s future growth.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for Biocon as it prepares for leadership transition while positioning itself for the next stage of expansion in the global biotechnology sector.

Humanitarian agencies have raised alarm over a severe lack of prosthetic and rehabilitation services in Gaza Strip, with thousands of amputees — many of them children — struggling to access care, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In an update on Monday, OCHA said more than 6,600 amputees in Gaza require prosthetic and rehabilitation support, including thousands who have lost limbs since October 2023. Nearly one in five of those affected are children. However, only eight prosthetic technicians are currently available to meet the growing demand.

Citing its humanitarian partners, OCHA warned that the gap between need and capacity is widening. “With severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs, assuming no further amputations occur,” the agency said. It stressed the urgent need for international specialists, expanded workshop capacity, and the unimpeded entry of essential materials, which remain restricted.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, said humanitarian efforts in Gaza have helped save lives, avert famine, and restore basic services, but cautioned that far more remains to be done. He underscored the need for sustained humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and stronger coordination among aid partners.

Despite constraints, UN agencies and partners have continued relief operations. Aid deliveries have reached nearly 4,500 households with tents, bedding, and sealing materials. In areas such as Khan Younis, emergency shelters made from plastic sheets and other available materials are providing temporary relief for displaced families, though upgrades depend on the entry of restricted supplies.

Health partners have also flagged rising concerns over skin diseases and other illnesses linked to poor living conditions, including infestations of pests and rodents — further compounding the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

With IANS inputs

The Indian National Congress on Tuesday criticised the Modi government over what it described as a persistent slowdown in private corporate investment, arguing that key economic policies have failed to deliver the expected results.

Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the reluctance of companies to invest has become a major obstacle to achieving higher economic growth. He pointed out that despite reductions in corporate tax rates and claims of improved ease of doing business, private investment has not picked up as anticipated.

Ramesh argued that the lack of investment is linked to weak consumer demand, which he attributed to stagnant real wages. “In the absence of sufficient demand, there is little incentive for companies to expand capacity or undertake fresh investments,” he said.

He also alleged that what he termed an enforcement-driven environment — referring to actions by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department — has created uncertainty and discouraged businesses from taking risks.

Citing remarks by V. Anantha Nageswaran, the government’s chief economic adviser, Ramesh said that even as large firms have recorded strong profit growth in the post-pandemic period, their investment levels have remained subdued. According to him, this disconnect underscores deeper structural concerns within the economy.

The Congress leader further accused the government of encouraging concentration in certain sectors, claiming that it has reduced incentives for independent investment by private players.

The remarks come amid an ongoing debate on the role of private sector investment in driving India’s economic growth, with policymakers and analysts closely watching trends in capital formation and demand recovery.

With PTI inputs

The Indian rupee depreciated in early trade on Tuesday, weighed down by fragile market sentiment following renewed military tensions in the Gulf region.

The currency opened weaker at the interbank foreign exchange market and slipped further to trade around 95.43 against the US dollar, marking a decline of about 20 paise from its previous close. The fall comes a day after the rupee had already hit a record low.

Traders said investor nervousness has intensified amid escalating exchanges between the United States and Iran, prompting a shift towards safe-haven assets. The US dollar has strengthened as a result, adding pressure on emerging market currencies, including the rupee.

Rising crude oil prices have compounded the strain. Brent crude was hovering near $113 per barrel, keeping concerns alive for oil-importing economies such as India, where higher import bills tend to weaken the domestic currency.

Market experts noted that a combination of elevated oil prices and a stronger dollar index is likely to keep the rupee under pressure in the near term. Increased demand for dollars from oil companies and foreign portfolio investors has further contributed to the currency’s decline.

The dollar index, which tracks the strength of the US currency against a basket of major peers, edged higher in early trade, reflecting continued global risk aversion.

Domestic equity markets also mirrored the cautious mood. Benchmark indices opened lower, with both the Sensex and Nifty slipping in early deals as investors reacted to geopolitical uncertainty and currency weakness.

Despite the broader volatility, foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the previous session, offering some support to the market.

Analysts said the outlook for the rupee will remain closely tied to developments in the Gulf, particularly around key oil supply routes, as well as movements in global crude prices and the US dollar.

With PTI inputs

Japan has recorded a fresh demographic milestone, with the number of children under 15 falling to an estimated 13.29 million as of 1 April — down by 350,000 from a year earlier — marking the lowest level on record, according to government data released ahead of the country’s Children’s Day.

Figures from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications show the decline has now continued for 45 consecutive years, underscoring the persistent challenge of a shrinking younger population despite policy efforts to boost birth rates.

Children now account for just 10.8 per cent of the total population, a drop of 0.3 percentage points from last year and the lowest proportion since comparable records began in 1950. The estimates, which include foreign residents, are based on census-linked population data.

A closer breakdown reveals 6.81 million boys and 6.48 million girls. By age group, older children significantly outnumber younger ones — 3.09 million are aged 12 to 14, compared with just 2.13 million aged 0 to 2 — highlighting the ongoing decline in births.

Separate preliminary data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that births in 2025 fell to a record low of 705,809, the 10th straight annual drop.

Japan’s child population has been shrinking steadily since 1982, after peaking at 29.89 million in 1954. A brief resurgence during the early 1970s baby boom has long since faded, with demographic momentum now firmly in decline.

According to a United Nations survey, Japan ranks among the lowest globally in terms of the share of children in its population among countries with over 40 million people — second only to South Korea, which records an even lower proportion.

The figures underline the scale of Japan’s demographic challenge, with long-term implications for its workforce, economic growth, and social security systems.

With IANS inputs

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a case brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the delayed disclosure of his stake in Twitter (now X), now known as X, according to multiple reports.

The settlement — subject to court approval — will be paid by the Elon Musk Revocable Trust, which the SEC named as a defendant in the case. The regulator alleged that the trust failed to promptly disclose beneficial ownership after crossing the 5 per cent stake threshold, in violation of disclosure rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Without admitting or denying wrongdoing, the trust has agreed to a final judgment that includes a $1.5 million civil penalty and a permanent injunction against future violations of beneficial ownership disclosure requirements.

As part of the agreement, the SEC said it would move to dismiss Musk in his personal capacity if the court approves the settlement, effectively closing the case.

The regulator had earlier claimed that the delayed disclosure allowed Musk to continue purchasing shares at lower prices, resulting in losses of more than $150 million for other shareholders. Notably, the final penalty is far lower than the over $200 million the SEC had initially sought.

Musk’s lawyer reportedly downplayed the outcome, describing it as a “small fine” tied to a delay in a single filing.

The case, filed in January 2025, is separate from an ongoing class-action lawsuit by investors over the same disclosure issue.

Separately, Musk has also been engaged in a legal dispute with OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging the organisation deviated from its original nonprofit mission. According to a recent court filing, Musk approached OpenAI president Greg Brockman for a possible settlement just days before a high-stakes trial began in a federal court in Oakland.

With IANS inputs

Global crude oil prices slipped on Tuesday, retreating from recent highs even as geopolitical tensions in West Asia showed no signs of easing.

The international benchmark, Brent crude, dropped about 1.3 per cent to trade near $113 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell more sharply, losing over 2 per cent to hover around $104 per barrel.

The decline followed a strong rally in the previous session, with prices having climbed close to $114 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions. Analysts attributed Tuesday’s dip to profit-booking by traders, even as the broader risk outlook remained elevated.

On the domestic front, crude oil futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange also edged lower, reflecting the global trend.

Tensions in the region have intensified following fresh exchanges between the United States and Iran, with the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz emerging as a focal point. The narrow passage, which handles a significant share of the world’s oil and gas shipments, has seen heightened military activity, fuelling concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Reports of missile and drone attacks in the Gulf have added to uncertainty, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire could collapse. The situation has been further complicated by moves from US President Donald Trump to provide naval escorts for vessels navigating the region.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee weakened further against the US dollar, opening lower and hovering near record levels. The currency’s movement reflects ongoing volatility in global markets, driven in part by the geopolitical situation and fluctuations in crude prices.

Market participants remain cautious, with experts warning that continued instability in the Hormuz region could keep oil prices volatile in the near term.

With IANS inputs

US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning to Iran, saying it would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it targeted US vessels escorting ships through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The remarks came amid heightened tensions following reports that ships moving under a US-led escort operation — dubbed “Project Freedom” by United States Central Command — came under attack in the region.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iranian forces had fired on multiple vessels, including a South Korean cargo ship. “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated nations with respect to ship movement… including a South Korean cargo ship. Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission,” he said.

He also claimed that US forces had responded by destroying several small Iranian boats. “We’ve shot down seven small boats — or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ boats. It’s all they have left… At this moment, there has been no damage going through the Strait,” Trump added, noting that senior defence officials would brief the media on the situation.

In an interview with Fox News, the US president escalated his rhetoric, warning of overwhelming retaliation if Iran directly targeted American naval assets. “If they attack our vessels, Iran will be blown off the face of the Earth,” he said, while emphasising a continued US military build-up in the region. “We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade… we can use all of that, and we will, if we need it.”

Iran swiftly pushed back against the allegations, with officials denying any deliberate attack on foreign commercial vessels. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran remained committed to freedom of navigation but warned against what it described as “provocative military posturing” by the United States.

State-linked media in Iran reported that any incidents in the waterway were being “misrepresented,” accusing Washington of using unverified claims to justify an expanded military presence in the Gulf.

Iranian officials also cautioned that any escalation or direct confrontation would destabilise global energy routes, reiterating that security in the Strait should be maintained through regional cooperation rather than “external intervention”.

The Strait of Hormuz — through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes — has remained on edge amid the ongoing crisis, with global markets closely watching developments for signs of further escalation.

With IANS inputs

Incidents of vandalism and arson were reported at several offices of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) across West Bengal on Monday, following celebrations by workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party after its decisive electoral victory in the State.

Police said party offices were targeted in multiple locations, including Tollygunge and Kasba in Kolkata, as well as suburban areas such as Baruipur, Kamarhati and Baranagar. Similar incidents were reported from districts including Howrah and Baharampur, where groups allegedly damaged property and created unrest.

An official from the Election Commission of India said authorities have sought reports from local police and warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in violence and vandalism.

The BJP denied any involvement, with party leader Rahul Sinha suggesting that the incidents could be the result of infighting within the TMC. He claimed disgruntled factions might be venting frustration following the election outcome.

At Bijoygarh-Netajjnagar in Tollygunge, a party office linked to TMC leader Aroop Biswas was damaged, while in the Ruby Crossing area, another office associated with a local TMC representative was reportedly attacked by a crowd.

The TMC, however, accused the BJP of orchestrating the violence. In posts on social media, the party alleged that its offices had been attacked and set ablaze in some areas, and described the incidents as evidence of what it called “violent and undemocratic conduct”.

The party also claimed that some of its candidates and workers were assaulted after the counting process. In one instance, a candidate from Udaynarayanpur in Howrah was reportedly attacked, while in north Kolkata’s Maniktala, a party worker was allegedly beaten, with images circulating online showing injuries. These claims could not be independently verified.

In parts of North 24-Parganas, including Panihati, local offices of the party were reportedly taken over amid the unrest. Some candidates were escorted out of counting centres by security personnel following reports of confrontation.

Condemning the incidents, Sinha said violence should not occur but argued that the situation was less severe than past episodes of post-election unrest, adding that police and central forces appeared to be responding more promptly this time.

Authorities said the situation remains under watch as they assess reports and work to maintain order in the aftermath of the results.

With PTI inputs

Two Indian journalists have been awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for an investigative project that shed light on the growing threat of cybercrime in India.

Anand R.K. and Suparna Sharma, along with Natalie Obiko Pearson, won in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category for their work published by Bloomberg. The project combined visual storytelling with investigative reporting to expose the mechanics and human impact of digital scams.

The award-winning piece centred on the experience of a Lucknow-based neurologist who was deceived by cybercriminals posing as officials and coerced into a form of “house arrest” for several days, during which a substantial sum of money was siphoned from her accounts. The Pulitzer committee noted that the work highlighted the wider global challenges posed by surveillance and online fraud.

The Pulitzer Prize, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in journalism, is administered by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.

In the same category, Devjyot Ghoshal was named a finalist for an investigation into cybercrime and human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia. His reporting revealed how individuals from multiple countries, including India, are trafficked and forced to carry out online scams from guarded compounds.

Meanwhile, Aniruddha Ghosal was part of a team that won in the International Reporting category for uncovering the use of mass-surveillance technologies by the US Border Patrol — tools that were originally developed in Silicon Valley and later adapted in other countries, including China.

The recognition marks a significant achievement for Indian journalists working on complex, cross-border issues such as cybercrime and digital surveillance.

With IANS inputs

A day after delivering a stunning electoral debut, leaders of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), founded by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, said the party remains committed to fulfilling its promises, thanking voters for their overwhelming support in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Winning candidates assembled at the party headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, amid tight security and heavy police deployment, to chart the party’s next steps following its breakthrough performance.

Calling the result a “landmark moment”, Anna Nagar MLA V.K. Ramkumar said, “This is a massive victory for Tamil Nadu. We dedicate this win to the people who have placed their trust in us. We will carry forward all the promises made by our leader.” He added that the mandate reaffirmed the power of voters. “This proves that people have the ultimate power in elections. We hope to deliver the best for them.”

Polur MLA Abishek R. said the immediate focus would be internal strategy discussions. “We have gathered here for a meeting and will discuss ways to move forward,” he noted.

Striking a combative tone, Kancheepuram MLA R.V. Ranjith Kumar accused previous regimes of entrenched corruption. “Tamil Nadu has only seen corrupt governance. Even in the last five years, Rs 5 lakh crore has been borrowed, burdening people with debt, while only a few prosper. Because our leader promised to eradicate corruption, the people have given us this mandate,” he said.

Invoking history, he added, “In 1977, M.G. Ramachandran formed the government; now, Vijay has led a similar revolution. Thalapathy will deliver on every promise and work cooperatively with the Centre.” He also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated TVK on its performance.

From Coimbatore (North), V. Sampath Kumar thanked voters for rejecting money power. “People voted with conviction that doing good matters more than money, defeating those who tried to win by spending thousands of crores,” he said.

Ending nearly six decades of Dravidian dominance, TVK has emerged as the surprise political force of the 2026 elections. Contesting its maiden poll, the party is leading in 108 of the 234 seats — just 10 short of the 118 required for a simple majority — placing it in a pivotal position in government formation while cementing its arrival as a major player in Tamil Nadu politics.

With IANS inputs