Amid intense discussions over leadership in Kerala, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday passed a resolution authorising the party high command to take the final call on the chief ministerial candidate for the next Congress-led government in the state, party sources said.

The resolution was moved by Sunny Joseph, president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), during the CLP meeting held at Indira Bhavan in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken.

According to party sources, the resolution was unanimously adopted by newly elected MLAs and senior Congress leaders, formally empowering the party leadership in New Delhi to select the next chief minister.

Three senior Congress leaders are currently considered frontrunners for the top post — V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal.

The development comes after the Congress secured 63 seats in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, paving the way for a Congress-led United Democratic Front government in the state.

Following the adoption of the resolution, the AICC observers reportedly began one-on-one interactions with newly elected legislators to assess their views on the leadership question and internal equations within the party.

Senior Congress leaders and newly elected MLAs attended the closed-door CLP meeting, which remained focused on evolving a consensus over the leadership issue.

Earlier in the day, Wasnik and Maken also held consultations with several senior leaders, including V.M. Sudheeran, K. Sudhakaran, Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan.

Party sources said the observers are expected to submit a detailed report to the Congress high command, which will take the final decision on the chief ministerial face.

The AICC observers are also scheduled to meet leaders of allied parties in the United Democratic Front later on Thursday as part of the government formation process.

With PTI inputs

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday formally took over the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, the long-time personal assistant of Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack at Madhyamgram in North 24-Parganas district.

According to preliminary findings, Rath was returning home late on Wednesday night after attending a BJP programme when his vehicle was allegedly tailed by a motorcycle carrying the assailant.

Investigators said that as Rath’s vehicle reached the Doharia crossing area, a four-wheeler suddenly blocked its path, forcing the car to stop.

Moments later, the motorcycle rider — reportedly wearing a helmet — pulled up beside Rath’s vehicle and opened fire from close range.

Rath died on the spot, while the driver of the vehicle, identified as Buddhadeb Bera, sustained serious bullet injuries and was rushed for treatment in a critical condition.

West Bengal director general of police Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed that the number plates on both the motorcycle and the four-wheeler used in the attack were found to be fake, indicating a pre-planned operation.

The DGP also said police recovered spent cartridges and bullets from the crime scene, though he declined to reveal additional details, citing the sensitivity of the investigation.

By Thursday morning, CID officers had reached the spot and begun a detailed on-ground probe. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area, including cameras installed along roads and outside nearby housing complexes, in an effort to identify the attackers and trace their movements.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari claimed that police investigators had already obtained “important clues” from CCTV footage linked to the murder.

The entire area around the crime scene has been heavily cordoned off by CID personnel, with central forces also deployed to maintain security. Vehicular movement has been restricted in parts of the area, while police have tightened access around the spot where Rath was killed.

Officials said a three-member forensic team from Barasat Medical College and Hospital will conduct Rath’s post-mortem examination.

The autopsy team will be led by the head of the institution’s forensic department and assisted by two assistant professors from the same unit.

Earlier, forensic experts from the state police had visited the crime scene and collected samples from Rath’s vehicle and surrounding areas. The vehicle was later removed after forensic examination was completed.

With IANS inputs

Skyroot Aerospace has become the country’s first space-tech unicorn after raising $60 million (around Rs 570 crore) in a fresh funding round led by Sherpalo Ventures and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC.

The Hyderabad-based startup was quoted in various media portals as saying the round also drew participation from BlackRock, the founders of Greenko Group, Arkam Ventures, Playbook Partners, Shanghvi Family Office and several other investors. While Playbook Partners and Shanghvi Family Office joined as new backers, Sherpalo, GIC, BlackRock, Greenko Group and Arkam Ventures increased their existing investments in the company.

Moneycontrol reported that following the latest capital infusion, Skyroot’s valuation has climbed to $1.1 billion, more than doubling from its 2023 valuation of about $519 million. The milestone makes the company India’s first unicorn in the private space sector and one of the country’s most heavily funded space-tech ventures.

As part of the investment, renowned Silicon Valley investor and Sherpalo founder Ram Shriram will join Skyroot’s board. Shriram is widely recognised as one of Google’s earliest backers and currently serves on the board of Alphabet Inc.

Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and chief executive of Skyroot Aerospace, said the investment reflected growing confidence in the company’s ambitions ahead of the launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket.

“We are excited about the upcoming Vikram-1 mission, which represents a major milestone not only for Skyroot but also for India’s space ecosystem,” Chandana said.

Shriram said he had backed the company from its early days and remained confident in its long-term vision.

“Access to space remains one of the defining challenges of our time,” he said. “Skyroot is building critical infrastructure for the future with a strong cost-to-performance advantage in orbital launches.”

Skyroot carried out its first successful launch mission in 2022 and is now preparing for its next orbital launch in the coming weeks. The company said the fresh funding would help it increase the frequency of Vikram-1 launches, expand manufacturing capabilities and accelerate development of Vikram-2, a larger launch vehicle powered by an advanced cryogenic stage.

With the latest round, Skyroot Aerospace has now raised more than $160 million in total funding.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit safety labels and fake certification marks allegedly used to push dangerous foreign-made products into American homes, with regulators placing particular focus on imports linked to China.

Announcing the new enforcement initiative on Wednesday, the federal agency said it was targeting companies and sellers accused of using counterfeit safety certifications to bypass US consumer protection laws, deceive buyers and undercut legitimate American businesses.

“Fake safety labels are being used to push dangerous products into American homes while evading US law and undercutting honest businesses,” CPSC acting chairman Peter A. Feldman said in a statement.

“We will hold accountable those who cheat the system and put American families at risk,” Feldman added.

According to the commission, many of the products under scrutiny originate overseas, including from manufacturers operating in China. Officials said counterfeit certification marks are increasingly being used to circumvent US safety standards and move hazardous products through e-commerce platforms and global trade channels.

The crackdown comes amid mounting concerns among US regulators over the growing volume of imported consumer goods entering the country through online marketplaces and third-party sellers.

As part of the initiative, the CPSC has issued a formal Request for Information seeking public feedback on the scale and impact of fake consumer safety labels. The agency said submissions must be filed within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register.

The Commission is asking businesses, testing laboratories, consumer groups and the public to provide information on the prevalence of counterfeit safety markings, the risks posed by such products, methods used to identify fake labels and the broader economic impact on consumers and compliant businesses.

Officials are also seeking recommendations on what additional actions can be taken under existing federal law.

Under US regulations, it is illegal to manufacture, import, distribute or sell consumer products carrying counterfeit certification marks.

The agency said the information collected during the consultation process would help determine whether additional enforcement measures, policy changes or regulatory reforms are required.

Authorities are also investigating whether fake safety labels are linked to broader schemes involving falsified testing documents, deceptive import practices and coordinated efforts to evade US consumer safety rules.

The latest action builds on a wider CPSC campaign aimed at tightening oversight of imported consumer goods and certification systems.

Earlier this year, the Commission withdrew accreditation from four China-based testing laboratories after identifying what it described as unreliable and falsified test results that may have allowed hazardous products into the US market.

The agency has also recently moved against several imported products, including lead-leaching faucets, unsafe electrical appliances and counterfeit toys that allegedly posed choking hazards to children.

With IANS inputs

Indian equity benchmarks traded higher on Thursday morning as investor sentiment improved amid growing optimism over a possible diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran.

The BSE Sensex rose nearly 380 points, or 0.48 per cent, to touch an intraday high of 78,339.24, while the NSE Nifty climbed 92 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 24,423.35 in early trade.

Market sentiment strengthened after reports suggested that Iran was reviewing a peace proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia. According to reports, the proposal seeks to formally conclude hostilities, although differences remain over Washington’s demands regarding Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Among the Sensex and Nifty gainers were auto and metal stocks, while select FMCG and banking shares lagged behind. Shares of Tata Consumer, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, HDFC Bank, Titan, NTPC and Sun Pharma were among the major losers during morning trade.

Sector-wise, Nifty Auto and Nifty Metal indices advanced up to 0.78 per cent, while Nifty Realty, FMCG, Consumer Durables and Private Bank indices declined by as much as 0.7 per cent.

Analysts said markets were reacting positively to signs of possible de-escalation in West Asia, although uncertainty continued to keep investors cautious.

They also pointed to growing concentration risks in the artificial intelligence sector globally, warning that elevated valuations could trigger corrections in technology-linked investments. According to market experts, any moderation in the AI rally could influence the direction of foreign portfolio investment flows into India.

The geopolitical situation in West Asia continued to fuel volatility in crude oil prices, leading to fluctuating market sentiment.

“Markets are currently oscillating between optimism and caution, and this trend is likely to continue until there is greater clarity on the geopolitical front,” analysts said.

On the corporate earnings front, investors continued to reward companies reporting strong fourth-quarter performances, while firms missing expectations faced selling pressure.

Reports also indicated that an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson had confirmed Tehran would soon communicate its response to the US proposal.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he believed Iran was interested in reaching an agreement.

In the commodities market, Brent crude futures rose 1.21 per cent to USD 102.50 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 1.47 per cent to trade at USD 96.48.

Asian markets also traded firmly higher, with the Nikkei, Hang Seng and KOSPI indices registering gains. On Wall Street, US markets ended the previous session in positive territory, with the S&P 500 rising 1.46 per cent and the Nasdaq closing 2 per cent higher.

With IANS inputs

Kerala Congress (Joseph) chairman P.J. Joseph on Thursday said the Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction was seeking at least two ministerial positions in the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government following the alliance’s decisive victory in the Kerala assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters in Thodupuzha before leaving for Thiruvananthapuram, Joseph said the issue of cabinet representation would be resolved through discussions within the alliance.

“Our desire is to secure at least two ministerial berths,” he said.

The Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction contested eight constituencies in the 2026 Assembly election and emerged victorious in seven of them, strengthening its bargaining position within the UDF.

Although Joseph himself did not contest the election, his son, Apu John Joseph, won from the party stronghold of Thodupuzha by a margin of nearly 85,000 votes.

When asked whether the party expected a minister from Idukki district, Joseph said no decision had been taken yet.

On the question of the next chief minister, he declined to publicly back any candidate, stating that the party would share its opinion only if the alliance leadership sought its views.

“We have not been asked about it so far. If we are asked, we will express our opinion,” he said.

Joseph added that senior party leaders were heading to Thiruvananthapuram as discussions on government formation had already begun following the election results.

The chief minister is expected to be from the Congress party, with several senior leaders reportedly in contention for the post. Among the names being discussed are V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K.C. Venugopal.

The UDF secured a sweeping mandate in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, winning 102 seats in the 140-member House.

With PTI inputs

Chandranath Rath, the long-time personal assistant and close confidant of Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Madhyamgram, had become an inseparable part of the BJP leader’s political and organisational machinery over the past several years.

Known within political circles as Adhikari’s “Man Friday”, Rath handled nearly every aspect of the leader of Opposition’s day-to-day political operations — from coordinating hectic schedules and managing confidential files to organising meetings, preparing groundwork for political programmes and handling calls.

A former serviceman of the Indian Air Force, 42-year-old Rath hailed from Chandipur in East Midnapore district, the political stronghold of the Adhikari family. His family had longstanding ties with the Adhikari household, dating back to the period when Suvendu Adhikari was still associated with the Trinamool Congress.

After serving in the Air Force for nearly 18 years, Rath joined Adhikari full-time in 2019, when the latter was a minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government during the Trinamool Congress’ second term in power.

When Adhikari switched allegiance to the BJP ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Rath remained by his side and quickly emerged as one of his most trusted associates.

Following Adhikari’s victory from the Nandigram assembly constituency in 2021 — where he defeated Mamata Banerjee — and his appointment as leader of Opposition in the assembly, Rath formally took charge as his personal assistant.

Over time, Rath’s influence within Adhikari’s political ecosystem grew significantly. Ahead of this year’s Assembly elections, it had become a common remark in political and media circles that if the BJP formed the government in West Bengal and Adhikari became Chief Minister, Rath would likely serve as the Executive Assistant to the state’s first BJP Chief Minister since Independence.

The BJP eventually registered a sweeping victory in the state, with Adhikari defeating Mamata Banerjee from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency while also retaining his traditional stronghold in Nandigram.

Despite his deep involvement in politics, family members say Rath remained spiritually inclined throughout his life. According to relatives, he had once expressed a desire to become a monk during his student days before eventually choosing a career in the armed forces and later in politics.

With IANS inputs

The Indian rupee weakened by 28 paise against the US dollar in early trading on Thursday as investors reacted cautiously to reports of ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran over a possible agreement to ease regional tensions.

The rupee opened at 94.77 against the dollar in the interbank foreign exchange market, reversing part of the gains recorded in the previous session. On Wednesday, the currency had strengthened by 69 paise to close at 94.49.

Forex traders said market sentiment turned volatile after reports emerged that the United States and Iran were working on a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing hostilities and reviving negotiations.

Oil markets also remained sensitive to developments in the Middle East. Brent crude prices, which had briefly slipped to around USD 98 per barrel amid optimism over a potential peace deal, rose again to trade above USD 101 as investors reassessed the prospects of a breakthrough.

Analysts said persistent foreign capital outflows and geopolitical uncertainty continued to pressure the domestic currency.

According to Amit Pabari, Managing Director of CR Forex Advisors, markets were closely watching the next 48 hours, during which Washington expects a formal response from Tehran through Pakistani mediators.

The developments followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned Iran of further military action if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A report by Axios claimed the US and Iran were nearing agreement on a brief framework document that could help end the conflict and pave the way for broader nuclear negotiations. However, officials cautioned that no final agreement had yet been reached.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was marginally lower at 98.01.

On the domestic equity front, benchmark indices opened lower, with the Sensex falling 160.24 points to 77,798.28 and the Nifty slipping 30.25 points to 24,300.70.

Exchange data showed that Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 5,834.90 crore on Wednesday.

Despite market volatility, revised Commerce Ministry figures showed India’s combined goods and services exports rose 4.6 per cent to a record USD 863.11 billion in 2025-26, compared with USD 825.26 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Merchandise exports also registered modest growth, increasing 0.93 per cent to USD 441.78 billion during the financial year.

With IANS inputs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed reports suggesting Israel had been blindsided by Washington’s diplomatic outreach to Iran, asserting that his government remains in constant coordination with the United States over the ongoing conflict and negotiations with Tehran.

“We are in continuous contact with our friends in the United States,” Netanyahu said. “I speak with President Trump on an almost daily basis. My people and his people speak daily, including today.”

Netanyahu added that another phone call with US President Donald Trump was scheduled later in the night, underlining what he described as close strategic coordination between the two allies.

The Israeli leader said his country was “ready for all scenarios” in dealing with Iran and stressed that both Israel and the United States shared the same objective.

“We have the same goals, with the most important goal being the removal of enriched material from Iran,” Netanyahu said.

His remarks came amid reports of renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran following weeks of conflict and military escalation in the region.

Israeli officials have meanwhile continued to support the possibility of renewed military action against Iran, arguing that Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile stockpiles remain a major security threat.

Earlier in the day, Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying Tehran must either accept a deal to end the conflict or face another round of attacks “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Washington had made “significant progress” in talks with Iran and suggested that a possible agreement could emerge soon.

“They want to make a deal badly,” Trump said. “We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal.”

Rejecting suggestions that Iran remained defiant, Trump responded sharply to reporters questioning Tehran’s willingness to compromise.

“Well, why do you say they refused to submit? You don’t know that,” he said.

The US President once again reiterated his long-standing position that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.

“They can’t have nuclear weapons, it’s very simple,” Trump said.

Trump also claimed that Iran’s military infrastructure had suffered devastating losses during the conflict, alleging that much of its naval fleet, air force and missile defence systems had been destroyed.

“They had a Navy with 159 ships, and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the water,” he said. “They had an Air Force, lots of planes, and they don’t have any planes.”

He further claimed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems, radar capabilities and missile stockpiles had been “mostly decimated”.

“Their leaders are all dead. So, I think we won,” Trump said.

Despite his aggressive rhetoric, Trump maintained that diplomacy remained possible and argued that Iran would need decades to rebuild militarily if hostilities ended now.

“If we left right now, Iran, it would take them 20 years to rebuild,” he said.

With IANS inputs

At least five deaths have been reported from different parts of West Bengal since results of the assembly election were declared on Monday, 4 May. The latest casualty is BJP leader and a front runner for the chief minister’s post Suvendu Adhikari’s executive assistant, who was shot dead around 10.20 pm on Wednesday while returning home to Barasat in North 24-Parganas. TMC has claimed three of its workers were killed in the first 48 hours after the counting.

On Wednesday, DGP Siddh Nath Gupta briefed the media and confirmed that a total of 200 FIRs had been registered regarding post-poll incidents, leading to the arrest of 433 individuals.

“Since 4 May, after the announcement of results, there have been incidents of violence, including threats, assaults, and intimidation. We have detained more than 1,100 people under preventive measures,” he said, adding that there have been reports of violence and assault since Wednesday morning.

Gupta confirmed two deaths related to post-poll violence – one at Nanoor and another at New Town, Rajarhat on the outskirts of Kolkata. “We are investigating both cases. We have been able to arrest those involved in these two murders,” he said.

Responding to allegations made by Trinamool Congress that BJP workers had unleashed the violence, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya had said that internal squabbles within TMC were responsible for the violence. Trinamool workers were misusing BJP’s flags, he alleged, while engaging in violence. “TMC is attacking TMC…," he was quoted as saying.

There are indications that a section of TMC workers, out of fear or otherwise, have overnight changed colours and switched their loyalty. Visuals of policemen and state government employees dancing while shouting slogans of Jai Shri Ram have been circulating.

A state government employee, a Left Front supporter, confided that he had been advised by colleagues to lie low and shout JSR slogans in order to escape attention to his political affiliation. Doubts are also being expressed over the possibility of people settling personal scores and local business rivals using the turmoil after the election to vandalise property of competitors.

However, the role of the CAPF too has come under increasing scrutiny as visuals of the CAPF standing by while mobs resort to violence have also been circulating. The armed troops seem to be under instructions not to intervene.

With the Election Commission having sidelined local police in the run up to the elections, the authority of the police appears to have collapsed. This would explain the use of a bulldozer to demolish a TMC office outside the Hogg market known as the New Market in central Kolkata, a stone’s throw from the police headquarters.

Several incidents of violence and vandalism have been recorded in the state over the last three days. Some of them are the following:

• Several youths scaled a decorative gateway arch of Masjid Bari Road in Barasat’s Nabapally area, broke off the letterings, and replaced them with a hoarding reading “Netaji Pally”

• A park named Siraj Udyan in Champadali, Barasat, was also ‘renamed’ as Shibaji Udyan

• Saffron-clad BJP workers approached a biryani shop located next to a temple in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, and asked the staff to move the shop elsewhere

• BJP workers stormed into and vandalised the Lalbagh Eidgah in Murshidabad. In a video circulating online, saffron-clad workers can be seen aggressively breaking a tin barricade and forcing their way into the field amid chants of “Jai Shi Ram”

• Shops of Muslim fruit vendors in Uluberia were targeted Muslim-owned shops were vandalised.

• In Dinhata, a ‘Bengal Taj Mahal selfie point’ was vandalised & burnt by a mob chanting “Tel lagake Babur ka, Naam mitado Babur ka”

• At Jiaganj in north Bengal, a statue of Lenin was broken and dislodged

• Several TMC leaders, workers and outgoing ministers were heckled, manhandled and thrashed in different parts of the state

• In a free-for-all, party offices of the TMC across the state are being taken over by other parties, including non-BJP parties.

More than a dozen residents of a housing society in Mathura fell ill with diarrhoea after allegedly consuming contaminated water supplied from an overhead tank, officials said on Thursday.

The incident was reported from Krishna Lok Housing Society, located along the Delhi-Agra highway opposite the Jait Police Station.

Residents, including children and elderly people, complained of stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea on Wednesday, prompting authorities to rush medical teams to the area.

Chief medical officer Dr Radha Vallabh said doctors from a nearby community health centre were immediately deployed after complaints began pouring in from the housing complex.

A specialised epidemiology team from the district headquarters later visited the society, examined the affected residents and distributed medicines.

Officials said the condition of all patients has since improved and the situation is now under control.

A preliminary investigation pointed to poor maintenance and irregular cleaning of the overhead water tank by the housing society management as the likely cause of contamination.

During the inspection, health officials reportedly found bird droppings, monkey waste and insects inside the tank, raising concerns over serious hygiene lapses that triggered the spread of infection among residents.

With PTI inputs

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran remains ready to pursue diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with the United States and Israel, while insisting that Iran’s national rights and interests must be protected.

During a phone conversation with Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, Pezeshkian expressed deep mistrust of Washington, accusing the United States of undermining diplomacy through military action during ongoing negotiations.

According to a statement released by the Iranian president’s office, Pezeshkian described recent US actions against Iran as “stabbing Iran in the back”, referring to two attacks carried out during the period of bilateral talks.

The conversation came amid renewed speculation over a possible diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington. Earlier in the day, Axios reported that the United States and Iran were moving closer to a one-page framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities.

According to the report, the proposed deal could involve Iran agreeing to a temporary moratorium on nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States. The framework was also said to include measures related to restoring unrestricted transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a ceasefire on 8 April following 40 days of fighting triggered by US and Israeli strikes on 28 February.

Following the truce, Tehran and Washington held a round of indirect peace talks in Islamabad on 11 and 12 April, but the negotiations failed to produce a final agreement.

Over recent weeks, both sides have exchanged multiple proposals aimed at ending the conflict, with Iranian officials currently reviewing the latest US offer.

However, Tehran has strongly denied reports suggesting that a final agreement is imminent or that new written proposals have recently been exchanged.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency dismissed the reports as “fabricated”, alleging they were intended to influence global markets and push oil prices lower rather than reflect actual developments in negotiations.

Citing two unnamed sources, Fars reported that Iran had not yet responded to the latest US proposal, which was reportedly delivered through Pakistan.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was still assessing the proposal and would issue a response only after completing a full review.

With IANS inputs