Massive fire breaks out at Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthan day before PM Modi’s visit
A massive fire broke out at the Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit for its inauguration on April 21, officials said. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and efforts were underway to douse the flames.
Amravati Sex Scandal: Ayan Ahmad’s luxury lifestyle with Thar, guns, cash under scanner; where did money come from?
According to reports, police haven’t released a confirmed source of assets; however, the SIT’s forensic audit of his devices and bank records should clarify it.
Amravati Sex Scandal: Sexual assault victim attempted suicide, co-accused arrested
Amid the probe into Amravati sex scandal case, one of the victims attempted suicide on Monday. The minor came to the Vazhar Dam with the intention of committing suicide, but the attempt failed after police succeeded in stopping her.
Private plane crashes in Jashpur hill in Chhattisgarh; pilot, co-pilot dead
A chartered aircraft crashed into a hillside in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh on Monday, triggering a major emergency response. The crash reportedly occurred after the aircraft struck Ara Hill, leading to the fatal accident.
TCS Nashik row: Nida Khan’s interim bail rejected despite pregnancy claim, court notes BPO picnic photos; details here
Khan’s lawyer said that arguments were held on interim relief, and the aspect of pregnancy was also presented before the court. He added that anticipatory bail hearings take time, which is why they sought interim protection first.
On the issues: A Q&A with Ken Paxton and John Cornyn
As Cornyn and Paxton head to the runoff, we updated our Q&A to reflect the two candidates. Both declined to participate, so we used their past statements and voting history to show where they stand on foreign policy, AI and other key issues.
Cryptocurrency industry is on track to surpass 2024 spending on Texas midterm races
So far this year, cryptocurrency PACs have spent more than $2.5 million on Texas congressional candidates, up from $1 million in 2024.
Low-producing oil wells linger for years, causing headaches for Texas landowners
Jackie Chesnutt, who lives outside San Angelo, is tired of pollution from nearly inactive wells. Experts say Texas rules allow companies to defer plugging wells for far too long.
Lawmakers demand answers as scientists tied to US secrets die or vanish
House Republicans are pressing multiple federal agencies for answers about reports that at least 10 individuals tied to sensitive U.S. nuclear and aerospace programs have died or disappeared in recent years, with lawmakers pointing to public reporting that raises questions about a possible “sinister connection” between the cases. In letters sent Monday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison, R-Mo., request briefings from the FBI, Department of Energy, NASA and Department of War, citing what they describe as “unconfirmed public reporting” surrounding the incidents. The lawmakers say the reports involve individuals with connections to “U.S. nuclear secrets or rocket technology” who have “died or mysteriously vanished,” and are seeking to determine whether any broader national security risk exists. “If the reports are accurate, these deaths and disappearances may represent a grave threat to U.S. national security and to U.S. personnel with access to scientific secrets,” Comer and Burlison wrote. MISSING RETIRED AIR FORCE GENERAL CONSULTED ON UFOS FOR BLINK-182’S TOM DELONGE In response to earlier outreach, the War Department said there are “no active national security investigations” involving any current or former personnel tied to the reported cases. The White House has acknowledged the issue but has not confirmed any connection between the incidents. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently said officials are working with relevant agencies to gather more information, while President Donald Trump told reporters he had “just left a meeting” on the matter, calling it “pretty serious stuff” and indicating answers could come soon. The letters cite several individuals whose deaths or disappearances have drawn public attention, including former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Michael David Hicks, who died in 2023. COMER WARNS ‘SOMETHING SINISTER’ MAY BE BEHIND DEATHS, DISAPPEARANCES OF 11 NUCLEAR, SPACE-LINKED SCIENTISTS Among the more recent cases, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland disappeared from his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home in February. Authorities said he left behind personal items but took his wallet and a firearm, and he has not been located. NASA materials engineer Monica Reza, who served as director of the Materials Processing Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also remains missing after disappearing during a hike in California in June 2025. The cases cited in public reporting span a range of circumstances, including disappearances, confirmed homicides and deaths where no foul play has been identified. Authorities have not indicated that the incidents are linked. Lawmakers also referenced reports suggesting a possible professional connection between some of the individuals through past Air Force–funded research programs involving advanced materials for space and weapons systems, though no confirmed link between the cases has been established. Comer and Burlison said the situation warrants further review, requesting staff-level briefings from the agencies by April 27 on any information they have regarding the individuals, as well as the procedures in place to protect sensitive scientific personnel and classified research. The inquiry spans agencies responsible for nuclear weapons infrastructure, advanced military research, federal law enforcement and space exploration — a wide-ranging effort to determine whether any risk to U.S. national security or personnel connected to advanced research programs exists. Fox News Digital has reached out to the departments that received letters for comment.
Supreme Court to hear Catholic parish’s challenge after Colorado barred schools from universal pre-K program
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Catholic parish’s argument after Colorado excluded its schools from the state’s program that pays for families to send their children to the preschool of their choice, public or private. The oral arguments in the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy are expected to take place this fall. The case could redefine how states balance anti-discrimination laws with religious freedom. The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 34 Catholic preschools, argues that its schools are an extension of the church’s ministry. ALITO NOT EXPECTED TO RETIRE THIS TERM, COOLING SUPREME COURT VACANCY SPECULATION: SOURCES To maintain the integrity of their religious environment, the Archdiocese says its schools admit only families who support Catholic beliefs, including on sex and gender. Colorado officials, however, maintain that the Universal Preschool Program is designed to be inclusive of all children, regardless of their background or their family’s identity. SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH CHEVRON, OIL COMPANIES IN LOUISIANA ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUITS The state argues that while faith-based providers are welcome to participate in the program, they must follow the same rules as secular schools. The Archdiocese views the exclusion as a violation of its religious exercise, while the state views the parish’s enrollment policies as a barrier to universal civil rights. When the Supreme Court hears oral arguments this fall, the justices will look to address whether a state can require a religious institution to set aside its core tenets in order to participate in a state-funded program. This is a developing news story; check back for updates.