West Bengal Election 2026: Mamata Banerjee caught in tug of war with Centre as CJI flags ‘abdication of duty’ over SIR officers hostage

After seven judicial officers, including three women judges, involved in the SIR of electoral rolls, were gheraoed in Malda, the apex court slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led government, calling it an ‘abdication of duty’.
Who is Ashok Mittal? Meet AAP’s new face, founder of Lovely Profession University, who replaces Raghav Chadha as party’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha

Ashok Kumar Mittal will be the new Deputy Leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Rajya Sabha. The party has sent an official letter informing the decision to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the party stated on Thursday.
Raghav Chadha loses Rajya Sabha Deputy leader post in AAP, Ashok Mittal takes over

Ashok Kumar Mittal will be the new Deputy Leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Rajya Sabha. The party has sent an official letter informing the decision to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the party stated on Thursday. Ashok Kumar Mittal has replaced AAP MP Raghav Chadha as the Deputy Leader in the House.
Why was Raghav Chadha removed? Did Arvind Kejriwal punish him for demanding change in structure of AAP?

Raghav Chadha entered the Rajya Sabha after being elevated during his term as an MLA in Delhi, becoming one of the youngest members of the Upper House.
Noida-Greater Noida West Metro gets major boost as authorities confirm 5 new stations, plans for 2 new routes underway, check details

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) is set to revamp its plans for the metro route connecting Noida to Green West. The revised plan includes five stations along the route, which will be approximately 7.5 kilometers long. The NMRC will prepare a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the route, which will be submitted to the state and central governments for approval.
Delhi govt gives major relief to parents, issues directive to private schools to stop fixing vendors for books, uniforms; Details here

As part of the directive, schools have been asked to display the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least five vendors or shops near the school where the required items are available.
India to join talks on Strait of Hormuz, how may it defuse tension amid US-Iran war, details here

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, multiple countries, including India, have been invited to the meeting amid escalating tensions in West Asia and concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most critical oil routes.
Texas is cutting undocumented immigrants off from school, work and driving

The sweeping rule changes, all enacted outside the typical legislative process, have upended life for noncitizens, including those who are here legally.
Hands-on telehealth helps reach rural Texas communities

A new approach aims to tailor telehealth to the realities of an older, rural population by offering a physical place with reliable connectivity and an on-site nurse.
FBI warns foreign apps could collect Americans’ data — even from people who never downloaded them

Your personal data could be collected and stored overseas — even if you never download a foreign-developed app yourself — according to a new FBI alert warning about the risks tied to popular mobile platforms. That means information like your name, email address or phone number could be pulled from someone else’s contact list and potentially stored abroad if a friend or family member grants an app access to their device. The warning comes after years of scrutiny over TikTok’s ties to China, but the FBI alert suggests the concerns extend beyond any single platform to a broader range of foreign-developed apps. In a public service announcement, the FBI said many widely used apps developed overseas, particularly those tied to China, may access extensive data once permissions are granted, including address books containing information on both users and non-users. 5 SIMPLE TECH TIPS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRIVACY The bureau also warned that some apps may continue collecting data in the background after access is granted and, in certain cases, store that information on servers in countries where local laws could allow government access. “Developer companies can store collected data on users’ private information and address books, such as names, e-mail addresses, user IDs, physical addresses, and phone numbers of their stored contacts,” the FBI said. “The app can persistently collect data and users’ private information throughout the device, not just within the app or while the app is active.” CHINESE HACKERS REPORTEDLY BREACHED PHONES AT ‘HEART OF DOWNING STREET’ IN GLOBAL SPY CAMPAIGN The FBI did not name specific companies, but the warning could apply to a range of widely used apps developed by Chinese firms — including video-editing platform CapCut, shopping apps like Temu and SHEIN, and social media platforms such as Lemon8 — several of which rank among the most downloaded apps in the United States. U.S. officials have long warned that data collected by Chinese-linked platforms could be used to build detailed profiles of Americans, map personal and professional networks, and potentially support intelligence-gathering efforts, particularly if accessed under China’s national security laws. The FBI added that apps operating in China are subject to the country’s national security laws, which could allow the government to access user data. The FBI also pointed to possible warning signs that an app may be collecting more data than expected, including unusual battery drain, spikes in data usage, or unauthorized account activity after installation — indicators that could suggest background data collection or other suspicious behavior. The bureau urged users to limit unnecessary data sharing, download apps only from official app stores, and regularly review permissions granted to mobile platforms. The bureau also warned that apps obtained from third-party sites may carry malware designed to gain unauthorized access to personal data. Years of scrutiny over TikTok, culminated in a 2026 deal that forced its Chinese parent company to relinquish control of U.S. operations to an American-led group in order to address fears over data access and national security. The FBI’s latest warning suggests those risks may extend beyond a single platform to a broader range of foreign-developed apps used by millions of Americans. The Chinese embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.