State in eastern India; population ~99.7 million (2023 est.), Bay of Bengal coastline
Two separate firefighting operations are underway after a naphtha-pipeline blaze in West Bengal and a large forest fire near Müritz National Park, Germany, driven by record heat. Firefighters report injuries in the West Bengal incident, while German teams are battling a wildfire in a contaminated site with a 1,000-metre security perimeter.
A child’s rape and murder in Baruipur has sparked protests, a mob lynching, and a police shooting as tensions mount over the BJP government’s handling of women’s safety. Investigations are underway as authorities form a SIT and police recount the scene.
Independent and AP News report on Marian devotion at Bandel Church near Kolkata and a Philippine replica of Mary’s house in Cavite. Both sites illustrate how Marian devotion shapes faith communities across Asia.
A methane gas buildup inside a tunnel at the Teesta Stage VI hydropower project in Sikkim has triggered an explosion, leaving multiple workers trapped. Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities confirm casualties and intensify search operations in the Himalayan region.
India's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has resigned after weeks of nationwide protests led by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Tens of thousands of students have protested exam paper leaks and police violence at Jantar Mantar; CJP has suspended its agitation after government assurances but reports of detentions in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar continue.
Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar in Bankipur by over 19,000 votes, according to the Election Commission of India. This marks Kishor’s first electoral contest and tests Modi’s support among India’s youth amid recent student protests. Bankipur had voted BJP in four consecutive terms since 2010.