School assembly headlines 29 April 2026: Key updates from India and around the world

Here is a roundup of today’s important news headlines, covering key political developments, election updates, economic trends, legal observations, and international events.

NATIONAL NEWS

Will leave no stone unturned to ensure women's reservation in legislatures implemented: PM Modi

Varanasi (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), TMC and DMK on Tuesday for stalling the women's reservation bill in Parliament and assured women that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that their right to reservation in legislative bodies is implemented.

Petrol, diesel to get expensive after April 29: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday warned that the prices of petrol and diesel will be increased after the assembly elections conclude on April 29.

Govt committed to 'Act East, Act Fast' for India's 'Ashtalakshmi' in northeast: PM

Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government was not only committed to its 'Act East' policy but was resolved to 'Act Fast' for the eight northeastern states, which he described as India's 'Ashtalakshmi’, representing the multifaceted nature of prosperity, wealth, and auspiciousness. 

Andhra CM Naidu lays foundation for USD 15 billon Google data centre near Vizag

Tarluvada (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday laid the foundation for a USD 15 billion Google Artificial Intelligence data centre near Visakhapatnam and said it will be a growth engine for India. 

Blast at Patiala freight corridor rail track, 4 linked to pro-Khalistan terror module held

Chandigarh: A pro-Khalistan terror module, backed by Pakistan's ISI, carried out a late Monday night blast at a freight corridor railway track near the Shambhu area in Patiala, killing the suspect who was attempting to detonate the explosives, police said here, adding that four members of the group have been arrested.

Roads cannot be blocked in name of religious activities, govt can interfere: SC

New Delhi: Commenting that roads cannot be blocked in the name of religious activities, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said a denomination has the autonomy in the manner of worship and the court cannot sit in judgment over its religious affairs, but if a secular activity is being affected, the government can interfere with its rights.

AI, IndiGo, SpiceJet seek ATF price relief; say airline industry on verge of 'stopping operations'

Mumbai: Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have told the government that the country's airline industry is under extreme stress and on the verge of "stopping operations", as they sought revision in ATF pricing and financial support.

There must not be any double standards in combating terrorism: Rajnath Singh at SCO meet

New Delhi: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) must not lose sight of "state-sponsored" cross-border terrorism as there is no place for any "double standards" in combating the menace, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday in a clear reference to Pakistan's support to various terror groups.

Atrocities against Dalits, backward classes increased manifold in BJP-ruled states: Cong on Ghazipur case

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday hit out at the BJP after its delegation was stopped in Varanasi while it was heading to meet the family of the girl who was allegedly murdered in Ghazipur and demanded that cases should be registered against UP officials for "violating" their fundamental rights.

India set to receive 4th unit of S-400 missile systems early next month

New Delhi: India is expected to receive the fourth unit of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system from Russia in the first part of next month that is expected to further enhance the IAF's air defence mechanism, sources in the security establishment said on Tuesday.

'Will continue to fight for people': J-K AAP MLA detained under PSA released after 8 months

Jammu: After spending eight months in prison, AAP MLA Mehraj Malik was released from Kathua jail on Tuesday following the quashing of his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) by the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

South Coastal Railway Zone to become operational from June 1: Vaishnaw

New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced that the new South Coastal Zone will come into existence and start functioning from June 1, 2026.

After Kejriwal, Sisodia refuses to pursue excise case before HC judge Swarana Kanta Sharma

New Delhi: AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Tuesday made it clear that he will not appear in further proceedings before Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in the excise policy case.

Congress can be anti-women, but women will not consider Shashi Tharoor as anti-women: Rijiju

New Delhi: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju has criticised Opposition parties after their stand on the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill, saying they will face public backlash for opposing a measure aimed at increasing women’s representation in Parliament and state assemblies.

‘I did not agree’: Tharoor dismisses Rijiju’s claim that he accepted Congress as ‘anti-women’

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday dismissed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s claim that he had, “in a way,” agreed with the suggestion that the Congress party is “anti-women,” saying his remarks were misquoted and taken out of context.

India brings back drug kingpin Salim Dola from Turkey, NCB takes him into custody

New Delhi: India on Tuesday secured the deportation of alleged drug kingpin Mohammad Salim Dola from Turkey, in a coordinated international operation, with authorities taking him into custody upon arrival in Delhi, officials said.

WhatsApp banned 9,400 accounts involved in digital arrest scams since January this year: Centre to SC

New Delhi: A multi-pronged action involving telecom regulators, service providers, the RBI, tech giants and the CBI has been taken to tackle the rising menace of digital arrest scams, besides WhatsApp banning 9,400 accounts involved in such offences, the Centre has told the Supreme Court

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Hafiz Saeed's close aide and key LeT figure Sheikh Yousaf Afridi shot dead in Pakistan

Lahore: Sheikh Yousaf Afridi, a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) figure and a close associate of the Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said.

UAE exits OPEC and OPEC+ amid Iran conflict, rattling global oil supply stability

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has announced it is leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance, which includes OPEC members and allied producers such as Russia. The move comes amid a prolonged supply shock linked to conflict involving Iran.

Gunman opens fire at two sites in Athens, several wounded; suspect on the run

Athens: A gunman opened fire at a social security office and at a courthouse in central Athens on Tuesday, wounding several people, Greek authorities said. A police operation was underway to locate the gunman, who Greek media reported was an 89-year-old man.

Pakistan successfully conducts training launch of Fateh-II missile system: Army

Islamabad: Pakistan has successfully conducted a training launch of the indigenously developed Fateh-II missile system, the army said on Tuesday.

Safe, unimpeded maritime passage through Strait of Hormuz should be restored at the earliest: India at UNSC

United Nations: Amid the West Asia crisis, India has urged restoration of safe and unimpeded maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz at the earliest while expressing concern about safety of its seafarers, stressing that any "purported closure" of vital waterways has direct consequences for the global economy.