India navigated a week marked by both international tensions and significant domestic developments. On the diplomatic front, a rift with the Maldives emerged, with former Maldivian President Nasheed expressing regret over strained relations with India. This comes amidst ongoing negotiations between India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the upcoming Odisha elections. The BJP may consider going solo if talks stall.
Domestically, political activity intensified in the lead-up to the national elections. Rahul Gandhi's close confidante, KC Venugopal, announced his candidacy from Alappuzha. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Assam garnered headlines. He inaugurated the strategic Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and enjoyed an elephant safari at Kaziranga National Park.
The judiciary witnessed a significant development with the reinstatement of Sam Altman to the OpenAI board. Altman, the former CEO, was previously removed but an investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.
Several legal cases garnered national attention. A Pakistani student received a death sentence for alleged blasphemy shared over WhatsApp. Three employees of an observation home were sentenced to life imprisonment for the custodial death of a juvenile in Mehsana. Puducherry witnessed protests following the murder of a nine-year-old girl.
The business world saw a positive development with India nearing a trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc. This agreement is expected to be signed on Sunday.
Beyond politics and policy, a bizarre incident involving a social media personality captured public imagination. Elvish Yadav, a contestant from the reality show Bigg Boss, physically assaulted a YouTuber following an online spat.
In a heart-stopping incident, a malfunction during takeoff caused a plane's wheel to detach and flatten parked cars below. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries.
The week also brought a lighter moment. A video of Prime Minister Modi's playful banter with a YouTuber went viral, showcasing a more relaxed side of the leader. In the sporting arena, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's sharp comment about Pakistani batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed rekindled old rivalries.
Overall, the week in India was a confluence of diplomatic tensions, crucial political developments, and a range of captivating incidents that kept the nation engaged.