Morning Digest: Kerala Cabinet to take oath today; India, Sweden agree to elevate ties to Strategic Partnership, and more

Satheesan named 20 ministers; Kerala Cabinet to be sworn in on May 18

A day before the swearing-in ceremony, Kerala’s Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan inaugurated the 20-member Council of Ministers of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Congress will have 11 Ministers in the Cabinet: Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K. Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, T. Siddique, Bindu Krishna, KA Thulasi, Roji M. John, M. Liju and OJ Janeesh.

India, Sweden agree to enhance ties to Strategic Partnership

India and Sweden agreed to upgrade their relationship to Strategic Partnership on Sunday, May 17, 2026, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson focusing on trade, technology, defense and other key sectors.

Modi’s visit to Scandinavia includes discussions on trade, energy and global conflicts

Trade and energy supply will be at the top of the agenda as Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Oslo on Monday, May 18, 2026, for the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway, one of the world’s largest oil and gas exporters.

A woman undressed and adorned with slippers after an argument about entering the temple; two women were arrested

Police arrested two women for their alleged involvement in robbing another woman and parading her on the road with a slipper garland around her neck, following a dispute over a caste panchayat’s ban on a Rajput family entering a temple in Ulhasnagar on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Mamata Banerjee says she doesn’t believe in Bengal’s bulldozer politics

Trinamool Congress chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday, May 16, 2026, that she does not believe in Bengal’s bulldozer politics, alleging that the poor are the target of political arrogance.

Disposal of non-vegetable food waste in Ganges may hurt religious sentiments: Allahabad HC at iftar party

The Allahabad High Court observed that disposing of non-vegetarian food waste into the Ganges could harm the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. “The applicants apologize for their actions and even their families regret the pain caused to the society at large,” Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla said while granting bail to five people accused of throwing food waste into the river during iftar on a boat in Varanasi.

Cyberabad Police tightens investigation, likely to seek custody of Bageerath

While the Cyberabad Police has remained tight-lipped about further developments in the POCSO Act case involving Bandi Bageerath, citing that details of an ongoing investigation involving a minor cannot be disclosed, it is learned that the authorities have prepared a petition seeking the accused’s detention by the police for further questioning.

Manipur families demand release of Kuki and Naga captives

Families of 14 Kuki-Zo people abducted in the hill districts of Manipur have renewed their appeal for their safe release as the deadline fixed by a Naga apex organization for the State government to trace the missing community members expires on Sunday evening, May 17, 2026.

US evaluates drone threat from Cuba: report

Cuba has captured more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the US base at Guantanamo Bay, US military ships and possibly even Florida. axios Reported on Sunday, May 17, 2026, citing classified intelligence.

Israeli Prime Minister says all architects of October 7 attack are close to being killed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, May 17, 2026, that Israel has almost completed an important goal of the war in Gaza, namely eliminating everyone who planned the October 7 attack. These words of Netanyahu came after the Israeli army’s statement that Ezzedine Al-Haddad, the commander of Hamas’ armed wing, was killed in an air strike in Gaza on Friday, May 15, 2026.

NEET UG leak: CBI searches Renukai Chemistry Classes in Latur

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, conducted searches at the main office of Renukai Classes in Chemistry (RCC) in Latur, Maharashtra, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, sources said. CBI officials said the search at the RCC in the city’s Shivnagar area began in the afternoon and continued till late in the evening.

Dwarka is ready for infrastructure upgrade as CM announces ₹100 cr. plan

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday announced civil infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 100 crore in Dwarka and said the Center and the Delhi government were working together for the development of the national capital after years of “neglect” under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime.