Phase 2 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begins at 7 a.m., with voting set to determine the fate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several of her cabinet ministers. This round covers constituencies where more than half a dozen sitting ministers are on the ballot, making it one of the most consequential phases of the election. Mamata Banerjee, who leads the Trinamool Congress as both Chief Minister and party chairperson, is among the candidates whose seats are decided in this phase. The outcome will directly shape the balance of power in the state legislature. A strong showing by Trinamool could consolidate Banerjee's grip on government, while significant losses among ministers would weaken her administration's standing. Results from this phase, combined with other rounds, will ultimately determine who forms the next Bengal government. Observers are watching Banerjee's own constituency closely as a bellwether for the party's overall performance.
India's Expenditure Finance Committee has cleared a Rs 1.25 lakh crore outlay for India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, up 64 percent from ISM 1.0's Rs 76,000 crore. The proposal now goes to the Cabinet, as two chip plants begin commercial output and a third, CG Semi, is set to open July 4, 2026.
The Supreme Court blocked Trump from firing Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, preserving the Fed's independence from presidential removal power. A separate ruling the same day gave Trump broader authority to dismiss leaders of other independent federal agencies.
The US Supreme Court has blocked President Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who faced unproven mortgage fraud allegations. The ruling preserves Fed independence for now and keeps a politically charged removal case alive in the courts.
The US Supreme Court, splitting along ideological lines, has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.
