India news: Cockroaches overtake Modi's BJP on Instagram
Key Points:
- The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a satirical youth-led movement critical of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rapidly gained over 10 million Instagram followers, surpassing the BJP's official account, but its X account was subsequently blocked in India.
- Delhi and much of northern India are experiencing a severe heatwave with temperatures reaching 46 degrees Celsius, causing health risks such as heatstroke and prompting authorities to provide relief through heat-relief vans and extended school vacations.
- India has issued a health advisory for travelers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries in Africa, leading to the postponement of the India-Africa Forum Summit originally scheduled for late May.
- The Indian rupee has depreciated significantly against the US dollar amid global challenges, prompting the government to consider measures to stabilize the currency, while the central bank has already intervened with currency support and credit lines.
- Diplomatic relations between India and Italy were elevated to a "special strategic partnership" following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rome, with plans to increase bilateral trade to €20 billion over the next three years.