The Today’s Chanakya Exit Poll 2026 projections suggest a clear electoral trend across major states, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) likely to retain power in Tamil Nadu, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to secure a dominant victory in West Bengal and maintain a strong
FDI norms soon for companies with part-Chinese stakeThe Cabinet on March 10 allowed the automatic approval route for overseas investors with up to 10% ownership from countries sharing a land border with India Updated on: May 01, 2026 6:53 AM IST By Rajeev Jayaswal Share via Copy link The government
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea by the Trinamool Congress challenging the Election Commission’s decision to mandate the deployment of Union government employees as counting supervisors during the West Bengal election results, Bar and Bench reported
The first edition of The Economic Times ET GenAI Hackathon has wrapped up, with winners announced after participation from over 54,000 registrants nationwide. The three-phase competition showcased innovative GenAI solutions, awarded a ₹10 lakh prize pool
OAKLAND, Calif. — Elon Musk on Thursday sparred with an attorney for OpenAI during his third day of testimony in the contentious trial over the company's pivot from nonprofit status to a for-profit venture valued at hundreds of billions of dollars
Chris Wood almost led Nottingham Forest to the Champions League last season. After six months out, he could yet do it this time. The striker's unstoppable penalty gave Forest a narrow first-leg lead in their Europa League semi-final tussle with Aston Villa on Thursday
Cognizant’s move coincides with the rollout of ‘Project Leap’, a transformation programme aimed at boosting AI investments, strengthening digital capabilities and reskilling staff. IT major Cognizant Technology is planning to cut nearly 4,000 jobs, or about 1 per cent of its workforce
Air travel between India and Qatar is set to regain momentum after an extended period of disruption, with key Indian airlines preparing to restart operations at Hamad International Airport, Doha. After nearly two months of severely restricted air traffic in the region
What's at stake as ICC judges hear charges against ex-Philippine president Duterte?
The International Criminal Court is holding a hearing to determine whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte should stand trial for crimes against humanity committed during his bloody "war on drugs".
The campaign, which Duterte waged as a city mayor and then throughout his six-year presidency, saw the extrajudicial killings of tens of thousands of alleged dealers, users and others, human rights groups say. ICC prosecutors allege he was involved in at least 76 murders and have charged him with three counts of crimes against humanity.
Duterte, 80, drew international condemnation over the campaign, but was unfazed, at one point saying he'd be "happy to slaughter" millions of "drug addicts" who he said were destroying the country.
"Duterte's so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children," prosecutor Mame Niang told the judges on Monday, calling for Duterte to be held to account. The proceedings were "a reminder that those in power are not above the law", he said.
Duterte waived his right to be present in the courtroom, saying he does not recognise the ICC's authority. He maintains his innocence, his lawyer said.
The hearing will be held over four days, after which ICC judges must decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial.
Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016, having promised to eradicate street crime by cracking down on illegal drugs. He had built a reputation for being tough against crime as mayor of Davao, a sprawling southern metropolis, and said peace and order were necessary to spur investments.
Despite his contentious legacy, his presidential campaign and strongman style proved hugely popular in a country with rampant drug issues. He frequently portrayed himself as a political outsider, and promised to champion the interest of Filipinos in the provinces who felt marginalised by Manila's elite.
Duterte is also notorious for his shocking rhetoric. He has been known to make sexist remarks, previously cursed at the late Pope Francis and former US president Barack Obama, and once compared himself to Hitler.
"Hitler massacred three million Jews... There are three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them," he said.
He has remained staunchly unapologetic about his drug crackdown over the years, saying in a video filmed as he was being taken to The Hague: "What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?"
Despite being in jail at The Hague, he remains popular, especially in Davao where he won the 2025 mayoral race by a landslide.
His daughter, Sara, is the current vice-president, while his son, Sebastian, is vice-mayor of Davao, currently serving as acting mayor.
Rodrigo Duterte is the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
Duterte is accused of "crimes against humanity" for murder and attempted murder, as well as other offences between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, when he withdrew the Philippines from the jurisdiction of the ICC.
During this period, which straddled his time both as Davao mayor and the first half of his six-year presidential term, he is accused of acting as an "indirect co-perpetrator" who used others as tools to kill.
Prosecutors claim he used police officers and hired hitmen to "neutralise" people branded as criminals, and the tactic was part of his flagship anti-drug drive called Operation Double Barrel.
As president, Duterte openly encouraged the police to shoot and kill suspected drug dealers and users. The killings, which often involved people being gunned down on the streets or in alleys by unidentified men, sparked outrage.
Human rights monitors say the campaign targeted small-time pushers from the country's urban poor, while failing to bring big-time dealers and kingpins to justice. They also say suspects were summarily executed.
The true toll will never be known, although some rights groups believe as many as 30,000 people were killed in the campaign.
Duterte and his officials have denied the allegations. The police have always insisted that they only killed in self-defence.
Duterte has refused to recognise the ICC proceedings, arguing that during his term, the country pulled out of the Rome Statute, the international agreement that established the ICC.
He announced last week that he would not be present at this week's hearing, saying he is "old, tired and frail", while condemning the charges as "an outrageous lie".
Duterte's arrest and deportation last March was the result of a dramatic chain of events - precipitated by a falling out between his daughter, Sara, and his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Marcos and Duterte families had formed a formidable alliance in the 2022 election to solidify their support bases, but later feuded as they pursued divergent political paths.
Marcos had previously refused to co-operate with the ICC investigation, categorically declaring that the Philippines "will not cooperate" with the Court "in any way, shape, or form".
But as his relationship with the Duterte family deteriorated, he changed his stance. Duterte's supporters now allege that Marcos is using the ICC as a political tool.
The arrest shocked the nation. Duterte was apprehended at Manila airport after arriving from Hong Kong and hours later was flown to The Hague, where he is detained to this day.
The whole process of his extradition, from his detention in Manila to his arrival in The Hague, has been documented on social media by his daughter Kitty - as well as by Duterte himself, through his aide.
Over the course of more than 24 hours during his transit from Manila to The Hague, Duterte shared to Facebook a series of videos which allowed the world to follow the details of his journey - right down to the meals he was served on board his chartered jet.
These provided rare insight into what is usually an opaque process.
In the Philippines, the case is part of a broader power struggle between the Duterte and Marcos families.
The son of the ruthless dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda, Marcos Jr had a political career charted out for him by his parents – but this was derailed by a revolution in 1986 led to the family's downfall.
In the 1990s, Marcos became a provincial governor, congressman and senator, before running and winning the presidential race in 2022 after striking a deal with the Dutertes and making Sara his vice-president.
The Duterte-Marcos alliance of 2022 had resurrected the Marcos dynasty - but there was not enough power to share after the election victory, and the so-called UniTeam alliance quickly unravelled.
As the feud heated up, Marcos allowed authorities to arrest the elder Duterte and bring him to The Hague.
More recently, Sara Duterte declared her intention to run for president in 2028, an election where Marcos is barred from seeking re-election because the country's presidents are not allowed to serve more than one term.
For the ICC, the Duterte case is a test of the court's ability to prosecute a former head of state over domestic policies.
It is a court of last resort designed to hold the most powerful to account when domestic courts are unable or unwilling to do so. However, it has no power to arrest people without the co-operation of the countries they are in.
The confirmation of charges hearing that started on Monday will be held over four days.
After that, the ICC has 60 days to issue a written decision on whether there is enough evidence to bring the case to a full trial.
It took almost a year from Duterte's arrest for the pre-trial confirmation of charges to start.
Before Monday, the court heard petitions by Duterte's lawyers to stop the proceedings, citing health reasons. The court has ruled, however, that Duterte is fit to participate.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Secular court cannot determine if religious practice is superstition India Will Determine Its Rise Combination of factors to determine impact of Trump tariff on Indian exports Iran will determine when the war ends Abu Salem international criminal SIR Timeline Faces Uncertainty As Supreme Court Order May Push Hearing Delhi High Court Hearing At -23°C Supreme Court sets timeline for CAA hearing Supreme Court stays criminal defamation proceedings against Rahul Gandhi Supreme Court hearing on SIR updates
Gujarat Titans secured a four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gujarat Titans chose to field first. Royal Challengers Bengaluru were bowled out for 155. Gujarat Titans chased down the target with 25 balls remaining. Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler played key roles in the chase
2 hours ago
Tamil Nadu Exit Poll: Superstar Vijay’s TVK projected for historic debut with 120 seats; a new MGR-style rise? Tamil Nadu exit polls 2026: A dramatic transformation is imminent in the politics of Tamil Nadu. As per the Axis My India exit poll, the newly formed political party of superstar Vijay
2 hours ago
TRAI pushes for tech that enables real-time accident alerts, traffic monitoringThe technology will be enabled by on-board wireless communication devices and can allow features for safety, such as warning drivers of an impending collision. Updated on: May 01
2 hours ago
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath in a column in the Indian Express on April 28 headlined “Story of new UP” spoke of restoring “dignity, belonging, and hope” to the state. No child of Uttar Pradesh “should ever feel compelled to leave home in search of dignity and opportunity”
2 hours ago
Adani Ports Q4 Results: Adani Ports posts strong Q4 results with profit up 10 per cent and revenue surging 26 per cent, while outlining ambitious plans to double growth by 2030. Adani Ports Q4 Results: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, closed the March quarter on a strong note
2 hours ago
China will scrap tariffs for all African countries from Friday – except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan. As of December 2024, China had already implemented a duty-free policy for 33 least-developed African nations. The policy now covers 53 countries
2 hours ago
How two months of war in West Asia hit global markets and the economyHere is a look at the war's impact so far on global financial markets and the economy. Updated on: May 01, 2026 6:18 AM IST By Sreedev Krishnakumar Share via Copy link Two months after the US-Israel war with Iran began on February
2 hours ago
Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients. Misleading food ads are fuelling a public health crisis in India. Help Scroll expose the systemic failure. Support our investigation.Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients
2 hours ago
On April 29, the second day of polling in West Bengal, a viral video from the state showed a group of men assaulting others in a narrow lane. Strikingly, Central forces patrolling the lane watched the violence, without intervening. Media reports described it as a clash between workers of the
3 hours ago
Prosecutors in California have filed a criminal charge against Britney Spears over her arrest last month for allegedly driving under the influence. The pop star is facing one misdemeanour count of driving under the influence of any alcohol and drug
3 hours ago
US jobless claims dropped significantly last week, falling below 200,000. This occurred despite ongoing economic challenges, including the war in Iran and elevated oil prices. Consumer prices have also seen a substantial monthly increase. The Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate
3 hours ago
All Maharashtra council candidates to be elected unopposed after Congress opts outOf the ten seats, nine are due for biennial elections as sitting members retire on May 13. Published on: May 01, 2026 6:52 AM IST By Faisal Malik, Saurabha Kulshreshtha Share via Copy link All candidates contesting
3 hours ago
OnePlus Pad 4 arrives in India with a big 13,380mAh battery: Price, specs, featuresThe OnePlus Pad 4 will be up for grabs in India starting May 5. Users will get an instant discount of ₹5,000 on its purchase. Updated on: Apr 30, 2026 4:55 PM IST Share via Copy link You may be interested in 11%
3 hours ago
The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on a plea for anticipatory bail filed by Congress leader Pawan Khera. The case involves allegations of defamation and forgery against the wife of Assam's Chief Minister. Khera argues his statements only constitute defamation
3 hours ago
As planting season dawned across South East Asia's rice fields, Suchart Piamsomboon, a 60-year-old farmer from Thailand's Chachoengsao province, went to the local shop for fertilisers. And, he was told, it might not arrive. Even if it did, it would cost over 1
3 hours ago
Following the completion of the voting in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Wednesday, the exit polls for the five states, in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, are out. In 2026, most pollsters are of the opinion that the BJP will retain power in Assam and Puducherry
3 hours ago
From the latest Yellowstone spin-off to a new take on William Golding's classic novel about violent schoolboys, and a supernatural series produced by the Stranger Things creators – these are the best series to watch and stream. Jack Thorne, writer of the brilliant series Adolescence and the hit
3 hours ago
UGC NET Registrations: There has been a major change in the eligibility criteria this year. Students with a four-year undergraduate degree (FYUGP) can also appear for NET. UGC NET June 2026: The National Testing Agency has released the UGC NET June 2026 notification
3 hours ago
Indian techie with ₹40 lakh loan forced to return after H1B setback, says job market feels ‘brutal’An Indian techie returned from the US after an H1B setback, faced a tough job market and struggled with a ₹40 lakh loan. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 9:44 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share
3 hours ago
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned ongoing military and economic pressure on Iran, arguing that measures such as the US naval blockade of its ports are effectively a continuation of hostile actions against the country In a post on X on Thursday, Pezeshkian said
3 hours ago
The Vande Bharat will stop at only four stations: Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar. Pilgrims headed to Vaishno Devi get a direct pick-up at Katra. The wait is finally over. Today, April 30, 2026, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off the Jammu–Srinagar Vande
3 hours ago
What if The Devil Wears Prada characters were tarot cards?Tarot reader Kishori Sud did something fun and decoded the characters of The Devil Wears Prada as tarot cards, based on their personality. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 8:40 PM IST By Kanakanjali Roy Share via Copy link After a long 20-year
3 hours ago
Both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel compete directly across almost every telecom service in India, and their Rs 355 prepaid plans are no different. This price point is not for everyone, as the 30-day validity makes it a relatively expensive option compared to plans that offer daily data limits
3 hours ago
How many NBA titles does Klay Thomson have? Rings and achievements sparks buzz amid Megan Thee Stallion rowKlay Thompson has gained public attention following his breakup with Megan Thee Stallion. The NBA star has won four championships with Golden State. Published on: May 01
3 hours ago
The Athletic editor admits failure in Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandalSteven Ginsberg addressed staff regarding the Dianna Russini scandal, admitting communication mistakes. He held a brief meeting but took no questions. Published on: May 01
3 hours ago
Best Time To Visit Goa: Discover the best time to visit Goa with seasonal weather highlights, and essential travel tips to help you make the most of a getaway to the tourist paradise. The sun-soaked expanses of Goa can feel both slow and spirited
3 hours ago
A day after the National Council – Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) (staff side) requested the 8th Pay Commission to extend the deadline of memorandum submission from April 30, 2026, the 8th CPC today (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) extended the due date to May 31, 2026
3 hours ago
