Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Japan asserted that India and Japan are poised to jointly influence the Asian century’s trajectory towards stability, growth and prosperity. Tensions flared between Congress and the BJP on Friday after PM Modi was allegedly abused during the INDIA bloc’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Darbhanga. Meanwhile, India’s GDP surged by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY 2025-26, exceeding expectations and surpassing the previous year’s 6.5 per cent growth.Here are the top 5 stories:PM Modi pitches ‘perfect partnership’ with Japan to boost trade and investmentDuring his two-day visit to Tokyo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized strengthening India-Japan ties, calling the partnership a “perfect fit” to lead Asia towards stability and prosperity. Speaking at the India-Japan Economic Forum, he highlighted India’s rapid economic growth, political stability, and transparent policies, inviting Japanese investors to explore opportunities. PM Modi proposed expanding collaboration beyond the automotive sector into robotics, semiconductors, and nuclear energy, aiming to create a robust, mutually beneficial relationship that boosts trade, investment, and technological cooperation between the two nations. Read full storyBJP demands apology over alleged abuses at Darbhanga Rally; Congress denies involvementA political controversy erupted on Friday, following allegations that PM Modi and his mother was abused during the INDIA bloc’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Darbhanga. Union home minister Amit Shah condemned the incident, demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi responded by asserting that “truth and non-violence” would prevail over “falsehood and violence.” Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that the derogatory remarks were made by “BJP agents” to divert attention from the Yatra. Read full storyIndia’s GDP grows 7.8 per cent in Q1 FY26India’s economy expanded by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY2025–26, outperforming the Reserve Bank of India‘s 6.5 per cent forecast and economists’ expectations of 6.7 per cent . This robust growth, the highest in five quarters, was driven by strong performances in agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors. Despite the imposition of 50 per cent US tariffs on Indian exports, analysts remain optimistic about India’s economic resilience. The Reserve Bank of India acknowledged the growth trajectory but cautioned about potential risks from ongoing trade uncertainties. Read full storyBengaluru techie arrested for allegedly driving wife to suicide over dowry demandsIn Bengaluru, a former software engineer-turned-panipuri vendor has been arrested for allegedly pressuring his 27-year-old wife, Shilpa, to suicide due to dowry demands. Read full story Shilpa’s family reported that after a lavish wedding costing approximately Rs 35 lakh and the gifting of 150 grams of gold, Praveen and his mother continued to demand an additional Rs 5 lakh for his street food business. The relentless harassment is believed to have led to Shilpa’s tragic death. The police are investigating the case further. Read full story India defeats China by 4-3 in Asia Cup 2025 hockey clashIndia edged past China 4-3 at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in a nail-biting encounter. Harmanpreet Singh starred with a hat-trick, while China responded with goals from Gao Jiesheng and Chen Benhai. The match saw tense moments, including India’s cheeky penalty corner attempts and a late yellow card for Jarmanpreet, but the Indian team held on to secure a hard-fought victory in the Asia Cup 2025. Read full story