Times of India

Pope Leo XIV, the new pontiff, is gaining attention as a sports enthusiast. He showed his love for baseball and tennis. Jannik Sinner, the world's top-ranked tennis player, visited the Pope Leo XIV. Sinner gifted him a racket and invited him to play. The Pope joked about Wimbledon's dress code. Sinner is preparing for his Italian Open quarterfinal match.

In Paris, the pregnant daughter of a crypto executive and her child were targeted in a kidnapping attempt. Masked assailants attacked, but locals intervened, thwarting the abduction. The victims sustained minor injuries, and the attackers fled in a fake delivery van.

Trinamool Congress MLA Tapas Saha, representing Tehatta constituency in Nadia district, passed away at a Kolkata hospital due to a brain haemorrhage at the age of 66. Saha was admitted to the hospital after collapsing on Tuesday, but his condition deteriorated.

In Darbhanga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced police obstruction while attempting to enter Ambedkar hostel for the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ with students. Local authorities denied entry, leading to protests from Bihar Congress leaders. The administration reportedly shifted the venue, but Congress insisted on the original location.

Following public outcry and boycott calls against Turkey and Azerbaijan due to their stance during recent India-Pakistan tensions, travel bookings have plummeted. Major platforms like MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip report significant booking drops and cancellation surges.

Prithvi Shaw's recent social media activity has stirred discussions. He posted a cryptic message before the Indian Premier League resumes. Shaw's career has faced challenges with form and fitness. He was dropped from Mumbai's team and went unsold in the IPL auction. Shashank Singh suggested Shaw improve his lifestyle. The message raises questions about Shaw's next steps.

Microsoft's recent layoffs disproportionately affected software engineers, with over 40% of Washington state cuts hitting coding professionals. Project management roles also saw significant impact as the company invests heavily in AI, which is automating aspects of software development.

Gold rate today: Gold and silver prices faced a decline in the Multi Commodity Exchange. Safe haven demand decreased due to US-China trade discussions. Experts suggest precious metal prices will remain volatile.

Bangladesh has requested an additional $762 million from the IMF, potentially increasing total assistance to $4.1 billion. This request comes as the nation faces macroeconomic challenges, including slowed GDP growth and persistent inflation. The IMF's support is contingent upon Bangladesh undertaking critical reforms, such as exchange rate liberalization and tax improvements, to ensure financial stability.

Following a brief interruption, the IPL is set to resume on May 17, with Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants vying for the final playoff spot. MI and DC are in a strong position, while KKR and LSG face an uphill battle. Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have been eliminated from contention.

The Supreme Court reprimanded Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for his "irresponsible" remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, emphasizing that individuals in constitutional roles must exercise caution, especially during sensitive operations like Operation Sindoor. Shah's comments, suggesting the Prime Minister sent a "terrorists' sister" to harm them, led to widespread condemnation and a High Court order for an FIR against him.

Amazon's Project Kuiper, under Jeff Bezos, is vying for entry into India's satellite internet market, seeking DoT approval amidst competition from Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES JV. Kuiper plans a substantial infrastructure with ten gateways and two presence points, aiming for commercial launch later this year after recent satellite launches.

Sam Billings ignited a playful rivalry with Babar Azam by sharing a post highlighting their contrasting PSL 2025 records. Billings celebrated his blistering 19-ball fifty, the fastest this season, while subtly mocking Babar's slow 47-ball half-century. As the PSL 2025 is set to resume on May 17, all eyes are on how both players respond on the field.

Michael Rubin stated that Pakistan hastily sought a ceasefire after India effectively countered its missile and drone attacks. He highlighted India's precise strikes on terror infrastructure within Pakistan and PoK, which successfully neutralized Pakistan's retaliatory efforts. Rubin emphasized that India's diplomatic victory lies in shifting global focus onto Pakistan's support for terrorism, exposing the deep ties between the Pakistani military and terrorist organizations.

A fire broke out on Thursday morning at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce in Delhi's Pitampura. The blaze, which started in the library, was brought under control around 9:40 am after 11 fire tenders were deployed. No casualties were reported.

The Allahabad High Court has stated that Muslim men can marry more than once if they treat all wives equally, referencing Quranic permission for polygamy under specific conditions. This ruling came during a case involving Furkan, accused of bigamy and rape for marrying without disclosing his existing wife. The court dismissed the charges, acknowledging Muslim law allows multiple wives, and ordered further investigation while protecting Furkan from coercive action.

​Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, rallied strongly in trade on Thursday afternoon after a volatile first half on hopes of an early trade deal with the US.

Genelia Deshmukh is making a comeback with Aamir Khan in 'Sitaare Zameen Par'. She describes the role as special. Aamir plays a basketball coach training intellectually disabled children. The film explores themes of growth and acceptance. It features ten new young actors. Aamir Khan returns to acting after a break. The movie is set to release on June 20.

BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw returned to India after 22 days in Pakistan custody, bringing immense relief to his family in Kolkata. His wife, Rajni, confirmed his identity through a phone call and shared the news with their son. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee assured Rajni of Purnam's well-being and expressed her desire to meet him upon his return.