Times of India

May Offer Price And Logistics Advantage

Central forces personnel at a polling booth in Gaighata allegedly prevented elderly men from voting in their lungis, citing dress code violations. This led to protests from villagers and Trinamool members, who accused the forces of harassment. The restriction was later withdrawn after the unrest.

Candace Owens faced fresh online backlash after a strange Charlie Kirk show clip and a leaked chat screenshot went viral. A controversial line from the chat sparked strong reactions, but Owens said it was taken out of context and meant as a joke. The debate now centers on authenticity, editing, and whether the full story is being shown.

Falta constituency witnessed a high-stakes election day with IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, dubbed 'Singham', patrolling while TMC candidate Jahangir Khan, 'Pushpa', monitored from his control room. Despite charged rhetoric, the anticipated confrontation didn't materialize, overshadowed by EVM complaints, leading to a repoll in Falta.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Bengal's record voter turnout signals a change, expressing confidence in the BJP's victory. He also predicted NDA's retention of Assam and Puducherry, with potential surprises in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Modi highlighted the high turnout as a reflection of fear-free elections and voters' awareness of their democratic rights.

West Bengal witnessed an unprecedented voter turnout of 92.9% across two phases, surpassing previous records and nearing India's highest. This surge, particularly in Kolkata, is attributed to voter roll corrections and enhanced security. Despite a reduced electorate, more votes were cast, with women outvoting men. Officials are investigating complaints of vote tampering.

Two men died after their car fell into a 150-foot gorge and caught fire on the Bharwain-Hoshiarpur road in Una district. The occupants, returning from Chintpurni temple, were charred to death. In a separate incident, over a dozen Delhi devotees were injured when their mini-van rolled off the road in Bilaspur district.

Kolkata's special electoral roll revision left many families fractured on poll day. While some voted, lakhs were disenfranchised as their names were deleted. Instances like Mariam Zaki, whose father and grandfather couldn't vote, and former MP Tarun Mandal highlight the widespread disappointment and confusion caused by the process, leaving many questioning the fairness of the deletions.

Abhishek Sharma has regained the Orange Cap with a swift 45, surpassing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Sharma now boasts 425 runs, with teammate Heinrich Klaasen climbing to second. Sooryavanshi drops to third, while KL Rahul and Virat Kohli round out the top five in a dynamic run-scoring race.

Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a six-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, successfully chasing a massive 244 with eight balls to spare. Their explosive batting overshadowed Ryan Rickelton's record-breaking unbeaten 123, which had propelled Mumbai to their highest total batting first. SRH's remarkable chase, the fourth-highest in IPL history, saw them reach 249/4.

In a heartbreaking episode in Siwan district, 28-year-old Harsh Kumar Singh lost his life due to a road rage altercation that left his father, Chandan Singh, in critical condition. What started as a minor accident spiraled into chaos when gunfire erupted amidst the escalating confrontation. Authorities are now in pursuit of the assailants with ongoing investigations and raid operations.

Sunrisers Hyderabad achieved a remarkable six-wicket win against Mumbai Indians. They successfully chased a record 244 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. This victory marks their fifth consecutive win in IPL 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad now move to third place in the points table. Mumbai Indians face their sixth loss this season.

US Fed Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meet: Jerome Powell-led US Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept the interest rates unchanged in the 3.5-3.75% range citing upside risks to inflation in view of the rising global energy prices.