Times of India

Exit polls for the Assam elections indicate a strong victory for the incumbent Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government, projecting a third consecutive term. Most pollsters suggest the BJP will secure a comfortable majority, leaving the Congress campaign with limited gains and pushing the party further into vulnerability.

Exit polls suggest Chief Minister MK Stalin's DMK alliance is poised to retain power in Tamil Nadu, though with a reduced majority. Newcomer Vijay's TVK shows potential to influence traditional vote bases, with projections varying but indicating a notable debut. The AIADMK faces persistent challenges, while the DMK aims for a significant milestone of consecutive terms.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is dominating IPL 2026, leading the Orange Cap race with 400 runs. His fearless approach against top international bowlers like Hazlewood and Cummins, including hitting boundaries from the first ball, signals a new era of confidence in Indian cricket, as noted by Irfan Pathan.

ICE has arrested an Indian-origin truck driver, Rajinder Kumar, accused in a fatal 2025 Oregon road accident that killed a newly married couple. Released from local custody on April 2, Kumar now faces removal proceedings after ICE claims local authorities did not comply with a detainer request.

Rajasthan Royals player Riyan Parag was reportedly seen vaping in the dressing room during a match, sparking debate and drawing a stern warning from former umpire Anil Chaudhary. The incident highlights concerns over player conduct and potential violations of India's ban on e-cigarettes, despite no specific cricket rule against vaping.

Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi humorously dismissed 'AI chip' allegations after a record-breaking IPL 2026 performance. He cheekily attributed his success to divine intervention. Sooryavanshi also became the fastest to 400 runs this season, showcasing his extraordinary talent and fearless batting.

Bhabanipur witnessed high-voltage drama as Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari traded barbs amid polling. Mamata accused the BJP of rigging, while Suvendu dismissed her claims as frustration. Tensions flared at a polling booth, requiring intervention by security forces. This phase is crucial for both TMC's stronghold and BJP's challenge in south Bengal.

While the world order evolves, and UAE’s decision impacts other major oil producers around the world, India which imports around 90% of its crude needs may actually stand to benefit.

With less than two months to go for the FIFA World Cup, India, China, and several Asian countries still lack an official broadcaster. High rights costs, inconvenient match timings, and cricket's dominance have deterred buyers in India. This poses challenges for FIFA’s outreach in the region, though a last-minute deal remains possible.

Robotic dogs with the faces of tech billionaires roam Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie, generating AI art and printed interpretations of their surroundings. This installation by Mike Winkelmann, titled Regular Animals, critiques how algorithms and digital platforms now shape our perception of reality, making abstract systems tangible and prompting critical reflection.

The US Department of Justice is suing tech firm Cloudera for allegedly discriminating against American job seekers. Prosecutors claim the company created a sham hiring process, favoring temporary visa holders for lucrative roles and actively deterring US workers. This lawsuit highlights the DOJ's commitment to protecting domestic employment opportunities.

Rajasthan Royals secured a thrilling six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings, powered by a sensational opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Jaiswal lauded Sooryavanshi's aggressive batting, emphasizing their clear intent to chase the massive total. Despite a mid-innings wobble, the team's strong environment and belief ultimately led them to a memorable win.

President Trump criticized Iran's negotiation tactics, stating they "don't know how to sign a non-nuclear deal" and urged them to "get smart soon." This comes as the US reportedly prepares for an extended blockade strategy to limit Iran's regional influence, shifting from short-term measures to sustained economic and military pressure.

Prime Minister Modi lauded West Bengal's high voter turnout in the second phase of assembly elections, highlighting a "fearless atmosphere." He expressed confidence in a BJP hat-trick of victories across five states, citing recent successes in Bihar and Gujarat. The results on May 4 are anticipated to bolster the resolve for a developed India.

Jean Paul-Sartre once said: Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you, and America – with its freedom from Britain and other colonial powers – develop its own peculiarities, one of which is the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a night where the press and the White House ostensibly bury their differences over a few shots. Normally those shots are jokes like Obama’s anger translator or Reagan dialling in after an assassination attempt, but this year they came from the barrel of a deranged gunman who had managed to waltz past security.

Google quietly withdrew from a Pentagon competition to build voice-controlled autonomous drone swarms—after initially being selected as a successful submission. The $100 million contest, run by Special Operations Command and the Defense Innovation Unit, seeks technology to direct drone swarms in real-time battlefield scenarios. Google cited "resourcing" issues, but the exit is said to be followed by an internal ethics review. OpenAI, Palantir, and xAI remain in the running.

'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge', directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun and Yami Gautam in a cameo, is just Rs. 7.24 crore away from surpassing 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion's nine-year worldwide record of Rs. 1,788.06 crore to become the second highest-grossing Indian film of all time globally after 'Dangal'. On Day 42, the film's worldwide gross stands at Rs. 1,780.82 crore with an India net of Rs. 1,133.05 crore, approximately Rs. 101 crore away from 'Pushpa 2: The Rule's all-time domestic record of Rs. 1,234.1 crore. Released across 10,000 screens on March 19, 2026 with a record Rs. 90 crore opening day, the 229-minute U/A certified espionage thriller has achieved all of this without a single show in China or the six Gulf markets where it remains banned.

In this exclusive interview, Vincent Keymer reflected on his rise from winning the Grenke Open at 13 to claiming the Grenke Freestyle 2026 title in Karlsruhe. Germany’s No. 1 spoke about freestyle chess relying more on intuition, handling the “intimidation factor” of Magnus Carlsen, and balancing school with chess while growing up in a family of musicians. Keymer also praised coach Péter Lékó and discussed the challenges young chess players face in Germany compared to countries like India.

Riddhi Dogra, a recent fan-favorite from 'The 50', shared her surreal experience playing Shah Rukh Khan's mother in 'Jawan'. She revealed her childhood admiration for SRK fueled her decision, despite initial anxieties about portraying an older role. Director Atlee's team struggled to age her, ultimately embracing her youthful appearance as a deliberate narrative choice for the film's flashback sequences.

Shammi Silva resigned as president of Sri Lanka Cricket along with the board’s entire executive committee, the organisation confirmed on Wednesday. Silva had led SLC since 2019, overseeing Asia Cup successes but also disappointing World Cup campaigns and declining rankings for the men’s team. The reason for the mass resignations has not been officially disclosed.