Times of India

After an 18-year wait, Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their maiden IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs. All-rounder Krunal Pandya expressed immense emotion, dedicating the historic victory to the passionate RCB fans and long-serving player Virat Kohli, who was visibly moved by the triumph.

'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge', directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun, is on the verge of becoming the second highest-grossing Indian film of all time globally, with a worldwide gross of Rs. 1,777.52 crore, just Rs. 10.54 crore away from surpassing 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion's Rs. 1,788.06 crore record. On Day 40, the film's India net stands at Rs. 1,130.69 crore, approximately Rs. 103 crore away from 'Pushpa 2: The Rule's all-time domestic record of Rs. 1,234.1 crore.

India is set to relaunch seaplane services with SkyHop Aviation receiving its operator's license. The company will initially connect five Lakshadweep islands and the mainland using a 19-seater aircraft. This initiative, supported by government incentives and a modified De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, aims to improve regional connectivity and tourism.

Magnus Carlsen won the Chess.com Open, while Denis Lazavik beat Nihal Sarin, leaving no Indian qualified yet for the Esports World Cup 2026, as of yet. Extra qualification spots don’t pass down, increasing pressure on Sarin. He remains India’s one of the besthopes, with chances through circuit rankings and qualifiers in the evolving esports chess format.

The Baloch Liberation Army claims to have conducted 27 operations in Balochistan, resulting in 42 Pakistani military personnel killed and one captured. Attacks included IED blasts, ambushes, and raids targeting security forces and pro-government individuals. The group also reported three of its fighters died. This follows a recent deadly attack on a Pakistan Coast Guard vessel.

A Swiss International Air Lines flight aborted take-off at Delhi airport due to an engine fire, leading to a chaotic evacuation. A senior executive described the incident as "complete mismanagement" on the ground, citing issues with emergency response, passenger accounting, and hotel arrangements. The airline crew, however, was praised for their handling of the situation onboard.

India-New Zealand FTA: It aims to double bilateral trade, provide Indian exporters duty-free access to the New Zealand market, and attract investments worth $20 billion over the next 15 years.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi was fined 20% of his match fee and given a demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during Kolkata Knight Riders’ clash with Lucknow Super Giants. He reacted angrily after an obstructing-the-field dismissal. Despite the incident, KKR won a Super Over thriller, thanks to Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 83.

Expert unveils a simple parenting trick that empowers children by offering them two acceptable choices, both leading to the desired outcome. This technique fosters independence in kids and reduces daily battles over routines like mornings and bedtime. Parents can effectively use this to encourage cooperation and build confidence in their children.

Fuel prices held steady across major Indian cities on Monday, defying volatile global crude oil markets driven by Middle East tensions. Despite Brent crude exceeding $106 per barrel, domestic petrol and diesel rates remained unchanged. This stability, however, is precarious, with potential hikes looming if international oil prices continue their ascent.

In a communication to all zones, the Railway Board has directed them to conduct detailed inspections of train rakes and prepare time-bound action plans to address deficiencies in passenger amenities.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed seven Rajya Sabha MPs who defected from AAP to BJP, praising their parliamentary conduct. The move significantly boosts BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha, while AAP has petitioned for the disqualification of the defecting members.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked debate with predictions of economic collapse post-AGI due to mass unemployment. Ironically, he's adopting polyphasic sleep, claiming GPT-5.5's advancements are too compelling to miss. This comes as OpenAI launched GPT-5.5, boasting enhanced reasoning and coding, outperforming rivals.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit the streets of Kolkata, visiting a local market to connect with vendors and shoppers. She discussed prices of essentials and assured continued state support. This move comes amid a political battle over cultural identity, with Banerjee also criticizing Prime Minister Modi's recent outreach events.

Krunal Pandya has stood out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 by adapting brilliantly in a batter-dominated game. With clever variations, bouncers, and sharp tactics, he has handled all match situations. Despite higher economy, his fearless approach and innovation have impressed, with Dinesh Karthik calling him a “trend-setter” redefining finger-spin. Krunal now aims for an India comeback.

Rinku Singh starred in Kolkata Knight Riders’s thrilling win over Lucknow Super Giants, scoring an unbeaten 83 and taking four catches. Sunil Narine sealed the Super Over by conceding just one run. After the match, a viral video showed Rinku correcting his sister from “bhaiya” to “brother” while praising Narine, leaving everyone laughing.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices will closely track movements on the rate decisions by several central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, this week, says Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.

Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs have officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, bolstering the NDA's numbers in the Upper House. This move, facilitated by the anti-defection law's provision for two-thirds party mergers, sees the BJP's strength increase significantly. The party anticipates further gains by year-end, nearing a crucial two-thirds majority.

Over 240 CCTV cameras at M Chinnaswamy Stadium were rendered non-functional on April 24. This disruption affected security surveillance during the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. Two individuals working for a sub-vendor were apprehended. They allegedly damaged Network Video Recorder systems and fibre connections. The accused claimed non-payment of dues as the reason for their actions.