Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Series, a college-popular social networking app, has raised a $5.1 million pre-seed round to develop an AI-powered social experience inside iMessage. The founders, still early in their college journey, say the next wave is blending familiar messaging with smarter discovery and connections, backed by prominent tech investors.
Hindustan Zinc says it aims to double output by 2030 and may revisit a demerger plan first proposed in 2023. That proposal was opposed by the Government of India, which holds a 27.92% stake, citing potential disadvantages for minority shareholders. The company’s chair suggested the issue could resurface after the demerger related to Vedanta is completed, without committing to a timeline.
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The S&P 500 closed at a record high, accelerating a market rally powered by technology stocks. Investors remain upbeat as company earnings hold up and growth expectations stay firm, even as global tensions linger in the background. The index has surged by roughly $7.6 trillion since March, and optimism is growing that the uptrend can continue if earnings momentum persists.
A Special NDPS court in Kutch sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment each and Rs 2 lakh fines for smuggling 76.936 kg of heroin worth about Rs 384.68 crore. The case arose from a Karachi-linked vessel, Al Husseini, intercepted off Jakhau in December 2021, after nearly four years of legal proceedings.
Rising worries about fuel availability and price hikes linked to the West Asia conflict are nudging Indian buyers toward electric vehicles. Electric car sales have increased sharply, lifting their share of new car sales by 5.1% in March. Industry leaders call it a structural shift, with automakers expanding EV lineups and scaling charging networks to match demand.
Weeks ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping, the US administration sanctioned China’s Hengli Petrochemical refinery and about 40 shipping firms and tankers tied to transporting Iranian oil. The action, reported by AP, coincides with intensified pressure in the region, including a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a hard line on Iran-linked trade.
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Carlos Alcaraz’s bid for a French Open three-peat has suffered a major blow after a wrist injury flared during the first round of the Barcelona Open. Initial concerns grew after scans showed it was more serious than expected, prompting him to withdraw from Barcelona, then Madrid, and now skip the Rome Masters as well. The 22-year-old’s Paris hopes hang in doubt.
Indian cinema is bracing for a box office squeeze in 2026 as major releases are pushed back, widening the content gap. Forecasts have been revised sharply, with expected growth now at 10–15% instead of earlier 25–30%. Producers are recalibrating after franchise wins, triggering reshoots and leaning toward mid-budget films.
A Nagaon District and Sessions Court in Assam has sentenced 20 people to life imprisonment for the mob lynching of Nilotpal Das and Abhijit Nath. The verdict comes after an eight-year delay. While the court delivered life terms, the victims’ families are dissatisfied, saying they sought the death penalty, and are weighing further legal action, including approaching the High Court.
India’s telecom ministry plans to launch an enhanced Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) with a higher outlay by October, Minister of State for Telecom Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said. The government has already allocated about ₹540 crore to 100+ companies under the existing TTDF, many of which are working on 6G-related research and development.
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India’s formal loan market roared back in FY26, with credit flows rising 38% after a prior-year contraction. RBI policy rate cuts and liquidity injections helped restart demand, driving credit expansion to ₹44.6 lakh crore. The outstanding financial resources of India’s commercial sector also crossed ₹300 lakh crore for the first time, signaling broad-based momentum.
Virat Kohli anchored Bengaluru’s successful 206-run chase with 81 off 44 at the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, sharing a decisive partnership with Devdutt Padikkal. Gujarat posted 205-3, driven by Sai Sudharsan’s fluent 100 off 58, but Bengaluru overhauled the target in 18.5 overs, leaving the century stranded.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hit back at BJP leader Sunil Sharma’s comments on statehood restoration. Sharma argued the process should not be tied to any political leader or family, while also questioning the current government’s performance. Abdullah, meanwhile, accused the central government of using the delay as “punishment,” adding fresh heat to the political dispute.
A new framework under the India Energy Stack could let consumers access detailed data on how much power they generate and use, with electricity bills potentially issued as digital credentials. REC Ltd, the implementing nodal agency, says these credentials could be delivered through DigiLocker or similar platforms, aiming to make energy transactions more transparent and easier to track.
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A major scientific study warns that climate change will intensify extreme weather, with heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires increasing in frequency and impact. By 2085, more than one-third of land animal habitats could be threatened. Researchers say multiple climate stressors overlapping could speed biodiversity loss and raise extinction risks across ecosystems worldwide.
Ahead of elections in Bengal, domestic helpers are returning, underscoring how deeply middle class urban life depends on their work. The article notes a shift in domestic labour itself: full time roles are giving way to part time gigs, letting workers negotiate schedules and pay. The result is a quieter but significant change in bargaining power at home.
Raghav Chadha’s sudden exit from AAP to join BJP along with six MPs has triggered instant chaos—first in political circles, then across social media. Memes, satire, and reactions poured in as users turned the dramatic switch into jokes, fueling a viral debate on loyalty, optics, and what happens next in Parliament.
Multiple Aam Aadmi Party leaders have switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab, a move being read as election-season preparation. Observers say BJP is using defectors linked to AAP’s prior electoral gains to improve its reach across emerging voter blocs ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
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ComfyUI, a toolset that lets creators steer AI image, video, and audio generation, has raised $30 million and reportedly hit a $500 million valuation. The startup’s pitch centers on giving artists more control rather than pushing fully automated outputs, as demand grows for workflows that feel more like traditional creation than black-box generation.
Seventy-three opposition members have filed a fresh Rajya Sabha notice seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, their second attempt after an earlier one was rejected. The notice alleges nine grounds ranging from partisan conduct to electoral fraud. The timing is notable as it comes ahead of the West Bengal election results.
X has launched XChat, a new stand-alone iOS app focused on messaging features. The app highlights private chats, disappearing messages, and built-in audio and video calling. It positions the service as a more self-contained alternative within the X ecosystem, aiming to deliver privacy-forward communication and richer real-time interaction.
Authorities in Sopore, Baramulla district, have booked six people under the Public Safety Act, alleging their involvement in law-and-order disturbances and vandalism during a student protest. The detainees are held in Bhadarwah District Jail. The Public Safety Act permits preventive detention without trial, raising concerns about due process even before any case is heard.
Telecom minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged Indian operators to significantly ramp up research and development to lead next-generation mobile networks. He pointed to comparatively low telecom R&D investment versus global players, even as revenues rise. The government, meanwhile, is preparing for 6G through the Bharat 6G Vision and regulatory sandboxes to encourage innovation and experimentation.
Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, including high-profile names like Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal. The split reportedly involves about two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha strength, allowing them to avoid anti-defection scrutiny. The development comes with Punjab Assembly elections approaching, reshaping political alignments.
New details from the Nancy Guthrie case point to what happened in her last moments. A retired FBI agent says blood spatter patterns outside her home suggest she was close to the ground, possibly on her knees or lying down, and that the injuries may have involved coughing up blood. Other marks are interpreted as evidence she was taken away. Guthrie has been missing since February 1.
Noida International Airport has appointed CFO Nitu Samra as interim CEO after the planned CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, was denied security clearance over his non-Indian nationality. Schnellmann will move to executive vice chairman to keep operations steady. The airport now awaits BCAS approval of its security program, aiming to fast-track flight operations.
Kofi Offeh, the self-styled “African king” linked to an illegal camp in Scotland, has been deported to Ghana. Back home, he is openly declaring plans to take over the country and set up a new kingdom centered on Sunyani, dubbed the “Sun City.” His remarks are stirring alarm after his controversial time near Jedburgh.
Ahead of the Kharif season, the government says India’s fertiliser supply is robust, with data showing availability exceeding expected demand for key nutrients. It claims stocks are high and is tightening monitoring to prevent hoarding while ensuring timely distribution. With support for subsidised urea and both global sourcing and domestic production, officials say farmers won’t face shortages.
India has assured Mauritius it will continue honoring Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) benefits, following a Supreme Court ruling that triggered worries for cross-border investors. India also eased the application of the General Anti-Avoidance Rule for older investments, aiming to reduce uncertainty and provide clearer tax outcomes for foreign investors and private equity funds.
Union minister Amit Shah said West Bengal voters are making history with their support for “Parivartan” and asserted the BJP is poised to secure 110 seats in the first phase of the assembly election. He also suggested the next Chief Minister will be a Bengali-speaking leader, framing the outcome as a decisive shift under BJP rule.
Former Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, speaking in his memoir “Four Stars of Destiny,” has rejected claims that India lost territory during the 2020 Indo-China border standoff. He says no inch of land was surrendered and also pushes for armed forces to remain insulated from political narratives, arguing that politicization damages trust and operational focus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized the Trinamool Congress over the RG Kar rape and murder case, and alleged anti-national slogans were written on Jadavpur University walls. While addressing voters, he projected confidence in a BJP victory in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, saying a BJP government would hold those involved in the case accountable.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by suggesting he could take a boat ride on the cleaner Hooghly river. She contrasted it with Delhi’s Yamuna, saying such a trip would be impossible there due to pollution, and blamed the BJP-led administration for the river’s condition.
Violence erupted in Manipur on Friday as armed groups from rival tribal communities clashed in Ukhrul district. Three people were killed in two separate firing incidents, including the deaths of volunteers during a full-scale armed attack on a village. Houses were also set ablaze, displacing residents who staged protests demanding intervention.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks about Jadavpur University. Banerjee argued that student demonstrations are the true expression of democracy and said the university’s longstanding reputation among top institutions should not be dismissed. She claimed Modi’s comments insult not only the campus but also its passionate students.
The US has imposed steep preliminary anti-dumping duties of 123% on Indian solar cells and modules, a move the Indian solar industry says is unlikely to cause major immediate damage to exporters. Still, it raises concerns for the sector as the case progresses, adding pressure to an already competitive global market.
Indrapastha Gas Limited has proposed reducing piped natural gas pressure to 1 bar for industrial users, aiming to reduce wastage and protect regular supply. But restaurant operators worry the lower pressure may slow cooking. The proposal lands as Delhi already faces LPG shortages, adding pressure on eateries relying on gas for daily operations.
The European Union is escalating pressure on Google, demanding that it give rival AI search assistants equal access to Android features. Regulators say the move should help services like ChatGPT and Claude compete, while Google argues it could expose users to security and privacy risks. The push is fueled by the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
Intel’s turnaround is accelerating: its stock has surged beyond dot-com era peaks, powered by unexpected AI chip demand. Sales of Xeon server CPUs reportedly included previously written-off inventory, helping drive a more than 24% rally. Analysts say the move reflects a wider semiconductor rebound as AI infrastructure spending keeps ramping and competitors benefit too.
India is tightening cybersecurity as AI-powered attacks target critical infrastructure, finance systems and citizen data. Under the Modi government, policy and industry are being aligned around Zero Trust and Aadhaar-linked facial identity, alongside proposed “digital highway” compliance rules. Experts say the move is driven by fast digitisation and a cybersecurity market projected to hit $15.06 billion by 2031.
Elon Musk’s Terafab proposal aims to feed AI’s energy hunger by combining chipmaking with power generation in space. While competitors are pursuing conventional on-Earth infrastructure, Terafab’s success hinges on solving difficult engineering and cost hurdles. If it works, it could redraw the semiconductor landscape and reshape AI data-center power planning worldwide.
Nvidia says OpenAI’s Codex AI agent is now available to all employees after an early rollout to about 10,000 staff. The pilot reached multiple functions beyond engineering, including product, legal, marketing, and sales—signaling the company is pushing AI into everyday workflows across the organization.
Reliance Retail Ventures expanded its four-hour apparel quick-delivery service Ajio Rush to 600+ cities by end-March 2026, a massive leap from 10 cities a quarter earlier. It is also experimenting with two-hour apparel deliveries. Alongside, JioMart’s hyperlocal orders grew sharply, while Reliance Retail’s profit saw only a marginal rise.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says new seed and pesticide laws are nearing completion and will be brought in the next Parliament session. The rules target fake farm inputs with stricter penalties while shifting planning towards region-specific agriculture. The government also links the move to food security, higher farm incomes, better nutrition, improved access to quality seeds and credit, and preparation for possible water shortages.
Union parliamentary minister Kiren Rijiju hit back at Congress MP Jairam Ramesh after 73 opposition Rajya Sabha MPs submitted a fresh notice to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing “proven misbehaviour.” Rijiju said constitutional authorities cannot be intimidated and pointed to India’s independent judiciary, framing the dispute as an attempt to pressure electoral governance.
Foreign universities are increasingly setting up campuses in India, signaling a shift in the country’s higher-education landscape. The expansion is positioned as a way to raise academic quality and widen access to international diplomas, potentially making globally recognized degrees more reachable for Indian students without studying abroad.
Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa ended a 560-day protest atop a 400-foot BSNL tower in Patiala after Punjab enacted a new anti-sacrilege law. The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, escalates penalties, including life imprisonment for sacrilege incidents, ending weeks of mounting pressure and drawing national attention.
President Donald Trump will send senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to meet Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, as Islamabad seeks to restart U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks. The effort comes amid wider conflict that is disrupting Hormuz-linked energy exports, raising pressure for a diplomatic off-ramp.
An appeals court has halted President Trump’s executive order that suspended asylum access at the U.S. southern border. The judges ruled that immigration laws allow people to apply for asylum and that a president cannot override that right. The court also said the order improperly sidestepped existing legal procedures, including processes tied to anti-torture protections.
India’s statistics ministry plans to release granular city-level reports for major urban centers. The new publication will draw on the Periodic Labour Force Survey and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, giving a clearer picture of local labour markets and small enterprise activity. Officials say the data will strengthen policy decisions and improve understanding of urban economic dynamics.
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