Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
China is reportedly preparing to build up to 50 nuclear reactors simultaneously, aiming to expand low-carbon power and cut reliance on fossil fuels. The country already runs 60 reactors and has more under construction, with nuclear capacity projected to climb toward 200 GW by 2040 as its technology advances quickly.
ARC Burger shut down 77 Hardee’s locations across nine states, closing permanently in December and laying off 1,600+ employees. The franchisee behind the closures is now filing for bankruptcy, raising questions about how quickly remaining operators could recover and what happens to suppliers, lease commitments, and affected staff.
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India is set to emerge as a global guide and ‘Vishwaguru’, arguing that collective discipline and a deeper grasp of Bharat’s civilisational values will drive the transformation. He added that the change can be witnessed by today’s generation and urged citizens to move away from Western thinking and reconnect with Indian traditions.
In a landmark ruling, the Bombay High Court allowed two women over 50 to seek assessment for IVF eligibility, challenging the rigidity of age-based provisions under India’s ART Act. The court’s direction emphasizes expert consultation and signals a growing shift toward science-led reproductive decisions. The move could reshape how eligibility rules are interpreted in future IVF cases.
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and dozens of shipping companies tied to transporting Iranian oil. The move is designed to reduce Iran’s oil revenue and follows warnings of secondary sanctions for any business entities that continue dealings with Iran, raising pressure across supply chains involved in the trade.
X-Energy, the Amazon-backed nuclear reactor developer, surged 30.9% on its Nasdaq debut and reached a valuation of $11.9 billion. The company raised more than $1 billion in its IPO, positioning its small modular reactors to support AI infrastructure while advancing carbon-free power goals.
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The US Justice Department has intervened in xAI’s challenge to a Colorado tech law, arguing it violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection guarantee. In court papers, the department says the law forces companies to prevent unintended discriminatory effects while still permitting certain discrimination intended to advance diversity goals—an approach it says is unconstitutional.
Nike says it will cut about 1,400 jobs in 2026, with the biggest impact falling on global operations and technology teams. The company frames the move as a way to simplify its structure, respond faster, streamline supply chains, and refocus technology work. The decision follows mounting competition and a sales slowdown.
The Supreme Court declined a plea over deletions from West Bengal’s voter rolls and directed affected individuals to challenge the removals before appellate tribunals. This includes election duty officers who discovered their names missing. The court cited a low disposal rate for voter cases at tribunals, explaining the need for the prescribed route.
The Supreme Court will decide whether GST tax authorities can issue a single show-cause notice covering multiple financial years, or whether proceedings must start year-by-year. The ruling could determine whether liabilities can be aggregated in one sweep and how limitation timelines apply, directly affecting the way GST disputes are assessed, contested, and litigated.
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The Iran conflict is reviving global dependence on hydrocarbons, undermining clean energy momentum. Renewables still struggle with storage and grid upgrades, while alternatives such as green hydrogen remain costly. As countries prioritize energy security, the spotlight is returning to gas supplies and nuclear expansion, with EV targets in danger of slipping.
JioStar posted a net profit of Rs 3,210 crore for FY26, backed by operating revenue of Rs 31,048 crore. The entertainment segment also delivered a strong March 2026 quarter, reporting 810 million viewers on its TV channels and 500 million monthly active users on JioHotstar, highlighting momentum across digital and sports audiences.
OpenAI has launched a “bio bug bounty” offering $25,000 to vetted security researchers who can bypass safety guardrails on its latest model, GPT-5.5. The program aims to identify universal jailbreak prompts and expand external adversarial testing, signaling a more open, researcher-driven approach to stress-testing AI safety.
Nvidia has crossed $5 trillion in market capitalization, becoming the world’s most valuable listed company and passing major tech rivals like Alphabet and Apple. The jump underscores Nvidia’s dominance in supplying GPUs powering artificial intelligence models. With investors betting heavily on AI infrastructure demand, the chipmaker’s stock performance reflects its strong market position and momentum.
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Avis Budget shares careened after a massive spike, then plunged about 70%, reigniting concerns over meme-stock fueled volatility. The shock rippled into the Dow Jones Transportation Average, long viewed as an economic barometer. The episode also spotlighted how the index’s price-weighted design can amplify damage from extreme moves versus market-cap weighted measures.
Anthropic has surged to a $1 trillion valuation, nearly tripling since January. The jump is being fueled by investors buying stakes on secondary markets, a sign of intense demand ahead of future growth and funding rounds. The fast run has analysts watching closely how private AI valuations keep reshaping the competitive landscape.
The Indian Air Force has rejected reports of an aircraft crash near Kishtwar, calling them false. At the same time, it conducted a high-profile demonstration by activating an Emergency Landing Facility on the Purvanchal Expressway, showing it can operate aircraft even without conventional runways.
Lodha Developers says it plans to scale its annuity income to over Rs 3,000 crore in the next six years, aiming for a major jump from current levels. The company will drive growth through new data center, retail, warehousing, and office developments, including a large data center project near Mumbai supported by heavy investment.
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Apple’s Mac mini sellouts are triggering a wave of marked-up eBay listings as buyers chase the compact desktop for running local AI models and tools. With Apple’s supply limited, demand is shifting toward machines that can handle AI workflows without relying on the cloud, pushing secondhand prices higher even for modest configurations.
Intel stock surged nearly 28% in a single session, pushing the company above $80 to record highs. The move reflects explosive AI-driven demand, reinforced by strong Nvidia support. A stake said to have been entered near $20 per share in August 2025 is now worth about $36 billion, alongside Intel expanding AI chip production and foundry services tied to U.S. supply-chain priorities.
Thrive Capital has launched Thrive Eternal, a permanent-capital vehicle designed to acquire and manage major assets for decades. Its first proposed partnership is tied to the San Francisco Giants, signaling Thrive’s push beyond technology into iconic sports franchises. The deal is not final yet and will require league approval before any stake is secured.
Jaafar Jackson’s lead turn in Antoine Fuqua’s Michael opened across India on April 24, delivering a strong day-one haul. Produced by Lionsgate, the biopic’s ensemble—featuring Colman Domingo—has reportedly surpassed the opening-day collection of Project Hail Mary in the Indian market, marking a standout start for the film.
An Indeed survey finds women remain sharply underrepresented in India’s deeptech sector, with entry-level representation ranging as low as 0–10% at many firms. While job-seeking stays steady, structural hurdles limit career progression and create pay perception gaps. Employers largely agree workplace setups shape opportunity access, but few have corrected compensation—raising the need for transparent, bias-free evaluations.
Nvidia has reclaimed the $5 trillion market cap milestone after NVDA climbed more than 5% in one session. The surge is being attributed to accelerating global demand for AI chips across data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise systems. With revenue already above $215 billion and profits leading the sector, analysts are pushing price targets higher—though valuation risks are also being questioned.
DeepSeek-V4 has arrived as a free, MIT-licensed 1.6T Mixture-of-Experts model that reportedly matches or beats top closed systems on select benchmarks while costing about one-sixth as much as GPT-5.5 via API. The bigger story: a native one-million-token context achieved with new attention and training techniques, pressuring premium model pricing.
Mukesh Ambani says Jio Platforms’ IPO plans are progressing, pointing to a major step forward. He attributes valuation strength to subscriber momentum, improving ARPU, and continued growth. The listing, he suggests, could unlock significant value and potentially rank among India’s largest IPOs—watch closely for what comes next.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to travel to Pakistan for discussions with Iran’s foreign minister, according to a U.S. official. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly on standby to join if negotiations progress. The planned visit was first reported by CNN, underscoring a tightly staged diplomatic effort.
Air India has signaled reluctance to move part of its operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. The airline says the shift could mean higher charges and operational inefficiencies, amid broader stress in the aviation sector. Air India also argues that stronger incentive structures are needed to persuade airlines. Its position could shape how quickly and in what form the airport develops.
Reliance Retail Ventures reported modest profit growth even as revenue rose strongly, with heavy spending on quick commerce weighing on margins. The company expanded hyperlocal delivery alongside FMCG offerings and its store network, helping it build scale. Investors will now watch whether margin pressure eases as the rapid expansion translates into deeper market penetration.
A famous Miami waterfront estate known for Scarface-style notoriety is listed for $237 million. The property’s past is stranger than the hype: it was once part of Richard Nixon’s Winter White House, and the mansion was built by a pilot later convicted of drug smuggling. The sale spotlights how Hollywood myths and real history can collide.
Seven Aam Aadmi Party MPs, including prominent figures, have quit the party, reducing its parliamentary strength and disrupting election preparation. The departures land as AAP confronts leadership pressures and faces major assembly tests ahead in Gujarat, Goa, and Punjab. Analysts see the exodus as a turning point that could determine whether AAP can regroup and expand—or stall its political momentum.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has set up a panel headed by SBI Chairman C S Setty to evaluate risks tied to the AI platform “Mythos” and propose mitigation strategies. Banks will work together to understand the threats posed by Mythos and determine what investments are needed to counter AI-driven challenges.
DeepSeek has rolled out a preview of its latest V4 AI models, promising stronger reasoning and more agent-like behavior. The twist: it’s reportedly running on Huawei chips rather than Nvidia, landing as US-China competition intensifies. The release also comes amid IP and legal tensions involving OpenAI and Anthropic, adding pressure across the AI supply chain.
A Delhi astrologer, Shruti Dwivedi, is trending after an old 2023 X post about Raghav Chadha’s alleged defection resurfaced following his dramatic party switch to BJP. Netizens are sharing screenshots and debating whether the prediction was coincidence or proof of “written-in-the-stars” claims, reigniting interest in astrology’s role in political narratives.
Iran’s National Security Commission has approved regulations imposing a $1 per barrel transit fee for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The framework uses an IRGC-linked Chinese intermediary and gives Tehran discretion over which ships can pass, explicitly barring US and Israeli vessels as “non-innocent,” raising questions under international law.
A re release screening of Prabhas and Kajal Aggarwal’s Darling in Hyderabad reportedly turned ugly, with a fan allegedly attacked using sticks and slippers. A video of the incident has surfaced online and gone viral, raising concerns over crowd control and security during public film screenings. The film returned to theatres 16 years after its original 2010 release.
Reliance Industries’ Oil-to-Chemicals segment saw margin pressure in the March quarter as crude premiums jumped amid West Asia supply disruptions tied to Iran-war risks. Higher freight and insurance added to costs, offsetting otherwise strong global refining margins. O2C EBITDA fell 3.7% year-on-year, reflecting fuel-cost strain and policy interventions.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh says the party will submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking disqualification of Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak. Singh argues that their move to the BJP amounts to voluntarily relinquishing AAP membership under the Constitution’s Tenth Schedule, triggering the anti-defection provisions.
IndusInd Bank has appointed Sunil Kumar Singh as its new Chief Compliance Officer, effective April 30, 2026. He will succeed Sachin Patange, whose term ends on April 29, 2026. The board approved the move, and Singh will take on the role as Senior Management Personnel for a three-year term.
An opinion piece argues Pakistan’s claimed neutrality in the 2026 Iran war is increasingly hard to believe. It alleges Islamabad is covertly enabling US operations through airspace access, F-16 support, and data sharing, despite public peace efforts. The article warns this could invite Iranian retaliation, disrupt regional stability, and push oil prices higher while civilians face the fallout.
Sai Sudharsan has become the fastest batter to reach 2,000 runs in the IPL, achieving the milestone in just 47 innings. Playing for Gujarat Titans against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he surpassed Chris Gayle’s earlier record of 48 innings, rewriting what many thought was a hard-to-break benchmark for consistency and speed.
Israel and Lebanon have extended their ceasefire by three weeks as the wider Middle East conflict grinds on. Iran’s foreign minister is set to travel to Pakistan for talks aimed at reviving US-Iran engagement, even as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global trade and sway oil prices. Hezbollah also claims it shot down an Israeli drone.
TRAI chairman AK Lahoti says soaring indoor mobile data use is creating worsening connectivity problems. He urges developers to bake connectivity infrastructure into building designs and backs new rules that could rate buildings on digital connectivity quality. Lahoti also calls for making more spectrum available to strengthen mobile signals, particularly within homes.
A fresh remand plea in the Nashik TCS case alleges four employees sexually harassed a male colleague and forcibly tried to convert him. Police say the accused compelled him to wear a Muslim skull cap, perform Namaz, and even eat non-vegetarian food, along with alleged threats. Custody is sought to continue investigating the alleged religious coercion.
The US Justice Department has dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a move that reduces friction between the White House and the Fed. The decision, confirmed by DC’s top US attorney, shifts attention to the Fed’s Inspector General, now tasked with examining alleged multi-billion-dollar building cost overruns that taxpayers ultimately funded.
By March 2026, central-sector infrastructure projects show steep financial stress: 1,941 ongoing projects with a collective revised outlay of Rs 41.50 lakh crore have already overshot by Rs 5.61 lakh crore in cost. So far, only Rs 19.93 lakh crore has been spent, widening the gap between planned budgets and ground execution.
Instacart cofounder Apoorva Mehta has launched Abundance, a hedge fund built around thousands of AI agents that can handle trading, research, and stock selection independently. The plan goes beyond automation to replace human portfolio managers altogether, with some strategies already running solely on AI—betting that machine decision-making can process market information faster and better than people.
Reliance Industries is accelerating its quick commerce push by converting more than 20,000 stores into local fulfillment centers. The strategy is already paying off: hyperlocal orders have surged fourfold in Q4, threatening the dominance of Blinkit and Zepto while reshaping how consumers buy groceries, electronics, and fashion on fast delivery timelines.
Paige Shiver says her relationship with former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was marked by emotional turmoil, alleged controlling behavior, and a pregnancy complicated by Pompe disease. In a televised interview, Shiver also describes a terrifying confrontation after termination. The account further links Moore to later legal trouble, including arrest and probation, according to reports.
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh says the party will approach the Rajya Sabha presiding officer to invoke the Tenth Schedule and seek disqualification of Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak. The move follows their reported shift to the BJP. Singh framed it as action for defection under constitutional provisions, setting up a potential legal and political showdown in Parliament.
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