Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Jorhat is witnessing a high-stakes contest as counting begins for the 2026 election between Hitendra Nath Goswami and Gaurav Gogoi. With voter turnout reported at 78.35% by the Election Commission of India, eyes are on BJP versus Congress trends, evolving vote margins, and round-wise counting updates from Assam.
Kolkata Port is set for a tight Assembly election 2026 race as Firhad Hakim seeks a third term against Rakesh Singh, Aquib Gulzar and Faiyaz Ahmad Khan. The contest has turned contentious after a sharp fall in the electorate raised alarms about revised voter rolls, with opposition parties alleging deletions. Civic issues and election integrity dominate campaigning.
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Vote counting for the Nemom Assembly election in Kerala begins at 8 AM, with initial trends expected soon after. The incumbent V. Sivankutty of the LDF faces a tough contest from Rajeev Chandrasekhar representing the NDA, while K.S. Sabarinadhan of the UDF adds to the triangular battle. The results could reshape the political balance in this high-attention Thiruvananthapuram seat.
Counting for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections starts May 4, with Tollygunge in sharp focus. Incumbent AITC leader Aroop Biswas faces BJP and Congress challengers in what exit polls describe as a tight race between AITC and BJP. Analysts warn West Bengal could end up with a hung Assembly, making each constituency pivotal.
Bolpur’s 2026 West Bengal Assembly race is drawing attention after an unusually high voter turnout of 93.13%. TMC’s Chandranath Sinha, long favored in the constituency, faces BJP’s Dilip Ghosh and Congress’s Rathin Sen. With exit polls pointing to a tight contest between TMC and BJP across the state, Bolpur could decide momentum for the ruling camp.
A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic has reportedly killed three people and sickened several others, including one ICU patient. The WHO is coordinating investigations and passenger evacuations as authorities examine where the virus came from and how it may have spread on board. Hantaviruses are commonly linked to rodent exposure and can trigger severe respiratory illness.
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Spirit Airlines’ shutdown comes as jet fuel prices stay elevated, putting pressure on airlines and their partners. Coforge, an Indian IT services firm with a notable travel portfolio, is closely watched for potential demand and project impacts. Analysts say geopolitical tensions and the fuel crisis could worsen airline finances, raising the risk of more bankruptcies across the sector.
A section of Bhagalpur’s Vikramshila Bridge collapsed into the Ganga early Sunday, after a pillar gave way around 1:10 AM. The concrete slab plunged into the river, sparking panic but avoiding a major disaster as traffic was promptly suspended and diverted between North and South Bihar. Authorities are assessing damage and restoring safety.
Paravur is set for a high-stakes Assembly contest as UDF leader V.D. Satheesan pushes for a historic sixth term. Vote counting at UC College, Aluva, will decide whether the Congress stronghold holds against LDF candidate E.T. Tyson and NDA’s Valsala Prasanna Kumar. The race hinges on continuity, crisis visibility, and local voter engagement.
Upskilling platform UpGrad is set to acquire Unacademy in an all stock deal valued at around ₹2,055 crore, well below Unacademys peak valuation. Unacademy is expected to add substantial cash reserves to the transaction, which is pending approval from the Competition Commission of India. The move signals growing consolidation in Indias edtech market during a post pandemic slump.
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Assam is set for a high-stakes political verdict as counting begins for the 2026 Assembly election. With Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma leading BJP’s push for a historic third term, Congress and its alliance are fighting to break the momentum. The race hinges on key trends across 126 seats as leads and trails begin shaping the final outcome.
Counting for the Chepauk–Thiruvallikeni Election Results 2026 is set to begin at 8 AM, with live updates expected round by round. Voters and analysts will focus on how Udhayanidhi Stalin performs, whether DMK’s stronghold trends continue, and how quickly margins and lead patterns emerge in this key Chennai constituency.
Baranagar goes to the polls with a razor-thin contest between TMC’s Sayantika Banerjee, BJP’s Sajal Ghosh and Left’s Sayandeep Mitra. Campaigning centered on industrial revival, infrastructure and job creation as residents look toward the next five years. The crucial verdict is expected on May 4, 2026, with counting set to begin tomorrow.
Counting begins in Kerala’s Dharmadam seat with high stakes for both LDF and UDF. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is defending the stronghold where CPM previously surged to an 83.33% win in 2021. With trends expected from 8 am, the key question remains: can the incumbent alliance maintain control or will voters spring an unexpected shift?
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D2C brands are adjusting packaging and product variants as West Asia conflict fuels input cost hikes. To protect margins, companies are shifting to new packaging formats, rolling out larger or pricier versions, and speeding up supply chain localization. The result is a quiet but real shift in pricing and product offerings across multiple consumer categories.
Barpeta constituency in Assam is drawing major attention in the 2026 Assembly elections, following recent delimitation changes that altered the electoral landscape. The contest features AGP candidates Dipak Kumar Das and Uddhab Chandra Das, alongside other major parties and independents. Voting was held on April 9, and the race is widely seen as unusually tight due to the new boundaries.
Nifty is expected to hover in a narrow 23,500–24,800 band as geopolitical tensions and elevated oil prices continue to weigh on sentiment. Despite the uncertainty, analysts are calling for a mildly positive bias and are pointing to specific trading strategies and stock picks, including ITC and Tube Investments, as possible gain opportunities.
Counting for the 2026 Kolathur election is set to begin at 8 AM, with live updates expected to track how MK Stalin performs and how the DMK stacks up against its rivals. Viewers can follow vote margins and round-wise counting trends in this key Tamil Nadu constituency as early results shape the race.
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China’s robotics ambition is shifting from AI to humanoid dominance, with “unicorn” firms targeting the most advanced parts of human motion. One standout, Linkerbot, reportedly controls more than 80% of the global market for high-degree-of-freedom robotic hands—an edge that could accelerate exports and set the terms for next-generation humanoid robots worldwide.
Javed Akhtar has come out in support of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 after online backlash over “propaganda” claims. He argued that every story carries a viewpoint and filmmakers are entitled to share their version of truth. The comments follow the film’s roaring box-office run, now among India’s biggest worldwide performers, overtaking Baahubali 2 in buzz.
Counting has begun for the Sibsagar 2026 assembly election, with BJP’s Kushal Dowari facing Raijor Dal’s Akhil Gogoi. Election Commission data puts Sibsagar’s voter turnout at 82.36%, raising expectations for a closely watched battle. Live updates will track trends, vote margins, and round-wise counting as results start to shape the final outcome.
West Bengal’s 2026 election results are unfolding with BJP pushing for a historic majority as TMC counters anti-incumbency pressure. Live counting trends, exit poll signals, and updates around SIR and repolling from Falta and Diamond Harbour are sharpening the contest. Raiganj’s street-level sloganeering and friction add urgency as voters decide between Mamata Banerjee’s continuity and a BJP breakthrough.
Counting has begun in Dum Dum Uttar, a key North 24 Parganas seat, where TMC’s Chandrima Bhattacharya, BJP’s Sourav Sikdar, and CPI-M’s Dipsita Dhar fought a high-stakes contest. Voters weighed urban infrastructure, women’s safety, and jobs, with the result expected to reflect the political mood of urban Bengal.
Dum Dum’s 2026 counting is drawing high stakes as BJP looks to breach TMC minister Bratya Basu’s traditional base. Basu previously dominated, including a big 2011 win and a tighter 2016 contest, then widened his lead again in 2021. After 2019, however, BJP has replaced CPI(M) as the primary challenger, making this result a potential political shift.
India’s top IT services firms are reporting higher revenue per employee, a sign that AI and automation are improving productivity across major players like TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, and Tech Mahindra. The results point to a shift away from pure headcount-based delivery toward efficiency and value creation—potentially reshaping how growth is measured in the sector.
Tata Electronics is scaling semiconductor and electronics manufacturing fast, reporting strong revenue growth and profitability. The company now aims to reach a $30 billion business within five years, betting on India’s first semiconductor fab along with an assembly and test unit. Management says this push is designed to attract global customers and partners.
Vote counting kicks off today for assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, with traders bracing for a volatile week. Early vote trends could surface within two hours, while a clearer picture may emerge by late morning. Investors are urged to look past political noise and track macro drivers like crude oil and foreign fund flows.
U.S. stock index futures point to a volatile Monday on Wall Street, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq set to trade based on a handful of catalysts. Market direction is expected to hinge on incoming economic signals and broader risk sentiment, making the early session especially sensitive to any surprises from key releases.
The Confederation of Indian Industry has urged the PMO to overhaul India’s EV auto PLI scheme after EV startups complained that current eligibility and selection rules create a cost disadvantage. CII, via six startup CEOs, wants a new application window and relaxed criteria, shifting focus toward R&D intensity, IP generation, and domestic value-add. A parliamentary panel report also cites low fund disbursal and high investment hurdles.
Markets ended the week with modest gains despite volatility, driven by earnings from Kotak Mahindra Bank, DMart, and Nestle India. Traders also watched global cues like crude oil and the rupee’s movement. Vodafone Idea’s AGR chapter closure and Coal India’s production dip added fuel, keeping sentiment mixed as investors weighed near-term direction.
Vote counting for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections begins tomorrow in Kharagpur Sadar, with the BJP incumbent facing a tight fight. TMC is pushing to reclaim the seat while a Left-Congress alliance courts young voters. Industrial stagnation and civic infrastructure are expected to shape voter sentiment as three prominent candidates battle for dominance.
Asian markets opened higher with South Korea leading gains as strong tech earnings supported US equity futures. Traders stayed cautious after record US highs while crude oil fluctuated on mixed Middle East signals. Optimism followed President Trump’s comments about guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran’s warning added uncertainty for what comes next.
Counting is underway for the Howrah Madhya election results 2026 as West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urges vigilance. The seat has shown consistent TMC strength since at least 2011, with large winning margins over CPI(M), JD(U), and even BJP in prior contests. The big question now is whether BJP can finally penetrate TMC’s fortress as trends emerge.
Counting has begun for Assam’s Bihpuria Assembly seat, where BJP’s Bhupen Kumar Borah is facing Congress’s Narayan Bhuyan. Polling for Phase 1 was held on April 9, and the early rounds are likely to decide how quickly margins swing. Live updates are tracking seatwise trends, vote margins, and round-by-round developments in Bihpuria.
Air India says it will trim international flight operations through June and July, citing a sharp rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and airspace restrictions that make several routes unviable. CEO Campbell Wilson warned employees that lengthier itineraries and closures have already forced cuts in April and May. The airline’s group loss projection for FY ending March 2026 exceeds INR 22,000 crore.
Kerala is entering a high-stakes vote count on May 4 as officials tally ballots from a triangular power race involving LDF, UDF, and NDA. With memories of LDF’s past performances and growing UDF revival expectations, the outcome could decide whether LDF secures an unprecedented third term or UDF stages a major comeback. Congress leaders are already fueling optimism.
Corporate borrowers are increasingly choosing bank loans instead of issuing bonds as capital market yields rise and the cost advantage of bonds fades. The gap between bank lending rates and bond yields has tightened sharply, especially for higher-rated companies, making bank funding more attractive. The shift signals a changing playbook for raising corporate capital.
Vote counting has started for Lakhimpur Assembly in Assam, where BJP incumbent Manab Deka faces Congress candidate Ghana Buragohain. The race is drawing intense attention due to repeated flooding, poor connectivity, and limited employment options that continue to trouble residents. With a diverse electorate shaping political priorities, the outcome could hinge on who addresses day to day crises fastest.
Jalukbari Election Results 2026 are underway with counting starting and a high-stakes faceoff between BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress candidate Bidisha Neog. Early updates will track BJP vs INC trends, vote margins, and round-wise shifts. Voters delivered an 81.68% turnout, setting the stage for a potentially close contest in Assam.
Siliguri votes in the 2026 West Bengal assembly election are now moving into counting as Mamata Banerjee urges residents to stay vigilant. In 2021, the BJP won here for the first time through Shankar Ghosh’s victory over TMC’s Omprakash Mishra. This time, Ghosh is again the BJP candidate while TMC fields Siliguri Municipal Corporation mayor Goutam Deb, setting up a high-stakes contest.
Indian pharma and healthcare companies are entering a mixed March quarter. Hospital networks expect steady growth, supported by demand across segments. But generic drugmakers are wrestling with lost Revlimid sales and pricing pressures that weigh on performance. Analysts see pockets of strength: Lupin and Divi’s look set to do well, while Sun Pharma and Torrent show resilience. Apollo Hospitals projects strong overall traction.
Jalpaiguri’s 2026 assembly counting is underway with Mamata Banerjee urging voters to stay vigilant. The contest pits TMC candidate Krishna Das against BJP’s Ananta Deb Adhikary. In 2021, TMC notched its first win in the seat by just 941 votes over BJP’s Soujit Singha, setting up a high-stakes fight over whether BJP can overtake TMC this time.
Dispur Assembly Election Results 2026 are set to begin counting at 8 am, with BJP Pradyut Bordoloi up against INC Mira Borthakur Goswami in a closely watched battle. The seat was won in 2021 by BJP with a margin of 121657 votes, raising questions about whether that lead holds as trends, vote margins, and round-wise counting come in from Assam.
US equities are edging back toward prior highs as investors bet on supportive tech earnings and shifting expectations around Fed policy. But the market’s comfort is shadowed by a steady climb in oil prices linked to the Iran conflict, raising fears of renewed inflation and possible interest rate pressure in Europe.
India’s electric car market is shifting upward. Carmakers are pushing more expensive models, and sales in the ₹20–30 lakh bracket are rising sharply. Meanwhile, cheaper EVs under ₹10 lakh are losing ground. Luxury EV demand remains strong, signaling growth at the top even as it may slow down broad, mass adoption.
Coimbatore South assembly results will be out on May 4, 2026, with a closely watched contest between DMK’s V Senthil Balaji, AIADMK’s Amman K Arjunan, and TVK’s V Senthil Kumar. Balaji is attempting a political comeback after legal troubles in a crucial urban swing seat, while multiple exit polls suggest DMK is set for a larger return to power in Tamil Nadu.
The Election Commission will announce results for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry on May 4. Counting starts at 8:00 AM with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes. After each round, VVPAT verification strengthens transparency, and final outcomes are expected by Monday evening as updates are shared round-wise.
Donald Trump said “Project Freedom” begins Monday to help stranded neutral ships exit the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed. The announcement came as Tehran reviews Washington’s response to a war-ending proposal, with Trump adding that talks with Tehran “could be very positive” while sharing few operational details.
Donald Trump rejected Iran’s 14-point proposal to resolve the regional conflict, calling it “not acceptable” and signaling that military options remain on the table. The move comes amid a fragile ceasefire in place since April. Tehran is reportedly reviewing Washington’s response through Pakistan, adding uncertainty to efforts to de-escalate tensions quickly.
Ukrainian drones reportedly hit Russia’s Primorsk port, a key oil-export outlet in the northwest region. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said over 60 drones were shot down overnight. He added that the resulting fire was extinguished quickly and that there was no oil spill, despite the attack targeting vital port infrastructure.
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