Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Deepak Builders & Engineers has approved a 1:10 stock split and increased its authorised share capital to Rs 65 crore. The company says the changes are aimed at improving liquidity, making shares more accessible, and strengthening its capital base. Management also frames the move as support for future growth and greater investor participation.
With West Bengal’s Assembly Election 2026 Phase 2 on 29 April across 142 constituencies, the Election Commission is asking voters to verify their details early. Citizens should check their name in the electoral roll online, keep their EPIC number handy, and download their E-EPIC digital voter ID, which is fully valid for voting, to avoid last-minute problems on polling day.
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Fossilized Homo sapiens footprints about 115,000 years old have been found in Saudi Arabia’s Nefud Desert, preserved on an ancient lakebed alongside animal tracks. The discovery suggests early humans moved farther into the Arabian interior during a wetter, cooler interglacial period, challenging older ideas about where and when they expanded across the region.
Bengaluru has emerged as India’s leading startup hub in Q1 2026, landing 89 deals worth $823 million, ahead of Delhi and Mumbai. Karnataka’s CM Siddaramaiah highlighted the role of supportive policies and closer industry-academia collaboration in attracting both talent and capital. The state now plans to narrow gaps in competitiveness by pushing harder into deep tech and emerging technologies.
Varanasi is in the middle of a major push for development, with Yogi Adityanath saying projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore have been completed and work worth Rs 20,000 crore is underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects totaling more than Rs 6,330 crore, also flagging off trains and highlighting women’s empowerment.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is facing renewed backlash after defending a remark in which he called Melania Trump an “expectant widow.” The joke was delivered just days before a shooting incident linked to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting critics to question ABC’s response and whether the network stood by the star or took action.
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Delhi Capitals suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. With Axar Patel leading the side, the loss has sparked renewed calls for the team to regroup and sit together to reset priorities. The match also featured standout impact from RCB, intensifying pressure on Delhi’s next steps.
West Bengal’s phase 2 polling shows women voters outnumbering men in 23 assembly seats, a pattern seen already in phase 1. The shift is most visible in urban areas around Kolkata and Salt Lake, where several constituencies record a sizable female surplus. Election data also points to consistently higher turnout among women than men.
India’s DGCA has released an urgent safety advisory for Indian air operators, citing escalating security risks across the Middle East and Persian Gulf. The notice, based on a recent review of international developments, points to heightened risk conditions following U.S. and Israel military strikes involving Iranian territory. The advisory remains valid until May 4, 2026.
May 2026 Social Security payments start May 1, since the date lands on a working Friday, keeping the schedule steady. After the initial May 1 SSI check, the calendar moves through retirement, SSDI, and survivor benefits using a birth-date system split across three Wednesdays.
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Used car unicorn Spinny is reportedly preparing for a potential IPO in the first quarter of 2027, with investment banking advisers including Kotak Mahindra Capital, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. The plan is expected to combine fresh issue and offer for sale, but discussions on public float, valuation and issue size are still ongoing. The move follows its recent $170 million funding round.
Eternal’s going-out arm District posted strong Q4FY26 growth, outperforming the company’s food delivery business and signaling a pivot toward building separate “super brands” across food, quick commerce and experiences. Its Blinkit quick commerce unit also expanded rapidly, while FY26 recorded significant user transactions, underlining Eternal’s push to become a wider consumption ecosystem.
Megan Thee Stallion has exited Moulin Rouge! The Musical earlier than planned, ending her run with a final performance on May 1 instead of mid-May. The move comes just days after she publicly announced her breakup with Klay Thompson, sparking speculation online. No official connection to her personal life has been confirmed, despite her Broadway debut boosting interest.
A Meghalaya court granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the primary accused in the honeymoon murder of her husband, Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The ruling comes nearly a year after he was found dead in East Khasi Hills during their honeymoon. The case remains sensational and closely watched, as legal proceedings continue.
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Scientists report a vibrant “Lost City” deep in the Atlantic Ocean that thrives without sunlight, pointing to how life could survive in extreme environments. Researchers also say ancient crust fragments are buried in Earth’s mantle beneath the seafloor, reshaping ideas about our planet’s hidden frontiers and offering clues about life’s origins and where else it might exist.
A new study suggests sunburn’s rapid inflammation and redness come from damage to RNA, not DNA. Researchers in Denmark and Singapore found this mechanism explains why symptoms show up so quickly after sun exposure, overturning long-held textbook ideas. The finding could reshape skincare approaches, with future treatments aimed at protecting RNA to reduce immediate burns.
Lokdhun Telemedia, a major regional music player behind songs like “Lollipop Lagelu,” has joined PPL India effective 1 April 2026, according to the report. The company, founded in 2016 and based in New Delhi with over 80,000 tracks, is exiting RMPL. The move is set to reshape public performance licensing for its Punjabi and Bhojpuri releases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off a new weekly Amrit Bharat Express connecting Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai in Maharashtra. The train will run via Madhya Pradesh, aiming to offer affordable, comfortable travel while strengthening ties between pilgrimage sites and growing workforce routes across states.
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Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said he was “pleased to engage” with Russian leadership after meeting President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Araghchi framed the high-level engagement as necessary because the region is in “major flux,” indicating Iran is calibrating its diplomacy amid shifting geopolitical pressures and ongoing tensions.
BCI startup Neurable says its “non-invasive” neural data collection could move from research to real consumer wearables. The company is exploring a licensing model for its mind-reading tech, aiming to enable new hands-free experiences and applications outside the lab—assuming the challenges of accuracy, comfort, and privacy can be solved at scale.
A global memory chip shortage is hitting smartphone makers unevenly, forcing Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo to struggle for supplies. Meanwhile, Samsung and Apple are gaining share as they secure more memory components. The shortage is expected to persist, potentially lowering total shipments, with component access becoming the real battleground for market leadership.
Finland’s daycare rewilding experiment replaced artificial playground surfaces with soil, plants, and forest-floor materials to create biodiverse outdoor habitats. Researchers found children who played in these natural settings developed stronger immune responses, including fewer pathogens and more immune-regulating T cells. The findings suggest early exposure to microbes may help train immunity.
Asia Healthcare Holdings has named Venkatesh Tarakkad as its new CFO and Head of Business Development, bringing more than three decades of finance and M&A experience after a previous CFO role at UpGrad. The company also elevated Ritesh Pandey to Chief Business Officer to drive fresh initiatives, as AHH expands its specialty healthcare brands across India.
UltraTech Cement has reported record quarterly profit and strong sales growth, driven by efficiency gains from integrating India Cements and Kesoram Industries assets. Improved margins and higher realisations further supported earnings. The company also announced a ₹240 per share payout and signalled continued capex-led expansion, betting on scale benefits from recent acquisitions.
A court in Meghalaya has granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in 2025. Raja went missing and his body was later found mutilated. Sonam and others were arrested, and police say the investigation will continue.
A new report finds India’s affluent consumers are shifting from goods to experiences, with travel alone claiming 58% of their discretionary wallet. As wealth grows, spending is also moving beyond major metros into wider markets. Dining, luxury and retail remain key, but the mindset is changing toward personal identity and access over ownership.
Rising tensions in West Asia are pushing up prices of key auto inputs like steel, metals, and plastics, squeezing industry margins. Analysts warn that profitability pressure could translate into higher vehicle prices and a slowdown in demand across segments. If costs don’t cool, automakers may have little choice but to pass the burden to consumers.
Goldman Sachs analysts say worries that AI could weaken long-term U.S. corporate growth are reviving questions about how much today’s stock valuations depend on profits expected far beyond the next decade. The focus is especially on software companies, where expectations extending to long run growth are now facing tighter scrutiny, shifting how investors frame risk and opportunity.
Indian government bond yields rose sharply on Tuesday, lifting the 10-year benchmark to a three-week peak. The move followed oil surging above $110 a barrel amid stalled US-Iran peace talks, raising worries over inflation and potential pressure on economic growth. Investors are now watching how higher energy prices feed into bond yields and rate expectations.
West Bengal will vote in Phase 2 of the Assembly Election 2026 on April 29, with a public holiday declared in polling constituencies. As a result, schools, colleges, offices, and banks will remain closed in affected areas, while essential services like healthcare, emergency response, transport, and utilities will continue as usual. Voters are urged to plan ahead.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav visited BJP MLA Anupama Jaiswal in a Lucknow hospital after she suffered burn injuries during a protest in Bahraich earlier this week. Yadav wished her a speedy recovery and said human relationships matter more than political differences. Her husband thanked him for the goodwill as she continues treatment for serious burns.
Red Hat’s OpenClaw maintainer has introduced Tank OS, a container-based approach for running OpenClaw AI agents more reliably and safely. The update is aimed especially at enterprises deploying fleets of agents, where consistency, stability, and risk control are hardest. By packaging the agents in a container, Tank OS helps reduce operational surprises while improving day-to-day manageability.
JetBlue Airways is responding to rising jet fuel costs and a wider first-quarter loss by slowing hiring, trimming capacity, and raising fares. The airline expects to recover these higher costs by early 2027 and has secured new financing to support liquidity. The moves are central to its broader turnaround strategy amid cost pressure and weaker demand.
Mumbai Indians head into a crucial IPL clash versus in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad with their season teetering after five defeats in seven matches. Their slump is worsened by underperforming top players and bowling troubles, while SRH arrive in strong batting form and eye an end to their recent struggles against MI.
Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon are set to spend around $600 billion on AI this year, a staggering outlay that has strained cash flows and tested Wall Street’s patience. As quarterly results land, investors will focus on whether the spending translates into durable earnings and not just impressive promises.
SEBI has extended by six months, pushing the compliance deadline for debenture trustees to segregate activities outside SEBI’s regulatory ambit to October 27. The move gives trustees more time to implement the mandated segregation framework, following SEBI’s ongoing push to bring greater clarity and boundaries around what falls under its oversight.
Beeple’s new Berlin exhibit features “robot dogs” topped with AI-transformed likenesses of tech titans like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. The works use “poo” printed imagery that turns familiar faces into stylized, personality-like art. Beeple frames the installation as a critique of how technology and billionaires can shape what people believe is real.
The Supreme Court has ruled that ending a consensual live-in relationship is not a criminal offence, even when it lasts 15 years. The judges said provisions like sexual harassment cannot be stretched to criminalize consensual unions, though civil options such as child maintenance remain available. The verdict also reflected sympathy while drawing clear legal limits.
The government has clarified that goods moved from SEZ units to India’s domestic market, after paying applicable duties, will be treated as imports when re-exported. As a result, exporters can claim duty drawback on such re-exports, aiming to remove inconsistencies and improve cash flow and certainty for businesses.
A shocking video has emerged from Mumbai’s Mira Road showing a brutal stabbing in which a victim screamed for help while the attacker allegedly continued stabbing. The clip also captures the victim trying to run for safety as the assailant, identified as 31-year-old Jaib Zubair Ansari, is seen fleeing the scene, triggering widespread outrage and concern.
Bandhan Bank posted a 68% year on year jump in Q4 profit to Rs 530 crore, largely due to sharply lower provisions and improved asset quality. However, net interest income rose only about 1% and margins remained under pressure. Still, sequential improvement and a healthier loan mix point to a turnaround, even as the full-year picture was weaker.
UFO disclosure advocate David Wilcock died by suicide on April 20, 2026, after a mental health crisis response. His death has fueled social media talk about a supposed pattern of scientists dying due to sensitive US programs. But officials say they have found no connection, and the case was treated as a mental health incident, not foul play.
A senior district-level Congress leader in Bengaluru has been booked under the POCSO Act after allegations of assault involving minors surfaced from the Mahalakshmi Layout Assembly constituency. Police have registered the case and begun an investigation into the serious charges, setting off fresh scrutiny and raising questions about the incident’s details and timeline.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated BCCI Indoor Cricket Academies across India’s North-East, using the newly constructed Indoor Cricket Academy at the Sikkim Cricket Ground in Rangpo as the launch point. The initiative aims to expand access to structured indoor cricket training across the region, boosting grassroots development and offering new pathways for aspiring players.
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has played down fears that India’s recent LPG shortage hurt the company. He said any disruptions were localized and that customers naturally shifted to other restaurants on the platform, keeping overall demand resilient. The comments aim to reassure investors about Zomato’s Q1FY27 performance despite ongoing supply chain concerns.
Zomato’s parent Eternal Limited reported a strong March quarter, with PAT rising to Rs 174 crore. Revenue from operations surged 196% year-on-year to Rs 17,292 crore, aided by Blinkit’s fast growth and an inventory-led quick commerce accounting shift. Adjusted EBITDA also climbed 160%. Management expects growth to sustain above 60% CAGR, driven by assortment, geography expansion and higher demand density.
Go Digit General Insurance posted a sharp 28.8% year on year rise in profit after tax, reaching Rs 149.4 crore in Q4 FY26. Total income grew 9% YoY and 25% QoQ to Rs 3,111.7 crore, while expenses increased only 3% YoY to Rs 2,500.8 crore, driving the surge.
A Delta Airlines passenger went into labor mid-flight and safely delivered a healthy child with help from flight attendants and two paramedics onboard. The crew provided blankets and an obstetrical kit—an emergency childbirth supply—while the medical responders guided the process until the situation was stabilized. The incident highlights how preparedness and quick action can change everything in minutes.
Ahead of phase two assembly polls in West Bengal, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer said local administration is monitoring sensitive areas and that there is “nothing to hide” because everything is recorded. He urged voters to stay tension-free, citing a mix of police and CAPF presence, with officials reportedly going on on-ground observation to ensure issues are addressed promptly.
The Election Commission of India has set May 4, 2026 as the date for Kerala Assembly Elections results. Vote counting is set to begin around 8:00 AM, with early trends expected to emerge within the first few hours. While these initial indications may appear quickly, the final results are likely to be confirmed later in the afternoon or evening.
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