Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
China has blocked Meta’s planned acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus, calling out what analysts describe as “Singapore-washing.” The move signals tighter scrutiny of companies using overseas relocations to sidestep Chinese regulations, especially around AI talent and sensitive technology. It underscores Beijing’s growing assertiveness as competition for AI leadership intensifies worldwide.
Saudi Arabia has issued a stern advisory ahead of the Hajj season, warning visitors against visa overstays. Authorities say violators could face jail time, hefty fines, and deportation as enforcement of entry and pilgrimage rules intensifies. The move aims to maintain safety and order during one of the world’s largest annual gatherings, with regulators signaling zero tolerance for rule breaking.
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Microsoft and OpenAI have rewritten their deal by scrapping key exclusivity terms. Microsoft will no longer share revenue with OpenAI for models served through Azure, while OpenAI keeps paying Microsoft a capped 20% share until 2030. The biggest shift: OpenAI can sell on any cloud, including AWS and Google Cloud, ending Azure lock-in and defusing a legal showdown tied to Amazon’s $50 billion investment plan.
Analysts say Noida International Airport’s opening won’t significantly dent GMR’s Delhi airport business. They expect only a modest passenger reshuffle, mostly within domestic traffic. Key international volumes and high-yield revenue for Delhi are projected to hold up, and Noida could even support future capacity management. GMR Airports’ stock may benefit from the tempered impact view.
Jaib Zubair Ansari, a 31-year-old Mumbai native who returned from the US in 2019, has been arrested in Mira Road after he allegedly stabbed two private security guards. Reports say the assault followed a dispute over refusal to recite “Kalma.” Authorities also noted his isolated life, online chemistry teaching, and that his landlord had recently asked him to vacate his flat.
Xiaomi has launched MiMo-V2.5 and MiMo-V2.5-Pro under the permissive MIT License, making them production-friendly and easy to run locally or on private clouds. Xiaomi’s benchmarks show the Pro model performing extremely well on “claw” agent tasks while consuming roughly 40–60% fewer tokens than top closed models—aimed squarely at cost-heavy, long-context automation.
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Kolkata Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 across April 28 and 29 and May 4. With polling and counting underway, the city may see road closures, diversions, one-way movement, no-entry zones, parking restrictions and curbs on goods vehicles on major routes to keep election movement smooth and secure.
The Indian rupee slipped to a record low of 94.39 against the US dollar, deepening pressure on markets. Rising Brent crude prices are fueling higher import costs, while persistent foreign capital outflows and a widening trade deficit keep the currency under strain. Even with suspected RBI support, month-end dollar demand is pushing the depreciation further.
Venture capitalist Hemant Mohapatra backed Sridhar Vembu’s call for Indian-Americans to return, but stressed it was never a promise of an effortless life. Mohapatra said the invitation is aimed at those ready for hardship and sacrifice, to help India grow in emerging technology sectors. The focus, he argued, is nation-building rather than personal convenience.
Delhi Opposition Leader Atishi challenged the BJP-led government over a promised Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance for women, saying the scheme has not started despite deadlines. She also questioned the reported merger of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs into the BJP, calling it unconstitutional and a breach of anti-defection rules.
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Bajaj Housing Finance shares fell more than 1% to an intraday low of Rs 90.01 after reporting a steady Q4FY26 performance. Despite ROA of 2.2% and ROE of 12% that matched management expectations, investors turned cautious, pushing the stock lower. Traders are now weighing whether the dip is a buying opportunity or a signal of slower momentum.
HBO Max has announced that House of the Dragon Season 3 will premiere on June 21 at 9 pm ET. The season will span eight episodes released weekly, with each new installment arriving on a set schedule. The run concludes with the finale scheduled for August 9, giving viewers a clear timeline from premiere to endgame.
Punjab Police say an attempted detonation on railway tracks near Shambhu in Patiala killed the person trying to trigger the blast. Officers recovered a SIM card from the scene and have started a technical investigation to trace responsibility and connections. The incident comes after an earlier blast reported on a freight corridor track in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Peak XV Partners has completed an exit from One MobiKwik Systems via a block deal valued at over Rs 1.30 billion. The transaction marks a major liquidity event for the fintech startup’s investors, signaling continued reshuffling in India’s payments and digital credit landscape. The deal value underscores how quickly stakes can change hands in the VC-backed space.
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Researchers at SII-GAIR unveiled ASI-EVOLVE, an agentic AI-for-AI system that runs a continuous learn-design-experiment-analyze loop to optimize the full foundation-model stack. In tests it created novel linear attention architectures, improved pretraining pipelines, and designed reinforcement learning algorithms—boosting benchmark scores by up to 18-plus points—while reducing the need for constant human intervention.
Social Security benefits are increasing by 2.8% for 2026, and May payments will reflect the COLA boost. SSI recipients typically receive payments on the 1st, while retirement benefits vary by birth date. Although average monthly payouts are higher, many retirees still don’t replace their full income, underscoring the importance of building extra savings.
Assam Higher Secondary Class 12 results for 2026 have been announced for exams held from February 11 to March 16, 2026. Students can check their marks online using roll number or full name, receive a provisional scorecard, and later collect the original marksheet from their schools. The result is also accessible on DigiLocker.
The Trump administration is moving to impose new import taxes after the Supreme Court rejected the prior tariff plan. Officials are launching investigations into claims of forced labor and overproduction by trading partners, setting the stage for broad new duties. The stated goal is to preserve revenue and shield domestic industries, but the knock-on effect could raise costs across multiple countries’ exports.
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A Karnataka court has temporarily stopped new, stricter penalties for solar and wind producers that deviate from scheduled grid supply. Industry groups challenged the rules, saying they were introduced without sufficient public consultation and failed to account for weather-driven variability in renewable generation. The order keeps the older penalty regime in place until the next hearing.
Silver prices have fallen nearly Rs 2 lakh from January peaks, wiping out all gains made in 2026. The drop is driven by a stronger US dollar, profit booking, and global risk-off sentiment. Market experts say the correction could create a gradual buying opportunity, supported by ongoing supply deficits and steady industrial demand, even as near-term volatility persists.
Bain Capital backed Dhoot Transmission has acquired Bengaluru based electrical and electronic products maker MULTILINK. The company says the purchase is designed to strengthen its footprint in the fast growing two and three wheeler market as electrification accelerates and vehicles carry more electronics. MULTILINK supplies OEMs, and the combined business expects growth and cost and revenue synergies.
Redis research warns that fine-tuning RAG embedding models for “compositional sensitivity” can quietly harm general retrieval, dropping accuracy up to 40% on production mid-size models. The issue: structural meaning shifts like negation and role reversals can end up near-identical in embedding space, while common fine-tuning metrics miss it. Agentic pipelines are especially vulnerable.
Two time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker faced backlash after an NRAI event reportedly asked her about 15 year old cricket talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Critics said the comparison undermined her sporting achievements. Bhaker responded calmly, stressing that young athletes need strong mentorship and the right environment to grow, not unfair framing.
A new US House proposal, the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026,” would impose a three-year freeze on new H-1B visas and require a $200,000 minimum salary. It also targets OPT and blocks Green Card transitions, threatening Indian tech professionals and students who rely on the current pathway to work and settle in the US.
Bitcoin and Ethereum are holding close to recent highs even as Bitcoin dips about 3%. The broader crypto market cap slips modestly, but trading volumes are rising, signaling renewed demand. Analysts point to a risk-off environment where institutional buying is providing key support. Near-term direction will depend on Bitcoin’s support levels and incoming macro data.
Adobe has opened public testing for its agentic Firefly AI assistant, built to work across its creative suite. Instead of hopping between apps, users can prompt for complex tasks in natural language while the AI executes actions across tools like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. You can intervene at any stage to refine results, accept or reject suggestions, and control the direction of the workflow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent time playing football with children in Gangtok, Sikkim, during his visit celebrating the state’s 50th anniversary. The same day saw the inauguration and foundation stone laying for more than ₹4,000 crore in projects spanning infrastructure, healthcare, education, and tourism—aimed at accelerating growth and improving public services.
The Indian rupee weakened to 94.47 per dollar on Tuesday as higher oil prices and stalled energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict, pressured sentiment. Traders expect the currency to stay under pressure until supply disruptions ease, with the Reserve Bank of India likely stepping in to limit volatility.
Encounter specialist Ajay Pal Sharma, posted as a police observer in South 24 Parganas, issued an on camera warning against alleged voter intimidation and “badmaashi” ahead of West Bengal’s Phase 2 polling on April 29. The viral clip has triggered a sharp BJP vs TMC fight, with opposition leaders alleging bias while BJP cites crackdown efforts.
Adani Total Gas shares surged 8% to a seven-month high after the company posted better-than-expected Q4 results. Net profit rose 9% in the January-March quarter of FY26, while revenue climbed 17% year-on-year on higher volumes. The stock’s rebound was further boosted by an announced dividend to shareholders.
City Union Bank shares jumped nearly 6% after the bank reported a 25% year-on-year rise in Q4FY26 net profit to Rs 360 crore. The rally was driven by stronger net interest income growth, improving margins, and steady deposit and advance growth. Investors also reacted positively to stable asset quality and a solid capital position.
Two months after the Iran war began, emerging markets are feeling mounting economic pressure as trade disruptions and higher inflation feed into fiscal strain. Many developing countries are seeing currency depreciation and climbing borrowing costs, unlike some commodity exporters that benefit. With financing stress increasing, global financial aid is becoming more critical.
Rihanna’s brief trip to Mumbai for an event tied to Fenty Beauty turned into an online storm after a viral photo showed her feeding a cow as part of guaseva. Many users praised the gesture, but others criticized it, triggering a fast-moving debate across social media about cultural sensitivity and intent.
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court quashed the Public Safety Act case against Aam Aadmi Party president Mehraj Malik, setting aside the Deputy Commissioner’s detention order. After the court concluded all proceedings in the matter, Malik was released from Kathua Jail. Supporters welcomed him with celebration, marking a swift legal turnaround.
Sahamati, India’s NBFC-Account Aggregator body, has raised Rs 50 crore from large banks, asset management companies, stockbrokers, and fintechs. The fresh funding will strengthen the account aggregation data-sharing infrastructure and expand participation, supporting a financial data management framework designed to keep consumers firmly in control of how their information is used.
A new US bill called the SACRED Act would create a 100-foot buffer zone around places of worship. The proposal seeks to criminalize harassment and intimidation within that area at the federal level. Introduced by Congressmen Tom Suozzi and Max Miller, it has backing from multiple religious and civil rights groups, arguing it will better protect worshippers and reduce targeted incidents.
PSU bank stocks slid up to 3% after the RBI confirmed the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework rollout from April 2027. Investors fear higher provisioning and capital pressure, with brokerages estimating a potential 5–10% hit to net worth. While the rules arrive gradually, lenders still face near-term uncertainty over balance-sheet impact.
Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Brandon Malcolm died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Highway 401 near Cobourg. Officials said he was on duty when the incident happened. Malcolm joined the OPP in 2020 and served as a skilled motor officer, respected for his work in the community. Police say the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A 50-year-old housekeeping worker, Jyoti Ahire, died after being crushed in a lift accident at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital. Campus outrage has focused on alleged safety negligence and poor lift maintenance. Authorities have initiated an inquiry to determine how the incident occurred and whether protocols were followed.
Ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP has launched a multi-pronged campaign to challenge the ruling TMC, unveiling its Sankalp Patra. The plan blends sweeping welfare promises for women, youth and farmers with job-linked support and higher MSPs, alongside a tough law-and-order stance on infiltration and border fencing, plus a push to implement the Uniform Civil Code.
In Kolkata, English teacher Kalidas Haldar and his wife created a street library in 2021 using a repurposed refrigerator and a small shop to store over a thousand books. Operating on free borrowing, the initiative invites children and neighbors to read, transforming everyday streets into a community space built around the idea that every child deserves access to books.
AU Small Finance Bank has submitted its final application to the RBI for a universal banking licence, following a relaxation in the non-operative holding company requirement. The bank says it is ready for the upgrade on technology and product readiness after receiving in-principle approval last August, marking a major step toward becoming a full-fledged universal bank.
The RBI has fixed the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond SGB 2020-21 Series-I at Rs 15,124 per unit, with redemption available from April 28, 2026. The payout implies nearly a 230% return on the principal investment, excluding accrued interest, making this series a standout for investors holding the bonds through the redemption window.
Talks on a possible Iran US ceasefire are increasingly centering on a Gulf state near the Strait of Hormuz, with Oman emerging as the neutral venue of choice. Iran’s foreign minister has repeatedly visited Islamabad, but the absence of US envoys—and no visible breakthrough—has cast doubt on Pakistan’s mediator role, shifting attention toward Oman.
Florida immigrant rights groups are fighting proposed rules that would require proof of citizenship or lawful presence for enrollment in state colleges and adult education programs. Supporters say it clarifies eligibility, but opponents argue it could disrupt students already studying, raise barriers to workforce training, and trigger wider economic and social harm.
West Bengal goes to the polls in the final assembly election phase today, with Kolkata, Howrah and nearby districts at the centre. The result will indicate whether the TMC can defend its southern dominance or if the BJP can convert momentum into seats leading to the state secretariat. Both sides are treating this phase as decisive for their 2026 plans.
Microfinance is regaining momentum after 11 quarters of contraction. In the January–March period, the sector returned to growth as market size expanded and loan portfolios rose 5.3%. Delinquency rates declined across lender categories following earlier write-offs, signaling a more stable recovery and improving credit health for borrowers and lenders alike.
IMD says Delhi, Chandigarh and Haryana may see light rainfall today, offering some local relief. Meanwhile Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh could cool after a heatwave stretch. For northwest India, IMD expects no major change in maximum temperatures until Tuesday, then a gradual fall of 3 to 5°C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Meta is reportedly backtracking on its acquisition of AI startup Manus after China banned the deal, citing national security. The AI agent was originally founded in China but is now based in Singapore. Meta says the transaction complied with applicable law, but analysts warn the move highlights how US China tech rivalry can derail cross border deals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Sikkim by landing in Gangtok and holding a spirited roadshow with crowds at the heart of the city. As part of the state’s 50th statehood celebrations, the government is pushing a Rs 4,000 crore initiative, with projects set to roll out—turning public enthusiasm into tangible spending.
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