India

Indian benchmark indices ended higher on Wednesday, although gains narrowed due to a sharp rise in global crude oil prices. Investors remained cautious amid geopolitical tensions, stalled US-Iran talks and volatility in energy markets, while select heavyweight stocks supported market sentiment

The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections recorded a 61.11 per cent voter turnout till 1 p.m. Allegations of threats, violence and EVM irregularities surfaced in some areas, while central forces maintained strict vigil across polling booths in the state

Allegations of violence and EVM tampering surfaced during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. BJP leaders accused Trinamool Congress workers of attacking polling agents, while security forces maintained strict vigil amid rising political tensions across the state

The Supreme Court questioned whether non-believers can claim entry rights to the Sabarimala temple, emphasizing that the court must distinguish between devotees and non-devotees. A nine-judge bench is currently reviewing the scope of religious freedom and gender discrimination in religious places

Actor-politician Joseph Vijay, founder of TVK, embarked on a spiritual tour to Shirdi following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. After visiting Thiruchendur, Vijay's pilgrimage serves as a brief hiatus before the May 4 vote counting and his formal political debut

A massive fire gutted eight flats at Gaur Green Avenue society in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram on Wednesday. Seventeen fire tenders suppressed the blaze, which reportedly started during woodwork. No fatalities occurred, though two elderly residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation

The Supreme Court ruled that existing criminal laws sufficiently address hate speech, rejecting claims of a "legislative vacuum." The bench emphasized that creating new offences belongs to the legislature, not the judiciary, while urging the preservation of constitutional fraternity and dignity

The Congress party accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of giving a "shameful clean chit" to Pakistan during his SCO address in Bishkek. Jairam Ramesh labeled the remarks "anti-national," questioning the government's stance on state-sponsored terrorism and its impact on national security

An encounter erupted Wednesday morning between security forces and Maoists in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district. CoBRA personnel were ambushed during a patrol in the Rutughutu forests. Intensive search operations continue as authorities remain on high alert to flush out insurgents

Gold and silver traded cautiously on the MCX ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. While both metals opened higher, they faced resistance at key levels. International markets remained mildly positive as investors weighed global macroeconomic uncertainties

S Jaishankar met Ecuador’s FM Gabriela Sommerfeld to boost cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, and digital sectors. India welcomed Ecuador’s participation in global initiatives like ISRO Solar Alliance and strengthened bilateral development and diplomatic ties

Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari traded barbs near a Bhabanipur polling booth during West Bengal elections, alleging rigging and intimidation. High-stakes voting across 142 constituencies underscores intense rivalry between TMC and BJP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Narendra Modi after he played football with children in Sikkim. Infantino highlighted football’s unifying power, while Modi called the session energising, reflecting the sport’s strong popularity across India’s northeastern states

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged assault by Central Reserve Police Force and accused Bharatiya Janata Party of poll rigging as tensions, violence claims, and heavy security marked second-phase voting across 142 constituencies in Kolkata and districts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, performed rituals, and will inaugurate the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi, a 594-km corridor aimed at boosting connectivity, economy, logistics, tourism, and regional development across Uttar Pradesh

Kolkata voting saw BJP leaders including Mithun Chakraborty express hopes of 90 percent turnout, while candidates raised EVM concerns, violence allegations, and appeals for participation. Abhaya’s mother entered polls seeking justice as voting covered 142 constituencies across six districts statewide

India’s men’s table tennis team began their World Championships campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over Tunisia, while the women’s team received a walkover. Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah and Harmeet Desai secured comfortable victories in London on Tuesday

Mumbai Indians face a crucial IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad as they struggle with poor form and inconsistent performances. SRH, boosted by strong batting from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, aim to strengthen their playoff position

The BCCI inaugurated six indoor cricket academies across North-East India, virtually launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The facilities aim to strengthen cricket infrastructure, promote talent development, and provide year-round training opportunities across Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland

Ahead of phase two polling in West Bengal, the Election Commission has asked the NIA to prevent use of crude bombs amid rising violence concerns. The move follows recent recoveries of explosives and past incidents of post-poll clashes

India’s Shree Charani climbed to a career-best 11th in ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings after a strong series against South Africa. Laura Wolvaardt also moved to third in batting rankings following a record-breaking performance in the series

The Sports Authority of India has provided over Rs 90 lakh support to the Indian table tennis team for the World Team Championships in London. A 19-member squad will compete, aiming to improve on their Round of 32 finish in 2024

India is assured of the World Billiards Championship title as Pankaj Advani and Sourav Kothari reached the final in Carlow. Advani dominated his semifinal, while Kothari staged a comeback win to set up a repeat of last year’s final