Mid Day

He also criticised the previous Iran nuclear deal, asserting that it paved the way for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, while claiming that Iran is currently under severe economic and military pressure and is seeking negotiations with the United States

Wildfires in Japans Iwate region have spread toward Otsuchi town, prompting evacuation advisories for more than 2,500 people. The blaze has burned over 400 hectares so far, with hundreds of firefighters and aircraft deployed to contain it

Irans central bank has confirmed that transit fee revenues from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been received in cash, rejecting reports of cryptocurrency payments

At least five people were killed and seven injured in separate firing incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reportedly linked to property disputes and longstanding rivalries. Police have launched investigations

Scientists have identified a new coronavirus in bats in East Africa that can bind to a human receptor, though no human infections have been detected so far. Experts say the finding highlights the need for continued monitoring of zoonotic risks

UK-based Tilbury Douglas has introduced a humanoid robot named Douglas to manage administrative and data tasks on-site, freeing human workers to focus on construction work and improving efficiency

Officials from Lebanon and Israel are set to hold a second round of rare direct talks in Washington, aimed at extending a ceasefire with Hezbollah and paving the way for future negotiations

Amid the ongoing probe into Ashok Kharat, police in Nashik have registered an FIR against another self-styled godman for alleged sexual exploitation of a 28-year-old woman under the pretext of rituals and black magic

Cafe life content by Mokai or the Croffle Guys, or any other caf, once clutter-breaking, has now become repetitive and unfunny. For the trend to continue, it needs a serious dose of out-of-the-box thinking

Reports said Bhide interacted directly with sanitation workers to assess on-ground workforce deployment

The United States Army is exploring robotic ground vehicles to carry out high-risk tasks like casualty evacuation and resupply, aiming to reduce risks to soldiers in increasingly dangerous combat environments

US President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire after talks with top officials. The US aims to support Lebanon and work towards lasting peace, while concerns over Hezbollah remain

Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers protested at the companys chip complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, demanding higher bonuses and threatening strike action. The rally came as AI-driven demand boosts memory-chip profits across the sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said May 4, the day of counting, would mark the end of the TMCs 15-year syndicate system in West Bengal. He claimed the high voter turnout showed that the politics of fear was losing to the BJPs promise of trust and change

A 19-year-old former domestic help has been arrested for the alleged rape and murder of an IRS officers daughter in Kailash Hills. A court in New Delhi has remanded him to police custody as investigators probe links to another assault in Alwar

Under a new programme, tribal visitors from Utnoor toured Hyderabad, visiting landmarks like Charminar and the Nehru Zoological Park to experience urban life

Many pilgrims have reported long waiting hours, overcrowding, and inadequate facilities at Kedarnath Temple, with some even advising others to postpone their visit due to the surge in footfall

In a social media post on Thursday, Trump said the US military is ramping up mine-clearing operations in the narrow waterway, a crucial global oil transit route.

I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation, said Trump in a post

PM Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of corruption and failing women, while expressing confidence that the BJP will win when results are declared on May 4

Tensions in the Middle East have disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized two ships, raising concerns over global oil and gas supplies

IMD has issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions in parts of Kerala, with temperatures crossing 40 degrees Celsius in some districts. Authorities have suspended student activities and urged people to avoid going out during peak hours, stay hydrated, and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

The initiative sets an ambitious goal of achieving zero fatalities, even on peak days when footfall could reach up to 2.25 crore across Nashik and Trimbakeshwar

Eight people lost their lives and two others were injured after a vehicle lost control and fell nearly 300 metres into a deep gorge in Uttarakhands Tehri Garhwal district

A report by Ukrainian media has claimed that China could potentially access a large share of surveillance systems in Ukraine, including cameras used on streets and reconnaissance drones, raising serious security concerns during the ongoing war

Addressing reporters after casting his vote in the Baramati bypoll, Rohit Pawar said that while the people of the constituency do not favour a family face-off, certain political interests appear keen on forcing such a situation

Several districts in both states recorded high participation, reflecting strong voter engagement. Polling continues amid tight security, with major political parties contesting closely fought battles in both states

CBSE has announced the schedule for the second phase of Class 10 board exams from May 15 to May 21, offering students an optional chance to improve their scores

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections recorded a strong voter turnout of over 62 pc by 1 pm, with people coming out in large numbers despite hot and humid conditions. Polling was held across 152 constituencies in 16 districts, deciding the fate of 1,478 candidates

Polling in Tamil Nadu crossed 56.81 pc by 1 pm, with Tiruppur recording the highest turnout. Cities like Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore also witnessed strong voter participation across key constituencies

A Nashik court has sent self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to judicial custody till May 6 in the fifth sexual assault case against him. Accused of exploiting multiple women and financial fraud, Kharat is facing over 12 criminal cases across Maharashtra

The United States Department of State has advised Americans to leave Iran following the partial reopening of its airspace. The advisory comes amid ongoing tensions, with a ceasefire in place but continued economic pressure and travel risks in the region

Security has been tightened along the BiharWest Bengal border as polling gets underway, with districts like Katihar under high alert. Authorities have launched strict vehicle checks and surveillance to prevent cross-border crime and ensure peaceful elections

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi cast her vote in Chennai and urged citizens to vote with the states future and identity in mind. Polling across Tamil Nadu saw strong participation, with turnout crossing 37% by late morning

In a horrific incident in Tirupati district, a man allegedly killed his wife and mother before dying by suicide on a railway track along with his two children, who were also crushed under a moving train. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances behind the tragedy

India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices havent increased in the last four years despite significant global oil prices fluctuations due to the war

Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm in both constituencies. The Baramati assembly seat in Pune district fell vacant after the death of former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28, 2026

Speaking to the media after casting his vote in Baramati, Rohit Pawar said there was now little relevance in reviving discussions about a merger following the former Maharashtra Deputy CMs death. The Baramati bypoll was necessitated after Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28

In West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur recorded the highest turnout at 44.68 per cent, followed by Jhargram at 43.71 per cent and Bankura at 43.22 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Malda at 38.22 per cent

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty fell sharply in early trade on April 23, tracking a surge in crude oil prices above USD 100 per barrel and weak global cues. Rising geopolitical tensions and FII outflows further weighed on investor sentiment

Journalist Amal Khalil, reporting on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. Her body was recovered hours after the strike in al-Tiri village

The White House said US President Donald Trump will determine the timeline of the ongoing West Asia conflict based on American interests, with no fixed deadline for ceasefire or blockade

US markets surged to fresh highs, driven by strong corporate earnings from companies like GE Vernova and Boeing. However, Brent crude oil rose above USD 100 a barrel amid escalating conflict concerns involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, keeping investors cautious despite the rally

Tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran reportedly attacked and seized multiple ships, raising fears over global oil supply disruption. Conflicting statements and ongoing US naval enforcement have added to uncertainty, with major shipping traffic slowing amid security risks

A chemical leak at Catalyst Refiners in Institute killed two people and sent 19 others to hospital after a violent reaction involving Nitric acid. Authorities said several responders were also affected, while a temporary shelter-in-place order was issued in the surrounding area

The Supreme Court of India has criticised Mamata Banerjee over alleged interference during an Enforcement Directorate raid linked to I-PAC in Kolkata, warning that such actions could undermine democratic processes

IRGC-N named the vessels as MSC-Francesca and Epaminodas, PressTV reported (though it spelt it as Epaminodas). Two shipping monitoring websites said the Liberian-flagged Epaminodas was travelling to Mundra in Gujarat from Jebel Ali port in Dubai

A new wastewater treatment process converts sewage into nearly pure renewable natural gas using advanced heating and a patented bacterial strain. The method has doubled efficiency, increased gas output by 200 pc, and significantly reduced disposal costs.

Two people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in separate elephant attacks in Koderma district. The incidents occurred at brick kiln sites, with lapses in alerting workers reportedly contributing to the fatalities

A YouTuber from Double M Innovations has demonstrated a DIY nuclear battery that generates electricity from radioactive decay. Using Tritium and solar cells, the device produces only very small amounts of power, highlighting both its potential and limitations