Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Tuesday urged party workers to support and encourage her nephew, Akash Anand, who was recently reinstated in the party after being removed from key responsibilities.

In a detailed post on social media platform X, Mayawati addressed the internal dynamics of the party, stating that some BSP members, due to "ignorance, over-enthusiasm, carelessness, or being misled by opposition conspiracies", are occasionally removed from responsibilities -- and in serious cases, expelled.

"After some of them reflect and apologise, they are taken back in the interest of the party and the movement. This has been the practice since the party’s formation, and similar actions are seen in other parties as well", she added.

Referring specifically to Akash Anand, she said that "some selfish and sellable elements within the Bahujan Samaj" -- who have floated their own parties to divide the BSP vote -- have been spreading false propaganda in the media about his return.

India's emphatic nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ongoing tri-series in Colombo has not only set the tone for their campaign but also propelled two of their promising young batters, Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol to new career-highs in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings.

Pratika Rawal, the 24-year-old opener who has been enjoying a sensational run of form, led from the front with a composed unbeaten 50 off 62 balls. Her knock, which helped India chase down Sri Lanka’s modest total with ease, earned her the Player of the Match award and a significant 10-place leap in the ICC ODI batting rankings. She now sits at a career-best 47th, cementing her growing reputation as one of India’s most dependable top-order batters.

Rawal continued her remarkable purple patch in Indian colours with yet another commanding performance, scoring 78 off 91 deliveries against South Africa on Tuesday. This innings marked her fifth consecutive half-century in Women’s ODIs.

More than half of Indian business leaders are already using artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve environmentally responsible outcomes -- putting India well ahead of the global and Asia-Pacific averages, a new report said on Tuesday.

According to the report, 52 per cent of Indian leaders say they are actively using AI to drive sustainable practices, compared to just 39 per cent globally.

This shows a major shift in mindset, as companies in India increasingly view sustainability not just as a compliance requirement but as a central part of their business strategy, said the report by US-based software company Autodesk.

Mumbai-based real estate firm Oberoi Realty saw its share price decline by Rs 46.80 or 2.82 per cent to Rs 1,610 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday.

The fall came after the company reported a 45 per cent drop in its consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY25.

According to its filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Oberoi Realty’s net profit for the January-March quarter stood at Rs 433.17 crore, compared to Rs 788.03 crore in the same period last fiscal.

The sharp fall in profit was mainly due to a steep rise in land acquisition costs and a drop in operational revenue.

In the wake of the mega unified payments interface (UPI) outage earlier this month, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has asked banks to ensure that all the API requests (traffic) sent to UPI is monitored and moderated in terms of appropriate usage.

The relentless transaction status checks by banks resulted in the massive UPI outage on April 12, leaving millions stranded.

In a notification, the NPCI has said that banks will initiate the first check transaction status API after 90 seconds from the initiation/authentication of the original transaction.

“After the timers are changed, members may initiate the same after 45 to 60 seconds of the initiation/authentication of original transaction, after NPCI revised communication,” said the agency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday became one of the first world leaders to congratulate Mark Carney on his election as the Prime Minister of Canada and to the Liberal Party on their victory.

"India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people," PM Modi posted on X a short while after Carney sealed his victory late Monday night, Ottawa time.

New Delhi's ties with Ottawa saw sharp deterioration under Carney's predecessor Justin Trudeau who repeatedly made "ludicrous statements" against India and sympathised with Khalistanis besides also engaging in confrontation with US President Donald Trump.

Carney, a leading economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada who was chosen by Canada's Liberal Party as Trudeau's replacement, had pledged to "rebuild" the strained ties with India during his election campaign.

The South Korea's Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it will rule on the election law violation case of the Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung later this week.

The ruling will be made at 3 pm Thursday, the court said, just four days after Lee won the DP's primary for the June 3 presidential election.

The announcement comes after prosecutors appealed a high court ruling last month that acquitted Lee of lying as a presidential candidate during the 2022 election and overturned a lower court's sentence of a suspended prison term.

The case has posed a major legal hurdle for Lee, who is considered the front-runner in the upcoming presidential election.

Actress Esha Deol took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as she marked the 20th anniversary of her 2005 supernatural thriller “Kaal.”

Sharing a behind-the-scenes picture from the sets with her co-star John Abraham, Esha reminisced about the intense two months she spent in the jungle, working closely with tigers during the film's shoot. Known for its daring stunts and wildlife scenes, Kaal remains one of the most memorable films in Esha's career. For the caption, the actress wrote, “20 years since we all spent 2 months in the jungle with the tigers, wonderful memories.”

She also added the song “Tauba Tauba” from “Kaal” to her post, further reminiscing about her time on set.

India's gold demand surged past 800 tonnes in 2024, driven by a rise in jewellery consumption and increased investments in gold exchange traded funds (ETFs), according to a new report released on Tuesday.

The report by Zerodha Fund House revealed that India was the world’s largest consumer of gold jewellery in 2024, with total consumption reaching 563 tonnes.

The value of this consumption was estimated at around Rs 3.6 lakh crore. Gold continues to hold a significant place in Indian culture, particularly during weddings and other auspicious occasions, where its use is widespread.

Apart from jewellery, Indians are also investing heavily in gold in the form of bars and coins. In 2024, the country purchased 239 tonnes of gold in bar and coin form, valued at approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Raebareli MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday visited his parliamentary constituency for the first time after General Elections and took stock of development projects and interacted with residents and party workers.

While attending the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA), LoP Gandhi discussed future plans with 78 departments’ officials, who had assembled at the collectorate’s Bachat Bhawan with updates on the agenda discussed earlier.

A party worker said Tuesday’s meeting focussed on implementation of Centre-funded programmes.

LoP Gandhi also inaugurated a solar project and EV charging facility, unveiled a statue, interacted with local residents and energised party workers in his parliamentary constituency.

On his second visit to the constituency this year – the last one was in February – LoP Gandhi unveiled a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the Civil Lines area in Bachhrawan, said a party leader.

A team of Brazilian researchers has developed an innovative CAR-T cell therapy that showed positive results in patients with a refractory type of lymphoma -- cancer in lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow.

HSP-CAR30 is the first European CAR-T30 study to successfully complete its initial phase.

The results of the Phase I trial, published in the journal Blood, trial revealed that the new therapy which targets the CD30 protein has shown high efficacy in patients with refractory CD30+ lymphoma.

The therapy also promotes the expansion of memory T cells, leading to long-lasting responses and improved clinical outcomes in treated patients.

"The most remarkable aspect is the 100 per cent overall response rate, which is extremely rare in patients who have undergone multiple lines of treatment. Additionally, 50 per cent of patients achieved complete remission, meaning the disease was undetectable in imaging studies and clinical analyses," said Dr. Javier Briones, Head of the Hematological Oncology at the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau).

On the death anniversary of the late legendary actor Irrfan Khan, Tisca Chopra took to social media to share heartfelt memories of their time together.

The actress fondly reminisced about their friendship, recalling the moments they shared both on and off-screen. Known for their camaraderie and mutual respect, Tisca’s post was a tribute to the iconic actor, whose legacy continues to inspire many in the film industry. Taking to her Instagram handle, Tisca shared a scene featuring her and Irrfan Khan from their show “Bestsellers: Ek Shaam Ki Mulakaat,” offering fans a glimpse of their powerful on-screen chemistry and the deep connection they shared.

The ‘Taare Zameen Par’ actress, who knew Irrfan for 20 years, also posted candid photos of herself and Irrfan Khan, where the two are seen smiling, capturing a warm and joyful moment from their time together. For the caption, Tisca wrote, “The memories don’t fade, they become sharper and more acute..Much left unsaid and much more undone. Till we will meet again and make new stories dearest Irrfan.”

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra has wrapped up the shoot for her upcoming Netflix series and shared a heartfelt note reflecting on her experience.

The actress spent two months in the mountains, describing the time as peaceful and quiet—contrasting sharply with the intense and emotionally charged scenes she filmed. Calling the project both a “lovely vacation” and an “acting workshop,” Parineeti expressed gratitude to her co-stars, director Rensil D’Silva, and producers Siddharth and Sapna Malhotra for making the journey memorable.

The Central government on Tuesday blocked the X account of Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif following the barbaric terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, most of them tourists.

The action came as Pakistan's role as a "rogue state fuelling global terrorism" was laid bare by the public admission made by Asif.

A Sky News interviewer last week asked Asif if Pakistan had a long history of "backing and supporting and training and funding" terrorist organisations. He candidly admitted that it had.

In the interview, Asif had said, "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States (US) for about three decades... and West, including Britain," when questioned about Pakistan's ties with terror outfits.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Tuesday welcomed the government's decision to step in and address the growing menace of spam and scam calls originating from Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has decided to take the lead on this issue, as was conveyed during a recent meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR).

The industry sees this as a much-needed move, especially since spam and scam activities are increasingly shifting to OTT communication apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and others.

While the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), along with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), has been tightening regulations around Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) on traditional telecom networks, similar control over OTT platforms has been missing.

Gold has continued to shine bright for investors, delivering a return of over 30 per cent since last year's Akshaya Tritiya, according to brokerage firm Ventura.

As the festival approaches this Wednesday, the price of 24-carat gold has surged from Rs 73,240 per 10 grams in 2024 to nearly Rs 94,000-Rs 95,000 per 10 grams this year.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days to buy gold. It is believed that purchases made on this day invite prosperity and good fortune.

With this belief deeply rooted in tradition, millions across the country turn to gold not just for adornment but also as a time-tested investment -- especially during uncertain times.

Over a longer horizon, gold has delivered even more impressive returns. In the past six years, gold prices have more than tripled. On Akshaya Tritiya in 2019, 24-carat gold was priced at Rs 31,729 per 10 grams, the firm said.

Rajasthan is experiencing harsh summers in the month of April itself, with the mercury breaching the 46-degree Celsius mark in Jaisalmer to break a six-year record and the temperature in Barmer touching 46.4 degrees Celsius already.

The state, as per Met officials, is in the grip of a heat wave right now, however respite is expected in the form of storms and rain after two days.

In the last 24 hours, many of Rajasthan's districts smashed past temperature records with the maximum temperature in Jaisalmer being recorded at 46.2 degrees Celsius.

Jaisalmer recorded the maximum temperature at 46.1 degrees Celsius six years ago on April 30, 2018.

Authorities in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria have issued a health alert for measles amid a spike in cases.

The Victorian Department of Health said that a new measles case has been reported in a returned traveller who visited Pakistan and was infectious, on a flight from Dubai to Melbourne on April 24.

The department said on Friday that there had been 22 confirmed cases of measles in Victoria in 2025 - more than in 2023 and 2024 combined. It said the majority of cases have been acquired locally in Melbourne and surrounding areas.

Victoria is Australia's second-most populous state with a population of over seven million.

Robbers looted passengers of the Nizamabad-Tirupati Rayalaseema Express in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to railway police, unidentified miscreants looted passengers aboard Train No. 12794 Nizamabad-Tirupati Rayalaseema Express when it had stopped on the outskirts of Gooty town.

The incident occurred around 1.30 a.m. as the Rayalaseema Express stopped to clear the track for the Shalimar (Kolkata)-Vasco-da-Gama (Goa) Amaravati Express.

The robbers entered 10 sleeper coaches and snatched gold ornaments, cash, and other valuables from passengers after threatening them.

At least 20 passengers lodged a complaint with Tirupati Railway Police after the train reached its destination in the morning.

Pakistani hackers targeted three Rajasthan government websites and defaced them with anti-India messages.

The Pakistani cybercriminals targeted multiple government websites in Rajasthan, with the latest being the Education Department's official portal.

On Tuesday, Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar took cognisance of the incident and activated the Department's Information Technology wing.

The "compromised" website has since been temporarily shut down while recovery operations are underway.

Cybersecurity agencies have also been notified, and an investigation has been launched to identify the hacking group responsible and assess the extent of any potential data breach.

 In a brazen attack late on Monday night, a masked gunman entered the Jaitwara police station in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district and opened fire on a constable, leaving him critically injured, police officials said on Tuesday.

The victim, Prince Garg, was reportedly preparing to have dinner inside the police station at around midnight when he heard a noise outside. As he stepped out to check, he saw a masked man holding a firearm.

Before Garg could react, the assailant shot him in the shoulder at close range and fled the scene.

Fellow officers present at the police station immediately rushed Garg to Satna District Hospital, where he was given first aid. Doctors later referred him to Sanjay Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Rewa due to the severity of his injuries. His condition remains critical.

Daily exposure to certain chemicals used in plastic items like food containers or medical equipment could be linked to an increase in deaths due to heart disease worldwide, according to a study published in the journal Lancet eBiomedicine on Tuesday.

Researchers at New York University Langone Health said that the chemicals, called phthalates, are in widespread use globally.

Phthalates found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, and bug repellants have for decades been linked with an increased risk of conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to fertility issues and cancer.

The new study focused on a kind of phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is used to make food containers, medical equipment, and other plastic softer and more flexible.

The Committee set up by the Iranian Authorities to investigate the cause of the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in the Hormozgan province, which claimed 70 lives, reported that there was a "failure to observe safety procedures" at the port.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Committee to Investigate the Causes of the Fire Incident in Shahid Rajaee Port stated that after conducting several meetings with experts in different fields, it was concluded that the reason for the tragic incident was "the failure to observe safety principles and passive defence standards" as confirmed to the committee members, the semi-official News Agency reported.

"There have been discrepancies in some cases, and the security and judicial bodies are seriously seeking to identify the wrongdoers," it added.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held meetings with members of the Indian business delegation and other top industry leaders in the UK, and discussed avenues for greater collaboration for mutual prosperity.

The Commerce Minister is on a five-day visit to London, Oslo and Brussels this week, for strengthening India’s trade and investment relations with the UK, Norway and the European Union.

“Interacted with members of the Indian business delegation over dinner. Discussed the robust growth of our industry and avenues for greater collaboration with the UK for mutual prosperity,” Goyal posted on X social media platform.

He also met Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, and his team to explore global trends in the gems and jewellery sector.

“We discussed India's opportunities, sustainable practices, and growth prospects for the diamond industry,” said the minister.

The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Tuesday that 48 destinations across the Valley have been shut for tourists.

The action comes after the horrific attack on tourists in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam town in Kashmir. Twenty-five tourists, including a Nepali national and a local, were killed in the firing by terrorists, who singled out Hindu men for their religion.

The valley has 87 total destinations, out of which 48 have been closed now.

Kashmir has witnessed a drop in tourists after the Pahalgam terror attack. The number of arrivals at Srinagar airport witnessed a steep decline.

Israeli researchers have discovered that stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy affects the foetus's brain.

The discovery led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) could pave the way for new treatments or interventions to support a baby's healthy development after birth, news agency reported.

Published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, the study revealed that maternal stress during pregnancy could "reprogramme" key molecular pathways in the foetus, particularly the cholinergic system -- a network of nerve cells responsible for regulating stress responses and inflammation.

The researchers analysed blood samples from 120 newborns and their mothers collected at birth, focusing on small RNA molecules known as tRNA fragments (tRFs), many of which originate from mitochondrial DNA.

Actress Amruta Khanvilkar described her trip to Japan as “a soul-stirring experience” and said that every meal she ate “was a memory.”

Her adventure began in the bustling streets of Tokyo, where she immersed herself in the local cuisine, trying various traditional Japanese dishes.

“My trip to Japan was a soul-stirring experience—rich in culture, taste, and emotion. From the discipline and cleanliness in every corner to the deep-rooted traditions, Japan truly felt like another world,” Amruta told.

The top Marathi film star added: “Every meal was a memory—fluffy pancakes, earthy matcha, art-like desserts that never left you feeling heavy. Dressing in a kimono by the gentle hands of an elderly lady, sipping tea in Kyoto, exploring centuries-old temples—it all felt like stepping into a dream.”

Paytm's parent company, One97 Communication Ltd, has said that its subsidiary, First Games Technology Private Limited, received a show-cause notice from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).

The notice, received on April 28, 2025, relates to an ongoing Goods and Services Tax (GST) matter that has been under review across the online gaming industry for over 18 months.

The DGGI has taken the position that GST should be levied at 28 per cent on the total entry amount, instead of the 18 per cent GST currently paid on the platform fee or revenue earned by gaming companies.

In its stock exchange filing, Paytm emphasised that this is an industry-wide issue, and that several other online gaming operators have received similar notices in the past.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Tuesday said it has taken suo moto action against five restaurants — Makhna Deli, Xero Courtyard, Castle Barbeque, Chaayos and Fiesta by Barbeque Nation — for failing to refund mandatory service charges despite judgment held by the Delhi High Court.

The regulator has served notices to the five restaurants in the national capital under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, directing the restaurants to refund the service charge amounts.

“This measure is aimed at reducing the undue pressure on Consumers to pay additional amount at the time of availing services at any Restaurant as no Hotel or Restaurant shall force a consumer to pay Service Charge or Service Charge shall not be collected from consumers by any other name,” said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

In 2022, CCPA issued guidelines to curb unfair trade practices and protect consumer interests regarding service charges in hotels and restaurants.

Jason Sangha, who joined the South Australia Men for the 2024/25 domestic season, has now signed a two-year deal with the Big Bash League club Adelaide Strikers.

Jason Sangha sogns two-year deal with Adelaide Strikers

Adelaide, April 29 (IANS) Jason Sangha, who joined the South Australia Men for the 2024/25 domestic season, has now signed a two-year deal with the Big Bash League club Adelaide Strikers.

Sangha recently etched his name into South Australian cricket history by hitting the winning runs in their Sheffield Shield victory, ending a 29-year drought. He is a right-handed batter who can also bowl handy leg-spin, making him a valuable asset to the Strikers for the upcoming BBL|15 season.

The recent depreciation of the South Korean won against the US dollar may add short-term pressure on inflation, but its overall impact is likely to be less significant than that of domestic factors, a state-run think tank said on Tuesday.

The won-greenback exchange rate has remained above the 1,400-won level -- a threshold not seen since 2009 -- following the shocking, albeit brief, martial law imposition by ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December. The rate has faced further pressure following new tariff measures implemented by the Donald Trump administration.

"The impact of a strong U.S. dollar on import prices tends to diminish over time, while domestic factors behind the won's depreciation generally have a more lasting and pronounced effect on consumer prices," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its latest report, reports news agency.

Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday it has introduced a revamped version of its Xcient heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell truck at a clean transport exhibition in the United States.

The upgraded Xcient, which includes a newly designed hydrogen fuel cell system, was showcased at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo 2025 in Anaheim, California, on Monday (US time), reports news agency.

Hyundai Motor said the revamped Xcient is tailored to meet a wide range of customer needs, including port transportation and medium-distance logistics. It is powered by a 180 kilowatt-hour (kWh) hydrogen fuel cell system.

For hydrogen storage, it is fitted with 10 tanks that together hold approximately 68 kilograms of hydrogen, enabling the vehicle to support a wide range of commercial transportation needs.

Ken Ramirez, head of Hyundai Motor's global commercial vehicle and hydrogen business, emphasised the South Korean automaker's focus on providing real-world, production-ready solutions for the transport industry.

The domestic benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday amid positive cues from global markets, as buying was seen in the PSU bank, auto and IT sectors in the early trade.

At around 9.25 am, Sensex was trading 409.4 points or 0.51 per cent up at 80,627.85 while the Nifty climbed 118.10 points or 0.49 per cent at 24,446.60.

Nifty Bank was up 492.90 points or 0.89 per cent at 55,925.70. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 54,931.15 after increasing 490.90 points or 0.43 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 16,860.05 after climbing 183.15 points or 1.10 per cent.

According to analysts, after a positive opening, Nifty can find support at 24,250. On the higher side, 24,500 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 24,600 and 24,700.

"The charts of Bank Nifty indicate that it may get support at 55,300 followed by 55,000 and 54,700. If the index advances further, 55,600 would be the initial key resistance, followed by 55,900 and 56,200," said Hardik Matalia from Choice Broking.