Exit polls suggest a comeback for the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, pointing to a possible return to its long pattern of changing governments. Most pollsters have placed UDF ahead, with the ruling LDF close behind. Axis My India has given UDF 78–90 seats and LDF 49–62 seats. Other surveys also show a similar trend. The state voted on April 9 for 140 seats. The LDF, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, has been in power since 2016. Final results on May 4 will confirm if Kerala returns to its usual cycle or keeps the current government. (PC: HT)

The Axis My India exit poll has suggested a major shift in Tamil Nadu politics. It indicates that actor-turned-politician Vijay could emerge as a strong force in his debut election. The poll even compares him to M. G. Ramachandran, known as MGR, who once changed the state’s political path. Vijay’s party, TVK, has drawn support from young voters. The exit poll hints at a break from the long-standing two-party system. However, final results will decide if this early trend turns into actual seats on counting day. (PC: India Today)

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared America is "watching Iran 24/7" to monitor its nuclear programme, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee. Defending the Iran war, Hegseth stated Tehran's unrelenting "nuclear ambitions" made conflict unavoidable. President Trump dismissed Iran's latest peace proposal, warning Tehran to "get smart soon" and demanding complete nuclear dismantlement as a ceasefire condition. Meanwhile, UAE announced its exit from OPEC, shocking global energy markets, as Brent Crude surged past $112 per barrel. Diplomatic tensions deepened with Germany's Chancellor Merz publicly clashing with Trump over the war. In parallel, Lebanon's death toll climbed to 40 as the fragile April 17 ceasefire continued unravelling dangerously. (PC: The Indian Express)

West Bengal has scripted electoral history, recording its highest-ever voter turnout since Independence across both polling phases, with over 92% participation. Phase one on April 23 saw 91.78% turnout, while Phase two on April 29 recorded 91.71%, according to the Election Commission of India. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar celebrated the milestone saying, "Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv." Over 2.22 crore voters were eligible in the final phase alone. The contest remains a fierce TMC vs BJP battle, with TMC eyeing 100+ seats from Phase one while BJP claims 110. Key constituencies including Bhabanipur and Tollyganj remain closely watched as Bengal awaits its historic verdict. (PC: HT)

Iran's national currency has collapsed to a historic low of 1.8 million rials per US dollar, raising severe inflation fears across the country. The plunge follows weeks of relative stability during the conflict that began February 28, when limited market activity had temporarily shielded the rial. The currency's renewed freefall is driven by a US blockade curtailing oil exports, ongoing international sanctions, and fragile ceasefire conditions. Economists warn that rising import costs for food, medicine and essential goods will intensify household hardship. This crisis echoes January's shock drop from 1.4 to 1.6 million rials, which triggered widespread public protests, raising fears that deeper economic deterioration and fresh civil unrest may lie dangerously ahead. (PC: X)

As polling concluded for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, a split verdict emerged across exit polls. While six pollsters predicted a BJP edge, two emerged as clear outliers forecasting a decisive TMC landslide. Peoples Pulse projected TMC winning 177–187 seats against BJP's 95–110, estimating TMC's vote share at 46.5% versus BJP's 41.5%. Even more strikingly, Janmat Polls projected a sweeping 195–205 seats for Mamata's party, pushing BJP down to just 80–90 seats. Both Congress and the Left Front were projected to remain largely irrelevant. The dramatic divergence between pollsters highlights how razor-thin vote share differences can produce wildly contrasting seat outcomes under India's first-past-the-post electoral system. (PC: News18)

King Charles III's historic state visit to the United States delivered charm, pageantry and carefully crafted diplomacy, but questions remain over its lasting political impact. While British diplomats never expected a full reset of strained UK-US relations, divided over Iran, NATO, Ukraine and trade as they hoped the visit would soften the tone. The King's gifting of an "HMS Trump" ship's bell was widely praised as masterstroke diplomacy. Addressing Congress, King Charles directly challenged Trump's isolationist ideology, declaring "the challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called the speech a "much needed morale boost" for Washington's deeply polarised political class.

India's aggressive ethanol blending programme, marketed as a clean energy solution, is silently deepening the nation's water crisis. Producing just one litre of ethanol from rice demands approximately 10,790 litres of water, making it one of the most water-intensive fuel sources imaginable. The government allocated 52 lakh tonnes of rice for ethanol in 2024–25, targeting 90 lakh tonnes in 2025–26. India's total ethanol production capacity stands at 1,822 crore litres, heavily concentrated in already water-stressed states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. NITI Aayog warns groundwater in 21 major cities could hit zero by 2030. Critics note a glaring double standard as farmers are blamed for water depletion, while industries consuming far more escape scrutiny entirely. (PC: Reuters)

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce attack on central forces Wednesday, alleging they were actively working in favour of the BJP during the second and final phase of assembly polling. After casting her vote at Mitra Institution School in her Bhabanipur constituency, Banerjee accused the forces of intimidating TMC workers, evicting polling agents from booths, and harassing ordinary voters. "What is happening is not at all free and fair polls," she declared sharply. Polling was simultaneously underway across 142 constituencies in south Bengal, covering Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman, amid heightened political tensions and security deployment. (PC: PTI)

In a stunning political forecast, Axis My India has released its exit poll results, predicting a clean sweep for the BJP in the state. The survey projects the saffron party winning an commanding over 88 seats, signalling a dominant and decisive mandate. Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress is projected to secure a significantly reduced tally of just 24 to 36 seats, underscoring a major collapse in opposition strength. The Axis My India projection adds considerable weight to the growing narrative of BJP's unstoppable electoral momentum in the region. If the actual results mirror these predictions, it would mark a landmark political shift with far-reaching consequences for the state's governance and opposition landscape.