Kolkata Police imposed Section 163 near counting centres in Kolkata after clashes between Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party workers. Gatherings are banned in seven areas. The move follows allegations of EVM tampering by TMC. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said there is “no scope for wrongdoing” and all strong rooms are sealed. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is “under surveillance”. Officials said strict security is in place before counting. (PC: PTI)

Masoud Pezeshkian may remove Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over stalled talks with the United States, reports said. He is accused of “defying orders” and not keeping the presidency informed. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also backs the move. Reports claim Araghchi acted on directions from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran has not confirmed the claims. Talks remain stuck as both sides try to turn a fragile ceasefire into a lasting deal. (PC: AFP)

Police have banned gatherings in parts of Kolkata ahead of vote counting on May 4. The move follows clashes between Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party workers near counting centres. Strong rooms storing EVMs have been heavily secured. Extra police and central forces have been deployed. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited a centre and stayed for hours. Officials denied claims of tampering. They said all EVMs are sealed and safe. Authorities said strict steps are needed to maintain peace during counting. (PC: ANI)

Iraganaboyina Chandu, a 26-year-old from Kurnool, died by suicide in the United States. He had completed his master’s degree in Chicago. He could not find a job for weeks. Family members said he felt stressed and worried. He was concerned about his father’s debt. His father works as a security guard. The Indian community has raised over $76,500 to support his family. The money will help bring his body back to India. Authorities are trying to speed up the process. (PC: gofundme.com)

The United States Central Command has proposed deploying the “Dark Eagle” hypersonic weapon near Iran, a report said. The system can travel over five times the speed of sound. It is designed for long-range strikes. No final decision has been made yet. The move comes despite a ceasefire since April 9. The weapon is built by Lockheed Martin and costs about $15 million per missile. Only eight missiles are available now. Officials say the plan aims to target deep missile sites. Tensions remain high, and future conflict could be more deadly. (PC: ConflictXtweets/X)

Noida International Airport will begin operations from June 15, officials said. The airport is in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. It aims to reduce pressure on Indira Gandhi International Airport. The project costs ₹11,200 crore. It will handle 12 million passengers yearly in phase one. Airlines like IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express may operate flights. Routes may include Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. International flights may start later. Officials are still finalising flight schedules and ticket bookings. (PC: HT)

Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, said strict vigil is in place at the Bhabanipur strongroom and claimed Mamata Banerjee is “under surveillance” after her late-night visit. He said a BJP polling agent was present to ensure transparency. Security has been increased at Netaji Indoor Stadium ahead of May 4 counting. The Trinamool Congress alleged ballot boxes were opened without authorised representatives and staged protests. The Election Commission denied the claims, saying procedures were followed. TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh raised concerns, while BJP leaders rejected the allegations and accused TMC of spreading misinformation. (PC: HT)

Mohammad Salim Dola, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, used the name “Hamza” while living in Turkey, reports said. Officials said the fake identity was linked to a Bulgarian passport. Its validity is under investigation. Dola was deported to India on April 28 and is in custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau till May 8. He was detained by Turkish agencies after an Interpol Red Notice. Officials said, “Dola had established a major transnational drug trafficking syndicate.” He is linked to multiple drug cases and had been absconding for years. (PC: HT)

A tigress and her four cubs have died within nine days in Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the deaths are under detailed investigation. Early findings suggest a possible infection from Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The tigress, known as T-141, and her cubs were found in the Sarhi range. Three cubs were found dead between April 21 and April 26. The tigress and one cub were rescued but died later. An official said, “An in-depth probe is underway by veterinary and wildlife forensic experts.” Initial reports point to lung infection and breathing distress. Samples have been sent for testing. (PC: X)

A mother and her four-year-old son were found dead after a cruise boat capsized in the Narmada River near Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Rescuers said the mother was holding the child close when they were found. They were tourists from Delhi. The father and daughter survived. A survivor, Syed Riyaz Hussain, said, “No one could understand what was happening. There was screaming… people were crying for help.” He added he was trapped in water for nearly two hours before rescue teams saved him. So far, nine people have died. Authorities rescued 24 people. Several others are still missing, including children. (PC: India Today)