All set for counting; ECI promises transparency

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said it would uphold the “highest standards of transparency, security and efficiency” during the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026) for the elections to the Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and the bye-elections in seven Assembly constituencies of five States.

Assam election verdict: Congress hopes to stop BJP run

The Congress-led front of six parties hopes to shed the Opposition tag by preventing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from scoring a hat-trick of wins after the April 9 Assam election results are declared on Monday (May 4, 2026). Both alliances are gung-ho about bagging at least 64 seats, the simple majority mark in the 126-member Assembly. While the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-helmed BJP has predicted close to 100 seats for the NDA, the Gaurav Gogoi-steered Congress is confident of a similar number for the Asom Sonmilito Morcha (ASM) to return to power after 10 years.

West Bengal waits with bated breath for May 4 Assembly election results

Political parties and people across the State are waiting with bated breath for counting of votes of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Monday (May 4, 2026). Elections to the 294-member Assembly were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. After a bitterly contested Assembly elections, the votes for 293 Assembly polls will be counted on Monday (May 4, 2026) as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced repolling for Falta Assembly seat in South 24 Parganas district on May 21 on account of electoral malpractices.

Trump announces ‘Project Freedom’ to help stranded ships leave Strait of Hormuz

The United States will launch an effort on Monday (May 4, 2026) to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, giving few details about what could be a sweeping effort to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers. Mr. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday (May 3, 2026) that “neutral and innocent” countries have been affected by the Iran war, and “we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.” “Project Freedom” would begin on Monday (May 4, 2026) morning in West Asia, Mr. Trump said, adding that his representatives are having discussions with Iran that could lead to something “very positive for all.”

Ahead of Misri’s expected Nepal visit, Kathmandu expresses concern to India, China on Kailash yatra over Lipulekh

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s upcoming visit to Nepal came under shadow on Sunday (May 3, 2026) with Nepal expressing “concerns” to both India and China regarding the next season of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh region reiterating that the region is part of Nepal’s sovereign territory. In response to Kathmandu’s remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday (May 3, 2026) that Nepal’s claims on the Lipulekh Pass are not based on “historical facts”.

PM Modi, External Affairs Minister on major diplomatic outreach in May

Days after a major conference of India’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners, where they were urged to be more “proactive” in projecting India’s message worldwide, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are kicking off a busy summer season, with travels to different parts of the world and hosting a number of their counterparts from BRICS and Quad groupings, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region, all in this month alone.

India-Jamaica ties characterised by ‘continuity and change’: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said the ties between India and Jamaica are characterised by “continuity and change” as he emphasised that this relationship is rooted in a shared history, energised by current cooperation, and aimed at a future filled with greater possibilities. In an interview with The Jamaican Gleaner, Mr. Jaishankar also said that both countries “must continue to work together to build a deeper and more resilient partnership that works for both our people and contributes to a more just world.” On Saturday (May 2, 2026), Mr. Jaishankar arrived in Jamaica on his first visit to the Caribbean nation to boost bilateral relations between the two countries.

Two security staff members arrested after video shows them assaulting tribal man at Madhya Pradesh coal plant

Two security staff members have been arrested for thrashing a tribal man at the Nigahi coal handling plant of the Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) in Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh, a day after a video of the assault went viral on the Internet, police said on Sunday (May 3, 2026). According to police officers, the incident took place on March 20, and the police began to trace the victim, who was identified as Annelal Baiga, a resident of Nigh village, after the video came to light on May 2.

‘I am one of the six victims’, reveals Vinesh Phogat; opposes tourney at Brij Bhushan’s hometown

Making a startling revelation that she was among the six women wrestlers allegedly sexually harassed by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, three-time Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said she won’t be able to give her “100%” at the upcoming WFI ranking tournament scheduled to be held at his hometown in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Ms. Phogat had led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against the former six-time BJP MP in 2023, accusing him of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Mr. Singh has denied the charges.

Nine killed as blaze engulfs residential building in Delhi’s Shahdara

Nine people were killed in a major fire which broke out at a residential building in Shahdara in East Delhi in the early hours of Sunday (May 3, 2026). Several others were rescued, some with grievous injuries. The blaze was reported around 3:48 a.m. at a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I residential complex, triggering a search and rescue operation involving teams of Delhi Fire Sevice (DFS) and the police.

Supreme Court to hear on May 4 PIL seeking stringent guidelines for issuing Aadhaar to adolescents, adults

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday (May 4, 2026) a plea seeking a direction to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to issue new Aadhaar cards only to citizens up to the age of six years, and frame stringent guidelines for its issuance to adolescents and adults to stop infiltrators from masquerading as Indian citizens. As per the Supreme Court’s causelist of May 4, the plea would come up for hearing before a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

‘Kashmir will never be Pakistani and we will never become Pakistan’, says Farooq Abdullah

With separatist leader and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in audience, ruling National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah tore into separatist politics and said his party chose Mahatma Gandhi over the slogans of “Nara-e-Takbeer Allahu Akbar” and underlined that Kashmir would never be Pakistan. Speaking at the book release of “Healer in Exile: The Untold Story of Dr. Sushil Razdan” authored by his son Sachin Razdan on Sunday, Dr. Abdullah made a policy statement with a spectrum of political leaders, which include leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP, the Congress and other regional parties in attendance.

Three die on Atlantic cruise ship from suspected hantavirus: WHO

Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, the WHO said Sunday (May 3, 2026), one a confirmed case of hantavirus — an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde.

Canada declares Khalistan extremists as ‘national security threat’

Canada’s intelligence agency has declared Khalistani extremists a “national security threat”, adding that the group uses institutions to promote its “violent extremist agenda” in the country. Canadian Security Intelligence Service, in its 2025 Public Report, highlighted that involvement of Canada-based Khalistani extremist (CBKE) in violent activities “continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and to Canadian interests.”

Iran says U.S. military operation ‘impossible’ as Trump mulls peace proposal

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday (May 3, 2026) that the United States faced a choice between an “impossible” military operation or a “bad deal” with the Islamic republic. The Guards intelligence organisation said that “U.S. President Donald Trump must choose between ‘an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran’”, in an online post carried by state television.

IPL 2026: MI meets LSG in a do-or-die encounter

Mumbai Indians has long built a reputation as masters of the turnaround, a side that has repeatedly defied the odds to lift the Indian Premier League trophy a record five times. This season, however, has been a different story. The star-studded line-up has managed just two wins from nine outings, leaving it on the brink of elimination. While mathematical possibilities of a playoff berth remain, the equation is unforgiving: win every remaining game and rely on favourable results elsewhere.

Sinner thrashes Zverev in Madrid to claim record fifth successive Masters title

World number one Jannik Sinner became the first man to ​win five successive Masters 1000 titles after he produced a ‌breathtaking display to crush Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 in ​just 57 minutes in the Madrid Open ⁠final on Sunday. The 24-year-old Italian underlined his authority on the men’s tour by becoming the first man to claim the season’s ‌opening four Masters events, extending a run that has spanned hardcourts and clay.