Times of India

Marking Chernobyl's 40th anniversary, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism," citing drone activity near the plant and warning of man-made disasters. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck a Russian fertilizer plant, causing a pipeline leak. Russia also launched numerous drones overnight, with Ukraine intercepting most.

On Day 39, Ranveer Singh’s 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' is on the cusp of making history as it chases the worldwide record of SS Rajamouli’s 'Baahubali 2'. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the espionage thriller has reached a global gross of Rs. 1,772.94 crore, needing just Rs. 15.12 crore more to become the second highest-grossing Indian film ever. Domestically, the film is locked in an intense battle to dethrone 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' as the all-time India net champion.

The Aam Aadmi Party has urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to disqualify seven MPs who defected to the BJP, citing constitutional experts who believe they are liable for disqualification. This move follows the MPs' departure, sparking a legal and political dispute over anti-defection rules.

A shooting scare near the White House Correspondents' Dinner forced the evacuation of President Trump and other top officials. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was apprehended after allegedly charging a security checkpoint with multiple weapons. An officer was shot but saved by a bulletproof vest. Investigations into the motive are ongoing.

Ishan Kishan reflects on his challenging period out of the Indian team, emphasising his focus on consistent domestic run-scoring to earn a recall. He highlights his determination and hunger, which led to impressive performances. Kishan also discusses his confidence batting at No. 3 and his approach to pacing an innings, as demonstrated in Sunrisers Hyderabad's recent chase.

Indian equity markets experienced a significant downturn, with the top ten most-valued firms losing over Rs 2 lakh crore. Tata Consultancy Services and Reliance Industries bore the brunt of this decline, influenced by geopolitical tensions and weak IT sector commentary. The broader market also saw substantial drops in benchmark indices.

As a two-month conflict with Iran escalates, cracks are appearing in the US-Israel alliance. While both nations initially targeted Tehran, their post-strike objectives diverge, with Washington seeking negotiation and Jerusalem aiming for regime change. This fundamental difference, exacerbated by past events and differing pressures, raises questions about their long-term alignment.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15, has earned high praise from Mohammad Kaif for his explosive 103 off 37 balls in IPL 2026. Kaif lauded the youngster's fearless, aggressive approach against top bowlers, calling him a rare, once-in-a-generation talent. His consistent high strike-rate and mature batting suggest a bright future for Indian cricket.

Following a shooting scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Trump stated he has studied assassinations and believes impactful leaders are often targeted. He linked the incident to his presidency's influence, suggesting those unhappy with changes are responsible. Trump also commented on the personal risks of political life and criticized the hotel's security.

Security has been reportedly withdrawn from Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, who recently switched from AAP to BJP. This move follows protests by AAP workers, who labelled the defecting MPs as 'traitors'. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of attempting to destabilize AAP and betraying Punjab's mandate. The seven MPs cited ideological differences for their departure.

Ricky Ponting hailed Shreyas Iyer’s leadership after Punjab Kings pulled off a record chase of 265 against Delhi Capitals, with Iyer anchoring the win with an unbeaten 71. He praised the strong start by Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, calling their partnership key. Ponting said the team draws confidence from Iyer’s presence in chases, but added that bowling and fielding still need improvement despite the historic victory.

A 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi set the internet ablaze with four consecutive sixes and a century in just 36 balls. His explosive batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad captivated fans, sparking widespread awe and comparisons to cricketing legends. Despite his team's loss, Suryavanshi's emotional reaction underscored the profound impact of his arrival on the cricket scene, marking him as a present-day phenomenon.

Legendary photographer Raghu Rai, who shaped India's visual memory for over five decades, passed away on Sunday. His iconic images, from the Bhopal Gas tragedy to portraits of national figures, gave permanence to history. Rai believed visual history was more important than fine art, emphasizing closeness to truth in his immersive photographic practice.

A dietician was allegedly murdered by her husband in Surat, Gujarat, with her body discovered stuffed inside a wooden box at his old residence. The accused husband had filed a missing person report for his wife before disappearing himself. Police are actively searching for the suspect and investigating the motive.

Punjab Kings achieved a record IPL chase, but Karun Nair's fielding errors proved costly. He dropped Shreyas Iyer twice, crucial misses that allowed Iyer to score a match-winning 71. Despite the blunders, Ravichandran Ashwin defended Nair, suggesting fatigue and a sudden game entry might have contributed to his struggles.

Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the murder of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee in West Bengal, attributing the killing to "TMC thugs" following phase-1 polling. He accused the ruling party of replacing democracy with "thuggery" and demanded immediate arrests, harsh punishment, and compensation for the victim's family, vowing to uphold non-violence.

Meta is cutting roughly 8,000 employees—10% of its workforce—on May 20, with another 6,000 open roles being closed. The announcement, made via an internal memo from chief people officer Janelle Gale, has sent workers into a monthlong limbo. Employees are flooding internal forums and the anonymous app Blind with anxiety, dark humor, and resignation. The layoffs are tied to Meta's aggressive AI spending, projected at up to $135 billion this year.