Times of India

Meta has launched Muse Spark, its first AI model from Meta Superintelligence Labs, aiming to catch up with competitors. This natively multimodal reasoning model powers the Meta AI assistant and is designed for complex reasoning and everyday tasks. While initially smaller and faster, Meta plans further generations to enhance its capabilities.

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a fragile two-week ceasefire with Iran, emphasizing readiness to resume military action if objectives aren't met. Despite cooperation with the US-Iran truce, Israel will continue striking Hezbollah. Meanwhile, 254 deaths were reported in Lebanon from Israeli strikes.

Delhi experienced its coolest April day in a decade, with temperatures plummeting to 28.2°C due to light rain and overcast skies. While a welcome respite, temperatures are set to climb significantly, potentially reaching 38°C by April 14. The recent rainfall also improved air quality, though a dip back to moderate is expected.

China has confirmed its "own efforts" to broker a ceasefire between the US and Iran, a move echoed by President Trump who credited Beijing with bringing Tehran to the negotiating table. Following a two-week pause in hostilities, diplomatic outreach by China, including extensive talks and a peace initiative with Pakistan, aims for long-term regional stability.

For weeks, the Trump administration relied on Pakistan to act as an intermediary, urging it to persuade Iran to agree to a pause in hostilities that would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Islamabad’s role as a Muslim-majority neighbour was seen as key to making the proposal acceptable to Tehran. Back-channel diplomacy spearheaded by Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir culminated late Tuesday with the US, Iran and Israel announcing a two-week ceasefire.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is emerging as a standout performer in IPL 2026, impressing with fearless batting against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. Dale Steyn said the youngster has already “instilled fear” in bowlers. His quick 39 helped Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians, extending their winning run, with his aggressive approach troubling even the best in the game.

A recent conflict has shifted control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran may now charge transit fees for ships passing through. This follows a US-Iran ceasefire agreement. The situation signals a significant change in regional maritime control. Global oil trade routes are impacted by these developments.

Vaishnavi Adkar and Sahaja Yamalapalli earned their first wins in India colours, helping India take an unbeatable lead against New Zealand in the BJK Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie. Later, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale ensured a clean 3-0 win.

Under the proposed system, tankers would be required to share cargo details via email before being assigned a transit fee, reportedly set at $1 per barrel. Payments would be made in digital currencies. “Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given a few seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions,” Hosseini added.

Assam's upcoming elections are a crucial referendum on Assamese nationalism, identity, and the state's political future. Regional parties face declining relevance as national parties dominate, with the BJP's 'jati, mati, bheti' plank and 'Brand Himanta' shaping the narrative. The Congress leads a broad opposition alliance, aiming to challenge the incumbent government amidst evolving identity politics.

Voters in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are heading to the polls today to decide the fate of numerous candidates. Assam witnesses a direct fight between the BJP-led NDA and Congress. Kerala faces a choice between continuity with the ruling LDF and a comeback bid by the UDF. Puducherry presents a multi-cornered contest with new political forces emerging.

BCCI has introduced new IPL 2026 rules restricting substitute players’ movement. Only the 16 named players can enter the field, while others must stay in the dugout. A maximum of five substitutes can be near the boundary. The move tightens existing rules to reduce on-field crowding and improve discipline, though no official reason has been provided.

Even as it is confident of India’s ability to come out of the fresh global uncertainty, RBI has flagged five risks due to the US-Iran war that could negatively impact the economy.

Kerala's upcoming assembly elections see Christian voters, particularly in central Kerala, becoming a crucial battleground. Traditional UDF support is tested by socio-economic concerns, political realignments, and perceptions of communal favoritism, forcing parties to re-evaluate their strategies to secure this influential bloc.

Shubman Gill returned for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 but raised concerns about his neck injury, admitting, “It’s something similar” to a past issue. Delhi Capitals opted to bowl first, citing pitch conditions and form. While DC continue their winning run, GT are still searching for their first victory, with Gill’s fitness remaining a concern.

Following Sunjay Kapur's death, his mother Rani Kapur is locked in a Rs 30,000 crore inheritance dispute with his widow, Priya Sachdev. Rani alleges Priya is trying to seize her late husband's assets and has been removed from the RK family trust. She expresses deep personal distress and fear, stating no settlement talks have occurred.

The former LSU gymnast and social media star Olivia Dunne has recently spoken about her first missed chance in Hollywood. The 23-year-old said she once auditioned for HBO’s popular show The White Lotus; however, she did not get the role. Even after this setback, Dunne stayed focused on acting. She has now secured an important role in the upcoming Baywatch reboot.