Bloomberg reports that if a deal is not struck before the conclusion of a two-week ceasefire with Iran this week, US President Donald Trump said it is doubtful that he would prolong it.

In a phone conversation, Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until a peace deal is signed.

They want me to unlock it. The Iranians are desperate for it to be opened. He said, “I’m not opening it until an agreement is signed. ”

According to the Xinhua news agency, oil prices rose as a result of the US Navy capturing an Iranian-flagged vessel over the weekend and Washington keeping up its blockade.

I’m not going to be pressured into making a lousy transaction. Trump stated that we have plenty of time.

The truce, which he proclaimed on April 7, would end on Wednesday night at US Eastern Time, he said.

When questioned if he anticipates that strikes will begin right away if no agreement is reached, Trump responded with the following: I would definitely anticipate if there were no agreement.

Trump told PBS News over the phone Monday morning that if the ceasefire with Iran ends, there will be a lot of explosions.

When asked if Iranian negotiators will be involved in new discussions in Islamabad, Trump responded: I have no idea. They are meant to be there, after all. Even though they claim we weren’t, we decided to be there. However, it was staged. And we’ll find out if it exists. That’s alright if they’re not there.

On Monday morning, he told the New York Post that U. S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Pakistan for the second round of discussions with Iranian authorities. Citing two US officials, The New York Times reports that Vance is anticipated to go from Washington to Pakistan on Tuesday.

Trump stated in the Post that he would be open to meeting with high-ranking Iranian authorities if a breakthrough occurs. However, he told Bloomberg on Monday morning as well that he did not believe he would need to be there in person for the discussion.

The US Central Command announced on X that as of Monday morning, American forces had turned away 27 ships heading to or from Iranian ports.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026‘s Match 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, the Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Titans by 99 runs thanks to Ashwani Kumar, a fast bowler who grabbed four wickets and Tilak Verma for his first century off 45 balls.

As the five-time champions jumped to seventh place in the standings, the Mumbai Indians’ Net Run Rate was greatly improved by the victory.

Five-time winners Gujarat Titans were bowled out for only 100 runs in 15. 5 overs when Ashwani Kumar took 4-24 as they were chasing 200 runs. Earlier in the day, Tilak Varma, the winner of India’s T20 World Cup, brought the Mumbai Indians to a score of 199/5 in 20 overs after a shaky start brought about by Kagiso Rabada’s three Power-play wickets by blasting his first century off 45 balls.

The Gujarat Titans, who were attempting a tough score of 200, got off to a terrible start when they lost a wicket on the first ball. Jasprit Bumrah took his first wicket of the IPL 2026 season by instantly dismissing Sai Sudarshan.

When captain Hardik Pandya dismissed Jos Buttler in the following over, the pressure persisted. Even though the in-form batter chose to have the lbw ruling reviewed, the umpire maintained his decision. However, GT was in early difficulty when Buttler only managed 5 runs off 6 pitches.

Following the twin setback, Sundar and captain Shubman Gill attempted to restore the innings with a counterattack. In four overs, the pair hit five boundaries in a flash, bringing the score to 35/2 and briefly changing the momentum.

Young pacer Ashwani Kumar, however, struck to dismiss Gill for 14 off 13 balls, just as the Gujarat Titans appeared to be settling their innings. In the chase, the Gujarat Titans were still under pressure when the Power-play ended at 45/3, with three wickets down.

Following the power-play, the Mumbai Indians’ bowlers maintained their dominance. With a tight over before Mitchell Santner delivered a decisive double blow in the eighth over, Allah Ghazanfar applied pressure. He first dismissed Sundar for a quick 26 off 17 balls before taking out Glenn Phillips with a brilliant slower ball, leaving GT in trouble at 56/5.

As the match was slipping away, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia attempted to stabilize the situation with a partnership based on singles and doubles. But the necessary run rate kept increasing, which put more pressure on the situation.

Tewatia was out for 8 off 11 balls when Quinton de Kock caught him behind the stand in the 11th over after he edged a delivery from Ashwani. Rashid Khan was caught for four in Ashwani’s next over as he continued his outstanding performance. By taking Shahrukh Khan’s wicket, who fell while trying a big shot, he finished a magnificent four-wicket haul.

In the 16th over, Ghazanfar finished the innings by taking two consecutive wickets of Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, completing a dominating bowling display.

Ashwani Kumar, the Mumbai Indians’ best bowler, had great statistics of 4-24. The Mumbai Indians controlled the chase from beginning to end, with Bumrah and Pandya contributing one wicket each, while Santner and Ghazanfar each took two wickets to provide great support.

I got off to a poor start after being asked to bat. The opening duo of Quinton de Kock and Danish Malewar were unable to get things rolling. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Malewar early for two runs, and de Kock followed shortly after with 13.

Rabada maintained his strong spell, but Naman Dhir made an effort to counter with some boundaries. He took his third wicket by dismissing Suryakumar Yadav for 15, putting MI in a difficult position with a score of 46/3 during the powerplay.

Tilak Varma and Dhir rebuilt the innings with a steady partnership after the initial setbacks. At the midway point, they had MI at 75/3 after effectively rotating the strike and penalizing errant pitches. Prasidh Krishna broke their 52-run partnership by removing Dhir for a well-executed 45 off 32 pitches.

Then, in the last few overs, Tilak changed his approach. He started off slowly, but then he began to pound the bowlers, hitting massive blows all over the place. After 33 balls, he turned fifty and continued to pick up speed.

Tilak completed his first IPL century in just 45 balls, completely taking over the bowling attack during the death overs. With eight fours and seven sixes, he led the Mumbai Indians to a formidable score of 199/5 while remaining undefeated at 101.

Rabada’s numbers of 3/33 made him the standout bowler for the Gujarat Titans. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammad Siraj each took one wicket.

Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 199/5 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 101*, Naman Dhir 45; Kagiso Rabada 3-33, Mohammed Siraj 1-25)
Gujarat Titans 100 all out in 15.5 overs (Washington Sundar 26, Shahrukh Khan 17; Ashwani Kumar 4-24, Mitchell Santner 2-16)

The combined market valuation of eight of India’s beat 10 most esteemed companies surged by Rs 1.87 lakh crore in a holiday-shortened week.

The positive force within the broader market saw the Sensex rise by 943.29 points, or 1.21 percent, whereas the Clever progressed 302.95 points, or 1.25 percent, during the week.

Among person stocks, Bharti Airtel recorded the most honed increment in valuation, adding Rs 58,831.52 crore to require its market capitalisation to Rs 11,25,125.21 crore.

Life Protections Enterprise of India too posted solid picks up, with its valuation climbing Rs 27,608.62 crore to Rs 5,32,691.31 crore.

Tata Consultancy Services saw its advertised capitalization rise by Rs 20,731.64 crore to Rs 9,34,063.56 crore, whereas Dependence Businesses included Rs 20,231.05 crore, taking its valuation to Rs 18,47,317.84 crore.

Designing major Larsen & Toubro moreover picked up essentially, with its mcap expanding by Rs 18,577.91 crore to Rs 5,63,314.50 crore.

Within the managing an account space, ICICI Bank seen a rise of Rs 18,266.82 crore, pushing its valuation to Rs 9,65,008.67 crore, whereas State Bank of India included Rs 12,599.79 crore to reach Rs 9,97,229.77 crore.

The valuation of Infosys moreover, moved higher by Rs 10,650.1 crore to Rs 5,34,774.50 crore.

In any case, not all companies finished the week on a positive note. HDFC Bank saw its showcase capitalisation decrease by Rs 16,163.04 crore to Rs 12,31,315.53 crore, whereas Bajaj Back misplaced Rs 9,769.3 crore, bringing its valuation down to Rs 5,65,437.17 crore.

In spite of the blended slant, Dependence Businesses held its position as India’s most esteemed company, taken after by HDFC Bank and Bharti Airtel.

State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Back, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, and LIC contain the others within the list of the top-10 most esteemed firms.

India might be closer to completely relying on its own nuclear energy after reaching an important goal in its big three-step nuclear plan, according to a Report.

The report said this development could be a major change in India’s long-term plan to solve fuel shortages and create a reliable nuclear energy system.

The report says that India has had a big problem for a long time: “India didn’t have much uranium, which is the fuel that most nuclear reactors use. ” Even now, the country still needs to buy uranium from other countries, including important deals with places like Canada.

India has a lot of thorium, which is about 25 percent of the world’s total, hidden in its sands. This gives it a special chance for the future.

The report states that thorium can’t be used as fuel right away and needs to be converted first. This led India to take a long-term plan instead of looking for quick solutions. Instead of rushing, Indian nuclear scientist Dr. Homi J Bhabha aimed for something bigger: a way to make India self-reliant with its resources, even if it took many years to achieve.

This plan started India’s three-step nuclear program. It began with using uranium, then moved to plutonium, and finally aimed to use thorium. The second stage was not finished for many years. But that has changed recently.

On April 6th, India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam reached a big milestone for the first time. This means that the reactor can now run on its own without needing extra help, which is an important step for nuclear power.

Although there are fast breeder reactors in other countries, the Vietnam Times notes that “in most places, the work on these reactors hasn’t gone as expected.

” India’s determination is notable, it said. “Still, India kept working towards this goal. ” It remained dedicated to breeder reactors because they were important.

The importance of the milestone is in what it means for the future. According to Vietnam Times, “By reaching a key milestone, India has demonstrated that it can operate a reactor with plutonium fuel, moving closer to expanding its nuclear fuel options. ” These reactors can make more useful material than they use, turning limited resources into renewable fuel.

The report also points out that the technology used is very complicated. It involves using a special type of fuel and liquid sodium for cooling, which needs to be carefully sealed, watched, and made with great accuracy.

Even with the progress made, the report warns that there are still problems to deal with. Nuclear energy makes up a little more than 3 percent of the electricity produced in India, and there is still a lot of progress to be made. If it works, the program could greatly lower the need for imported uranium.

In summary, the report says that India might finally be achieving Dr. Bhabha’s dream of using fuel it already has instead of depending on other countries for it.

India is using artificial intelligence along with digital public services, local language systems, and rules to protect people. This helps farmers, women, and local groups use AI directly instead of going through city-based middlemen, according to a report.

The One World Outlook report said that India is trying to deal with problems like poor physical infrastructure and difficulties with language, reading, and access.

It made services easier to understand, local, and usable by adding AI to familiar tools like WhatsApp, voice systems, and local community systems. This moved the technology from flashy urban settings to helpful services in rural areas.

The report mentioned what Ajay Banga, the President of the World Bank Group, said about “small AI” at the IMF Spring Meetings. He highlighted how India is changing AI from being just a tool for big cities to something that helps people in rural areas too.

It emphasized that the model aims to create affordable and simple-to-use systems that are very useful, making it easier for people in rural areas to use them.

So, AI can help with real problems like improving farm productivity, finding pests, and getting access to markets, Banga said.

Banga’s comments at the IMF are important because they show that AI is not just an expensive product from wealthy countries. Instead, it’s a tool that can help India grow and can be used in a way that fits India’s needs and situation.

The report said that rural AI in India is an example of how developing countries can create their own version of AI.

It explained two main ideas that support the effort: planning and management.

The National Strategy for AI, launched by NITI Aayog, sees AI as a way to help everyone, especially in areas such as farming, healthcare, and education, where support is most needed. The India AI Governance Guidelines 2025 focus on being fair, responsible, open and on assessing risks specific to India.

India’s approach to using AI focuses on solving problems, having people review decisions, and ensuring services are available in local languages. This means inclusion is built into the system from the start instead of being added later.

The Punjab Kings kept winning in IPL 2026, beating the Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs on Sunday.

In a match where they had to defend a high score of 254 runs, Marco Jansen took 2 wickets for 37 runs. Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Vijaykumar Vyshak each took 1 wicket. This helped PBKS stay at the top of the points table.

Openers Priyansh Arya (93 runs from 37 balls) and Australian player Cooper Connolly (87 runs from 46 balls) helped set a big target for the other team with their quick scoring. The PBKS bowlers did a good job of keeping LSG to 200 runs for 5 wickets, even though they made some mistakes in the field towards the end.

Trying to chase down 255 runs was always going to be tough for LSG. They decided to do it with a new opening pair: Mitchell Marsh and Ayush Badoni. The two players put up a good partnership, scoring 61 runs together, but it wasn’t enough to reach the high target they needed.

Even though Marsh, Rishabh Pant, and Aiden Markram all scored around 40 runs, they couldn’t turn it into a big score that would have made PBKS worried. After the big defeat, LSG has lost three games in a row and is now in eighth place, with only Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians below them.

LSG’s game starting with Badoni and Marsh went well at first. They hit 10 boundaries and scored more than fifty runs together. However, Vyshak ended their partnership on the last ball of the powerplay by tricking Badoni with a slow ball that was easily caught by a fielder in the middle of the field.

Marsh and Pant tried to boost their team’s energy, with the LSG captain hitting Jansen for two sixes in a row. When Chahal came into the game, things got tougher for the batting team. They scored 20 runs from overs 9 to 11, but Chahal ended the dangerous second-wicket partnership when Marsh hit a high ball straight to the fielder at long-on.

Pant kept going strong by hitting Chahal for back-to-back sixes in the 12th over. However, he got out quickly for 43 runs when he tried to hit a wide ball from Arshdeep and ended up getting caught. The decision was confirmed by UltraEdge.

The chase basically stopped there when Nicholas Pooran did not do well again and got out after scoring just nine runs. He misplayed a slow pitch from Jansen and hit it to a fielder in the outfield.

Markram (42) and Mukul Choudhary (21 not out) thrilled the crowd with several big hits, helped by three catches missed by the PBKS players in the last three overs. However, it was clear that the home team was going to win.

Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings 254/7 in 20 overs (Priyansh Arya 93, Cooper Connolly 87; Prince Yadav 2-25, M Siddharth 2-35)
Lucknow Super Giants 200/5 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 43, Aiden Markram 42; Marco Jansen 2-37, Vijaykumar Vyshak 1-30)

In Ahmedabad on Friday, skipper Shubman Gill continued his talent for scoring a truckload of runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, this time by blasting a calm 86 to lead the Gujarat Titans (GT) to a comfortable five-wicket triumph against a faltering Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Gill’s outstanding 50-ball performance, which included four sixes and eight fours at a strike rate of 172, not only ensured GT’s supremacy for most of the chase but also left KKR at the bottom of the table, suffering their sixth straight defeat of the year.

Despite KKR’s valiant efforts to prolong the game, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan maintained composure throughout several tense situations and were able to finish the chase with two balls remaining, giving GT its hat-trick of wins. Cameron Green would be left lamenting the absence of assistance from his batting team as he ultimately produced a fantastic 79 off 55 balls.

Gill’s pursuit of 181 was flawless from the start, as he unleashed a signature display of high-elbow drives, short-arm jabs, and exquisite flicks. As GT reached 50 in just 4. 2 overs, B Sai Sudharsan (22), who gave Anukul Roy a beating by hitting two stunning sixes, proved to be a competent partner.

Although Sunil Narine broke the 71-run opening stand by dismissing Sudharsan, who top-edged to short fine leg, Jos Buttler entered the game and kept the momentum going with a quick 25 off 15 balls before holing out to the deep on a googly from Varun Chakaravarthy, who got his first wicket of IPL 2026.

Even though Washington Sundar fell to Chakaravarthy, Gill managed to score his half-century off 27 balls and kept striking a barrage of boundaries. Cameron Green ended his stay with a moment of brilliance at deep backward point, just when it seemed he was about to score a century. The game momentarily wavered when Gill was fired as KKR’s bowlers brought it into the last over.

With only five runs remaining in the game, Ramandeep Singh dismissed Glenn Phillips (19) on the first ball, giving KKR a glimmer of optimism. However, Shahrukh, Tewatia, and the impact sub stayed cool and collected to secure the victory for GT.

Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 180 all out in 20 overs (Cameron Green 79, Rovman Powell 27; Kagiso Rabada 3-29, Mohammed Siraj 2-23)
Gujarat Titans 181/5 in 19.4 overs (Shubman Gill 86, Jos Buttler 25; Varun Chakaravarthy 2-34, Ramandeep Singh 1-5)

According to reports, the American tech behemoth Meta (formerly Facebook) intends to reduce its worldwide workforce by at least 10%, or about 8,000 employees, the following month.

Reuters reports that more layoffs are anticipated in the latter half of the year. The specifics of those layoffs, though, are still unknown.

It is anticipated that the first round in May will result in a 10% decrease in its worldwide workforce.

The study suggests that the layoff plans may be contingent upon advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

According to sources, Meta intends to eliminate at least 20% of its whole staff. Based on Meta’s workforce of about 79,000 workers as of December 31, the job cuts might impact around 16,000 employees if implemented at that level.

So far, Meta hasn’t verified the layoff plans. The report did not receive an immediate response from the firm, which is headed by Mark Zuckerberg.

According to a recent report, tech layoffs worldwide are intensifying in 2026, with more than 80,000 jobs lost in the first quarter alone and over 300,000 jobs likely lost this year, primarily from companies such as Oracle, Amazon, and Meta.

According to the TradingPlatforms report, the most recent wave of layoffs is part of a more general post-pandemic correction, which has seen over a million tech jobs vanish worldwide since 2021 as firms adjust their hiring practices following the Covid-era expansion.

With about half of all redundancies in 2026 attributable to AI-related changes, automation and artificial intelligence have become major forces behind this shift.

With more than 61,000 layoffs across 62 firms, the US continues to be the hardest hit market, accounting for almost 77% of global layoffs this year.

In 2026, Oracle has declared the most layoffs worldwide among businesses, eliminating over 25,000 positions as part of a significant reorganization connected to its push for AI infrastructure.

In an effort to optimize operations and increase efficiency, Amazon followed with about 16,000 layoffs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized Thursday that Indian Railways has undergone a profound transformation and is establishing new benchmarks through ongoing reforms and technology.

In this connection, he shared an article written by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on how clear policy, the introduction of modern technology, and the consistent infusion of cash have changed the safety ecosystem of Indian Railways over the last ten years.

The Prime Minister’s Office shared on X: “The Indian Railway system has experienced a sea change, and the consequences are evident. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw describes how this industry is establishing new standards via ongoing technological advancements and reforms.

For many of these travelers, rail travel is a need rather than an option. Safety is not a technical measure in a system that moves such amounts over such large distances. It stated that it is a question of public confidence.

The article emphasizes that during PM Modi’s initial term, the Indian Railways received a clear message that “Safety First” would be its priority. The organization has sought to accomplish this objective through a tech-led, consistently funded makeover of its safety environment.

As a result, the number of train crashes in the nation has decreased dramatically. Between 2014 and 2015, Indian Railways reported 135 such incidents, which had decreased by 89% to 16 in 2025–26. Even though train operations and passenger traffic have increased, the number of incidents has decreased.

The significant accident index, which calculates accidents per unit of train running distance, has decreased from 0. 11 to 0. 01 during this period, demonstrating that the system is now significantly safer for every kilometer covered.

Additionally, there were 292 fatalities as a result of rail mishaps in 2014–15, but just 16 fatalities across 16 incidents in 2025–26.

In a message highlighting the significance of Indian Railways in the daily lives of its citizens, the minister stated, “Every morning, as India awakens, its railways are already in motion. ” Every day, the nation’s trains carry over two million travelers, including students, migrant workers, office workers, families, and soldiers.

In order to promote the idea of a self-sufficient nation and meet India’s expanding energy demands, the Coal Ministry is scheduled to conduct a 15th round of business coal mine auctions and stakeholder discussions in Mumbai on Friday.

According to an official statement released on Thursday, Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, will be present at the event. This progressive voyage is continued in the 15th round, which provides coal mines under the most liberal conditions in order to foster ease of doing business, draw a variety of investments, and promote greater industry involvement.

In order to foster sustainable development, innovation, and long-term resilience in the industry, the ministry stated that it is still dedicated to providing the country with dependable and inexpensive energy.

“The round will invite participation from experienced miners, new entrants, and technology-driven businesses alike, providing a new set of fully explored and partially explored coal blocks,” the ministry said.

By encouraging a vibrant and competitive environment, it is anticipated to give the coal industry more impetus, while also opening the door for increased investments, job creation, and overall industry expansion.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commercial coal mining has been started in 2020, and the plan has greatly increased the availability of coal in the country and strengthened the energy security of the nation.

The ministry claims that the commercial coal mine auction framework has revolutionized the coal industry by promoting transparency, encouraging competition, and establishing a level playing field for all stakeholders.

Commercial coal mining has become a major facilitator of economic development, boosting coal output and guaranteeing a consistent and dependable supply for businesses throughout the nation.

The ministry said that the upcoming round builds on this solid base, increasing faith in the industry and its future potential.