Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in post-election violence in West Bengal, where Adhikari is the frontrunner to become chief minister.
Trump threatens military strikes against Iran while simultaneously claiming great progress in negotiations, sending mixed signals to the markets and allies.
Multiple sources report the US and Iran are nearing a one-page ceasefire memo, building on the earlier 14-point proposal. Iran is expected to formally respond to the US proposal on Thursday.
Brief
Islamic State-linked women and children return to Australia from Syria
Google is making a significant push into AI-powered health monitoring with the Fitbit Air, a new wearable device that leverages advanced artificial intelligence to deliver deeper health insights. The announcement marks Google’s most ambitious move yet in the competitive health tech space. The Fitbit Air integrates Google’s latest AI models to analyze biometric data in real-time, offering users personalized health recommendations based on continuous monitoring of heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen levels, and stress indicators. Unlike previous Fitbit devices, the Air goes beyond basic tracking by providing predictive health alerts and contextual wellness guidance. ...
Five Takeaways From California Governor Debate The final televised California gubernatorial debate featured sharp exchanges between Democratic and Republican candidates over housing affordability and tax policy, the New York Times and CNN reported. Democratic candidates clashed with each other in what was described as a fiery and at times contentious debate. Indiana and Ohio also held primary elections on the same day. Latest polls show Democratic and Republican candidates leading the race. The debate is seen as a key indicator ahead of the November general election, with housing costs and taxes emerging as top voter concerns. ...
Institutional Crypto Lending Trends Toward TradFi At Consensus 2026 in Miami, executives from Two Prime, Ledn, and Lygos Finance said institutional borrowers increasingly prioritize custody, transparency, and standardized lending structures over complex DeFi products, following the crypto credit collapses of 2022. The trend suggests the crypto lending industry is gradually aligning with traditional finance, with institutional clients favoring compliance and risk management over decentralized innovation. Source: CoinDesk
Shell Q1 Profits Rise as Iran Conflict Lifts Oil Prices British energy giant Shell reported first-quarter profits of $6.92 billion, driven by higher oil prices amid the ongoing Iran conflict, BBC reported. The Middle East geopolitical tensions have pushed crude prices higher, directly benefiting Shell’s upstream production business. Analysts note that while the war-driven oil price surge boosts short-term profits for energy companies, prolonged conflict could also disrupt global supply chains and increase market uncertainty. ...
Google Chrome has come under scrutiny after security researchers discovered that the browser is silently downloading AI models to users’ devices without providing a clear consent flow. The finding has sparked renewed debate about tech companies’ approach to user transparency in the age of AI-powered features. According to researchers, Chrome has been quietly downloading machine learning models in the background to power various on-device AI features — including smart text suggestions, image analysis, and autofill enhancements. The downloads occur automatically during browser updates, with no explicit notification or opt-in prompt presented to users. ...