Historic

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP won the West Bengal assembly elections, capturing the state for the first time and defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC). • The victory expands BJP control to 78% of India's population across states, following major wins in state-level polls this week. • Mamata Banerjee rejected the results as rigged during a Tuesday press briefing, refusing to resign despite her term ending on May 8, 2026, and accusing the Modi government of disenfranchising millions of voters.

The Ultimate Picture Palace opened in 1911 and is housed in a Grade II-listed building which is in need of renovationThe survival of one of the UK’s oldest independent cinemas is under threat while its landlord, Oxford University’s Oriel College, refuses to extend its lease to allow vital renovations.The Ultimate Picture Palace in east Oxford opened in 1911, and has entertained generations of students and residents, including the Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes. It sells tickets for its 106 seats through an old-fashioned box office window to patrons queueing on the street, and its screen is behind a manually-opened curtain. Continue reading...

• The BJP achieved a commanding majority in West Bengal state elections, marking its first-ever victory in India's fourth-most populous state and ending decades of opposition rule under Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. • Election results finalized this week show the BJP winning control of West Bengal while expanding majorities in Assam and making incremental gains in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, consolidating power across 21 of India's 28 states. • The victories represent a significant political rebound for Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his party's loss of outright parliamentary majority in 2024 national elections.

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, providing federal grants to startups, has returned after a historic lapse, offering critical non-dilutive funding for technology innovation. • Founders need to know key changes in eligibility, application processes, and timelines for when funding may flow again to support R&D in AI, cybersecurity, and other tech areas. • This revival boosts US startup ecosystem amid competitive global pressures, enabling early-stage companies to advance prototypes without equity loss.

• The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a landslide victory in West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections, leading in 200 of 293 seats, marking the party's first-ever government formation in the state and ending the All India Trinamool Congress's 15-year reign. • BJP's success represents a dramatic rise from zero seats in 2011 to a dominant position in 2026, with over 235,000 Central Armed Police personnel deployed to ensure intimidation-free voting across the state. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory as historic, stating it will be remembered forever and signaling the BJP's continued electoral momentum ahead of remaining state elections.

• Assam election results are being counted with the BJP-led NDA aiming for a historic third consecutive victory under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma's leadership. • The election is being closely watched as a key indicator of NDA strength in Northeast India and has political significance for India's broader national political trajectory. • The outcome could influence investor perception of political stability and policy direction in Northeast India's emerging markets and development initiatives.

Nearly 60 countries back voluntary roadmaps to wean world off coal, oil and gasGovernments have been asked to develop national “roadmaps” setting out how they will end the production and use of fossil fuels, after a landmark climate meeting involving nearly 60 countries.The voluntary plans will form the bedrock of a new initiative to wean the world off coal, oil and gas, the focus of two days of intensive talks in Colombia this week. Continue reading...