The Election Commission has replaced West Bengal’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police ahead of the Assembly elections. Senior IAS officer Dushyant Nariala will take charge as Chief Secretary. He replaces Nandini Chakravarty. IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta has been appointed as the new Director General of Police. He replaces Peeyush Pandey. Gupta is a 1992-batch IPS officer with over three decades of service. The Commission also transferred three other senior officers, including the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Ajay Kumar Nand will now lead the Kolkata Police. The poll body said the decision followed a review of election preparedness. Voting in West Bengal will take place on April 23 and April 29. (PC: India Today)

One Battle After Another won six awards at this year’s Oscars, including best picture, making it the biggest winner of the night. Jessie Buckley won best actress for her role in Hamnet. She became the first Irish performer to win the award. Michael B Jordan won best actor for playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Sinners. During his speech, he said, “I stand here because of the people who came before me.” Sinners also made history when Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win the Oscar for best cinematography. After the ceremony, many stars arrived at the Vanity Fair after-party. Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams and Anya Taylor-Joy were among those seen arriving. (PC: BBC)

A video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering coffee has triggered fresh debate online after claims that it may be AI-generated. The clip was posted on Netanyahu’s official X account to dismiss rumours about his death. In the video, he jokes about the claims while holding a cup of coffee and speaking to the camera. However, Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, responded to a user query saying the video could be a deepfake and that no real event matching it was found. The claim quickly spread on social media, raising questions about the video’s authenticity. Israeli officials have not responded yet.

Spanish actor Javier Bardem called for peace and support for Palestine during the Oscars 2026 ceremony on Sunday. Bardem made the statement while presenting the Best International Feature Film award with Priyanka Chopra. He wore a “No to War” pin on his tuxedo and said, “No to war and Free Palestine” on stage. The message received loud cheers from the audience. Earlier on the red carpet, Bardem also spoke about war and criticised ongoing conflicts. The award they presented went to the Norwegian film Sentimental Value. The 98th Academy Awards took place during a time of rising global tensions and political conflict in West Asia.

At least 10 patients were killed after a massive fire broke out at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, early Monday. The fire started around 3 am on the first floor of the trauma care unit, where 23 patients were admitted. Thick smoke quickly spread through the ICU, causing panic. Seven patients died inside the ward, while three others died later after inhaling smoke. Eleven hospital staff were injured during rescue efforts. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after several hours. Authorities suspect a short circuit in the ICU’s air conditioner or medical equipment caused the fire. The Odisha government has ordered a judicial inquiry.

Flights at Dubai International Airport began gradually resuming on Monday after a drone-related incident caused a fire near the airfield. Authorities said a fuel tank close to the airport was damaged, forcing a temporary suspension of flights. Emergency teams quickly put out the fire and no injuries were reported. Several aircraft had to circle outside the airport during the disruption. Passengers were advised to check with airlines for updates. The incident comes amid rising tensions in West Asia. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones over Riyadh and eastern regions on Monday, adding that the drones were destroyed before causing any damage.

Donald Trump has urged NATO allies and China to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, after Iran effectively blocked the vital oil route amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. The closure of the waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude supply passes, has triggered sharp disruptions in global energy markets. Major economies have begun releasing strategic oil reserves to stabilise supply and curb rising fuel costs. Meanwhile, global crude prices have surged by nearly 40–50 per cent as Iran targets shipping and energy infrastructure across the Gulf in retaliation for recent military strikes. (PC: X)

A massive fire broke out near Dubai International Airport after a drone strike hit a fuel tank close to the facility, briefly forcing authorities to suspend flight operations. Officials in the United Arab Emirates said Dubai Civil Defence teams were quickly deployed and managed to contain the blaze, with no injuries reported. The incident occurred amid the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which has triggered repeated missile and drone attacks across Gulf states. Authorities confirmed that some flights were temporarily halted as a precaution before operations gradually resumed.

An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki oil tanker, safely departed the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates after a drone attack targeted the nearby oil terminal while the vessel was loading cargo. The tanker, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude, left the port bound for India, with all crew members reported safe. The strike briefly disrupted operations at the major oil hub, though activities resumed soon after. Officials said Jag Laadki is the fourth Indian-flagged vessel to exit the conflict-affected region unharmed amid tensions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. (PC: Reuters)

Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography at the 98th Academy Awards for her work on Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler. The landmark win highlights a significant milestone for women in cinematography, a field historically dominated by men. Only three women had previously been nominated for the category: Rachel Morrison, Ari Wegner, and Mandy Walker. Arkapaw, known for projects such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, used a combination of IMAX film and Ultra Panavision 70 to shoot Sinners, creating a visually striking cinematic experience.