Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open tennis title and completed his Career Grand Slam after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final in Melbourne. The 22-year-old beat the 10-time champion 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena. He became the youngest men’s player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles. The win gives Alcaraz his seventh major crown. Djokovic, 38, was chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title but fell short after taking the first set. Alcaraz raised his baseline game and secured key breaks from the second set onward. Djokovic later congratulated him at the net. (PC: BBC)

A wave of coordinated militant attacks across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has become one of the deadliest in years, killing over 150 people, including civilians, security personnel and militants, officials said. Militants of the Baloch Liberation Army struck multiple locations — including Quetta, Gwadar and other towns — targeting security installations, banks and public sites. Pakistan’s military launched intense counter-operations, killing scores of militants and imposing sweeping security restrictions, including cutting mobile internet services to curb coordination. Islamabad vowed retaliation, while India rejected accusations of involvement in the unrest. (PC: Reuters)

In the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned 14 states, outlining major development projects tied to infrastructure, industry, tourism and connectivity. Poll-bound states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam received targeted initiatives including high-speed and freight rail corridors, eco-tourism trails, and cultural circuit schemes. Critical mineral rare earth corridors were announced for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing. Northeastern states will benefit from a Buddhist Circuit tourism plan, while northern hill regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K get mountain train and hiking projects, enhancing region-specific growth. (PC: The Hindu)

The government rejected opposition criticism of Union Budget 2026 and asked for a debate based on “facts and figures”. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said allegations over market losses and scheme renaming lack substance. She said rural development spending has increased and allocations support welfare goals. Market weakness on Budget day was linked by officials to the higher securities transaction tax on futures and options trades. The renaming of the rural jobs scheme to Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Abhiyan triggered political protests. Opposition leaders called it ideological. The government said the focus remains on delivery and funding, not labels or narratives. (PC: X)

Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open 2026 tennis title and completed his Career Grand Slam with a four-set victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. Alcaraz beat the 10-time champion 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. He is now the youngest men’s player in tennis to win all four Grand Slam singles titles. Djokovic was chasing a record-extending 25th major crown but could not hold his early lead. Alcaraz raised his level after the first set and took control of long rallies. He secured a late break in the fourth set and served out the match. (PC: India Today)

India has not set aside funds for the Chabahar port project in Union Budget 2026, amid rising US-Iran tensions and uncertainty over sanctions waivers. In earlier years, the government allocated about Rs 100 crore annually for the project. Chabahar port in Iran is a key connectivity route for India to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. It is also seen as a strategic counter to China-backed Gwadar port in Pakistan. The US had granted India a temporary sanctions waiver for Chabahar that is valid till April 26, 2026. Officials say India is still in talks with the US on the project framework. (PC: X)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would lead to a “regional war” as Washington increases its military presence near Iran. State-linked media quoted him saying Iran would not be intimidated by US naval deployments. The warning comes as Iran prepares live-fire naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. US Central Command said its forces are operating in nearby waters and cautioned Iran against unsafe actions. US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way and could produce an acceptable outcome. Iranian officials also confirmed progress on a negotiation framework.

Indian stock markets closed sharply lower on Budget day after investors reacted to tax and investment signals. The Sensex fell 1,546.84 points to 80,722.94 and the Nifty50 dropped 495.20 points to 24,825.45. Losses widened after the Finance Minister’s speech. Market experts pointed to three clear reasons. First, the Budget proposed a higher securities transaction tax on futures and options trades. Second, there were no major new incentives for foreign portfolio investors. Third, foreign investors have continued to pull money out of Indian equities in recent months. PSU bank and metal stocks saw the heaviest selling during the session. (PC: India Today)

Non-resident Indians can now invest directly in Indian shares through the Portfolio Investment Scheme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Union Budget 2026 speech. The scheme lets overseas investors buy and sell stocks using a special RBI-approved bank account. It also defines limits and compliance rules for each transaction. The individual investment cap for persons resident outside India has been raised from 5% to 10%, while the overall company limit goes up from 10% to 24%. Investments made under this route can be repatriated. The government will also review FEMA rules for non-debt instruments to simplify overseas investment flows. (PC: NDTV)

Non-resident Indians can now invest directly in Indian shares through the Portfolio Investment Scheme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Union Budget 2026 speech. The scheme lets overseas investors buy and sell stocks using a special RBI-approved bank account. It also defines limits and compliance rules for each transaction. The individual investment cap for persons resident outside India has been raised from 5% to 10%, while the overall company limit goes up from 10% to 24%. Investments made under this route can be repatriated. The government will also review FEMA rules for non-debt instruments to simplify overseas investment flows. (PC: HT)