New Delhi, Apr 30 (BNP): Exit polls for the 2026 Assembly elections have projected a dramatic political contest across five key regions, indicating a close fight in West Bengal, a strong showing for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam, a possible return of the United Democratic Front in Kerala, and continued dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu.

According to multiple poll projections, West Bengal is headed for one of the most closely watched contests of the election cycle. Several surveys suggest the BJP may breach the long-standing bastion of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and challenge the ruling All India Trinamool Congress for power after 15 years. However, some polls have also predicted a strong comeback for the TMC, indicating a razor-edge battle in the 294-member Assembly.

In Assam, nearly all exit polls forecast a decisive return for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP-led alliance, with projections suggesting a comfortable majority and a possible third consecutive term for the NDA in the northeastern state.

In Kerala, exit polls have largely indicated a return of the Congress-led UDF after a decade in opposition. If the predictions hold, it would end the Left Democratic Front’s tenure under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had scripted back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2021.

Tamil Nadu is projected to remain with the ruling DMK-led alliance under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, with most polls predicting the party could overcome anti-incumbency and secure another term. However, some projections also point to a strong debut performance by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, adding uncertainty to the contest.

In Puducherry, almost all surveys predict that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will retain power.

Political analysts cautioned that exit polls are only indicative and have previously missed actual outcomes in several major elections, including West Bengal in 2021 and parts of the 2024 general elections. Final results will be declared on May 4.

The outcome of these elections is expected to have far-reaching implications for national politics, setting the tone for upcoming state polls and shaping the political momentum ahead of future parliamentary contests.

The feature film ‘No Address’ delivers an emotional and urgent look at the pipeline from foster care to homelessness, and the courage to find a way out

Sacramento, Calif. – Apr 30 – May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to recognize the challenges faced by youth in the foster care system and the families, professionals, and advocates who support them. According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), more than 320,000 children are currently in the U.S. child welfare system, with an average age of just eight years old.

Against this backdrop, Robert Craig Films’ feature movie No Address brings a deeply human perspective to the issue, illustrating how quickly a child’s life can be disrupted, and the critical role support and stability play in shaping a better future. The film has resonated with audiences, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“No Address humanizes the story of so many individual experiences of homelessness, and Lauren’s story begins with her entering the foster system,” said Robert Craig, Producer at Robert Craig Films. “It’s heartbreaking when children are left without support due to circumstances beyond their control.”

“Films like No Address are critical in helping people understand the real-life challenges foster youth face every day,” said Cheryl Williams, Founder of Fundamentals For Foster Care, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster youth through educational stability initiatives. “When young people age out of the system without strong support, they are at significantly higher risk of homelessness.

In No Address, actress Isabella Ferreira portrays Lauren, a young girl whose life is upended when her mother, her only family, passes away, forcing her into the foster care system. Her journey reflects one of many pathways into care, showing how quickly a child’s world can change. Through the support of those around her, Lauren begins to find stability, hope, and a path forward.

The film features an acclaimed ensemble cast including William Baldwin, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ashanti, Xander Berkeley, Beverly D’Angelo, and Ty Pennington, whose performances bring authenticity and depth to this powerful story.

Robert Craig Films invites the public to host their own group screenings of the movie as a step toward greater understanding of foster care and homelessness and a better future for those suffering. Information can be found at www.NoAddressMovie.com/Groups. 

Through No Address and its broader storytelling initiatives, Robert Craig Films is committed to creating films that inspire empathy and meaningful action. Central to this effort is The Big 5 GIVEBACK, part of the No Address Movement, which pledges 50% of net profits from five No Address productions to nonprofit organizations and churches working to combat homelessness in their communities.

For streaming, rental, and purchase information for the feature film, NO ADDRESS, visit www.NoAddressMovie.com.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, hails decisive step towards making roads safer and delivering lasting change worldwide 

Dubai, UAE, 30^th April 2026:  The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the expansion of a major road safety initiative into the Middle East and Africa. 

The FIA Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life programme aims to support local authorities and organisations with training, mentorship, and evidence-based actions to develop concrete projects that improve road safety for everyone. 

Road traffic crashes remain a leading cause of death worldwide, with the burden falling disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries.

According to the World Health Organization, the African region records the highest road traffic fatality rate globally, while countries across the MENA region continue to face significant and persistent road safety challenges. 

The expansion of the FIA Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life programme into the Middle East and Africa, following its successful introduction in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions, further strengthens the Federation’s global effort to promote and protect safe mobility for road users worldwide. 

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “Following the success of the first FIA Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life programmes, I am delighted to announce we are expanding the initiative to Africa and the Middle East. This marks a decisive step towards making roads safer and delivering lasting change worldwide. 

“Through our partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), we are working together with our Members to equip them with the essential tools and networks needed to drive global action and build a safer future for all road users.” 

The FIA Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life programme was developed by the FIA in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and with the support of the FIA Foundation. 

FIA Region I MENA Mobility Council President Essa Hamza Alfailakawi said: “Across the Middle East and North Africa, improving road safety requires strong collaboration and a shared commitment to change. 

“Through the Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life programme, we can strengthen regional cooperation and support our Member Clubs to play a leading role in shaping safer mobility systems.” 

FIA Region I ACTA President Jinaro Kibet said: “Road safety is one of the most urgent public health challenges across Africa, and initiatives like FIA Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life are critical in helping us address it at scale. 

“This programme empowers our Member Clubs with global expertise to deliver practical, life-saving solutions within their communities.”

Mumbai, Apr 30: UltraLED Displays, a Titan Intech Ltd brand specializing in LED display solutions, has inaugurated its Mumbai Experience Centre, marking the launch of its second company-owned hub and a key step in its national expansion journey. This also marks the company’s second experience centre launch within a week, underscoring its rapid expansion strategy and strong commitment towards enabling immersive product experiences for customers and partners across India. The centre was inaugurated by Mr. Su Piow Ko, Director, Titan Intech Ltd, and Mr. Narsimharao Venuturupalle, Whole Time Director,  Titan Intech Ltd, in the presence of industry representatives and partners.

Strategically located at 3rd Floor, Millennium Business Park, Office No. B-303, Mahape, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, the experience centre has been developed as a dedicated product and brand engagement space for India’s financial capital. It enables enterprise clients, partners, and decision-makers to explore UltraLED’s display technologies through immersive demonstrations and real-world application scenarios.

The centre has been designed as a multi-purpose environment to facilitate product exploration, live demos, solution consultations, and hands-on training sessions. It is expected to play a critical role in enabling informed decision-making for businesses evaluating display infrastructure and AV solutions.

The facility showcases UltraLED’s full portfolio, including Ultra SHIELD COB Displays, Ultra EDGE SMD Displays, Ultra Engage All-in-One COB Displays, Transparent Displays, and K-type digital kiosks along with digital standees. These solutions cater to a wide range of applications spanning mission control centres, oil and gas operations, corporate environments, retail ecosystems, and public infrastructure.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Su Piow Ko, Director, Titan Intech Ltd, said, 

“Mumbai is a key market for us, and this centre allows us to engage with customers in a far more direct and experiential way. Seeing and interacting with these solutions firsthand brings a different level of clarity when businesses are evaluating long-term technology investments.”

Mr. Narsimharao Venuturupalle, Whole Time Director, Titan Intech Ltd, added, 

“As the market evolves, customers are looking for more than just products, they are looking for guidance, reliability, and strong execution support. This centre has been built to address exactly that by bringing together technology, expertise, and collaboration under one roof.”

The Mumbai launch builds on UltraLED’s ongoing expansion roadmap, aligned with its ‘Made in Bharat, Made for Bharat’ philosophy. The company plans to roll out five additional experience centres across major cities as part of its nationwide expansion strategy. Following Mumbai, the next phase includes Hyderabad, with Bengaluru and Kolkata scheduled subsequently.

The company has previously outlined an investment of approximately Rs 5 crore to support this expansion, aimed at strengthening regional reach and enhancing market access in a segment largely dominated by imported solutions. Through this initiative, UltraLED aims to promote locally engineered technologies such as COB, SMD, and MIP, while building robust service and support ecosystems across India.

Profitability:

• Net Profit increased by 43.20% to ₹ 1,505 crore in Q4FY26 on Y-o-Y basis as against ₹ 1,051 crore for Q4FY25. Net Profit for 12 months stands at ₹ 5,208 Crore, up by 56.16 %.
• Operating Profit increased by 1.80% to ₹ 2,665 crore in Q4FY26 on Y-o-Y basis as against ₹ 2,618 crore for Q4FY25. Operating Profit for 12 months stands at ₹ 10,026 Crore, up by 15.40%.
• Net Interest Income (NII) increased by 11.11% to ₹ 3,470 crore in Q4FY26 on Y-o-Y basis as against ₹ 3,123 crore for Q4FY25. Net Interest Income for 12 months stands at ₹ 12,574 Crore, up by 15.46%.
• Domestic NIM stands at 3.35 %  while global NIM stands at 3.25 % in Q4FY26
• ROA increased  by 20 bps to 1.32 % for Q4FY26 as against 1.12 % for Q4FY25
• Cost to Income Ratio decreased to 44.02 % for Q4FY26 as against 44.35 % for Q4FY25. 

Business:

• The Bank’s total business increased by ₹ 1.16 lakh Crore, reaching ₹ 6.79 lakh Crore as on March 2026 from ₹ 5.62 lakh Crore as on March 2025 registering Y-o-Y growth of 20.76%
• CASA deposits registered a growth of 10.85 % YoY and stands at ₹ 1.51 lakh crore as on March 2026.
• Domestic CASA ratio increased by 17 bps to 41.46 % as on March 2026 from 41.29 % as on December 2025. Similarly, Global CASA ratio increased by 14 bps to 40.99 % as on March 2026 from 40.85 % as on December 2025
• Retail Term Deposit (RTD) increased by 17.81% to ₹ 1.84 lakh crore
• Total Deposits increased by 18.03% YoY to ₹ 3.68 lakh Crore
• Retail, Agri & MSME Credit Increased by 45.12%, 39.27% & 13.08 % respectively
• RAM (Retail, Agri. & MSME) Business grew by 34.91% on Y-o-Y basis.
• Total advance of the bank increased by 24.16 % to ₹ 3.10 lakh crore as on March 2026.

Asset Quality: 

• Gross NPA ratio at 1.42% reduced by 72 bps YoY.
• Net NPA ratio at 0.21% reduced by 16 bps YoY.
• Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) increased by 20 pbs YoY and stands at 97.50%
• Credit Cost for Q4FY26 stands at 0.30% reduced by 3 bps YoY 

Slippages (Fresh Addition): 

• Total slippages for Q4 FY26 stood at ₹366 Cr, while full-year slippages were contained at ₹1,211 Cr.
• Slippage ratio remained low at 0.13% for Q4 FY26 and 0.49% for the full year
• The Bank reported nil slippages in Corporate & Overseas segments over the last two quarters, with the Corporate book maintaining zero slippages for the entire FY 2025–26.

 Recovery of NPA: 

• Total Recovery for Q4FY26 increased to ₹960 from ₹890 Crore for Q3FY26
• Recovery from the written off accounts (technical write off & set off) for Q4FY26 stands at ₹564 Crore 

RECOVERY Vs SLIPPAGE:

 Capital Adequacy: 

• Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) for  Q4FY26 increased by 74 bps to 19.78 % at 19.04%.
• Tier-I stood at 16.94% and Tier-II stood at 2.84% as of March 2026. 

Expansion of Branch Network and Customer Touch Point:

• The Bank strengthened its pan-India presence by adding 159 branches, taking the network to 3,494 (from 3,335 in Mar’25).
• Of the total branches, 2,040 (58%) are in rural & semi-urban areas, reinforcing financial inclusion.
• ATM/CR network expanded by 154, reaching 3,651 as of March 2026.
•  Business Correspondents increased by 2,052 to 12,187 (from 10,135).
•  Total customer touchpoints stood at 19,332 as on March 31, 2026.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 30 (BNP): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has issued a short-term weather alert forecasting thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and light to moderate rainfall in parts of Odisha within the next three hours.

As per the nowcast issued at 06:55 am, wind speeds may reach 30–40 kmph, with gusts up to 50 kmph, during the thunderstorm activity. The weather conditions are likely to affect one or two places in Cuttack (including Cuttack city), Khordha, Puri, Koraput, Keonjhar, and Balasore districts.

Authorities have advised residents to stay alert and take necessary precautions, especially in open and vulnerable areas, and to move to safer locations in case of worsening weather conditions.

SYDNEY, 30 April 2025 – This May, Potts Point’s premier design destination, Becker Minty, presents FLOURISH, by celebrated New Zealand artist Emma Bass. FLOURISH is supported by Epson with all of the artworks in the exhibit printed at SKAR Lab using the Epson SureColor P20560 (64”) fine art printer and the Epson SD-10 Spectrophotometer with Auto Table.

Opening May 8, 2026, the collection offers a bold and contemporary twist on the still life, highlighting fragility, impermanence and cycles of life. Perfectly timed for Mother’s Day.

Transformative beauty
Bass’ works transform the traditional still life into something visceral and emotionally resonant, although they bring joy and uplift, they also contain narrative threads, and cycles of life, decay, death and rebirth. She elevates botanical subjects into commanding focal points that shape the emotional mood and tenor of public and personal spaces.

Epson SD-10 Spectrophotometer with Auto Table

From Healthcare to Fine Art
A former nurse with 20 years of experience as a commercial photographer, Bass’ relationship with healthcare has sharpened her understanding of how the visual environment impacts wellbeing, “Flowers mark our most important moments- birth, love, grief, and celebration, says Bass, I photograph them not just as beautiful objects, but as portraits of strength.”

The Intersection of Art and Design
Presented within the curated interior spaces of Becker Minty, FLOURISH places fine art in direct dialogue with design, in their shared objective of uplifting and transforming the spaces in which we dwell. The exhibition reinforces Bass’s belief that art should be lived with, not simply admired. For Mother’s Day, the show invites collectors to invest in a “permanent bloom”- artwork that brings beauty and contemporary edge into everyday living spaces.

Aesthetics as a way of life
Bass’ subtropical mid-century Auckland house and garden is a carefully curated explosion of colour, botanical art and a vast collection of vases. As a products of her environment, both Bass and her works project her art and its philosophy of pleasure, joy and uplift as a way of living.

Epson SureColor P20560

The SureColor P20560 offers fast processing speeds and an expanded 12-colour ink set, providing a wider colour gamut and up to 99% Pantone coverage*. The SC-P20560 is fed by a bulk ink system and ships with 12 cost-effective 1.6L ink packs designed for high-volume print jobs. A 4.3-inch optical touch colour LCD, optional 1Tb SSD and Adobe PostScript 3 improve workflow and efficiency with the SC-P20560. Epson Edge Print PRO RIP software is also bundled with the machine, making it a comprehensive solution for professional printing workflows.

Epson SD-10 Spectrophotometer with Auto Table

The SD-10 is an easy-to-use, full-featured colour measuring device that when seamlessly combined with the Auto Table and Epson Edge Color Lite colour management software (compatible with Epson’s RIP software, Epson Edge Print PRO) offers a genuine colour management solution that addresses most colour management requirements and maximises print output quality. Epson has made colour management for professional printers easier and more reliable than ever with its Auto Table for the SD-10 spectrophotometer. Epson’s Auto Table for the SD-10 Spectrophotometer addresses and rebuffs the common perception that colour management is time consuming and requires high technical knowledge and skills.

EXHIBITION DETAILS
• Title: FLOURISH by Emma Bass
• Dates: From 8 -26 May 2026 (Opening event 8 May from 5.30pm – 7.30pm)
• Location: Becker Minty, 7/81 Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney, NSW 2011

*99% coverage of PANTONE PLUS FORMULA GUIDE solid-coated palette based on Epson Proofing Paper White Semimatte printed with the Epson Driver at 2400 x 1200 dpi. PANTONE coverage may vary when printed under other conditions.

Epson, PrecisionCore, SureColor, TFP, UltraChrome, Epson Cloud Solution PORT and Epson Edge are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.

New Delhi, Apr 30 (BNP): The government has reviewed India’s export ecosystem with an aim to further strengthen the country’s global trade performance, with special emphasis on MSMEs, agriculture exports, and the promotion of “Brand India”.

During the review, officials discussed measures to enhance the competitiveness of Indian exporters in global markets. A key focus was placed on supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, which play a crucial role in employment generation and export diversification.

The discussions also highlighted the need to boost agricultural and food product exports by improving quality standards, strengthening supply chains, and expanding access to new international markets. In addition, efforts to promote “Brand India” were emphasized to improve the country’s global trade identity and attract stronger demand for Indian goods.

The initiative reflects the government’s broader strategy to increase export volumes, reduce trade barriers for domestic producers, and ensure more inclusive participation in international trade growth.

New Delhi, Apr 30 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted that the hard work, dedication, and energy of citizens are the true foundation of a nation’s strength.

In a message shared publicly, he noted that people across the country contribute continuously to national progress through their efforts in different fields. He emphasized that this collective commitment plays an important role in driving development and strengthening the country’s growth journey.

The Prime Minister also underlined that discipline, perseverance, and unity among citizens help accelerate progress, making their contribution central to building a stronger and more prosperous nation.