Actor-turned-politician Vijay has emerged as a standout personality in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with early results suggesting that his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), is set to reshape the state’s political landscape.

Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay has emerged as a standout personality in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with early results suggesting that his party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to reshape the state’s political landscape. TVK is leading in 109 out of 234 constituencies, just short of the 118 seats required for a majority. Despite falling below half, the party can still form a government with the support of smaller regional players. If confirmed, the result would mark a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics, which has been dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for decades.

A beginning that defies precedent

This is Vijay’s first electoral contest and his strong performance challenges the long-held belief that film stars struggle to translate popularity into political success. His rise has drawn comparisons with previous actor-politicians such as MG Ramachandran, J Jayalalitha and NT Rama Rao – all of whom successfully transitioned from cinema to positions of power. Analysts say Vijay’s campaign appears to be connecting with young voters and urban constituencies, tapping into discontent over corruption, nepotism and strong political dynasties.TVK’s victory could also mark a historic turning point, as Tamil Nadu could see its first government since June 1977 outside the dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Increase in major constituencies

Vijay is leading in Tiruchirappalli (East), where he has secured a margin of over 6,000 votes over DMK’s Inigo Irudayaraj after four rounds of counting. He is also leading in Perambur by a margin of over 10,000 votes against DMK candidate RD Shekhar.

rivals are lagging behind

As per early trends, AIADMK is leading on 64 seats, while DMK is leading on 44 seats. Other parties like Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are trailing with a single-point lead.

celebration and security

Scenes of celebration have emerged outside the TVK headquarters in Chennai, with supporters gathered in large numbers, waving flags and distributing sweets. At Vijay’s residence, family members were seen watching and celebrating the results as the trends continued to swing in favor of the party. Security has also been increased in the area and police personnel have been deployed as a precautionary measure.

Party says, ‘Clear mandate’

TVK leaders have described the result as a decisive rejection of the established parties. Party spokesman Felix Gerald said the results reflected public anger over “corruption, nepotism and family politics”, adding that the party was confident of forming a government without the need for a coalition.

a possible turning point

If trends continue, Tamil Nadu could see the first government led by a party outside the DMK-AIADMK axis in nearly five decades. For now, the final outcome will depend on whether TVK is able to cross the majority mark on its own or garner support after the elections. Either way, Vijay’s entry has changed the political equation of the state.

New Delhi: Babar Azam Peshawar Zalmi won the Pakistan Super League title by defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium. The win marked Babar’s first T20 trophy as captain, leading to scenes of joy, cheering and high emotion across the venue, before a light-hearted moment grabbed the headlines.During the post-match celebrations, Babar and teammate Iftikhar Ahmed attempted to recreate Rohit SharmaThe iconic padayatra to celebrate India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory. However, the imitation was not completely successful and the strange attempt soon turned into a viral meme among fans. As Babar moved forward to collect the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, many noticed a similarity in Rohit’s celebratory moves, while Iftikhar and others also joined in – only to fail in the task. Clips of the moment soon went viral on social media, drawing widespread reactions.The win is Zalmi’s second PSL title and their first since 2017. While Babar had previously been part of a PSL-winning team, this was his first win as captain.All-rounder Aaron Hardy performed brilliantly in the final. He did wonders with the ball and took 4 wickets for 27 runs which helped bowl out Hyderabad Kings for 129 runs in 18 overs. After this, he performed brilliantly with the bat and scored unbeaten 56 runs and Zalmi achieved the target in just 15.2 overs and achieved a spectacular victory.Despite a rare failure in the final – falling for a golden duck – Babar finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. In 11 matches, he scored 588 runs at an impressive average of 73.50, including three fifties and two centuries at an average of 145.90.

Charles Lieber is one of the most famous names in nanoscience, but his career took a dramatic turn after a federal conviction in the United States. Lieber, once a leading Harvard chemistry professor, was convicted in 2021 of making false statements to federal officials and tax crimes related to payments from China. Today, he is back in the laboratory in Shenzhen, where he is leading state-supported brain-computer interface research at i-Brain, part of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation. This area is medically promising but also strategically sensitive, which is why their move to China has attracted attention.

Charles Lieber’s path from Harvard prominence to federal conviction

Lieber had a long and influential career at Harvard University, joining the faculty in 1991 and later serving as chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology from 2015 to 2020. He received the prestigious Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professorship, one of Harvard’s highest academic honors. Over three decades, he became a leading figure in nanoscience, publishing hundreds of peer-reviewed papers and holding dozens of patents. His research focused on nanoscale materials and nanoelectronics, particularly on devices capable of interfacing with biological systems, including early work related to neural interfaces and brain-computer technologies. In December 2021, a federal jury convicted him of making false statements to federal officials, filing false tax returns, and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. In April 2023, he was sentenced to time served, six months of home confinement, a $50,000 fine, and restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. The case involved undeclared participation in China’s Thousand Talents Scheme and payments from a Chinese university.

Charles Lieber is now leading this research in China

Lieber’s move to Shenzhen marked a new chapter in a career already defined by high-stakes science. In April 2025, he arrived in the city and took charge of i-BRAIN, the Institute for Brain Research, Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies, which operates under the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART). There, he serves as the founding director and chair professor. His laboratory reportedly has access to advanced nanofabrication tools and primate research facilities, giving him resources that were not similarly available at Harvard. For a scientist long involved with nanoscale electronics, the setting is unusually suitable for the next phase of his work.The field he is now helping to pioneer is brain-computer interfaces, or BCI, which aims to translate brain activity into signals that computers can read and use. That technology already has therapeutic promise. Researchers are exploring it for people with ALS, paralysis and speech impairments, and recent advances have shown that nerve signals can be converted into speech or used to control devices in limited ways. This field is rapidly moving from laboratory experiments to clinical applications.China has made BCI a priority sector. In 2026, it approved a commercial BCI medical device designed to help people with quadriplegia regain the ability to hold hands, and this technology has been identified as a future industry in the national plan. That policy support helps explain why Libor’s presence matters. He has deep experience in nanofabrication, neural interfaces and advanced materials, the kind of expertise that can accelerate the research field with both humanitarian and strategic value.That’s why his new role remains controversial. Lieber is not the only scientist starting out in a new country. He is a researcher who was convicted in the United States of making false statements involving payments and affiliations related to China, and he is now working inside a state-supported Chinese research system that is investing heavily in emerging technologies. His story sits at the point where science, geopolitics and technological competition meet, making him one of the most-watched figures in the global race to connect brains to machines.

Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi: Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee Released a video message on Monday to charge TMCAs early trends show the BJP leading across the state, counting agents say there is “no need to be disheartened” as only two to three rounds of counting have been completed, while more than 15 rounds are still pending.Instructing party candidates and counting agents not to leave the counting centres, Mamata said her party will win after sunset and “there is no need for anyone to fear”.