Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
The Centre has dismissed Padma Jaiswal, a 2003-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, in a rare move against a serving official. The decision was made after the Department of Personnel and Training recommended action and received final approval from the President of India. Allegations date back to 2007–08 when she served as Deputy Commissioner in Arunachal Pradesh, with residents accusing her of misusing her post and misappropriating funds. She was suspended in 2008 but later had the suspension revoked in 2010.
Oil marketing companies like HPCL, BPCL and IOC came under pressure even after the Centre raised petrol and diesel prices by up to Rs 3 per litre from immediate effect. The hike, aimed at easing OMCs that have been absorbing losses from elevated global crude rates, followed prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider West Asia energy crisis. Despite the adjustment, shares fell as much as 3% on Friday, while petrol crossed Rs 97 in Delhi and surged higher in Kolkata.
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Indian mutual funds are sharply increasing holdings in Adani Power, Adani Green Energy, and Adani Energy Solutions, signaling a shift from short-term, high-volatility trading to a long-duration bet on India’s electrification cycle. Shareholding data through March 2026 shows MF ownership rising sharply across the trio. Fund managers point to contracted-capacity cash flows—where over 70% of EBITDA comes from contracted revenue—and to visible earnings from power, renewables, transmission, and grid-heavy demand driven by data centres, EVs, and manufacturing.
Fuel prices in India jumped on Friday by up to Rs 3 per litre, with petrol hitting Rs 97.77 in Delhi and diesel Rs 90.67. The move follows sustained global crude surges and tighter energy supplies tied to prolonged West Asia conflict. Analysts point to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, which reduces Gulf oil flows and raises import costs for India, which buys over 80% of its crude. State retailers had absorbed losses earlier, but buffers are now exhausted.
Speaking from Beijing, President Donald Trump publicly backed Chinese students studying in the United States, even as he acknowledged this clashes with parts of his right-wing base. He said excluding students is “insulting” and argued that lower-tier US universities would be hit if Chinese enrollment falls. Trump also highlighted China’s growing university quality in science and technology. Chinese enrollment has declined amid perceived hostility and economic pressures, alongside China’s own expanding higher-education sector.
In closing arguments near the end of an Oakland federal trial, Elon Musk’s lawyers attacked OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s credibility, arguing he misled investors and jurors in a dispute over whether OpenAI turned its nonprofit mission into an insiders’ profit engine. Musk claims he was manipulated into donating $38 million and wants about $150 billion in damages, alongside removal of Altman and Greg Brockman. OpenAI counters that Musk sought control and sued too late, blaming “selective amnesia.”
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After talks with China’s Xi Jinping, Donald Trump said his patience with Iran is running out, as the U.S. paused attacks but imposed a port blockade. Diplomacy to end the conflict has stalled because Iran refuses to shut its nuclear program and surrender its enriched uranium stockpile. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively constrained after Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, incidents near the UAE raised fears of escalating maritime control, affecting global energy flows.
In his latest quarterly financial disclosures, President Donald Trump reported stock and bond purchases and sales worth tens of millions of dollars across major US companies during the first quarter. Filings covering over 100 pages show buying ranges that include Nvidia, Oracle, Microsoft, Boeing and Costco, alongside notable selling of Microsoft, Meta and Amazon. The White House says independent managers executed trades via index-replicating programs, while Trump is not required to specify asset classes in the same way lawmakers do.
Adani Group shares are in the spotlight after reports say the US Justice Department is considering dropping fraud charges against Gautam Adani, following moves by a newly appointed legal team led by Robert J. Giuffra Jr. The NYT says prosecutors proposed a path to resolution that could include a $10 billion US investment and job creation. Meanwhile, separate SEC and Treasury-related matters are reportedly moving toward settlement agreements with financial penalties, while other discussions cite further civil and sanctions payments.
IAN Angel Fund, the evergreen fund of IAN Group, has led a ₹70 lakh early-stage funding round in The Sweet Change, a clean natural sweetener brand, with participation from Udaan Angel Partners. Founded in 2024 by Manvi Agnihotri and Sheen Hitashi, the company aims to use the capital to boost product development, expand via e-commerce and quick commerce, and grow brand awareness and headcount. It claims early traction, crossing ₹1.5 crore in revenue and fulfilling 12,000+ website orders.
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CNG prices have risen by ₹2 per kg in multiple regions, including Mumbai and Delhi, shortly after Oil Marketing Companies increased petrol and diesel rates. In Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the retail price has moved to ₹84 per kg, while Delhi’s rate has climbed to ₹79.09 per kg. The move is linked to higher global crude oil costs and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, forcing shipping reroutes and raising concerns about future fuel supplies despite enhanced naval surveillance.
A US federal judge has delayed final approval of Anthropic’s proposed $1.5 billion settlement with authors over alleged book piracy used to train its Claude AI. At a hearing in San Francisco, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin asked lawyers for more details, particularly around attorney fees and payments to lead plaintiffs, calling the deal the largest known US copyright settlement. Earlier, now-retired Judge William Alsup found fair use but said Anthropic violated rights by storing over 7 million pirated books.
Oil prices rose Friday, pushing Brent above $105 a barrel, as traders grew wary of ship attacks and seizures near the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s claim that around 30 vessels crossed safely. Markets are also tracking US China talks in Beijing. A US naval blockade remains active, and a commercial ship was reportedly seized before being taken into Iranian waters. With the IEA warning the market may stay severely undersupplied until October, analysts warn the squeeze could last into late 2027.
As the Iran war disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, India and parts of Southeast Asia are accelerating biofuel adoption to curb expensive imported oil and LPG. In New Delhi, consumers report LPG delays and black market prices soaring threefold. In Chennai, drivers complain that ethanol-blended gasoline is worsening car mileage as ethanol becomes the default blend at pumps. India is weighing higher ethanol blends up to 85% or even 100%, while experts warn supply-chain delays and food-versus-fuel environmental impacts.
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ICICI Bank, with Visa, has launched India’s first USD-denominated debit card issued from its IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City. The card is linked to ICICI Bank’s USD Global Savings Account and lets NRIs spend their US dollar balance globally at ATMs, POS terminals and e-commerce. The offering runs on the Visa Infinite platform and includes security controls such as EMV chip compliance, channel enable-disable, and daily transaction limits, plus Visa Infinite privileges and curated brand and travel benefits.
Lighthouse Canton has launched the SEBI-registered LC Luminere Credit Fund, a Category II AIF aimed at funding India’s fast-growing private credit market. The ₹1,200 crore vehicle, with a six-year tenure and average deal duration of about three years, will make structured senior secured credit investments in mid-to-large corporates. The fund seeks stable periodic cash yield and “high teen” risk-adjusted returns, deploying capital across growth, acquisitions, sponsor-backed refinancing and cross-border opportunities. It has already warehoused its first investment and says a near-term pipeline is ready.
Gold prices slid to a more-than-one-week low and were on track for a weekly decline as surging energy costs reignited inflation worries and raised the prospect of higher-for-longer interest rates. Traders also kept a close watch on the Trump Xi meeting, while the Fed signaled no near-term policy change. With the dollar firming, the pressure intensified. Meanwhile, India is set to restrict gold imports to 100 kilograms under an advance authorization scheme.
Cisco has open-sourced the Foundry Security Spec, an AI security evaluation blueprint designed to replace noisy, unverifiable alerts with structured, auditable findings. Built for machine-speed threats, it counters frontier-model hallucinations using orchestration, bounded outputs, and clear completion signals. The spec is model-agnostic and stack-neutral, and it’s released as two artifacts: Spec.md with ~130 requirements and Constitution.md with 11 inviolable principles tied to real failures Cisco encountered.
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The U.S. dollar climbed to a two-month high, on track for its largest weekly gain in more than two months. Fueling the move were rising energy prices and shipping disruptions that are stoking inflation fears, alongside firmer growth signals such as retail sales and stable jobless claims. Those factors have pushed markets to price a December Fed rate hike more aggressively. Meanwhile, the U.S.-China summit delivered cautious signals, with attention on Strait of Hormuz reopening and possible Chinese interest in U.S. oil.
Metal stocks surged this week despite broader market volatility, lifting the Nifty Metal index around 4% as Adani Enterprises, Hindalco, and Vedanta climbed up to 11%. Analysts say investors should not chase momentum and instead look to buy on dips. The rally is linked to government increases in import duties on gold and silver to 15%, aimed at easing rupee pressure, plus industrial demand and supply disruptions—from copper-linked sulphuric acid issues to aluminium smelter disruptions in the Gulf.
Simca Advertising’s SME IPO, subscribed 80.88 times, is set to list on the NSE SME platform on May 15. Despite strong demand across QIB, NII and retail categories, grey market indications point to a muted debut, with GMP around 1%—only a small premium over the issue price of Rs 183. The Rs 58 crore issue was a fresh share sale, priced within Rs 174–183. Funds will support LED screens, digital monetisation partnerships and working capital.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is preparing to revisit the Rs 17,000 crore IT hardware production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme later in FY27, after initial disbursements and rising component manufacturing. Officials say AI servers and other AI-linked hardware are likely to be added to coverage as part of the next modification window. Incentive payouts are expected to surge in the second half of FY27, currently far below the pace projected as many firms’ claims begin clearing this year.
The Technology Development Board (TDB) has begun disbursing the first tranche of India’s Rs 1 lakh crore Research and Development Initiative (RDI) fund, aimed at accelerating deeptech innovation with minimal government interference. TDB expects to release Rs 500–600 crore this fiscal year through investments sized from Rs 3 crore to Rs 100–150 crore per project. It has selected 22 projects so far across drones, spacetech, advanced batteries and biotech, including Rs 50 crore for indigenous cell therapies and Rs 105 crore for a modular satellite platform.
CNG prices in India have been increased by ₹2 per kg in multiple regions after petrol and diesel rates rose amid ongoing disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. With nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passing through the strait, shipping disruptions and tighter LNG flows have pushed crude and fuel costs higher. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, CNG now costs ₹84 per kg. Auto-rickshaw and taxi operators are pressing for fare revisions as further increases loom.
Britney Spears’ representative has pushed back hard after TMZ alleged the 44-year-old singer acted “erratically” during dinner at Blue Dog Tavern in Sherman Oaks on May 13. The rep told PEOPLE Spears was having a quiet meal, cutting her hamburger in half, and telling a story about her dog barking at neighbors—while dismissing claims she endangered anyone with a knife as blown out of proportion. The backlash arrives days after Spears posted an Instagram “spiritual journey” photo involving a baby snake.
Florida police are investigating vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto, a predominantly African American site established in 1904. Manatee County authorities say 17 gravesites were damaged: headstones were knocked down and red spray paint reading “Trump” and “DeSantis” was applied to tombs. Detectives believe the attacks happened within the past few weeks, and no arrests have been reported. Relatives of those buried described “extreme anger” and said the political names suggest possible motivation.
Fuel prices were raised across India from Friday, with petrol and diesel increasing by as much as Rs 3 per litre amid volatile global crude markets. Delhi petrol is now Rs 97.77 and diesel Rs 90.67. Among metros, Kolkata saw the steepest petrol rise, while diesel also climbed in all four cities. The revision follows a sharp jump in wholesale fuel inflation in April. Rising Brent prices tied to Middle East tensions are squeezing oil marketing companies.
Oil prices rose on Friday as investors stayed nervous about attacks and seizures tied to the Strait of Hormuz, even after Iran said around 30 vessels had crossed since Wednesday evening. Brent futures climbed to $106.32 a barrel and WTI to $101.71, with analysts pointing to tight supply as the dominant driver. The White House said Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed on keeping Hormuz open, while a ship was reportedly seized near the UAE. Separately, an Indian livestock cargo vessel sank off Oman.
Fuel prices surged nationwide on Friday as oil marketing companies raised petrol and diesel rates by up to Rs 3 per litre with immediate effect. Petrol in Delhi climbed to Rs 97.77 per litre, while Kolkata jumped to Rs 108.74, Mumbai to Rs 106.68, and Chennai to Rs 103.67. Analysts link the hike to volatile global crude prices and supply disruptions tied to tensions in West Asia. Retail rates vary by state due to VAT and dealer commissions, influencing transport and household budgets.
Agrani Labs, a semiconductor startup launched in 2025 by former Intel and AMD executives, is seeking a $100 million Series A to develop AI inference chips compatible with Nvidia’s CUDA software stack. The company is in early talks with Qualcomm, Battery Ventures, and government investors, while existing backer Peak XV is expected to contribute about $20 million pro-rata. If valuation talks land in the $400–500 million range, it would mark one of India’s largest Series A rounds for a chipmaker.
US-based finance agentic company Numero AI has acquired Royu, a Chennai finance automation startup, in a cash-and-stock deal valued undisclosed. Royu’s co-founders will join Numero’s leadership, with one leading product and the other technology. Together, the firms aim to deploy an AI-native agentic system to automate enterprise finance and controller workflows, including accounting close, reconciliation, and reporting.
Oil prices climbed on Friday as fears of ship seizures and attacks persisted around the Strait of Hormuz, even with Iran claiming about 30 vessels passed since Wednesday evening. Brent futures rose 60 cents to $106.32 a barrel, while U.S. WTI gained 54 cents to $101.71. A ship reportedly seized by Iranian personnel off the UAE was reportedly headed for Iranian waters, and an Indian livestock-cargo vessel was sunk near Oman. Analysts cited tight supply as the main driver.
Vivekananda Global University (VGU) in Jaipur is betting that India’s next founders will build from home as remote-first work and Tier II support programs expand. The university has supported 200-plus startups, enabled over Rs 20 crore in funding, and embeds incubation, mentorship, and early grants into academics—helping founders access pilots, mentors, and investors without relocating to metros.
US President Donald Trump said after meeting Xi Jinping in Beijing that China wants to buy US oil and soybeans again, marking a possible reversal from the tariff-driven slowdown. Trump noted China had purchased only small amounts of US oil before the tariffs and that soybean imports had shifted toward Brazil. He also pressed for broader access for Visa to China’s credit card market during the talks, adding a financial-services angle to the claimed trade thaw.
Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar have agreed to pay $18 million in total to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission allegations that they made false and misleading statements about Adani Green Energy Ltd. The proposed deal—$6 million from Gautam and $12 million from Sagar—must still be approved by a judge. Separately, the US Justice Department is reportedly seeking to drop fraud charges in a parallel criminal case, which could help clear the way for Adani’s return to international capital markets.
Iranian personnel reportedly seized a ship off the UAE, boarding it while anchored near Fujairah and steering it toward Iranian waters. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane open, with Xi opposing militarization and tolls. Separately, an Indian livestock cargo vessel was sunk off Oman. Iran says seizures follow law, while shipping data show traffic remains sharply reduced but rising, with new country-by-country deals.
Bitcoin briefly surged above $82,000 after the US Clarity Act advanced out of the Senate Banking Committee on a 15-9 bipartisan vote. The bill—already approved by the House—seeks to reduce regulatory uncertainty by assigning oversight for digital commodities to the CFTC and digital securities to the SEC, a change that could draw more institutional players. Still, it faces major hurdles: a 60-vote Senate requirement, reconciliation with other versions, and unresolved ethics provisions tied to lawmakers trading crypto.
An FIR has been registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj Police Station against Pratapgarh MLC Akshay Pratap Singh and three others following a written complaint by Bhanvi Kumari, wife of independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya. Lucknow police confirmed the report was entered after station-level verification and that a formal investigation has begun. The specific allegations were not publicly detailed, and no arrests or further official statements have been issued so far.
Mid-tier IT services firms are outpacing larger rivals, posting 7–28% year-on-year revenue growth in constant currency in the March quarter. Coforge, Persistent Systems, Mphasis and LTM gained as they stayed focused on specific growth pockets like cloud engineering, AI-led modernization and BFSI. Meanwhile Infosys and HCLTech lagged, and TCS and Wipro reported declines. Analysts credit leaner structures, senior talent closer to clients, outcome-based pricing and greater flexibility—though some growth may come with short-term margin tradeoffs.
Markets extended their rebound for a second straight session on supportive global cues and selective buying in heavyweight stocks, with banking shares driving the relief. IT stocks, however, stayed under pressure. Multiple firms drew attention ahead of earnings: Power Grid, Tata Steel, SAIL, Hindustan Copper, Cochin Shipyard, Premier Energies, Godfrey Phillips and ITC Hotels. Adani Enterprises saw a massive block trade, Tata Motors PV reported a steep profit drop, while JSW Steel and Jio Financial posted sharp financial and deal-linked moves.
Petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre in India after days of anticipation, driven by rising global crude oil costs linked to conflict in West Asia. In Delhi, petrol rose from Rs 94.77 to Rs 97.77, while diesel increased from Rs 87.67 to Rs 90.67. Metro prices also climbed, with Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai seeing petrol gains and diesel hikes. The update follows government claims of heavy under-recovery losses amid frozen domestic retail rates.
Asian stocks rose in lockstep with Wall Street’s record highs, fueled by an AI-led rally and signs the US consumer remains resilient. Japan, South Korea and Australia advanced, lifting the MSCI Asia Pacific Index toward a sixth straight weekly gain. In the US, Nvidia’s six-day surge supported the Nasdaq trade, while strong earnings expectations and upbeat retail sales data helped investors look past risks from oil above $100 and rising inflation pressures.
Sebi has floated proposals to simplify the rules for exchange-traded and commodity derivatives, aiming to cut compliance burden and uncertainty. In a discussion paper, it suggests deleting close-to-money (CTM) option series and related norms for commodity options in goods, arguing CTM adds complexity and pricing risk. It also wants fewer mandatory PAC meetings for non-agricultural commodities, down from two annually to one. Further, exchanges could shift contract expiry earlier during disruptions with managing director approval instead of 10-day notice and PAC clearance.
D2C brands are bracing for a tough quarter as rising input costs and a weakening rupee squeeze margins while demand softens. Analysts expect consumer spending to fall 5–6% over the next three months, driven by inflation that pushes shoppers toward essentials and cuts discretionary buys. Costs have already jumped across categories, including a 25–30% spike in beverage and perfume packaging materials. Conglomerates can hike prices, but smaller cash-burning brands face working capital stress and lower average order values.
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly defeated a Democratic-led resolution to halt President Donald Trump’s Iran war campaign unless Congress authorizes hostilities. The measure failed on a 212-212 tie, making it the closest possible outcome and the third House attempt this year. Democrats argue the Constitution reserves war-making authority for Congress, while Republicans and the White House defend Trump’s commander-in-chief powers. The Senate has also blocked similar efforts as votes have grown tighter.
A 35-year-old spice trader, Pintu Kumar alias Badka, was shot dead in Patna’s Sultanganj area near Musallahpur Haat during a citywide blackout staged for a civil defence mock drill. The shooting occurred around 7:02 pm, two minutes after the pre-announced blackout began, triggering panic in the market. Doctors declared Kumar dead after he was taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital. Police are probing nearby CCTV footage, questioning residents, and checking motives ranging from old disputes to business rivalries.
India’s crude oil stocks have fallen 15% since late February, according to Kpler, as imports ease amid the Iran conflict. While refinery run rates have held up, the gap is being covered by moderate inventory drawdowns from refinery storage and other stockpiles. Analysts warn this strategy can’t last if supply constraints continue, potentially forcing lower processing rates. The Strait of Hormuz is also near-closed, cutting Gulf output and tightening global supply heading into peak summer demand.
Kaynes Technology shares plunged about 20% to ₹3,339.25 after weaker-than-expected March-quarter earnings and a revenue guidance miss prompted multiple analyst downgrades. Brokerages flagged execution delays, stretched working capital and continued cash burn as key reasons investor sentiment is cooling. JP Morgan kept expectations for a strong 40%/45% revenue and earnings CAGR through FY26-28E, but downgraded the stock to Neutral and cut its price target sharply. The sell-off follows a massive 950% post-listing surge, then a 57% drop.
The Bar Council of India has begun verifying whether West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds a valid licence to practice law after she appeared in advocate attire at the Calcutta High Court for a PIL on alleged post-poll violence. BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra questioned a discrepancy between her Supreme Court appearance and this High Court appearance. The BCI has asked the West Bengal Bar Council to provide enrolment and practice-status details within two days, including her enrolment number and current status on the advocates roll.
Global investors including Temasek and Alpha Wave Global are negotiating a $1.3 billion investment in Adani Group’s airports business, valuing Adani Airport Holdings at about $18 billion. The consortium is expected to include four investors, though two identities are unverified. Talks face hurdles: Adani’s management wants a steep premium and has rejected requests for structured, assured returns. Any equity fundraise may also depend on a forthcoming US DOJ decision on bribery and fraud allegations against Gautam Adani.
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