Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Suriya and Trisha’s courtroom drama Karuppu was set for a theatrical release, but all screenings were cancelled at the last minute, with reports pointing to unpaid dues by the producers. The setback triggered backlash online, protests outside theatres, and an emotional on-camera apology from director RJ Balaji, before the film screened selectively in cities including Mumbai, Pune and Varanasi. As fans demand an updated release timeline, Dream Warrior Pictures warned of legal action against any downloading or sharing of leaked scenes on major platforms.
SEBI has launched a consultation proposing a broad overhaul of exchange-traded derivatives rules to reduce compliance load on stock exchanges and clearing corporations. In a May 14 paper, the regulator plans to simplify master circulars, remove redundant provisions, and streamline operational requirements across equity, currency, commodity and interest rate derivatives. Key ideas include deleting the commodity CTM option series, cutting mandatory Product Advisory Committee meetings, and letting exchanges advance contract expiries during disruptions with “adequate notice” instead of a fixed 10-day timeline.
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Palo Alto Networks’ technology chief is warning that many companies are falling behind as AI-powered attackers move from experiments to real exploitation. The concern: hackers are using AI models to find and leverage software vulnerabilities more quickly, shrinking response timelines. With firms losing precious momentum, the executive suggests that AI-driven intrusions may soon become routine unless defenses are upgraded immediately.
Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police Shantanu Sinha Biswas has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged extortion racket. Reports say the ED had faced months of legal hurdles and repeated non-appearance, leading to a lookout notice. He later showed up for questioning after the BJP toppled the Mamata government in West Bengal. The ED alleges his responses raised concerns, saying he concealed facts and failed to cooperate, with claims of collusion involving criminal ‘Sona Pappu’ and businessman Jai Kamdar.
The BSF Tripura Frontier has begun the process of handing over two suspected Bangladeshi smugglers killed in a firing incident near the Zero Point on the India-Bangladesh border in Sepahijala district. BSF personnel on routine patrol say they spotted a group allegedly trying to smuggle fish fingerlings from the Indian side. After warnings, the smugglers allegedly pelted stones and bricks, prompting BSF personnel to fire a few rounds from a pump action gun in self-defence. The injured were taken to hospital but later died; post-mortem completed and bodies kept before handover to Bangladesh.
Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust began trading flat on its New York Stock Exchange debut after raising $1.75 billion in a U.S. IPO. Shares opened at $20 and the firm sold 87.5 million shares at the same price. The listing arrives amid a U.S. IPO rush led by artificial intelligence-linked companies, including Cerebras and Fervo Energy. Blackstone says the vehicle will focus on newly built data centers leased to investment-grade hyperscale tenants and has flagged $25 billion in near-term opportunities across key markets.
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Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera returned to Assam Police Crime Branch in Guwahati for a second day of questioning, after being held for nearly 10 hours on Wednesday. The probe follows defamation criminal complaints filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera’s original allegation claimed Sharma held multiple passports and undisclosed overseas properties. Khera says he is cooperating and will submit documents. The Supreme Court granted him anticipatory bail and ordered attendance when required.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a May 12 decree to introduce artificial intelligence into the nation’s secondary education system, aiming for nationwide rollout as part of a 2026–2029 action plan. By July 1, the government will approve details covering personalized learning, digital infrastructure, teacher training, and safeguards for student personal data. Pilot projects are expected to start after proposals by June 1, with equipment and stable high-speed internet by Aug. 1. National AI standards are due by Sept. 1.
Cerebras pulled off a blockbuster IPO, raising $5.5 billion and pricing shares Wednesday night at $185—well above its earlier range that stretched from $115 to $125, later revised upward. The offering grew to 30 million shares, and pre-market trading suggests a sharp opening pop driven by retail demand. At the IPO price, the company’s fully diluted valuation lands at $56.4 billion. The turnaround follows an earlier CFIUS roadblock and a major revenue and profit swing in 2025.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has removed IAS officer Padma Jaiswal, a 2003-batch AGMUT-cadre officer, from government service after a lengthy disciplinary inquiry. The action follows allegations that she misappropriated public funds while serving as Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh during 2007–08. The inquiry concluded she committed serious misconduct, prompting the ministry to recommend removal. The order takes immediate effect, barring future government employment and related benefits.
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Mexico City is preparing for the World Cup with 18 free public fan zones, a top-tier food scene, and major landmarks like Zócalo and Chapultepec Park. Organizers expect heavy crowds and intense rush-hour traffic near Estadio Azteca, alongside pollution concerns and the challenge of high altitude. Getting to the stadium is easiest via Metro Line 2 or Line 3 plus connections, but visitors are warned about intermittent internet, cashless payments, and safety risks near Santa Ursula.
India’s gold discounts surged to a record level above $200 an ounce after the government lifted gold and silver import duties to 15% from 6%. Higher local prices hit an already weak demand backdrop, prompting investors to sell even at steep discounts. While retail buyers and jewelers stayed away, gold futures jumped 7.2% to the highest in two months and investors booked profits in gold ETFs. Dealers also fear the hike will fuel smuggling by widening grey-market margins.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met a delegation of U.S. chief executives in Beijing, telling them China’s door would open wider and that American companies would find broader prospects. The session, reported by Xinhua and CCTV, included prominent leaders such as Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Apple’s Tim Cook at the Great Hall of the People. The meeting follows President Donald Trump’s earlier push for Xi to “open up” China during their summit, setting the stage for renewed business engagement.
India has revamped how it exchanges tax information with other countries, effective July 1, tightening timelines and oversight to curb cross-border tax evasion. All foreign tax requests will be treated as high priority, with information shared within 15 days when available. If not, officers must file an interim report within the same period, outlining progress and next steps. Outbound requests will face closer scrutiny and monthly tracking to reduce delays and improve treaty-based compliance, alongside preparations for crypto data sharing from April 1, 2027.
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The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration says it has removed the last highly enriched uranium from Venezuela’s legacy RV-1 research reactor. The operation, coordinated with Venezuela’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the IAEA, UK experts, and US State Department personnel, follows research ending in 1991, when uranium enriched above 20% remained as surplus. NNSA removed 13.5 kilograms in under six weeks, shipped it to the US, and will process it into high-assay low-enriched uranium for reuse.
U.S. investors are increasingly worried about a major correction as AI supercharges market concentration and turns major benchmarks into directional bets. Morgan Stanley estimates the top 10 U.S. stocks account for 33% of overall value (37.5% of the MSCI USA index). RBC adds that in S&P 500 index funds, more than $40 of every $100 is effectively tied to just 10 companies, creating a “passive concentration trap.” The risk is a disorderly rout if mega-cap AI earnings and guidance disappoint—though AI doesn’t need to fail entirely.
Foreign undergraduate enrolment in US colleges has fallen by an average of 20% this spring, a coalition study says, based on a survey of 149 American schools. The decline is already showing up in both undergraduate and graduate intakes, with 62% of institutions reporting lower international enrolment. Universities blame restrictive government policies, immigration enforcement actions, paused interviews, and sharply fewer student visa issuances. With international students funding large parts of budgets, universities fear stronger pressure ahead for the fall intake.
OpenAI says hackers stole limited credential data from a small subset of internal source code repositories accessed by two employees, after a supply chain attack affected their devices. The company reports no evidence that user data, production systems, intellectual property, or existing software installations were compromised. OpenAI traces the incident to an earlier TanStack open source breach, where attackers published 84 malicious software versions over a six-minute window. OpenAI is rotating signing certificates as a precaution, requiring macOS updates.
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Iran’s foreign minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi urged BRICS states, and the wider international community, to “unequivocally condemn” alleged violations of international law by the United States and Israel. Speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, he framed the West Asia escalation as a defense of the Global South against Western “hegemony,” citing violations of sovereignty, coercive pressure, and impunity. Araghchi called for practical steps to stop warmongering and avoid politicising international institutions.
Peace deal hopes with Iran dimmed after Donald Trump said any ceasefire is “on life support,” following Tehran’s rejection of a U.S. proposal. Iran’s negotiating list included halting fighting across fronts such as Lebanon, demanding compensation for damage, and ending a U.S. naval blockade—terms Trump dismissed as “garbage.” With the Strait of Hormuz effectively near-closed, shipping has slowed to a trickle, exports are curtailed, and Brent crude climbed above $104.50, intensifying global economic pressure.
Bank of America has named UBS investment banker Richard Hardegree as its new vice chair for mergers and acquisitions, according to an internal memo Reuters reviewed. Hardegree, who has more than 30 years of M&A experience and previously led technology investment banking at UBS, will join the bank in August and be based in Palo Alto. He will focus on semiconductors and report to Bank of America’s co-heads of global M&A, signaling a push to expand tech deal market share. The memo also cites booming deal momentum into 2026.
Eli Lilly is expanding its India specialty pipeline by making Alzheimer’s disease a central bet, alongside obesity and metabolic therapies. The company launched Lormalzi (donanemab), a once-monthly intravenous treatment aimed at amyloid plaques driving early symptomatic Alzheimer’s, unlike older drugs that mainly ease symptoms. Lormalzi is priced at Rs 91,688 per 350 mg vial, delivered every four weeks for up to 18 months, and will roll out through hospitals and pharmacies with an alternative access program. Lilly also cites diagnosis delays, expecting blood-based biomarkers to help.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay, the TVK chief, was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium after negotiations and election momentum. The ceremony drew huge fanfare and star presence, including actress Trisha Krishnan. But it was their styling that lit up social media: Vijay reportedly chose a tailored black-and-white pantsuit instead of the customary white shirt-and-veshti look, while Trisha arrived in an icy-green Kanjeevaram saree with a jasmine gajra and diamond jewellery.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that Iranian aircraft had arrived at Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi during the US-Iran ceasefire, following reports that multiple planes remained there after Islamabad talks. Pakistan rejected claims of any connection to military “contingency” or “preservation,” calling such coverage misleading. It said flights were tied to the first round of talks for moving diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff, with some aircraft and personnel staying for expected later rounds. The disclosure drew US backlash, including scrutiny of Pakistan’s mediator role.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will urge Beijing to take a “more active role” in resolving the Iran war crisis during talks between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing. Rubio warned the conflict could destabilize Asia because energy flows rely heavily on key straits. While Trump told reporters he planned a “long talk” on Iran, he also said the US did not need China’s help and would “win it” by peaceful or other means. Rubio framed China as the US’s top political challenge.
TVS Motor Company says it is closely monitoring how the ongoing West Asia conflict may ripple into its business, citing rising input costs and supply chain disruptions. After its quarterly results, CEO K N Radhakrishnan pointed to pressure across commodity-linked items such as steel, aluminium and crude oil derivatives, alongside challenges like labor availability, gas supply and delays in on-time raw material deliveries in April. Still, he expects improvements in May and confidence of strong Q1 growth that could outpace the industry.
The Pentagon has begun releasing UFO or UAP records on a new website, reigniting debate over unidentified “anomalous phenomena.” President Donald Trump has amplified the topic, framing the materials as something the public can interpret for itself. The trove includes decades-old State Department cables, FBI interviews, NASA transcripts and photos, plus more than 20 sensor videos from places including Syria, Japan, Iraq and North America. The Pentagon says many cases remain unresolved, with experts urging caution over misinterpretation.
US President Donald Trump said he has “settled” nine wars and hopes the Russia-Ukraine conflict can become the next one he resolves. Speaking to reporters, he urged ending the war and suggested a possible extension of a three-day ceasefire he announced for May 9–11. Trump said the pause covers “all kinetic activity” and includes a prisoner exchange of 1,000 detainees from each side. He also made a disputed claim that 25,000 young soldiers die monthly.
Fresh US-China trade negotiations began in Seoul at Incheon International Airport, just hours before President Donald Trump lands in Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping. Led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the meeting comes as the parties prepare to review tariff and export-control tensions, including a critical minerals-related suspension expected to expire in November. The agenda also reportedly covers US soybeans and beef, plus aircraft export controls—while the third-month US-Israeli war on Iran and its shipping and price impacts loom large.
Days after Chandranath Rath, Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant, was shot at point-blank range in Madhyamgram, investigators say a UPI payment made at a Bally toll booth by the car that tailed his SUV could help lead to arrests. CCTV tracking identified a Nissan Micra that blocked the Scorpio, followed by escape in a red car and a bike. Preliminary findings suggest the vehicles were stolen, with fake number plates and possible shooters brought from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Delhi and the NCR saw cloudy skies, light rain, and gusty winds on Wednesday as the IMD issued an orange alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorm activity across multiple zones. Thunderstorm conditions are expected to linger late into the night, with winds of 40–50 kmph and gusts up to 60 kmph in some areas. While rainfall remained minimal—Palam recorded just 0.1 mm—temperatures dipped slightly. Air quality stayed “moderate” with an AQI of 147 at 4 pm, and Thursday’s forecast remains partly cloudy with heat near 39°C.
US President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire running May 9 to May 11, framed as a step toward ending a long war. Trump said it would suspend “kinetic activity” and include a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners each. The announcement follows talks after Trump’s April 29 call with Vladimir Putin. Russia also declared a truce for May 8–9 for WWII commemorations, while Ukraine pushed an open-ended pause as negotiations stall over Donetsk.
India have retained the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings after the annual update, but their cushion is now razor-thin. India sit on 118 rating points, slipping by one, while New Zealand remain second with 113. Australia stays third on 109. South Africa climbed to fourth with 102, overtaking Pakistan (98). The rankings heavily weight matches since May 2025 and shape direct qualification prospects for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
A woman in West Delhi has alleged she was gang-raped inside a private sleeper bus. She told police she was picked up from Rani Bagh and taken to Nangloi, where the assault occurred two days ago. After a medical examination, Delhi Police registered an FIR under Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other provisions. The driver and conductor named by the survivor have been arrested, and the bus used has been seized for forensic examination to reconstruct the timeline.
Days after taking office, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari approved CBI investigations into three recruitment-related cases that he said were stuck under the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. The biggest involves the teachers’ recruitment scam, alleging a “merit-for-cash” system that sidelined qualified applicants in favor of bribe-paying candidates between 2014 and 2021. Two more probes follow: a municipality recruitment scam affecting hiring across urban local bodies and a cooperative bank scam.
India and Canada will hold the next round of negotiations for their proposed free trade agreement in Ottawa in July, the Commerce Ministry said. The session follows the second round of talks in New Delhi that ended May 8 under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA. Negotiators will cover trade in goods and services, intellectual property, rules of origin, and technical and sanitary barriers. The pact is aimed at raising bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, up from $8.66 billion in 2024-25.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT India that India’s interests in Russian energy supplies will not be affected, even as he accused the United States of “unfair competition.” Ahead of a visit for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Lavrov alleged Washington seeks to dominate and “seize all energy routes” globally, pressuring countries that maintain ties with Russia. He also criticized Europe for dropping Russian contracts, arguing bans are politically driven and will force higher-cost imports of US LNG.
The US military says it struck another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor. SOUTHCOM linked the attack to “known narco-trafficking routes” and said the US Coast Guard was notified for search and rescue. The action, part of the administration’s broader campaign targeting Latin America smuggling networks, has pushed the reported death toll to at least 192. Critics and legal experts dispute the evidence, saying strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings.
Super-tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is showing tentative life, with four large crude carriers exiting since May 10, near the pace of about two million barrels a day. Traders say the blockage has already removed roughly a billion barrels from global supply, even as non-Iran flows rise slightly. Iran has allowed Chinese ships to pass, mirroring an uptick in gas carrier crossings, while some vessels switch off satellite signals, complicating tracking and future expectations.
Louisiana CEO Graham Walker surprised 540 Fibrebond employees by distributing nearly $240 million shortly after selling the family business for $1.7 billion to Eaton. Walker earmarked 15% of the proceeds for workers despite no ownership stake, translating into an average of about $443,000 each over five years. Payments began in June under a retention agreement, though employees over 65 could retire immediately. Workers used the windfall for mortgages, home upgrades, travel, and early retirement.
President Donald Trump is set to ask Xi Jinping for help ending the Iran conflict during talks this week, but analysts expect Beijing to offer only limited support. China may encourage Iran to return to negotiations, while resisting any move that would jeopardize its key economic and military links with Tehran, including dual-use supplies. The US has pressure tools like sanctions, yet experts warn the costs and potential retaliation are too high.
Oil prices eased after three days of gains as traders digested a fragile Iran ceasefire and the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing. Brent futures fell to about $106.91 a barrel and WTI to around $101.14, with markets remaining jittery about potential supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping chokepoint. Natural gas in Europe stayed largely stable as some LNG resumed, yet buyers were cautious because storage levels remain low. Analysts expect volatility to persist with geopolitics and inventories.
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman is entering its final stages in Oakland, California, as lawyers deliver closing arguments. Musk alleges OpenAI betrayed its safe-AI charitable mission by turning the nonprofit into a profit engine to enrich insiders, claiming he was steered into a $38 million gift before the nonprofit was linked to a for-profit structure and major investor funding. OpenAI argues the model strengthens the mission, while Musk seeks about $150 billion and leadership removals.
The West Asia conflict is reshaping Dubai’s fast-moving property pipeline, with developers warning of 6 to 9 month handover delays driven by disrupted imports, cost overruns, and tighter bank financing. Of roughly 45,000 units targeted for 2026 handovers in Dubai, about half are now expected to move into 2027 or beyond. Construction costs have climbed nearly 30%, ports remain open but shipping services are rerouted, and many projects still sit early in the build phase. Financing tied to escrow is getting harder to access as banks raise underwriting standards.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Navy chief designate and Western Naval Command flag officer commanding, said India is prepared to “quell” any misadventure originating across the border. He stressed that India has been a victim of terrorism “for several years” and cannot accept such activity, especially when it comes from foreign soil. He defended Operation Sindoor, launched after the 2025 Pahalgam attack, saying it targeted terrorist camps and infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to ensure India negotiates terrorism from strength.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called for aligning standards and customs procedures between India and Africa to unlock faster, smarter growth for businesses. Speaking ahead of the India-Africa Business Dialogue and Exhibition, he pointed to the AfCFTA’s nearly $3.4 trillion value and India’s expanding $4 trillion economy as a chance to diversify supply chains and move beyond raw-material trade toward integrated manufacturing. The minister highlighted cooperation in renewable energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia, electric mobility, and digitalization. Bilateral trade is projected at $93.69 billion in 2025-26.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has dismissed reports about India rejecting Russian LNG and warned against “lockdown” rumours. Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit, he said India has not raised fuel prices for four years and currently holds 60 days of crude oil, 60 days of LNG and 45 days of LPG. Responding to Reuters-linked claims, Puri said the country never imported Russian LNG or LPG from Russia, and that opposition-led panic is misleading.
Aditya Birla Group and KKR have emerged as the two top contenders to buy Shell’s renewable energy firm Sprng Energy after binding bids were submitted by multiple suitors. Shell will now negotiate exclusively with Aditya Birla and KKR next week, following internal screening at its London headquarters. NIIF and Actis have been eliminated. The transaction is estimated at about $2 billion enterprise value. Sprng Energy runs a 5 GW generation portfolio with long-term contracted offtake.
Pakistan has been trying to mediate an end to the US-Iran conflict, but CBS News citing US officials alleges it let Iranian aircraft use Pakistani airbases to reduce the risk of American strikes. The report says Iran moved both military and civilian planes for safety, including to Nur Khan airbase in April. Pakistan’s senior official rejected the claims, arguing Nur Khan is too public to conceal activity. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged a complete re-evaluation of Pakistan’s mediator role.
Ship-tracking data suggests the Iran-linked LPG carrier Tara Gas is transiting the Strait of Hormuz, moving past Larak Island on a route that appears aligned with Iranian approvals. The vessel is reportedly broadcasting that its crew and owners are Indian, even as the US maintains a naval blockade pressure campaign. The LPG onboard is described as cooking-fuel material. Bloomberg adds that countries including India have negotiated with Tehran to secure energy cargo releases.
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