Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Virat Kohli delivered another statement innings in IPL 2026, staying unbeaten on 105 off 60 balls to steer RCB past KKR in Raipur. The win lifted RCB to the top of the points table, while Kohli’s impact prompted captain Rajat Patidar to offer extravagant praise, framing the century as proof he needs nothing left to prove.
A fatal shooting in Vaughan has claimed two lives after York Regional Police responded to reports of gunfire on Kaiser Drive on Wednesday, May 13. Officers discovered both victims deceased at the scene, and the homicide unit has assumed responsibility for the investigation. Authorities have not yet released details on suspects or motive, leaving many questions unanswered.
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The US dollar strengthened Thursday as higher Treasury yields and safe-haven buying pulled investors toward the currency. Trading looks heavily influenced by expectations of additional Federal Reserve rate hikes this year. Attention is also on Trump and Xi meeting in Beijing, while the offshore yuan stayed near a three-year high as US inflation data hinted at renewed price pressure.
Mphasis is navigating a sudden senior leadership drain, with over a dozen high-performing executives reportedly leaving since 2025 for firms like Coforge and Tenarai. Some departures allegedly involve bringing additional talent along, prompting Mphasis to ramp up hiring and file legal action against Coforge over alleged poaching. The fallout could reshape teams and competitive momentum fast.
Three former Peak XV Partners have launched Mettle Capital, targeting a $350–400 million venture fund to back Indian startups. The firm will focus mainly on Series A and B rounds, with selective seed investments. After aiming to close fundraising within the next quarter, it expects to start deploying capital by September–October.
A Mumbai tenant who surrendered tenancy to move into a new flat in a redeveloped building fought an Income Tax notice alleging Rs 1.1 crore in short-term capital gains. The ITAT Mumbai ruled the alleged taxable event, the surrender of tenancy rights, did not occur in the assessment year cited, overturning the demand.
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India is leading globally in Meta AI monthly active users on WhatsApp, with AI chat activity spiking after the Muse Spark launch. Now WhatsApp is rolling out an “incognito mode” for AI chats, aiming to protect personal data by not using those conversations for model training—raising questions about what gets learned and improved.
India’s biggest fintech firms are shifting from disruption to regulation by actively chasing multiple licences across payments, lending, and wealth management. Companies such as PB Fintech, Mobikwik, and Paytm are using licensed operations to manage the full customer lifecycle and grow revenues, helped by regulatory pressure and stronger investor confidence in compliant models.
Israel’s ruling coalition has submitted a proposal to dissolve parliament, setting the stage for early elections. The move follows mounting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from ultra-Orthodox parties, as his long tenure faces fresh political strain. Netanyahu has led Israel for more than 18 years across multiple terms, making this shake-up particularly consequential.
Republicans have pulled ahead in the 2026 redistricting process, setting up a potential gain of up to a dozen House seats from Democrats. But President Donald Trump’s weak approval ratings and the long-running midterm trend of the president’s party losing seats could cancel that advantage by November.
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The UK will invest about one billion pounds, roughly $1.35 billion, to buy 72 remote-controlled RCH 155 howitzers to modernize the British Army and address a war-fighting capability gap. Deliveries are set to begin in 2028, and the contract is expected to support more than 500 UK jobs as the vehicles are designed for long-range fire and high-speed movement.
Oil prices inched up to above $105 a barrel as investors looked ahead to a U.S.-China Trump Xi meeting tied to both economic priorities and geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war. Even with rate-hike worries in the background, analysts warn the real swing factor could be a Strait of Hormuz disruption, which would likely push crude higher quickly.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and his wife are donating $108.3 million worth of AI computing time sourced from CoreWeave to universities for research. The move directly supports academic AI work while also reinforcing CoreWeave, an Nvidia-backed AI cloud provider that has secured major cloud capacity deals.
India-bound LPG tanker MV Sunshine is safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz with support from the Indian Navy and related agencies. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister said stability in the strait would improve safety and invited Indian efforts to ease regional tensions, citing strong India-Iran cultural links.
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Sebi is considering changes that would broaden how mutual funds can use intraday borrowing. Right now, such borrowing is mainly allowed to meet redemption payouts. Under the proposal, funds could use it more widely as a cash management tool to handle timing mismatches between outflows and receivables, potentially improving flexibility and returns.
US defence tech company Anduril Industries has raised $5 billion, pushing its valuation to $61 billion. The funding follows a breakout year where revenue doubled to $2.2 billion and the company expanded its workforce. With geopolitical tensions reshaping demand for defence innovation, investors are piling into firms they see as future-ready.
Indian markets swung after a sharp sell-off, but the Nifty held its ground, signaling resilience. Focus stayed on multiple bellwethers including HAL, Tata Motors and Bharti Airtel as investors tracked quarterly updates. Meanwhile, Zydus Lifesciences is reportedly nearing a US acquisition, and Maruti Suzuki is doubling down on green logistics.
Three former Peak XV Managing Directors have launched Mettle Capital to back Indian startups, marking a sharp new chapter after their abrupt exit from the VC firm. The move lands amid intensifying fintech pressure, with players now hunting for licences as regulatory clarity and funding dynamics shift quickly across the sector.
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With Anthropic’s Mythos AI still hard to access, organizations are turning to Claude Opus 4.7 for cybersecurity work. Firms use it to hunt threats and respond to incidents, citing that Opus 4.7 can deliver roughly 70–80% of Mythos’ capability—enough to tackle vulnerabilities while waiting for wider Mythos availability.
India has banned sugar exports until September 2026, aiming to cool domestic prices as local production lags behind consumption. The curbs are expected to ripple through global sugar markets, potentially easing pressure for major exporters like Brazil and Thailand. Traders with existing contracts face uncertainty, though shipments already in the pipeline may continue under defined conditions.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories expects a gradual recovery in the coming fiscal year after last year’s profit dip hit by pressures in the US business. Growth remains solid across India, Europe, and emerging markets. The company’s outlook leans on upcoming launches including semaglutide and abatacept, alongside improved product mix and tighter cost controls to lift margins by FY27.
Oil prices inched higher as markets looked ahead to the Trump Xi meeting in Beijing, where the Iran war is expected to dominate talks. Even with U.S. sanctions in place, China continues to buy large volumes of Iranian oil, creating a major sticking point that could complicate any effort to de-escalate or change Tehran’s access to buyers.
Chile researchers developed antibodies that neutralised the deadly Andes hantavirus in lab and animal tests, showing real promise against a rare virus that can spread between people. But the effort stalled before human trials, crushed by limited funding and the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asian markets climbed in sync with Wall Street’s record highs, powered by a tech-led rally and upbeat corporate earnings. Investors are now tracking the US-China summit and rising geopolitical risks around Iran. At the same time, lingering inflation concerns are reshaping expectations for potential Federal Reserve rate hikes next year, keeping traders cautious.
Metal stocks surged on Tuesday as global base metal prices rallied sharply amid supply disruptions and strong demand. The momentum also lifted gold loan companies after the government raised customs duty on gold and silver, a move intended to curb imports while supporting domestic prices. Investors reacted positively across both metals and the lending space tied to bullion demand.
SEBI has penalised former Religare Enterprises chairperson Rashmi Saluja with a ₹40 lakh fine for alleged insider trading. The regulator said she traded Religare shares while in possession of unpublished price-sensitive information related to the Burman Group’s open offer. SEBI has also ordered Saluja to disgorge ₹1.9 crore in unlawful gains, along with interest.
Cuba’s energy and mines minister says the country has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, triggering its worst rolling blackouts in decades in Havana. Many areas reportedly face 20 to 22 hours without power daily. The island’s grid relies on domestic and renewable energy, but rising fuel import costs and the U.S. blockade are worsening the crisis.
Venture capital firm Activate has taken a growth-stage stake in voice AI startup ElevenLabs, marking its first global deal of this kind. The New York-based investor sees India as a strategic market and will partner with ElevenLabs to deepen enterprise ties, while giving early-stage Indian startups access to its voice infrastructure. ElevenLabs is already scaling fast, with India among its biggest markets.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced House questioning over his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. Under scrutiny, he backed away from earlier claims that Epstein engaged in blackmail, describing that part as speculation. Lutnick also softened details of multiple meetings, including a 2005 visit that troubled him and his wife. Democrats accused him of evasion and renewed calls for resignation.
In April, Indian fund managers leaned into defensive stocks, with pharmaceuticals drawing fresh inflows tied to potential upside from the semaglutide patent expiry. Mutual funds also increased focus on NBFCs and asset management companies, adding PNB Housing Finance as money tilted toward retail lending. The broader shift points to worries over oil prices and West Asian geopolitical risks.
SEBI has proposed changes to India’s municipal bond framework, allowing local bodies to explicitly issue bonds to refinance existing debt. The draft also demands detailed disclosures on lenders, repayment schedules, interest costs and any prior restructurings. In addition, it suggests capping working-capital use at 25% and restricting proceeds from general-purpose spending.
HDFC Mutual Fund has withdrawn its proposed Gold-Silver Passive Fund of Fund NFO, blaming concerns that rising precious metal imports could worsen India’s trade balance. The move follows Prime Minister Modi’s call to curb gold and silver buying and higher import duties, as the government and firms prioritize conserving foreign exchange reserves amid global uncertainty.
Indian IT stocks slid to three-year lows after OpenAI announced a venture aimed at deploying AI directly for enterprises. With Anthropic reportedly pursuing a similar model, investors worry traditional service integration work could be squeezed. The selloff also reflects broader anxiety that AI disruption may intensify amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty affecting the sector.
Trading volumes in India’s unlisted shares have dropped sharply, reportedly plunging by up to 70% as investor interest cools. The decline is attributed to weaker pricing and fewer new share offerings entering the market. While some well-known companies still attract trades, demand has softened in areas such as defence and hospitality, with expectations that a stronger stock market could revive activity.
MSCI has announced major changes to its indices, naming Federal Bank, Indian Bank, Multi Commodity Exchange of India and Nalco for inclusion in the Global Standard Index. The additions are expected to attract meaningful inflows as index-linked funds rebalance. However, Adani Energy Solutions has been excluded after MSCI flagged surveillance concerns.
The Indian rupee weakened to a new all-time low for the third straight day as crude oil prices surged and dollar demand rose. Even with steps aimed at cutting gold imports, the currency slid sharply, reflecting broad pressure on FX markets. Traders expect more volatility, with the Reserve Bank of India likely to intervene to limit further losses.
With RBI’s June meet approaching, economists are split: only a small share expects a policy rate hike this fiscal year, while most forecast a prolonged pause. Still, a majority expects inflation to run above RBI’s FY27 forecast, and bond markets are already reflecting the possibility of tighter monetary policy.
India is fast-tracking a deep-sea gas pipeline linking Oman to Gujarat, aiming to secure steadier supplies and cut dependence on volatile LNG markets. The roughly ₹40,000 crore project is expected to take 5 to 7 years and is designed to reduce India’s exposure to maritime choke points, including risks highlighted by disruptions around the Hormuz Strait.
Bharti Airtel’s board has approved a cashless ₹28,220 crore share-swap with ICIL, a Mittal family entity, to raise Airtel Africa’s stake to 79%. By avoiding cash outflow, the deal preserves Airtel’s liquidity, increases ICIL’s holding in Bharti Airtel, and is expected to be accretive to earnings per share.
A new visualization imagines the world’s largest malware repositories as stacked hard drives, making the scale of cybercrime feel physical. The graphic helps highlight how much harmful code is amassed, traded, and reused across attacks—turning “malware databases” into a tangible volume of risk that keeps growing.
Cisco’s stock surged about 17% after results beat expectations, with stronger revenue, profit, and forward guidance. Investors are also reacting to rising demand for the company’s AI infrastructure offerings. But Cisco simultaneously announced workforce reductions, signaling a pivot to long-term growth priorities—leaving the market to balance momentum against restructuring risk.
Swiggy has started steps to become an Indian Owned and Controlled Company by seeking shareholder approval to amend its articles and board nomination rules. The move is designed to satisfy FEMA IOCC conditions and strengthen domestic control. It also appears linked to Instamart’s shift from a marketplace approach to an inventory-led model that could boost margins and supply-chain control.
Kevin Warsh is set to become the next chair of the US Federal Reserve, but his direct sway over interest rates could be limited. Rate targets are decided by the 12-member Federal Open Market Committee, where Warsh would cast only one vote. In practice, the chair’s influence depends on consensus building and persuasion, which is why markets are watching every Fed statement for policy signals.
Notion has launched a new developer platform that lets teams connect AI agents with external data sources and custom code directly inside their workspace. The move deepens Notion’s push toward “agentic productivity,” where AI does more than answer questions—running workflows tied to the tools and information teams already use.
Zydus Lifesciences has agreed to acquire Assertio Holdings for $166.40 million, a move aimed at strengthening its position in the U.S. specialty oncology market. The acquisition includes Assertio’s cancer treatment Rolvedon and adds a commercial network that Zydus expects to use to expand and accelerate its oncology initiatives.
The National Company Law Tribunal has allowed ATS Group’s Nobility Estates to withdraw from insolvency proceedings. The ruling offers relief to more than 600 homebuyers stuck with the Le Grandiose project. The committee of creditors backed a settlement with the former management, including major payments and repayment of JM Financial’s debt via allocation of project units.
Indian film studios are re-centering movie theatres, delaying OTT releases after theatrical debuts to chase box-office success. As streaming platforms cut spending on film rights, collections have surged, with 2025 hitting record highs. The shift changes the release rhythm for audiences and reshapes revenue strategies across producers, exhibitors, and streamers alike.
India held an inter ministerial meeting focused on speeding up battery storage rollout and grid upgrades. Officials discussed boosting transmission capacity and exploring variable time of day pricing, with the goal of expanding renewable energy adoption while improving grid stability. The talks aim to translate policy levers into faster deployment of technologies that balance fluctuating power supply.
Industry executives say a duty hike could push consumers toward lower carat jewellery such as 14K and 9K, reducing gold imports by 20-30%. They add that discouraging investment in gold bars and coins could cut imports further by another 20-30%. With India importing 750-800 tonnes annually, revamping the Gold Monetisation Scheme could unlock 25,000 tonnes of grandfather stock.
Shivalik Small Bank has received Reserve Bank of India approval to acquire ManiBhavnam Home Finance, sources say. The bank is now seeking clearance from the Registrar of Companies, a step expected to complete the process. The proposed deal reportedly combines share swaps with a cash payment, pointing to a structured transfer rather than a simple purchase.
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