Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Ford surged as much as 15% after Morgan Stanley flagged upside for its energy storage business. The bank expects Ford could secure supply deals with large commercial buyers and hyperscalers, with its CATL partnership seen as a decisive edge. Analysts say the energy segment’s value is rising, changing how investors view Ford’s growth prospects.
Maharashtra Police detained two more suspects in the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak case, including a woman from Pune. The woman, identified as Manisha Waghmare, was picked up from Bibvewadi and reportedly works as a beautician. After questioning, the suspects were handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), signalling a widening probe.
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A catastrophic storm with torrential rain struck multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, killing at least 31 people, including children. Fatehpur, Bhadohi, Budaun, Prayagraj and Sonbhadra were hit hardest, with severe weather damaging homes and infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway as officials assess the full extent of destruction.
The 108th PGA Championship tees off this week at Aronimink Golf Club, putting golf’s elite under pressure. Among the field are four Indian-origin players—Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, Aaron Rai, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju—who hope their game can translate into major glory. The demanding course demands not just skill, but timing and patience.
South Carolina’s Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions in the deaths of his wife and son, ordering a new trial. The court said the jury faced improper outside influence linked to county clerk Becky Hill. Despite the reversal, Murdaugh is still serving time on separate financial crime convictions, keeping legal pressure on his case.
Enhanced geothermal startup Fervo Energy surged 33% in its IPO debut, with the deal reportedly upsized multiple times after potential investors questioned why it wasn’t already raising more capital. The company’s pitch resonated as growing AI data center demand increases pressure for reliable, large-scale power—turning geothermal into a fresh growth story.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a secret meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The talks, framed as a historic step in Israel UAE relations, come as the UAE has faced repeated missile and drone attacks. Officials describe the exchange as a major breakthrough, underscoring shifting regional alignments.
Geothermal startup Fervo Energy stunned investors in its Nasdaq debut, jumping 33.3% on the first day and valuing the company at about $10.21 billion. The move follows an IPO that raised $1.89 billion. The timing is notable as U.S. power demand rises with AI and data center buildouts, intensifying the push for new energy supply.
Researchers in Argentina have uncovered a major sauropod fossil, Bicharracosaurus dionidei, dating back about 155 million years. At roughly 20 meters long, its distinctive bone structure suggests a biological link between South American and North American sauropods, offering fresh evidence for how these giants spread and evolved across the ancient southern supercontinent.
Investigators in drought-hit Georgia say a hyperscale AI data center drew nearly 30 million gallons of water without proper billing or reporting, sparking alarm as residents report falling water pressure. The case is now fueling broader questions across the US: whether the accelerating AI infrastructure boom is quietly reshaping local water resources beyond what the public can see.
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Praveen Sood’s tenure as CBI chief has been extended by one year, marking his second extension in office. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the move beyond May 24, 2026. Sood had taken charge in May 2023 for a two-year term, with the latest decision following a selection committee meeting.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Delhi, focusing on energy and trade ties. The discussion also ranged over the West Asia crisis and the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with both sides emphasizing shared interests in strengthening multipolarity. BRICS foreign ministers have gathered for a wider conclave as diplomacy and strategy take center stage.
Ahead of the BRICS meeting, Iran has asked India to play a role in West Asia peace efforts, praising India’s impartial chairmanship. Iran also says it is drafting a new framework for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and points to a BRICS member’s demand to condemn it as the reason a unified stance did not form. Iran reiterated support for the Chabahar port project.
A bomb-like object found near a prominent hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area triggered panic among nearby residents. The suspicious item was discovered in a parking area in Kamdhenu Society near Kamdhenu Status. The Bomb Detection Squad has begun investigating, moved the object to a secluded location, and started reviewing hospital CCTV footage to trace how it was placed.
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X has introduced a new History tab that brings together bookmarks, likes, watched videos, and read articles in a single hub. The update turns the app further into a save-it-for-later destination, making it easier to revisit what you’ve engaged with across posts, media, and articles without hunting through multiple sections.
Bangladesh has approved a major Padma River barrage project designed to reduce adverse upstream effects attributed to India’s Farakka Barrage. The first phase is projected to cost over USD 280 million, and officials say the work is in Bangladesh’s national interest. Talks on Ganges water sharing with India are continuing as both sides navigate the river’s future.
A severe storm and heavy rains struck several Uttar Pradesh districts on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people across Bhadohi, Budaun, Fatehpur and Sonbhadra. Uprooted trees and damaged homes were reported, while rescue efforts were hampered by disrupted mobile networks. Officials are now assessing the full scale of damage and casualties.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi alleges the UAE is preventing BRICS from reaching consensus on the West Asia conflict. He says Iran is open to Indian peace initiatives and highlights ongoing work with Oman on a new merchant-vessel framework for the Strait of Hormuz. He also notes Indian vessels have been allowed transit through the region.
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Researchers are developing a special orange scented algae to tackle microplastics in drinking water and wastewater. The algae repels water so microplastics stick to it, then clump together for easy removal. After collection, scientists plan to recycle the captured plastics into new materials, aiming to clean waterways while creating a circular reuse pathway.
Boston Fed President Susan Collins said the Fed may need additional rate hikes if inflation remains stubborn. She pointed to the Middle East crisis as a potential accelerant, arguing that disruptions could push prices higher and complicate the path back to targets. The comments underscore how geopolitical risks can feed directly into monetary policy decisions and inflation expectations.
A Nashik court has reserved its decision on bail pleas for six individuals accused in a case tied to a local TCS unit. Allegations include sexual harassment and forced conversion. A Special Investigation Team is looking into multiple FIRs involving sexual exploitation and religious sentiment offenses. The court will pronounce orders on Friday, determining whether the accused get interim relief.
Instagram is rolling out a new feature called Instants that borrows from Snapchat’s ephemeral vibe and BeReal’s prompt-like feel. Users can share disappearing photos to Close Friends or mutual followers. Viewers can open the image only once, while the post remains accessible in the chat for up to 24 hours, adding urgency without going fully transient.
In federal court testimony, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “I believe I am an honest and trustworthy business person.” The statement lands amid scrutiny of how tech leaders earn credibility, especially when legal proceedings focus on trust, transparency, and business conduct. The case spotlights not just Altman’s words, but who still believes them and why.
India is aiming for USD 1 trillion in exports this fiscal year, building on last year’s USD 863.11 billion performance. Piyush Goyal says the government is pushing negotiations for Free Trade Agreements to boost growth, with several already in place and more expected. The ambitious target sets a high bar for faster trade expansion across sectors.
Wall Street saw a rare split: the Dow Jones sank about 260 points while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbed. The surprise came from a hotter wholesale inflation reading, tightening the Fed’s room to maneuver. Meanwhile, chip stocks powered tech-led gains, even as US headlines shifted to President Trump’s summit trip to China with Xi Jinping.
The Supreme Court, citing Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, said it is alarming that under one percent of transport vehicles are equipped with vehicle location tracking systems. The Bench highlighted the need for mandatory location tracking devices and panic buttons in taxis and other public vehicles, stressing that compliance remains dangerously low.
Mind Robotics, a Rivian spinoff unveiled in late 2025, has secured an additional $400M as it scales ambitions in autonomous robotics. The funding brings total investment to more than $1 billion to date, underscoring investor confidence in its approach and timeline for deploying manufacturing-focused automation.
Bharti Airtel’s board has approved Sunil Bharti Mittal’s return as Chairman for an additional five-year term starting October 2026, along with Nisaba Godrej continuing as an Independent Director for another five years from August 2026. The company says both appointments are subject to shareholder approval, following a board meeting on May 13, 2026.
Barbados Royals will revert to its earlier identity as the Barbados Tridents from the 2026 Caribbean Premier League season. The franchise owned by Royals Sports Group says the move brings an end to a five year run under the Royals name, signaling a full return to a former brand ahead of the next CPL campaign.
Uttarakhand’s cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved work-from-home arrangements and a weekly no-vehicle day to reduce fuel consumption. The government will also cut the chief minister’s and all ministers’ vehicle fleets by half. A new electric vehicle policy will be introduced to push sustainable transport across the state.
Assam has achieved a major breakthrough by making its first legal export of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, worth Rs 2.35 crore. The move, enabled by the Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy 2020, is expected to strengthen the state’s agro-forest economy and create new earnings for farmers and businesses. Assam now eyes a long-term Rs 50,000 crore opportunity.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed all departments to curb illegal mining and sand extraction, calling it a major financial drain. The order also demands speedy rollout of central government schemes within a week and immediate removal of unauthorized toll and drop gates across the state.
A new modern semi-fast rail link is set to launch between Ahmedabad and Dholera, aiming to cut travel time to just 48 minutes. The project, backed by an investment of Rs 20,667 crore, is designed to strengthen connectivity in Gujarat—turning longer trips into quick daily commutes and enabling same day getaways for travelers.
Origin Lab has raised $8 million to launch a marketplace connecting AI labs with video game companies. The goal: make it easier for world-model builders to buy high-quality licensed data while giving game studios a new way to monetize their assets and telemetry. The platform positions licensed datasets as a cleaner alternative to unclear, scraped training sources.
Zaggle plans to earmark $20–25 million for strategic acquisitions in FY27, aiming to enter the US with at least one purchase and potentially add one or two firms in India. The move follows strong FY26 performance, with meaningful revenue and profit growth. Management signals a faster international push backed by fresh capital for expansion.
Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada has acknowledged how difficult it is to bowl in India when IPL pitches favour batters. Rather than fixating on runs conceded, he urged players to focus on execution and process. Rabada’s comments reflect the shift needed for bowlers to succeed on flatter surfaces, where small errors are punished quickly.
Congress will announce its choice for Kerala’s next chief minister on Thursday after days of intense lobbying and internal discussions. The timing follows a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The announcement also comes about ten days after the UDF secured a major victory in Kerala’s assembly elections, ending a political suspense period.
A new book claims Brigitte Macron’s viral slap happened after she saw flirtatious messages from an Iranian actress on President Emmanuel Macron’s phone. Journalist Florian Tardif says the couple argued intensely during a flight in Vietnam, turning into a public moment when Brigitte reacted. Macron’s team denies the story, calling the account false.
Anthropic’s latest move signals a shift in AI competition: the customer hunt is moving downmarket from Fortune 500 giants to America’s vast base of small businesses. With 36 million small firms powering the economy, the new offering suggests user acquisition and product adoption will increasingly hinge on meeting day-to-day needs outside big enterprise budgets.
Swiggy says it will adjust its board nomination policies to support its goal of becoming an Indian owned and controlled company. The move is intended to bring its governance structure in line with foreign exchange compliance requirements, as the company works through the regulatory pathway to meet ownership and control expectations.
India’s logistics performance ranking for 2025 spotlights Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Delhi as “exemplars,” while 11 states or territories are “high performers.” Eighteen are “accelerators” improving their systems, and four “growth seekers” are still building capacity. The classification is designed to guide targeted logistics reforms across regions.
Three church leaders were killed and four others injured in an ambush in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. Suspected militants attacked vehicles carrying members of the Thadou Baptist Association. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the violence, warning it threatens peace. A shutdown was imposed in the district as multiple groups expressed outrage, while one denied involvement.
Amazon is rolling out “Alexa for Shopping,” a personalized AI assistant embedded directly in the Amazon search bar. The feature replaces the company’s earlier Rufus shopping assistant, aiming to make product discovery feel more conversational and tailored to each user. The move underscores Amazon’s push to shift shopping from browsing to assistant-guided shopping powered by Alexa.
A ransomware group has claimed it breached Foxconn, one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers. The attackers say they are now trying to extort the company after gaining access, escalating risks across the supply chain. Foxconn has not publicly confirmed details, but the claim immediately raises concerns for production tied to major customers including Apple and Nvidia.
Karnataka has reinstated students’ right to wear hijabs in schools and pre-university colleges after an earlier restriction under the BJP government. The new directive allows religious symbols like hijabs and turbans alongside official uniforms, following public demonstrations. The move shifts how religious attire will be handled in campuses, reshaping classroom rules for students across the state.
A central government employees’ association has urged the Centre to issue clear guidelines for work from home and virtual meetings, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to cut avoidable spending amid the West Asia crisis. The group says a structured WFH framework can improve productivity while supporting a “green secretariat” agenda.
Ashok Bahar, a 71 year old from Uttar Pradesh, drew online attention for appearing for the NEET UG 2026 exam to fulfill a promise to his mother and realize a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. But the exam was cancelled after a paper leak surfaced, derailing his plans and postponing the moment he hoped to achieve.
Delhi, Varanasi and Raipur are seeing rain and storm activity as the southwest monsoon is forecast to advance over parts of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The development comes despite severe heatwave conditions persisting across northwestern and central India, highlighting how quickly weather patterns are shifting across regions. IMD updates are key for next-day disruptions.
Defense tech startup Anduril says it hit $2.2 billion in revenue in 2025, then followed up with another massive funding round that doubles its valuation to $61 billion. The latest financing is led by Thrive and a16z, underscoring how fast the company is scaling as governments and militaries invest in next-generation defense systems.
DLF ended FY26 debt-free in its development business, citing strong cash generation and rising rental income. The company reported stable quarterly profit alongside healthy annual earnings growth, supported by sales bookings. While overall performance stayed resilient and shareholder returns were strengthened, DLF also flagged a slight dip in sales, even as housing demand momentum remains intact.
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