Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Institutional investors snapped up semiconductor stocks in the first quarter, adding new positions across chipmakers tracked via SEC filings from roughly 6,600 hedge funds, pension funds, and other investors. Reuters data shows nearly 5,000 buyers among those who filed 13-F reports. Micron led with a 154% YTD surge and 2,440 institutions taking new positions, while Intel gained 195% YTD on turnaround momentum. AI infrastructure and data-center-linked names also attracted heavy buying, alongside unusual demand for utilities.
CBSE has responded to social media backlash over Class 12 Result 2026, where students reported unusually low marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, including claims by some JEE Main qualifiers that they failed board exams. The board defended its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, calling it fair, transparent and consistent due to stepwise evaluation. CBSE says revaluation and corrective checks will start from May 19, following a seven-year low pass percentage of 85.2%.
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The RBI has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2020-21 Series-VIII, enabling investors to exit from May 18, 2026. The redemption is permitted after five years, on an interest-payment date. The RBI calculates the price using a simple average of 999-purity gold’s closing rates from the prior three working days (May 13 to May 15, 2026). The fixed rate comes to Rs 16,012 per unit, against an issue price of Rs 5,127 per gram for online buyers.
Twisha Sharma, a 31-year-old from Noida, died by hanging at her home in Bhopal weeks after marrying advocate Samarth Sharma in December 2025. Her husband and mother-in-law were granted anticipatory bail by a local court, with reports saying police did not oppose the plea. Twisha’s family alleges sustained harassment, emotional abuse, and pressure to terminate a pregnancy, along with accusations of infidelity. They are seeking a second post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi and plan to challenge the bail in the High Court.
After TMC’s sharp defeat in West Bengal’s assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee met contesting candidates at her Kalighat residence and urged them to rebuild the party. She said anyone who wants to quit for other parties should leave, pledging she will revive TMC “afresh.” The message came as speculation of defections grew and the party shifted to opposition. TMC won 80 seats out of 294 total, with 211 candidates losing, and Banerjee herself defeated in Bhabanipur.
Mumbai Police’s Economic Offence Wing has registered a fresh FIR against former Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor, investor Sudhir Valia, and unnamed officials, alleging a ₹1,000-crore fraud tied to loan assignment and sale of mortgaged assets. The complaint says Sapphire Land Development secured a ₹150-crore credit facility in September 2016, but recovery rights were transferred to Suraksha ARC within 10 months despite a 36-month repayment period. The FIR also alleges prime properties were sold at undervalued rates without proper NPA classification or independent valuation.
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The US Federal Trade Commission is investigating Arm Holdings over how it licenses its semiconductor technology, according to Bloomberg. Regulators are assessing whether Arm is trying to illegally monopolize parts of the chip market, including whether it could reject or downgrade licensing agreements for “chip blueprints” used to design CPUs. The FTC notified Arm earlier this year and asked the company to preserve documents. Arm declined to comment. The probe also runs alongside a dispute with Qualcomm after Arm accused Qualcomm of breaching a deal.
A bizarre scene unfolded on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame after a man, reportedly making money by offering photos with exotic snakes, ran from police. The LAPD Hollywood Division said officers tried contacting “Snake Señor” after finding him parading reptiles for tourist cash. When officers approached, he slipped away on foot and left the animals behind. Authorities safely rescued the snakes and delivered them to Los Angeles Animal Control. LAPD has not said whether the handler was arrested or cited.
Kylie Jenner has opened up about telling her parents she was pregnant at 19 with daughter Stormi. On Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast, the beauty mogul said she was “freaking out” and deeply scared, but trusted her instincts and chose to proceed on her own terms. She was especially anxious about Kris Jenner’s reaction, yet Kylie claims no one in the family got angry. Jenner also explained keeping the pregnancy private to avoid public scrutiny and protect her emotional wellbeing, later breaking down for hours after birth.
US President Donald Trump announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s global second-in-command, was eliminated in an operation involving American and Nigerian forces. Trump said the mission was meticulously planned and complex, and claimed US sources tracked what al-Minuki was doing while he tried to hide in Africa. He added that the killing greatly diminishes ISIS’s global operations and thanked Nigeria for its partnership. The news comes amid earlier US-Nigeria tensions over alleged persecution of Christians and US airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria.
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ICICI Bank Global Markets warns India’s external balance may worsen as a West Asia conflict keeps oil prices elevated, with crude averaging near USD 100 per barrel. Even with resilient services exports, it expects the current account deficit to land around 1.5–2% of GDP, assuming non-essential imports are curbed and capital inflows improve as global risk sentiment stabilizes. April data showed goods exports up 14% but imports rose faster, led by an 82% jump in gold.
Tensions flared in Asansol, West Bengal, after police allegedly came under attack during an awareness campaign on loudspeaker regulations. Personnel from the Jahangiri Mohalla outpost visited localities to convey administrative guidance on high-volume loudspeakers at religious places, followed by meetings across areas. Trouble reportedly began when a large crowd gathered near the police outpost, leading to stone-pelting and vandalism that damaged vehicles and property. Police used a lathi-charge, while additional forces deployed and investigations are underway.
UK financial authorities are urging firms to prepare for risks from frontier AI models, saying their cyber capabilities can exceed what skilled human practitioners achieve. In a joint statement, the finance ministry, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority warned that if these systems are used maliciously, they could amplify threats to firms’ safety, customer protection, market integrity and financial stability. Regulators also pointed to concerns raised by BoE governor Andrew Bailey about Anthropic’s Mythos product.
Starbucks plans to open its first corporate technology office in India for fiscal year 2027, starting recruitment after a site is selected later this year. The move is designed to cut $2 billion in costs by reducing dependence on third-party tech providers, including roles previously outsourced during earlier restructuring. Chief Technology Officer Anand Varadarajan said external vendors charge markups and that bringing work in-house will create closer ties to teams. Meanwhile, Starbucks is relocating about 270 tech roles to Nashville and has laid off thousands of workers.
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Indian startup funding jumped sharply this week, thanks largely to Rapido’s mega round. Across May 11–15, 15 startups raised $303 million, up 129% from $132.2 million the week before. Yet the jump is heavily skewed: Rapido alone injected $240 million in fresh capital. Excluding Rapido, total funding would have dropped 52%. Ecommerce led deal activity, while seed-stage funding fell to $2.6 million, down from $5.6 million prior week.
Photos from Donald Trump’s Beijing summit with Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People sparked global backlash after observers noted an all-male lineup at the formal negotiating table. Critics say the absence of women from both US and Chinese delegations sends a troubling signal about who gets a voice in high-stakes power politics. Harvard economist Gita Gopinath called it an “end of meritocracy,” while Stanford’s Halima Kazem argued leaders chose a “masculine, militarized” diplomatic image despite available qualified women.
Victoria Police has launched Operation Securus in Shepparton to confront a surge in aggressive retail theft, including intimidation of store workers. Starting 17 May, a five-member team will work daily with retailers to investigate and disrupt prolific offenders. Police say repeat offenders are behind more than 70% of retail theft cases this year, while the wider region has logged 799 offenses in 2025—the highest level in a decade. The push builds on Operation Mosaic, and includes a real-time online reporting system plus proactive store visits.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, India and the UAE struck a slate of deals announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Abu Dhabi. The biggest energy move: the UAE will store up to 30 million barrels of crude oil in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to bolster energy security. Alongside, UAE-linked investments worth $5 billion were committed, spanning banking and infrastructure funding. The agreements also cover strategic gas reserves, defense manufacturing cooperation, shipyard projects, and an 8-exaflop supercomputing facility for India’s AI push.
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UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally received Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport as the Indian leader departed for the Netherlands, underscoring close diplomatic ties. India’s ambassador Deepak Mittal said Modi’s short UAE visit produced investment announcements of over $5 billion (more than Rs 47,000 crore). A standout element is a first-ever UAE push into India’s banking sector, led by Emirates NBD’s $3 billion. Additional commitments include $1 billion each from ADIA for infrastructure via NIIF and from IHC into Samman Capital, alongside deepening energy cooperation.
Rapido has raised $240 million in primary funding at a $3 billion post-money valuation, led by Prosus with participation from WestBridge Capital and Accel. The ride-hailing firm plans to expand into newer markets while strengthening its presence in existing ones, with a particular focus on growth opportunities outside Tier I cities—adding fresh pressure to Uber-Ola dominance.
England’s Renters Right Act begins in phases from May 1, 2026, replacing the criticized “no fault” Section 21 route with a new framework. Tenants get a 12-month protected window at the start of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict for personal use or to sell. The Act also expands landlord possession grounds under a revamped Section 8, including mandatory cases like rent arrears of at least three months and discretionary cases such as false information—always requiring court evidence and formal enforcement.
Karnataka is bracing for widespread rainfall from Saturday, May 16, as IMD tracks a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal that is driving cyclonic circulation up to 5.8 km. Bengaluru is forecast to see moderate to heavy showers, with rain chances possibly easing by Sunday. Several districts carry orange and yellow alerts for heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, with localized downpours reaching 64.5–115.5 mm.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire for 45 days and begin expanded talks toward a political settlement, the US said. The deal followed two days of meetings in Washington and negotiations scheduled for early June. But violence continued: Israel carried out new strikes, insisting they were not covered by the truce, including an attack on a Hezbollah-linked medical center in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials reported deaths, injuries, and renewed displacement, while the UN warned of an “unacceptable” civilian toll.
Africa CDC has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s remote Ituri province, reporting 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths so far. The toll and cases have been concentrated in Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with lab findings detecting Ebola in 13 of 20 samples tested. Officials say population movement driven by mining, ongoing insecurity, and cross-border proximity to Uganda and South Sudan raise fears of wider spread, prompting an urgent coordination meeting.
India’s generic-drug dominance is being squeezed as the US and Europe push for newer, tougher-to-manufacture molecules under stricter FDA compliance. Instead of building plants, Hyderabad-based HRV Pharma is banking on “drug visas,” or FDA DMFs that act as regulatory licenses for exporting active ingredients. The company, which owns no factories, operates in 55 countries and holds 66 DMFs, charging other manufacturers for the regulatory work—turning compliance into a scalable asset.
A major fire swept through the Shahberi furniture market in Greater Noida late Friday, forcing the deployment of ten fire tenders to control the blaze. Officials said the fire broke out at around 10:20 pm at a furniture shop in the Shahberi area and quickly spread to nearby stores, with about eight shops damaged and several gutted. There were no reported injuries or fatalities. The cause is still under investigation after flames were extinguished.
Straus Creamery has launched a voluntary ice cream recall affecting specific flavors and sizes sold across 17 US states, after the possible presence of metal fragments was detected. The company announced the recall on May 14 and the FDA published the notice on May 15. Importantly, only particular production runs identified by “best by” dates are included—consumers are urged to discard the affected items and not return them to stores. No injuries have been reported.
The US Federal Reserve board has appointed Jerome Powell as temporary chair until successor Kevin Warsh is sworn in, following Warsh’s Senate confirmation this week. Powell’s term ended Friday, and the Fed says the move follows past transition practice, though it has not set a swearing-in date. The decision drew dissent from Trump nominees Stephen Miran and Michelle Bowman, who argued the interim role must be time-limited. Warsh, a former inflation “hawk,” now aligns with lower-rate pressure.
Godrej family scion Tanya Dubash has bought two sea-facing luxury apartments in Mumbai’s Worli Sea Face within the under-construction ultra-luxury tower Naman Xana for over Rs 294 crore, as per property registration documents. The purchases place the apartments among India’s costliest on a per-square-foot basis, at above Rs 2.5 lakh. Located on the 19th and 20th floors, the units offer large carpet areas, balconies, and exclusive parking access, adding to the family’s growing presence in the project.
Democrats are accusing US President Donald Trump of corruption after documents disclosed major stock transactions conducted in his name, including millions worth of Nvidia shares tied to advanced AI chips. Senator Elizabeth Warren says the timing is troubling, especially amid allegations Trump lobbied China’s Xi Jinping during a trip that included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Eric Trump denies wrongdoing, saying the family’s assets sit in a blind trust. The disclosed deals total over $200 million and name companies such as Amazon and Apple.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days after two days of negotiations in Washington, where US facilitation helped both sides lock in more talks. The extension, announced by the US State Department, keeps hostilities paused in southern Lebanon as the April 16 cessation was set to expire. Officials say discussions aim to progress beyond decades of tension: a new Pentagon-led security track begins May 29, while political negotiations are set for June 2–3.
China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, congratulated New Delhi for hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, calling the talks constructive despite a fast changing global landscape. Speaking in place of absent FM Wang Yi, Xu said the Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document reflect broad consensus on international issues, BRICS development, and reform of global governance. He said China, as incoming chair, will deepen solidarity and proposed stronger strategic coordination, economic ties, innovation, and people to people links.
Private bus operators across Karnataka have announced fare hikes of 20–30% on most routes, effective from Friday midnight, after petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre—the first hike in over four years. Operators say the fuel jump, along with higher road taxes and revenue pressure from schemes like Shakti on state buses, will add about Rs 15,000 extra per vehicle each month. They are urging the state to cut cess and road taxes and provide subsidies to avoid service collapse.
CBI arrested Maharashtra chemistry lecturer Prof PV Kulkarni, a NEET-UG 2026 paper-setting committee member, alleging he masterminded the medical entrance exam leak. Investigators say Kulkarni had authorized access in the weeks before the test and allegedly ran paid coaching sessions where he dictated questions and answers. Forensic checks of seized notebooks reportedly showed handwritten notes matching the actual paper set on May 3. The probe began May 12 on a Higher Education Department complaint and has led to multiple arrests and raids, including at NTA records.
India’s goods exports grew 13.78% year on year to $43.56 billion in April, their highest monthly level in more than four years, powered by electronics, engineering goods and petroleum. Yet imports rose 10% to $71.94 billion, pushing the trade deficit to a three-month high of $28.38 billion. The surprising twist: outbound shipments to West Asia fell over a quarter as geopolitical disruptions continued, while inbound movement via the region weakened further.
State-run oil companies in India raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre, the first pump hike in four years, following crude surges after the Iran war. The government aimed to trim losses for fuel retailers but expects higher freight costs and added inflation pressure. While industry executives wanted a bigger increase, they say the revision fails to close the under-recovery gap. Procurement costs have risen sharply as the Indian crude basket and the rupee both worsened, with more hikes likely.
Donald Trump sparked fresh backlash by telling reporters the US-Iran ceasefire happened “as a favour to Pakistan,” adding praise for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Speaking on Air Force One after his China trip, he framed Washington as obliging Islamabad rather than gaining leverage, intensifying doubts about Pakistan’s claimed neutral mediation role. The comments revived scrutiny after earlier reports suggested Iranian military aircraft used Pakistani air bases and fuelled accusations of discreet logistical support.
India-US ties are strained, and now the spotlight is landing on aviation oversight. After IndiGo’s near shutdown in December, Air India’s fatal crash in Ahmedabad, and SpiceJet’s engineering and unpaid-salary problems, the US FAA is reportedly again worried about safety and regulatory standards in India. The operational collapse led IndiGo to cancel more than 4,500 flights, affecting about one million passengers, triggering a record DGCA fine and the exit of CEO Pieter Elbers.
Bengaluru-based mobility platform Rapido has raised $240 million, led by Prosus, taking its post-money valuation to $3 billion—triple its level from under two years ago. The deal is part of a larger $730 million primary and secondary financing. After years of regulatory setbacks—bike taxis were declared illegal in Bengaluru and shut down in Maharashtra—Rapido built momentum: 60% of India’s bike taxi market, 10 lakh rides daily, and 50 million monthly active users. Funds will expand demand, grow captains, and invest in tech.
OpenAI is rolling out a new “Finances” feature for ChatGPT Pro users in the US, letting them securely connect accounts and get a live spending dashboard grounded in actual transactions. The tool, available on web and iOS, uses Plaid integrations with 12,000+ institutions and an Intuit hookup planned soon. Beyond charts, users can ask context-aware questions about subscriptions, goals, investments, and scenarios, with “financial memories” carrying continuity across chats.
Wall Street reversed its recent momentum on Friday, pushing the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones lower as investors retreated from a stretched technology rally. The sell-off gathered pace alongside rising Treasury yields, with the 30-year yield moving above 5.1% amid inflation worries. Oil surged after Trump’s comments on Iran, lifting West Texas and Brent above key thresholds. Market hopes were also dampened by a Trump-Xi summit that delivered fewer breakthroughs than traders expected.
LVMH has agreed to sell the Marc Jacobs fashion label to a 50-50 venture between WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group, a rare divestment for the luxury giant amid softer demand. Financial terms were not disclosed, but G-III said it expects to invest up to $425 million in the new partnership. Marc Jacobs will remain creative director, keeping creative leadership with the brand’s founder. The deal also expands WHP’s portfolio and lifts its annual revenue beyond $9.5 billion.
Air-conditioner and refrigerator makers in India are warning that new restrictions on compressor imports may trigger shortages later in the year. The DPIIT order links this fiscal’s imports to FY25 volumes, allowing tighter caps for AC and refrigerator compressors and setting higher limits only above two-tonne capacity. Industry says domestic compressor production—especially above two tonnes—remains too low, while products need months of testing, leaving little room to switch suppliers quickly.
Retailers in Delhi’s costliest markets, including Khan Market and Connaught Place, have urged the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to quickly implement a revised property-tax calculation method. The New Delhi Traders Association says NDMC property tax can be as high as 25% of rent collected, compared with just 2–3% in other Delhi areas under MCD. They argue for “one city one tax,” saying traders across upscale areas should not face different effective tax rates.
India’s CBIC has raised customs tariff values for gold, silver, crude palm oil and soybean oil to manage import costs amid global commodity swings. Gold in any form will now attract a tariff value of $1,508 per 10 grams, while silver is set at $2,810 per kilogram. The changes take effect May 16, 2026. Policymakers are also acting to limit pressure on foreign exchange reserves, especially during geopolitical strain from the West Asia conflict.
A fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine, turned a Friday into a major emergency, injuring at least five people and mobilizing regional responders. Officials described it as a mass casualty event as the incident stretched local resources. Reports say flames began where wood shavings are packaged, then spread to a nearby dust silo that later exploded. Investigators including Maine State Police and the fire marshal are still determining the cause, amid warnings about a possible major fuel leak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied reports claiming the government plans to impose a surcharge or tax on foreign travel, calling the claims “totally false” and having “not an iota of truth.” Responding on X, he said there is no question of restricting international travel and reiterated commitments to improve ease of doing business and ease of living. The clarification comes after Modi’s earlier appeal to tackle global disruptions, supply chain strain, and rising prices linked to conflict-driven energy costs.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said Air India’s surging losses have dragged Singapore Airlines’ annual profit down 57%, citing a chain reaction of geopolitical disruptions, Pakistani airspace restrictions, and currency volatility. He pointed to cost inflation and longer, fuel-intensive routes on North America services, plus elevated West Asia-linked fuel prices, delivery delays, and supply-chain setbacks. Air India losses more than doubled to ₹25,606 crore in FY26, with added FX and labor compliance pressures.
Diageo is asking for departures from several senior executives as CEO Dave Lewis drives a restructuring of the struggling UK spirits group. Employees were told at meetings this week that Ed Pilkington, North America chief marketing and innovation officer, along with Africa president Hina Nagarajan and chief human resources officer Louise Prashad, will leave the business. The move signals how fast Lewis, known as a turnaround specialist, is overhauling the Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker’s leadership setup.
The Supreme Court upheld a Delhi High Court order restraining Flipkart from using its “MarQ” electronics brand, ruling the mark is substantially similar to Marc Enterprises’ “Marc” trademark in pronunciation and overall commercial impression. The Court warned the use of such close marks would cause confusion, and refused to interfere with interim orders. Flipkart has eight weeks to dispose of remaining inventory. The dispute spans products sold online since 2017, with Marc’s trademark use dating back to 1981.
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