Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
ICRA expects India’s power demand to grow 5.0–5.5% in FY27, driven by industrial, commercial, agricultural and household consumption. New demand pockets from electric vehicles and data centers are also set to play a role, while thermal plant usage is expected to remain stable. But distribution companies may struggle with high debt and limited tariff increases, pressuring profitability.
Ola Consumer, Ola Group’s ride-hailing arm, more than doubled its net loss to ₹662.4 crore in FY25 as operating revenue dropped 41.8% to ₹1,170.9 crore. Losses accumulated to ₹21,212.6 crore alongside debt of over ₹586 crore, though the firm says liquidity is sufficient. Costs fell overall, but marketing surged 117.9% and an IPO process is underway.
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UltraTech Cement says rising expenses tied to plastic packaging and fuel are a major headwind as it targets double digit volume growth in FY27. While the company cautions that these cost pressures could weigh on performance, it is still pushing capacity expansion and expects cement demand to stay supported by urbanisation and government infrastructure spending.
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 platforms in India, aiming to bring upgrades to a wider set of mid-range users. The company says the new chips will improve connectivity performance while also boosting gaming capabilities and battery life, positioning them as practical upgrades rather than flagship-only tech.
France plans financial support for airlines battered by sharply higher jet fuel prices, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said. Talks with airlines included options such as deferring social security payments and extending tax deadlines. The move follows warnings from European carriers that jet fuel shortages could emerge this summer amid escalating tensions related to the Iran war.
China is building the 134 km Pinglu Canal in Guangxi, linking inland waterways directly to the Beibu Gulf. The project is designed to cut shipping distance by 561 km, reducing logistics costs by billions while tightening China’s control over trade flows. By creating a faster corridor for cargo ships, Beijing is actively redrawing the map of regional shipping geography.
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Air India’s board met in New Delhi to review the airline’s financial position and accelerate cost-saving measures, with a new Chief Executive Officer selection also on the agenda. The airline’s operations are being disrupted and costs are rising due to the West Asia conflict. The meeting comes as Air India continues its broader transformation plan.
NCRB data shows Delhi recorded a 15.1% drop in overall registered crimes in 2024, bringing cases to about 2.8 lakh. But the decline does not extend to violence and child-related offences. Delhi remains the highest among major metros for crimes against children, especially child abduction cases.
Senior AIADMK leader S Semmalai rejected reports that Edappadi K Palaniswami met the Tamil Nadu Governor. Rumours claimed the discussion could pave the way for an AIADMK government with TVK support. Semmalai said there was no need for such talks and AIADMK has not received any invitation from TVK, adding that Palaniswami will decide on any support.
The Bombay High Court has upheld the acquittal of 22 people in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case. Appeals by Shaikh’s brothers against a 2018 special court verdict were dismissed, with the court ruling the prosecution could not establish a cogent case. Many acquitted were junior police officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
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Cricket Australia has reportedly refused to send IPL-bound players for Pakistan’s upcoming ODI series, prioritizing athletes’ IPL commitments instead. The decision affects key players such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Josh Hazlewood, underscoring mounting tensions between boards and schedules as international fixtures collide with franchise cricket demands.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi is expected to visit New Delhi this month to attend BRICS ministerial meetings, sources cited by ANI said. The move lands as India holds BRICS chairmanship and regional tensions persist, with observers pointing to a recent diplomatic logjam within the grouping as the backdrop to a possible reset of ties.
The Supreme Court is hearing petitions involving alleged religious discrimination, with judges warning that widespread challenges to religious practices could destabilize society. Noting that India’s civilisation is deeply intertwined with religion, the court is weighing how to balance freedom of religion with fundamental rights. The case is expected to set a precedent for future disputes over religious matters.
Tamil Nadu Congress has escalated the state’s government formation standoff, arguing that governments are decided in the Assembly floor, not on the lawns of Lok Bhavan. As pressure grows on Governor Vishwanath Rajendra Arlekar over inviting TVK to form the government, Congress MP Manickam Tagore backed Vijay as a symbol of hope and accused efforts to stop a people-backed government as wrongdoing.
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said population growth management and the push for a Uniform Civil Code require public cooperation. In his remarks, he argued that caste-based political structures are the root of persistent divisions, and that once society moves beyond them, differences will naturally lessen—framing both issues as dependent on collective change.
Coal India shares dropped about 3% after a report said the government may sell a 3–4% stake worth roughly Rs 10,000 crore through an OFS. The offering could be priced at a discount to the current market level, adding pressure to the stock even as the company recently posted a strong profit jump.
Actress Qorianka Kilcher has filed a lawsuit against James Cameron and Disney, alleging the Avatar franchise used her facial features without permission. The complaint points to past statements suggesting Kilcher was the “real source” behind Neytiri’s design. The case raises fresh questions about consent and creative credit in big-budget character creation.
The Bombay High Court upheld the 2018 acquittal of all 22 accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged fake encounter case, dismissing appeals by his brothers Rubabuddin and Nayabuddin. A division bench rejected challenges to the special CBI court’s verdict, clearing 21 police personnel from multiple states.
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An employee admitted he was exhausted from relentless overwork, and feared his boss wouldn’t take it seriously. Instead, the manager granted him three months of paid leave to recover from burnout. The boss’s message emphasized that taking time to heal helps workers return with renewed energy and creativity, igniting a broader conversation about mental health at work.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. She praised the armed forces for their firm action against terrorism and said the operation exemplifies India’s commitment to national security. The remarks highlighted the link between the tragic attack and the military response that followed.
AirAsia plans to acquire 150 Airbus A220-300 jets in a roughly $19 billion deal, its largest single aircraft order to date. The A220-300 is positioned as more fuel-efficient with lower emissions, helping the airline fight rising fuel prices and operational costs while modernizing its fleet.
Shweta Desai, once a high-earning executive in London, says relocating to Australia and landing a job cleaning Airbnb apartments shattered the identity tied to her title. Rather than treating it as a setback, she used the shift to question self-worth and money’s meaning, then turned her experience into coaching and community building for others seeking reinvention.
The Reserve Bank of India has approved Kotak Mahindra Bank to acquire up to a 9.99% stake in Federal Bank’s share capital. The approval makes Kotak a potential key institutional shareholder in the Kerala-based lender. Market watchers will now focus on subsequent disclosures to assess how quickly and fully the stake purchase is executed.
Thirteen Australians, including women and children, have returned to Australia after years in a Syrian desert camp, where authorities say they may have ties to the Islamic State group. Police are now investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued, with the group arriving on separate Qatar Airways flights in Melbourne and Sydney. The probe focuses on potential roles and affiliations linked to IS.
Around 40 passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak disembarked in St. Helena. Dutch officials say among those who left were a hospitalized Dutch woman, a South African national, and a Swiss man still receiving treatment. The details were confirmed in a letter to parliament, raising new questions about exposure and response during the outbreak.
Campari expects Middle East-linked inflation to tighten consumer spending and weigh on spirits demand, a Reuters report quotes CEO Simon Hunt saying after the company’s results. But Hunt argues Campari’s price positioning should still make its brands feel like good value, helping consumers stick with the company even as budgets get strained.
Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested former PHED minister and senior Congress leader Mahesh Joshi early Thursday, alleging his role in the Jal Jeevan Mission scam. The FIR targets tender dealings worth nearly Rs 960 crore, with accusations that forged documents and fake completion certificates were used to secure contracts, along with bribery and misuse of position.
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said his party has received a request for support from Vijay-led TVK, which emerged the single largest party but still lacks enough seats to form the government. VCK’s high-level committee will soon decide whether to back TVK. Thirumavalavan urged the governor to invite Vijay, calling it a constitutional right reflecting the people’s mandate.
Makkal Needhi Maiyam chief Kamal Haasan says Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay must be invited to form the government, calling the post-election situation unprecedented. Haasan argues that refusing this opportunity would disrespect the mandate given by voters. Meanwhile, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar met Vijay as efforts to form the next government continue.
On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Indian ministers including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah changed their social media profile pictures to the Op Sindoor logo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to do the same to honor the armed forces. The operation followed the Pahalgam terror attack, with precision strikes reported across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
An Olive Ridley turtle named Dhaval Lakshmi stunned wildlife experts after completing an extraordinary 3,500 km trek across the Arabian Sea. Once rehabilitated for injuries, she traveled far beyond the usual coastal range, even nearing Oman’s shoreline, before returning to Indian waters. The feat highlights both her resilience and the success of rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
A bomb blast near the residence of West Bengal MLA Ratna Debnath reportedly injured five BJP workers in what authorities are treating as post-poll violence. Debnath is also the mother of the RG Kar victim. Initial accounts say the explosion occurred close to her home, prompting an investigation into who carried it out and why.
Tamil Nadu Governor Vishwanath Rajendra Arlekar reportedly questioned TVK chief Vijay at Lok Bhavan on how a government could be formed with 113 MLAs, pushing for clarity on stability and majority. CPI-backed Vijay, arguing that the single-largest party should get a chance to prove its majority on the Assembly floor, even as the next steps remain politically charged.
United Breweries disclosed that an employee mistakenly shared unpublished, price-sensitive draft financial results with an external party. The company moved fast, releasing the final results on the same day. It says the prompt disclosure should rule out further regulatory action and is reviewing controls to strengthen corporate governance and prevent repeats.
An air ambulance carrying a passenger believed infected after a hantavirus hit a cruise ship landed in Amsterdam following an emergency evacuation off the Cape Verde coast. The patient is reported to be in stable condition and was taken to the Netherlands for treatment, days after two other evacuees arrived late Wednesday.
Retail-focused NBFC InCred Holdings has filed updated draft IPO papers with SEBI, targeting an estimated valuation of about Rs 15,000 crore. The proposed issue is pegged at Rs 3,000–4,000 crore, combining a fresh issue with an offer for sale by existing shareholders. The company says it will launch only when market conditions are suitable.
MNM president Kamal Haasan said Tamil Nadu’s election result created an unprecedented situation with no single party winning a clear majority. He argued that not inviting TVK leader Vijay to form the government would amount to disrespecting the people’s mandate, warning that political choices should reflect the verdict rather than bypass key stakeholders.
Peter Thiel led a $140 million Series B into Oregon startup Panthalassa, betting on fleets of floating, wave-powered AI data centres. Valued near $1 billion, the project will roll out Ocean-3 pilot nodes in the Pacific by late 2026, aiming for commercial operations in 2027. It promises renewable electricity from waves and seawater “supercooling,” easing grid and water stress.
The mother of Chandranath Rath, an executive assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, has demanded life imprisonment for those accused of killing her son. She says the murder, which came soon after Assembly election results, was revenge tied to Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Bhabanipur, linking the timing of the killing to the political outcome.
MRF reported a 37% year-on-year rise in Q4 profit to Rs 680 crore. Alongside the results, the company’s board recommended a final dividend of Rs 229 per share, pending shareholder approval at its upcoming annual general meeting. Investors will now watch for how the dividend vote shapes sentiment going forward.
US cloud security firm Upwind is ramping up operations across India and Asia-Pacific, betting on a sharp rise in defense and government demand driven by cyber warfare shifting to cloud systems. The company plans local infrastructure and partnerships, and says a new Pune development center will bolster its global engineering capacity as it targets India as a key growth market.
Hyundai India has unveiled the 2026 Creta with a trimmed lineup and seven total trims. Variants such as SX Tech and SX(O) have been discontinued to simplify choices, while prices now span Rs 10.79 lakh to Rs 19.90 lakh. Advanced driver assistance features are limited to the top King variant, and the SUV continues with three engine options.
Even as mutual funds and retail investors kept piling into select stocks for two straight quarters, several counters still saw weak performance, with many sliding more than 25% over six months. The takeaway: institutional accumulation can coexist with near-term underperformance, even while a few stocks delivered meaningful gains.
The 8th Central Pay Commission will hold meetings with Defence and Railway employee and pensioner bodies in New Delhi on May 13 and 14, 2026. Stakeholders need to request appointments online by May 10, 2026. The Commission will also visit Hyderabad, Srinagar, Jammu, and Ladakh later in May and June, while railway technical employees push for a minimum basic salary of Rs 52,600.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a warning to pilgrims, urging them to obtain official Hajj permits only through authorized channels. The ministry says the Hajj visa is the only legally recognized option and that permits secured through approved procedures help ensure smoother travel, access to services, and safer entry to holy sites.
Investigators say BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath was tracked for days and then shot dead near Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas. Reports claim the attackers used a four-wheeler allegedly bought via OLX and fitted with a fake number plate, pointing to premeditation. The killing came within 48 hours of BJP’s Bengal election win.
An accessed Republic video reportedly shows Suvendu Adhikari’s PA Chandranath Rath being retrieved from his car moments after the attack. The 90 second clip depicts panic as people react to his bullet ridden body, highlighting the chaotic aftermath in Bengal politics. The footage has intensified calls for accountability and further investigation into the incident.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expanded his cabinet in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, presenting a major NDA show of strength attended by PM Modi and Amit Shah. The move inducts 32 ministers from alliance partners across BJP, JDU, LJP (Ram Vilas) and HAM (Secular), including Nishant Kumar, the son of Nitish Kumar, in a notable political debut.
Amid mounting regional tensions, the Indian Embassy in Beirut facilitated the return of five Indian nationals to India, thanking Lebanese authorities for their cooperation. The embassy said it is continuing outreach to the Indian community in Lebanon. Earlier, 177 Indians departed Beirut on a charter flight, highlighting a broader effort to evacuate citizens as the situation worsens.
The All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) has submitted a memorandum to the 8th Pay Commission, seeking a Rs 69,000 minimum pay for defence civilian employees and a 3.833 fitment factor. AIDEF also demands higher risk and hardship allowances and revised cadre structures and pay scales for technical and clerical roles, aiming to better reflect field challenges.
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