Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Bhagyashree, who shot to fame after Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989, addressed a surprising detail from the film’s pay structure: she reportedly earned more than Salman Khan. Instead of pointing to fairness or favoritism, she attributed the difference to market demand and simple business logic—especially for actresses, whose pricing can swing based on audience pull.
West Bengal is preparing to begin two major initiatives from June 1: the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat flagship health insurance scheme and a separate state push for free travel for women on government-run buses. The move, announced under the Suvendu Adhikari government, targets women’s welfare while extending access to affordable healthcare across the state.
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Adani Group has kicked off work on a massive cement grinding unit in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, with Pranav Adani announcing an investment of ₹1,060 crore at the Bhoomi Pujan. The project traces back to a commitment made by Chairman Gautam Adani at the Global Investors Summit. Adani says the wider plan includes ₹110,000 crore across sectors like cement and mining to drive MP’s expansion.
OpenAI says it is forming a new company with over $4 billion in initial investment to help organizations build and deploy AI systems. The plan also includes acquiring AI consulting firm Tomoro, allowing the unit to scale quickly. The move comes as OpenAI pivots from early consumer traction toward winning major corporate contracts and large-scale business deployments.
RCB all rounder Krunal Pandya grabbed attention in IPL 2026 after firing a match winning 73 against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Following the innings, he publicly showed his injury scars, highlighting the physical toll behind his grit and courage. The Baroda player turned pain into performance, delivering a lift for RCB in a crucial contest.
Homeowners are reporting tiny cone-like holes in their lawns, and wildlife experts say they’re from armadillos foraging for insects after dark. The animals dig shallow burrows in soft, irrigated soil, often staying unseen because they’re nocturnal. Since fencing large areas is impractical, recommended fixes focus on trapping and removal, plus reducing watering to make yards less attractive over time.
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Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warns the Strait of Hormuz crisis could delay the oil market’s recovery until 2027. Persistent disruptions are straining supply chains and keeping prices jumpy, and even a partial reopening would not instantly rebalance global inventories and contracts. Nasser calls the shock the largest of its kind and expects prolonged volatility.
West Bengal’s first BJP government is taking shape as CM Suvendu Adhikari’s cabinet begins assigning ministries to senior party leaders. The portfolio distribution follows the party’s pledge of a people-first administration, with an emphasis on governance reforms, welfare schemes, law and order, and timely implementation of Central policies across the state.
India’s new labour code under the Code on Wages introduces an optional four-day workweek with three fixed off-days. Employers can choose this model only if specific conditions are met for employee scheduling and compliance, ensuring workers’ rights aren’t eroded. Before opting in, both employees and employers must understand the eligibility and procedural requirements.
Mumbai based Kathy’s Beverages’ Bobakat has raised ₹6 crore in a Pre-Series A round to expand its bubble tea and beverage brand nationwide, aiming to add 135 stores by FY28-29. The company will fund product innovation, marketing, and team growth, betting on a compact high-footfall format and strong unit economics, with ambitious targets of ₹100 crore net sales within 36 months.
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Mark Zuckerberg backed Cellular Intelligence has acquired Novo Nordisk’s Parkinson’s cell therapy after the Danish drugmaker shut down its cell therapy unit last October. Novo Nordisk said the restructuring meant discontinuing development of the therapy. The deal signals renewed interest in the approach and could reshape the therapy’s next development and commercialization plans.
West Bengal will hold its second cabinet meeting on May 18, with two major decisions likely on the table: adjustments to Dearness Allowance for state employees and retirees, and a review of the proposal to establish the Seventh Pay Commission. CM Suvendu Adhikari said these items will be discussed during the meeting, which could impact pay prospects for thousands.
A huge survey of nearly 686,000 galaxies spanning about 7 billion light-years tested gravity at unprecedented scale. Using cosmic microwave background data and the kinematic Sunyaev Zel’dovich effect, researchers measured galaxy motions with high precision. Gravity behaved exactly as Newton predicted, strengthening dark matter evidence and challenging ideas that gravity changes in deep space, while also backing parts of Einstein’s relativity.
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, had her X account withheld in India on May 11. The move follows a legal demand linked to an FIR filed by Cyber Police Kashmir over the spread of a video clip associated with Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The development comes after she recently criticized CM Omar Abdullah’s liquor policy.
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The National Commission for Women has released a fact-finding report after allegations of systemic harassment against women working at TCS’s Nashik unit. The report, submitted to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on May 8, runs over 50 pages and includes more than 25 recommendations, with NCW flagging “zero POSH compliance” amid claims of extreme workplace abuse.
Opening a dusty cabin this weekend may expose you to hantavirus, which rodents carry in their droppings and urine. Dry sweeping or vacuuming can stir contaminated dust into the air, increasing the chance of serious illness. Experts advise ventilating the space, using wet cleaning with disinfectant, and wearing an N95 mask and gloves for heavy contamination.
A Kerala couple, Mohammed Rafi and C.P. Ummu Shahanamol, has gone viral for attempting to meet newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay, popularly called Thalapathy Vijay. They began a 650-km walk from Malappuram to Chennai just before the oath ceremony, posting their journey on social media as they travel to the capital.
Oracle’s mass layoffs of nearly 20,000 employees have sparked lawsuits and allegations spanning severance, WARN Act notice protections, and forfeited stock compensation. Workers claim they were classified as remote to reduce legal safeguards, received notice late, and lost unvested equity far bigger than wages. The company has not publicly responded as disputes grow across the US, India, and other regions.
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India is moving to strengthen local manufacturing by identifying 100 products for higher domestic output, including auto parts. DPIIT Secretary said a Made in India Brand Scheme is set to roll out soon to assure quality. The government also highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping manufacturing and urged businesses to make long-term investments, aided by new opportunities and free trade agreements.
India is rolling out a national fuel conservation mission to respond to global energy market instability. The Centre says it has strong supply buffers—60 days of crude oil, 60 days of natural gas, and 45 days of LPG rolling stock—while urging public participation to curb consumption. Prime Minister Modi framed the push as protection for foreign exchange reserves and relief from high international crude prices.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to postpone gold buying, India’s gems and jewellery sector is warning of potential pain for jewellers. The GJC says instead of delaying demand, the government should unlock existing household gold via the Gold Monetisation Scheme to cut imports, ease pressure on foreign exchange, and respond to the West Asia crisis. Officials are being urged to reconsider.
New fossils buried under Antarctica’s ice have revealed the continent was once a swampy temperate rainforest around 90 million years ago. Researchers estimate a warm, moist climate with average temperatures near 12°C—far from today’s icy conditions. The discovery reshapes Earth’s ancient climate timeline and underscores how greenhouse gases can dramatically transform polar regions.
SustainKart launched in 2021 as a celebrity-backed green commerce dream, promising affordable sustainable fashion, home essentials and more. By 2023 it ran into funding trouble, investor allegations of financial misrepresentation, and a bitter founder dispute after a new venture trigger. The legal pressure intensified into an Economic Offences Wing case, and SustainKart was ultimately shut down.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria set out to create Falkenstein Castle, envisioned as an even grander palace than Neuschwanstein. The dream stalled after Ludwig acquired the site and laid plans, but spiraling finances and his controversial deposition in 1886 stopped construction. Today, the medieval fortress remains—an echo of an unfinished vision perched at 1,277 meters.
Samajwadi Party MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi sparked a major political uproar after making derogatory, abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on camera. BJP leaders, including national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, alleged a pattern of personal attacks and described the comments as an insult to the Constitution, saying the remarks are so offensive they can’t be broadcast without violating norms.
Monday saw a sharp broad-market drop, with the Nifty falling 360 points and the Sensex slipping over 1.7%. Yet within that red backdrop, several major counters swung to the top of the movers list, including SBI, IndiGo, and Titan. The day highlighted how stock-specific momentum can diverge from index-wide weakness.
RBI governor Shaktikanta Das says India is better placed to absorb extreme energy demand shocks, but businesses must not bet on a single supply source. He points to the need for strategic reorientation as global supply chains remain disrupted. Infrastructure expansion and the push for renewables are seen as strengthening readiness, while diversifying markets and investing in R&D are key next steps.
India’s urban unemployment eased slightly to 6.6% in the Jan-March 2026 quarter, but rural unemployment climbed to 4.3%. Labour force participation edged down in both areas. Rural employment shifted too: regular wage work rose while self-employment fell, and agriculture’s share in rural jobs declined as secondary and tertiary sectors expanded.
With uncertainty rising across the Middle East, Indian IT firms are accelerating remote and hybrid work to protect employees and keep operations flexible. Alongside this shift, companies are upgrading energy efficiency across campuses. Nasscom, backing a $315 billion technology industry, says it is closely monitoring geopolitical developments that could affect work patterns and business continuity.
New research suggests Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent, didn’t drift apart slowly. Zircon crystals from southern Africa indicate bursts of magma surged from Earth’s mantle around 180 million years ago, weakening the crust in a short span. That trigger likely accelerated continental separation, helping create new ocean basins far earlier than older models predicted.
Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group is probing a suspected NEET-UG 2026 paper leak after uncovering a handwritten “guess paper” claimed to match 140 questions from the actual exam. The report suggests an 84 percent match and that the material was sold for around 5 lakh rupees, potentially covering most high-scoring marks. Investigators are tracing the source and buyers.
Oil-led inflation fears are denting appetite for Indian government bonds as investors anticipate higher price pressures and potential rate adjustments. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged households to conserve fuel, curb non-essential travel, reduce cooking oil use, and limit fertilizer consumption, as global energy prices strain India’s foreign exchange reserves.
After its worldwide theatrical run, Ryan Gosling’s sci-fi hit Project Hail Mary is now available on digital platforms in India. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the story follows a science teacher turned astronaut tasked with saving Earth from an unknown cosmic threat. The OTT release comes in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
New scientific testing is upending the iconic image of ancient Greece as spotless white marble. Researchers using infrared luminescence and X-ray fluorescence found hidden traces of pigments on Greek temples and statues, including the Parthenon. Confirmed by major institutions, the findings suggest classical art was vividly painted and call for a major rethink of how we interpret that era’s aesthetics.
Ladakh is modernising its pashmina industry, moving the famed craft from nomadic Changthang pastures toward global supply chains. At a dehairing plant in Leh, raw fibre from goats is processed through multiple stages, aiming to scale quality, efficiency, and market reach while preserving the region’s heritage that has endured for centuries.
State Bank of India has shed more than $11 billion in market value across two sessions, driven by margin squeeze concerns and disappointing earnings. NSE data points to heavy fresh call writing at the 1,000 strike, suggesting traders expect a near-term bounce to face a firm ceiling around that level, rather than a sustained recovery.
A US brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has expired, with both sides trading accusations of violations. Ukrainian officials say Russian strikes hit civilian areas, while Russia claims more than a thousand breaches. US and European officials are weighing further talks, but diplomacy has produced little progress. Prisoner exchanges are being prepared, yet key negotiating positions appear unchanged.
The UP Food Safety Department, with FSSAI input, seized 15,000 kg of suspected adulterated honey worth nearly Rs 22 lakh in Hapur. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing, intensifying fears about fake honey circulating in the market. With consumers increasingly searching for ways to verify purity at home, experts urge simple checks before adding honey to meals.
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging a Hindu Marriage Act provision that lets only wives seek divorce in specific situations tied to maintenance orders. The court held that the Constitution permits special legal protections for women and noted the case looked rooted in a personal matrimonial dispute, not a wider constitutional question.
Honasa Consumer, the parent of Mamaearth, says its board will consider a final dividend on May 21 together with its Q4 FY26 results. If approved, it could make the “new-age” company among the first of its kind to pay dividends to listed shareholders. The move comes as the stock improves and business expectations remain steady.
HSBC expects India’s growth to cool to 6% in FY27, citing an energy crisis and insufficient rainfall. The same pressures are forecast to lift inflation, putting the Reserve Bank under pressure. HSBC says the RBI could raise rates twice this fiscal year, with the impact expected to hit the formal sector, rural households, and small businesses hardest.
London Heathrow said passenger numbers fell in April after the Middle East conflict disrupted global air travel. The airport, Europe’s busiest, pointed to the ongoing impact on certain markets and short-term changes to travelers’ plans. The drop highlights how quickly regional conflict can ripple into international aviation demand and schedules.
HP has rolled out over 20 new products and solutions in India, spanning AI-powered laptops, workstations, collaboration tools, and printing tech. The highlight is the HP OmniPad 12, an Android-based detachable tablet aimed at first-time PC users, alongside new EliteBook and ProBook options. HP says the push is all about the “future of work.”
A second Qatari LNG tanker, Mihzem, is transiting the Strait of Hormuz toward Pakistan after an earlier ship cleared the route. The passage is allowed under an Iran-approved arrangement that permits Qatari cargoes to cross case by case, with Pakistan acting as a mediator. The move underscores how energy shipments continue despite escalating conflict risks around the waterway.
India has retained the top position in the ICC Men’s ODI team rankings after the annual update, with Australia staying third. South Africa has surged into the top four. The rankings carry major weight for direct qualification to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with the top eight teams by March 31, 2027 automatically qualifying.
In April, investors shifted away from large-cap mutual funds as inflows fell 16%. Mid- and small-cap funds, meanwhile, pulled in record money and posted stronger returns, even as market volatility persists. Retail preferences appear to be tilting toward higher-risk categories amid valuation concerns, raising the question of whether this rotation can last.
The Tuljabhawani Temple trust in Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district says it holds 253 kg of gold and 4,614 kg of silver as of March 31. The report also notes recorded donations of both metals across recent fiscal years, with quantities rising and falling sharply, highlighting the temple’s volatile inflow of precious assets.
India’s Petroleum Ministry says fuel and LPG supplies are stable despite global disruptions, citing secure crude oil inventories and refineries operating at peak capacity. It reports no nationwide fuel shortages. Still, the government is urging households to cut energy use by using public transport, carpooling, and shifting toward electric vehicles to reduce costs and import dependence.
India has successfully flight-tested an advanced Agni-5 missile using MIRV technology under “Mission Divyastra.” The test demonstrated the system’s ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously, strengthening India’s strategic deterrence and defence readiness. Analysts say the development further elevates India’s standing among countries with advanced intercontinental strike capabilities, reshaping long-term security planning.
New research challenges the idea that ancient Roman concrete survived by luck. Studies of Pompeii’s preserved ruins suggest Romans used an intentional “hot mixing” method: combining quicklime and volcanic ash with water to trigger distinctive chemical reactions. That process appears to have helped create concrete that resisted decay for thousands of years, offering practical inspiration for today’s more sustainable construction.
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