Kamal Haasan's new film Thug Life sparks debate. His character's romance with a younger woman raises eyebrows. The film highlights the age gap in cinema. It questions the portrayal of older male leads. The audience reacts to Kamal's character. The film attempts to address male privilege. It also explores the double standards in the industry.

The Reserve Bank of India's monetary easing aims to revive credit growth, a crucial step for economic restoration. While past easing cycles saw prolonged lags, current conditions differ due to the absence of unrecognised bad loans, increased lending capacity, and a shift in market share towards private banks. These factors suggest a potentially faster credit growth recovery this time.

Despite India's low Gini index suggesting income equality, wealth concentration remains high compared to Asian standards. While tax revenues have increased, a small percentage of the population contributes the most. India's economic growth, though steady, lags behind other Asian economies, and the IT sector's growth is slowing, necessitating the identification of new growth engines to achieve upper-middle-income status.

India's Competition Act, amended in 2023, provides a flexible framework for addressing anti-competitive conduct in the digital economy, negating the need for a new ex-ante law inspired by the EU's DMA. Prioritizing institutional capacity building, streamlining procedures, and ensuring timely enforcement will foster healthy and competitive markets.

The world awaits Donald Trump's tariff decision, impacting global economies. Trump's power hinges on the US dollar's status. Trade deals are limited, despite initial promises. He faces domestic and international pushback. The Fed resists rate cuts. Global growth slows, but equity markets rise. India remains stable, but faces global economic headwinds.

It's about bidding emotional farewell to a 2009 Honda City SV Petrol MT affectionately named Batmobile, or simply Bat. After years of loyal service and shared journeys, Bat was surrendered due to Delhi's vehicle scrappage policy targeting petrol cars over 15 years old. Despite Bats mechanical flawsstalling, battery issues, and rogue locking systemsthe bond endured, only deepening with time and shared hardship.

In the strictest sense of the word, Sitaare Zameen Par (SZP) may be considered predictable. SZP's point though is not its conclusion, but the path to it.

The author expresses envy over Krishnamurthy Subramanian's lucrative book deal with Union Bank of India, highlighting the financial benefits reaped from such arrangements. The article delves into various methods through which bureaucrats and publishers exploit the system for mutual gain, including co-publishing, buy-back schemes, and sweetheart deals.

Delhi's reversal on banning older vehicles highlights a trend of Indian policymaking that favors visible solutions over addressing deeper issues. The initial ban, targeting vehicles based on age rather than emissions, faced enforcement challenges. Experts argue real-world emissions depend more on maintenance and driving habits.

Zohran Mamdani's unexpected victory in NYC's Democratic mayoral primary sparks debate on leadership age. A study suggests older leadership correlates with lower firm vitality, but there is another argument which is against applying corporate models to government. It emphasizes that governments prioritize citizens' welfare over corporate profits, advocating for policies that benefit the common person, a principle Mamdani's 'socialist' agenda embodies.

For purely pragmatic reasons, Kohlapuri has given us global recognition. We do need the world to enjoy what we have. But now that we have received the credit for the chappals, what next? Unless we own, defend and develop value chains, we shall continue to let our misplaced chauvinism get the better of us.

Quad foreign ministers convened, criticizing 'unilateral actions' and launching a critical minerals initiative to lessen reliance on China, signaling the group's strength. Despite internal doubts and Trump's unpredictable approach, the US seems to value the Quad.

As the Dalai Lama approaches 90, the question of his reincarnation looms large. Many believe he will likely be reborn in India, where he has lived in exile for decades, and where a large Tibetan community resides. Concerns over Chinese interference, highlighted by the disappearance of the Panchen Lama, fuel the desire for a successor chosen in the 'free world'.

The Quad nations convened a summit, reaffirming their dedication to a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Discussions encompassed maritime security, economic prosperity, and emerging technologies. The group voiced concerns regarding China's actions in the East and South China Seas. They addressed North Korea's missile launches and the Myanmar crisis. The Quad also condemned violent extremism, highlighting the Pahalgam attack.

BRICS, now expanded to BRICS+, is a major global force driving economic resilience through collaboration among member nations. The BRICS Business Council facilitates trade, investment, and sustainable growth with initiatives in agribusiness, clean energy, and sustainable finance. The BRICS Womens Business Alliance empowers women entrepreneurs through cross-border opportunities and capacity-building programs, fostering inclusive economic growth.

Are humans becoming less interesting than AI chatbots? The article explores this question. It emphasises the importance of real human conversation. It encourages embracing spontaneity and emotional depth. The article suggests that vulnerability and imperfection are key. These qualities distinguish us from machines. It urges readers to preserve unfiltered interactions.

Leading AI developers like OpenAI and Google are rapidly advancing foundation models, but concerns arise regarding their reliability. Despite excelling in complex tasks using chain-of-thought reasoning, models like o3 and Claude Opus 4 exhibit unpredictable behavior, sometimes defying instructions. Research indicates potential limitations in their reasoning and reporting accuracy.

The Union cabinet has approved Rashtriya Khel Niti 2025. The policy emphasizes private sector involvement through CSR and PPP models. Corporate contributions to sports reached 2,356 cr between 2014 and 2023. This funding has coincided with improved performances in major sporting events. The policy aims to broaden sports' role in national development.

Indian refiners remained calm during the recent Iran-Israel conflict. They trusted the oil market's stability. Strategic petroleum reserves are only partially full. Efforts to expand reserves have stalled. The US shale boom and other global events shaped this confidence. India now sources more crude from the spot market. Discounted Russian oil also boosted confidence.

The new RBI Governor has adopted an aggressive approach, signaling a departure from incremental measures with a significant rate cut and CRR reduction. This bold move aims to achieve sustainable 8% growth, prioritizing market impact over gradual adjustments. The strategy seeks to influence inflation expectations by delivering impactful changes, potentially causing market volatility but ultimately driving desired economic outcomes.

In an effort to secure lasting peace, the Centre held discussions with Meitei and Kuki community representatives to resolve ongoing conflicts in Manipur. The government prioritizes restoring normalcy and maintaining law and order, as well as reconciling the communities.

Speaking at the General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture, the Army Chief said that China has been challenging the rules-based system and taking a lead in disruptive activities.