The Economic Times

A Pune luxury restaurant reportedly keeps a Rs 5,000 dish on its menu despite nobody ordering it. Social media user Pratham shared that the restaurant owner uses the expensive dish as a psychological anchor, making Rs 1,500Rs 2,000 options appear more affordable. The strategy reportedly increased average order value by around 35%. The unusual dish also attracted Instagram posts, giving the restaurant free word-of-mouth publicity.

Tata Motors will increase prices for its cars and SUVs by up to Rs 25,000. This price adjustment will affect both internal combustion engine and electric vehicle models. The company cites rising input and commodity costs as the primary reason for this decision. This move follows similar announcements made by other major automobile manufacturers. The price revision aims to partially offset increased operational expenses for the automaker.

Jason Statham's high-octane thriller, Mutiny, briefly appeared on an OTT platform in the US before disappearing from the platform without warning. Anticipation builds as the film is set for a theatrical debut on August 21, 2026. This unexpected move led to speculation regarding its distribution tactics. Read on to know what exactly happened.

Welspun Corp secured its largest order valued at $1.8 billion for US pipe supply. This significant contract will be executed during fiscal years twenty twenty-eight and twenty twenty-nine. The company's global order book will reach a record $4.4 billion after this deal. This order strengthens Welspun Corp's presence in the North American energy infrastructure market.

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh expressed deep grief over a six-year-old student's death. The minister promised full administrative support to ensure justice for the grieving family. A UKG student allegedly died after being beaten by a teacher at a private school. Officials confirmed the boy collapsed at school and was declared brought dead at the hospital. Strict action will be taken against the teacher and the school management.

Skywatchers in parts of four continents will have an opportunity to observe a major partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28, when Earths umbra will cover most of the Moon. The event will reach its peak at 12:12 a.m. EDT on August 28, while the Moon may appear reddish as sunlight filtered through Earths atmosphere reaches the shadowed surface.

Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and ISB-BIPP signed a five-year pact. This partnership aims to unlock the state's forest economy potential. Science and technology will enable better forest governance and resource utilization. The initiative focuses on community-led enterprises and sustainable livelihood opportunities. This collaboration will strengthen rural economies and conserve forest wealth.

Oman and India are strengthening economic ties, moving towards strategic business partnerships. A new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement enhances trade access for Indian exports. Bilateral trade saw a significant increase during the recent fiscal year. Exports to Oman rose substantially after the agreement's implementation. Oman now serves as a key gateway for Indian businesses expanding internationally.

Ankur Warikoo shared the story of a Kolkata student who once felt his life was over after missing his dream college. Five years ago, the student wrote to Warikoo, questioning whether his hard work had been wasted. Warikoo encouraged him to move forward. Years later, the student joined St. Xaviers Kolkata, worked at McKinsey and secured admission to IIM Calcutta, saying he was grateful for how things turned out.

Irumudi, starring Ravi Teja, opened to positive audience reactions and first-day screenings. Fans praised Ravi Teja's performance, calling it a strong comeback for the actor. The film's social message and father-daughter relationship also resonated with viewers. Read on to know more about the movie and netizens' reaction to it.

Elon Musk's Starlink plans to bring satellite internet to India's least served regions. This service aims to connect rural areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited. Starlink's entry will expand internet access beyond major Indian cities and markets. The company is actively seeking to launch its satellite broadband services in India. India's government is developing regulations for satellite spectrum allocation and services.

Ankit Pandey shared on X that his friend quit a Rs 25 LPA Mumbai job and moved back to his hometown because his ageing parents mattered more to him. Despite working for years to build his career, he chose to find another job closer to home so he could spend more time with them. Pandey initially thought the decision was madness, but later wondered if it was simply knowing what matters before its too late.

Indian ministers promoted agricultural exports in Singapore through a special roadshow event. This initiative aims to expand Indian farmers' and food manufacturers' market presence. The event focused on diverse products including organic items and millets. This effort supports strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and Singapore. Discussions also covered enhancing digitalization and sustainability partnerships.

With Vijay's Jana Nayagan, the crime thriller Facing El Chapo, Chennai Love Story and Pyaar Prema Kalyanam among the week's highlights, OTT viewers have several new options to choose from this Friday. Read on to know when and where to watch them online.

Amazon will invest two billion dollars in Latin American productions through 2030. This significant investment aims to harness the region's extraordinary talent and audiences. The company plans to double original productions from key Latin American countries. Twenty-five new titles will premiere in 2027 and another twenty-five in 2028. This move follows Netflix's own expansion of original Latin American content.

Prithviraj Sukumaran's latest action thriller, Khalifa, hit theaters on August 20 and made an impressive debut/ With Kerala leading the way as the top market, the film enjoyed substantial audience turnout, especially during late-night screenings across India. This movie is set to be part of a two-part franchise. Read on to know how much it earned on day 1.

The Trump administration is increasing economic penalties on Cuban industries. New sanctions target mining, metal, and construction companies, and friendship organizations. Americans visiting Cuba face stricter enforcement of laws barring dealings with state-owned businesses. This action follows recent detentions of citizens returning from Cuba. These measures aim to further isolate Cuba amid its economic crisis.

India is creating a dedicated channel to ease European and British company investments. This mechanism will offer dedicated support and help investors navigate government approvals. The initiative aims to facilitate capital flow beyond just trade agreements. Senior officials will directly monitor this new investor facilitation process. This move follows recent liberalizations in sectors like insurance and banking.

Quote of the day by Seneca People waste their life preparing for a future that was never promised, while the only life they truly own passes quietly through their hands is a famous reflection on time as it warns against spending the present while constantly preparing for an uncertain future. The Roman Stoic philosopher believed that life is not measured simply by the number of years a person has, but by how wisely those years are used.

Millions of hectares of protected tropical forests were lost to wildfires between 2001 and 2024. Wildfire destruction inside protected areas has significantly accelerated since 2016. The tropical Americas, especially Brazil, experienced the vast majority of these losses. Protected areas offered some reduction in fire risk, particularly in Africa.

New psychology research is shedding light on a familiar habit that has gradually become less common in the digital age. While typing has become the preferred way to take notes for many people, researchers are looking more closely at how different note-taking methods may affect the way people learn and retain information. The findings could explain why the simple habit of putting pen to paper may still have an important role in classrooms and everyday learning.

The rising use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro is creating a new consumer market in India, with companies developing protein- and fibre-rich foods, nutrition supplements and beauty products aimed at addressing side effects of rapid weight loss.

Bain Capital is in discussions with JBM Auto to invest up to 2,850 crore for a significant minority stake in its electric vehicle business, people familiar with the matter said. The investment could support JBMs expansion in electric buses, batteries and charging infrastructure, while discussions also include a potential joint-control structure.

Avenue Supermarts, the parent of DMart, has approved an additional investment of up to 500 crore in Avenue E-Commerce, which operates DMart Ready, despite widening losses. The online grocery arms FY26 revenue rose 17% to 4,094 crore, while its loss increased to 307 crore. The company is focusing on 11 key cities.

Nielsen is preparing for an agent-first media landscape where AI agents could increasingly determine the content and advertising users encounter, CTO Anil Goel told ET. The shift could complicate audience measurement as AI-generated content expands and audiences fragment across platforms.

The Supreme Court dismissed Reliance Communications lenders' challenge to the DoT's bank guarantee invocation. The court stated lenders should have approached the high court first for this matter. The DoT sought to invoke bank guarantees totaling approximately 800 crore from four banks. Lenders argued the Supreme Court's prior judgment did not justify this invocation. They contended the DoT's action disrupted the insolvency resolution process framework.

A woman on a flight found herself repeatedly pawed by a medical alert dog, prompting its owner to explain that such behaviour could signal a potential heart problem. Following up with medical tests months later, she learned of her mildly irregular heartbeat. This incident underscores research indicating that certain dogs may be capable of sensing complex physiological changes, revealing their innate ability to detect hidden chemical signals in humans.

The Delhi High Court ordered the removal of Razenta Pharmaceuticals' Daplogin trademark. This decision came as the mark was deemed deceptively similar to Dr Reddy's Labs' Daplo trademark. Both trademarks are used for prescription drugs treating Type-2 diabetes Mellitus. The court cited phonetic similarity and potential consumer confusion as key reasons. Razenta's trademark registration was cancelled within six weeks by the court.

Lou Henry Hoovers journey to the White House was far from ordinary. After becoming the first woman to graduate from Stanford University with a geology degree, she married mining engineer Herbert Hoover in 1899 and began a life that took her across China, Europe and other parts of the world. Along the way, she raised two sons, supported humanitarian efforts, worked with the Girl Scouts and became an advocate for womens athletics.

While things are changing, insurance is still seen as a bit of a savings and tax product. We are focusing on making protection and annuity more relevant across proprietary and partnership channels, where we are looking at growth of 15% or 16%. The discussion is around protection rather than just premium. We've started focusing very sharply on the young Indian middle clas, says Sumit Madan.

NCLT Mumbai has admitted Pen Indias insolvency petition against Reliance Entertainment Studios over a 11.94 crore default linked to a security deposit agreement. The tribunal held that the transaction qualified as financial debt and that Reliances liability remained outstanding despite its repayment mechanism. It rejected Reliances objections and initiated the corporate insolvency resolution process.

Whirlpool India says it will operate independently despite its US parent retaining a 39.7% stake. The company plans to expand its premium portfolio, strengthen refrigerators and washing machines, and grow its air-conditioner business. Six senior executives have invested their savings in the companys shares. Whirlpool also plans 245 crore investment in a new production line as it targets top-three positions across segments.

While some people may be blessed by birth with raw physical power, this doesnt mean they will emerge victorious always. Those who have abundant intelligence can strategise and have tact; it can leave them behind. An old Turkish proverb cautions that physical strength is not always guaranteed to win.

Niva Bupa's allowable expense for FY25 was Rs 2,403.75 crore, while its actual expenses stood at Rs 2,652.12 crore, exceeding the limit by Rs 248.37 crore, according to the regulator's order. Irdai has prescribed limits to ensure insurers control management and operating costs so that a reasonable portion of premiums collected from policyholders is available for providing insurance cover and settling claims.

Volkswagen plans to enter Indias sub-four-metre SUV segment next year with a compact SUV, aiming to expand beyond its limited portfolio and reach the mass market. CEO Thomas Schafer said the company also wants to clearly differentiate Volkswagen from Skoda and Cupra while using shared technology. The new model could also become an export product from India.

ETs roundup of the wackiest whispers in corporate corridors

The upgrade helped Shriram, in which Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) bought a significant stake, save 60-80 basis points on a $1.3-billion syndicated loan. One basis point is a hundredth of a percentage point. Managing director and CEO Parag Sharma expects such clauses to become more prevalent as growing focus on credit ratings is expected to determine the rates at which financiers raise money.

India has eased rules for rupee-based export payments, allowing exporters to invoice and receive payments in Indian currency or foreign currencies from non-ACU countries. Rupee export realisations will now qualify for trade-policy benefits and count towards export obligations, helping promote wider use of the rupee in international trade.

The fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable convened in Singapore to explore new partnerships. Discussions focused on advanced manufacturing and strategic technologies like semiconductors. Ministers reviewed progress and identified opportunities for their comprehensive strategic partnership. They also discussed digitalization, sustainability, and connectivity between the two nations. Both countries aim to deepen ties across various economic and technological domains.

Government halves bulk sugar stock limit to 15 days as prices surge 20% ahead of festive demand. It has also ordered mills to report detailed sales, buyer and price data for August 17-19 to monitor hoarding and market activity. Authorities are assessing whether sugar imports are needed to ease the supply squeeze.

Indias core sector growth slowed to 5.4% in July from 6% in June, with weaker iron ore, steel and electricity output and contractions in fertiliser and crude oil. Cement and coal production strengthened. Despite the monthly slowdown, April-July growth rose to 4.3% from 1.5% a year earlier. Economists expect core and industrial output growth to moderate further due to base effects.

Private credit investments were broadly similar to the second half of 2025 levels of $3.4 billion, with refinancing, holding-company funding and acquisition financing serving as key drivers of activity. The growing share of domestic capital is one of the most significant developments in India's private credit market, Vishal Bansal, partner, debt and special situations, EY India, said.

Bandar, starring Bobby Deol and directed by Anurag Kashyap, is a crime drama that follows a fading television actor whose life changes after his former partner accuses him of rape. The film explores how public opinion, media attention and social judgement can affect a person even before the legal process reaches its conclusion.

In August 1920, a heartfelt letter from a mother to her son, a legislator, played a critical role in the fight for women's suffrage. Harry T. Burn's decisive vote for the ratification of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee made history by achieving the necessary 36th state approval for this constitutional change.

Bengaluru is a city of not just opportunities and startups but surprises too. Recently, a LinkedIn member shared a funny incident on how she discovered that her flatmate was actually a pretty successful founder with a thriving business valued at multiple crores. She commented that this was a peak Bengaluru moment.