Sectoral and thematic mutual funds outperformed the market last week, delivering returns of up to 3%. While the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 declined, international indices like the Hang Seng, Dow Jones, and S&P 500 showed positive movement. Top performers included the Motilal Oswal Manufacturing Fund and Axis Global Innovation FoF.

Indian single malt whisky sales have surpassed Scotch for the first time in 2024, driven by increasing consumer preference for local premium brands. While Scotch sales declined, Indian single malts experienced significant growth, fueled by quality, competitive pricing, and a sense of national pride.

Sydney Sweeney, 27, has confirmed the end of her engagement to Jonathan Davino, 41, after dating since 2018. Sweeney stated she's focusing on herself and her friends amidst her rising career, including filming 'Euphoria' and upcoming film roles. Despite the split, sources indicate an amicable separation as they navigate shared aspects of their lives.

Continuous rainfall in Dakshina Kannada district has caused the Nethravathi River to swell, nearing the danger mark. Authorities have initiated precautionary evacuations in low-lying areas of Bantwal taluk, particularly in Aladkapadpu, where water has entered homes.

In Assam, incessant rain has triggered landslides, resulting in five fatalities in Kamrup Metropolitan district within 24 hours. Flooding has impacted over 10,000 people across six districts, prompting the opening of relief camps.

Jharkhand Academic Council announced Class 12 results for Science and Commerce. Students can view scores on official websites and DigiLocker. The Science stream achieved 79.26% pass rate. Commerce stream recorded 91.2% pass rate. Latehar district topped in both streams. Girls outperformed boys. Arts stream results will be out next week. Students can download provisional mark sheets online.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparked controversy in Singapore by drawing a comparison between President Donald Trump and the nation's revered founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Hegseth's remarks, delivered at the Shangri-La Dialogue, lauded both leaders as historic men with a focus on common sense and national interests.

The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is expected to announce Class 12 results for Science and Commerce streams today, May 31, 2025, accessible via official portals. Arts stream results are anticipated next week. Students need their roll code and number to check scores online or through DigiLocker, while original mark sheets will be distributed by schools later.

Palantir to create vast federal data platform that connects millions of Americans private records under a powerful AI system. Backed by the Trump administration, Palantirs new deal links Social Security, IRS, and immigration data into one centralized system. It uses its Gotham software to flag fraud, track behavior, and potentially shape government decisions. While Palantir stock jumped 5.38% after the news, privacy advocates are raising concerns about surveillance and misuse.

Katie Miller was working as a top advisor and spokesperson for the DOGE at the White House, but now she has left her position and working with Elon Musk. Katie Miller's position in the White House was not permanent and she was a Special Government Employee working for DOGE. Musk announced that he has quit the White House.

Global gold demand hit a Q1 record in 2025, propelled by strong ETF inflows and sustained central bank buying, even as jewellery demand declined sharply due to high prices. According to Motilal Oswal Private Wealth, gold prices soared to record highs amid geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and a weakening US dollar, pushing overall market value significantly higher despite only a modest supply increase.

The Supreme Court questioned Delhi's private unaided schools for excessive fee hikes without government approval, especially those on concessional land. The court heard a petition from the Naya Samaj Parents Association challenging High Court orders that permitted these increases.

Shriti Daksh, daughter of a retired Air Force pilot, topped the arts stream at NDA. She is the first woman to achieve this since female cadets were inducted in 2021. Udayveer Singh Negi, from a family of Army officers, led the BTech course. Prince Kumar Singh Kushwah topped BSc (Computer Science), and Lucky Kumar led BSc.

An employee's promotion celebration turned into a night of guilt and exhaustion due to a critical work bug. His dedication to the job led to a missed dinner and a disappointed girlfriend, highlighting the emotional toll of demanding work cultures. The online community resonated with his regret, sparking a conversation about prioritizing personal life over constant work pressures.

Heavy rainfall caused landslides in Idukki district. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for several districts. Strong westerly winds are expected to bring more rainfall. Educational institutions are closed in many districts. Night travel and tourism are restricted in Idukki. Residents are urged to stay alert. Emergency measures are in place under the Disaster Management Act.

Rajat Sharma is bullish on private banking, anticipating benefits from new tax policies and potential rate cuts, favoring HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Federal Bank. He's also optimistic about the IT sector, citing attractive valuations for companies like Infosys and TCS, expecting increased US spending to boost their performance. He believes these tech giants will remain core portfolio components.

Delhi is under an orange alert as the IMD forecasts thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds up to 60 km/h. Residents are advised to take precautions against potential disruptions. While eastern and northeastern India experience monsoon advancement, other regions face stormy weather with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Despite the unstable weather, Delhi's air quality remains moderate.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group has secured $3.4 billion in financing through a private credit deal, marking the largest of its kind in India. The zero-coupon rupee bonds, yielding 19.75% and maturing in three years, attracted major investors like Ares Management, Cerberus Capital, and Deutsche Bank. This deal highlights the growth of India's private credit sector, driven by increased infrastructure demands.

A recent study of bank fraud over the past two years reveals a split picture: private banks experienced a greater number of fraud incidents, but public sector banks suffered larger financial losses due to fraud.

The Finance Ministry has initiated a comprehensive review of centrally sponsored and central sector schemes, effective April 1, 2026, aligning with the 16th Finance Commission cycle. A workshop, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, emphasized rigorous evaluation to optimize resource deployment. The exercise aims to recalibrate scheme design, eliminate redundancies, and potentially merge or close schemes that have fulfilled their objectives.

Diu has emerged as India's first district to fulfill its entire power needs with solar energy, boasting an 11.88 MW capacity. Minister Pralhad Joshi lauded Diu as a national leader in renewable energy adoption, where solar power meets the daytime electricity demand. The capital investments in Diu's renewable energy infrastructure have been recovered through solar power supply and sales.

Suryakumar Yadav delivered a touching and humorous speech at his father's retirement ceremony from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. He shared anecdotes about his father's influence on his life, emphasizing the values of discipline, honesty, and humility he instilled.

PAG has appointed Nikhil Srivastava as Co-Head of its Private Equity business, succeeding Lincoln Pan, who will become CEO of Jardine Matheson Holdings. Srivastava, previously Head of India Private Equity, will work alongside David Wong. He has been instrumental in building PAG's India platform, leading investments like Nuvama Wealth Management and Manjushree Technopack. PAG has deployed over $1.

Kerala is experiencing severe monsoon rains, prompting the IMD to issue red alerts for several districts due to the likelihood of very heavy rainfall. Rising river levels and strong winds have led to uprooted trees, power outages, and the displacement of residents to relief camps.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has directed e-commerce platforms to adhere to government guidelines on 'dark patterns' and conduct internal audits, or face action. The government has identified 13 such deceptive practices and will form a joint working group for enforcement.

COVID-19 cases are increasing globally, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and western Pacific regions, due to the emergence of the NB.1.8.1 variant. While the WHO considers the public health risk low and expects current vaccines to remain effective, the U.S. has detected the variant in travelers and has altered its vaccination recommendations for certain groups. The LP.8.

To ease traffic between Delhi and Gurugram, NHAI has started testing the Dwarka Expressway tunnel. This trial run will happen for three hours daily. The goal is to check traffic flow and safety. The tunnel has CCTV and emergency exits. It aims to connect the expressway to Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Canada is increasingly charting an independent path on defence and foreign affairs. Following several rounds of acrimonious exchanges with US President Donald Trump on its sovereignty and independence, Canadian Prime Minister had clearly stated that his country will join the ReArm Europe programme. The move comes months after Canada expressed apprehensions about buying the F-35 stealth fighters from the US.

The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the Class 10 board exam results on May 28, 2025, at 4:30 PM. Education Minister Madan Dilawar will announce the toppers and performance data. Students can access their results on rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, DigiLocker, and India Result, with district-wise performance and compartment exam details to follow.

The southwest monsoon has arrived in Odisha, approximately 13 days earlier than expected, bringing heavy rainfall to several districts. The IMD forecasts above-average rainfall for the state during the monsoon season. An 'Orange' alert has been issued for five districts due to potential lightning and thunderstorms, prompting the government to put all districts on alert.

India's Defence Ministry has greenlit private sector involvement in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, alongside HAL, through competitive bidding. This aims to accelerate the development and production of the fifth-generation stealth fighter. The move comes as the IAF urgently needs to modernize its fleet amid regional advancements, with plans to induct 126 AMCA jets featuring advanced technologies.

13 High Paying Careers, Jobs for Arts Students

Assam Rifles and local police in Mizoram seized 758 grams of heroin, valued at Rs 5.36 crore, near Teikhang, Saitual district, arresting two individuals. In a separate operation, Assam Police and Assam Rifles confiscated 648 grams of heroin worth Rs 3.5 crore in Cachar district.

India's booming electronics manufacturing sector, a Make-in-India success, faces a critical manpower shortage across all levels, especially in the AI-driven smartphone industry. A projected 10 million skill gap looms by FY28, driven by technology adoption and the end of PLI benefits.

Border Security Force stopped a large group of Bangladeshi people. They tried to enter India near the Indo-Bangladesh border. The incident happened in South Salmara Mankachar district of Assam. BSF troops saw them approaching the border. Troops stopped their unauthorized entry. The group then went back into Bangladesh. BSF remains alert to protect India's borders.

Mounting trade war pressures, particularly from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, are pushing retailers to consider going private. Skechers' recent take-private deal with 3G Capital exemplifies this trend, as companies seek refuge from market volatility and the burden of quarterly reporting.

A fraudulent app named 'Trump Hotel Rental,' featuring AI-generated content of Donald Trump, has defrauded over 200 investors in Karnataka of nearly Rs 2 crore. The scammers promised high returns, luring victims to invest significant amounts. Police investigations are underway across multiple districts following numerous complaints from those who lost money through the now-removed app.

The Odisha government has alerted district collectors in anticipation of a low-pressure area forming in the Bay of Bengal, as forecasted by the IMD. Collectors are directed to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential damage from thunderstorms and lightning. Fishermen are advised against venturing into deep sea from May 29 to June 1 along the Odisha coast.

Haryana CET 2025: The Haryana Staff Selection Commission has announced the Common Eligibility Test (CET) 2025 for Group C and D positions. Registration begins May 28 and ends June 12, accessible via hssc.gov.in. The exam, expected in June or July, features no negative marking and covers various subjects. Over 50,000 vacancies are anticipated, with 3.1 million candidates expected due to recruitment backlogs.

Khan Sir Wife Name: Khan Sir, the popular educator, has reportedly announced his marriage to his students via video, mentioning a low-key ceremony due to India-Pakistan tensions. A reception is planned in Patna on June 2, 2025, followed by a student feast on June 6, 2025.

Following a dowry death case, Maratha community leaders and politicians met in Pune. They discussed curbing lavish weddings. The meeting aimed to create a code of conduct. It focused on modest ceremonies and respectful treatment of daughters-in-law. Leaders resolved to socially boycott families involved in harassment. Manoj Jarange called for a thorough police probe.

Delhi BJP has announced 14 district unit presidents, blending experienced leaders and diverse social representation, as part of its ongoing reorganization. The appointments include second terms for three leaders and the selection of two women presidents.

Kolkata and South Bengal experienced light to moderate rainfall, signaling the approaching Southwest Monsoon, which has advanced into the northeastern region. A low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal around May 27, potentially causing heavy rainfall in some districts from May 28. Light to moderate rains are also expected in northern parts of the state.

In a significant overhaul, the DGCA is set to permit arts and commerce students to pursue commercial pilot licenses, ending the three-decade-long requirement for a science background. The recommendation has been sent to the aviation ministry for finalization, potentially increasing the number of students opting for CPL training.

Healthscope, Australia's second-largest private hospital network, faces uncertainty as its parent company enters receivership. Despite the financial turmoil caused by its owner Brookfield's debt, Healthscope assures continued patient care across its 37 hospitals. With $210 million in funding, operations will proceed uninterrupted while a sale is pursued, with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler ensuring scheduled surgeries will continue.

Sean Diddy Combs faces potential forfeiture of his multimillion-dollar empire, including real estate, a private jet, and Bad Boy Records, amid sex-crimes trial allegations. Prosecutors accuse Combs of running a racketeering enterprise involving exploitation and coercion. His assets, such as a Holmby Hills mansion and art collection, are at risk if convicted.

BDO India is in talks with private equity firms to secure growth funding. This move follows Grant Thornton Bharat's similar pursuit. BDO India has restructured its operations, paving the way for investment. The firm plans to dilute stakes in its non-audit services and technology arm. The capital will fuel expansion beyond India and consolidate BDO member firms in Asia-Pacific.

Kerala is experiencing heavy monsoon rains. The IMD issued alerts for several districts. Uprooted trees caused accidents, resulting in fatalities in Kozhikode. Houses and vehicles were damaged across the state. Rivers are overflowing, and dam shutters were opened. Some families were relocated due to flooding in Wayanad. An NDRF team has arrived in Wayanad to assist with rescue efforts.