The Maldives has implemented a generational ban on smoking, prohibiting those born after 2007 from purchasing, possessing, or using tobacco. This policy aims to create a tobacco-free generation and protect public health. Other countries are closely watching as smoking is a major public health threat, leading to numerous deaths and health issues, especially among young people.
MSCI has announced its November 2025 review, with four new stocks being added to the India Standard Index and two being excluded. Weightage adjustments have also been made for existing companies. The MSCI Smallcap Index has undergone a significant reshuffle, with six new stocks being added and 30 being removed. All changes will take effect after market closing on November 24.
Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, made history as the first Muslim mayor and youngest leader of New York City. Despite earlier criticism from US President Donald Trump, who called him a "communist", Trump later suggested he would offer limited federal support to New York. Mamdani's victory speech quoted Nehru's iconic address, marking a new era for the city.
5 firefighters were injured while responding to a car explosion in the Bronx, New York City. The incident occurred on Wednesday night and visuals of the massive blaze were shared on the internet, causing shock. More details awaited.
A UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 12 people. The 34-year-old MD-11 freighter was headed to Honolulu when it crashed during takeoff, causing a large "plume of fire" and damaging structures. The "black box" recorders have been found and the airport has reopened, but the runway where the crash occurred will remain closed for 10 days.
Indian markets opened higher on Thursday, with the GIFT Nifty rising 0.33% and investors watching global cues. However, the Sensex and Nifty closed lower on November 4, with Asian and US markets opening higher. The US Dollar Index was down by 0.11%, while the rupee closed at 88.66 to the dollar. Crude oil prices were also a key factor.
ADP's latest data reveals a positive growth in the job market with 42,000 private sector jobs added in October and an annual pay increase of 4.5%. The company worked with Stanford Digital Economy Lab to collect data from 26 million employees, proving to be a reliable source despite the government shutdown. The job market exceeded expectations.
Motilal Oswal, a brokerage firm, is optimistic about Gland Pharma, a pharma stock, and expects strong returns in the coming quarters. The firm maintains a ‘Buy’ rating with a target price of Rs 2,310, indicating a potential upside of 17%. Despite a dip in margins, the company's outlook remains steady, with growth expected from limited-competition products and expansion plans.
Sydney Sweeney, a well-known Hollywood actress, faced criticism for her involvement in a controversial American Eagle campaign. While she was called out for her ad, US President Donald Trump joined in on the debate, praising Sweeney's appearance in the ad. In a recent interview, Sweeney addressed the backlash and expressed her love for jeans.
China and the U.S. have agreed to halt retaliatory tariffs on American imports, except for a 13% tariff on soybeans. This poses a challenge for U.S. soybean exports to compete with cheaper Brazilian options. While the White House claims China will buy more soybeans, there is no confirmation yet.
Major companies' earnings, operational updates, and one-off charges are in focus. Pharma and technology sectors perform well, while aviation and logistics face pressure. Indian markets closed in the red with Sensex down 519 points and Nifty down 166 points. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reports 8.6% revenue growth and Grasim Industries' CEO resigns.
Bihar Assembly Election 2025 Phase 1 sees a fierce battle between NDA and Mahagathbandhan, with Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj adding a third option. Over 3.75 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates on Thursday. Several prominent leaders will be tested --- including Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and Mahagathbandhan CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav.
The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is being held in 121 constituencies across 18 districts with over 3.75 crore voters eligible to participate. The outcome will determine the fate of over 1,300 candidates and is crucial for the ruling NDA as they face strong opposition. The Election Commission and will closely monitor voting trends and turnout.
Bihar Elections 2025: Despite years of judicial cautions and political outrage, the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 shows that 32% of candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. The top 10 wealthiest candidates have assets worth nearly Rs 900 crore, with the BJP's Kumar Pranay leading the list.
Britannia Industries, a major biscuit company, reported a 23.1% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 654 crore in Q2, beating street estimates. However, revenue growth was sluggish at 3.7% due to GST transitional issues. The company's Ebitda also saw a 21.8% growth and margins improved by 290 basis points.
Grasim Industries, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla group, reported a 75.9% increase in net profit for the September quarter, driven by strong performance in the cement and chemical businesses. With a diversified portfolio and strategic investments, Grasim is well-positioned to benefit from India's economic momentum.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act has banned real money games, providing clarity to the industry. The Game Developers Association of India predicts a tenfold growth by 2035 and sees funding opportunities. The 17th India Game Developer Conference showcases the government's support. However, policy instability remains a concern. Tamil Nadu's AVGC-XR policy aims to address this issue.
Porter, a leading logistics company, has recently downsized its workforce by 18% to streamline operations and boost profits. This move comes after the decision to merge two business verticals and in preparation for an IPO. Despite recording a net profit of `55.2 crore in FY25, the company had to make tough choices for long-term sustainability.
Delhivery, a third-party logistics provider, reported a loss of Rs 50.5 crore in the July-September quarter due to costs related to integrating Ecom Express. Excluding this, the company posted a profit of Rs 59 crore. Despite this, shipment volumes increased by 17% thanks to a GST cut-driven boost in consumption.
Airtel's Q2 performance showed a stronger operating leverage than Jio, thanks to its focus on premium users and tighter operating discipline. Airtel's average revenue per user (Arpu) increased to `256, while Jio's Arpu rose to `211.4. Airtel also outpaced Jio in net subscriber additions. Airtel's India Ebitda margin expanded to 60%, while Jio's margin was at 56.1%. Looking ahead
AI is no longer just a distant innovation, it's changing the way we work, learn, and make decisions. It enables us to focus on creativity, empathy, and judgment while handling repetitive and complex tasks. Responsible AI is crucial and can unlock $300-500 billion in opportunities for India's tech services industry.
Elsight's Halo platform is transforming the use of drones in India by solving connectivity problems and utilizing all networks for better performance. This is empowering Indian drone startups and service providers to demonstrate the effectiveness of long-range operations in logistics, public safety, and inspection.
AI's ability to generate false information, known as hallucination, has been exposed in a courtroom case. This paradox of AI has led to startups in India developing solutions to minimize hallucination, such as retrieval-augmented generation pipelines and context-aware prompt engineering.
Sebi has instructed exchanges to rebalance non-benchmark indices by limiting exposure to individual stocks through index derivatives. The revised eligibility criteria excludes Bank Nifty, BSE Bankex, and Fin Nifty. The changes will be implemented in phases and could affect MFs, brokers, and investors. The proposal suggests a minimum of 14 constituents with the top three not exceeding 45% weight.
Pine Labs, a leading fintech company, is set to launch its IPO in November 2025. The company's ESOP expenses have increased in Q1 FY26 due to various activities, including cash-settled awards and modifications in exercise prices. This reflects the company's focus on talent retention, with a significant investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Don't miss out on this highly anticipated IPO.
The Indian government has released the India AI Governance Guidelines to ensure responsible and ethical deployment of AI. The guidelines suggest the establishment of oversight bodies, a risk classification framework, and regulatory sandboxes. The committee believes existing laws are sufficient but also recommends a "techno-legal" approach.
The FATF has praised India's Enforcement Directorate in its publication for efficiently tackling money laundering and recovering assets from economic offenders. The report highlights Indian case studies of tracing, seizing, and restoring proceeds of crime, along with the country's legislative framework and inter-agency coordination.
The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) has received over Rs 7,500 crore in commitments and welcomed new members Nvidia and Qualcomm Ventures. The alliance aims to support early-stage startups in sectors like semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing, with the support of industry leaders and the government's RDI scheme.
Rakshit Hargave, CEO of Birla Opus, has resigned from the Aditya Birla Group's paint company after four years to join Britannia Industries. The company's performance in Q2 was not disclosed, but it has spent Rs 375 crore in the first two quarters and expanded its distribution network to over 10,000 towns. While it initially caused disruption in the paint market
The IBBI and ED have joined forces to enable IPs to retrieve assets of troubled companies that were seized by the ED. This will decrease the risk of legal action against negligent owners and improve the value of salvaged assets. A new circular outlines guidelines for IPs, including regular reports and collaboration with the ED, to harmonize IBC and PMLA laws.
India's InvITs market is expected to grow significantly by 2030, reaching Rs 21 lakh crore. This growth is driven by government spending and investor interest, providing opportunities for corporate capital optimization and growth. The National Infrastructure Pipeline is further boosting this market.
The finance ministry will hold a meeting with food ministry officials to discuss a proposed 10-15% increase in the food subsidy budget for FY26. The finance ministry suggests reducing grain stocks, raising open market prices, and using less subsidized grain for bio-fuel to delink projected additional subsidy expenses of Rs 20,000 crore.
Eternal and Swiggy are expanding their business by targeting the dining-out and live events market, which offers growth opportunities due to rising disposable incomes and a demand for curated dining experiences. By connecting consumers with restaurants and event organizers, they aim to become the go-to app for planning and experiencing a night out.
The government is revamping a scheme to provide 2-3.5% interest subvention to MSME exporters, with varying rates for different sectors. This will be a part of the support package for exporters affected by US tariffs and may run for 5 years. The previous version of the scheme, which ended in December 2024, had successfully boosted export volumes and lowered bank interest rates.
PhysicsWallah's much-awaited IPO, a book build issue of Rs 3,480 crores, will be open for subscription from November 11-13, with allotment finalised on November 14. Co-founders Alakh Pandey and Prateek Boob hold 40.35% each, with venture capital investors WestBridge Capital and Hornbill Capital holding 6.41% and 4.42% respectively. The IPO proceeds will be used for capital expenditures
RBI's policy signalling and market behaviour have caused a disconnect, leading to waning investor confidence in the Indian bond market. Despite a rate cut, the shift from accommodative to neutral stance has sown confusion, resulting in a drop in corporate bond issuance and lack of demand for long-dated G-Secs.
NHAI is launching the fifth round of monetisation through InvIT, aiming to raise Rs 7,000-8,000 crore. This will be done through a private InvIT sponsored by NHAI and supported by Canadian funds. The remaining Rs 40,000 crore target for the year will be met through highway monetisation, including InvIT and ToT. The government plans to involve retail investors in this process.
India's petroleum product exports dropped by 21% in October, but showed a 2.4% increase annually. Despite challenges faced by Nayara Energy's operations due to sanctions, the refinery is finding new markets and using government logistics. Top export destinations were UAE, Netherlands, and Singapore, with UAE experiencing a 27% decline.
The rise of AI has sparked ethical concerns and its impact on human relationships. The increasing availability of companion AI has led to a rise in loneliness, with conflicting views on its benefits and risks. The ongoing loneliness epidemic, particularly among teenagers, emphasizes the need for caution in relying on AI for companionship.
The government's capital expenditure for the first two quarters of FY26 was 52% of the budget estimates, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Railways exceeding their average capex. Total government capex increased by 40% YoY, with key sectors like food and public distribution receiving additional funding.
Delhivery, a logistics and supply chain firm, reported a net loss of Rs 50.38 crore in Q2FY26, compared to a net profit of Rs 10.20 crore in Q2FY25. However, the company's revenue rose by 16.88% to Rs 2,559.32 crore. In Q1FY26, Delhivery had reported a net profit of Rs 91.04 crore.
Prada's release of a $775 safety pin with crochet detail and a charm has sparked backlash from influencers and social media users, who criticize it as a "money laundering scheme" and question the brand's tactics. This is not the first time Prada has faced criticism for repackaging humble working-class items into luxury ones, raising concerns about their approach as a heritage luxury brand.
Sun Pharma's Q2FY26 results showed a 2.56% YoY increase in net profit and a 9.6% increase in revenue. On a sequential basis, net profit jumped 36.83% and revenue surged 4.53%. EBITDA stood at Rs. 4,527.1 crore with a margin of 31.3%. R&D investment was 5.4% of sales. Formulation sales in India saw a growth of 11%.
Director Rahul Sadasivan's horror-thriller Dies Irae, starring Pranav Mohanlal, is breaking box office records and has entered the top 10 highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2025. The film has received rave reviews and is nearing the Rs 50 crore mark worldwide.
BEML, a state-owned company, reported a 5.8% decline in YoY profit in Q2 FY26. Its consolidated net profit was Rs 48.03 crore, down from Rs 51.03 crore in Q2 FY25. The company also saw a 2.42% decline in revenue, with a consolidated revenue of Rs 839 crore. However, it expects to execute orders worth Rs 4,217 crore in the current financial year and Rs 12
Amitabh Bachchan, a popular Bollywood actor, made a profitable sale of two luxurious flats in Mumbai's Goregaon area after owning them for 13 years. The flats were sold for Rs 12 crores to two buyers on the 47th floor of Oberoi Exquisite building. Bachchan and his son Abhishek have a successful track record in real estate, with recent investments in Alibaug.
NCLAT dismisses Reliance Realty's appeal for recovery of rentals and assets from Independent TV, undergoing liquidation. Upholds NCLT's order for liquidation to continue in a time-bound manner. ED attaches Rs 4,462 crore worth of land of Anil Ambani Group in alleged money-laundering case. Independent TV defaulted on payments after 2018, leading to insolvency proceedings.
While the American dream is a luxury in itself, the high cost of living in the Bay Area has forced some tech employees to find extreme solutions to balance their jobs and finances. One Google contract employee, who was based in Santa Barbara at the time, revealed that they lived in a car for several months while working on-site.
Adani Energy Solutions has secured a 60 MW renewable energy contract worth Rs 60 crore from RSWM in Bhilwara. This deal will provide 31.53 crore units of electricity annually to RSWM's facilities in Rajasthan. Adani Energy Solutions aims to increase its commercial and industrial portfolio by 7,000 MW in the next five years. In Q2 FY26, the company saw a 6.7% revenue growth.
Grasim Industries, a flagship company of Aditya Birla Group, reported a 75% YoY profit growth in Q2 FY26, with a consolidated net profit of Rs 553 crore. This marks a significant improvement from the previous year's Q2 net profit of Rs 314 crore. The company also saw a 16.5% YoY revenue growth, reaching Rs 39,899 crore, and a 29% YoY increase in EBITDA at
Delhi's air quality remains poor at 228 AQI, causing respiratory distress for citizens. Even healthy individuals are experiencing symptoms such as persistent cough, chest tightness, and breathing difficulty. Former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria warns that air pollution can worsen pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions.