IMF projects 6.6% growth for India's economy in 2025-26, driven by GST reforms and low food prices. Structural reforms are crucial for India to achieve its goal of becoming an advanced economy. However, risks like weather shocks and geoeconomic fragmentation must be managed. IMF suggests fiscal consolidation, monitoring of GST and tax rate reductions, and targeted tariff relief to sustain growth.
Bollywood stars like Preity Zinta are making significant investments in the real estate sector, with buying and selling properties becoming second nature to them. Preity recently sold her Bandra apartment for a lower price than what she bought it for, following the trend of other celebrities like the Bachchans who are also actively involved in the real estate market.
An employee, who claims to be working at Meta, has expressed frustration online over hiring replacements after recent layoffs, saying they don't match the calibre of those let go. They added that the people they have been interviewing even fail to answer basic questions during interviews. The employee shared how they had to inform affected staff and how it "broke something" inside them.
India is considering Bangladesh's appeal to hand over ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death for riots. MEA assures to prioritize Bangladesh's welfare and collaborate with all involved parties. Extradition is an obligation under the current treaty. Bangladesh invites India's National Security Advisor, but MEA will address it later.
CarTrade Tech has decided to cancel its planned consolidation with Girnar Software, the parent company of CarDekho and BikeDekho. Both parties have agreed to not continue discussions at this time. CarTrade Tech will instead focus on improving its current portfolio and exploring other strategic opportunities.
Whirlpool of India's share price fell over 11% after reports of a large promoter stake sale at a steep 14% discount. The company's weak financial performance in Q2 also contributed to the decline. The stock has delivered negative returns of 8% in the last five days and 40% in 2025. The 52-week high for the company is Rs 1,981.10 and the low is Rs 899.
The highly anticipated release of Stranger Things Season 5 was marred by a temporary Netflix outage caused by eager fans. The new season features a major twist with the addition of Holly Wheeler as a main character, played by 14-year-old Nell Fisher. Holly is trapped in the Upside Down and her imaginary friend is revealed to be the villain.
USCIS halts immigration processing for Afghan nationals after near-fatal shooting of National Guard troops. Suspect identified as illegal immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered under Biden's refugee initiative. Trump vows to review immigration cases of all Afghans under Biden and remove those who don't benefit the US.
Paytm's parent company, One 97 Communications, saw a surge in its stock price after receiving a Certificate of Authorisation from the RBI to operate as a full-time Payment Aggregator. The company reported a decline in net profit in Q2 FY26, but still saw a 24.23% increase in revenue. The stock has seen a 49% increase in investor wealth in the last six months.
Cars24 CEO Vikram Chopra has called for the government to take strict action to control Delhi's deteriorating air quality, including limiting cars, diesel, and implementing the odd-even rule. In an opinion piece for IE, he highlighted the effects of pollution on his family's health and criticised the lack of discipline by Delhi residents who want clean air without sacrificing their lifestyles.
A massive fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex has left at least 44 people dead and 279 missing. Videos of the fire have gone viral, showing the devastating effects of the blaze. The fire, which lasted for over 18 hours, was finally contained by 800 firefighters. Three construction company officials have been arrested for gross negligence in the incident.
Indian equity indices opened higher and hit an all-time high, with the NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex opening 0.06% and 0.09% higher, respectively. The Bank Nifty also opened higher, as did small and mid-cap stocks. The market is expected to continue its rally, supported by potential earnings growth in Q3 and Q4 of FY 26. Early gainers include Hindalco Industries and Tata Motors PV>
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested WinZO's co-founders in Bengaluru for money laundering in the online gaming industry. They were granted one-day custody and the agency has raided other offices for alleged algorithm manipulation and crypto links. Rs 43 crore is under scrutiny and the ED claims that refunds should have been made.
Bharati Chaturvedi, an environmental activist, was allegedly assaulted by an Uber driver in Delhi. Despite calling the police emergency helpline and Uber Safety, she received no response. Chaturvedi plans to file an FIR against the driver and Uber, expressing frustration with the lack of response from emergency services. Uber has taken action by removing the driver's access to the app.
University of Oklahoma professor Dr Vahid Abedini, with a valid H-1B visa, was detained by ICE while traveling to a conference. He was released three days later and spoke out about the "deeply distressing experience." He is a political scientist studying Iranian elites, holds a PhD in political science, and is currently working on two book projects.
Netflix disappointed fans as their highly-anticipated premiere of Stranger Things Season 5 crashed, despite a 30% increase in bandwidth. Social media was flooded with outraged reactions, while some had predicted the crash beforehand. This is not the first time Netflix has faced such an issue, as it also happened during the release of Stranger Things Season 4 in 2022.
Reliance Industries' highly anticipated IPO for Jio Platform is expected to launch in the first half of 2026. With a potential valuation of $170 billion, it will be one of the biggest IPOs from the Mukesh Ambani-led group since 2006. Jio's business growth is evident from its increasing ARPU and subscriber base, making it a lucrative opportunity for investors.
US President Donald Trump announced that South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami due to accusations of human rights abuses against Afrikaners. Trump criticized the South African government for ignoring violence against white minorities and announced that the US will halt all payments and subsidies to Pretoria.
Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj has slammed Air India Express as the "worst" airline after his flight was delayed by four hours without any communication, leaving passengers stranded. He warned others against booking with the airline. The airline has apologised, citing operational reasons for the cancellation of the flight.
A fire in a Hong Kong residential complex has claimed 44 lives and left nearly 300 missing. Unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work are suspected to be the cause. Firefighters are facing difficulties in reaching the upper floors and authorities are investigating the construction company for negligence.
Two National Guard soldiers were reportedly shot near the White House by an Afghan national, leaving them critically injured. The suspect is in custody and the FBI is said to be investigating the incident as a possible act of terrorism. President Trump was briefed and condemned the suspect, calling the shooter an "animal". Both the soldiers and the suspect are severely wounded.
Ascertis Credit has successfully raised $520 million in the first close of Fund IV, with a target of $1 billion by next year. Head of the group, Kanchan Jain, discusses the growth of India's private credit market and the fund's plans. While the RBI's allowance for banks to do acquisition financing may not impact private credit funds, experienced credit managers are needed for large transactions.
Indian Continent Investment, a promoter entity of Bharti Airtel, sold 0.56% of its shareholding in the telecom company through a block deal on the National Stock Exchange. The transaction was valued at Rs 7,195 crore and was executed by Goldman Sachs India Securities. This is the third block deal by Airtel promoters this year, with the previous two raising a total of Rs 18,868 crore.
Maharashtra's new industrial policy aims to attract $850 billion in investments and achieve a $1-trillion economy by 2030. The policy focuses on region-balanced development and emerging sectors like electric vehicles and semiconductors. The state boasts a $530-billion economy, high FDI share, and a skilled workforce.
Google Cloud's security division is collaborating with government agencies to set up cybersecurity centers and form threat-intel partnerships. They have published a report with Deloitte on state-level cyber defense and are experiencing a rise in demand for compliance with DPDP regulations.
India's economic growth hinges on the rebuilding of global supply chains and redesigning of energy systems. A unified industrial framework, like the proposed NDVAP, is crucial in incentivizing companies to create value within the country. This could lead to an increase in GDP and job opportunities.
India's manufacturing sector has shown growth, but needs more competitiveness. The government must improve policy execution and simplify business rules for a better investment environment. Removing quality control orders and promoting exports can enhance the industry's competitiveness. New labor codes aim to empower women and create safer workplaces.
Indian exporters are facing difficulties in receiving payments from Russia due to sanctions and reluctance from banks. The Engineering Export Promotion Council suggests a direct rupee-ruble exchange mechanism to reduce currency conversion costs. Both governments are urged to establish a reliable system as most transactions are routed through Sberbank and VTB Bank.
The IMF Executive Board directors endorsed India's commitment to fiscal consolidation, but emphasized the need for disciplined spending and strengthened fiscal buffers to maintain stability and achieve the long-term goal of becoming an advanced economy.
Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) upcoming data centre capacity will be mainly used by sovereign and highly regulated sectors, signaling a rise in demand for secure and AI-ready infrastructure. L&T-Vyoma's CEO, Seema Ambastha, stated that this shift is necessary as enterprises adopt AI at scale.
MoSPI introduces new GDP series with 2022-23 as base year, including GVA estimates for unincorporated sector. Annual revisions to address accuracy concerns, using data from surveys and GST. Workshop held to discuss revisions and highlight importance of reliable statistics for policy making.
Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, falls on November 28 this year. Major retailers in Charlotte, including SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills, Northlake Mall, and Charlotte Premium Outlets, will offer extended hours to accommodate eager bargain hunters. Other stores like Bass Pro Shops, Belk, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Lowe's will also adjust their hours for the shopping event.
Reliance Industries, Brookfield, and Digital Realty are investing $11 billion to build a 1-gigawatt AI-native data centre campus in Andhra Pradesh. The state government has promised support for the project, which will support cloud transformation, generative AI, and advanced analytics. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030 and will generate employment and boost allied sectors.
AI is transforming businesses, but success lies in combining human intelligence with AI capabilities. Context-aware business decisions require intentional design, with humans defining the problem and AI executing it. The future belongs to organizations that strike a balance between AI-powered systems and human-led strategy.
Google is using AI models to help Indian farmers overcome challenges like small landholdings and unpredictable weather. These models have been successful in improving crop health monitoring, land record modernization, and climate risk assessment.
The Indian government has approved a ₹7,280 crore scheme to boost the production of rare earth permanent magnets and reduce reliance on China. This will establish a domestic manufacturing ecosystem and has received support from the automobile industry. The Ministry of Heavy Industries will implement the scheme to address India's lack of advanced RE technology and infrastructure.
Blue Star, a leading AC manufacturer in India, foresees a drop in inventory levels this December due to consumers being price-conscious before new energy efficiency norms come into play in January. The company's CMD, Vir S Advani, talks about their goals of improving efficiency without increasing costs and the excess capacity in the industry caused by the PLI scheme.
As Thanksgiving Day 2025 nears, shoppers are curious about store hours. Big retailers like Target, Walmart, and Costco will be closed for family time, while grocery stores like Whole Foods and Kroger will have shorter hours. Dollar General and Family Dollar will remain open. It's advised to confirm local store hours and consider online shopping for early Black Friday deals.
On Wednesday, equity indices saw a significant rebound thanks to strong buying by both domestic and foreign investors. The surge was fueled by a combination of factors, including lower crude oil prices, anticipated rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and RBI, and overall positive market sentiment.
Mahindra & Mahindra's electric SUV range, including the XEV 9e and BE 6 models, has sold over 30,000 units in just seven months since its launch in November 2024. The SUVs have exceeded internal projections and secured the number-one revenue market share in the first half of FY26.
Robert Irwin, the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin, has won the finals of 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 34 with his professional partner Witney Carson. The 21-year-old wildlife photographer is a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and has received multiple accolades for his work. Despite a rib injury, Robert competed in the finals.
Bajaj Auto has launched the Riki 3W, priced between Rs 1,90,890 and Rs 2,00,876, and plans to expand it to 100 towns in Phase 1. The e-rickshaw market, with 500 brands and no dominant player, supports last-mile mobility and has grown rapidly, accounting for almost half of the market. Bajaj Auto aims to capture a significant share of the organised space with the Riki, addressing issues
The government's decision to implement data exclusivity in the drug regulatory system could harm the generics market and lead to monopolies in the pharmaceutical industry. This could result in delayed access to affordable medicines and jeopardize India's role as a major supplier of low-cost drugs.
Tata Motors launched the new Tata Sierra SUV at an introductory price of Rs 11.49 lakh, bringing back a nameplate from 1991. The design philosophy focuses on emotional cues of presence, adventure, and confidence while offering a contemporary product. The cabin promotes shared experiences with a panoramic interface and a living room-like feel.
A Booth Level Officer in West Bengal suffered a heart attack while working on the Special Intensive Revision exercise. His daughter believes it was due to stress and his weak physical condition. This incident adds to the ongoing political debate surrounding the SIR exercise, with opposition parties accusing the ruling party of using it to manipulate elections.
Zerodha's Nithin Kamath warns about the dangers of trading on unregulated crypto derivatives exchanges, citing high leverage and lack of proper regulation as potential risks. With no legal tender status and little oversight from regulators, investors are vulnerable to exploitation. Stricter regulations are needed to protect investors in the growing crypto market.
Lee Soon Jae, a beloved South Korean actor, passed away at 91 and was honored with the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit. His funeral will be held at Asan Medical Centre and he will be laid to rest at Eden Paradise. Lee had a successful career in various forms of entertainment and was a mentor to younger actors.
Retail bond market on the rise, but caution urged against unregistered online bond platform providers (OBPPs). SEBI-registered OBPPs see increase in trade volume and retail and HNI participation. Regulatory concerns over unregulated platforms advertising high returns on low-rated bonds without disclosing risks. SEBI's warning to avoid unregistered platforms and verify registration status.
Asian Paints is investing Rs 340 crore to build a new manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates, its second in the region. The plant will have an initial capacity of 55,800 kilo liters per annum. The company's international business has shown a strong growth with a 9.9% increase in revenue and a profit of Rs 76 crore in Q2 FY26. They are also expanding production in other regions.
The Reserve Bank of India has fined Union Bank of India for mishandling soiled notes and ATM cash out. However, the bank claims that the penalty will not greatly affect its operations. Amresh Prasad has been appointed as the new Executive Director. The bank's Q2 results showed a decrease in net profit and net interest income.