sovereign matter

The Indian rupee has fallen nearly 6% against the US dollar due to Middle East tensions, prompting the Reserve Bank of India to consider measures like interest rate hikes and attracting dollar inflows. Officials are exploring a foreign currency deposit scheme for NRIs and a potential sovereign dollar bond to stabilize the currency.

Once a cherished gift from royalty, Frogmore Cottage is now undergoing extensive renovations to split it back into two distinct homes. With eye-watering upgrades like a luxury yoga studio, the overhaul will run into the millions. Since Prince Harry's departure, the cottage has stood empty, and it seems even potential royal tenants are hesitant to call it home.

Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are now trading on the NSE, revolutionizing India's gold market. This digital format, backed by physical gold in SEBI-regulated vaults, offers investors a secure and transparent way to hold the precious metal. EGRs aim to overcome traditional concerns like purity and storage, integrating gold more closely with the capital markets.

Every crisis reminds us that markets can swing like a pendulum between greed and fear. Fixed income offers comfort in those phases and does its job as a stabiliser.

Intense diplomatic efforts are underway to secure an agreement between the US and Iran, aiming to end the Middle East conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and ease energy market pressures. Despite claims of progress, significant disagreements persist over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and regional influence, leaving a final deal uncertain.

SpaceX is preparing for a historic IPO, aiming for a $1.75-$2 trillion valuation and seeking to raise $75 billion by June 2026. Despite significant revenue growth from Starlink, the company reported substantial losses in 2025 and Q1 2026, largely due to heavy investments in its new AI unit following the xAI acquisition.

India's economic future hinges on AI, with a potential $500 billion GDP boost by 2030, according to an IBM and IndiaAI study. While corporate enthusiasm is high, a significant 'inflection gap' exists in AI adoption. Addressing data sovereignty, infrastructure, and a massive talent hunt are crucial for realizing this potential.

In an exclusive interview, Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube clears the air on a range of issues including fleet expansion, the West Asia crisis, rising costs due to crude-oil related upheaval, availing Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme of the government, and more

Rupee depreciation is not new, what is new however is the rapid pace at which it is falling. It’s the biggest risk for India’s external sector resilience at the moment. In just over a year, the rupee has depreciated over 14%.

US prosecutors suspect Bangkok-based OBON Corp.—a company central to Thailand's national AI strategy—of acting as the middleman in a $2.5 billion scheme to smuggle Nvidia-equipped Supermicro servers into China, with Alibaba among the alleged end customers. Bloomberg identified OBON as the unnamed "Company-1" in a March federal indictment that charged Supermicro co-founder Wally Liaw with violating US export control law. OBON and Alibaba have not been charged.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Donald Trump's Beijing summit at the last minute, boarding Air Force One in Alaska, but China still won't approve H200 AI chip purchases. Trump said Beijing "chose not to" because it wants homegrown silicon. With DeepSeek now running on Huawei chips and 10 cleared Chinese firms yet to place orders, Nvidia's China stalemate looks set to drag on.

India's enduring love for gold spans centuries, evolving from tradition to modern investment. Women hold vast reserves, and the market is set for significant growth. Digital gold and ETFs are gaining traction alongside traditional jewellery. Gold remains a symbol of prosperity, security, and auspiciousness for Indians across generations.

Air India’s losses in 2025-26 at Rs 27,000 crore are the highest ever recorded in its 94-year-old history. In all, Air India has lost Rs 55,000 crore since Tatas took over the airline. Will these complicate final years of N Chandrasekaran’s tenure as Tata Sons chairman?

Trump’s philosophy is often mistaken for the absence of philosophy, but absence can become a system if practised with sufficient confidence. Every problem becomes a deal, every deal becomes a performance, every performance requires a winner, and the winner, ideally before anyone checks the paperwork, is Donald Trump.

India is no stranger to austerity measures. Every time the country needs to tighten its belt, leaders seize the opportunity to present themselves as making sacrifices and sharing in the hardships of ordinary citizens

Superstar Rajinikanth has surprised producer Thenappan by gifting him a gold chain following the successful re-release of their 1999 blockbuster, 'Padayappa'. This thoughtful gesture, breaking industry norms where producers typically reward actors, highlights Rajinikanth's humility and gratitude. The film's enduring popularity after 25 years is evident in its strong theatrical performance, sparking hopes for a potential sequel.

nthropic CEO Dario Amodei keeps predicting that AI will trigger mass unemployment on a global scale. But with an Anthropic IPO reportedly targeting a $900 billion valuation, his warnings may be doing double duty—as both public service and investor pitch. Anthropic's own labor research shows the reality is far more gradual. And voices from Sam Altman to Meta's Yann LeCun are increasingly pushing back.

Jeff Bezos' AI venture, Project Prometheus, has secured a massive $10 billion in new funding, valuing the company at $38 billion. This AI lab, co-led by Bezos, focuses on creating tools for designing and manufacturing physical products, targeting industries beyond software. Bezos is actively involved in the company's strategic direction, aiming to enhance business efficiency.

San Marino’s World Cup story is one of football’s most enduring underdog narratives, defined less by results than by persistence. Ranked 211th and made up largely of part-time players, they continue to face Europe’s elite in every qualifying cycle, absorbing heavy defeats while occasionally producing historic moments. Their journey captures what it means simply to belong in the global game.

US & Iran are taking a high-risk gamble over Hormuz. With doubts hanging over a scheduled second round of talks today, there are three ways this can go. Return to direct conflict. Iran negotiating under pressure. Or a prolonged stalemate

India's nuclear ambitions have reached a pivotal stage with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor achieving criticality, marking a significant step in its three-stage nuclear program. This advancement positions India as a leader in advanced nuclear technology, bolstering its drive for energy self-reliance and security amidst a rapidly expanding power sector.

High-stakes diplomatic talks between U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Iran in Pakistan concluded without an agreement, deepening uncertainty over a Gulf ceasefire. Vance acknowledged the failure, stating Iran rejected Washington's "final and best offer," while Iran cited U.S. unwillingness to recognize its "legitimate rights and interests."

Trump has treated the UK the way he has treated Europe, NATO and anyone else he thinks is not carrying its water. Starmer, in contrast, has tried to draw a line. He has said Britain will not repeat the “mistakes of Iraq” and will act only on a “lawful basis”. Even that, however, pales in comparison to the bluntness coming out of Europe. France’s Emmanuel Macron has openly mocked Trump’s inconsistency, saying “you have to be serious” and warning that a leader “can’t contradict himself every day.” Against that, Starmer’s irritation feels less like defiance and more like discomfort.