Features Financial News

Capitol buildings are almost always an imposing presence

Indian badminton champion and Olympian PV Sindhu is set to marry her fiancé, Venkata Datta Sai, a businessman from Hyderabad, in an intimate ceremony on Sunday, December 22, 2024. The couple, who announced their engagement on December 14 with a heartwarming Instagram post featuring them holding rings and beaming with joy, will exchange vows at the luxurious Raffles Udaipur Resort in Rajasthan.

Revanth Reddy slammed ‘Pushpa 2’ star Allu Arjun for being “inhuman” to the family of Revathi, the victim of the stampede at Sandhya Theatre, another politician has chastised the superstar. Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy criticized Allu Arjun, accusing the actor of “forgetting humanity.” Reacting to Allu Arjun’s recent press conference, Reddy claimed the actor appeared to be reading scripted notes, suggesting he was acting off-screen as well.

Indian Railways is set to bolster its connectivity to Kashmir with the likely launch of two new trains next month. The first is a centrally heated sleeper train, not a Vande Bharat as previously speculated, that will ply between New Delhi and Srinagar. Designed for a 13- hour journey, part of which traverses snow-capped mountain landscapes and crosses the iconic 359-m-high Chenab Bridge, the train promises enhanced comfort but will not include second-class sleeper accommodations, ET has learnt. The second train is an eight-coach Vande Bharat, featuring chair car seating, tailored for the shorter Katra-Baramulla route, according to a senior railway officer familiar with the plan.

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Pushpa 2, led by Allu Arjun, continues shattering global box office records. The film has now become the fastest to gross Rs. 1500 crore in Indian cinema, surpassing the monumental success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion by SS Rajamouli and Prabhas. As the Christmas season approaches, the film is expected to see even further growth in its earnings, continuing its dominant run. There is increasing speculation in the industry that the makers of Pushpa 2 are planning to add 15 to 18 minutes of additional footage to the film. Currently, the movie runs for an impressive 200 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes), and if the rumors hold true, this move could further elevate the film’s appeal. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to Twitter to praise the potential decision, calling it a «master stroke» by the production company Mythri Movie Makers. In his tweet, Varma mentioned that the addition of extra footage could significantly enhance the film's already strong momentum.

The initial leak came from Weibo user Digital Chat Station, who suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a horizontal row of cameras across the back of the phone. This arrangement was seen as a striking departure from the familiar triangular camera layout of the iPhone 15 Pro. The report included a render of an iPhone with three cameras placed in a straight line along the top edge, which led many to believe that this would be the new design for the iPhone 17 Pro. However, this idea now faces some skepticism. Also Read: Tell Me Lies Season 3: When will new episodes release and what’s next for Lucy and Stephen?

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), held annually in Thiruvananthapuram, concluded this week. Though the full programme only arrived days before the festival’s start, it was a stellar lineup of films from the state, the rest of India and around the world.

Bajaj Auto today released new 35 versions of its Chetak electric scooter. Under 3500 series, Bajaj has announced Chetak 3501, 3502, and 2903 models. The scooter has a new platform, more features, and a new design. The Chetak's classic look will remain, but the new version have more storage space. Bajaj is offer different versions of the new Chetak, from basic to premium models. The new Bajaj Chetak 3501 and 3502 have same 3.5 kwH battery offering 153 km range and top speed of 73 kmph.

YES BANK, the sixth-largest private sector bank in India, in collaboration with FICCI FLO, South East Asia’s largest women’s chamber of commerce, announced the launch of YES PowherUp, a specialised MSME programme designed to empower women entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses. YES PowherUp offers a comprehensive suite of financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of women-led enterprises. The programme includes specialised SME loans, premium business accounts, international trade and forex services, investment opportunities, credit card options, and insurance plans. By addressing the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, YES PowherUp aims to provide the necessary support for businesses to establish, grow, and succeed sustainably. Dhavan Shah, Head of SME Banking at YES BANK, said, in a statement, “India's MSME sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, with women entrepreneurs emerging as vital contributors to this dynamic ecosystem. Through our partnership with FICCI FLO, we are proud to launch YES PowherUp, a comprehensive and innovative MSME proposition tailored for women-led businesses. At YES BANK, we are deeply committed to enabling women entrepreneurs to thrive, offering them the tools and support needed to scale their ventures and shape India's growth story. Together, we aim to empower women entrepreneurs, fostering their financial independence and enhancing their impact on the economy."

Viduthalai Part 2, featuring Vijay Sethupathi and Soori, premiered on December 20, generating excitement among fans. Directed by Vetrimaaran, the intense crime drama captivated audiences with its gripping trailer and realistic storytelling. The movie progresses with the second segment of the two-part transformation of Jeyamohan's short narrative Thunaivan, exploring further the fierce confrontation between a law enforcement officer and the leader of a separatist faction. The illustrious cast features Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Bhavani Sre, and Rajiv Menon returning to their previous roles, while Manju Warrier, Kishore, and Anurag Kashyap are added to the ensemble for the continuation. The film has been met with a blend of reactions from audiences, with some referring to it as Vetri Maaran's «masterpiece.»

Alex Garland returns with Warfare, his upcoming film set during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The story, centered on Navy SEALs, portrays the harsh realities of warfare through the experiences of soldiers on the ground.

Apple complained that requests from Meta platforms for access to its operating software threaten user privacy, in a spat fuelled by the European Union's intensifying efforts to get the iPhone maker to open up to products from tech rivals. The 27-nation EU's executive Commission is drawing up «interoperability» guidelines for Apple under its new digital competition rulebook. The interoperability measures would ensure that devices like smartwatches or features like wireless file transfers work as smoothly with iPhones as do Apple Watches or AirDrop. The EU's rulebook, known as the Digital Markets Act, aims to promote fair competition in digital markets and prevent Big Tech «gatekeeper» companies from cornering markets. The commission posted proposed measures late Wednesday on how Apple should make its iOS operating system work with other technology. In response, Apple said it's «concerned that some companies — with data practices that do not meet the high standards of data protection law held by the EU and supported by Apple — may attempt to abuse the DMA's interoperability provisions to access sensitive user data.»

Kia revealed its new compact SUV, Syros, in the Indian market on Thursday. The car is the second sub-compact SUV after Sonet by Kia in India. The model will go on sale in 2025. The price for the new vehicle will be announced in January at the Bharat Mobility Show. The company will start accepting bookings from January 3, 2025, and the deliveries will begin from February 2025.

Embattled Chinese autonomous trucking company TuSimple has rebranded to CreateAI, focusing on video games and animation, the company announced Thursday.

Amazon Prime Video has announced that its animated anthology series, Secret Level, will return for a second season. The series draws inspiration from popular video games.

Treebo Hospitality Ventures (THV) announced the launch of its new premium hotel brand called ‘Medalio’ on Wednesday. This launch comes close on the heels of the opening of Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Thrissur, the company’s first hotel under its master franchise partnership with Radisson Hotel Group to address the vast opportunity in the mid-market segment with a price range of Rs 3,500-6,000. The company said derived from the word ‘medallion’, Medalio hotels will come with 'elegant' decor, 'spacious' rooms, wider breakfast spreads, and premium Kimirica toiletries besides other amenities.

Full-size trucks are hugely popular thanks to their versatility and ability to get tough jobs done

DexBoss is one of the noteworthy meme coins this season. DexBoss (DEBO) recently began its presale at $0.01 with the target to list at $0.0505. The token will power the DexBoss ecosystem and provide utility through a deflationary buyback-and-burn model that reduces supply to boost scarcity. DexBoss provides decentralised exchange functionalities similar to the ones in the centralised platforms. The model has a set number of tokens, and the demand keeps rising. It, therefore, means there will be long-term value for the investors. This is one opportunity for anyone entering the decentralised finance (DeFI) space.