As artificial intelligence (AI) cements its role as a cornerstone of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, global cooperation has become not just necessary but urgent. At a recent G20 Task Force meeting in South Africa, Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele underscored the transformative potential of AI to reimagine economies, societies, and governance structures. With South Africa set to hold the G20 Presidency in 2025, the focus is shifting toward ethical innovation, inclusive growth, and stronger global governance.

Germany’s incoming coalition government has clearly outlined a future of strengthened bilateral ties with India, with a sharp focus on defence collaboration and skilled labour migration. Ambassador Philipp Ackermann emphasized the coalition’s commitment to fostering deeper engagement, especially in the Indo-Pacific and high-skill sectors. As India’s private sector expands globally, and German firms seek dependable partners in Asia, this evolving partnership offers significant economic, technological, and geopolitical opportunities.

A new wave of protectionism, driven by steep tariffs introduced by the United States and retaliatory measures from China, is poised to reshape global trade flows. A potential 3% contraction in global trade and a 0.7% dip in global GDP by 2040 could be on the horizon, as per leading trade economists. With supply chains recalibrating in response to tariff hikes—some reaching 125% to 145%—nations like India, Brazil, and Canada stand to benefit as emerging export destinations.

Gippy Grewal’s new period drama Akaal: The Unconquered, initially lauded for its cinematic quality and compelling narrative, has become a lightning rod for controversy. Accusations of misrepresenting Sikh traditions and history have sparked outrage among sections of the Sikh community, with prominent voices like Baba Bakshish Singh condemning the film for allegedly distorting religious symbols and legacy figures. The backlash has reignited a broader debate around the responsibility of filmmakers in portraying historical and religious subjects.

Despite a marginal downturn in benchmark indices, several of India’s most valuable companies posted robust gains in market capitalization during a holiday-shortened trading week. Hindustan Unilever led the surge, adding nearly ₹29,000 crore to its valuation, while industry giants like Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, ITC, and Bajaj Finance also posted strong performances. However, this optimism was tempered by significant losses for marquee firms including TCS, Infosys, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank.

Indian equity markets brace for a turbulent trading week shaped by global geopolitical frictions and crucial domestic economic developments. With the intensification of the US-China tariff standoff and heightened investor sensitivity to foreign policy maneuvers, volatility has become the defining feature of the current financial landscape. The holiday-shortened trading week also coincides with critical quarterly earnings reports from major players like Infosys, Wipro, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.

Rising global trade tensions, particularly driven by the evolving U.S. tariff strategy under President Donald Trump, have introduced significant volatility across Asian economies. A 90-day delay on new tariffs—excluding a steep 125% duty on Chinese goods—has provided only temporary respite. According to Moody’s Ratings, the uncertainty surrounding trade policy continues to erode business confidence, dampen consumer sentiment, and stall investment flows across the region. With India’s projected growth now downgraded to 6.1% for 2025, the implications are far-reaching.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), one of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs, experienced significant operational disruptions over the weekend as more than 350 flights were delayed. The cause: a confluence of severe weather and ongoing air traffic congestion, compounded by limited runway availability due to scheduled maintenance. Passengers took to social media to share images of chaotic scenes and long wait times, as delays spilled over from Friday into Saturday. Airlines, including IndiGo, cited extended holding patterns for takeoff and landing.

India's popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI) faced widespread outages on Saturday, disrupting transactions for millions of users. This marks the third time in less than two weeks that UPI has experienced technical failures, which have impacted payment processing. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) acknowledged the issue, which began around 11:30 am, and assured users that efforts are underway to resolve the problem.

In a significant leap toward becoming a hub for advanced technology, Chhattisgarh laid the groundwork for its first semiconductor manufacturing facility in Nava Raipur. Backed by a Rs. 1,143 crore investment from Chennai-based Polymatech Electronics, the project aims to establish the city as the “Silicon Valley of Chhattisgarh.” The plant will produce Gallium Nitride (GaN) chips crucial for powering next-generation 5G, 6G, and even 7G technologies. With a proposed production capacity of 10 billion chips by 2030 and a broader Rs.