Author: GP Editor

The story so far: Ratings agency S&P on Friday upgraded Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB)’s ratings to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted restrictions that barred the private lender from onboarding new customers and issuing fresh credit cards. Elaborating on the rationale, it held that the private lender was “well positioned” for growth in the next two years and “likely” to maintain “strong capitalisation”. “This, together with the banks’ good risk management and strengthened technology infrastructure, will support growth, particularly in new credit card issuances and digital onboarding,” it held. What exactly had happened?  In April last…

Sean Baker’s Anora won Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for Mikey Madison at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in what could be a preview of next Sunday’s Oscars: The film about a Brooklyn sex worker and her whirlwind affair with a Russian oligarch’s son has emerged in recent weeks as an awards season front-runner.The Spirit Awards, held in a beachside tent in Santa Monica, California, is the shaggier, more irreverent sister to the Academy Awards, celebrating the best in independent film and television.Host Aidy Bryant called it “Hollywood’s third or fourth biggest night.”In accepting the directing prize,…

Combat training and defence technology solutions provider Zen Technologies is acquiring a controlling 51% stake for ₹25 crore in Vector Technics whose products are used in manufacture of drones, UAVs and robots.The investment will create a pathway to foray into the aerospace components industry and reinforces its commitment to innovation, indigenous defence manufacturing and technological advancement in robotics, aerospace, and propulsion systems, Zen Technologies said in a release on Tuesday. It will also be acquiring 45.33% stake for ₹4 crore in Bhairav Robotics, a firm focussed on advanced robotic products such as quadrupedal robots and autonomous weapon systems.With these acquisitions,…

Director Dag Johan Haugerud poses with the Golden Bear for “Dreams (Sex Love)“ backstage during the awards ceremony of the 75th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin on February 22, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. | Photo Credit: POOL A Norwegian film about love, desire and self-discovery won top honors at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday.A jury headed by American director Todd Haynes awarded the Golden Bear trophy to Dreams (Sex Love) by director Dag Johan Haugerud.Haynes called it a “meditation on love” that “cuts you to the quick with its keen intelligence.”The film focuses on a teenager played…

Piramal Pharma’s facility in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, has received six observations after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection. A Form-483 with six observations was issued by the U.S. FDA after the General GMP inspection of the facility from February 11-17. The observations are largely around improvement of procedures and practices and not related to data integrity. The company is preparing a detailed response, which will be submitted to agency within stipulated timelines, Piramal Pharma said in a filing on Tuesday (February 18, 2025). The Turbhe facility offers expertise in development and commercial manufacturing of both solution phase and solid…

Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji Maharaj in ‘Chhaava’ The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Tuesday requested the Maharashtra government to grant tax exemption to Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the period drama stars Kaushal as Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Also starring Rashmika Mandanna, it released in theatres on February 14.In a statement, the federation authorities said they have written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis to grant tax exemption to the film.”We appeal that the movie reaches a wider audience as the legacy and courage of this great Maratha king should be known…

Integrated electronics manufacturing solutions provider Cyient DLM will manufacture Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) for next-generation flight avionics systems of Thales. The mission-critical PCBAs will be deployed in leading commercial aircraft platforms reinforcing its expertise in high-reliability electronics, Cyient DLM said, announcing it has secured a long-term avionics manufacturing award from Thales. “Cyient DLM has demonstrated strong technical capabilities and competitive edge over the years for various Thales’s solutions… pleased to have them onboard to also manufacture high-reliability PCBAs for our next-gen flight avionics systems,” Deepak Talwar, V-P Group Procurement – Engineering, and India, Middle East and Africa, Thales said. Thales…

A poster for ‘Baby John’ Varun Dhawan and Keerthy Suresh’s action thriller Baby John began streaming on Prime Video today (February 19, 2025). Directed by Kalees, the film, an official remake of Vijay’s Theri, was released in theatres in December last year. It is produced by Tamil director Atlee and his wife Priya Atlee. Baby John received mixed reviews and was a dud at the box office. The story revolved around an ex-cop, played by Varun, who is forced into hiding to protect his daughter. The film featured Jackie Shroff as the antagonist, Wamiqa Gabbi in a key supporting role…

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow at a slower rate of 6.4% to 6.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 (FY25) as opposed to 8.6% in the same period last year on account of global uncertainties spilling over to the Indian economy. Bank of Baroda (BoB) projected a GDP growth rate of 6.6% in the reporting quarter while ICRA estimated the economy would expand at an even slower pace of 6.4%. While a slower growth is expected on a yearly basis, it is a recovery from the seven-quarter low of 5.4% clocked in Q2FY25.“Indian economy remains one of the…

‘Ne Zha 2’ | Photo Credit: Beijing Enlight Media The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has surpassed Pixar’s Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. According to ticketing platform Maoyan, the film has amassed 12.3 billion yuan ($1.69 billion) in global box office revenue, making it the eighth highest-grossing film of all time.Directed by Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, Nezha 2 is a sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha. Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel The Investiture of the Gods, the film follows a young hero with magical abilities as he defends the fortress…