Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Friday met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and reviewed the next steps in negotiations for the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA).The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 14th ministerial conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation in Yaounde, Cameroon, where both sides also exchanged views on issues related to the WTO agenda.“Had a very productive discussion with @USTradeRep Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Conference. Exchanged views on the #WTOMC14 agenda, next steps in the India-US BTA negotiations and explored ways to further deepen our economic cooperation and bilateral trade ties,” Goyal said in a social media post.The development comes amid ongoing efforts by both countries to finalise an interim trade pact. Last month, India and the US announced that they had finalised a framework for the first phase of the agreement, though it is yet to be signed.The two sides had earlier announced a trade deal on February 2, followed by a joint statement on February 7 outlining the contours of the agreement.As part of the framework, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18%. However, the tariff structure has since undergone changes after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariffs imposed under earlier measures.Following the ruling, US President Donald Trump introduced a 10% tariff on all countries for a period of 150 days starting February 24.In view of these developments, a planned meeting between chief negotiators of India and the US — aimed at finalising the legal text of the agreement — has been postponed. The pact was earlier expected to be signed this month.An official had earlier said that the interim trade agreement would be signed once the new global tariff framework of the US is fully in place.
In the upcoming episode of Wheel of Fortune, the cast of Bhoot Bangla Rajpal Yadav, Ektaa Kapoor, and Wamiqa Gabbi join the show, adding fun and lively energy to the conversation around clean eating between Ektaa Kapoor and Akshay Kumar.
During the interaction, Akshay Kumar playfully asks Ektaa Kapoor whether she eats junk food. In response, Ektaa shares a humorous behind-the-scenes anecdote from Bhoot Bangla. She reveals that whenever she feels like eating junk food, Akshay Kumar never lets her, as he strictly follows a healthy diet and often lectures her about eating clean. She further admits that despite his advice, she used to secretly enjoy samosas and other junk food without him knowing.
Akshay Kumar reveals Ektaa Kapoor`s eating habits
Adding to the fun, Akshay humorously responds, “Main tere se bahar baat karta hoon,” which instantly sends everyone into laughter.
This entertaining exchange on Wheel of Fortune not only brings out Akshay Kumar’s signature humor but also highlights his strong commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Known for inspiring fitness and discipline, Akshay once again emphasizes the importance of mindful eating while keeping the mood light and humorous.
Akshay Kumar`s fun banter with Harsh Gujral
Earlier, Akshay Kumar made a fun revelation about YouTuber Harsh Gujral. Akshay brings up Harsh in the middle of the conversation and states “Yeh hain Harsh Gujural, yeh aisa aadmi hain jo har show pe jaata hain aur sabko apna rishtedaar banake aata hain”. Harsh defends by announcing a humorous connection with Akshay by announcing to the audience “Main ek baat kehna chahta hoon, actually Akshay sir mere mamaji hain, kya hain ki meri maa bhatia hain aur sir bhi bhatia hain” . Akshay puts an end to this light hearted banter between the two by coming up with a comical comeback by saying “Yeh mere hi show mein aake mujhe hi mama bana raha hain”.
Harsh has already decided his fate after listening to the warning by adding “Sir, mujhe ek crore jyaada lag raha hain, mere pass 60,000 hain pehle round se, toh mera toh hogaya.” Akshay tries to motivate Harsh to aim for the higher prices by stating “Main idhar chahata hoon ki tu ek crore jeetke leke jaaye aur tu dihadi mein laga hua hain.”
This episode promises a perfect blend of laughter, celebrity camaraderie, and light-hearted moments, making it a must-watch for audiences.
BENGALURU: Sunrisers Hyderabad will be without their regular skipper and lead pacer Pat Cummins for at least the first two weeks of the IPL, with the Australian currently working his way back to full bowling fitness.Head coach Daniel Vettori moved to allay concerns around Cummins’ condition, stressing that the pacer’s overall fitness is not in question.
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IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan steals the show at captains meet
“His fitness has been exceptional. He’s been out of the game for an extended period, so he’s had time to put in a real block of work around strength and conditioning,” Vettori said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.The challenge, according to the former New Zealand captain, lies in rebuilding Cummins’ bowling workload.“The only issue has been his bowling loads. Once he got the all-clear from Cricket Australia, it’s been a bit of a painstaking process to build him up to where he feels confident and strong about bowling. Over the next couple of weeks, he’ll keep building, and hopefully we’ll have a clearer timeline in 10 to 12 days,” he explained.Vettori was all praise for stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan, who, apart from enjoying a purple patch at the T20 World Cup, also led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title.“He was added to the group last year, and the leadership that he exuded throughout the season, particularly in the back half when he took over the wicket keeping, really brought energy to the group and set up our back half. When Cummins was unfortunately out of the initial stage of the tournament, we obviously had some decisions to make. His experience with his state team, in particular, had been so impressive, and he was in really good form. So between Abhishek (Sharma) and himself, we feel like we’ve got a really good leadership group to lead us this year.”Vettori also added that three young Indians, led by Karnataka southpaw R Smaran, are in contention for a place in the XI. The other two players are Aniket Verma and Salil Arora.
In a sleepy village in Tamil Nadu, a police station runs the risk of shutting down due to the low number of cases. But when a severed human head is discovered on a nearby hill, things spiral out of control.
With no body in sight, but a bundle of cash and a letter at the crime scene, this is no open-and-shut case, and it is up to three police officers to piece together what happened.
When the first episode ends in such a manner, one can only assume that the investigation that follows will unravel several layers with multiple twists.
Through some old-fashioned digging, the police discover that 1) the man is named Muthu and 2) he harbours sordid secrets. Every person interrogated presents a narrative of how they met him, and provide wildly different impressions of Muthu (Vijay Sethupathi) emerge.
Over the years, Muthu has been a part of a troupe of dancers in Madurai, a mahout, a watch mechanic in Kerala, and a manager at an orphanage, switching professions at the drop of a hat.
To a man whose restaurant stands because of Muthu’s benevolence, he is nothing short of divine. Muthu`s former boss, however, suspects him of harbouring ties to a criminal (Milind Soman). At the centre of these conflicting recollections, Muthu stands as a mystical and elusive figure.
Who is Muthu? And more importantly, who killed him?
Kaattaan unfolds at a slow pace, ambling through the houses and fields in the village to establish its milieu. The sweeping vistas of rural Tamil Nadu are absolutely gorgeous, yet, for all its atmospheric intent, the opening stretch fails to create any real emotional resonance with its characters. Investigating officer Kaliyan Pandiyan`s central conflict of being torn between continuing the family legacy of herding goats and being a police officer feels underdeveloped, making it difficult to be invested in his dilemma.
The series does not fare better in lighter moments either. Whether it`s Pandiyan’s mother teaching her helper, Kuttu Karippu, how to shave a goat`s horn, or the age-old mother-in-law and daughter-in-law squabble, these moments are tedious instead of funny. They unnecessarily stall the pace, making one wish the series would move past domestic detours and return to the far more compelling murder investigation.
Equally frustrating is the presence of a languid and inept officer Paluraj (Singamouli), whose sole function is to deliver comic one-liners, a trope that feels out of place in a serious and layered narrative, and one that quickly wears thin.
The most glaring misstep, however, is Muthu`s poorly rendered CGI head. It`s so unconvincing that it undercuts the sense of curiosity and tension the series tries to build.
However, despite the slow start, the series picks up momentum in later episodes, with the cops embarking on a hunt across Tamil Nadu and even a cross-border journey to Kerala. The suspense heightens as more layers are peeled from Muthu`s character, and we navigate his many identities. Kaattaan, though not gripping enough to warrant a one-sitting binge, is certainly engaging and intriguing enough to make it a journey worth embarking on.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 28.
Ahead of the league, Royal Challengers Bengaluru`s (RCB) head coach Andy Flower provided an update on the availability of star pacer Josh Hazlewood for the first game.
Speaking about the pacer, the head coach said that he looks younger and he has worked hard to regain his full fitness.
“Hazlewood arrived yesterday. He`s looking fit. I did comment to him that he looks even younger than I remember him, so he`s enjoyed some good downtime, but he`s worked hard to get himself back up to full fitness. It`s great to have him here. It`s even great to have him here in our dressing room and in the meetings,” he said.
The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Further speaking, the head coach stated that Hazlewood won`t be making his appearance for the first match, and the management will be monitoring his fitness.
“He won`t be ready for tomorrow, because he`s just got off the plane, and we`ll be monitoring his fitness very closely and looking forward to him making his entrance into the IPL,” said Flower.
Earlier, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary, Santosh Menon, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five of the RCB`s IPL 2026 home games. The venue will also host one of the play-off matches and the title clash of the tournament.
Bengaluru`s remaining two home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Full Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.
Twenty years after The Devil Wears Prada became a cultural hit, the sequel is already creating the same buzz—only bigger and more chaotic. The shoot quickly turned into a spectacle, showing how intense the spotlight still is.
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep reflect on the sequel
With massive crowds, constant paparazzi, and unexpected moments on set, the line between the film’s world and real life started to blur.
“I was aware that I was falling, I was aware that I was being photographed,” says Anne Hathaway, recalling a moment when her heel broke mid-scene, and she fell down a few steps. She got back up immediately, smiling and reassuring everyone she was okay, but later admitted her first thought was, “Oh no. I’m news.”
Reflecting on returning to the film after two decades, Meryl Streep shared just how overwhelming the experience was this time around, “Even though we were aware of the impact of the first film two decades ago, I think none of us were prepared for the ambush of both goodwill and avid attention that engulfed us,” says Streep. “We needed police barriers and crowd control. Buses of fans turned up, and paparazzi swarmed and in one case kept jumping in front of the camera and the shot and got in a kerfuffle with crew! Annie kept her cool, but I was unnerved.”
About The Devil Wears Prada 2
The trailer opens with Andy, now a senior journalist, joining Runway as the new Features Editor. When she steps into Miranda`s office and greets her warmly, her former boss has no recollection of her. Nigel tires to remind Miranda, “She was one of the Emilys” but to no avail.
A montage of glitzy shots from the world of fashion follow before the three of them bump into Emily, prompting her to exclaim, “Am I having a hallucination?” while Miranda, with yet no recollection of Andy, is incredulous that Emily instantly recognises her.
Towards the end, Emily takes a dig at Andy during a meeting. “You`ve changed,” she tells Andy, before adding, “you`re much more confident. You kept those eyebrows, though, didn`t you?” setting the tone for their love-hate relationship.
The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters, including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak and Conrad Ricamora. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles as “Lily” and “Irv” from the first film. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is produced by Wendy Finerman, and executive produced by Michael Bederman, Karen Rosenfelt and Aline Brosh McKenna. The film debuts exclusively in theatres in India on May 1.
Varun Dhawan embraced parenthood in 2024 and welcomed daughter Lara. The actor has kept the little one away from the spotlight. In a candid chat, he opened up about a difficult phase as his daughter Lara was diagnosed with DDH at just 1.5 years old. The actor shared details of her treatment, recovery, and the challenges involved.
Varun reveals Lara was diagnosed with DDH
In a conversation at We Are Yuvaa, Varun revealed that when Lara was 1.5 years old, she was diagnosed with DDH. He said, “My daughter was diagnosed with DDH, in which the hip slips out of the hip socket. Ek pair lamba chota ho jaata hai, jiski wajah se walk tedi ho jaati hai (One leg becomes shorter than the other, which causes an uneven limp while walking). You can`t walk or run properly.”
Varun added, “You get arthritis early, slip disc early. West mein iska bahut accha treatment hota hai birth pe hi. India mein har jagah nahi hai itna. But yahan bhi bahut acche doctors hain jo iska care karte hain (In the West, this condition is treated very well from birth itself. In India, that level of treatment is not available everywhere yet. But there are also many excellent doctors here who take care of it). She didn`t need to undergo surgery. With one procedure, they could put the hip back. But she had to be in a spica cast. That means she had to be in a cast for 2.5 months, which is extremely difficult. To put her under anaesthesia and then have her wake up in a cast. Now the cast is out. I want to write a book on it.”
He urged parents to closely observe their children’s movements and consult a paediatrician if they notice anything unusual.
Varun Dhawan on keeping Lara out of the public eye
Varun Dhawan and his wife, Natasha Dalal, welcomed their daughter, Lara, on June 3, 2024. However, the couple has still not revealed their baby girl’s face to the public. When a social media user asked him about his decision to reveal his daughter`s face, the Border 2 actor replied, “I would rather leave that decision to her. Social media should be her choice, not something I decide for her,” he said.
On the work front, the actor will be seen in his father David Dhawan’s directorial Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The film will arrive in cinemas worldwide on June 12, 2026. It also stars Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur in pivotal roles.
Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
BENGALURU: Until June 3, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru carried the tag of underachievers — a team that spent 17 previous seasons chasing an elusive trophy. On a muggy night in Ahmedabad, that narrative finally shifted. Built less on individual stardom and more on collective performances, RCB shed their long-standing baggage and got the monkey off their backs.When they return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday evening, they do so with a title to defend, a reputation to protect and expectations recalibrated. Against fellow southerners Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB begin their campaign as defending champions — a feat only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have managed to follow up with a successful title defence.
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RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute & squad update
While it is a long season ahead, a strong start will be crucial. Chinnaswamy hasn’t always been a fortress for RCB, and against an SRH side packed with explosive batters, the challenge is immediate.On paper, the two teams share striking similarities. Both boast formidable batting units, both are without their premier Australian quicks, and they will rely on a blend of experienced Indian names and promising youngsters. The conditions only add to the intrigue. The last completed IPL game at the venue last season — RCB’s clash against CSK — saw a staggering 424 runs scored, with the hosts defending 215 by just two runs. If the surface stays true to its batting-friendly reputation, bowlers from both sides could be in for a long evening.RCB have largely retained the core that delivered their maiden title, using the mini-auction to plug specific gaps. The additions of Venkatesh Iyer and England’s Jordan Cox bring flexibility, while young Indian recruits like Mangesh Yadav and Vihaan Malhotra add depth and future promise.Their batting remains their biggest strength. With Virat Kohli and Phil Salt expected to set the tone at the top, Jacob Bethell’s recent form adds another dynamic layer. The middle order is stacked with experience and firepower in Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Venkatesh Iyer. The team management, in fact, faces the enviable headache of narrowing down a balanced playing XI.However, the absence of Josh Hazlewood — their most impactful bowler last season — could be a significant setback. The Australian pacer, still working his way back from injury concerns, only rejoined the squad on Thursday and will sit out of the match. His absence puts the onus on Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lead the attack, especially in conditions that traditionally offer little margin for error. RCB are also without Sri Lankan quick Nuwan Thushara, who is yet to clear the fitness test in his home country. In Hazlewood’s absence, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy could be handed an IPL debut. He is expected to slot into an otherwise Indian-heavy bowling unit, with youngsters Mangesh Yadav and Rasikh Dar pushing for inclusion. The spin department, featuring Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, will also have a key role in controlling the middle overs.SRH, meanwhile, look equally formidable with the bat. Led by Ishan Kishan, they have a destructive line-up comprising Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy. However, their bowling appears relatively undercooked in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, even though they can call upon the experience of Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse and Jaydev Unadkat.Away from the on-field contest, it will be a sombre homecoming for RCB. The players will wear black armbands in memory of the 11 lives lost in the stampede during last year’s title celebrations — a tragedy that continues to cast a shadow over the team and the venue.
In a market defined by volatility, fixed returns and regular payouts are once again becoming central to portfolio planning for Indian investors. The reason is simple: predictability matters. Whether the goal is preserving capital, creating a supplementary income stream, or planning short- and medium-term expenses, investors continue to seek products that offer visibility on returns and cash flows.
Bonds are emerging as a more practical and accessible fixed-income option. (Jiraaf)
For years, traditional instruments like fixed deposits and real estate have dominated this market. However, the investment landscape is evolving. Falling interest rates and inflation pressures are reducing the attractiveness of fixed deposits and high investment minimums, and low rental yields are prompting investors to reconsider real estate as a regular source of income. In this shift, bonds are emerging as a more practical and accessible fixed-income option.
Why fixed returns matter
Fixed returns offer clarity. Investors know what they are likely to earn, when they can expect payouts, and what value they may receive at maturity. That predictability plays an important role in financial planning, especially for households balancing EMIs, education expenses, retirement needs, or near-term savings goals.
Regular payouts strengthen this further. Periodic interest income, whether monthly, quarterly, or annually, can help investors build cash-flow discipline without relying entirely on market-linked assets. In uncertain environments, that kind of visibility is not just comforting; it is financially useful.
FDs remain familiar, but their appeal is weakening
Fixed deposits remain one of India’s most trusted investment products. They are simple, widely understood, and backed by decades of investor comfort. For conservative savers, they continue to serve as a default choice.
However, their relative appeal has weakened in a falling interest rate environment. As deposit rates decline, returns look less attractive, especially after adjusting for taxes and inflation. For many investors, this means FDs continue to offer safety but no longer deliver the same return efficiency they once did. They preserve capital but may not always preserve purchasing power.
This is precisely why investors are beginning to diversify beyond traditional deposits for fixed-income opportunities.
Real estate is traditional, but not always efficient for income
Real estate has long been seen as a dependable wealth-building asset in India. But as a fixed-return or regular-income strategy, it comes with limitations.
The biggest constraint is ticket size. Real estate investments usually require significant upfront capital, making them inaccessible for many retail investors. At the same time, rental yields in India are often modest relative to the total investment. When maintenance costs, taxes, vacancies, and liquidity constraints are added, the attractiveness of real estate as a steady-income generator becomes less compelling.
In other words, it remains a traditional asset, but not always the most efficient one for investors seeking predictable cash flows.
Bonds are becoming the missing middle
This is where bonds are changing the conversation.
Bonds offer fixed returns through coupon payments made at predetermined intervals. They carry a defined coupon interest rate, defined tenure and have a defined credit risk rating. They provide visibility on maturity value, allowing investors to estimate future cash flows with greater precision. For short- and medium-term financial planning, that makes them especially useful.
Unlike equity, where returns depend on market movement, bonds are designed to provide greater predictability. Unlike real estate, they do not require a large lumpsum outlay. And unlike traditional deposits, they can offer investors a wider range of options across issuers, tenures, and payout structures.
Investment products, including bonds, carry risks such as delays or defaults in payments. Credit ratings (AAA to BBB) on bonds indicate risk levels, with AAA being the lowest risk. Please read all offer-related information carefully before investing.
Bonds offer a stronger middle ground for Indian investors looking to balance return visibility with accessibility.
A structural shift in access
One of the biggest changes in India’s fixed-income market is that bonds are no longer an institutional-only product. The rise of SEBI-registered Online Bond Platform Providers has significantly improved retail access to this asset class.
This is an important structural shift. It means that a wider set of investors can now explore fixed-income opportunities that were once difficult to access directly. More importantly, they can do so with greater transparency around tenure, payout schedules, and expected returns.
From Jiraaf’s perspective, this marks a turning point in how Indians approach fixed income. Investors are no longer limited to choosing between fixed deposits and high-ticket real estate. They now have access to a more diversified fixed-income instrument that can fit real financial goals.
The bigger value is planning, not just return
The real advantage of fixed returns and regular payouts is not only income generation. It is planning precision.
Indian investors save with clear objectives. The ability to match investments to known future expenses is a major advantage in that context. Bonds make this easier by giving investors a clear understanding of expected payouts and maturity timelines. That allows for better short- and medium-term planning without depending on uncertain market outcomes.
As Indian investing matures, the conversation around fixed income is also becoming more sophisticated. Safety remains important, but so do accessibility, efficiency, and alignment with financial goals.
That is why bonds are emerging as a game changer. They bring together fixed returns, regular payouts, and improved access in a way that makes financial planning simpler and more practical for a broader base of Indian investors.
Note to the Reader: This article is part of Mint’s promotional consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. Mint assumes no editorial responsibility for the content.
