Rajat Patidar’s rise to captaincy and leadership of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2025 has been a defining factor in their journey to the final. Despite stepping into the role amidst uncertainty and without Faf du Plessis, Patidar has shown remarkable steadiness and tactical acumen. Praised by both RCB’s batting coach Dinesh Karthik and Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, Patidar’s calm demeanor and ability to maintain consistency in challenging circumstances have made him one of the key figures in RCB’s successful campaign.

The opening day of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 12 Player Auction set new records, with Mohammadreza Shadloui and Devank Dalal becoming the latest stars to cross the INR 2 crore mark. Shadloui, a two-time PKL champion, was the first to surpass this threshold, achieving a historic three-time INR 2 Crore status. A total of 10 players crossed the INR 1 crore mark, signaling a continued surge in player valuations. The introduction of the Final Bid Match (FBM) rule added further intrigue, allowing teams to retain key players for an extended duration, cementing the league's ongoing evolution.

In a bid to combat rising cooking oil prices and ease the strain on household budgets, the Indian government has slashed the basic customs duty on crude palm oil, crude soyabean oil, and crude sunflower oil from 20% to 10%. This move, effective immediately, aims to reduce retail oil prices that surged by 17.4% in April. It will also benefit the domestic edible oil processing industry by lowering raw material costs. Additionally, the government has introduced stock limits on wheat to combat hoarding and curb inflationary pressures.

As the 2025 French Open enters its pivotal phase, exciting matchups unfold across the tournament’s fourth round. In a day full of action, Tommy Paul is expected to dominate Alexei Popyrin based on superior clay-court form, while Carlos Alcaraz heads into his match with Ben Shelton as a heavy favorite, poised to extend his unbeaten streak. Additionally, Lorenzo Musetti faces Holger Rune in a compelling encounter, despite Rune’s strong head-to-head advantage.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has addressed the company’s decision to lay off approximately 6,000 employees, framing the cuts as part of a strategic realignment towards artificial intelligence (AI), rather than a reflection of employee performance. During an internal meeting, Nadella acknowledged the emotional toll but emphasized the need for Microsoft to reposition itself for the AI-driven future. While these layoffs have impacted many roles, especially software engineers, the company remains optimistic, highlighting its growing success with enterprise AI solutions like Copilot.

In May 2025, Toyota Kirloskar Motor posted a notable sales figure of 30,864 units, marking a significant 22% year-on-year increase. With 29,280 units sold domestically and 1,584 units exported, the company saw substantial growth in its SUV and MPV segments. The Fortuner and Legender, along with the success of badge-engineered models such as the Glanza and Rumion, have contributed greatly to the surge. A key highlight is the introduction of the Innova HyCross Exclusive Edition, which offers multiple upgrades.

A 43-year-old private sector employee from Alwal fell victim to a sophisticated online stock trading scam, losing over Rs 70 lakh. The cyber fraudsters, posing as representatives of Zerodha, a legitimate trading platform, lured the victim into transferring substantial sums under false pretenses. The scam, which lasted almost a month, included deceptive transactions and fake profit returns to build trust, before demanding additional payments as "tax fees." The fraud was uncovered only when the victim sought help from the genuine Zerodha office, prompting a police investigation.

IndianOil is set to establish India's largest green hydrogen plant, with a capacity of 10,000 Tonnes Per Annum (TPA) at its Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex. The project, slated for completion by December 2027, will produce green hydrogen to replace fossil-based hydrogen in refinery operations. This shift will significantly reduce carbon emissions, marking a major step in India's push towards sustainable energy solutions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever position paper on immunization strategies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a leading cause of infant mortality. The paper introduces two key immunization approaches: a maternal vaccine designed to transfer antibodies to unborn infants, and a long-acting monoclonal antibody offering protection to infants for up to five months. The recommendations aim to reduce RSV-related deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the virus has its most severe impact.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the Ministry of Finance, has submitted feedback to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on its draft guidelines for lending against gold collateral. Key suggestions include exempting small-ticket borrowers, those taking loans under ₹2 lakh, from new requirements and proposing a delay in the implementation of the guidelines until January 2026. These recommendations come in response to identified irregularities in gold loan disbursement practices and aim to protect small borrowers while ensuring operational adjustments for lenders.