Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) has posted its highest-ever annual net profit of Rs. 98.16 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, reflecting a robust 32.56% increase from the previous year. This financial milestone is underpinned by a loan portfolio surpassing Rs. 8,000 crore and a strengthened capital adequacy ratio of 28.26%, well above regulatory requirements.

Social media platform X—formerly known as Twitter—faced a widespread technical disruption around 6 p.m. today, leaving thousands of users unable to access services across desktop and mobile. At its peak, more than 2,200 complaints were logged on outage tracker DownDetector. The interruption, now resolved, occurred as the platform grapples with legal pressure from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts. X has complied with the directive under protest, warning it threatens the right to free speech and could expose employees to significant penalties.

In a nostalgic and high-spirited reunion, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has completed filming Bhooth Bangla, a horror-comedy helmed by veteran director Priyadarshan. This marks the duo’s first collaboration in 15 years since Khatta Meetha (2010), rekindling a cinematic partnership responsible for some of Hindi cinema’s most beloved comedies. Scheduled for release on April 2, 2026, the film features a star-studded ensemble including Tabu, Paresh Rawal, and Rajpal Yadav.

The recently released trailer for Thug Life, an upcoming Tamil-language film featuring veteran actor Kamal Haasan, has sparked mixed reactions online—praise for its cinematic promise but criticism over intimate scenes involving the 70-year-old star and significantly younger female co-stars. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam, the film’s trailer showcases romantic sequences between Haasan and actresses Trisha Krishnan and Abhirami, both nearly 30 years his junior.

On May 24, 2025, former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav publicly claimed that his Facebook account had been compromised after an unauthorized post surfaced, falsely asserting a long-term romantic relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. The elder son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav condemned the incident as a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation and that of his family. While the viral post has since been removed, the episode sparked significant public scrutiny, especially given Mr. Yadav’s previous high-profile marital issues.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied financial penalties on two institutions—Union Bank of India and Transactree Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (operating under the brand Lendbox)—for lapses in regulatory compliance. The Union Bank of India was fined Rs. 63.6 lakh for violations linked to agricultural lending norms and provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Separately, Lendbox faced a Rs. 40 lakh penalty for failing to adhere to the RBI’s guidelines governing peer-to-peer lending platforms.

The Punjab Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved a series of reforms aimed at enhancing municipal revenue, supporting innovation, and streamlining governance. Chief among these is a revision to the Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties Rules, reducing the payment period for property buyers to six months. The Cabinet also allocated Rs. 5 crore to the Punjab Innovation Mission, framed service rules for police personnel promoted via the sports quota, and passed a bill to repeal outdated Appropriation Acts.

Devyani International Ltd (DIL), the largest Indian franchisee of Yum! Brands, reported a sharp reduction in its net loss for the March quarter and the full financial year ended March 2025. Strategic acquisitions and aggressive store expansion were central to this turnaround, with total consolidated income rising 39% year-over-year to Rs. 4,988.04 crore. The company also diversified its portfolio by acquiring Sky Gate Hospitality, owner of Biryani By Kilo, and introducing global brands such as New York Fries and Tealive.

In a major policy directive aimed at modernizing India’s power infrastructure, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has instructed all states and union territories to ensure full installation of prepaid smart meters in government buildings, including residential colonies, by August 2025. The directive, delivered during a regional conference in Bengaluru, also sets a November 2025 deadline for equipping commercial, industrial, and high-load consumers with smart meters.

Scoda Tubes Ltd., a Gujarat-based manufacturer of stainless-steel tubes and pipes, is set to launch its Rs. 220-crore initial public offering (IPO) later this month. Priced between Rs. 130 and Rs. 140 per share, the offering is structured entirely as a fresh issue of equity shares. The proceeds will be deployed toward capacity expansion, working capital needs, and general corporate expenditures. With a valuation of approximately Rs.