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India Today
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Aamir Khan on declining Rs 125 crore OTT deal: Was advised against it
Actor Aamir Khan recently spoke about his bold move where he went against industry norms and declined the offer of not selling subscription rights for 'Sitaare Zameen Par' before its theatrical release. Calling it a tough but deliberate choice, the actor-producer revealed he turned down a Rs 125 crore deal, prioritising the audience's verdict over guaranteed an exclusive conversation with Business Today, the actor shared his views on the same and said, 'We did not sell the subscription model before the release. That was a tough and big decision. And so we did. We didn't have any safety net. So I believe that at the end of the day, it is the audience that decides how much they love the film. And any film works on word of mouth when people love the film. So it's important for me that when I come out of the film, I want to know what all the people think about it. With 'Sitaare Zameen Par', the theatrical audience has told us that they really love the film. The film has done more than 250 crores worldwide. And it has received a lot of love.'advertisementHe added, 'That decision of saying no to Rs 125 crores was not an easy one. I will not deny that I was given a lot of advice against what I was doing. But I strongly felt that that's a model that I feel in the long run is not good for me. It doesn't work for me as a creative or as a business person. And I felt that rather than the Rs 125 crores of a pre-sale that I'm getting from a subscription platform, I would rather take the Rs 100 from each audience of mine. I want that Rs 100 of that audience to be more valuable to me.' The 60-year-old also spoke about how he wanted to use the digital space to promote young and independent filmmakers who struggle to find a theatrical release.'Sitaare Zameen Par' is directed by RS Prasanna, who had earlier directed 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'. The film's screenplay is written by Divy Nidhi Sharma. It is a remake of the 2018 Spanish sports drama 'Campeones'. The movie is co-produced by Khan, Aparna Purohit, B Shrinivas Rao and Ravi Bhagchandka.'Sitaare Zameen Par' was released in theatres on June 20, 2025.- EndsTrending Reel
BusinessToday
a day ago
- Business
- BusinessToday
Malaysia Emerging As Bright Spot For Investors Seeking Stability
Amid rising global uncertainty and geopolitical fragmentation, Asia, particularly Malaysia, is emerging as a bright spot for investors seeking both stability and growth. Franklin Templeton Institute Investment Strategist Christy Tan shared with BusinessToday that the region's capacity to adapt to a shifting world order is setting the tone for a more resilient investment landscape in the second half of 2025 (2H25). She said Malaysia, in particular, is gaining recognition for its ability to balance structural reform with economic resilience. 'The country's economy grew 4.5% year-on-year (YoY) in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), bolstered by robust service sector expansion (5.3%) and ongoing infrastructure development (3.8%). Notably, fiscal reforms such as the expansion of the Sales and Services Tax and the rationalisation of electricity tariffs are aimed at strengthening public finances without derailing growth. 'Malaysia is navigating external pressures with strategic domestic adjustments. Its efforts in digitisation, sustainability and special economic zones (SEZs) position it as a trade diversification hub,' Tan said to BusinessToday . Tan shared that despite foreign investors pulling RM11 billion from Malaysian equities between January and May 2025, largely due to global trade tensions, the country's defensive, high-dividend sectors remain attractive, particularly those tied to infrastructure, digital transition and fiscal spending in areas like the Johor-Singapore SEZ. Malaysia is navigating external pressures with strategic domestic adjustments, and its efforts in digitisation, sustainability and SEZs position it as a trade diversification hub Asia's Adaptive Edge Meanwhile, Tan highlighted that Asia's broader outlook is equally compelling as regional economies are realigning supply chains, deepening cross-border partnerships and accelerating digital transformation to reduce reliance on the West. While 2Q25 GDP growth benefitted from a pre-tariff export surge, Tan cautions that momentum may taper as tariff impacts begin to weigh in the coming quarters. 'Nevertheless, India remains a top conviction play for Franklin Templeton, underpinned by resilient GDP growth, formalisation trends and a booming digital economy. 'Alternatively, Japan, bolstered by a fresh US-Japan trade deal, has seen US investors inject over US$5.6 billion into its equity markets in 1H25, a fourfold jump YoY,' Tan said. Meanwhile, Tan also noted that emerging markets (EMs) across Asia offer a rare blend of yield, fundamentals and monetary flexibility. 'With global interest rates expected to ease, well-managed EM debt, particularly in countries with low external exposure, presents compelling opportunities. 'However, the need for selective and active management is needed given the uneven tariff effects and macro headwinds,' Tan said. US Markets: Rally Meets Risk While Asia offers stability, Tan shared that the US continues to present a paradox of market strength and economic fragility. 'This is evident as the S&P 500 has surged 30% from its April lows, and the Nasdaq has skyrocketed 41%, a historic rebound that has pushed valuations into stretched territory. 'The rally, however, masks underlying concerns: Inflation rebounded to 2.7% in June, and the new 15%-20% blanket tariffs on European Union imports could drive it as high as 3.3% by early 2026,' Tan said. The leadership in US equities is to broaden beyond mega-cap tech stocks, with opportunities emerging in mid- and small-caps, value sectors and global alternatives She then highlighted that the US federal debt has surpassed US$36 trillion, with annual interest costs breaching the US$1 trillion mark. At the same time, consumer spending is showing cracks and personal savings have dipped to just 4.5%, far below pre-pandemic norms. 'Investors need to remain cautious, not complacent, as we're entering an environment where risks are becoming more asymmetrical, whether it's inflation surprises, protectionist trade policies or fiscal strain,' said Tan. Navigating What's Next: Diversification and Discipline As investors look ahead, Tan shared that the key message is clear: Stay diversified, remain disciplined and don't be swayed by exuberant short-term rallies. Tan expects the leadership in US equities to broaden beyond mega-cap tech stocks, with opportunities emerging in mid- and small-caps, value sectors and global alternatives. But increasingly, the investment spotlight is shifting eastward. 'In a world of rising fragmentation and volatility, Asia, and Malaysia in particular, offers a compelling case for long-term and resilient growth,' Tan said, while emphasising that it's where adaptability meets opportunity. Related
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk's shares plunge as it cuts sales forecast
The obesity drugmaker Novo Nordisk has cut its full-year sales and operating profit forecasts for the second time this year, sending its shares down by more than a fifth on Tuesday. The maker of the weight-loss drug Wegovy is struggling to convince investors it can remain competitive in the obesity drug boom against US rival Eli Lilly. 'The lowered sales outlook for 2025 is driven by lower growth expectations for the second half of 2025,' the company said in a statement. 'This is related to lower growth expectations for Wegovy in the US obesity market, lower growth expectations for Ozempic in the US GLP-1 diabetes market, as well as lower-than-expected penetration for Wegovy in select IO [international operations] markets,' it said. Novo now expects 2025 sales growth of 8%-14% in local currencies, down from its previous 13%-21% forecast range. It also lowered its operating profit growth estimate to 10%-16%, from 16-24% previously. Sales rose 18% year on year in the second quarter and the first half of the year, Novo said. Its operating profit increased by 40% in the April-June quarter and by 29% in the first half, the company added. Shares were down more than 21% at 355.30 Danish kroner (£41.21). Booming sales of Wegovy catapulted Novo to become Europe's most valuable listed company in 2024, peaking at about €615bn (£532bn), but the value has since fallen by more than half. Novo Nordisk also named Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new chief executive on Tuesday, relying on an experienced company insider to revive sales and its share price. The appointment comes after the abrupt removal in May of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen by Novo and the Novo Nordisk Foundation – the Danish company's controlling shareholder. Doustdar, who joined Novo in 1992, now serves as vice-president for international operations, a role he took after leading the company's businesses first in the Middle East and then in Southeast Asia, Novo said. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The new chief executive's most urgent challenge, according to investors and analysts, is to revive Novo's performance in the US, the largest market by far for weight-loss drugs and where they are most profitable. Novo launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy nearly two-and-a-half years before Eli Lilly's Zepbound. However, Zepbound prescriptions surpassed those of Wegovy this year by more than 100,000 a week. The appointment comes at a challenging time for the global pharmaceutical industry as Donald Trump threatens to impose tariffs on imports and calls on drugmakers to lower their US prescription prices.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
European pharmaceutical firms criticise Trump tariffs on medicines as ‘blunt instrument'
European pharmaceutical firms have condemned the US move to put 15% tariffs on medicines imported from the EU, calling the taxes a 'blunt instrument' that would harm patients on both sides of the Atlantic. They were responding to a White House text of the deal that inferred the 15% baseline rate on imports from the EU would also apply to drugs if the agreement is implemented on the US side on Friday as expected. 'As part of President Trump's strategy to establish balanced trade, the European Union will pay the United States a tariff rate of 15%, including on autos and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors,' the text said. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries (EFPIA) said: 'Tariffs on medicines are a blunt instrument that will disrupt supply chains, impact on investment in research and development, and ultimately harm patient access to medicines on both sides of the Atlantic.' The trade organisation represents drug companies across the bloc including Bayer in Germany, Novo Nordisk in Denmark, and US multinationals with operations in Ireland such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. The US move to impose import duties on pharma is a breach of a 1995 World Trade Organization agreement that medicines and the active ingredients in them are rated at zero tariff. An EU trade spokesperson said pharma imports from the US to the EU would remain duty free. Washington's text also indicated that the EU had confirmed it would not introduce a tech tax. An EU spokesperson said this was not the case and the bloc retained the 'sovereign right to legislate' in the digital space. Trump declared war on US pharmaceutical companies who were manufacturing medicines for US patients, and booking profits on those sales abroad. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion In March, he repeatedly took aim at Ireland's historical low-tax policies, which helped lure US multinationals including Pfizer, Boston Scientific and Eli Lilly to its shores, claiming the country had looted US businesses. On Monday, Ireland's prime minister, Micheál Martin, said tariffs in general were not ideal but a trade war would have been 'ruinous'. The EFPIA said it strove to 'ensure a fairer distribution of how global pharmaceutical innovation is financed' but there were 'more effective ways' to achieve this that would 'help rather than hinder global advances in patient care and economic growth'. The White House text of the deal has added to existing confusion over the position of pharmaceuticals in the trade deal, given that EU officials said on Monday that pharma exports to the US would remain duty free until the US had completed its section 232 investigation into pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. The text also raises questions over standards of US foods exported to the EU. The EU said the US's reference to commitments to 'address non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products including streamlining requirements for sanitary certificates for US pork and dairy products' did not amount to any lowering of its red-line rules on food standards. It is known that the European Commission has also made a commitment to the UK to streamline veterinary certification processes applying to British food exports post-Brexit. This could include a reduction in the paperwork needed to export products.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Meta's smartwatch with built-in camera is reportedly launching in September 2025
Meta is reportedly reviving its smartwatch project with a brand-new device expected to be revealed at the Meta Connect conference, scheduled for September 17–18, 2025, says a report from Business Today. The wearable is said to feature a built-in camera and AI capabilities that could become a key companion for Meta's growing range of smart glasses and virtual reality (VR) headsets. This isn't Meta's first attempt at launching a smartwatch. The company initially began development back in 2021 under the codename 'Milan,' with prototypes featuring dual cameras and a curved display. One of the versions even had a gold finish and side buttons. But the project was paused in 2022 due to hardware issues and challenges with a nerve-signal control system the company was testing. According to multiple reports citing supply chain sources, including a story by DigiTimes, the device is being manufactured by Chinese company Huaqin Technology. This time, the focus appears to be more on AI tools and camera functions, rather than fitness tracking or health features like other popular smartwatches from Apple or Samsung. What can we expect from the new Meta wearable? The new smartwatch is expected to work closely with Meta's upcoming smart glasses, which are also rumoured to include a built-in display for the first time. Combined, these wearables could allow users to capture images, interact with digital assistants and control their environment using gesture-based or camera-powered tools. While detailed specs are still under wraps, the smartwatch is not expected to rival devices like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch in terms of health tracking. Instead, it may serve more as an intelligent companion to Meta's broader hardware ecosystem, including its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Quest VR headsets. There's no confirmation yet on pricing, battery life or exact features, and it's unclear if the device will launch this year or be teased as a concept at Meta Connect. What's clear is that Meta is trying to create a more unified wearable experience that blends AI, smart glasses and real-time camera interaction into something more ambitious than a traditional wristwatch. We'll likely learn more in the weeks leading up to Meta Connect in September.
