Thought Canvas

IT Industry Week in Review: AI Dominates Deals, Cybersecurity Challenges Mount, and Markets Rally

The information technology landscape was abuzz with activity in the week ending May 16, 2025, characterised by significant investments in artificial intelligence, major cybersecurity incidents, and a buoyant tech stock market. Key developments spanned strategic acquisitions aimed at bolstering AI capabilities, breakthroughs in AI research alongside growing ethical and societal concerns, and proactive policy discussions attempting to keep pace with rapid technological advancements.

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Global Stock Markets: US-China Tariff Truce Sparks Rally, But Economic Realities Temper Enthusiasm (Week Ending May 16, 2025)

Finance The Week That Was / By Swapnil Bhatnagar

The week ending May 16, 2025, was largely characterised by a significant uplift in global investor sentiment, primarily ignited by a landmark 90-day agreement between the United States and China to pause most of their punitive tariffs. This “tariff truce” acted as a powerful catalyst, propelling many global equity indices to notable weekly gains. The US agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China committed to lowering tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10% for the 90-day period. This development eased immediate concerns about escalating trade tensions that had previously cast a shadow over the global economic outlook.

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The Enduring Bloom: Exploring the Beautiful World of Flower Art

Art / By Swapnil Bhatnagar

Flowers have captivated us for millennia. Their vibrant colours, delicate textures, and fleeting beauty make them perfect subjects for art. From a simple sketch to an elaborate installation, “flower art” is a vast and beautiful realm that speaks a universal language of nature’s wonder. Let’s take a stroll through this blooming world.

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Kalighat Painting: A Vibrant Mirror to 19th Century Kolkata

Wednesday Edition / By Swapnil Bhatnagar

The Vibrant Art of Kolkata’s Temple Steps

Amidst the bustling energy of 19th-century Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), a unique and influential style of Indian folk art emerged from the vicinity of the famed Kalighat Kali Temple.1 Known as Kalighat painting, or Kalighat Patachitra, this art form quickly captured the imagination of locals, pilgrims, and even foreign visitors.2 It stands out for its distinctive visual language: bold, sweeping outlines executed with masterful brushstrokes, vibrant watercolour pigments applied on paper, and strikingly minimal backgrounds that make the central figures pop.1 The subjects depicted were as diverse as the city itself, ranging from revered Hindu gods and goddesses and scenes from ancient epics to sharp social satire, depictions of everyday life, and commentary on contemporary events.2

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Beyond the Classroom: Making Learning an Adventure with Family Outings

Lifestyle, Parenting, Relationships & Family / By Swapnil Bhatnagar

Let’s be honest: keeping kids engaged and excited about learning isn’t always easy within the four walls of a classroom (or your living room!). But what if learning could be an adventure? What if it involved giant dinosaur bones, bubbling science experiments, or stepping back in time to see how people lived long ago?

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Weekly IT Roundup: AI Accelerates, Cloud Competition Heats Up, and Regulatory Landscape Shifts (Week Ending May 9, 2025)

IT Weekly Review / By Mudit Bhatnagar

The information technology (IT) landscape witnessed another week of dynamic activity, marked by significant strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI), unabated competition in the cloud computing sector, an ever-present and evolving cybersecurity threat environment, and noteworthy regulatory movements across the globe. Companies are increasingly embedding AI into their fundamental strategies, a trend that is reshaping everything from product innovation and service delivery to workforce planning and operational efficiency. This report delves into the key developments for the week ending May 9, 2025.

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