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Denis Villeneuve, fresh off the critical and commercial success of Dune and Dune: Part Two, has officially been tapped to direct the next instalment in the James Bond franchise.AmazonMGM made the announcement on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone as the studio takes full creative control of the 007 series—previously overseen for decades by the Broccoli family.In a statement to Variety, Villeneuve reflected on his deep-rooted connection to the iconic spy, “Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery,” he shared. Sharing his plans for the future of the franchise, he said, “I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.”It’s been four years since Daniel Craig’s emotional exit from the franchise in No Time To Die. Ever since, speculation about his successor has been relentless. Aaron Taylor-Johnson became the top contender after a Luxury watchmaker unveiled him as its newest global ambassador. Given that the brand has been Bond’s timepiece of choice since Pierce Brosnan sported one in GoldenEye, and with both Brosnan and Craig having held ambassador roles before donning the tux, the timing felt more than a little deliberate.While there’s still no official confirmation that the Kick-Ass, Nosferatu, and upcoming 28 Years Later star will inherit the iconic role, the signs are certainly aligning. Other names still swirling in the rumour mill include Tom Hardy, James Norton, Harris Dickinson, Sam Heughan, Jamie Dornan, and even Tom Holland. But for now, Taylor-Johnson appears to be firmly in the spotlight—and possibly already fitted for a martini.Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had previously stated that the search for a new Bond actor would follow the development of a script and the appointment of a director.

George Kittle’s honest take on Travis Kelce’s weight loss (USA TODAY NETWORK)

After enduring a tough Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Travis Kelce isn’t shying away from the fact that 2024 wasn’t his best. The Kansas City Chiefs’ veteran tight end, who briefly flirted with the idea of retirement, ultimately chose to return—motivated by more than just another shot at glory. Determined to bounce back stronger, Kelce has committed himself to growth both as a player and as a leader.

George Kittle gets real about Travis Kelce’s new shape

Travis Kelce’s numbers last season reflected a noticeable dip. With just 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns, it marked his lowest output since his rookie year—a time when he was barely involved in the offense. Even in the playoffs, the usually dominant tight end managed only 58 yards combined in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl, though he did snag two touchdowns. By Kelce’s standards, that performance wasn’t enough.Determined to regain his edge, Kelce took a different approach this offseason—shedding some weight in an effort to enhance his agility and longevity. While reports claimed he dropped as much as 25 pounds, Kelce clarified that the number wasn’t quite that dramatic, though he did admit he’s lighter than he was last season.His leaner look hasn’t gone unnoticed. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who co-hosts Tight End University alongside Kelce, addressed the chatter with high praise. “I’m pretty sure one of the Super Bowls they won, I saw him the previous offseason and he was like 280 pounds,” Kittle said on ESPN. “I think he was first-team All-Pro and won a Super Bowl, so he’s going to be ready for the season regardless of what it is. He does look great right now.”Despite his “down year,” Kelce still led the Chiefs in receiving yards and remained a vital piece of the puzzle that brought them back to another Super Bowl. It’s this kind of consistency that defines his legacy. With seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and five Super Bowl appearances under his belt, Kelce has already cemented his place as one of the NFL’s all-time greats.Whether or not the slimmer frame translates into peak performance again, one thing’s certain—Travis Kelce isn’t done yet. He’s reloading, not retreating. And that could spell trouble for defenses in 2025.Also Read: Travis Kelce channels inner professor at Tight End University, where Taylor Swift joined the Chiefs TE for support

MUMBAI: An RBI report has called on lenders to reduce loan rates, saying financial conditions are conducive for transmitting the central bank’s 50-basis-point (100bps = 1 percentage point) policy rate cut from June 6 to the credit market. In its state of the economy report for June, RBI noted that high-frequency indicators for May 2025 signal resilient economic activity across the industrial and services sectors. Agriculture also showed broad-based growth across major crops in 2024-25, while inflation remained below its target for the fourth consecutive month.

While the domestic outlook remains optimistic, the global economic backdrop appears fragile. “The global economy is in a state of flux, reeling from the twin shocks of trade policy uncertainties and a spike in geopolitical tensions,” the report said, citing market volatility following the Iran-Israel conflict. Reports from multilateral agencies such as the OECD and World Bank have flagged potential deterioration in medium-term global prospects amid rising protectionism.On the domestic front, the equity markets saw modest gains during May and June but experienced a sharp, short-lived dip before rebounding strongly on June 20, amid heightened tensions in West Asia. The report flagged concerns over near-term inflation pressures and rising term premia due to the worsening US fiscal situation, as well as widening emerging market spreads amid risk-off sentiment.Looking ahead, the central bank said, “Forward-looking surveys of consumer sentiments show stable consumer confidence for the current period and improved optimism about the future.” It also noted that state govts appear fiscally calibrated, planning to raise capital outlay to 3% of GDP in FY26, underlining a focus on quality expenditure. The IMD’s forecast of above-normal southwest monsoon rainfall at 106% of the long-period average is expected to support rural consumption and agricultural output.The report said that India has posted the highest growth among major economies, with a sharp pickup in Q4 FY25 driven by strong fixed investment, high manufacturing capacity utilisation, and buoyant services growth supported by record hiring. However, concerns remain around slowing credit growth, tepid urban demand, rising unemployment, and weaker state finances.