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Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures to part ways
MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures and actor Tom Cruise are set for a bitter break up of their 14-year old association. The decision was revealed by Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner Redstone, when he told the Wall Street Journal, “As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal.”
Reportedly, the Viacom chief was hinting at the movie star’s off-screen behaviour. The actor’s camp has taken strong offence of Redstone’s comments as Paula Wagner, Cruise’ longtime partner in his movie company Cruise/Wagner Productions, termed the outburst “offensive” and “undignified.”
“Whatever remarks Redstone would make about Tom Cruise personally or as an actor have no bearing on what this business issue is. There must be another agenda that the studio has in mind to take one of their greatest assets and malign him this way,” Wagner has been quoted in a Reuters report.
As reported, five Cruise starrers co-produced by Cruise/Wagner Productions — these include the Mission: Impossible series — have generated theatrical revenues totalling over $2 billion (1 billion pounds) worldwide during the past decade. Wagner claimed that Cruise-starrers accounted for about 15 per cent of the studio’s overall box office gross over that period.
Wagner has also been quoted as saying that she and Cruise chose to leave the Paramount lot and establish a new venture financed through a private equity fund of $100 million.
The Los Angeles Times had earlier reported on Paramount’s intention to slash the amount of money the studio pays for the production company. Paramount wanted Cruise/Wagner to cut the remuneration from $10 million to $2 million a year, it said.
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Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
