Mufasa: The Lion King will be available for streaming exclusively on Disney+ from March 26. The film grossed $709 million worldwide. Its streaming date was first revealed by People magazine.

Storyline and Direction

Barry Jenkins directed the film. He is known for Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. The movie tells how Mufasa, a lost cub, becomes the leader of the Pride Lands. He meets a lion named Taka after being separated from his parents. Their journey challenges their relationship.

The film is a prequel to The Lion King (2019). That movie was a digital remake of the 1994 animated classic. It earned over a billion dollars globally. Mufasa: The Lion King expands the backstory of a key character from the franchise.

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Voice Cast

Several actors voiced characters in the film. Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. played major roles. The cast also includes Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Blue Ivy Carter, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

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Music and Songs

Lin-Manuel Miranda composed original songs for the film. His tracks include I Always Wanted a Brother, Milele, We Go Together, Tell Me It’s You, Brother Betrayed, and Bye Bye. Unlike the previous films, this installment does not feature songs by Elton John and Tim Rice.Mufasa: The Lion King is part of Disney’’s live-action adaptations. Other recent films in this category include The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan & Wendy and Aladdin.

FAQs

When will Mufasa: The Lion King be available on Disney+?
The film will begin streaming on Disney+ on March 26. Viewers can watch it exclusively on the platform.

How is Mufasa: The Lion King different from The Lion King (2019)?
The film is a prequel that tells Mufasa’s origin story. It explores his journey to becoming the leader of the Pride Lands.

The Houston Texans have made a big move this season by trading left guard Kenyon Green for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles. A selection swap is also included in the deal; the Texans receive a 2026 sixth-round pick and the Eagles receive a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Known for his propensity to create plays, Gardner-Johnson adds experience and a talent for interceptions to Houston’s secondary. The Texans are making the move in an attempt to replace safety Eric Murray, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

Texans to use Gardner-Johnson to bolster defense

Gardner-Johnson joins a Houston pass defense that finished sixth in passing yards allowed and 13th in scoring defense last season. His ability to hawk the ball fits in nicely with a team that finished second in the league with 19 interceptions the previous season.

Gardner-Johnson, who has 18 career interceptions, should be able to contribute right away to his team. Houston’s defensive strategy will benefit greatly from his aggressive attitude and adaptability.

Gardner-Johnson thanked everyone on social media for his time in Philadelphia following the announcement of the trade. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he had with the Eagles in a poignant statement addressed to his teammates, coaches, and supporters. Even though he claimed that he had no control over the trade decision, the defensive player is non

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Texans reinforce offensive line with key moves

In addition to the Gardner-Johnson deal, the Texans signed veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to further restructure their roster. The 33-year-old guard was a member of the Seattle Seahawks in the previous season. Tomlinson has 155 starts to his name till date. He missed just one game in ten seasons. His dependability and regularity will provide Houston’s offensive line much-needed steadiness.

To bolster their offensive line, the Texans have started taking proactive steps. They also traded Laremy Tunsil, a left tackle, to the Washington Commanders in return for several draft picks. They also cut right guard Shaq Mason, indicating a new strategy for safeguarding quarterback C.J. Stroud going forward.

Edwards’ return to add defensive depth

By re-signing veteran defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. for a two-year, $9.5 million contract, Houston Texans have increased defensive depth. With 31 tackles and three sacks in the previous season, Edwards is a vital rotational player. His return gives the unit more experience and guarantees continuity along the defensive front.

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The Texans are strategically reorganising their offensive and defensive groups with these moves in an effort to assemble a competitive and well-rounded team for their forthcoming campaign.

FAQs:

1. Why did the Texans trade Kenyan Green for C.J. Gardner-Johnson?
The Texans needed to strengthen their secondary after losing Eric Murray in free agency, and Gardner-Johnson is expected to bring experience and playmaking ability to their defense.

2. What other moves have the Texans made this offseason?
Aside from trading for Gardner-Johnson, Houston signed veteran guard Laken Tomlinson and re-signed defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. to reinforce both their offensive and defensive lines.

Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Tuesday called upon Indian investors to explore opportunities in the island nation underlining that their participation is “vital” for its economic growth.

At a community event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ramgoolam emphasised the Indian diaspora’s contributions in sectors such as construction, tourism, healthcare, hospitality, and financial services.

India, with a global diaspora of approximately 35 million excelling in fields such as technology, medicine, and finance, remains a key partner for Mauritius.

Ramgoolam acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora, noting, “Your participation is vital for the economic growth of Mauritius. When you come here, you enrich our country as well.”

“We want to encourage people from India, more people to come to invest in Mauritius, especially foreign investors,” he said.

Ramgoolam outlined a series of economic reforms aimed at making Mauritius a business-friendly destination. He promised to reduce bureaucracy and eliminate red tape, stating, “We are looking forward to making businesses easier to do, less bureaucracy, less red tape.” A key initiative is the establishment of an arbitration centre to expedite commercial dispute resolutions. “We’re going to lessen the commercial cost so that disputes can be resolved quickly,” he said, stressing that investors prioritise “clarity, predictability, and… the rule of law.”

Mauritius is also seeking international expertise, including from India, to enhance its judicial and business framework.

“We are looking forward to the judges from abroad… I’m sure from India also we can get because we want to raise the standards,” Ramgoolam said, signalling a collaborative approach to improve Mauritius’ judicial and business environment.

The investment push coincided with a momentous occasion, as Ramgoolam announced the conferment of Mauritius’ highest civilian honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, upon his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day State visit to the island nation.

This prestigious accolade marks Modi as the first Indian and only the fifth global recipient of the award, recognising his contributions to strengthening India-Mauritius relations.

Expressing his gratitude, Modi lauded the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between the two nations and reaffirmed India’s commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation. He noted that Mauritius continues to be a strategic partner for India in the Indian Ocean region, highlighting past collaborations in infrastructure, education, and capacity-building initiatives.

“The people and the government of Mauritius have decided to confer upon me their highest civilian honour. I humbly accept this decision with great respect. This is not just an honour for me, it is an honour for the historic bond between India and Mauritius,” Modi said at the community event attended by over 3,500 people.

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lankan consumer-durable retailer Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC’s national long-term rating of ‘AA-(lka)’ has been affirmed by Fitch Ratings as consumer demand in the island nation recovers. The outlook is stable.

“We expect Sri Lanka’s GDP growth to average 3.5% during 2025-2026, supporting a recovery in consumer spending over the next 12-18 months,” the rating agency said.

“Singer has experienced pent-up demand for consumer durables following the removal of import restrictions in October 2023.

“In addition, the company is positioned to gain market share as smaller competitors faced difficulties or exited in the last few years.”

Singer is a subsidiary of the Hayleys conglomerate.

The full statement is reproduced below:

Fitch Affirms Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC at ‘AA-(lka)’; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings – Colombo – 10 Mar 2025: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lankan consumer-durable retailer Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC’s National Long-Term Rating at ‘AA-(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook.

The rating reflects Singer’s strong market position, supported by its extensive retail and distribution network and established brands. These strengths are balanced by high leverage due to debt and deposits at its finance subsidiary, Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC (SFL, BBB+(lka)/Stable).

The Stable Outlook reflects Fitch’s expectations that Singer’s financial profile will remain adequate for its rating in the medium term.

Key Rating Drivers

Consumer Demand Recovers: Fitch expects Singer’s revenue to grow by 18% in the financial year ending March 2025 (FY25) and 10% in FY26, driven by increased sales volumes. We expect Sri Lanka’s GDP growth to average 3.5% during 2025-2026, supporting a recovery in consumer spending over the next 12-18 months. Singer has experienced pent-up demand for consumer durables following the removal of import restrictions in October 2023. In addition, the company is positioned to gain market share as smaller competitors faced difficulties or exited in the last few years.

Profit Margins Improve: We forecast Singer’s EBITDAR margins to average 10% in FY25-FY26, up from 8% in FY24. Margins came under pressure in FY24 when Singer liquidated at discounted prices high-cost inventory it imported during Sri Lanka’s 2022-2023 currency crisis. Average selling prices have continued to fall in FY25, as competition led Singer to pass on benefits from an appreciating rupee to consumers. Still, its profitability has improved due to higher sales volumes, which have helped to offset Singer’s significant fixed costs, which include showroom rent.

Higher Fixed-Charge Coverage: Fitch expects Singer’s EBITDAR fixed-charge coverage – including interest costs and rent – to average 1.9x during FY25-FY26, which is healthy for the rating. We anticipate a continued reduction in Sri Lanka’s policy rates to reach an annual average of 7.3% by 2026, which will likely reduce borrowing costs further. Singer’s EBITDAR fixed-charge coverage increased to 1.7x on a trailing 12-month basis as of December 2024 (FY24: 0.9x), supported by lower borrowing costs and improved profitability.

Finance Subsidiary Weighs on Leverage: Singer’s debt amounted to LKR70 billion as of December 2024, with LKR40 billion comprising SFL’s borrowings and customer deposits. We believe Singer will support SFL if required, given the subsidiary’s strategic importance. Fitch includes all of SFL’s borrowings and deposits when calculating Singer’s leverage, in accordance with our criteria and taking into consideration Sri Lanka’s weak operating environment. We forecast Singer’s EBITDAR net leverage to improve to 7.8x in FY25 from 12.5x in FY24, driven by improving profitability.

No Notching for Parental Support: Singer’s rating is not notched for support from its stronger parent, Hayleys PLC (AAA(lka)/Stable), as we believe Hayleys has limited incentive to provide support based on our Parent and Subsidiary Linkage Rating Criteria.

The ‘Low’ legal incentive stems from the absence of corporate guarantees from Hayleys on Singer’s debt, as well as the lack of cross-default clauses between the two entities. Competitive advantages to Hayleys from Singer remain weak according to our criteria, resulting in a ‘Low’ strategic support incentive. Hayleys is a highly diversified group, resulting in limited operational synergies with Singer. We also regard the operational incentive to support as ‘Low’ because Singer has an independent management team and its brand is separate from that of Hayleys.

Peer Analysis

Abans PLC (AA(lka)/Stable), the second-largest consumer-durable retailer in Sri Lanka, is rated one notch above Singer. Both companies benefit from an extensive showroom and distribution network across the country, as well as strong brand recognition, but Singer has a larger scale and a more diverse product portfolio. However, Singer’s leverage is considerably higher than Abans’, primarily due to its sizeable finance subsidiary SFL, which we believe more than offsets its stronger business profile.

Leading engineering, procurement and construction contractor Lakdhanavi Limited (AA-(lka)/Stable) is rated at the same level as Singer, based on its parent LTL Holdings Limited’s consolidated profile under the Parent and Subsidiary Linkage Rating Criteria. Lakdhanavi has larger operating scale and stable cash flow, supported by long-term agreements with Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB, A(lka)/Stable). These agreements involve thermal power plants vital to Sri Lanka’s baseload. Payment delays from CEB have largely eased, but remains subject to state support and a cost-reflective electricity tariff policy. The rating is constrained by CEB’s weak credit profile.

Steel cable manufacturer Sierra Cables PLC (A+(lka)/Stable) is rated one notch below Singer. Despite operating on a significantly smaller scale than Singer, Sierra has a strong financial profile and cash flow generation. Long-term cyclicality in the construction sector is balanced by medium-term growth due to pent-up demand. Sierra has shown resilience during the last few years, benefiting from import restrictions favouring local steel cable manufacturers.

Singer, given its credit strength, is rated higher than a number of large banks, non-bank financial institutions and insurance companies in the country. The large financial institutions are more exposed to sovereign stress despite their individual credit strengths, due mainly to substantial sovereign-issued securities held for regulatory reasons, while the banks and non-bank financial institutions have broader exposure to numerous sectors in the local economy amid the weak operating environment.

Key Assumptions

– Revenue growth of 18.0% in FY25, moderating to an average of 10.0% in FY26-FY28

– EBITDAR margin to improve to 10.0% in FY25 and remain stable thereafter

– Decline in borrowing costs in FY25-FY27, factoring in Fitch’s projections for policy rates

– Capex to average LKR1.2 billion, or approximately 1.5% of revenue, in FY25-FY28

– Working capital cycle to moderate to 165 days in FY25 from 195 days in FY24, and remain stable thereafter

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Factors that Could, Individually or Collectively, Lead to Negative Rating Action/Downgrade

– EBITDAR fixed-charge coverage remaining below 1.5x on a sustained basis.

– Material weakening in the credit profile of Singer’s licensed finance company subsidiary

Factors that Could, Individually or Collectively, Lead to Positive Rating Action/Upgrade

– EBITDAR net leverage sustained below 5.5x, reflecting lower risk from its licensed finance company subsidiary or an improvement in Singer’s corporate leverage to compensate for the finance company’s risks.

Liquidity and Debt Structure

Liquidity is manageable, with current maturities well-covered by net working capital. The cash conversion cycle has moderated amid more benign operating conditions. Singer has a healthy record of managing liquidity despite the challenges it faced since 2020, including the currency crisis and the sovereign default in April 2022. It has above-average access to banks as a local blue-chip company. We expect Sri Lankan banks to be in a better position to lend to the wider corporate sector as risks to their balance sheets diminish with the sovereign’s recovery.

Issuer Profile

Singer is the largest domestic consumer-durable retailer by revenue in Sri Lanka with a network of over 400 stores.

REFERENCES FOR SUBSTANTIALLY MATERIAL SOURCE CITED AS KEY DRIVER OF RATING

The principal sources of information used in the analysis are described in the Applicable Criteria.

MACROECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS AND SECTOR FORECASTS

Click here to access Fitch’s latest quarterly Global Corporates Macro and Sector Forecasts data file which aggregates key data points used in our credit analysis. Fitch’s macroeconomic forecasts, commodity price assumptions, default rate forecasts, sector key performance indicators and sector-level forecasts are among the data items included.

ESG Considerations

Not applicable.
(Colombo/Mar11/2025)

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A heated exchange took place when tech billionaire Elon Musk, who leads Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) called Senator Mark Kelly a “traitor” on Monday after he visited Ukraine and said it was important that Americans stand with the war-torn country. Mark Kelly laid his subsequent support for continued US assistance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and US navy pilot, visited Ukraine during the weekend. Ukraine has been battling a Russian invasion for more than three years. This was Mark Kelly’s third visit to Kyiv since 2023 earlier this month, meeting with wounded service members and Ukrainian officials.

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Elon Musk vs Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly’s trip comes at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking a quick end to the conflict, and upending US foreign policy with his pivot to Moscow and pause of US military aid to Kyiv.

“Just left Ukraine. What I saw proved to me we can’t give up on the Ukrainian people. Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraine’s security and can’t be a giveaway to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Kelly said on social media platform X.

“Donald Trump is trying to weaken Ukraine’s hand and we are owed an explanation,” Kelly added in another post about his visit. Elon Musk was quick enough to respond to this. Musk, the world’s richest person and Trump’s top campaign donor, responded to Kelly on X by saying, “You are a traitor.”ALSO READ: After White House showdown, US and Ukraine start talks to end war as Russia launches huge drone attack

Kelly hit back, writing: “Traitor? Elon, if you don’t understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.”

This comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk clashed with Poland’s foreign minister over the use of the tech billionaire’s Starlink satellite internet system in Ukraine.

Musk said on X that Ukraine’s “entire front line” would collapse if he turned the system off. Radoslaw Sikorski responded, saying his country paid for its use in Ukraine and a threat to shut it down would result in a search for another network.

Rubio dismissed Sikorski’s claims and told him to be grateful, while Musk called him a “small man”. The exchange appeared to lead to Polish PM Donald Tusk calling on his country’s allies to show respect for their weaker partners, rather than arrogance.

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US, Ukraine starts talks to end war

Ukraine and the United States began talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with a partial ceasefire with Russia on the table, after Trump re-established contact with Putin and ramped up pressure on Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war — without offering the security guarantees Kyiv wants.

Kelly later described SpaceX boss Musk to reporters as “not a serious guy. He should go back to building rockets,” according to NBC.

California Senator Adam Schiff threw his support behind fellow Democrat Kelly.

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“Mark Kelly is a retired Navy pilot, astronaut, and dedicated public servant. He is a hero. Elon Musk is a self-absorbed coward. Hope that clears things up,” Schiff said on X.

Republican congressman Don Bacon also weighed in.

“It’s not decent, it’s not right… I don’t agree with Senator Kelly on some things, but we don’t call each other a traitor, and I think it reflects bad on the White House,” he told CNN correspondent Manu Raju.

(With AFP inputs)