Following 2019 Kashmir changes, Pakistan accuses India of assassinations amid attacks during Modi’s June 9 oath, using ex-Afghan M4 rifles causing Army casualties. 70-80 infiltrations seen, US-Canada support claims in anti-China context. Recommendations include restoring J&K statehood, prudent politics, avoiding local collaborator risks, enhancing borders, and UAE’s noted truce role.
"Dune: Prophecy," a prequel to "Dune," follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they establish the Bene Gesserit and fight for humanity's future. The series, based on "Sisterhood of Dune," premieres in November.
The premium real estate market, particularly for properties priced at Rs 4 crore and above, showed strong performance in the first half of 2024, with Delhi-NCR leading with sales of 3,300 units and Mumbai recording 13.6% YoY growth.
A strong revenue expansion of 3.7% YoY during the period prompted the second-largest software exporter to forecast growth of 3-4% for FY25 against its earlier guidance of 1-3%. “We had a strong performance in Q1 on large deals and financial services in the US is seeing early signs of improvement," said CEO and MD Salil Parekh.
Former President Barack Obama has expressed concerns to Democrats about President Joe Biden's re-election prospects, privately advising that Biden consider stepping aside to avoid a potential loss to Republican Donald Trump. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has also warned Biden privately, sharing polling data suggesting challenges in defeating Trump. Despite pressure from party leaders and some calls for reconsideration, Biden remains steadfast, citing his ability to beat Trump before and his commitment to continue. Читать дальше...
'Dexter: Original Sin' explores Dexter Morgan's origins as a serial killer in 1991 Miami. Guided by his father, he learns to channel his dark urges and follow a code to kill deserving targets while evading law enforcement.
Young directors under 40 are rising in Bengaluru’s India Inc boardrooms, with a 456% increase in independent directors. As of March 31, 2024, they make up 8.2% of 19,686 NSE-listed company directors, up by 239 in a year. Harsh Mariwala, Shailesh Haribhakti, and Monica Agrawal emphasize their digital skills and supply constraints.
India's travel bookings surged 25% this monsoon. Rajeev Kale cites value and discounts. Hotel tariffs dropped 20-40%. Leisure Hotels, Radisson, SOTC see growth. Premium rates in Goa, Kerala, Coorg. Top short-hauls: Bhutan, Sri Lanka. Mehul Sharma's Signum Resort, Igatpuri occupancy up 24%. Popular: Malabar river festival, Alappuzha boat race, Dubare Elephant Camp.
Broadway's 2024–2025 season offers a range of thrilling plays and musicals starring huge names like Denzel Washington, George Clooney, and Robert Downey Jr., as well as well-known women like Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, and Nicole Scherzinger.
Senior BJP leader criticizes UP Police for ordering shopkeepers to display names on kanwar route, sparking controversy. JDU and SP chief also express concerns over potential societal division. BJP defends decision as a preventive step against illegal activities. Tensions escalate ahead of kanwar yatra in UP.
Bharti Airtel and the CBDT have finalized a multi-year agreement where Airtel will serve as the network and connectivity partner for the income tax department. This partnership includes dual connectivity using Software Defined Networks for WAN, Secure LAN, and other technology solutions under the Taxnet-2.0 program. The initiative aims to modernize tax collection, processing, monitoring, and accounting systems. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. CBDT officially awarded the contract to Airtel... Читать дальше...
Xiaomi reclaimed the top spot in India's smartphone market in June, with Samsung in third behind Vivo. Canalys reports Xiaomi at 18% share with 24% growth; Vivo also at 18%; Samsung down 8%. Realme and Oppo followed. Market shipments increased 1% to 36.4 million units. Xiaomi faces an ED probe; vendors launch devices. Management exits, offline expansion, and financing continue.
In J&K, two terrorists were killed in Kupwara’s Keran sector. In Doda’s Katisgarh, two armymen were injured near Jaddan Bata village. Suspects fired upon in Sunderbani sector, Rajouri. Operations have increased, especially in Jammu, following the July 16 attack. Deputy Inspector General of police outlines ongoing operations to neutralize threats.
Government to extend release of funds for rural housing scheme, aiming to complete 3.14 million unfinished houses by March 2025. Shocking revelations of alleged irregularities in West Bengal and Odisha causing delays in completion. Massive push for 'housing for all' goal with plans to construct 20 million more rural houses and 10 million urban houses. Could assistance for beneficiaries be doubled to ₹2 lakh per house? Stay tuned for the explosive announcements in the upcoming budget! Millions of... Читать дальше...
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is set to release a draft policy for ensuring the quality and reliability of solar cells used in India, introducing an approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM). This move comes as India's cell manufacturing capacity is expected to increase significantly. Additionally, the ministry plans to invite bids for 500 MW of offshore wind capacity and is considering extending the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme deadlines for solar photovoltaic modules. Читать дальше...
Amid protests over quota reforms leading to 32 deaths and 2,500 injuries, the Hasina government deployed the Army. Violence incited by Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP leaders with ISI ties overwhelmed security forces. India issued advisories and supports Hasina politically. Experts suggest a ministry overhaul. Internet suspended; economic discontent grows as LeT links and war crimes associations emerge.
RBI has set up a review committee to revise the fee structure for white-label ATMs (WLAs) to propose a fair and sustainable model. The committee, led by Indian Banks' Association CEO Sunil Mehta, will assess current policies, ATM infrastructure, and global best practices, reporting to RBI deputy governor T Rabi Sankar. India's ATM market is forecasted to grow at a 9.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2032, with four authorized non-bank entities currently operating WLAs. The interchange fee remains at ₹17 for financial and ₹6 for non-financial transactions.
NASA has cancelled its $450 million VIPER mission, citing cost increases, delays, and future risks. Despite this, NASA remains committed to lunar exploration, emphasizing the use of technology developed for VIPER in future missions. NASA will repurpose VIPER's components and seek interest from partners to use the rover system. The decision allows NASA to preserve funds and focus on other missions, including the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) in 2024 and future lunar initiatives under the Artemis and CLPS programs.
William J. Stellmach advises Indian companies with global operations to have crisis management plans in place due to the rise in short seller reports. He highlights the challenges of suing short sellers in the US and recommends focusing on managing market fallout proactively.
Superconductivity is a set of physical properties where electrical resistance vanishes and magnetic fields are expelled from the material. Any material exhibiting these properties is a superconductor. The scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a breakthrough in the field.
Potato and vegetable prices remain high due to heatwave damage, causing a supply-demand mismatch despite monsoon progress. Vegetable inflation hit 29.3% in June 2024. West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh faced key production issues. Farmers are hoarding stocks, anticipating further price hikes. Aditi Nayar of ICRA and Crisil's Dipti Deshpande cite weather and last year's base as inflation drivers. Tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (TOP) prices are affected, with tomato prices down from last year's peaks but... Читать дальше...
The demand for 5G-based fixed wireless access services is driving growth in India's wired broadband sector. Reliance Jio has seen a 34.5% increase in its user base, surpassing Bharti Airtel. Analysts believe that 5G FWA services could lead to new revenue streams for telcos, with higher ARPU compared to mobile services. India's fixed broadband market has potential for significant expansion.
Nokia and Ericsson have reported a 68% YoY fall in India net sales in Q2, 2024, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel cutting down on network capex spends after completing their pan-India 5G rollouts. To revive their sales in India and support global growth, the companies will need to rely on fresh 4G and 5G gear supply deals with Vodafone Idea.
The World Gold Council (WGC) has requested the Union finance ministry and Reserve Bank of India to establish guidelines and regulatory frameworks for the digital gold business in India. The council aims to protect digital gold and promote transparency in buying and holding gold. With over 120 million customers already buying digital gold, WGC urges the government to align regulations with the broader economic agenda.
The Congress government in Karnataka is in a dilemma after a proposed law for job quota in the private sector was temporarily halted. Industry protests and concerns over capital flight have led to internal discussions on how to proceed while managing stakeholder relationships and addressing pre-poll promises.
