Top hotels in major Indian cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi are offering all-inclusive staycation packages for the year-end, featuring unlimited food and beverages, late check-outs, and spa services. Hotels such as Four Seasons, The Leela Palace, The Taj Mahal, and Sheraton Grand are experiencing healthy bookings and have planned special events and culinary experiences for New Year's Eve.
In a significant development it has been known that the mighty US are not even able to decimate the significant rebel group which is growing in the Middle East and is becoming extremely dangerous for whole world with every passing day.
The National Investigation Agency has charged two Hizb-ut-Tahrir members with plotting to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India through violent jihad. These individuals were involved in recruiting students for secret classes, conducting religious expositions, and creating films to promote their ideology. The group aims to enforce Sharia law and was recently banned in India.
Consumers face a 5-20% price increase for Christmas items like cakes, chocolates, and dinners. This is due to record-high prices of cocoa and other commodities. Companies like Starbucks, Theobroma, and Barista have all raised their prices. Businesses are trying to balance costs, but festive season prices are impacted by inflation.
The proposed GST increase on used small cars will have minimal impact on demand, say analysts. The rise in GST will slightly affect car dealers' margins, which may be passed on to buyers. Overall, the small contribution of EVs and the marginal rise in cost should not significantly impact the used car market.
Netflix's Squid Game is preparing for its third and final season, sparking immense excitement among fans.
The GST Council clarified the tax rates on ready-to-eat, pre-packaged, and caramelised popcorn at 5%, 12%, and 18% respectively. It also revised the tax regulations on old and used cars, making the rate uniform at 18% for all categories. GST on the sale of old cars among individuals remains non-applicable.
Bihar BJP has affirmed its support for JDU chief Nitish Kumar as the leader of the NDA in the upcoming assembly elections. Party leaders, including state president Dilip Jaiswal and deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, reiterated Kumar's role as chief minister amid rumours of possible political shifts before the polls.
India is allowing domestically operated carriers to use wet leased planes on new routes to alleviate an aircraft shortage, benefiting airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet. This policy aims to help airlines expand routes and manage capacity constraints, potentially reducing ticket prices.
IntelliSmart Infrastructure plans to enter the gas distribution metering segment, expecting tenders for at least 50,000 gas smart meters this fiscal year. Having completed a pilot project in Assam, the company aims to save costs for utilities by reducing human intervention with smart meters, which also help consumers manage gas consumption more efficiently.
Private jet fuel suppliers have significantly outpaced state-run companies in sales growth this fiscal year, achieving a 63% rise compared to the public sector’s 5.5%. Their market share has grown to nearly 12%, driven by aggressive marketing and expanded supply networks.
Leaders of the ruling NDA alliance will gather at BJP president JP Nadda's residence on Wednesday to commemorate former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth centenary. The meeting, attended by NDA allies including TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu, will also address key issues such as two crucial draft legislations.
The Karnataka High Court has provided temporary relief to pharmaceutical companies by directing the government not to act against firms producing nutraceuticals in drug-licensed units until the next hearing. This follows the industry's challenge to Schedule M, which prohibits manufacturing non-drug products in drug facilities.
Netflix will stream two NFL Christmas Day games on Wednesday for the first time. Pittsburgh will play Kansas City and Baltimore will face Houston. The games will be available worldwide for Netflix subscribers and in five languages. Beyonce and Mariah Carey will perform. The NFL is getting $150 million for these games.
In FY24, commission expenses for life insurers increased by 22% and doubled for general insurers after IRDAI removed caps on commission payments. Life insurers' commission expenses reached ₹51,524 crore, with overall management expenses at ₹1.40 lakh crore, while non-life insurers' commission expenses rose to ₹39,601 crore.
Fresh protests have erupted in Kolkata over the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. Doctors' organizations clashed with the police during demonstrations outside the CBI headquarters. They accused the CBI of delays and collusion with the police to protect the criminals. The Calcutta High Court refused a fresh probe, with the next hearing scheduled for January 15, 2025.
Starbucks strike is affected hundreds of stores in the US.
Chinese smartphone brands, despite holding over 60% of India's total market, have less than 6% share in the premium segment (above $600/₹50,000), dominated by Samsung and Apple with over 94% combined share.
Union home minister Amit Shah directed the Uttarakhand government to categorize forensic visits and teams into serious, normal, and very normal during a review meeting on new criminal laws. Shah urged 100% implementation of the laws in police stations and jails where more FIRs are filed, stressing the use of technology and availability of forensic mobile vans in every district.
The Indian economy is showing recovery signs in Q3 FY 2024-25 with an expected growth of 6.7% in the next fiscal year and inflation averaging 3.8%. This provides room for possible rate cuts by the RBI, driven by strong festival activity, rural demand, and improved employment.
China will issue 3 trillion yuan in special treasury bonds next year to revive the economy. The funds will be used for subsidy programs, business upgrades, advanced manufacturing investments, and recapitalizing state banks. This move aims to counter economic challenges like high local government debt and weak consumer demand.
In October, the RBI intervened heavily in forward and spot currency markets with $44.5 billion to support the rupee. Despite significant foreign portfolio outflows and a rise in the US dollar, the rupee stabilized, demonstrating the central bank's effective measures in mitigating currency devaluation and minimizing liquidity impact.
The Congress moved the Supreme Court against recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, blocking public access to electronic election records. Meanwhile, the Election Commission refutes Congress' claims of discrepancies in the electoral roll and voter turnout in Maharashtra.
