CATEGORIES

Painkillers, anti-infective drugs fail quality tests most in 2024: CDSCO

Painkillers, anti-infectives and medications for type-2 diabetes were among the class of drugs flagged as not of standard quality (NSQ) and spurious the most in 2024, according to data collated from drug alerts issued by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Pollution rises while funds gather dust

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019 to improve air quality in 131 cities, has shown limited progress as rising pollution levels and underutilisation of funds raise concerns about its effectiveness.

Robust taxes ease burden of freebies on states

The evolving dynamics of state-level politics in India highlight the increasing prominence of welfare schemes and subsidies as decisive factors in elections.

Monetary policy: Hobson's choice before RBI

This policy comes at a time when growth is slowing, inflation is still pretty high, and the rupee has started losing value against the dollar

CONSOLATION PRIZES

UN climate summit in Baku leaves the developing world with crumbs

SFBs: The canter on a chequered terrain

Segmental and geographical expansion, undergirded by strong and increasing presence in semi-urban and rural markets with large untapped potential, will help small finance banks (SFBs) clock robust 25-27 per cent growth in advances this financial year, just shy of 28 per cent in the previous year.

Now boarding

Governance premium is set to go up by many notches and banks will be put through the wringer, reports RAGHU MOHAN

Align tax-saving investments with long-term financial goals

Avoid products that combine low returns with inadequate insurance

Evaluate funds on rolling returns over long term

My spouse and I went to a concert held in Worli in mid-town Mumbai. We started in separate cars from Bandra.

FIFTH TIME'S THE CHARM: MF LARGECAP CUTOFF READY FOR A 17% STRETCH

The catch gets bigger: Largecap and midcap thresholds to expand in January

During downturns quality stocks truly survive, thrive

Front-line indices have tumbled over 10 per cent from their recent peaks in the past few weeks. SAAHIL MURARKA, managing director of Batlivala & Karani Group, tells Puneet Wadhwa in a conversation that it may not be the wrong strategy to invest when the markets are at a high, provided investors continue to stay invested and employ cost-averaging techniques. Edited excerpts:

Stress fracture in market's rise, time to sling caution

Analysts are warning of growing risks to the market's sustained momentum, and even to the possibility of consolidation at current levels.

Setting realty's H2 revival in stone, brick by brick

A solid launch pipeline lays the groundwork to close the cracks of H1FY25

Two markets in one: Not seen earlier

Over the past two months, in four separate columns, I have highlighted the significant slowdown in the Indian economy, which is now clearly reflected in the stock prices of major sectors such as passenger cars, consumer goods, banks, financial services, and infrastructure.

Time for AI in education

...like when printing emerged

Angela Merkel explains

“Never explain, never complain,” is a maxim supposedly espoused by the British royal family. As Angela Merkel writes in her exhaustive yet surprisingly fast-paced autobiography, Freedom, it also became a phrase that she would repeat to herself during her 16 years as German chancellor, from 2005 until she stepped down in December 2021.

Unintended consequence

The poor face the brunt of pollution control

Sharp slowdown

Solutions will need to go beyond interest rate cuts

Belgium law gives sex workers labour rights on a par with others

Starting Sunday, sex workers in Belgium will be able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labour rights on par with those in other professions in a legal breakthrough some call a \"revolution\".

Battle over curbing plastic output jeopardises UN treaty hopes

Doubts rose on sealing a global treaty to curb plastic pollution on the last day of scheduled talks, as over 100 countries pushed to cap production while a handful of oil-producing countries wanted to focus only on plastic waste.

B'desh stops Iskcon members from crossing into India

Dozens of Iskcon members who possessed valid travel documents were turned back on Sunday by Bangladesh's immigration police from Benapole border crossing when they tried to cross into India, a media report said.

Syria strikes rebels in Idlib after losing Aleppo control

Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in the second day of intensive bombing in northern Syria aimed at pushing back insurgents who had swept through to the city of Aleppo, Syrian army sources said.

'Nuts': Row over NYC's $220 mn deal with Pak-owned hotel

The City of New York pays $220 million to rent a hotel owned by the Government of Pakistan to house illegal immigrants, a report claimed on Saturday.

Deep state critic Kash Patel set to be FBI director

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Indian American Kash Patel to head the FBI, turning to a fierce ally to upend America's premier law enforcement agency and rid the government of perceived \"conspirators\".

100% tariff on Brics if it dumps $, warns Trump

Seeks commitment from member nations against finding alternative

Changing profile of MLAs: Businessperson, graduate, postgraduate

Legislative Assemblies across India are ageing. More MLAs are identifying themselves as businesspersons, and their education levels are rising, too. Women representation, however, remains underwhelming, reports ARCHIS MOHAN

Punishment on trial

Sukhbir Singh Badal will receive 'punishment' from religious authorities for his acts as chief minister of Punjab. The question is whether a reinvention of Badal and the Akali Dal will follow

To pull or not to pull the plug

TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government has a difficult choice to make vis à vis the power deal at the heart of a raging controversy over US bribery allegations against Gautam Adani, others. SHINE JACOB explains

Sensible trade policy can help fight climate change

The climate change conference (COP29) at Baku (Azerbaijan) ended with agreements on meeting financing requirements of poorer countries for mitigation and adaptation measures to the extent of $3 billion every year.

Bajaj Fin exits co-branded credit card biz

Ends tieup with DBS India, RBL