CATEGORIES

India's uncharismatic reformer

Charisma. The late Manmohan Singh had many gifts, but charisma was not one of them. That lack of charisma was actually foundational to his political career and his remarkable achievements.

Dr Singh's other reform

Manmohan Singh's success lay in making a decisive and historic shift towards the West. It was also audacious, in my book even more so than the 1991 reform, given how little support it had within the Congress and the UPA

Trump gloom or green shoots? Europe's year ahead

After Covid-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is Europe about to get its next existential shock in the shape of Donald Trump? From trade to defense to tech, the combination of mercantilism and MAGA is going to hurt—but hopefully also jolt Europeans out of typical complacency.

Future fast-forwarded

Eye Culture

The riddle of leadership

There are two contrasting views about great leadership. Business writing has largely adopted the \"Great Man Theory\", perhaps inspired by Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle, who wrote: \"The history of the world is but the biography of great men.\"

Richard Parsons, Who Led Time Warner, Citigroup, Dies at 76

Richard D. Parsons, whose humane approach to business made him a serial troubleshooter at distressed companies such as Time Warner, CBS, and Citigroup and a sought-after adviser at the highest echelons of American industry, died on Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was 76.

1 million nonimmigrant visas issued to Indians in Jan-Nov

The US mission in India on Friday said it issued more than one million nonimmigrant visas for the second year in a row, including a record number of visitor visas, underscoring the huge demand of Indians for travel to the US.

India Loses Manmohan, Pakistan Mourns ‘Mohna’

“The entire village is in mourning. We feel that someone from our family has died today,” Altaf Hussain told PTI as a group of local residents held a meeting to condole the death of village boy Manmohan who became prime minister next door.

German Prez calls for snap polls in Feb, dissolves Parl

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (pictured) on Friday dissolved Germany's lower house of parliament to pave the way for snap elections on February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition.

Passengers say they heard a loud bang

Two passengers on the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan told Reuters that they heard at least one loud bang as it approached its original destination of Grozny in southern Russia.

S Korea Impeaches 2 Leaders in 2 Weeks as Crisis Deepens

Lawmakers voted 192-0 in favor of acting Prez and Prime Minister Han's impeachment

CAD moderates marginally to 1.2% of GDP in July-Sep qtr

India's current account deficit (CAD) marginally narrowed to $11.2 billion, or 1.2 per cent of GDP, during the July-September quarter of financial year 2025 (Q2FY25) from $11.3 billion, or 1.3 per cent of GDP, a year ago, amid a rise in service exports.

Forex kitty falls $8.4 bn in a week

Down by $61 billion since touching all-time high in September-end

Govt plans to borrow ₹3.9 tn via T-bills in Q4

The government plans to borrow ₹3.9 trillion through the issuance of treasury bills (T-bills) in the last quarter of the current financial year.

Credit, deposit growth up at 11.5%

Credit growth gained pace in the fortnight ending December 13 over the previous fortnight, latest data by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed.

RBI allows interoperability of PPIs using third-party apps

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday allowed interoperability of prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions through third-party application providers (TPAPs).

DGCA suspends two Akasa Air executives

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday suspended two senior Akasa Air executives—Director of Training Niraj Bhatia and Director of Flight Operations Floyd Gracious—for six months over pilot training lapses, Business Standard has learnt.

Visionary auto tycoon who made winning bet on India

Osamu Suzuki, an ingenious pennypincher who led Japan's Suzuki Motor for more than four decades and played a key role in turning India into a flourishing auto market, has died aged 94.

Air India to strengthen practices in 2025, become profitable: CEO

If 2024 was the year of consolidation, when Air India, Vistara, Air India Express and AirAsia (India) came under one roof, 2025 will be the year when the Tata-owned airline will strengthen its practices and processes to become consistent, efficient in service, and ultimately profitable in its operations, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director (MD) Campbell Wilson told employees in a message sent on Friday.

JSW Energy inks pact to buy O2 Power unit for ₹12,468 cr

This will be largest acquisition by Sajjan Jindal-promoted firm

Adani Ports orders 8 tugs from Cochin Shipyard for ₹450 crore

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Friday announced it has placed an order for eight harbour tugs, to be constructed by Cochin Shipyard in a deal worth ₹450 crore.

UltraTech to pick up 8.7% in Star Cement

UltraTech Cement said on Friday it will invest ₹851 crore to pick an 8.6 per cent stake in the Meghalaya-based Star Cement, which has 7.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity in East India.

Farewell, Dr Singh: State funeral today

Commoners from all walks of life as well as the country's top political leaders queued up to pay their last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his 3, Motilal Nehru Marg residence in New Delhi on a cold rainy Friday.

Rural, urban food spending rises amid inflation pressure

HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE SURVEY (AUGUST 2023-JULY 2024)

The shift fuelling country's growth engine

India aims to be developed by 2047 and net-zero by 2070, requiring a transformative energy transition to achieve these goals

₹ weakens below 85.8 intraday, RBI does rescue act

Still settles below 85.5 amid strong dollar demand

IndiGo stock takes off on rating upgrade

Elara Capital gives 'buy' rating after IndiGo's highest-ever traffic in November

Wait for NAV, price on exchange to converge before investing

Indian investors seeking to diversify their portfolios through overseas exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are paying a premium.

Multiple triggers for Vedanta stock

Vedanta’s stock is experiencing multiple positive triggers, primarily driven by favorable aluminium and zinc price trends. The company's demerger plans, while modified, are expected to unlock value and improve capital allocation. Key projects coming online in the next 12-18 months, including alumina refinery expansion and captive mines, are poised to significantly boost earnings.

Markets settle flat in muted trade

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat in listless trading on Thursday amid a lack of near-term triggers and unabated foreign fund outflows.