CATEGORIES

Apple to assemble AirPods in Telangana by early 2025

APPLE WILL BEGIN producing its AirPods wireless earphones in India for the first time early next year, marking a milestone in the iPhone maker's steady push to diversify beyond China.

Tier 4 towns, Gen Z boost Meesho's orders

E-COMMERCE UNICORN MEESHO, which primarily serves shoppers beyond tier 1 cities and metros, has recorded a 35% year-on-year rise in the number of orders placed on its platform this year.

SaaS startups shift focus to tier 2, 3 cities

SAAS (SOFTWARE AS a Service) startups, once primarily targeting global markets, are increasingly turning their attention to India's tier 2 and 3 cities to fuel growth.

Zepto FY24 revenue more than doubles to ₹4,454 cr

● Eyes profitability and listing by FY26

PV sales grow 4% in Nov, but two-wheelers see 1% decline

HIGH INVENTORIES

ONGC likely to list green energy arm in 2025-26

GOING PUBLIC

Carlyle mulls $1-bn IPO of Quest Global

THE CARLYLE GROUP is considering an initial public offering of engineering services firm Quest Global Services in India, people familiar with the matter said, amid increasing investor interest in the nation's stock market.

PF withdrawals via ATMs likely from early next year

● Current checks and balances may get reduced

Constitution debate in LS sees heated exchanges

THE LOK SABHA on Friday witnessed heated exchanges between the Opposition and treasury benches, with defence minister Rajnath Singh alleging the Congress always chose power over Constitution, drawing a sharp counter from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who accused the BJP government of breaking the 'suraksha kavach' that the Constitution provided.

Chief secys' meet to focus on development agenda

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI will chair the fourth national conference of chief secretaries in Delhi on Saturday-Sunday to prepare a common development agenda and the blueprint for a cohesive action in partnership with the states.

Parliamentary panel calls for higher MGNREGA wages

FLAGGING LOW WAGES under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a Parliamentary panel has asked the rural development department to increase wages in the scheme by linking it to a suitable index commensurate with inflation.

Capex pace to be kept in FY26 too: Minister

THE CENTRE WILL strive to achieve the capital expenditure target of ₹11.11 lakh crore in FY25, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Friday.

Table tennis body anti-competitive: CCI

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and its affiliates for the abuse of dominant position in the market.

MoSPI prepares 5-year roadmap with focus on AI

THE MINISTRY OF statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) has devised a five-year 'vision document', likely to be launched in April 2025, creating a roadmap for improvement of the statistical system in the country.

Tax blow to Swiss arms of India Inc

THE TAX LIABILITY OF several Indian companies, which have operations in Switzerland, including bellwether IT and pharma firms, may rise with the central European country announcing a decision to increase the withholding tax on dividends their Swiss arms pay to Indian parents under the 'source rule', from 5% to 10%, effective January 2025.

At 18, Gukesh is world's youngest chess champion

● Second Indian after Anand to win global title

Food, beverages at airports excessively priced: Flyers

A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE

AI stocks fuel much of bull run since 2022

BIG TECH HAS STAKED SOME OF ITS FUTURE ON AI

PSUs spur impact across sectors through CSR activities

Public Sector Undertakings accounted for 26.23 per cent of the total CSR spending in FY 21-22, a recent CSR spending report revealed

Kerala CM asks states to boost cooperation

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday that Kerala and Tamil Nadu put forward a model of coexistence and cooperation that should spread through other states as well.

CE20 cryogenic engine of Isro passes critical test

THE INDIAN SPACE Research Organisation (Isro) on Thursday said it has achieved a major milestone after its CE20 cryogenic engine passed a critical test in ambient condition, featuring restart enabling systems.

PM stresses IMEEC in talks with UAE leader

● Says corridor a historic initiative for connectivity

Kejriwal promises to raise women allowance after poll

WITH AN EYE on the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, AAP national convenor and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that the monthly allowance given to women under the Mahila Samman Rashi scheme would be increased to ₹2,100 from ₹1,000 if the party returned to power next year.

Places of Worship Act: SC stops all surveys till further orders

UNDERLINING THAT \"NO effective orders\" can be passed, the Supreme Court on Thursday barred civil courts across the country from registering fresh suits challenging the ownership and title of any place of worship and from ordering surveys of disputed religious places until further orders.

Aspirational India, states & 16th Finance panel

AS INDIA HAS become more aspirational, state governments, cognizant of their prime role in accomplishing the national aspirations, have demanded that the 16th Finance Commission increase their share in the divisible pool of taxes to at least 50% to reduce the congenital inequality between the Union and the states.

India votes in favour of UN resolution seeking Gaza truce

INDIA VOTED IN favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated the demand for immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Prez-elect antitrust trio to go hard on Big Tech

President-elect Donald Trump's antitrust picks are likely to take a hard-line on the tech giants, and a harder line on corporate consolidation than the average Republican.

S Korean President vows a 'fight to the end', bets on allies' support

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday he would \"fight to the end\" as his own political party shifted closer to voting with the opposition to impeach him over his short-lived martial law order that threw the US ally into turmoil.

Biden pardons 39, commutes sentences of 1,500 others

OUTGOING US PRESIDENT Joe Biden said on Thursday he was pardoning 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others who were serving long prison terms.

ECB cuts rate for 3rd straight time as inflation nears 2%

THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL Bank lowered interest rates for a third consecutive meeting, signaling more reductions next year as inflation nears 2% and the economy struggles.