Country Financial News

Berlin: German authorities are eyeing closer collaboration with Indian startups in mobility, health, energy and advanced materials among other fields, said a German government official, after regulatory and political troubles with China led to a shift in focus toward India. China’s harsh covid-era restrictions also proved an obstacle to German firms, said the official. The city of Berlin, a leading hub for German startups, is particularly interested in building collaborations with Indian startups.

New Delhi: India, in ongoing talks on several free trade agreements, may push for clauses to ensure that steel products imported from the partner country are manufactured in that country rather than being routed through it, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 4th edition of ISA Steel Conclave virtually, the minister said that these clauses will ensure that the Indian steel industry is protected from dumping from the developed world.

And, it's all possible because prices are dropping for both natural gems as well as lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) as more manufacturers enter this segment of the jewellery market. LGDs have seen price drops in the range of 45-50%, while the natural diamond category has seen a price drop of 35-40%, as the economic slowdown in developed markets of the US and China has hurt demand for the gemstone. Six months ago, a 1-carat LGD ring at the retail level was priced at ₹2 lakh. But now it costs ₹80,000-₹1 lakh.

City gas companies will have to shift their focus away from profit margins to sales volume to accelerate the CNG vehicle adoption and overall consumption of natural gas in the country, said Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, managing director, Indraprastha Gas (IGL). In an interview to ET, he said the government should evaluate subsidising piped natural gas (PNG) supplies for poor households to preserve its competitiveness with LPG, which is attracting expanding subsidies in different states ahead of upcoming polls. «There is a scope for city gas distributors to reduce CNG prices and focus on volumes for faster penetration of gas in the country,» said Chatiwal. CNG prices should not be as high as they are in some areas, he said, adding that in some licensed areas CNG prices are close to diesel prices. «There are two advantages associated with CNG — environmental and economic. Until the economic benefit is realised by the people, they won't convert to CNG,» said Chatiwal. About 15-17,000 vehicles convert to CNG every month in the areas IGL operates in.

A chill has settled over Canada’s housing market and the big fear of any downturn is that heavily indebted homeowners will be forced to sell, fuelling a downward spiral.

Last month, Australians were allowed their say on a constitutional amendment that proposed giving Indigenous groups a new lever of control over the country’s federal institutions. Called “The Voice,” it would have empowered a native assembly to make representations directly to parliament to promote Indigenous political objectives.

global Internet outage just for a single day? Have you ever thought about it? According to a new report, if the internet goes down globally for even just a single day, it would cost $43 billion, with the US and China making up almost half of the sum together, which is $21 billion. If an internet outage occurs just for a single day, the US alone would face huge losses of around $11 billion. China is estimated to lose nearly $10 billion, according to the VPN service provider AtlasVPN. Meanwhile, the UK would lose around $3 billion, and Japan is expected to lose approximately $2.7 billion.

El Nino, U.S. forecasters say — if past years are any indication.Officials at the U.S.

Along with Diwali celebrations, the month is set to see an uptick in weddings across the country. With approximately 35 lakh weddings scheduled to take place between the last two months of the year, there’s an increasing demand for fine jewellery and wedding gifts from close family members, solitaire engagement rings and modern mangalsutras, which are a big hit with the brides. Recognising the cultural significance of this auspicious season, the brand has curated a diverse range of offerings, including the new festive collection ‘Alpona’, inspired by a 100-year-old Bengali art form.

PARIS (Reuters) -World wine production is expected to fall to its lowest level in 60 years in 2023 due to poor harvests in the Southern Hemisphere and in some major European producers, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said on Tuesday.

Air purifiers are a practical solution to combat this invisible menace. They efficiently remove pollutants, allergens, and particulate matter from the air, ensuring that the air you and your family breathe is pure and safe. The benefits of air purifiers extend beyond health, as they also eliminate foul odours, making your living environment more pleasant.

bike insurance has evolved with the introduction of online services. In this article, we will delve into how the online revolution has impacted bike insurance in India. One of the most significant impacts of the online revolution on bike insurance in India is the increased convenience and accessibility it offers to customers.

Royal Enfield is taking a slew of measures including accessing ways to enhance connection with the communities as it sees huge potential for growth in the market, according to a top company executive. The Chennai-headquartered firm, a part of Eicher Motors, currently sells bikes all across the continent and has a market share of around 8.5 per cent in the middle-weight motorcycle segment.

Crisil on Tuesday said some sectors such as fertilisers and diamonds may be slightly impacted by the conflict in the Middle East. On a broader basis, the conflict has caused only a «negligible disruption» in India's trade so far, it said in a note. «Some sectors such as fertilisers and diamonds — both cut and polished — may see a slight, but manageable, impact, while for most others impact will be insignificant,» it said.

Amit Shah on Tuesday said law and order, electricity in villages and welfare schemes started by the previous government «vanished» after Ashok Gehlot came to power in Rajasthan and added «only a magician can do this», alluding to the chief minister's past. Addressing a campaign rally in Rajasthan's Kuchaman ahead of the November 25 assembly polls, the senior BJP leader said the Congress government in the state is the «most corrupt» and has crossed «all limits of appeasement», and appealed to people to uproot it.

O'Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O'Leary discusses inflation as the president touts Bidenomics, the 'downsizing' of America and division on college campuses. 

One Piece manga is now presenting a flashback of Kuma's life as a slave and a revolutionary. Oda rewarded fans with all the iconic characters in one chapter because Kuma was also in God Valley at the time of the catastrophe 38 years ago. His life in the Sorbet Kingdom and how he joined the Revolutionary Army were covered in the most current chapter. Ginny, who was introduced recently in the manga, is a vital element of Kuma's life. She was a slave alongside him in God Valley, and they lived together in the Sorbet Kingdom. Another tragedy occurs when they both become high-ranking soldiers of the Revolutionary Army when an unexpected opponent kidnaps Ginny.

E-commerce major Amazon India on Tuesday said its 2023 festive sale is the best in its 13 years of operations in the country fuelled by a strong demand, a company official said. Online sales by the e-commerce industry during this festive season are expected to witness 18-20 per cent growth to reach Rs 90,000 crore, according to market research firm Redseer Strategy Consultants.

Prestige Estates Projects, Macrotech Developers (Lodha) and DLF, have surged between 58-70 per cent on strong sales momentum despite elevated interest rates. Along with the pent-up demand, realty stocks are riding the strong economic recovery of the country.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its 20th month, the chairperson of the Russian Federation Council proposed the creation of a Ministry of Happiness in the country, reported Hindustan Times on 7 November. During a speech at the recent Znanie (Knowledge) education expo in Moscow, Valentina Matviyenko said she came up with the idea in 2019 while on a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to The Insider, a Russian independent publication online, Valentina Matviyenko said, "Immediately, a law on overall happiness!" “You know, I dream of creating and have even proposed that we create a Ministry of Happiness in Russia.

By Vaibhav Agrawal