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Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asserted that PM Narendra Modi was of the view that women would steer economic growth in the country, which was on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the world. She was speaking at a credit outreach programme held in the north Bihar town of Darbhanga, where loans for Rs 1,388 crore were provided to 49,137 beneficiaries by various banks. Among those present were Union minister Chirag Paswan and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, among others. Sitharaman said, «Earlier, PM Modi used to tell me that the Union budget should be women-centric. But now he says the budget should be one that visualises women in leadership roles.»

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Indian economy experienced a big jolt in the July-September quarter of 2024-25, with the real GDP growth rate slowing to 5.36%, the lowest in seven quarters, data released by the statistics ministry on Friday showed. Not only was this sharply lower than the projection of 7% by the Reserve Bank of India but also lower than the median estimate of 6.5% by 26 economists in a Mint poll.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The benchmark Indian equity indices have shown little movement over the past month, and market experts suggest that the lack of fresh triggers may keep the market range-bound in the near term.

Mission Arun Himveer took off with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), North East Frontier. Under the initiative the state government through APAMB will supply fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry products to the ITBP procured from local farmers, SHGs, FPOs and farmer cooperatives. This follows the first such understanding made between the state government and the Indian Army in August 2022. Till date around 400 tons of fruits and vegetables worth Rs 72 lakhs were lifted by LAMPS from indigenous farmers for supply to the Indian Army.

Impressed by the Dyson TP09 air purifier? Check it out: Unboxing the Dyson TP09 feels like unpacking a piece of modern art. The first impression is its elegant, cylindrical design—a statement piece that effortlessly blends into any setting. The bladeless fan caught my eye immediately, its futuristic look offering a promise of innovation.

Best energy-efficient room heaters: Top 10 smart heating solutions for comfort and savings all winter longWith rising air pollution in Delhi and other metros, a portable air purifier helps eliminate allergens, dust, and pollutants, ensuring a healthier breathing environment. Many purifiers are equipped with HEPA filters to remove fine particles, making them particularly beneficial for those with allergies or respiratory issues. Their compact size makes them easy to place on desks, ensuring clean air throughout the day.A USB-charged portable electric kettle is a versatile gadget for making hot beverages on demand.

PIB Fact Check posted on its social media X account, «A message circulating on social media claims that as India commemorates 75 years of its Independence, senior citizens above 75 years of age will no longer have to pay taxes.» PIB Fact Check stated that it is a fake. Which senior citizens are no longer required to file ITR?

Why choose this product?Choose this water heater for excellent performance, easy installation, energy efficiency, and great value for money.The Havells Instanio 10-Litre Storage Water Heater is an efficient and durable appliance designed for modern homes, including high-rise buildings. It features a colour-changing LED ring that indicates water temperature and uses advanced technology like Whirlpool for faster heating and energy savings.

OnePlus 13 vs OnePlus 12: The OnePlus 13 has already been launched in China and now the smartphone is expected to make its debut in India in January 2025. Over the past few weeks, several leaks surrounding the device have been making rounds on the internet, giving us a glimpse of what OnePlus may launch in India. However, for people looking for an upgrade, it is worth analyzing what upgrades and changes are coming to the OnePlus 13 in comparison to the OnePlus 12.

₹59,999 for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant while the 16GB RAM/512GB storage variant is priced at ₹65,999. However, as part of the launch offers, Realme is offering a ₹3,000, taking the effective price of the device to ₹56,999 and ₹62,999 respectively.

Gaming and esports company NODWIN Gaming on Friday said it has acquired Trinity Gaming at a valuation of Rs 24 crore. Trinity Gaming serves as a Creator Service Provider (CSP) for Meta and gaming Multi-channel Network (MCN) for YouTube in India. It manages over 1,000 creators nationwide and has established partnerships with the likes of Samsung, Realme, iQOO, and Krafton. «The acquisition of 100 per cent of the share capital of Trinity will be a combination of secondary sale and stock swap of NODWIN Gaming shares for a total consideration of up to Rs 24 crore,» a company statement said. The consideration would be payable partly by way of cash consideration of up to Rs 4.8 crore and balance Rs 19.2 crore by way of swap of equity shares of NODWIN Gaming, it added.

Zhang, 71, has found joy and new friends at the «elderly university» in Beijing. Besides African drums, the former primary school teacher joins social dance classes, paying about 2,000 yuan ($280) for two courses this semester. Seeing herself standing tall in dance class boosts her confidence. After class, she hangs out with her friends. «When we get old, what do we need?» she said. «To love ourselves.»

Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world's most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. But many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered. After sailing through Parliament's lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday with bipartisan support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that it puts Australia at the vanguard of efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of children from the detrimental effects of social media, such as online hate or bullying. The law, he has said, puts the onus on social media platforms to take «reasonable steps» to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. Corporations could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32 million) for «systemic» failures to implement age requirements.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Information technology services companies including LTIMindtree Ltd, Coforge Ltd, Sonata Software Ltd, and Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd do not traditionally provide full-year revenue guidance, but that has not stopped them from setting aspirational revenue goals. Analysts say such targets are aimed at investors.

Canada Post confirmed on Thursday it is laying off some striking postal workers as the nationwide work stoppage hits the two-week mark, but said the action is temporary.

One of Denmark’s largest cellphone networks has suffered severe outages that prevented people from contacting emergency services and forced at least one hospital to reduce non-critical medical care

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted

Flexible workspace provider Incuspaze is in discussions to raise a $25 million pre-IPO round as it prepares for a public listing next year. The company had recently secured $8 million (about '67 crore) in funding. «Incuspaze plans to acquire another 2 million sq ft by investing '100 crore by the end of December 2025. On the back of growing demand for flex spaces, Incuspaze is focusing on the development of new centres across Delhi-NCR, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad,» said a person aware of the development.

By Mike Katchen

Atishi on Thursday said the Health Department has been directed to devise a mechanism to incorporate the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme without withdrawing the benefits of the Delhi government's free healthcare facilities for the people. In a press conference, she said the Delhi government has been in principle ready to implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. But there are some contradictions and problems in implementation, the CM said. The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the stand of the AAP government on a plea by seven BJP MPs from the national capital, seeking implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Atishi said the problems in the implementation of AB-PMJAY arise because the Delhi government is already providing comprehensive free medical facilities in its hospitals.

America, marking the beginning of Christmas shopping. Like Halloween and Thanksgiving, it's catching on in India, providing producers and retailers another calendar event to move the needle in lifestyle consumption. While nowhere close to Diwali sales, the bargain hunt phenom helps global brands to speed up premiumisation.