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Govt. has stepped up preventive measures against Shigella: Kerala Health Minister

Muraleedharan says Food Safety officials have been directed to carry out checks at restaurants and wayside eateries to ensure that food safety norms are being followed

15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named in India T20 Squad Under Shreyas Iyer Captaincy | News18

In a bold and surprising move, Indian selectors have included 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the national T20 squad, signaling a new era under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer.The young prodigy becomes one of the youngest players ever selected for India, highlighting his exceptional talent and rapid rise in domestic cricket. Meanwhile, senior player Suryakumar Yadav faces a temporary setback amid ongoing team restructuring.Reports also suggest that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him on tours to help him adjust to international-level cricket and support his transition. n18oc_breaking-newsn18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

SFI and DYFI protest NTA failures, demand Union Education Minister’s resignation

The leaders allege that recurring lapses in the conduct of examinations such as NEET, UGC-NET, and CUET over the past few years have created uncertainty among students, while the Central government has failed to implement meaningful reforms

OPEC+ increases production quotas for July

Vienna, OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil quotas by a total 188,000 barrels per day for July, in a move analysts said would be unlikely to have an impact on prices sent higher by the Mideast war.Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said ahead of the expected increase that it "means very little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed".He added: "The market is not short of quota announcements; it is short of physical barrels that can actually move. In that sense, the 188,000 barrels per day increase would be more of a policy signal than a real supply boost."The hiked production output was agreed Sunday in a video meeting of oil ministers from key OPEC+ countries Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, a statement from the organisation said.The increase was similar to ones decided in previous months.The OPEC+ statement said the latest agreed hike was "to support oil market stability" but that the seven countries also saw an opportunity "to accelerate their compensation" in a time of historically high oil prices.It added that the ministers "reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments announced in November 2023".Leon, at Rystad Energy, said that OPEC+ was wary in case the Mideast war changes, and Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz eases."When the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the market could move very quickly from fear of shortage to fear of surplus," he said."Returning OPEC+ supply, a stronger US shale response and weaker demand after a period of very high prices could leave the market with a very large oversupply problem," he said.

Varanasi To Shift All Meat And Fish Shops Outside City Limits, Civic Body Approves Plan

Varanasi Municipal Corporation approves shifting all city meat and fish shops to designated outskirts zones to improve sanitation.

Varanasi to move all meat and fish shops to city outskirts

Varanasi to move all meat and fish shops to city outskirts

Varanasi civic body approves shifting of meat, fish shops to city outskirts

The move is aimed at improving sanitation and streamlining the functioning of such markets while ensuring continued access to consumers

Varanasi Municipal Corporation makes phased plan to relocate meat and fish markets to outskirts

In the first phase, five strategic locations, Ramnagar, Sujabad, Ganeshpur, Avleshpur, and Shivpur, have been identified to host these markets.

535 farmers died due to unsafe pesticide use between January 2024-2026 in Rajasthan

The department stated that farmers, agricultural labourers and other persons may fall ill and, in some cases, die due to failure to adopt necessary safety measures during pesticide spraying and because of indiscriminate and unsafe use of pesticides

Smart money move: Why Groww MF's equity chief is betting on multicap strategies

While warning about the risk of a looming oil shock, Groww Mutual Fund’s equity chief, CA Anupam Tiwari, says multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in this market.Although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent, he says in an interview with ET Markets.Edited excerpts from a chat:Markets have recovered from recent corrections despite geopolitical tensions. What is the market pricing that investors may be underestimating?Markets are showing signs of recovery from the fall due to the prospects of de-escalation and continued talks regarding the resolution of the Middle East crisis. Nevertheless, one possible threat that investors might be overlooking is the possibility of prolonged geopolitical instability that can cause oil prices to remain elevated for an extended period.Sustained higher energy prices could have broader implications for inflation, currency stability, corporate profitability, and economic growth. While markets appear to be pricing in a relatively benign outcome, any disruption that results in persistently elevated crude prices could have a more meaningful impact on the macroeconomic environment than is currently reflected in markets.With valuations still elevated in parts of the market, how should investors think about allocating money across large-, mid- and small-cap stocks today?Broad concerns regarding valuation levels in the market have cooled off in recent months. At the current juncture, close to one-third of the mid-cap space is priced below its five-year average valuation levels, whereas nearly half of the small-cap space is trading below its own five-year average valuation levels.Under these circumstances, although there might be valuation concerns in some specific areas, the overall investment environment for active stock picking in mid and small caps has improved to some extent. Here, a multicap strategy together with bottom-up investing can work well in uncovering better businesses.The multicap category has seen rising investor interest. What advantages does a multicap strategy offer in the current market environment compared to pure large-cap or mid-cap approaches?While the current phase is marked by heightened volatility, volatility is often uneven across segments. In such an environment, a multicap strategy may provide disciplined exposure across market caps within a single portfolio.This allows investors the relative stability and earnings visibility of larger companies, while also participating in the long-term growth potential of mid- and small-cap businesses. By maintaining exposure across segments, a multicap approach can help reduce over-reliance on any single category and provide a more balanced way to navigate changing market conditions.One of the key benefits of a multicap strategy is that it removes the burden of market-cap allocation from investors. Determining when to allocate across segments can be challenging, particularly as market leadership often shifts across cycles. A multicap strategy addresses this by embedding this decision within a disciplined investment framework, freeing investors from having to make often difficult and timing-sensitive allocation calls.From a long-term perspective, multicap funds can serve as a core equity allocation for investors, enabling investors to participate in India's growth story through a combination of established market leaders and emerging businesses.Many retail investors continue to favour mid- and small-caps despite recent volatility. Is the risk-reward equation still attractive in these segments?While mid- and small-cap stocks are generally more exposed during periods of market volatility, the opportunity set within these segments has improved as valuations have moderated across several pockets of the market while business fundamentals have remained intact and even improved in several pockets.Rather than looking at mid and small caps as segments, investors should focus on a disciplined investment framework. Selective opportunities continue to exist despite volatility, making active stock selection increasingly important in determining outcomes.Which sectors currently offer the strongest earnings visibility, and where are you finding opportunities despite market volatility?We continue to focus on sectors where earnings visibility remains relatively strong despite broader market volatility. Financials remain a key area of interest, supported by reasonable valuations, stable asset quality, improving credit growth, and a favorable funding environment, particularly within select NBFCs and mid-sized financial institutions.Within industrials, we remain constructive on themes such as power transmission & distribution, renewable energy, and defence, where order books remain healthy and policy support continues to drive long-term demand. In the auto space, we continue to see opportunities linked to premium consumption trends, EV adoption, and select auto-component manufacturers benefiting from structural drivers such as exports, and regulatory and policy changes.We are also positive on specialty chemicals, particularly businesses with strong contract manufacturing franchises, niche product portfolios, and long-term customer relationships. If you had to allocate fresh money today, which market-cap segment would receive the highest allocation and why?Our equity investment philosophy, QGaRP (Quality and Growth at a Reasonable Price), is market-cap agnostic and driven primarily by stock selection rather than segment-level calls. We seek to invest in businesses that combine high quality management, growth potential, and valuation comfort.That said, our multicap strategy has historically maintained a growth-oriented tilt towards mid- and small-cap companies. With valuations having moderated across several pockets of the mid- and small-cap universe, we believe the environment has become more conducive in these segments for active stock selection.As a result, while we continue to maintain a diversified allocation across market caps, we remain constructive on selectively identifying opportunities within the mid- and small-cap space where fundamentals, growth prospects, and valuations are aligned with our philosophy.

Maharashtra onion farmers demand Rs 3,000/quintal, say relief measures fall short

Maharashtra farmers welcomed relaxed onion procurement rules but demand a minimum support price of Rs 3,000 per quintal, stating current rates of Rs 1,580 are below production costs. They seek transparent procurement and compensation for past losses, arguing that rule changes alone won't resolve their financial distress.

DMK rules out alliance with Congress

Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu): Ruling out any future patch-up with the Congress, senior DMK leader R S Bharathi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the national party, comparing its exit from the alliance to "adultery" and said that the Dravidian major will never welcome back defectors."We are not there in an alliance where Congress is present. I am clarifying that," Bharathi said.Addressing reporters here, Bharathi also issued a fierce electoral challenge to rivals, daring them to win a single mayor seat in the upcoming local body polls, and demanded the elections be held as early as January."In local body elections, people vote only for meritorious candidates. I challenge them: let elections be conducted in six months, say in January. If you can win even a single Mayor post, I will accept your strength. Are Annamalai and others ready to accept this challenge?" Bharathi asked.Also read | The safe keepers: Inside India's booming locker economyAsked about Congress leader Manickam Tagore's critical remarks regarding the DMK's performance and alliance dynamics, Bharathi advised Tagore to self-reflect on his own victory first.Using sharp analogies to describe the split, the senior DMK leader stated that while some separations happen by mutual consent, this breakdown was akin to a partner engaging in a "clandestine relationship"."No one lives with a wife who runs away. There is no longer any political ties or relationship with them. Even if the DMK leadership decides otherwise, the grassroots party cadres will never accept Congress back into the fold," Bharathi said.He added that despite the current political landscape, the DMK remains ideologically uncompromised and firmly ruled out ever aligning with the BJP in the future.Taking a swipe at politicians frequently switching allegiances, Bharathi noted that the "Aya Ram Gaya Ram" culture, which historically plagued northern states like Haryana, is now showing its face in Tamil Nadu.Also read | Indian tourists go viral for all wrong reasons. Here's how not to become the next horror storyTargeting former AIADMK leaders and other politicians defecting to the BJP and newly formed parties, Bharathi said, "People who shift from one party to another for positions will not last long. If the government falls in six months, they will all come running back to square one".Downplaying the recent electoral gains of actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK, Bharathi characterised the victory a "jackpot lottery ticket" rather than an endorsement of ideology. He noted that TVK only secured a 35 per cent vote share, meaning 65 per cent of the electorate voted against them."People voted simply looking at a face and due to social media campaigns on Instagram. Voters don't even know who their local MLAs or ministers are," Bharathi claimed, drawing a parallel to how a single issue like onion prices once changed a government in Delhi. He predicted that just like Archimedes' principle, "the faster a ball goes up, the faster it will come down," predicting a similar trajectory for TVK.

Infosys, Adani Enterprises, Trent among 44 stocks going ex-date this week. Do you own any?

As many as 44 stocks including Infosys, Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Canara Bank, PNB and several others will turn ex-date for various corporate actions, including dividends, bonus issues, stock splits and rights issues this upcoming week between June 8 and June 12. Investors must hold shares of these companies in their demat accounts on the record date to be eligible for the respective corporate actions. The list remains tentative, as more companies may announce record dates for dividends, bonus issues and stock splits during the week.Here is a day-wise list of corporate actions to watch out for this week: June 8 (Monday)The week kicks off with three companies undergoing corporate adjustments: Unified Data-Tech Solutions shares will turn ex-date for an interim dividend of Rs 5.5 per share. Ravindra Energy and Consecutive Commodities meanwhile will trade ex-date for rights issue of equity shares.June 9 (Tuesday)Inox India shares will trade ex-date for a final dividend of Rs 2 per share. Tata Group company Nelco meanwhile had also fixed June 9 as the record date for its final dividend of Rs 1 per share.June 10 (Wednesday)Several major companies turn ex-dividend, alongside a bonus issue on June 10. India's IT bellwether Infosys will turn ex-date for its final dividend of Rs 25 per share. Indian Bank and Seshasayee Paper & Board will also trade ex-record date for their respective dividends of Rs 18.25 per share and Rs 2 per share.Tata Group has fixed Wednesday as the record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders for dividend payments by three of its companies. These include Tata Chemicals (Rs 11 per share), Tata Investment Corporation (Rs 3.4 per share) and Tata Elxsi (Rs 75 per share).Gautam Exim shares meanwhile will go ex-bonus for its 3:1 bonus issue (three new bonus shares for every one existing share held).June 11 (Thursday)Specialized chemical player Sunshield Chemicals will be the lone counter turning ex-date on Thursday for a final dividend of Rs 3 per share.June 12 (Friday)Friday will see 31 stocks tuning ex-record date for their respective corporate actions. These includes five Adani Group companies, namely ACC (final dividend of Rs 7.5 per share), Adani Enterprises (final dividend of Rs 1.3 per share), Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (final dividend of Rs 7.5 per share), Adani Total Gas (final dividend of Rs 0.25 per share) and Ambuja Cements (final dividend of Rs 2 per share).Four Tata Group companies also have June 12 as the record date for their dividends. These include Tata Motors (final dividend of Rs 4 per share), Tata Steel (final dividend of Rs 4 per share), Trent (final dividend of Rs 6 per share) and Voltas (final dividend of Rs 4 per share).Other stocks which will turn ex-record dates for their respective dividends include Canara Bank (Rs 4.2 per share), JM Financial (Rs 1.75 per share.), ICICI Prudential AMC (Rs 12.4 per share), PNB (Rs 3 per share), Piramal Finance (Rs 11 per share), Apcotex Industries (Rs 5.5 per share), Avantel (Rs 0.2 per share), Cemindia Projects (Rs 3 per share), Eimco Elecon (Rs 4 per share), Elecon Engineering Company (Rs 1.5 per share), High Energy Batteries (Rs 3 per share), Lloyds Metals & Energy (Rs 1 per share), MM Forgings (Rs 4 per share), Navin Fluorine (Rs 8.6 per share), Orient Cement (Rs 0.5 per share), Oseaspre Consultants (Rs 87 per share), Panchsheel Organics (Rs 0.8 per share), Petronet LNG (Rs 3 per share), Reliance Industrial Infrastructure (Rs 3.5 per share) and Technojet Consultants (Rs 87 per share).Mobavenue AI Tech shares will trade ex-split as it sub-divides its equity shares from a face value of Rs 10 down to Rs 2 per share. City Union Bank shares meanwhile will trade ex-bonus for a 1:3 bonus issue (one new bonus share for every three shares held)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Saved by the barrel: Why crude hasn't hit the $200 mark

Despite fears of $200 oil following Strait of Hormuz disruptions, prices remain below $100. This resilience is attributed to increased US exports, weaker Chinese demand, and alternative supply routes. While some shipping through the strait continues, overall transits are down. Emergency measures and subdued demand have averted the worst-case scenario, but market stability hinges on temporary solutions.

MH-53E Sea Dragon: Why US navy's mine-hunting is retiring after 40 years

The US Navy's formidable MH-53E Sea Dragon, a vital airborne mine countermeasures helicopter for nearly four decades, is nearing retirement. Its unique ability to clear naval mines from strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz is being replaced by newer, autonomous technologies. Despite its immense capability, the aging giant is making way for the future of naval warfare.

FIIs, weak global cues among 5 factors that could keep D-St under pressure this week

The Indian stock market ended last week in the red, with analysts flagging multiple factors that could keep pressure on Sensex and Nifty when trading resumes on Monday.On Friday, the Sensex closed 117 points lower at 74,243, while the Nifty 50 declined 50 points to settle at 23,367. Among the top laggards on the Sensex were Trent, TCS, Tata Steel, NTPC, HCL Tech, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Reliance Industries, with losses of 1-2%.Here are five key factors likely to drive the stock market in the week ahead.1) Weak global cuesWall Street ended sharply lower on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq plunging more than 4% to log its steepest single-day decline since April 2025, after a stronger-than-expected US jobs report fuelled concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer.The Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4.2%, dragged down by a more than 6% slide in Nvidia and an almost 8% drop in Broadcom. Broadcom’s weaker-than-expected guidance heightened concerns that AI-driven demand may not expand as rapidly as markets had anticipated. The Dow Jones fell 1.4%, while the S&P 500 dropped nearly 3%.European markets closed mixed, while Asian equities ended broadly lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined more than 1%, while South Korea’s Kospi plunged nearly 6%. China’s Shanghai Composite also ended about 1% lower.Also read: Why did Nasdaq plunge 4% to log worst day in over a year2) RBI policy impactReserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced that the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, as it assessed the impact of rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict. The RBI also increased the investment limit for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) in equity instruments.Indian equity markets are likely to remain range-bound next week amid a mix of domestic and global triggers, according to Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management, at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.“While the Reserve Bank of India’s measures to attract foreign capital and the government’s tax relief for foreign investors in government securities could support sentiment, we expect market movement to be driven largely by bottom-up stock picking and sector-specific action in the near term,” he said.Khemka noted that the central bank raised its FY27 inflation forecast to 5.1% and lowered its FY27 GDP growth projection to 6.6%, reinforcing concerns over energy prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weather-related uncertainties.“If inflationary pressures remain elevated and external risks persist, the possibility of a future monetary tightening cycle could increase, keeping investors cautious. Going forward, investors will closely track energy prices, developments in the West Asia conflict, monsoon progress, FII flows and the impact of RBI’s policy measures for further market direction,” he added.3) FII selling continuesForeign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the Indian market during the first week of June, offloading shares worth Rs 31,120 crore, according to Pabitro Mukherjee, Deputy Vice President – Research at Bajaj Broking. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), meanwhile, continued to provide support as net buyers.“Investor sentiment remained subdued amid persistent geopolitical tensions, which kept crude oil prices elevated. Heightened global uncertainty, coupled with prevailing macroeconomic challenges, led to cautious market participation. Going forward, institutional flows are likely to remain highly sensitive to developments in US-Iran relations and movements in oil prices,” he said.4) Iran-US tensions US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday after intercepting drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said. Reuters, citing a US official, reported that the military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic. US Central Command said on X that it subsequently struck Iran’s surveillance sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island, both located along the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the strikes and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission. The developments renewed concerns over escalating tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.Also read: GIFT Nifty tumbles 1.5% as US stock market plunges. Will Dalal Street crash on Monday?5) Bond yields Rising inflation concerns pushed US Treasury yields higher. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, which is highly sensitive to expectations around Federal Reserve policy, climbed to a 15-month high. Elevated interest rates typically make bonds more attractive relative to equities, weighing on stock market sentiment.Technical view on NiftyThe benchmark Nifty index ended lower for the second consecutive week, reflecting the cautious undertone prevailing in the market, said Sudeep Shah, Head of Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.According to Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, Nifty 50 has been moving within a defined range as markets digest the RBI’s policy announcement. He noted that sentiment remains weak, with the index continuing to trade below key moving averages. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) also remains subdued, indicating a lack of positive momentum.“In the near term, the index is likely to consolidate within the 23,300–23,500 range. A decisive breakout above 23,500 could trigger an upmove towards 25,700 and beyond, while a break below the 23,300 support level may result in a sharper correction,” he said.(With inputs from agencies)(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Indian Man Shot Dead After Delivering 'Fake' Pizza Order, Family Says "Trap"

Anshul's sister, Tanvi, alleged that the pizza delivery was a "trap" meant to "kill him".

Room for less: Next big thing in hospitality?

Can the search for a hotel room lead to a business idea? It did, for Alok Mishra.In 2014, during a trip with his wife, Mishra needed a hotel room for six hours as he did not want to drive late at night. But he was asked to pay for a full day and subjected to a series of intrusive questions despite being married—and was finally refused a room. “That got me thinking that there might be travellers like me who need rooms only for a few hours but have to pay for an entire day. Later, while working in the US, I came across pay-for-use concepts and felt that India needed a more flexible, customer-friendly model,” he says.That experience led to the launch of Bag2Bag in 2019, an online platform for booking hotels, service apartments, homestays and other accommodations, with a focus on hourly stays.The business started gaining momentum around 2021. Bag2Bag’s hourly-stay revenue has risen from roughly Rs 50 lakh in 2021 to Rs 5-6 crore today. The company has served more than 1 lakh customers, lists over 10,000 properties across India and offers hourly stays at 6,000-7,000 of them. The service is available in more than 50 cities, though Bengaluru and Mumbai remain its strongest markets.Also read | The safe keepers: Inside India's booming locker economy“People now understand that this is a practical solution rather than a niche service. One of our biggest achievements has been to help normalise the category. Earlier, hourly stays were often associated with couples seeking privacy,” he says. “We deliberately broadened the use case by allowing family bookings, including travellers with children. We wanted people to see hourly stays for what they really are— a convenient accommodation option.”HOUR OF NEED That convenience is growing as online hotel booking platforms that allow short stays are on the rise. Alongside Bag2Bag, there is Noida-based Brevistay, Bengaluruheadquartered MiStay, Mumbai’s Hourly Rooms and Qwiksta, all specialising in micro stays. Larger travel platforms like MakeMyTrip, Agoda and Goibibo have also introduced hourly booking options.Like Bag2Bag, Brevistay was born out of a travel inconvenience. In 2016, cofounders Prateek Singh, Aditya Naithani, Shubham Agarwal, Avnish Kumar and Nikhil Pathak arrived in Manali at 5 am only to find that hotels would not allow early check-ins without charging for an extra night. The friends went on to cofound the travel tech startup Brevistay, which raised Rs 3 crore in 2023 and today reports revenue of about Rs 18 crore. It has 15 lakh registered users, 4 lakh monthly active users and around 11,000 listed hotels, including brands such as Ginger, Ramada and Blue Motel.LONG JOURNEY Getting there, however, was not easy.Pathak, cofounder and chief technology officer of Brevistay, says, “The challenge in this segment is not customers but hotels. In 2016, many hoteliers would simply bang the phone on us. Some agreed in principle but didn’t want their properties listed publicly and preferred bookings to come through offline calls. It took us nearly two years before we started seeing meaningful traction and recurring bookings,” says Pathak.The same resistance greeted MiStay when it launched in 2016. Starting with a pilot in Delhi, MiStay has since expanded to more than 100 cities. Shwetha Sameernath, general manager, business and growth, MiStay, says, “When we launched, scepticism was high. Most hotels were uncomfortable with the model, concerned about guest quality and operational challenges. Over time, that changed as hotels began seeing it as a revenue opportunity.”MiStay tackled resistance through education and curation. The company worked to show hoteliers that short stays served a broad and legitimate market of business travellers, transit passengers and day-use guests. It also selectively onboarded premium hotel brands, helping build credibility for the category. “When hotels see actual customer segments across varied, legitimate use cases, it builds their confidence that the model won’t compromise their brand,” says Sameernath, adding that the concept is now largely normalised.Also read | Major change in buyer behaviour as e-scooters race deeper into BharatPathak says the customer has evolved as well. Brevistay continues to market actively to couples, but he argues that the category should no longer be viewed through that lens. “There’s nothing illegal happening. In fact, there’s no law that prevents consenting adults from booking a hotel room. The issue was perception, not legality. What eventually changed minds was revenue,” he says. “Once hotels realised they could sell the same room multiple times in a day and generate seven or eight bookings instead of one, the business case became impossible to ignore.”The use cases have expanded too. Back in 2017, couples accounted for nearly 90% of Brevistay’s bookings. Today, that figure is down to 50-60%. Business travellers, transit passengers, tourists looking to freshen up between journeys, students travelling for exams and people attending interviews or meetings have all emerged as important customer segments.Hotels, meanwhile, have had to adapt operationally. Mishra says the biggest challenge is that traditional hotel system was never designed for flexible check-ins and check-outs. Bag2Bag addressed this by developing its own software platform for partner hotels. “Once they realised they could monetise idle inventory and generate additional revenue from rooms that would otherwise remain empty, adoption became much easier,” he says.REVENUE CHECKS IN For Sameernath, the turning point was the entry of premium hotel brands. “Today, acceptance has grown across the ecosystem. Channel managers and property management systems are evolving to support slot-based bookings, and customers increasingly treat hourly booking as the natural way to reserve a room for less than a day,” she says.Also read | Indian tourists go viral for all wrong reasons. Here's how not to become the next horror storyMishra has observed another interesting shift. Reliability and brand trust are becoming increasingly important. “Whether it’s a three-star or a five-star property, even if a branded hotel costs 20-25% more, customers prefer it because they know what they’re getting,” he says. The economics are compelling for hotels too. Sameernath points out that average hotel occupancy in India is under 65%, while daytime occupancy can fall to as low as 30% as guests check out in the morning and new arrivals come in much later. Platforms like MiStay help hotels monetise those idle hours by attracting guests who would never have booked a full-day room. “For hotels near airports or railway stations, the upside is even greater. A room priced at Rs 8,000 for a full night could earn Rs 3,500-4,000 for a daytime slot and another Rs 6,000 for the night—generating `10,000-plus from the same room in a single day,” she says.CHANGING PERCEPTION MiStay today works with brands like IHG, Pride, Ramada, The Park, Radisson and Novotel IHG, while Brevistay is in discussions with Hyatt. Sameernath says that on the demand side, once customers experience flexible booking, they don’t go back. Their repeat rate reflects this, as 48% of MiStay’s monthly business comes from repeat guests “The pay-per-use model in hospitality is the same transformation that happened in transport. You no longer book a cab for a full day; you pay for the distance. Hotels are heading the same way,” she says.Pathak believes the next wave of growth will be driven by younger travellers. “They’re vocal about spending time with their partners and don’t carry the hesitation earlier generations did. In metros, the industry has largely moved beyond the old perceptions, and hourly stays are increasingly viewed as a convenience product rather than something unusual.”The customer, it seems, has reached the destination. The hospitality industry needs to arrive.ChallengesPersistent social stigmaTrust and safety concernsBranded hotels worried about perceptionComplexities in managing multiple check-ins and check-outsLack of awareness among travellersOpportunitiesRise in domestic travel and frequent short tripsGrowth of bleisure (business + leisure) travelYounger consumers demanding flexibilityTech platforms making discovery and booking seamlessHotels looking to monetise vacant rooms

Measles virus outbreak detected in California

A big lifeline for marginalised Mumbai kids

Mumbai: Beneath a busy flyover in India's financial capital Mumbai, a row of pastel-coloured shipping containers houses an unlikely school serving some of the city's most marginalised children.Despite laws guaranteeing free schooling for children aged six to 14, poverty and migration continue to keep many out of classrooms, particularly in sprawling cities like Mumbai where many families survive through low-paying informal work.Crippling urban poverty also means young children selling knick-knacks on streets are still a fairly common sight at crowded traffic intersections in big Indian cities.But the non-profit that runs the free school is determined to educate its underprivileged cohort, many of whom come from homeless families that barely eke out a living.Wedged between gleaming skyscrapers and busy roads, the "Signal Shala", or traffic signal school, caters to several dozen children who have been left out of the formal education system, according to Bhatu Sawant, founder of the initiative."These children can't go to (a regular) school. So (I thought) let's do this. Let's bring the school to them," Sawant, 45, told AFP.Also read | Major change in buyer behaviour as e-scooters race deeper into BharatIndia runs one of the world's largest public school systems, but government data for 2024-25 still identified nearly 1.2 million children as "out of school", a catch-all categorisation that covers both those who have never been to school or dropped out.Free mealsFor Sawant, India's government-run schools are simply "not flexible enough for these children", while private ones charging exorbitant fees are out of the question.The signal school operates from repurposed air-conditioned containers placed on a narrow strip of land beneath a flyover, where classes and play unfold amid the constant rumble of traffic overhead.Its approach is tailored to the realities of street life.Every morning, the school bus drives through the cramped lanes of Mumbai's slums, picking up students -- a lifeline for parents who can't afford transportation.When the children file in, the first order of business is a shower, as many have no easy access to bathing facilities.Lockers are provided for books and uniforms that otherwise cannot be kept safe or clean while living in slums or on the streets.Three meals are provided free, with school hours longer than normal.Also read | Indian tourists go viral for all wrong reasons. Here's how not to become the next horror storyClasses are split by ability rather than age, with teachers adapting lessons for children who may never have held a pencil before.Older students are also taught basic skills like sitting still, speaking clearly and staying focused.The challenges are particularly acute when it comes to kids from the semi-nomadic Pardhi community, who often do not speak the local language."When the children came here, they didn't know what the days of the week were, what the 12 months were or what the seasons were," said teacher Tejasvi Borade, as the container walls rumbled from the steady stream of cars passing above.Robotics and AIFor the students, the school serves as a sanctuary from the harshness of the real world."I feel very happy seeing the school bus," said 12-year-old Pooja Pawar, whose parents take on odd jobs at construction sites."The school clothes feel nice. The breakfast is good... In school, we make cake... and dance."For others, it represents an opportunity long denied.Balaji Laxman, who once sold tissues at traffic lights to earn a few hundred rupees -- the equivalent of several US dollars -- a day, said the classrooms represent a chance to imagine a different future."I want to become a doctor," Laxman, 12, said with a shy smile.While the school steers many children towards vocational pathways, Sawant said the broader ambition is to ensure they are not left behind in a rapidly changing world."We have to prepare them for the 21st century," said Sawant, who has set up two similar schools on the outskirts of Mumbai which have robotics labs among other facilities."They should know robotics, AI, computers, 3D printing," said the educator who relies on private and corporate donations for funding, with the government helping with the infrastructure."Everything that elite class children are doing well in, they should know all of that."