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Mock drill conducted to check preparedness in handling emergency situations

‘Very big privilege’: Gill opens up on captaining in front of home crowd

Captain Shubman Gill emphasizes Test cricket's unparalleled satisfaction as India prepares for their one-off Test against Afghanistan. Acknowledging the challenging transition from IPL, Gill expressed confidence in young talents and highlighted the significance of this match for building momentum ahead of crucial World Test Championship fixtures. He stressed Afghanistan's formidable progress, urging against underestimation.

NASA orders ISS astronauts to prepare for evacuation

Crisis on int'l space stn: Astronauts told to prepare for evacuation as air leaks worsen

Astronauts on the International Space Station were instructed to take shelter in their docked spacecraft and prepare for a potential evacuation Friday. This precautionary measure was enacted after an air leak in the Russian segment showed signs of worsening, prompting specialists to assess and monitor containment efforts.

Chittoor prepares for June 28 pulse polio drive

CM Vijay chairs TNSDMA meeting to review southwest monsoon preparedness

Following the onset of the southwest monsoon over the South Andaman Sea on May 16, conditions continue to remain favourable for its further intensification

Armed forces prepared for both short and intense conflicts: Army chief Gen Dwivedi

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi highlights lessons from Operation Sindoor, emphasizing integrated, technology-enabled warfare and the central role of drones. He stresses preparedness for multi-front conflicts and Pakistan's need to deter terror attacks, while also detailing the stable but sensitive situation along the LAC with China.

The curious case of Rajesh Exports: Massive revenues, meagre profits

Mumbai: It is India's fourth biggest company by revenue, but the managing director of precious metals trader Rajesh Exports (REL) apparently doesn't know how and from where it gets the biggest chunk of the revenue, show the findings of a regulatory investigation.In its investigation report, the Securities and Exchange Board of India observed allegedly unscrupulous activities by REL's promoters, such as accounting irregularities and siphoning off of company funds into personal accounts, and also pointed out lapses by its auditors. The regulator said the company and its auditors were non-cooperative."The acts of REL constitute a deliberate device, scheme and artifice to mislead and defraud investors dealing in the shares of REL by portraying an inflated and misleading picture of its operational scale, revenue and financial health," Sebi observed in its report.The company, eponymously named after its chairman Rajesh Mehta, is accused of committing an elaborate financial fraud that includes dressing-up of revenues of ₹15.15 lakh crore over the years, personal gold trades covered up as corporate sales and phoney gold mine investments of ₹1,035 crore, according to the interim report.REL denied the charges of misdeeds. In a press release Thursday, the company said the revenues stated in its financials were correct and that the confusion arose because of a mix-up between Ebitda and revenue numbers at Swiss refiner Valcambi SA, an indirect subsidiary.Sebi has not made any adverse observation with regard to earnings, the company said, claiming that the regulator has only observed suspicion with regard to revenues which was primarily because of confusion over the Valcambi numbers.Numbers don't add upIn fiscal 2025, REL reported consolidated revenue of ₹4.23 lakh crore against a profit after tax of just ₹95 crore, translating into a net margin of barely 0.02%. The year before, on ₹2.8 lakh crore revenue, profit was ₹336 crore.Experts who have studied the Sebi report and the company's annual reports say the numbers did not add up. The business appeared to be operating at margins that were not merely thin but structurally negligible, they said."It looks like a case of pass-through accounting. There is no value creation. It was 'flow of gold' being booked as revenue," said a leading auditor on the condition of anonymity.Sebi, which began the investigations in March 2024 following a shareholder complaint about suspected accounting malpractices, said it found that about 97-99% of REL's consolidated revenues were attributed to its overseas subsidiaries, principally Valcambi. But Valcambi's own accounts, audited by KPMG SA, recorded only processing fees that were about ₹3,027 crore across five years.Valcambi refined gold on behalf of clients and never took ownership of the precious metal or recognised the value of gold as revenue in its books. Yet, Global Gold Refineries AG (GGR), the parent of Valcambi that had no independent operating business, recorded gross revenues running into hundreds of crores by including the gross value of gold that actually belonged to others, according to the Sebi report.Rajesh Exports, which owns GGR through a Singapore subsidiary, used those unaudited figures in its financial statements, significantly bumping up the company's revenue, it said.In its press release, REL said: "The core observation in the order is with regard to the misreporting of the revenues. This has emerged primarily due to confusion because Sebi has considered the Ebitda of Valcambi instead of revenue hence it has stated that there is a difference of about 97% in the revenue.""There is no reason for any listed entity to inflate revenue and maintain the earnings, this will only reduce the margins of the company, which would be adverse to the company," it said.Senior management in the darkThe senior management of REL told regulators that most of them were in the dark about the company's overseas operations and only the promoter, Rajesh Mehta, dealt with those activities."Valcambi SA does not have any gold mine on its own," managing director Suresh Gowda was quoted in the Sebi order as saying. "It refines the raw gold purchased by it from various entities, whose names I do not recollect, as these things are exclusively handled by Rajesh Mehta, chairman of REL. I have never interacted nor involved with any subsidiary/step-down subsidiary of REL, as these were exclusively taken care of by Rajesh Mehta," he told the investigators, as per the order.According to the report, REL booked ₹11,487 crore in sales between 2021-22 and 2023-24 to Affluence Shares and Stocks, a broker that made up to 66% of the company's standalone revenue for that period. But Affluence, in formal depositions to the regulator, said it had not done any business with REL.Following the transaction trail, the investigators found out that the transactions were personal gold derivative trades executed by promoter Mehta using his own brokerage account and then recorded in the company's books as corporate sales, the order said.The investigators also found that Mehta used corporate funds. As per the Sebi observations, bank records show REL transferred ₹338.90 crore directly into Mehta's personal accounts between April 2020 and September 2025.Unlike in the case of Nirav Modi or Gitanjali Gems, who are accused of bank fraud, Rajesh Exports doesn't appear to have borrowed big from banks or through sale of bonds, according to regulatory filings.The company's market cap was just over ₹3,000 crore, as per Thursday's closing share price. LIC (10.8%) and Bridge India Fund (8.46%) are its major institutional shareholders."It is striking that, even at a peak market capitalisation of ₹25,000 crore, the company did not hold any analyst calls, a basic expectation for a listed company of that scale," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Research Services, a corporate governance advisory firm.The regulator in 2024 hired BDO India Services to investigate. But the forensic audit faced problems at almost every stage of the investigation. It was denied access to ERP systems and was not provided a complete journal dump, preventing independent verification of transactions recorded in the books, according to the regulatory report.And the company declined to share subsidiary-level records with the investigator, citing Swiss data protection laws, limiting auditors largely to reviewing financial statements prepared by the management itself rather than underlying evidence, it said.What's also come under the scanner was the conduct of statutory auditors for the last few years: CA PV Ramana Reddy, the proprietor at PV Ramana Reddy & Co, and CA PL Venkatadri, partner at BSD & Co.The company's FY24 and FY25 annual reports, filed with the stock exchanges, carry an unqualified opinion from BSD & Co, which concluded that the financial statements presented a "true and fair view" in line with Indian Accounting Standards.The company's FY24 Directors' Report noted that the statutory and secretarial auditors had made no qualifications, reservations or adverse remarks.The Sebi report said for over five months, the auditors sat on the regulator's request for missing documents and statements.Emails sent to both audit firms did not elicit any response.REL closed 5% lower at ₹103.92 Thursday on the NSE. The shares are down from their peak of ₹1,028.40 on February 6, 2023.

RSS chief says ‘India’s time has come’, calls for stronger societal preparedness

Noting that powerful nations act arbitrarily, invading, bombing, disrupting the world’s oil supply, RSS chief says India should be seen as a country that will instead move forward by taking everyone along

IndiGo suspends ops to 6 int'l destinations

IndiGo has announced the temporary suspension of flights to six international destinations as it adjusts its network amid softer travel demand and rising operational costs.The airline said the move is part of a broader network optimisation strategy aimed at matching capacity with current market conditions while maintaining operational efficiency.Which International Routes Has IndiGo Suspended?According to the airline, services to the following destinations will be temporarily suspended:Hong KongShanghaiHo Chi Minh CityLangkawiKrabiSiem ReapFlights to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Langkawi and Krabi will be suspended from July 1, while services to Siem Reap will be paused from July 3.Read more: HSBC says Asia's largest slum could soon have metro stations, green spaces & 125,000 new homesThe suspension is expected to remain in place until September 30.Why Has IndiGo Suspended These Flights?IndiGo said the decision was driven by a combination of softer seasonal demand and a challenging operating environment.The airline noted that the upcoming quarter typically witnesses lower travel demand, especially on certain international routes.At the same time, airlines continue to face increased operational expenses, making it necessary to review network deployment.In a statement, IndiGo said: "These measured changes are designed to align capacity with current market conditions and demand trends, while ensuring the airline maintains reliability and network integrity across its global destinations."Will IndiGo Restart These Routes?Yes. The airline has confirmed that bookings for all affected routes will reopen from October 1, subject to an improvement in market conditions.IndiGo also stated that it remains prepared to restore services earlier if demand improves and operational conditions become more favourable.Airspace Restrictions Continue To Affect AirlinesApart from rising costs, airlines are also dealing with continuing airspace restrictions that have impacted flight operations and route planning.Several carriers globally have been forced to adjust schedules, reroute aircraft and review international networks due to changing geopolitical and operational challenges.IndiGo said it will continue monitoring the situation closely before making further decisions regarding these routes.IndiGo Retains More Than 1,800 Weekly International FlightsDespite the temporary suspension of six destinations, IndiGo said its international network remains largely intact.The airline continues to operate more than 1,800 international flights every week across its global network.This allows the carrier to maintain strong international connectivity while adjusting capacity where demand is currently weaker.What Does This Mean For Travellers?Passengers planning trips to the affected destinations between July and September may need to consider alternative airlines or adjust their travel plans.However, travellers heading to other international destinations served by IndiGo are unlikely to see any major disruption, as the airline has retained the majority of its overseas operations.The move highlights how airlines are increasingly balancing demand, operating costs and network efficiency as global travel patterns continue to evolve.IndiGo Focuses On Network OptimisationThe temporary suspension reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry, where airlines are becoming more flexible in managing capacity.Rather than operating flights with lower demand, carriers are increasingly redeploying aircraft to stronger-performing routes and adjusting schedules based on market conditions.For IndiGo, the strategy is aimed at protecting profitability while ensuring reliable operations across its growing domestic and international network.Inputs from PTI

Michael Dell calls it 'excellent parenting advice' as Uber CEO says, 'We give kids too much'

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has cautioned against 'helicopter parenting,' arguing that over-protecting children hinders their long-term development. He believes facing and overcoming life's challenges is crucial for building character and finding satisfaction. While difficult for loving parents, this approach prepares kids for the real world, a sentiment echoed by Michael Dell.

'It is tough': Kuldeep on challenges of switching from IPL to red-ball cricket

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav says he is fully focused on Test cricket ahead of the one-off Afghanistan Test. After Delhi Capitals' early IPL exit, he used the extra time to prepare for red-ball cricket, admitting the transition from T20s is “tough.” With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel rested, Kuldeep will lead the spin attack and has backed youngsters Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar to perform well.

Air strike preparedness drill in Shivamogga on June 5

Missing Sherpa returns alive after six days without food or water on Everest as family prepared for last rites

Dawa Sherpa, 52, was returning with a European climber when he went missing between Camp III and Camp IV, on May 29. He returned alive on June 4.

Reliance traders said to game plan in case RBI raises rates

Traders in Reliance Industries Ltd.’s treasury department are strategizing over where to park the company’s cash in case the Reserve Bank of India starts raising interest rates in the coming months.One proposal involves moving Reliance’s cash holdings from liquid mutual funds into short-dated money market instruments, people aware of the conglomerate’s thinking said. The switch may pay off because the yield spread between money-market papers and the benchmark rate has widened beyond its five-year average and is likely to narrow in the coming months, resulting in capital gains, the people said, asking not to be named as the information is private. Markets are currently expecting about 50 basis points of rate hikes this year, they said.Traders also mulled reducing allocation to longer-dated bonds, which tend to be more sensitive to interest-rate changes, the people said.The strategy discussion cited market expectations and the conglomerate didn’t take an explicit view on interest rates. Treasury departments typically consider a range of market scenarios when evaluating trading strategies.“We categorically deny the information you have provided in your email regarding our opinion on interest rates and the behaviour of the rupee,” a Reliance spokesperson said by email.131502003India's Overnight Swaps Reflect RBI Rate HikesThe view carries weight because Reliance runs one of the largest corporate treasuries in India. The discussion also come ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s rate decision on Friday, where the central bank is expected to announce measures to support the rupee.While most economists — 29 out of 35 — surveyed by Bloomberg News expect the authority to keep the benchmark rate unchanged, they see the RBI adopting a hawkish stance to prepare markets for potential rate hikes later this year amid inflation pressures triggered by an oil price shock.India’s sovereign bond yields have remained broadly stable this quarter even as the rupee has slid to record lows. The currency has recovered in recent days, helped by RBI intervention and optimism that a US and Iran agreement may lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for the country’s energy imports.The rupee is down 6% this year and recently approached a record low of 97 per dollar. It has been hovering around 95-96 levels in recent days.Reliance’s traders expect the rupee to strengthen if a Middle East peace deal is reached and if the RBI takes measures to attract capital inflows, one of the people said. They have proposed that the owner of world’s largest oil-refining complex partly hedge its long-term forward contract positions as well as coupon payments dues in fiscal year starting March 2028, the person said.

The ₹ warning: Six actions for biz leaders

The Indian rupee is trading around Rs. 95-96 to the dollar in late May 2026, setting fresh record lows. Markets are openly discussing the Rs. 100 threshold. The rupee has weakened in almost every year since 2014 and has lost approximately half its value against the dollar over that period. The end of this currency depreciation is not in sight. The factors that would stop it are not yet visible.The government is acting. State run oil companies have implemented four fuel price hikes in ten days as of May 25, taking petrol in Delhi past Rs. 102 per litre. This is the right and necessary response to the energy cost reality created by the Iran war. Crucially, the Modi government has also done its part on the macroeconomic front, consistently and aggressively reducing the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP to maintain structural stability.Yet, the currency pressure persists. The energy price impact has not yet fully reached Indian consumers and supply chains. It is coming.Uday Kotak said it plainly at the CII Annual Business Summit on May 12: "Be ready for tough times rather than waiting for the shock to hit us." He was right.Also read | Manufactured monopoly: How industrial policy is structuring monopolies in IndiaThis is not a time to panic. But it is a time to act. The leaders who move now will have options. Those who wait will not.The Overriding Factor: The Psychology of the PlayersWhy is the currency declining despite strong domestic fiscal discipline? Because exchange rates are not driven by mathematical models alone. The currency decline is highly affected—and accelerated—by the psychology of all players engaged in this endeavor.Currency movements are deeply behavioral. When a currency visualizes a downward trend, psychology shifts from calculation to self-protection and speculation. Every player in the ecosystem operates under this psychological weight:Corporate CFOs and Treasurers: Instead of hedging normally, they rush to cover future dollar liabilities early, hoarding hard currency and inadvertently worsening the scarcity.Foreign Investors: They begin to judge their returns not by the quality of Indian business operations, but by the eroding value of the conversion rate.Importers and Exporters: Importers advance their payments to avoid paying more tomorrow; exporters delay converting their dollar earnings back into rupees, waiting for a "better" rate. This collective psychology creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.Investors, CFOs, and FDI decision makers extrapolate what is happening now into the future. When they see a currency that has lost approximately half its value since 2014 with no clear floor in sight, their psychological pivot alters market realities.Also read | India tightens checks on overseas flows as currency pressure mounts, sources sayThe cascading timeline of Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) equity behavior perfectly mirrors this psychological shift from rational evaluation to systemic risk aversion:2024 (The Calculation Phase): Rupee averages Rs. 83-84. FPI flows remain positive (+$12 billion) as investors trade on strong domestic corporate earnings.2025 (The Self-Protection Phase): Rupee slides past Rs. 89. Collective psychology shifts to risk mitigation. FPIs withdraw a record $18.4 billion from Indian equities—the largest annual equity outflow on record.Early 2026 (The Capitulation Phase): Rupee breaks past Rs. 95. Sentiment turns into an outright exit strategy. In the first four months of 2026 alone, outflows have already reached $19.1 billion, completely bypassing the entire previous year's record loss in a fraction of the time.FDI agreements are being signed, but capital is delayed because players are psychologically hesitant to deploy funds into a depreciating asset.The Trap of Hard Currency Debt: A Broken Business Model There is a highly significant and dangerous phenomenon unfolding in India today that requires immediate exposure. For years, a specific class of Indian corporates adopted a regular strategy of borrowing heavily in hard currency (External Commercial Borrowings, or ECBs). Lured by low nominal global interest rates, several of these companies over borrowed, treating cheap dollar debt as a permanent structural advantage.Today, that strategy has become a trap. The compounding effect of a depreciating rupee, skyrocketing hedging costs, and brutal refinancing realities is fundamentally breaking their business models.Consider the mechanics of this crisis:The Hedging Penalty: Leaving dollar debt unhedged is now corporate roulette. However, buying hedges at current rupee levels has become structurally prohibitive. The cost of protection completely wipes out any interest rate advantage.The Refinancing Wall: Billions in foreign debt are coming due. These over-borrowed companies must now refinance their liabilities at a time when the rupee value has materially deteriorated. They are effectively forced to borrow far more rupees just to pay back the same amount of original dollars.The Crushing Cost of Rupee Capital: As these companies try to pivot back to domestic lenders, they face a severe escalation in their rupee cost of capital.The Growth Verdict: When your cost of capital spikes and your cash flows are consumed by servicing legacy dollar debt, future growth stops. Capital expenditure (CapEx) plans are being frozen. These companies can no longer invest in innovation, capacity, or market expansion. Their business model shifts overnight from aggressive value creation to basic survival. Boards must realize that this is not a temporary treasury headache; it is a structural threat to the company’s future viability.India's forex reserves stand at approximately 10 to 11 months of import cover. Substantial, but being actively deployed to defend the currency. Some imports are non-negotiable: oil, critical inputs, components. These will now cost more. That cost passes through every supply chain.Six Actions for Business Leaders1. Protect your cash and liquidity first. This is the most immediate priority. Map your cash position today. Identify every source of liquidity across the next twelve months. Stress-test it at Rs. 100 and beyond. Which receivables are at risk? Which credit lines are rupee-denominated and which are not? Companies that run into a cash crisis during a currency depreciation cycle lose their options entirely. The CFO must own this analysis and present it to the board within days, not weeks.2. Act now on your foreign currency borrowings, hedging, and refinancing. Do not assume the rupee will recover to Rs. 80. Analyse your full foreign currency exposure across the next three years: every loan, every refinancing date, every hedging contract, every procurement price denominated in foreign currency. Hard currency loans now face refinancing at rupee values that have materially deteriorated. Model every scenario at Rs. 100 and beyond. Your CFO, treasury, and procurement team must be aligned on one instruction: do not run into a liquidity crisis. This analysis must happen now, not at the next quarterly review.3. Build a war room. Most companies have begun thinking about war rooms for supply chain disruptions. Expand the mandate. Currency exposure belongs in the same room. Which of your costs are dollar or euro denominated? Which of your revenues are rupee denominated? Where is the mismatch? What is your break-even exchange rate? If you do not have clear answers today, you are exposed. The war room is not a committee. It is a real-time decision environment with live data, a clear owner, and the authority to act.4. Use the currency depreciation advantage: double your export salesforce. A weaker rupee makes Indian exports more competitive. This window will not stay open indefinitely. Double the salesforce in your export markets now. Use this period to upgrade quality, improve service delivery, and build customer relationships that will last beyond the currency advantage. Indian exporters who invest in capability during this period will emerge stronger regardless of what the rupee does next. Those who simply ride the price advantage without building the underlying business will lose when conditions change.5. Watch your stock and your sector. Banks and financial institutions should already be on high alert. Companies with large foreign currency exposure will see pressure on their financials. Some stock prices are already reflecting this. Go through your sector company by company. Identify who is most exposed. If you are an investor or a lender, this analysis is not optional. The combination of currency depreciation, rising oil prices, and FPI outflows creates a compounding pressure that will surface in earnings before it surfaces in headlines.6. Cut costs aggressively. AI will help. There has never been more urgency to reduce costs than now. And there has never been a better tool to do it. AI can cut most operational costs by as much as 30% across functions: procurement, finance, customer service, logistics, and compliance. McKinsey data confirms companies adopting AI and automation reduce operational costs by 20 to 30 percent. This is not a future opportunity. It is a present imperative. Every rupee of cost removed through AI is a rupee that does not need to be recovered through revenue in a deteriorating currency environment. Start now with your highest-cost functions.The CFO as CaptainCurrency risk is a cash flow risk. Every function that touches foreign currency—procurement, treasury, sales, capex planning— must now report into a single coordinating authority. That authority is the CFO. This is not about hierarchy. It is about clarity. In a currency crisis, fragmented decision-making is as dangerous as wrong decision making. One captain. One consolidated view. Weekly reviews minimum.The Bigger PictureThis currency depreciation is a structural signal, not a cyclical one. India's economy must move from a cheap labour advantage to genuine global value creation.The companies that will survive and thrive are those building products and services that command premium prices in global markets. The rupee's weakness is a reminder that competing on cost alone has limits.The recently concluded trade agreements are a genuine opportunity. Execute them with full force. Build the export pipelines. Add the sales capacity.The businesses that move now, with discipline and clarity, will manage market psychology, navigate the debt trap, and define the next chapter of Indian industry.The shock is coming. Prepare before it arrives.Ram Charan is the author of China’s 90% model. It is restricting India’s industrial progress. Former Director of Hindalco and Muyuan (China).

Brokers prepare rollout of algo trading tools for retail investors

Mumbai: Major brokers are preparing to roll out algorithmic tools for retail traders over the next few months, amid greater regulatory clarity on retail participation in such trading practices.The move is set to not only help brokers expand revenue streams by charging fees to access the trading algorithms (algos), but also help fintech firms scale up by distributing their algo strategies across multiple platforms. Retail clients may be able to access such strategies for as little as ₹5,000 per strategy.Algorithmic or algo strategies use computer programs or pre-set formulas to execute trades when certain conditions like price, volume or technical patterns are met.Sebi's revised framework for safer participation of retail investors in algorithmic trading has been fully implemented since April 2026. It stipulates that brokers must obtain exchange approval for each algo, tag all orders for audit trails, monitor application programming interface (APIs), and handle investor grievances. In addition, exchanges must supervise algo trading through testing and surveillance. Given the regulatory clarity, many brokers have now rushed to provide services.Large traditional brokers such as HDFC Securities and Motilal Oswal Financial Services already provide algos to clients. Other brokers are in the process of launching such services. Raise Securities, which owns Dhan trading platform, recently acquired the algo-provider startup Stratzy. Angel One, Upstox, SBI Securities, Kotak Securities, IIFL Capital Services and 5paisa are also preparing to offer these services to clients. Groww is also in conversation with algo platforms to onboard some strategies. Email sent to Groww did not elicit a response until press time."While algo trading has been around for some time using APIs provided by brokers, we expect higher adoption by retail customers in the long term," said Gaurav Seth, managing director and chief executive officer at 5paisa Capital.The algo strategies are expected to attract retail derivatives traders. Currently, 12 algo providers or vendors are registered with the NSE.According to Mohit Bhandari, cofounder and chief executive of Stratzy, an algo strategy provider, most retail traders either do naked derivatives trading, or have to create trading strategies using multiple futures and options to hedge their risk, which is difficult to track. "Algo trading provides convenience through automation. It also becomes much easier to deploy sophisticated strategies," Bhandari said.Brokers eye algos offerings"The algorithmic trading landscape is becoming increasingly competitive. We anticipate a significant shift in trading volumes toward algorithmic strategies over the next two years," said Puneet Maheshwari, director at Upstox.

Vizag Collector prepares for Naidu’s visit

Future City Police focus on cybercrime, road safety and monsoon preparedness

Malviya Nagar Fire Tragedy: Delhi Police Readies Look-Out Circular Against Hotel Owner Lokesh Bajaj

Delhi Police prepares Look Out Circular against Flourish Stay owner Lokesh Bajaj after Malviya Nagar fire kills 21.