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NAC-AP wins dual honours at IINA Awards 2026

The awards, presented by Dinesh Sharma, Member of Parliament and former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, recognises contributions to the nation’s infrastructure and skill development sectors

NDTV Top Stories

'It Was A Gorgeous, Big Gift': Jill Biden Recalls Diamond Given By PM Modi

Among the gifts she recalls most vividly was a 7.5-carat synthetic diamond presented by PM Modi

The Times of India

Who is Manav Suthar? Rajasthan all-rounder handed India Test cap against Afghanistan

Manav Suthar received his first India Test cap on Saturday. The Rajasthan all-rounder was presented with the cap before the Afghanistan Test. Suthar is a 23-year-old left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman. He earned his call-up after strong domestic performances. This debut marks a significant step for the young cricketer.

산업/기업

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.

IT/기술

Nilesh Shah recommends 4 investment bets that should be part of your portfolio

As geopolitical headwinds make it tougher for equity investors to make money, Dalal Street’s top voice Nilesh Shah, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, told a gathering of HNI investors at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit on Thursday that there are four specific investment structures which deserve a place in most portfolios right now.Shah’s first recommendation was the Special Investment Fund, or SIF, a structure that marks a meaningful shift in what is available to Indian investors. Shah noted that the mutual fund industry has, until now, been a long-only business but the SIF changes that. These are long-short, absolute return-oriented funds, designed to generate returns regardless of market direction rather than simply riding the equity tide.The second vehicle Shah flagged is performing credit AIFs. His reasoning was grounded in a simple supply-demand observation that for corporate settlements today, capital is not available from banks, mutual funds, or insurance companies.As institutional lenders have stepped back, borrowers are plenty and lenders very few. Amid this imbalance, Shah said the need is real and returns are attractive. Performing credit AIFs, which lend into this gap, are positioned to benefit directly from the scarcity of competing capital.https://youtube.com/shorts/Xa4AcXFg8hA?feature=shareThe third idea was REITs, and here Shah introduced a timing element. Over the last three years, REITs have delivered index-level returns of around 13.5%. But with interest rates rising, he suggested that the next six to nine months may present an opportunity to enter at better prices. Rising rates typically compress REIT valuations in the near term, and Shah framed any such correction as a potential entry point rather than a risk to avoid. Beyond the return potential, he positioned REITs as a portfolio diversification tool as the asset class behaves differently from equities and fixed income, and that is still underrepresented in most Indian investor portfolios.The fourth recommendation addressed global diversification but came with an important caveat. Mutual fund industry limits for overseas investment are currently full, which means the conventional route for Indian investors to access global markets through domestic mutual funds is closed. Shah pointed to Gift City as the workaround. Structures domiciled there allow investment under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and in his view, these Gift City-based LRS products are the practical path for investors who want global exposure while the mutual fund window remains shut.Across all four — the SIF, performing credit AIFs, REITs, and Gift City products — Shah's underlying argument was the same: in a volatile period, the portfolio needs instruments that can generate positive returns through means other than a rising equity market.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Hindustan Times

CBSE mess: Teen whistleblower Sarthak appears before Parliament panel, what it means for Modi govt

Sarthak Sidhant, who has dug into CBSE OSM system and tenders, presented his findings to Standing Committee on Education at Parliament

The Times of India

Karnataka: DKS's cabinet to debut with 10-20 ministers; Delhi talks continue

Congress leaders held late-night discussions in New Delhi to finalize the new Karnataka cabinet, with 10-20 ministers expected in the first phase. The initial list is nearly ready, with final decisions to be presented to party chiefs Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Discussions also covered key organizational appointments.

Mint (India)

Charlie Kirk assassination: Utah judge to consider media ban ahead of Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing

A Utah judge will decide whether to restrict media and public access to parts of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing in the case where he is accused of killing Charlie Kirk. Defence seeks sealed exhibits and limited coverage, while prosecutors argue for an open hearing with key evidence presented.

경제

Suzlon Energy shares fall over 2% after SEBI fines Rs 29 crore for misleading financial statements

Shares of renewable energy player Suzlon Energy fall 2.2% to Rs 55.87 on the BSE on Monday after capital markets regulator Sebi levied penalties totalling nearly Rs 29 crore on Suzlon Energy and several former executives. Sebi concluded that the company misrepresented its financial position through transactions involving subsidiaries, inflated profits and inadequate disclosures.In a 96-page order issued on May 29, Sebi said Suzlon and certain former executives violated provisions of the Sebi Act, PFUTP Regulations, listing regulations and disclosure requirements. The order replaces an earlier adjudication order issued in June 2025 and confirms multiple violations by the company and its executives.Among the penalised individuals, former executive Vinod R. Tanti was fined Rs 5.75 crore, while Girish R. Tanti was directed to pay Rs 5.45 crore. Former Group CFO Kirti J. Vagadia was fined Rs 1.5 crore and former CFO Amit Agarwal was fined Rs 30 lakh.The matter stemmed from an anonymous complaint received by Sebi in December 2019 alleging irregularities in transactions involving Suzlon's subsidiaries and associate entities. A subsequent forensic audit and investigation covering FY15 to FY20 and the first nine months of FY21 examined several issues, including dealings with subsidiaries, impairment reversals, contingent liabilities and financial statement disclosures.Sensex, Nifty today: Catch all the LIVE stock market action hereOne key observation related to the transfer of Suzlon's operations and maintenance services business to its subsidiary, Suzlon Global Services Ltd, in March 2014. Sebi noted that the business, valued at around Rs 77 crore, was transferred for Rs 2,000 crore, resulting in Suzlon recording an accounting gain of Rs 1,922.92 crore.According to the regulator, the subsidiary lacked the financial capacity to fund the transaction. Sebi found that a significant portion of the consideration was subsequently reflected as paid through circular movement of funds between the two entities. The regulator said the arrangement created artificial profits and inflated the company's net worth. It observed that Suzlon's FY14 net worth would have been Rs 741 crore without the transaction, compared with the reported figure of Rs 2,664 crore.Sebi further noted that Suzlon later booked an additional gain of Rs 829.78 crore by transferring its stake in the subsidiary to another wholly owned entity, effectively recognising profit a second time on the same underlying assets. According to the regulator, these transactions helped the company portray a stronger financial position and supported subsequent fund-raising and restructuring efforts.The order also addressed a standby letter of credit connected to loans taken by a foreign subsidiary. Sebi said a contingent liability of about $569 million, or roughly Rs 4,050 crore, which had been disclosed in FY17, was not reflected in FY18 contingent liability disclosures after being reclassified under an accounting standard related to insurance contracts. The regulator held that the treatment was inappropriate and materially reduced the visibility of the company's financial exposure.In addition, Sebi reviewed investments and loans involving subsidiaries SE Forge Ltd and Suzlon Gujarat Wind Park. It found that several transactions involved circular routing of funds, conversion of loans into equity and later impairment of investments. According to the regulator, these transactions resulted in financial statements that did not accurately represent the underlying economic substance.Sebi concluded that the company's financial statements and disclosures failed to present a true and fair view of its financial position. The regulator said financial statements and disclosures form the basis on which investors and other market participants assess a listed company's financial health and prospects.While Sebi noted that disproportionate gains and investor losses could not be quantified with precision, it said the violations were serious because they related to financial information disseminated to investors and relied upon by the market.Sebi imposed the penalties under provisions relating to fraudulent and unfair trade practices, disclosure lapses and violations of listing obligations. The notices must pay the penalties within 45 days of receiving the order.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

산업/기업

Midcaps in a sweet spot? Why Nippon India’s Rupesh Patel sees a valuation correction despite new index peaks

While the midcap index flirts with new peaks, strong corporate earnings have helped cool down previously stretched valuations. Nippon India's Rupesh Patel analyses the resilient Q4 FY26 earnings season, breaking down how a bottom-up investing strategy can help investors uncover reasonable entry points despite building geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds.Edited excerpts from a chat with Rupesh Patel, Senior Fund Manager - Equity Investments, Nippon India Mutual Fund:Your Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund delivered a strong 22% over the last 5 years, beating the benchmark. But given your Growth at Reasonable Price (GARP) philosophy, where are you actually finding "reasonable" valuations in a midcap market that many currently see as overheated?On an aggregate basis, the NSE Midcap 150 index has remained almost flat since September 2024. However, during this period, earnings have grown at a reasonable rate. In fact, midcap as a category has been the most resilient and delivered higher growth compared to other segments of the market. As a result, valuations today, though they appear higher compared to long-term averages, have corrected as compared to where we were in September 2024.Coming to Nippon India Growth Fund, we follow a bottom-up approach to construct the portfolio and buy stocks based on their relative attractiveness on risk-reward equation. Some of the businesses in the category may appear expensive in the near term; however, the size of the opportunity and their ability to maintain earnings growth at a reasonable rate over the long term make them attractive from a medium to longer-term perspective. You are overweight financials and underweight technology in the midcap fund. What's the rationale? How do you think midcap lenders and midcap IT companies are placed at this stage?Our OW stance on financials is on account of our exposure to lenders as well as other beneficiaries of financialization of savings like Life Insurance companies, asset management companies, Exchanges, etc. On the lending side, most of our exposure is to well-capitalised lenders where asset quality is largely expected to hold, Return on Assets/ Return on Equity remains healthy, and valuations are reasonable in the context of the overall market.In IT companies, we have been underweight since the last few quarters, largely owing to the risk of a slowdown in earnings growth on account of current geopolitical uncertainties and the impact of disruptions like AI. Valuations were also a concern till a few quarters back. Going ahead, as the dust settles and some of these companies evolve and adapt to new realities, growth will recover from current lows. Companies in this sector are generally capital efficient and generate free cash flow, making them attractive bets again as valuations turn favourable.Within the midcap space, how do you read the Q4 earnings season? What are your biggest takeaways for investors?Q4 earnings season for midcaps has turned out to be quite resilient, and most companies are delivering on expectations. However, going ahead, risks related to deterioration in the macro environment, cost inflation, and logistics remain relevant. If current geopolitical uncertainties continue, we must be cognizant of these risks and their impact on earnings and valuations. Given the growth trajectory, valuations and earnings, midcap companies are in a sweet spot. Would you agree?If we look at the last few quarters, midcap companies’ earnings have remained resilient. Most of them have delivered healthy earnings growth even in Q4, FY’26. However, aggregate returns of midcap companies as represented by the NSE Midcap 150 index have remained flat since September 2024, resulting in a valuation correction over this period. Further, midcap is a very diverse category with a universe representing multiple sectors and some unique and fast-growing profit pools that have the potential to grow meaningfully over the medium to long term; hence, on a bottom-up basis as well, opportunities exist in this segment of the market. How have you been reshuffling your portfolio to realign it with the realities of war?As mentioned earlier, we remain cognizant of risks arising on account of deteriorating macro conditions, inflation in costs and logistical challenges, if current geopolitical uncertainties persist. We also remain aware of the potential impact of these risks not only on earnings growth but also on market valuations. In some instances, current stock prices may already be reflecting risks of these uncertainties, making the risk-reward favourable. Hence, our approach is to remain aware of valuations and avoid vulnerable businesses.From a 3-5 year perspective, which sectors do you think are best placed at this stage - both from a growth as well as a valuation perspective?We remain positive on Financials, Consumer Discretionary, and select industrials.Within financials, we are positive on lenders as well as companies that benefit from a bigger trend on the financialization of savings. Accordingly, we have exposure to companies in the insurance space, Asset Management Companies, Exchanges and other financial services companies. On lenders, asset quality remains benign, they are well capitalised, generate decent Return on Assets (RoA) and Return on Equity (RoE) and valuations are reasonable.Consumer discretionary companies are likely to benefit from favourable demographics, growth in per capita incomes and trends on premiumization playing out in multiple categories over the medium to long term.On the industrial front, the reason to be positive is on account of various initiatives taken by the government to encourage manufacturing in India. Select companies in Auto ancillaries, Electronics manufacturing, precision engineering and defence-related segments can also do well. However, these are broad sectors, and winners will have to be picked on a bottom-up basis, considering factors like their manufacturing prowess, management strength and cost competitiveness.The midcap index has already hit a new peak this month, ahead of both small and largecaps. What's the reason behind this optimism, and do you see valuation risk building?Although the midcap index is close to an all-time high, its last 20 months' returns have been flat despite midcap companies as an aggregate delivering superior growth. In that sense, valuations today have turned favourable on account of this time correction. Even if we look at the last 3 years' earnings on a CAGR basis, midcap as a category has reported superior earnings growth as compared to broader markets. Going ahead as well, the outlook on midcap companies’ earnings growth continues to remain healthier. In that sense, the performance of the midcap index is largely a reflection of underlying earnings growth. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times.)

경제

Trump plans to appeal order on tariff refund

NEW YORK: Businesses big and small have started receiving tariff refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump lacked the constitutional authority to impose higher import taxes on goods from nearly every other country.The process could grind to a halt, however, after the Trump administration said Friday that it intended to appeal a federal judge's order to allow all companies that paid the invalidated duties to seek refunds, not just the ones that filed lawsuits.Until the Department of Justice informed the judge of its planned appeal, the refund system overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection had been working fairly smoothly. Refunds reached the bank accounts of the first successful applicants on May 12, about three weeks after importers and their customs brokers could start submitting claims through an online system, according to CBP.Applications for refunds totaling $85 billion - more than half of the $166 billion the agency estimated the government owes to companies that paid the tariffs on imported goods - were accepted for processing as of May 22, CBP reported in a legal filing earlier in the week. It said it had so far directed the Treasury Department to issue $20.6 billion in refunds.Also read | US probes Reid Hoffman group over funding lawsuits against Trump, source saysThe administration revealed its appeal preparations while objecting to a demand by Judge Richard K. Eaton for CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott to appear in the U.S. Court of International Trade to answer questions about how long it would take to repay all 330,000 importers that might be eligible for refunds. The judge scheduled a June 9 hearing on why he shouldn't require the government do whatever it takes to speed up the process.Justice Department lawyers asked Eaton to allow one or two of Scott's deputies to appear in his place, arguing that as a high-ranking presidential appointee, the CBP chief could not be compelled to testify. They also argued that Eaton exceeded his authority when he determined in March that the Supreme Court's ruling entitled "all importers of record'' to refunds."For that reason, defendants intend to appeal the court's universal injunction," the lawyers wrote, adding that CBP would continue to move "as quicky as it can to process refunds in a phased approach" for businesses that filed legal complaints asserting their rights to refunds.In a written reply, Eaton said he needed to hear directly from Scott whether the government would return all of the money it collected between when Trump put what he called "reciprocal" tariffs on most countries in April 2025 and when the Supreme Court struck them down in late February."It is undisputed that the remedy for this unlawful collection is for the United States government to refund the unlawfully collected duties," the judge wrote.Refunds coming in phasesMore than 1,000 companies, including large ones like Costco, Goodyear Tire, banana and pineapple distributor Dole Fresh Fruit, and department store chain Kohl's, filed lawsuits to recoup their tariff costs. The judge said Wednesday he intended to allow cases he put on hold while CBP figured out how to handle refund claims - they numbered 485 in mid-March - to proceed.Also read | Minority union at Samsung Electronics to challenge pay deal in courtCustoms and Border Protection is handling refund claims in phases, focusing first on payments that weren't finalized before the Supreme Court handed down its 6-3 decision. CBP officials have said those later payments were more straightforward to process.Importers are required to make estimated tariff payments when goods enter the U.S. The declared items then enter a process called "liquidation," in which CBP determines how much in import taxes was owed. The decision becomes final after 180 days unless the payer contests the bill.In Friday's filing, the Justice Department said the agency did not have the technological ability or the legal authority to recalculate liquidated accounts without "importer-specific orders" in each lawsuit.Price cuts promisedSome national retail chains said they planned to use their tariff refunds refunds to lower customer prices on some items. Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told analysts last week that the company would implement price cuts even though the maximum refund it might be eligible for represented less than half of 1% of Walmart's $483 billion in annual U.S. sales.Costco intends to return the tariff costs that it passed on to members, CEO Ron Vachris said. How much of its refund the big-box retail chain redistributes, when and in what form, depends on factors such as the size of the refund, when it arrives, and developments in a lawsuit seeking tariff compensation for Costco customers, Vachris told investors Thursday.Consumers could first see refunds from shipping companies such as FedEx, UPS and DHL, which acted as customs brokers when they delivered products ordered from overseas. The companies charged either the sellers that shipped the packages or the buyers who received them and turned the tariffs they collected over to CBP.All three promised to return any refunds they get to the customers that paid the import taxes. Last week, FedEx said it was "working to swiftly process refunds and return them to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges."Putting refunds back into the businessThe Supreme Court invalidated only the country-by-country tariff rates Trump set by citing the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Others he imposed under different rationales remain in effect. Trump also has moved to introduce new tariffs since the court's Feb. 20 ruling.Some smaller companies told The Associated Press that the tariff refunds they've received so far would go toward paying remaining or future tariffs or getting back on solid financial footing after more than a year of uncertainty and additional costs.Jay Foreman, CEO of toy company Basic Fun, said he received about $450,000, or 7% of his total claim, over two consecutive days. He took the repayment as a positive sign but said that after having less than $10,000 refunded since then, the process seemed like a "total slow roll.""It's time to release the funds back into the economy, especially given how much we and others need these funds to support our businesses and fund our operations," Foreman said.Men's grooming brand Manscaped has received about 30% of the $12 million in refunds it applied for, President Kevin Datoo said. He said the San Diego company deferred investments and took on debt to pay tariffs on imports from Indonesia, China and elsewhere in Asia last year."We need to shore up the balance sheet because there's still a whole second chapter here," Datoo said.Melkon Khosrovian, who owns Greenbar Distillery in Los Angeles, said he applied for a tariff refund of about $90,000 for 17 different shipments and has received $18,000 covering four of them. Certain types of herbs, spices and packaging are hard to find domestically, so Khosrovian said he imports them.The tariffs were "painful," he said. He invested money to automate his bottling process last year so he wouldn't have to pay as many workers. The move allowed him to reduce his 13-person staff by three, but Khosrovian noted that the White House had argued the tariffs would create more U.S. manufacturing jobs."Our choices were bad and worse: raise prices and lose customers, or keep prices the same and not make any money," he said.

사회

Delhi: hottest in two years, cleanest air in five

New Delhi: The weather in Delhi has experienced extremes this month, with the city recording its hottest May in two years while also enjoying its cleanest air in five years. This unusual weather includes heatwaves, unseasonably warm nights, and thunderstorms.Delhi's average maximum temperature for May reached 39.7 degrees Celsius, with the average minimum temperature at 25.8 degrees Celsius.The last hotter May occurred in 2024, when the average maximum and minimum temperatures were 41.7 degrees Celsius and 26.5 degrees Celsius, respectively.Read more: Delhi-NCR weather alert: 'Extremely Severe' warning issued; thunderstorms, lightning and 90 kmph winds likelyHeatwave conditions were noted from May 18 to 21, with maximum temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius in some areas of the city. Overall, Delhi received 17.61 mm of rainfall during the month.The city also experienced unusually warm nights in May, with minimum temperatures hitting 32.8 degrees Celsius on May 26 and 31.9 degrees Celsius on May 21-among the highest nighttime temperatures recorded in the city in the last 14 years, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The IMD defines a heatwave as a situation where the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.A warm night is declared when the maximum temperature remains at 40 degrees Celsius or higher, and the minimum temperature is also 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather attributed the month's fluctuating weather to a combination of western disturbances and induced cyclonic circulations over Rajasthan and adjoining areas, and moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal.Experts said frequent western disturbances and associated weather systems led to early pre-monsoon activity, leading to low temperatures during the first half of May.As these systems weakened, temperatures rose sharply and heatwave conditions developed across parts of Delhi before another spell of strong pre-monsoon activity returned towards the end of the month, they said.Palawat mentioned that thunderstorms, rain and gusty winds intensified during the latter part of May, bringing widespread weather activity across the capital and providing relief from the intense heat over the past few days.Despite the hotter conditions, Delhi recorded its cleanest AQI in May in about five years.An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed that the capital's average AQI was 161 until May 29, the lowest for the month since 2021, when it was 144.On Saturday, May 30, Delhi recorded a satisfactory AQI of 85, following widespread rainfall and strong winds. This represented the cleanest air quality day in May since 2023 and the fourth satisfactory air quality day this month.Experts noted that rainfall and intermittent strong winds played crucial roles in dispersing pollutants.While dust transported from Rajasthan caused several dust storm events and deteriorated air quality, localised intense rainfall helped wash out particulate matter and improve the overall air quality in the city.Data showed that from May 1 to May 29, Delhi experienced three satisfactory days, 20 moderate days, and six poor days, with no very poor or severe air quality days.In comparison, May 2021 recorded six satisfactory days, 22 moderate days and three poor days, while the monthly average AQI stood at 144. May 2025 recorded an average AQI of 170 and May 2024 recorded 223.Read more: Delhi Weather Update: Clouds, rain bring sharp cooldown across national capital after weeks of scorching heatLooking ahead, Palawat stated that no heatwave conditions are expected in the first week of June.However, temperatures are forecasted to gradually rise from June 1 as the current spell of rain activity weakens and shifts away from the region.

The Hindu National

Govt. keen on upgrading infra in social welfare institutions, improving learning outcomes, says Minister

A total of 297 awards presented to students, teachers, principals and staff for their outstanding performance in the 2025–26 SSC and Intermediate examinations

NDTV Top Stories

5 Delhi Water Sports Clubs Face Eviction In Action After Gymkhana Debate

The five clubs are represented by the Delhi Rowing Association.