뉴스

UDF govt. in Kerala to scrap proposal to procure paddy through cooperatives

The previous LDF government had, during its final months in office, announced a pilot project to route paddy procurement through cooperative societies in Palakkad district

D.K. Shivakumar with a Modi-style playbook?

Both the leaders have also paid attention to personal branding through distinctive attire and visual presentation

Pandipparambu reels under waterlogging as Thripunithura municipality mulls legal remedy

Water levels rose instead of receding after heavy overnight rain, reaching knee height in certain stretches; municipal authorities attribute the problem to a concrete structure obstructing a drainage channel passing through a private property

Man sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape

Demonstrate commitment for environmental protection through impactful action: Ponnam Prabhakar

How Asia’s largest oxbow lake is losing its fish, water, and future | HT Ground Report from a Ramsar Site in Bihar

Kanwar Lake, Bihar’s first Ramsar site, has rapidly shrunk in last two decades due to encroachment, climate change and conflicting interests of communities

Cooking oils: India sets standard packing

Bengaluru: India has ordered cooking oil ​makers and importers ​to sell their products only in ​a fixed set of pack sizes, a move the government said on Saturday would help shoppers compare prices ‌across brands ⁠more ⁠easily.The order targets a common pricing tactic in the ​world's most populous nation, where oils sold in odd, ​non-standard sizes leave buyers unable to tell which brand offers the best value for a ​kitchen staple.Read more: Consumer sector beats expectations but faces commodity crunch from Q2, warns BofA SecuritiesHere are the details:⁠Packaging will ‌be limited to nine standard ​sizes ​ranging from 200 millilitres to 20 ⁠litres, replacing the varied volumes currently available.​The rules apply to both domestically ​produced and imported edible oils, and cover major varieties including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard and groundnut.Companies have been given three months to switch to the new sizes.131552264Packages ‌that declare their contents by volume must also state the equivalent weight, ​a step ​the government ⁠said would further aid price comparison.Containers smaller than 200 millilitres and minor edible oils have been ​exempted to keep affordable small packs on shelves.Read more: RBI says 4% inflation target not in abeyance; future rate action tied to price persistenceThe decision followed consultations with industry associations representing nearly 90% of India's edible oil sector, the Department of Consumer Affairs said.

Who are Maja Chwalinska's parents and coaches? Poland star's Journey

Maja Chwalinska has emerged as the surprise package of the French Open 2026. The Polish qualifier has stunned the tennis world by reaching her first-ever Grand Slam final. The 24-year-old defeated several higher-ranked opponents during her remarkable run in Paris. She will now face World No. 8 Mirra Andreeva in the women’s singles final on Saturday, June 6. Chwalinska entered the tournament ranked outside the world’s top 100 and had to battle through qualifying rounds just to earn a place in the main draw.

Tibetan Monk, Once Detained By China, Disappears Amid Crackdown Accusations

The latest detention has been shrouded in secrecy. (Representational)

Abnormal rise in price of cotton yarn hits the textile industry in Karur

One kg of yarn with high counts rose to ₹400, from ₹300 and textile industry sources say the removal of import duty on yarn by the Centre has brought partial relief to the units in Tiruppur

Maruti, Tata lead hatchback revival

For nearly a decade, India's carmakers chased the sport utility vehicle (SUV) dream.Higher margins, aspirational buyers and a growing appetite for larger vehicles pushed manufacturers to flood showrooms with sport utility vehicles and compact SUVs, steadily relegating hatchbacks — once the backbone of India's passenger vehicle market — to the sidelines.Also Read: Tata Motors PV launches next-gen Tiago from Rs 4.69 lakh, Tiago.ev from Rs 6.99 lakh with lifetime battery warrantyThe strategy worked. Utility vehicles now account for well over half of all passenger vehicle sales in India and contributed nearly two-thirds of the 4.3 million vehicles sold in FY25.But as economic pressures mount, vehicle prices climb and first-time buyers struggle to enter the market, India's biggest automakers are beginning to acknowledge a reality they may have overlooked: the country's next wave of growth could come from the very segment they left behind.From Maruti Suzuki's renewed commitment to entry-level cars to Tata Motors' ambitious reinvention of the Tiago, hatchbacks are once again finding themselves at the centre of boardroom conversations.Also Read: Small cars strike back: Maruti Suzuki bets on mass mobility while costs squeeze fourth quarter profitsAnd this time, carmakers are betting that small cars no longer have to feel small.The forgotten customerThe shift is being driven by a growing recognition that India's passenger vehicle market cannot rely indefinitely on premiumisation.While SUVs have transformed the industry's revenue mix, they have also pushed average vehicle prices steadily higher, making car ownership increasingly difficult for millions of households.Maruti Suzuki Chairman R. C. Bhargava recently signalled the company's intent to rebalance its portfolio."We are planning to develop both small cars and SUVs. The small car market is growing. India is a country where small cars have a long-term future," Bhargava said.The comments mark a notable shift in tone from an industry that spent years focusing on larger and more expensive vehicles.For Maruti, which built its dominance on models such as the Alto, WagonR and Swift, the renewed emphasis reflects confidence that affordability will remain central to India's mobility story."A large part of the population… need small cars" for basic mobility, Bhargava said.Industry analysts say the opportunity remains substantial."In the small cars segment, there is a much bigger conversion pool that carmakers can navigate. Hence, there is this renewed push towards small cars and that segment," said Hemal Thakkar, Senior Director, Crisil Intelligence."India is a price sensitive market and hence, small cars will stay and customers are looking for upgrades within vehicles. If carmakers can provide small cars with new features and upgrades, then there will be more customers for the small car space," he added.Making hatchbacks aspirational againIf Maruti is signalling a strategic return to small cars, Tata Motors is attempting something more ambitious — making hatchbacks desirable again.The company this week unveiled the next-generation Tiago and Tiago.ev, positioning them as technology-rich products aimed at reviving a segment many in the industry had effectively written off."Hatchbacks remain the gateway to personal mobility for millions of Indian families and yet, for far too long, this segment received scarce attention from the industry, when it genuinely deserved far more," said Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.Calling the new Tiago "not an evolution but a full reinvention", Chandra said the vehicle brings substantially upgraded design, connected technologies and safety features that were once largely reserved for more expensive categories.The next-generation Tiago gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone connectivity, a dual-screen dashboard, wireless charging and a segment-first 360-degree surround-view camera."The feeling of wow shouldn't be reserved for expensive cars," Chandra said."Today hatchback customers want far more than mobility, they want design, tech, safety and pride of ownership. A car they want to flaunt."The company has also positioned the Tiago.ev as an affordable electric mobility option, offering a lifetime battery warranty and fast-charging capability that can add up to 100 kilometres of range in 18 minutes."Tiago will make EV more accessible," Chandra said.Why affordability is back in focusThe renewed interest in hatchbacks comes as affordability re-emerges as a key concern across the industry.Vehicle prices have risen sharply in recent years because of stricter regulations, higher commodity costs and the addition of new safety and technology features.That has increasingly pushed first-time buyers out of the market.According to Srikumar Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, hatchbacks continue to play a critical role in expanding the customer base."Hatchbacks remain a preferred segment, particularly for first-time buyers and households seeking a second vehicle, as affordability and comfort are key purchase considerations," he said."From an original equipment perspective, a presence across segments also helps improve reach, especially in Tier 2/3 cities."Krishnamurthy added that rising vehicle costs are forcing manufacturers to revisit their entry-level offerings."With input costs rising and vehicle prices expected to increase further, affordability is becoming even more important, especially in the mass-market segment. In response, OEs are looking to reposition entry-level hatchbacks and compact SUVs through new launches and refreshed variants that offer a stronger value proposition to consumers."Beyond SUVsThe industry's renewed focus on hatchbacks does not mean SUVs are going away.Far from it.Utility vehicles remain India's dominant passenger vehicle category and continue to drive growth and profitability for manufacturers.What is changing, however, is the recognition that growth cannot come solely from moving customers up the value chain.To sustain volumes, carmakers need to bring new buyers into the market.That is especially important as India adds millions of young consumers entering the workforce, many of whom are seeking their first personal vehicle but remain highly sensitive to price.Affordable electric hatchbacks could further strengthen the segment's appeal in coming years."Affordable EV hatchbacks could become an attractive proposition as charging infrastructure improves, range-anxiety concerns ease, and the financing environment becomes more supportive," Krishnamurthy said.For much of the past decade, India's hatchbacks were treated as yesterday's story while SUVs became the industry's obsession.Now, as automakers search for their next growth engine, the segment that once put millions of Indians behind the wheel is beginning to look relevant again.The future of India's auto market may still be taller, bolder and SUV-shaped. But increasingly, carmakers are recognising that the road to scale may once again begin with a hatchback.

Telangana launches Stree Ride, women earn livelihood through driving

The initiative aims at training and employing women as drivers and riders in the transportation and mobility sector, making transport safer and more inclusive

'Dissent' question stopped, 'indecorous' audience condemned: What happened at CJI Surya Kant's London event

High Commission of India in London condemned audience conduct after video of attendee being cut off mid-question went viral. Here is the sequence of events.

ONION FARMERS IN CRISIS! Nashik Farmers Abandon Onion Cultivation Amid Mounting Losses | News18

India's onion farmers, particularly in Maharashtra's Nashik district, are facing a deepening crisis as falling auction rates and oversupply continue to push prices downward. In what many are calling the "Onion Paradox," bumper production has failed to translate into profits, leaving growers burdened with mounting debt and financial losses. As returns shrink, several farmers are reportedly shifting to less risky crops in search of stable incomes.The situation has triggered growing demands for government intervention, with farmer groups seeking measures such as better price support, improved procurement systems, export incentives, and market reforms. The crisis highlights the challenges faced by agricultural producers when supply outpaces demand, leaving farmers vulnerable despite strong harvests. n18oc_breaking-newsn18oc_IndiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

Masjids turn learning hubs: innovative education initiative empowering local students

In Akbarnagar area of Hyderabad’s Old City, mosques have been transformed into part-time schools, or maktabs, teaching subjects like math, science, English and Telugu. This initiative, started by a group of techies offers free education to children from local government and budget schools

Paddy procurement deal with public sector banks renewed, says Kerala Agriculture Minister

Minister says in previous LDF govt’s tenure, paddy was procured through cooperative societies in Palakkad on an experimental basis, and that UDF govt has decided to continue erstwhile practice of procuring it entirely via Supplyco

Unapologetically Shreyas! The misunderstood leader who never gave up

Shreyas Iyer's journey from overlooked talent to India's T20I captain is a testament to resilience. Overcoming injuries and selector doubts, his consistent performances in domestic and IPL cricket, coupled with leadership acumen, have finally earned him a prominent role. Iyer's unwavering determination shines through his remarkable comeback.

'Indecorous behaviour': India condemns disruption at CJI Surya Kant's London speech

The statement came after clips circulated on social media showing a participant seeking to question the Chief Justice while he was delivering a lecture on artificial intelligence and international law. Organisers intervened and prevented the interaction from continuing, asking attendees to remain focused on the subject of the event. The Chief Justice noted that AI is already influencing a broad range of sectors, including governance, commerce, communication, defence and the justice system itself.

Arrested ex-TMC MLA Saokat Molla key conspirator behind Bhangar blast case: NIA

In a significant breakthrough, former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla has been pinpointed as a pivotal conspirator in the Bhangar bomb explosion case, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Bill aims to end H-1B route to Green Cards & cut OPT: What the new act proposes

U.S. Representative Chip Roy has introduced the "American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act of 2026" to reform the H-1B visa program. The bill aims to end H-1B visas as a path to permanent residency and eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. It seeks to prioritize American STEM professionals by enforcing stricter wage standards and preventing displacement of U.S. workers.