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BJP chief launches veiled attack on CJP protest

'People sitting abroad ... ': BJP chief issues warning in veiled swipe at CJP protest

BJP national president Nitin Nabin took a veiled dig at CJP for attempting to steer India's youth towards "negative politics." Speaking in Ranchi, he asserted that the nation's youth are focused on national development and securing their future, vowing to counter such attempts democratically. Nabin also emphasized the crucial role of farmers in India's progress.

Heritage weighing machine restored and unveiled at Mysuru Railway Museum

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.

Kim Jong Un Showcases New Warship Ahead Of Xi Jinping's Visit

Kang Kon is the second of two destroyers North Korea unveiled last year.

10 Lakh Sign-Ups In 10 Hours: Annamalai Hails 'Extraordinary Response' For His New Movement

, Annamalai announced his exit from the BJP and unveiled "We The Leaders", describing it as the beginning of a new political journey aimed at promoting "common-man politics".

India takes big moves to attract foreign investments in bonds: How will this impact stock market?

As India sees incessant FII selloff so far this year, the government and RBI announced a slew of measures to ease foreign investments in government securities, with analysts suggesting that these may provide some short-term support for Dalal Street.India scrapped the long-term capital gains tax on investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in government securities through an ordinance issued on Friday. The government has now exempted FIIs from tax on any interest income from government securities, as well as capital gains arising from their sale, exchange or transfer, according to an official gazette. Separately, while announcing the outcome of the MPC meeting, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra also unveiled a series of measures to boost FPI investments, including expanding the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to cover new issuances of 15-, 30- and 40-year government bonds.Limits on investments by NRIs and OCIs in equity instruments without Sebi registration are being raised, allowing them to invest larger amounts without regulatory registration. The facility is also proposed to be extended to all Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), bringing them on par with NRIs and OCIs. This came as the RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%What does this mean for Indian stock market?The proposal to increase investment limits for NRIs and OCIs in listed equity instruments without Sebi registration, and to extend the same facility to all individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), is a significant step toward broadening participation in Indian capital markets, which is expected to improve market depth, liquidity and long-term capital inflows, said Arun Poddar, CEO of Choice International.He highlighted that equally important is the removal of capital gains tax on government securities investments for foreign investors. “This move strengthens the attractiveness of India's bond market and could encourage greater foreign participation in government debt. At a time of heightened global volatility, these measures reinforce investor confidence, support capital inflows, and reaffirm India's commitment to building deeper, more globally integrated financial markets, with the policy rate expected to remain low for an extended period,” he said.The government's move to exempt Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from capital gains tax on any interest earned from government securities is “highly positive” for the capital markets, said Sumit Singhania, Head of Research at Bajaj Broking. “This fiscal cushion arrives at a crucial time, offering a strong shield to domestic markets as the RBI chief warned of volatile forex markets driven by shifting global sentiments,” he added.The policy is distinctly positive for bond markets and well-capitalized Banks and NBFCs, which benefit from targeted hedging subsidies and systemic stability, according to Archit Doshi, Senior Vice President at PL (Prabhudas Lilladher) AMC. “Conversely, one should be underweight rate-sensitive sectors, which remain highly vulnerable to margin compression, higher inflation expectations, and the threat of the RBI reaching its tightening tipping point,” he said.Rajeev Radhakrishnan, CFA, CIO of Fixed Income at SBI Mutual Fund, also said that the announcements aimed at enabling more dollar inflows are more significant in the near term, even though the overall policy stance has been broadly in line with expectations. “The concessional swap facility should help stabilise short end market rates and the foreign exchange market in the near term,” he said.For equities and debt markets, the measures to attract FII inflows are supportive of liquidity and inflows, while for the rupee, they signal a clear intent to anchor expectations and reduce volatility amid global oil shocks and sustained foreign selling pressure, said Ajit Mishra, Senior VP of Research at Religare Broking.Sachin Bajaj, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance, also said that the initiatives are expected to support capital inflows, deepen domestic bond markets, and provide support to the Indian rupee over the short to medium term.RBI’s hawkish tone and the Indian stock marketWhile the measures taken to attract FII inflows in the debt market will likely provide short-term support for Dalal Street, analysts advised caution over the RBI’s hawkish policy stance. While the RBI maintained its policy repo rate as per expectations, the tone was much more cautious than in previous meetings.Sachin Bajaj highlighted that the policy emphasised preserving macroeconomic stability amid the prevailing global macroeconomic environment. “We believe there are significant risks to inflation in the coming months due to the pass-through of higher commodity prices to consumers and elevated food prices resulting from a below-normal monsoon. Going forward, there is a risk of an upward revision in inflation projections, and given the evolving global backdrop, we believe the RBI is likely to maintain a prudent, data-dependent approach. Future policy actions will be contingent on evolving growth-inflation dynamics and global developments,” he added.Also read: Explained: Sebi's Rs 15.15 lakh crore revenue inflation allegations against Rajesh ExportsWhile hawkish rhetoric without an accompanying rate hike provides a temporary respite for equity markets, it does not constitute an unequivocal endorsement of investment, particularly in highly rate-sensitive sectors such as real estate, automotive, and consumer discretionary goods, said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director, Head of Equities at Waterfield Advisors.“Should inflation necessitate a rate increase later this year, these sectors are likely to experience pressure on both margins and demand. For investors, the current strategy emphasises capital preservation by focusing on high-quality equities with strong pricing power. This cautious approach is designed to navigate the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties until conditions stabilise,” the analyst added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

'I like your Prime Minister a lot': Trump praises PM Modi as India-US trade talks continue

Momentum towards a deal has strengthened in recent weeks. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the negotiations were nearing completion, with only a limited number of issues still unresolved. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has similarly indicated that most matters have been settled, with discussions now centred on finalising the remaining details before the first phase of the agreement is unveiled.

Hero MotoCorp shares rise 3% as firm unveils India's first 100cc flex-fuel motorcycles. Check details

Shares of Hero MotoCorp gained 3% to their day’s high of Rs 4,980 on the BSE on Thursday after the company unveiled its first flex-fuel motorcycles, marking its entry into a segment aimed at supporting India's transition towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.The country's largest two-wheeler manufacturer launched flex-fuel versions of its flagship Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles, making them India's first flex-fuel motorcycles in the 100cc category. The motorcycles are compatible with ethanol-blended fuels ranging from E20 to E85 and are designed for everyday commuting without compromising on performance or affordability.Hero MotoCorp said the new range is aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of daily transportation while aligning with India's goal of lowering economic carbon intensity by 45% by 2030.The motorcycles were unveiled in New Delhi ahead of World Environment Day in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Hero MotoCorp Chief Executive Officer Harshavardhan Chitale.Speaking at the event, Gadkari said the introduction of flex-fuel motorcycles in the mass-market segment would support ethanol adoption, help reduce crude oil imports, strengthen farmers' incomes and contribute to the government's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.Puri said the launch represents another milestone in India's efforts to build a mobility ecosystem powered by cleaner and domestically produced fuels. He added that wider adoption of such vehicles could improve energy security, lower carbon emissions and reduce dependence on imported crude oil while strengthening the country's biofuels ecosystem.Chitale said the flex-fuel-ready Splendor+ and HF Deluxe were developed at the company's Centre for Innovation & Technology in Jaipur and reflect Hero MotoCorp's focus on future-ready and locally relevant technologies. He added that the motorcycles have minimal-to-no import content and reinforce India's manufacturing capabilities.Hero MotoCorp said the flex-fuel portfolio will be introduced in Delhi and select regions of Maharashtra in July 2026, followed by a nationwide rollout. The HF Deluxe Flex Fuel has been priced at Rs 72,792 (ex-showroom Delhi), while the Splendor+ Flex Fuel will be available at Rs 82,710 (ex-showroom Delhi).(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Album Released: Full 18-Track Lineup Revealed

FIFA has unveiled the 18-track Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, the largest music project ever linked to the tournament. Featuring global stars such as LISA, Shakira, Future, Tyla, The Rolling Stones and Burna Boy, the album aims to unite fans through music and football. Several songs are already available, while many artists will perform during Countdown Concerts and opening ceremonies across Mexico, Canada and the United States. The project also forms part of FIFA’s wider entertainment strategy ahead of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show.

US stocks today: Dow Jones drops over 500 points as Middle East tensions escalate

Wall Street stocks pulled back from ​record highs on Wednesday as flaring tensions in the Middle East and rising crude prices stoked inflation jitters and convinced investors to take some profits.All three major U.S. stock indexes closed in negative territory, dragged lower by financials and tech , with the small-cap Russell 2000 underperforming its larger-cap counterparts.Chips advanced, indicating the artificial intelligence ‌fervor is alive ⁠and well. ⁠Still, most of the Magnificent Seven group of AI-related megacaps were lower."The AI names are trading on their own completely separate world, largely oblivious to macro and geopolitical ​risk, at least within reason," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird in Louisville, Kentucky. "And so there's going to be a bid for those ​names, especially on days where everything else looks a little bit less attractive."The S&P Software & Services index declined. It has been battered in recent months by fears of AI disruption.Middle East hostilities intensified as the U.S. and Iran traded a new round of air strikes, ​the latest test of a shaky ceasefire.Oil prices rose, adding to worries that upward ⁠pressure on energy prices ‌could metastasize into broader, systemic inflation."This market continues to demonstrate a tug of war between fundamentals in the ​U.S. economy, which ​are incredibly positive, and concerns that the duration of the conflict in the Middle East will lead to ⁠downside risks," said Bill Northey, senior investment director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, Billings, Montana. "Our ​framework is centered around the duration of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as ​the primary input to inflation expectations.""The longer the duration of that closure, the less likely the Federal Reserve will be able to ease in 2026," Northey added.In fact, financial markets are pricing more than a 40% likelihood of a rate hike at the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve's December meeting, up from 9.1% one month ago, according to CME's FedWatch tool.New York Fed President John Williams reiterated his position that the central bank does not need to change interest rates despite upside inflation risks, stating monetary policy is "in the right place."Economic ‌data suggested the labor market was stable, and the services sector continued to expand, but input prices remained elevated and corporate spending plans appeared soft amid rising energy costs and geopolitical uncertainties.The Beige Book, the Fed's ​regional economic survey, showed economic ​activity gathered steam in recent ⁠weeks, employment was little changed, but the fallout from higher energy prices due to the war was pervasive.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 54.11 points, or 0.74%, to end at 7,555.67 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 230.97 points, or 0.85%, to 26,862.93. The Dow ​Jones Industrial Average fell 581.84 points, or 1.13%, to 50,725.95.Among chipmakers, Marvell, Intel, Qualcomm , and Sandisk outperformed.Asset managers dropped after Switzerland's Partners Group capped withdrawals from an $8.6 billion private equity fund. KKR, Blackstone, Blue Owl and Ares Management all lost ground.GameStop advanced after the original meme-stock posted a rise in quarterly revenue and unveiled a $2 billion share buyback program.Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to price its IPO at $135 a share to raise a record $75 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.Broadcom results were expected shortly.

'Government Bungalows Not Anyone's Personal Property': Bihar CM's Veiled Attack On Rabri Devi

Samrat Choudhary says government bungalows are not personal property as Bihar orders Rabri Devi to vacate 10 Circular Road, sparking political tensions.

CBSE launches online re-evaluation portal amid OSM tender controversy

In a proactive move to enhance transparency, CBSE has unveiled a new online portal where students can check their marks and request re-evaluations of their answer sheets. This initiative is supported by an informative video guide and is a response to recent investigations by the Education Ministry into potential discrepancies in on-screen marking and cybersecurity matters.

US stocks today: US stocks end higher, boosted by tech gains, US-Iran peace hopes

Wall Street stocks posted modest gains on ​Monday as investors watched developments in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations and cheered the unveiling of a new computer chip that promises to bring artificial intelligence to personal computing.Tech shares boosted the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 to their latest in a series of record closing highs.U.S. President Donald ‌Trump said talks ⁠with Iran ⁠continue. Earlier, Iran's news agency announced Tehran is halting indirect negotiations with Washington after a new round of strikes threatened to derail diplomatic efforts to ​end the war, now in its fourth month.The intensification of hostilities sent crude prices jumping, along with worries over the extent to which ​a protracted war could result in heightened, intransitory inflation."We don't really know where things stand," said Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at GLOBALT in Atlanta. "The market seems to think that something's going to get done at some point, but we don't have ​very good information to go on, like what the Iranians really want and ⁠what Trump ‌is willing to settle for."Stocks added to their gains after Trump said no Israeli troops would ​go into Beirut, ​citing a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Nvidia jumped after the company unveiled a ⁠new chip that puts AI capabilities directly into personal computers.The chip is the ​result of a three-year partnership with Microsoft to "reinvent the PC" for the AI era, ​Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said. Microsoft shares rose.The reaction among semiconductor stocks was mixed. Qualcomm tumbled and while Intel also fell. Micron shares rose sharply, breaching the $1,000 mark for the first time.The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index advanced.In economic news, U.S. factory activity expanded in May for the fifth consecutive month as goods-makers navigate tariff and geopolitical crosswinds.Investors will turn to Friday's jobs report ahead of Kevin Warsh's debut policy meeting as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve this month, amid fears ‌of rising inflation linked to the Iran war that could upend the stock market rally.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 20.19 points, or 0.27%, to end at 7,600.03 points, while the ​Nasdaq Composite gained ​114.75 points, or 0.43%, to 27,087.37. ⁠The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 44.70 points, or 0.09%, to 51,076.85.Software stocks rebounded from heavy selling earlier this year on AI disruption fears. ServiceNow and IBM rose sharply. The software services index advanced."On the software side, companies that hadn't ​been doing very well, but now are doing well today," Martin added. "Some of that has been attributed to Nvidia comments that software is part of the solution, so the market's coming back to" software stocks.Cadence Design Systems jumped after launching an Nvidia-powered AI agent for chip design.Broadcom's earnings, due on Wednesday, will be closely parsed in the wake of solid results from Dell last week, which signaled strong AI server demand.

Tom Holland credits Zendaya for inspiring new Bero non-alcoholic flavours: ‘She didn’t love the beers we have…’

Tom Holland has unveiled four new shandy-style drinks under his non-alcoholic beer brand Bero, revealing that his mother and partner Zendaya played a key role in inspiring the limited-edition range.

'Attempt to spread confusion': Bengal governor takes veiled swipe at TMC over rigged polls claim

Telangana DGP CV Anand calls for sweeping overhaul of police department, hints at restructuring Greyhounds and SID

Calling for a major shift in policing priorities, DGP Anand unveiled a reform agenda for the Telangana Police, proposing new specialised wings, a technology overhaul, stricter accountability measures and a review of anti-Naxal units.

Google CEO called out 'biggest AI budget problem' of companies world over from IO stage with a solution

Google's CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the escalating costs of AI, with companies depleting annual budgets by May due to heavy token usage. To combat this, Google unveiled Gemini 3.5 Flash, a cost-effective model promising significant savings. This new AI aims to boost efficiency in coding and agentic tasks, potentially saving enterprises over a billion dollars annually.