The Irish Times
중도 성향
사회
Man convicted of terrorist offences arising from PSNI data breach
PSNI mistakenly released a spreadsheet in 2023 containing sensitive details on officers and staff
"ARISING" · 총 57건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 88,132건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,519건(5.1%)·중립 81,418건(92.4%)·부정 2,195건(2.5%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 15.3(중도 균형)입니다.
PSNI mistakenly released a spreadsheet in 2023 containing sensitive details on officers and staff
Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Tiziano Breda, Senior Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at ACLED. He argues that Peru's chronic instability is rooted as much in institutional weaknesses as in electoral competition. The reintroduction of a bicameral legislature, he notes, may help curb the cycle in which Congress has repeatedly "deposed presidents and reinstated new ones," but neither candidate is likely to enjoy the parliamentary support necessary to govern decisively. Peru's presidential election is unfolding against a backdrop of deep political fragmentation, rising insecurity, and growing public distrust in democratic institutions.
…Stakeholders Pledge Unity, Peaceful Coexistence Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday intervened in the tensions arising from the ward and unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, convening a high-level peace meeting with leaders of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities at Government House, Asaba. The meeting, which brought together ethnic […] The post Warri Ward Delineation: Oborevwori wades into ward delineation crisis appeared first on Vanguard News.
Hong Kong ranks among the world’s largest data centre hubs but has a carbon footprint exceeding the global average, according to a global think tank study, which calls for a responsible strategy to tackle the “unintended impacts” of using artificial intelligence (AI). The June report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health also quantified not only carbon but water and land footprints of electricity arising from the use of AI. The report is a call for using AI...
The government said on Monday that proposed subsidiary legislation to clearly define the classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR” does not involve the introduction of any new offences. Under the proposal to be enacted under Section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), if the chief executive issues a certificate under the law confirming that a criminal act involves national security, the case shall be treated as one. And where a person is charged with – or convicted of – an alternative offence arising from the same act in a case involving a national security offence, that alternative offence shall also be classified as an offence endangering national security. At a Legislative Council panel meeting, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said there are no changes to the implementation details or scope of application of the SNSO or the Hong Kong National Security Law. “I want to emphasise that no additional powers, offences, or penalties are introduced," he said. "[I have to] particularly emphasise that the chief executive's certificate only involves determining whether or not acts already constituted as criminal offences involve national security. "As for whether a defendant is guilty or not, it still has to be ruled by a court following an independent trial conducted in accordance with the law, and the court will ensure that the defendant is given a fair trial.” Following the meeting, Lam said the chief executive’s certificate cannot be thrown out by the court. This is because in determining whether an incident involves security, it usually touches on very sensitive and highly confidential information, and the judicial bodies are not in a position to make such a determination when exercising their powers, he said, and that is why such a certificate is binding on the courts. Secretary for Security Chris Tang stressed that the move would not affect the general public at all or the “normal operations” of organisations and groups. He said that the authorities will keep reviewing the national security mechanism and propose improvements when necessary, through administrative measures and legislation. Edited by Edmond Fong
The Security Bureau and the Department of Justice have announced plans to introduce subsidiary legislation to clearly define the classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR,” as stipulated under the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO). In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the bureau and department emphasised the necessity of codifying this mechanism through subsidiary legislation to ensure consistent and effective implementation of provisions relating to national security offences under both statutes. The move, they said, aims to strengthen legal clarity, enhance procedural efficiency, and enable timely prevention and response to national security risks. "Amid the present complicated geopolitical landscape, national security risks still exist. Stating clearly the above mechanism by way of subsidiary legislation can improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security," the security bureau and the department of justice said in paper submitted to Legco. Under Article 47 of the HKNSL and Section 115 of the SNSO, the Chief Executive holds the authority to issue binding certificates determining whether a particular act or matter involves national security — a power that courts are legally bound to accept. The government noted this certification mechanism is uniquely suited to classify “other offences endangering national security” under Section 7(d) of the SNSO, as such classification hinges on whether the criminal act in question implicates national security. The proposed subsidiary legislation, to be enacted under Section 110 of the SNSO, will set out two key principles. If the Chief Executive issues a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or Section 115 of the SNSO confirming that a criminal act involves national security, the case shall be treated as one concerning an offence endangering national security under Article 41 of the HKNSL. Any offence investigated, arrested, or charged in relation to that act shall be deemed an offence endangering national security under Section 7(d) of the SNSO. And, where a person is charged with — or convicted of — an alternative offence arising from the same act in a case involving a national security offence, that alternative offence shall also be classified as an offence endangering national security. "The HKSAR should complete the legislative process of the relevant subsidiary legislation as soon as possible, the earlier the better, in order to safeguard national security effectively," the paper added. Edited by Tony Sabine
As is tradition, the day of the budget announcement remains a non-event for many consumers, who know that the finance minister’s speech in the National Assembly will bring little in the way of relief, focusing instead on praising the government’s past measures and setting new budgetary and revenue targets under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, this year’s budget carries greater significance, as consumers are already struggling to make ends meet amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Higher freight and insurance charges imposed by shipping lines following the US–Israel and Iran conflict have pushed up the cost of production. Some manufacturers have tried to absorb this cost pressure, while others have simply passed the burden on to consumers. This has been partly cushioned by relative stability in the rupee–dollar parity; otherwise, the situation would have been far more alarming. Prospects for strong industrial growth remain constrained under the current IMF programme, as fiscal consolidation and revenue generation continue to be key priorities Consumers are curtailing petrol and diesel purchases due to unaffordable prices. Monthly petrol and diesel sales are not showing any growth despite rising bike and four-wheeler sales. During 11MFY26, petrol and diesel sales stood at seven million tonnes and 6.35m tonnes, showing a marginal year-on-year (YoY) rise of two per cent and 1pc, respectively. Cost pressures set to persist Senior Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a recent meeting with the business community, indicated that the upcoming budget is expected to focus on export-led growth. However, ‘significant relief on essential commodities appears unlikely’. The government is targeting a revenue collection of around Rs15.2 trillion for FY27, suggesting the introduction of additional taxation measures to meet fiscal objectives. The continued phasing out of subsidies under the IMF programme could increase the cost of goods and services, adding further pressure on consumers, he said. “A reduction in the 18pc GST also seems difficult given the government’s commitment to achieving IMF revenue targets,” Magoon said, adding that while some sector-specific incentives may be announced, “broad-based relief on essential items and petroleum products appears limited despite changing market dynamics arising from the Middle East conflict.” SVP FPCCI said prospects for strong industrial growth remain constrained under the current IMF programme, as fiscal consolidation and revenue generation continue to be key priorities. CEO Top Line Securities Mohammad Sohail said “under the IMF programme, it looks difficult that the government can provide any major relief.” Increase in wages, lower tax rate on people earning less and more direct subsidies may help to some extent, he said, adding that “major relief can only come through diesel and petrol prices, which are affected by the Middle East war.” President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Rehan Hanif, while commenting on the possibility of relief for the salaried class in the upcoming Federal Budget, stated that meaningful and sustainable relief can only be achieved if the government shifts its entire focus towards broadening the tax base instead of further burdening the existing taxpayers, including the salaried class. The salaried class has become one of the most heavily taxed segments of society despite having no opportunity to conceal income, as taxes are deducted at source. He cautioned against any increase in the GST, warning that even a one-percentage-point increase could trigger a fresh wave of inflation, raise the cost of doing business, increase production costs, and further diminish the purchasing power of consumers, particularly low- and middle-income groups. President KCCI said, “the revenue required for providing relief to the common man can be generated through plugging leakages and eliminating tax distortions rather than imposing additional taxes.” The government can still provide meaningful relief to the public by rationalising indirect taxes, reducing unnecessary duties on essential commodities, curbing inefficiencies in the supply chain, and ensuring that any benefit arising from lower international commodity prices is promptly passed on to consumers, the KCCI chief said. Inflation can be effectively controlled through improved market oversight, reduction in transportation and energy costs, and by minimising the cascading impact of excessive taxation on the cost of goods, he said, urging the government to refrain from imposing additional petroleum levies or other indirect charges that unnecessarily inflate fuel costs. President Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA), Rauf Ibrahim, said the government is unlikely to provide any big relief to the consumers in the shape of GST reduction or other taxes on various commodities due to the IMF’s pressure to increase tax collection, while the economy is already under pressure due to stagnant exports and rising imports. Rising prices A general price survey before the previous and current federal budgets reveals a steep rise in wheat and flour varieties despite the arrival of Sindh and Punjab crops in March/April. As per data from the Sensitive Price Index ending June 4, 2026, versus June 4, 2025, a 10kg wheat bag is now available at Rs 1,095 versus Rs653, resulting in a price hike for various roti varieties by Rs2 to Rs10 per piece. Sindh Minister for Food Makhdoom Mehboob Uz Zaman, on June 2, 2026, took notice of the increase in bread and flour prices in different parts of Sindh and directed the Sindh Food Department and concerned district administrations to submit a detailed report on flour prices, wheat stock positions, supply chain issues, and any possible hoarding or profiteering in the market. He said Sindh has produced a bumper wheat crop this year, and there is no justification for creating panic in the market. Similarly, the prices of beef with bones and mutton have risen to Rs1,000–1,550 and Rs1,800–2,900 per kg, respectively, from Rs800–1,400 and Rs1,600–2,450 per kg, while exports of meat and meat preparations to the Middle East and other regions continue amid the ongoing conflict in the region. Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, June 8th, 2026
• Member (oil) steps down after FIA quizzing on price differential claims • Legal cover for appointment of civil servant to head regulator ‘on the cards’ ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is in disarray after one of its three members stepped down amid pricing investigations, amid a government move to depute civil servants to run the otherwise autonomous regulator. In order to give legal cover to the appointment of civil servants in Ogra, the government has reportedly initiated the process to amend the Ogra law through a presidential ordinance before the budget. According to sources, Ogra member (oil) Zainul Abideen Qureshi tendered his resignation from the position following his interrogation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Karachi over controversial payments to an oil marketing company (OMC) on account of price differential claims (PDCs) arising out of subsidised oil pricing after the US-Iran war. The FIA found misreporting of oil stocks and sales, apparently for pricing benefits, leading reportedly to Rs14bn questionable claims. While Go Petroleum secured a stay order against the FIA probe from the Sindh High Court, the federal government constituted a committee led by an additional secretary of the Ministry of Finance and comprising senior representatives of the petroleum division, the FBR, the auditor general and Ogra to examine in detail the integrity of PDC payments. The FIA, however, quizzed Mr Qureshi and Director (Oil) General Imran Ahmad in separate sessions spanning over 72 hours. While otherwise defending the oil pricing and PDC reconciliation process, Mr Qureshi tendered his resignation upon returning to the capital last week. On the other hand, the government has inducted at least three officers of the district management group — renamed Pakistan Administrative Service — in Ogra without legal cover. On April 8, the government appointed Secretary Establishment Nabeel Ahmed Awan as Ogra chairman for three months. The post had fallen vacant almost 18 months ago but the government did not make a new appointment for unknown reasons. Under the Ogra law, the vice chairman holds the charge in the absence of the chairman. Shahzad Iqbal, member gas, had actually taken over the chairman’s slot but was denotified by the government in the middle of oil supply arrangements following the Gulf conflict. Meanwhile, even though Mr Awan’s appointment as the Ogra chairman was challenged in the Islamabad High Court, he has acquired the services of at least two more officers on deputation last week. They include Majid Mohsin Panhwar of BS-20 and Imran Ali Sultan of BS-18. According to sources, the cabinet committee on legislative cases has already cleared amendments to the Ogra law to provide for the appointment of BS-21 and 22 officers against the position of the chairman for four years, extendable for another term, along with the deputation of other civil servants to assist the chairman. The amendments to the Ogra law may be made through a presidential ordinance ahead of budget sessions later this week, before the court could take cognisance of the matter. Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026
North Korea said on Sunday that its nuclear weapons programme was “irreversible”, challenging the US push for denuclearisation a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. After Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi last month, the United States said the two leaders shared the goal of denuclearising the Korean peninsula, although the Chinese statement did not mention the issue. But Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, described the comments as “false information”, and...
WASHINGTON: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation in the United States, has filed a federal lawsuit against one of America’s largest public school systems, alleging that four Muslim students were unlawfully disciplined because of their religion and ethnic background. The lawsuit accuses Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), a school district serving nearly 180,000 students in the suburbs of Washington, DC, of discriminating against students at the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, one of the nation’s top-ranked public schools. Filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, the suit claims that school officials violated the students’ constitutional rights and federal civil rights laws by suspending them over a social media video while allowing similar conduct by other student groups to go unpunished. The case stems from a video posted in October 2025 by members of the school’s Muslim Student Association (MSA), a student organisation representing Muslim pupils. According to the complaint, the students were participating in a viral social media trend used by clubs and organisations nationwide to promote events and attract members. In the video, students ask classmates whether they intend to attend an MSA meeting. When the answer is “no”, other students jokingly appear and carry them away in what the lawsuit describes as a comedic skit. The plaintiffs argue the video contained no threats, weapons or references to any real-world conflict. CAIR contends that similar videos had been produced by other student groups, including some depicting mock violence and weapons, without disciplinary action. The organisation argues that school officials acted only after outside activists and social media commentators accused the Muslim students of glorifying Hamas and reenacting the Oct 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. According to the complaint, school officials adopted those characterisations, suspended the students, labelled their conduct antisemitic and placed disciplinary records in their files. One plaintiff was also prohibited from wearing a sweatshirt depicting the map of Palestine, the lawsuit alleges. The students are identified in court records by pseudonyms to protect their privacy. “The MSA behaved innocently and no differently than other student groups on campus,” CAIR attorney Catherine Keck said while announcing the lawsuit. “Yet Fairfax County singled them out, robbed them of academic and professional opportunities, and encouraged the community to target and harass them.” The complaint alleges that the suspensions had lasting consequences. The students claim they suffered reputational damage, lost educational opportunities, were subjected to online harassment and threats, and in some cases faced setbacks in college admissions and internship applications. CAIR’s legal team argues that the disciplinary action violated the students’ rights under the First Amendment, which protects free speech, the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. School officials have previously defended their response, saying the videos depicted mock kidnappings and violence that were inappropriate in a school setting. At the time of the controversy, FCPS said such content was especially troubling because it could be perceived as traumatic by members of the Jewish community amid ongoing tensions related to Israel’s war on Gaza. Jewish community organisations also criticised the videos when they surfaced last year, arguing that imagery resembling hostage-taking was particularly insensitive given the continued impact of the October 7 attacks and the hostage crisis that followed. The lawsuit, however, argues that the school’s actions were driven not by concerns about student safety but by stereotypes associating Muslim and Arab students with violence. “The reason FCPS and TJHSST punished these students and not other students in similar videos is because they believe that Muslims and Arabs pose a threat where others do not,” CAIR attorney Ahmad Kaki said. The school district has not yet filed a detailed response to the complaint. The case is likely to turn on whether the plaintiffs can demonstrate that similarly situated non-Muslim student groups engaged in comparable conduct but were treated differently. If the court finds evidence of selective enforcement based on religion or ethnicity, the lawsuit could become one of the most closely watched school civil-rights cases arising from post-October 7 tensions in American public schools. The complaint seeks damages, expungement of the students’ disciplinary records, declaratory relief and court orders preventing similar actions in the future.
Pope Leo on Saturday urged global leaders to avoid dividing their electorates with “sterile simplifications” to gain popularity and called on them to listen to the world’s cries for peace, in a forceful speech opening a week-long tour of Spain. Leo, who has angered US President Donald Trump by criticising his anti-immigration policies and the Iran war, will meet homeless people in Madrid and migrants in the Canary Islands during a visit he has said he hopes will set an example to the world about...
The Sandiganbayan has allowed former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to be placed under hospital arrest, but not in the private hospital he preferred. In a resolution dated June 4 and released on Friday, the antigraft court’s Fifth Division said Bonoan, who faces the nonbailable charge of plunder in a case arising from the public
• Approves Rs100bn financing facility for PSO • Oil company facing over Rs900bn receivables from SOEs • Special honoraria expanded to more ministries, departments • Rs10.15bn cleared for Pakistan Navy’s Hangor Project • Rs4.38bn granted to Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of elections ISLAMABAD: Less than a week before the next budget, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Friday approved more than Rs40 billion in supplementary grants and a Rs100bn sovereign-guarantee-backed financing facility for the Pakistan State Oil (PSO), which is facing over Rs900bn in receivables from other state-owned enterprises, raising concerns about smooth oil supplies. And despite financial constraints forcing development cuts in the name of IMF restrictions, the ECC meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also allowed Rs10bn additional funds for parliamentarians’ development schemes and expanded the scope of special honoraria running up to six-month additional salaries to more ministries and departments involved in federal budget preparations. The benefit, already available to officials in around a dozen ministries and entities, including finance, revenue, planning, development, FBR, National Assembly, Senate and the Prime Minister’s Office, was expanded to the Law and Justice Division, Commerce Division and the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR). The fiscal impact was not disclosed. The meeting also changed the composition of a committee set up to settle about Rs60bn in petroleum levy dues charged to consumers but allegedly withheld by Cnergyico Refinery since 2019, citing concerns over conflict of interest, and ordered a tightened recovery plan. An official statement said the ECC approved a summary submitted by the Cabinet Division for Rs7.026bn through a technical supplementary grant for the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). “The allocation will facilitate continuity of development projects, prevent cost escalations, and timely achievement of programme objectives,” the statement said. Officials said the finance minister was under pressure from the leadership to provide funds for parliamentarians’ schemes in the outgoing fiscal year despite an about Rs175bn cut in the core development programme. The ECC also approved a summary of the Ministry of Defence for Rs10.15bn for the Hangor Project of the Pakistan Navy under the Rafale Aircraft and Force Development Package (RAFDP)-2030. The committee approved letters of comfort and government guarantees worth Rs100bn for PSO through a syndicated running finance facility to address its liquidity constraints and ensure uninterrupted oil supplies. The meeting was informed that state-owned enterprises, particularly gas companies, owed more than Rs904bn to PSO, making it increasingly difficult for the company to manage supply challenges under current geopolitical conditions. Instead of arranging recovery of those payments, the ECC approved borrowing of Rs50bn each from Habib Bank and Bank of Punjab to meet oil requirements. The borrowing will appear on PSO’s balance sheet. The meeting also took up the Deed of Settlement with Cnergyico PK Limited, which had collected petroleum levy from consumers but allegedly did not deposit it in the government treasury. The company is also seeking benefits under the Refining Policy for the upgradation of existing brownfield refineries. The ECC had earlier approved the constitution of a committee under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to resolve the late payment surcharge issue. Subsequently, the Law and Justice Division proposed amendments to strengthen safeguards for government revenues by requiring Cnergyico to deposit incremental incentives in a joint escrow account with Ogra and restricting withdrawals until the outstanding petroleum levy and late payment surcharge amounts were fully settled. The ECC was informed that the composition of the committee needed to be reviewed due to concerns over potential conflict of interest arising from the inclusion of the Cnergyico chief executive officer. A new committee was constituted under the convenership of the finance secretary, comprising representatives of the Law and Justice Division, Petroleum Division and SIFC, to resolve the late payment surcharge issue with Cnergyico and strengthen recovery of around Rs60bn, including Rs47.5bn in principal amount. The committee approved seven grants for the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control worth Rs2.826bn. These included Rs693m for security arrangements for the Islamabad peace talks, Rs241m as compensation for the suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in Taralai, Islamabad, Rs528m for the Pakistan Land Ports Authority, Rs800m for procurement of fast patrol boats for the Pakistan Coast Guards, Rs1.884bn for the expansion of the Safe City Islamabad project, Rs150m for the National Counter Terrorism Authority and Rs414m for security charges relating to the Reko Diq project. The ECC approved Rs733m for Pakistan Television Corporation for payment of salaries for June 2026 and Rs183.5m for the Special Communication Organisation for installation of telecom sites and towers in Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan. It also approved Rs120m for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to meet employee-related expenditures arising from revised salaries and allowances of parliamentary secretaries during FY26. The meeting approved two grants for the Ministry of Housing and Works for placement of development funds into the current account of Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited. These included Rs8.759bn for Karachi and Hyderabad Urban Infrastructure Development Packages and Rs2.84bn for parliamentary schemes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ECC also granted Rs1.3bn for the Modernisation and Upgradation of Pakistan Mint Phase-II-A and Rs4.377bn to the Gilgit-Baltistan government to support current expenditure requirements and priority initiatives launched ahead of elections. The committee also approved budget estimates of IPO-Pakistan for FY26, submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, comprising regular expenditure of Rs914.7m and projected revenue receipts of Rs918m. The ECC also approved a summary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs regarding the operational continuity of Engro Vopak Terminal Limited. Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026
The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has begun a reconciliation process for all aggrieved members arising from the conduct of its primary elections held across the country last weekend. The post NDC begins reconciliation, denies candidate imposition after nationwide primaries appeared first on Vanguard News.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA — The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has commenced a reconciliation process aimed at resolving grievances arising from its primary elections held across the country last weekend. The decision was reached at the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting as part of efforts to unite aggrieved members and […] The post NDC begins reconciliation, defends primaries appeared first on Vanguard News.
The shares of metals major Tata Steel dropped nearly 3% on Friday after a fire broke out at the company’s plant at Port Talbot in UK late on Wednesday, forcing the company to temporarily halt operations at part of the site.Large plumes of smoke were visible from the site and could be seen across the surrounding area, BBC reported, adding that emergency services remained at the scene on Thursday and were working to manage the incident.Tata Steel UK meanwhile said that all personnel were evacuated safely from the affected area. It added that the incident was not related to the safe and successful demolition of the empty, redundant gas holder earlier yesterday evening. The Mid and West Wales Fire Service attended the site while emergency services worked with local teams to completely extinguish the fire, the company further said.The 3.2 million tonne facility is transitioning to an electric arc furnace with an investment of £1.25 billion, with the help of aid from the local government. It is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2027. Tata Steel has completed major demolition work of the blast furnaces for the transition, and is currently working on fabrication and delivery of equipment.Also read: Tata Steel eyes 9% India sales growth this fiscalIn October 2024, Tata Steel ceased iron making operations at its Port Talbot site and temporarily paused steel manufacturing, pending the construction of a 3.2 MTPA electric arc furnace. What this means for Tata Steel share priceICICI Direct highlighted that the fire has reportedly been contained, although the extent of the operational impact is yet to be assessed. “While the incident is sentimentally negative, the UK operations contribute a relatively small share to Tata Steel's overall business, and hence the impact on the company's overall performance is expected to be limited. We await further clarification from the company regarding any operational disruptions or financial implications arising from the incident,” it added.Tata Steel share priceTata Steel shares tumbled more than 3% to trade at Rs 204 apiece on Friday afternoon. The shares of the company have fallen around 2% in one week and 3% in one month. The stock is however up more than 12% in 2026 so far.In the longer term, Tata Steel shares jumped more than 29% in one year, 87% in three years and over 82% in five years. The company currently has a market capitalisation of more than Rs 2.55 lakh crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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)
Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) decision, with repo rate remaining unchanged at 5.25%. The status quo reflects the RBI's cautious approach amid uncertainties arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has heightened concerns over inflation and economic growth. At its previous policy review in April, the RBI had kept rates unchanged, choosing to closely monitor the evolving geopolitical situation and its potential impact on energy prices, inflation and economic activity.All six members of the rate panel, which includes three central bank officials and three external appointees, voted to hold rates. The MPC decided to continue with its "neutral" stance."The central bank's rate panel noted that the global environment has deteriorated," RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said. Also Read- RBI MPC 2026 LiveKey Policy Rates Unchanged Repo rate: 5.25% Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5.00% Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Bank Rate: 5.50% Stance: NeutralInflation updateThe governor said that the CPI inflation remains below the target despite the global shock, as the pass-through to domestic prices has been limited, while the baseline projections point towards headline inflation firming up towards the upper tolerance level in Q3 this year.
UNFORTUNATELY, the working week ending today was dominated by tales of anguish and woes, arising from endless kidnappings and killings. While the nation was still dealing with the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, and Askira Uba in Borno State, gunmen attacked Ogbomoso again, this time, the offices of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and […] The post Now that kidnapping has become an industry…, by Adekunle Adekoya appeared first on Vanguard News.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted Appeal Panels to address petitions and complaints arising from its primaries for presidential, governorship, state and National Assembly positions. The post PDP constitutes appeal panels for primary election disputes appeared first on Vanguard News.