Bs Reads

Iran conflict may ease China deflation fears, dimming rate cut bets

Unlike most economies, China didn't see the sharp spurt in inflation that followed reopening from the pandemic

Iran envoy warns of 'proportionate' action if Trump follows attack threats

An Iranian envoy says Tehran will "take immediate and proportionate" action if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threats to attack the country's "whole civilization." Tehran's United Nations representative, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said Trump's threats that a "whole civilization will die" if Iran does not make a deal "constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide." During a Security Council session on the Strait of Hormuz, Iravani urged the international community to call out Trump's rhetoric before it's too late. "Iran will not stand idle in the face of such egregious war crimes. It will exercise, without hesitation, its inherent right of self-defence and will take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures," he said.

Intel joins Musk's Terafab AI chip project for robots, data centers

The company also posted a photo of CEO Lip-Bu Tan and Musk shaking hands, saying it hosted the world's richest man at its campus the past weekend.

India's sugar, edible oil demand dips as gas shortage hits eateries

Lower consumption could curb India's imports of edible ‌oils, including palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, and soyoil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine

Taiwan Oppn leader visits China for talks as Beijing pushes reunification

Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China on Tuesday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, in what she's calling a "journey for peace" as Beijing pushes for the self-ruled island to come under its control. The visit is the first by a Taiwanese opposition leader in a decade and comes ahead of a meeting in Beijing between Xi and US President Donald Trump scheduled to take place in May. Meanwhile, Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament has stalled attempts by its government to pass a USD 40 billion special defence budget, expected to fund arms deals with the United States and the development of Taiwan's indigenous defence industry. China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and has not excluded the use of force to take it. Beijing has been ramping up its military pressure against the island by sending warplanes and naval vessels near it almost daily, while its military occasionally stages live-fire drills around the island, the latest in December. Th

Nepal's new govt recalls ambassadors to six nations, including India

Nepal has recalled its ambassadors from six countries, including India, who were appointed by the previous K P Sharma Oli-led government. The government has recalled ambassadors serving in India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Denmark, South Korea and South Africa through a cabinet decision, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said. Those recalled include Shankar Prasad Sharma (India), Chitralekha Yadav (Australia), Sumnima Tuladhar (Denmark), Purna Bahadur Nepali (Sri Lanka), Shivamaya Tumbahamphe (South Korea) and Kapilman Shrestha (South Africa). According to the Foreign Ministry, letters have been issued on Monday directing the envoys to return within a month. Earlier, the caretaker government led by interim prime minister Sushila Karki had recalled 11 of the 17 ambassadors appointed on political quota by the Oli administration. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister last month, nearly six months after the dramatic collapse of the Ol

2 dead, 20 injured in firing after mob storms CRPF camp in Manipur

At least two persons were killed and 20 others injured in firing by security forces after hundreds of people stormed a CRPF camp in Manipur's Bishnupur district and burnt vehicles during a protest on Tuesday, the police said. A large number of youths and women were holding a protest against the killing of two children in a bomb attack by suspected militants in Moirang Tronglaobi area earlier in the day, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said. The home minister said that the protesters stormed the CRPF camp near Gelmol, around 100 metres from the bomb attack site, burnt vehicles and vandalised properties there, he said. "I had urged the protesters not to enter the CRPF camp and to allow security forces to focus on conducting an operation to apprehend those involved in the bomb attack," the minister said. But the demonstrators did not pay heed to the appeal. "They stormed the CRPF camp, burnt vehicles and vandalised portions of the camp, leading to firing by security personnel. They

Industrialist Gautam Adani to seek dismissal of SEC fraud case in US court

Adani's lawyers said the SEC's claims were "impermissibly extraterritorial," and no ​statements challenged by the regulator were ‌actionable

CCI okays Torrent Power's proposal to acquire Nabha Power from L&T's arm

Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India has cleared Torrent Power's proposal to acquire 100 per cent stake in Nabha Power Ltd. The move came after Torrent Power, in February 2026, said it entered into an agreement with L&T Power Development to acquire 100 per cent equity stakes in Nabha Power for an enterprise value of Rs 6,889 crore. "The proposed combination entails the acquisition of 100 per cent equity shares and non-cumulative optionally convertible redeemable preference shares (on a fully diluted basis) in Nabha Power Ltd by Torrent Power Ltd from L&T Power Development Ltd," the regulator said in a release on Tuesday. Torrent Power is engaged in the business of power generation, transmission, distribution and manufacturing and supply of power transmission cables, and is a part of 'Torrent Group,' which is into power, pharmaceuticals and gas distribution sectors. Nabha Power Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L&T Power Development Ltd (L&TPDL), and .

Small hydropower projects in India struggle despite policy push, potential

Despite vast untapped capacity, India's small hydropower sector faces stagnation due to high costs, policy hurdles, delays in clearances and weak financial viability, even as the government rolls out

Ackman's Pershing Square proposes $64B takeover of Universal Music

Even as the music industry is flourishing, Universal Music Group's share price has lagged, something Ackman is pledging to fix with this proposed deal

Kidnapped US journalist Shelly Kittleson freed in Baghdad, says official

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Baghdad last week, has been released, an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said Kittleson was freed in the afternoon. He did not share her current whereabouts but said that prior to her release, she had been held in Baghdad. The powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement earlier in the day that it had decided to free the journalist, and officials with the militia told The Associated Press that members of the group previously detained by Iraqi authorities would be released in exchange.

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Hormuz ahead of Trump's deadline

Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz that had been repeatedly watered down in hopes those two countries would abstain. The vote - 11 in favour, two against and two abstentions - took place just hours before an 8 pm Eastern deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the strategic waterway or face attacks on its power plants and bridges. One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the strait, and Iran's stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring. It's doubtful the resolution, even if it had been adopted, would have impacted the war, now in its fifth week, because it was been significantly weakened to try to get Russia and China to abstain rather than veto it. The initial Bahrain proposal would have authorised countries to use "all necessary means" - UN wording that would include military action - to ensure transit through the Strait of Hormuz and deter attempts to close ...

Arguably Contentious: The search for a principled nationalism in India

In an era where nationalism dominantes Indian politics, former Vice-President Hamid Ansari's book offers a conceptual framework for it and for India's foreign policy

Govt to expand ₹10,683 crore PLI scheme for textiles, add more products

The government will expand the coverage of the Rs 10,683-crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles covering man-made fibre (MMF) apparel, fabrics, and technical textiles, Union minister Giriraj Singh said on Tuesday. The addition of products to the list of eligible items for receiving the government's financial support will support industry, enhance ease of doing business, encourage fresh investments in the sector and accelerate growth in the textiles sector. It underscores the Narendra Modi-led government's focus on fostering employment and driving India's leadership in the global textile market. Singh told PTI that the government will "certainly expand" the coverage under PLI textiles for product categories. The minister was speaking after an interaction with representatives from Indian Footwear Industries here. He observed that times have changed as earlier there was no emphasis on technical textiles but now under Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government a P

Govt doubles 5-kg LPG cylinder supply for migrant labourers amid shortage

Move aims to ease LPG shortage for migrant workers as supply disruptions from West Asia prompt the government to prioritise domestic consumption

Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, says IRGC

Iran has shown it retains the ability to strike targets in neighbouring countries and effectively shut transit through the Strait, previously a conduit for a fifth of global oil supply

Iran rejects flexibility as long as US demands surrender, talks continue

He also warned that "if the situation gets out of control, Iran's allies will also close the Bab El-Mandeb Strait"

Iran frees French detainees after 3.5 years; return underway: Macron

Iran has allowed two French former detainees, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, to leave the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. They had been holed up in French diplomatic premises there since their release from prison. "CEcile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on route toward French territory, after three and a half years of detention in Iran," Macron tweeted. The green light for them to leave Iran, long sought by France, signalled how Iran is differentiating between nations, treating some favourably and others as foes, in the context of the Iran war. Macron has distanced France from the conflict, saying his country wasn't consulted in advance about the US-Israel strikes and didn't want the war. Macron thanked Oman for playing a mediation role. "It's a relief for us all and obviously for their families," Macron wrote.

Retail industry post 20% growth in Q4 on strong demand, store expansion

Leading retail players reported strong double-digit revenue growth in the fourth quarter of FY26 on the back of a stable demand environment and resilient macroeconomic conditions. Listed retail companies as Trent, Avenue Supermarts (D-Mart) and V-Mart, in their recent quarter updates reported around 20 per cent year-on-year growth in their latest quarterly updates, aided by aggressive store additions and steady consumption trends. Trent, a Tata group firm reported around 20 per cent growth in standalone (domestic) revenue to Rs 4,937 crore in the March quarter of FY26. It was at Rs 4,106 crore in the corresponding January-March period a year ago. "Revenue from sale of merchandise (excluding other operating income) grew 21 per cent and 19 per cent during the quarter and the year ended March 2026, respectively," said Trent, which operates popular fashion outlets under the Westside and Zudio retail format. Trent has opened 22 Westside stores and 109 stores of its value retail format o