Bs Reads

Keeladi's discoveries remind us that evidence, not ideology, makes history

As new archaeological finds challenge the dominant narrative of India's antiquity, replacing dogma with pragmatism is the only way to understand the past

Breaking the glass wall: Why the India-US trade deal works for India

The India-US trade agreement should be seen as a win for consumers and producers, with debates on protectionism and strategic autonomy often missing the economic trade-offs involved

Most of our users have never seen a line of code in their life Mukund Jha

Emergent CEO Mukund Jha explains how Emergent went from zero to $50 million in seven months by letting business owners build their own software

India-EU FTA likely to come into force this year: EU Ambassador to India

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now undergoing "legal scrubbing" and both sides are committed to concluding the process swiftly for its signing and coming into force, possibly this year, EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin has said. Speaking to PTI, he described the FTA as a "very substantial" deal rather than an "empty shell." "We are in the process of what we call technically, of the legal scrubbing, and to close the process of before the official signing and the entry into force. I think what I've noticed with during the summit is that both sides are really committed to have this process concluded as soon as possible, so that the FTA enters into force, possibly this year, which will be another achievement," the ambassador emphasized. He listed overlapping economic interests, complementarity, scale, diversification, and de-risking as key drivers. "From the European side, the EU member states, the Commission, and leadership, and on the Indian side, we saw the same ...

Disney names Parks chief Josh D'Amaro as successor to CEO Bob Iger

Disney has named its parks chief Josh D'Amaro to succeed Bob Iger as the entertainment giant's top executive. D'Amaro has been Disney Experiences Chairman, spearheading efforts for the company's theme parks, cruises and resorts. The decision on the next chief executive at Disney comes almost four years after the company's choice to replace Iger went badly, forcing Iger back into the job. Only two years after stepping down as CEO, Iger returned to Disney in 2022 after a period of clashes, missteps and a weakening financial performance under his hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek. Chapek had been viewed by many as too gruff and buttoned up, focusing intently on business and not taking enough care with the creative and imaginative elements that have helped Disney flourish over decades. Iger had strengthened the Disney brand through his acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, oversaw the expansion of the company in China and India and had a laser-like focus on technology that both

Designed to Win: How Tata Elxsi found its niche in India's IT landscape

How the Tata company went from being a loss-making firm to becoming a front-runner in design and technology in India and globally

Hated by All the Right People: Book traces evolution of Tucker Carlson

From the bow-tied beau ideal of the Washington establishment to the Maga conspiracy theorist-in-chief, Tucker Carlson's biography traces his journey

Monazite reserves pegged at 13.15 mn tonnes across 8 states: Reddy

The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has estimated significant rare earth minerals resources in beach sands and hard rocks, with 13.15 million tonnes of monazite identified in deposits from eight states. Monazite is a reddish-brown, phosphate mineral rich in rare-earth elements (REEs) and thorium, primarily sourced from heavy mineral beach sands and igneous rocks. "As on January 28, 2026, rare earth minerals resources estimated by AMD include 136 deposits of beach sand minerals containing 13.15 million tonnes of monazite (a mineral of thorium and rare earths) occurring in the coastal beach, teri/red sands and inland alluvium in parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand and West Bengal," Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha. The deposits, containing about 7.23 million tonnes in-situ rare earth oxide (equivalent) resources, are located in

Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: How Xi is remodelling Chinese identity

His programmes are not only questioning but even verifying loyalty, with the ideal of Chinese women shifting in the face of dwindling population

Nalwa Aero inks pact with 3 helicopter players to launch low-cost air taxis

Aviation tech firm Nalwa Aero on Thursday said it has signed an initial pact with helicopter operators Global Vectra Helicorp, Pawan Hans Ltd and Himalayan Heli Services to launch electric air taxi (eVTOL) services, offering fares as low as Rs 200 per passenger on select routes. As part of this strategic collaboration, signed at the ongoing Wings India aviation show in Hyderabad, Himalaya Heli Services has placed pre-orders for Nalwa's upcoming eVTOL aircraft, a statement said. The partners plan to deploy eVTOL aircraft for pilgrimage travel, including Char Dham Yatra routes, air ambulance services, urban and intercity air taxi operations, and offshore crew and logistics transport, Nalwa Aero said. According to the company, electric propulsion promises lower operating costs, reduced noise levels, and zero in-flight emissions, enabling operators to expand services into routes previously constrained by conventional helicopter economics. The quieter footprint is especially valuable for

India should focus beyond tariffs to boost trade: World Bank's Ajay Banga

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga on Thursday said India should "think less" about tariffs and focus more on opportunities, amid concerns over global trade due to geopolitical tensions. Elaborating on India's opportunities in trade deals, Banga said over 100 regional and bilateral pacts have been signed by the country in the last 20 years, and the recent India-EU free trade agreement is an example of that. "Think less about the tariffs, and more about the opportunities like you (India) have done (the FTA) with the European Union," he said. Banga's comments came while interacting with media representatives during his tour of the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) in Bhubaneswar. All trade deals are important, the top World Bank official said. "If you look at the way trade has changed over last two decades, the global trade has quadrupled, while the share of the emerging markets doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Therfore, emerging markets like India have now bec

Home affordability: Consider peripheral localities, smaller house sizes

If going from a 2-BHK to a 3-BHK pushes the EMI beyond comfort, the bigger house becomes a risk rather than a solution

West Bengal's NSDP grows 9.86% in 2024-25, slower than neighbours

West Bengal's net state domestic product (NSDP) at current prices grew by 9.86 per cent to Rs 16.32 lakh crore in the 2024-25 financial year, showing an improvement from the 8.94 per cent growth recorded in the previous fiscal, according to the latest Economic Survey. The Statistical Appendix of the survey showed the state's NSDP stood at Rs 14.85 lakh crore in 2023-24. The Economic Survey 2025-26 was tabled in Parliament on Thursday. However, West Bengal trailed behind other major states in terms of percentage growth at current prices. Tamil Nadu registered a robust growth of 15.76 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 12.64 per cent and Maharashtra 11.85 per cent during the same period, the Statistical Appendix of the survey said. In the eastern region, West Bengal's NSDP growth rate was outpaced by its neighbours, Bihar and Odisha. Bihar recorded an NSDP growth of 13.07 per cent, while Odisha registered 13.04 per cent in 2024-25. Jharkhand also reported a higher growth rate o

Check the different rates and tenures for Personal Loans

A personal loan is a handy financial instrument to tide over short-term cash crunch, especially for major, one-time expenses

From utility to sanctuary: Why Indians are investing in luxury bathrooms

Once a functional afterthought, the bathroom is now one of the most invested-in spaces in Indian homes, driven by wellness, design and long-term performance

India, US close to trade deal after very significant progress in talks

India and the US have made "very significant" progress in their negotiations for a trade deal, with New Delhi maintaining steady momentum in talks with Washington for a positive outcome even during the final stages of concluding its free trade pact with the European Union, official sources said on Wednesday. India's mega trade deal with the EU should not be seen as a response to offset the current state of trade relations with the US as the American market is equally crucial for the Indian exporters, they said. Very significant progress has been made in the negotiations for the proposed trade deal with the US and the two sides are "very close" to seeing that come to fruition, the sources said. The two sides remain in touch and even during the final stages of negotiating the EU trade pact, Indian trade negotiators were in contact with their US counterparts as well, the sources said. "So that work is continuing. We are hopeful of a positive outcome," said a source. India and the US

From icon to also-ran: Puma's long slide as rivals Adidas and Anta loom

Puma was the no. 3 in sportswear after Nike and Adidas until recent years, competing to churn out cool sneakers and win top athletes and soccer-team sponsorships

Indian Politics and International Relations: Great power begins at home

How the evolution of India's political development is having an impact on its external projection

India plans seasonal adjustment for industrial output in data revamp

A discussion paper from the ministry, released on Wednesday, said using a new methodology could improve economic signals without causing excessive revisions

Fertiliser sales rise 3.8% in April-December on higher imports: FAI

Urea sales in the country increased 3.8 per cent to 31.16 million tonnes during April-December 2025 on account of higher imports, even as domestic production declined marginally, according to provisional data released by the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) on Wednesday. Urea sales stood at 30.02 million tonnes in the year-ago period. Domestic urea production during the period stood at 22.44 million tonnes, while imports rose 85.3 per cent to 8 million tonnes, supporting higher sales during peak crop nutrition months. Production of NP and NPK fertilisers (other than DAP) rose 13.1 per cent to 9.27 million tonnes during April-December 2025, with imports increasing 121.8 per cent to 3.29 million tonnes, the data showed. Sales of complex fertilisers remained largely stable at 11.74 million tonnes. Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) production during the period was recorded at 3.03 million tonnes, reflecting a 3.9 per cent decline compared to the previous year, while imports increased 4