Business

Urban households in India are set to embrace e-commerce like never before this festive season, with a new LocalCircles report predicting a sharp rise in online shopping. The findings suggest that recent GST rate changes have helped boost consumer confidence just ahead of the spending rush.The study, ‘How Urban Indian Households Will Spend During Festive Season 2025’, expects a 115% …

The TUC has urged the government to “stay on course” in delivering its Employment Rights Bill. The bill would be a major shake-up of workers’ rights, which would include protection against unfair dismissal, and a ban on “exploitative” zero-hours contracts. Speaking at the TUC congress in Brighton, TUC general secretary Paul Novak told the BBC: “I am confident that the …

India and Israel are set to sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) during the visit of Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich later this week, in what is being seen as a step towards laying the groundwork for a free trade agreement (FTA), according to sources.Smotrich will be in India from 8 to 10 September on a three-day official tour. He …

Bessent made these observations shortly after Russia conducted its most extensive aerial assault since the war began. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the European Union to join America in adding pressure on Russia, and indicating possibility of more tariffs on countries buying Russian crude oil. The Donald Trump administration has already imposed 25% additional tariffs on India …

India’s diaspora also plays a major role in the economy. (AI image) India’s diaspora population has expanded to 3.43 crore, making it the largest in the world, according to a government reply in Lok Sabha quoted in an ET report. It is evenly split between Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), each at 1.71 crore.India’s diaspora also …

The strengthening economic ties with China, the second-largest world economy, complement other positive factors for India. (AI image) Indian stock markets may see a boost with several positive catalysts fuelling bullish sentiment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside recent GST rate cuts, have generated positive sentiment regarding the potential for Indian equities to reduce their …

South Korea struck a deal with the United States, on Sunday, securing the release of its nationals detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.Presidential chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, declared that the two nations had completed negotiations and only administrative formalities were pending. He further added that Seoul would arrange a chartered flight to bring the …

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has partnered with Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines to operate two very large ethane carriers (VLECs) that will import petrochemical feedstock for its subsidiary, ONGC Petro Additions Ltd (OPaL), according to sources.As per news agency PTI, ONGC and Mitsui have agreed to build, own and operate the specialised carriers, estimated to cost around …

File photo (Picture credit: PTI) India has cautioned against the misuse of export-related measures to create artificial scarcity, distort markets, or disrupt supply chains at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Vladivostok on Saturday.According to a statement by the commerce ministry released on Sunday, India stressed that “export-related measures should not be weaponised or misused to …

Internet services across parts of Asia and the Middle East faced disruptions after undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, experts said on Sunday. While concerns were raised over possible sabotage amid ongoing conflict in the region, it was not immediately clear what caused the incident, according to the news agency Associated Press.Microsoft said on its status page that …