Category: Business & Economics

California’s Economic Triumph: A New Global Powerhouse In a major economic milestone, California has officially overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to fresh data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. California’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached an impressive $4.10 trillion in 2024, compared to Japan’s $4.01 trillion. Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated the achievement, emphasizing California’s dynamic growth across sectors. “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world – we’re setting the pace,” Newsom proudly stated. With only the United…

Operation Zeppelin: Mossad’s Eye on a Coordinated Campaign In a dramatic twist to one of India’s most controversial corporate sagas, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has reportedly unearthed an intricate global network of individuals and organizations allegedly involved in a coordinated effort to target the Adani Group and, by extension, India’s financial credibility. The revelation was brought to light by Vijay Patel, the founder of the fact-checking platform ‘Only Fact,’ who cited Mossad’s covert findings in a detailed post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to Patel, this intelligence-led…

New 12% Safeguard Duty Expected to Cool Surging Steel Shipments from Key Asian Suppliers India is anticipating a slowdown in steel imports from China, South Korea, and Japan following the imposition of a 12% provisional safeguard duty earlier this week, a senior government official told Reuters. The move, effective for 200 days, is aimed at protecting domestic producers from a flood of cheap steel that has disrupted market stability and hurt local manufacturers. A Response to Surging Imports and Industry Pressure The decision comes in response to a dramatic increase…

A History of Controversy and Caution Yoga guru and Patanjali Ayurved founder Baba Ramdev is no stranger to controversy. From making ambitious medicinal claims during the COVID-19 pandemic to launching aggressive marketing campaigns against pharmaceutical companies, he has frequently clashed with medical associations, regulatory bodies, and, more recently, the judiciary. Now, Ramdev finds himself in legal trouble yet again—this time over his inflammatory comments about a popular summer drink, Rooh Afza. In a video promoting Patanjali’s rose sherbet, he alleged that proceeds from certain sherbet sales were being used to…

Historic Allies in a New Economic Landscape India and the United States, long-standing democratic partners, have witnessed a dynamic evolution in their bilateral ties—from defense collaboration and strategic dialogues to growing technological and economic convergence. Yet, under the changing contours of global trade and policy shifts, particularly under President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine and tariff-centric trade realignments, India has had to recalibrate its approach. Against this backdrop, the recent visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to India, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, marks a pivotal moment in Indo-US relations. With trade…

MTNL’s Long Struggle to Stay Afloat Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), once a cornerstone of India’s state-run telecom infrastructure, now finds itself at a precarious crossroads. Established in 1986 to provide telecommunication services in Mumbai and Delhi, MTNL was once synonymous with reliable landline connectivity. However, with the rise of private competitors, high operational costs, and delayed modernization, the company has steadily slipped into financial disrepair. In recent years, the Indian government has attempted to revive MTNL through a combination of sovereign guarantees, bond infusions, and departmental loans. Despite these interventions, the…

A Promising Partnership Unravels What began as a promising venture to propel India’s electric mobility sector now teeters on the edge of collapse. Public sector financiers Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) are facing the grim prospect of significant loan losses tied to Gensol Engineering, a company once seen as a rising force in green innovation. At the heart of the crisis lies a tangled web of financial defaults, regulatory scrutiny, and alleged fraud—all of which could jeopardize the recovery of over ₹663 crore in public funds. Loan Default…

A Market in Recovery Mode After weathering a storm of volatility, sharp corrections, and global economic jitters, the Indian stock market is staging a strong recovery. In what many are calling a “comeback rally,” benchmark indices surged on Monday, April 21, extending gains for a fifth consecutive session. The rally was led by banking and IT stocks, pushing the Sensex past the 79,000 mark and infusing confidence into investors who had witnessed several gloomy trading sessions in recent months. The uptrend comes on the back of stabilizing quarterly earnings, robust…

Trade Tensions and New Tech Horizons The global trade landscape has been anything but stable in recent years, largely shaped by US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff war with China. While the aim was to protect American manufacturing, the unintended consequence was the redirection of global supply chains, opening new avenues for nations like India. Amid this backdrop, a new tech and trade synergy is brewing between India and the US, exemplified by the recent high-profile engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. On Friday, PM Modi held a…