Business, trade and the world

Tencent says its Hy4 joins 'top-tier' of open-source AI models

Architect Reem Nassour’s winning proposal at Dubai Design Week is steeped in nostalgia

DUBAI: In a city as famously fast-paced and ever-changing as Dubai, nostalgia often creeps up when you least expect it. From bougainvillea to breeze blocks, those with lives rooted in the UAE — and indeed the wider Gulf — know that the smallest of details can spark a memory. That

Indian battery component makers face up to 61% cost disadvantage against imports: Report

Indian battery component manufacturers are facing cost challenges that make local production more expensive than imported goods. The report indicates that high input costs hinder the growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities. Battery demand in India is expected to rise signif

Asian stocks face volatility as Democratic blue wave sweeps US

Cabinet approves ₹2,814-crore scheme to promote critical mineral processing

The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹2,814-crore capital expenditure support scheme to promote critical mineral processing and strengthen India’s critical mineral ecosystem. The scheme will be implemented over five years, from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.

Cabinet approves ₹14,500-crore scheme to add 92 GWh energy storage capacity

The Union Cabinet has approved a significant ₹14,500-crore scheme aimed at developing new energy storage capacity. This funding will support the establishment of 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage across India. Additionally, 850 fast-track courts will be set up to expedite cases

Key takeaways from the 2026 midterm elections in California

Democrats easily hold on to governor's office and are on track to notch up wins in key congressional races.

Who determines Iran’s fighting and negotiating position amid US threats?

Iran is on the brink of a new escalation with the US, but negotiations are continuing.

Elon Musk jokes about GOP election defeat after spending record sums on party

Elon Musk humorously commented on the Republican Party’s loss in the US midterm elections despite substantial financial contributions. Democrats secured control of Congress, rejecting Trump’s agenda.

NBCC’s WTC project at Delhi’s Nauroji Nagar receives GRIHA provisional 4-star rating: Here’s all you need to know

NBCC’s World Trade Centre project in New Delhi has received a provisional four-star GRIHA rating. What does the recognition mean? A look at India’s green building rating system, why it was developed and how it assesses environmental performance across a building’s life cycle.

MRPL boosts delivered oil buying as Iran war raises shipping risks

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd plans to increase crude oil purchases on a delivered basis. This strategy aims to reduce shipping risks related to the ongoing Iran war. The company is also looking to diversify its crude sourcing to maintain full refinery capacity. CFO D

Sugar prices jump Rs 4/kg in a month, rise Rs 12-13 over year despite supply steps

Sugar prices in India have risen significantly over the past month in both retail and wholesale markets. Retail prices have now reached Rs 59.50 per kg while wholesale prices stand at Rs 55.40 per kg. Kolkata has the highest retail price at Rs 65 per kg followed closely by Delhi

OneStack raises Rs 12.5 crore to take cooperative banks deeper into UPI ecosystem

OneStack, a fintech provider, secured ₹12.5 crore funding to enhance cooperative bank participation in UPI payments. The funding will help expand services among cooperative banks and NBFCs while developing compliance offerings. Partner banks can now act as UPI issuers and acquire

India's natural diamond industry eyes revenue stabilisation at $15 billion, not recovery

An analysis indicates India's natural diamond industry's revenues are projected to stabilize rather than rebound. Domestic demand is expected to cushion export weaknesses, particularly from the US and China. Lab-grown diamonds are reshaping the entry-level segment, affecting mark

Indian airlines seek to boost domestic MRO capabilities as aircraft fleets expand

Indian airlines are focusing on building in-house capabilities for maintenance and repair as the aircraft fleet grows. Air India plans to establish an MRO facility in Bengaluru by 2027, while IndiGo emphasizes the need for self-reliance. Akasa Air's maintenance facility at Noida

Renewable energy key to India's energy security, German envoy Jasper Wieck says

Germany underscores the critical role of renewable energy in fortifying energy security for India. During recent discussions, German Ambassador Jasper Wieck highlighted the necessity for India to domestically produce solar panels and batteries. The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit

Republicans fuming after Democrat Talarico flips Texas Senate blue

Republicans in Texas are trying to make sense of how they lost to the Democrats for the first time in almost 40 years.

Saudi Oscar entry ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ heads to Hollywood Arab Film Festival

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Oscar submission, “A Matter of Life and Death,” written by and starring Saudi actress Sarah Taibah, is set to screen at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival in Los Angeles on Nov. 8. The screening at the Culver Theater will be followed by a Q&A session with Egyp

India's REIT revolution: Can real estate deliver 15% returns? | Ramesh Nair, Mindspace REIT

Iranian speaker says US vote shows Americans have rejected Iran war

Iranian Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf commented that the US vote indicates a rejection of war with Iran, urging the US government to heed public opinion.

Liverpool owner FSG holds talks over buying majority stake in Cadillac F1 team

Deal would be worth more than £2bnCadillac are jointly owned by Mark WalterLiverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, has held talks about buying a majority stake in the Cadillac Formula One team for more than £2bn as Mark Walter continues to sell off his sporting assets amid allega

UAE non-oil PMI eases to 54.8 as price pressures intensify

RIYADH: The UAE’s non-oil private sector continued expanding in October, with new orders picking up and businesses raising selling prices at a record pace to pass on higher operating costs. According to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index, the Emirates’ PMI stood at

Democrat Troy Jackson unseats Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine

Democrat Troy Jackson unseats Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine

Drones attack Iranian Kurdish opposition in Iraq, sources say

Two drones loaded with explosives targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah and East Irbil, according to security sources. Iran is accused of targeting the groups for attacks within its own territory.

Wingtech rejects Nexperia restructuring, cites ‘discrimination’ towards Chinese investors

Shanghai-listed Wingtech Technology has rejected a restructuring proposal under which it would lose control of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia’s assets outside China, condemning the plan as an “expropriation” driven by discrimination. The stand-off deepens a year-long dispute between Wi

Australian government defends social media ban for under 16s in court

Government lawyers argued that social media use posed risks to children, and action is needed to protect them.

China says avoiding new hostilities in Mideast a ‘top priority’

China is prioritizing the prevention of new hostilities in the Middle East as it increases diplomatic efforts in the region following a recent threat of war against Iran by US President Donald Trump.

Israel election commission rejects Netanyahu charges of fraud

Israeli electoral authorities dismissed claims of electoral fraud lodged by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Arab parties. President Herzog will receive the final election results and determine who gets the first opportunity to form a government.

US midterms live: Trump says Democrat victories not a 'hit on me'

Palestinians return to ruined Hebron homes after Israel’s 10-day siege

Returning Hebron residents face significant economic and structural devastation after Israeli military operation.

US elects its first Black woman governor

The US has elected its first Black woman governor after Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s gubernatorial poll.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins election to US Senate from Michigan

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed gave an impassioned victory speech as he beat Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan senate race

M&S takes more than a year to recover from cyber-attack as profits bounce back to £355m

Sales and profit from clothing and homeware remain below two years ago but ‘brand is in good health’Marks & Spencer has said a devastating cyber-attack that shut down its website last year continued to hurt clothing sales over the summer, more than a year after the hack.The r

L&T Finance Pitch Point 2.0: Where an AI startup’s big idea meets enterprise scale

Pitch Point, L&T Finance’s contest for AI startups, is back for a second edition. Last year’s winners, Arrowhead AI and SpoofSense, talk about what they got out of it and what they would tell this year’s new applicants.

Democrat from Kansas elected to US Senate for first time since 1932

A Democrat from Kansas has been elected to the US Senate for the first time in 94 years.

2027 Presidency: Gbenga Hashim mobilises in North West, takes campaign to ungoverned rural areas

The grassroots campaign of Accord Party presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, is extending into rural and underserved communities across Kano, Katsina read more 2027 Presidency: Gbenga Hashim mobilises in North West, takes campaign to ungoverned rural areas

Delhi HC draws line, says national capital cannot be default venue for every brand dispute

The court said companies must show that the dispute has a genuine connection with Delhi.

‘We defeated Goliath’: Texas Democrat James Talarico wins Senate seat

Democrat James Talarico wins the Texas Senate race in a historic midterm upset.

Scotch whisky in Delhi may get cheaper after Diwali as excise department begins price revision

Scotch whisky prices in Delhi could drop by around 7% due to changes in import duties. The new rates will likely affect popular brands like Johnnie Walker and Glenfiddich. Price revisions will be implemented initially in hotels, clubs, and restaurants, followed by retail outlets.

Democrats deliver a historic routing to Republicans in US midterms

For the first time in nearly 30 years, a Democrat will now represent South Carolina in the US Senate.