Business

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has called for strengthening the institutional framework, professional capacity building and audit practices of primary auditing institutions (PAIs) responsible for local governments, highlighting the need to improve audit quality and transparency at the grassroots level, PTI reported.The call came at the conclusion of a three-day national workshop for…

BENGALURU: India has broken into the top five global markets for Smirnoff, driven by strong traction from flavour-led innovations such as Minty Jamun, Praveen Someshwar, chief executive of Diageo India, told analysts on Tuesday.“Smirnoff flavours, specifically Minty Jamun, have emerged as a breakthrough innovation, validating our India-first flavour strategy and becoming the primary growth engine…

Rattled by US President Donald Trump’s remarks linked to Greenland, the European Union is weighing possible countermeasures against Washington, reviving debate over its so-called “trade bazooka” — a powerful but rarely used economic tool formally known as the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI).While the issue has resurfaced at the highest political levels, most of the EU’s 27…

The European Parliament has voted to refer the recently signed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement to the bloc’s top court, pushing the long-negotiated pact into legal uncertainty just days after it was sealed, according to an AFP report.Lawmakers in Strasbourg voted 334 to 324 in favour of asking the Court of Justice of the European Union…

US stock markets stabilised on Wednesday after a sharp sell-off in the previous session, as President Donald Trump said he would not use force to take control of Greenland, easing some investor concerns even as pockets of caution remained.The S&P 500 rose 0.3 per cent, recovering part of its 2.1 per cent decline on Tuesday,…

Mutual fund investments can be made in the name of a minor (below 18 years) across all categories — equity, debt, hybrid, gold/silver and international funds — but they come with specific operational, documentation and tax rules that parents must understand before investing. Here is a clear question-and-answer explainer, as reported ET, covering how it…

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland, pitching the American growth story and calling it a miracle. Praising his administration, Trump spoke of how he believes the US has gone from being a ‘dead economy’ to the ‘hottest’ in the world in a year.“Today, after 12…

Tax experts believe that while the new income tax regime reduces the tax outgo for many taxpayers, the multiple slabs add to confusion. (AI image) Budget 2026 income tax expectations: Taxpayers in India are looking at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech for announcements related to simplification of income tax slabs, returns, compliance and more. India…

As global tariff uncertainty reshapes trade flows, leaders from the recycling industry have urged policymakers to prioritise open markets and ease cross-border movement of scrap and reusable materials in the Union Budget 2026, arguing that unrestricted trade is critical to building a resilient circular economy.Speaking at the International Material Recycling Conference (IMRC) 2026 here, industry…

Dubai Gold Prices Surge Dh50 Per Gram in 2026: Here’s What’s Driving the Rally Gold continues its striking run in early 2026 and on January 20 in the UAE, prices hit fresh highs, reflecting an intensifying global rally in precious metals influenced by geopolitical uncertainty, safe-haven demand and market sentiment. Local retail rates in Dubai…