Ram

                            Book Review   Social Media Marketing – Fundamentals (eMarketing Institute, 2018) The Social Media Marketing: Fundamentals book by eMarketing Institute serves as a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide for understanding and implementing effective social media strategies. Designed primarily for students and budding marketers, this free resource offers a structured and accessible introduction to the world of digital engagement across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. The book is well-organized, divided into thematic chapters that cover everything from the basics of social media marketing and audience targeting to advanced topics such as social media strategy, analytics, branding, and ROI measurement. It distinguishes itself through practical, actionable advice without overwhelming the reader with technical jargon or paid tool endorsements. T...

U.S. slices planned remittance tax to 3.5% from 5% The recent move by the U.S. House to reduce the proposed excise tax on remittances from 5% to 3.5% offers limited relief to millions of Indians living in the U.S. While the change softens the blow, it still risks disrupting a vital financial lifeline. With remittances from the U.S. forming 27.7% of India’s inflows, such taxation could deter transfers, spark short-term spikes, and push some into informal channels. The Indian government’s delay in assessing the impact is concerning. Moreover, President Trump’s renewed threats against Apple’s manufacturing in India complicate the economic landscape. As global geopolitics intrude on personal finance and trade, proactive diplomacy and economic preparedness are essential.

Honda to invest ₹920 cr. to set up 4th assembly line. Honda Motorcycle & Scoo-ter India Private Ltd., Hon-da's motorcycle produc-tion and sales subsidiary in India, said it will build a fourth production line at its fourth plant in Ahmeda-bad district of Gujarat at an investment of ₹920 crore. "The new line slated for production in 2028 will have an annual production capacity of 6,50,000 units, bringing total capacity of the fourth plant to 2.61 mil-lion units, making it Hon-da's largest assembly plant for Honda motorcycles in the world," Honda said. The announcement came on the occasion of Honda reaching global cumulative output milestone of 500 million two-wheelers from 1949 till today.

Bharat Biotech completes oral cholera vaccine trials Bharat Biotech on Wednes-day said its oral cholera vaccine (OCV) Hillchol has successfully completed phase III clinical trials. The double-blind, ran-domised phase III clinical trial was to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, non-infe-riority and lot-to-lot consis-tency of single component of the OCV in comparison to a comparator vaccine (Shanchol) in a group of 1,800 individuals, from in- fants to adults, across 10 clinical sites in India. "Hillchol demonstrated a greater than 4-fold rise in vibriocidal antibodies against both Ogawa (68.3%) and Inaba (69.5%) serotypes, proving non-in-feriority to licensed vac-cines... supporting its po-tential as an effective OCV," Bharat Biotech said, on the study findings published in the Vaccine journal Scien-ceDirect. The trials pave way for distribution of Hill-chol within the next few months, the firm said.

Myntra enters Singapore, eyes 6.5 lakh Indian diaspora Myntra, a fashion, beauty and lifestyle e-commerce platform headquartered in Bengaluru, on Monday announced its foray into global markets with the launch of Myntra Global. The company also announced its entry into the Singapore market to take Indian fashion to a 6.5 lakh Indian diaspora in the country. Myntra further said that the platform had already been witnessing notable 'organic traffic' to the tune of more than 30,000 users from Singapore.

Will it be a smooth ride for free bus travel scheme for women in Andhra Pradesh? The Andhra Pradesh government's decision to launch a 'free bus travel' scheme for women from Independence Day marks a significant step toward empowering female mobility. While this initiative promises social benefits by potentially increasing daily women commuters from 16.11 lakh to 26.95 lakh, it also poses a formidable financial challenge. The APSRTC faces a monthly burden of ₹265 crore, requiring 7,930 existing buses, 2,045 new buses, and nearly 11,500 additional staff. For this promising scheme to succeed, the state must balance fiscal sustainability with public welfare, ensuring that this ambitious move doesn't derail the broader public transport ecosystem.

Russia, Ukraine agree to swap prisoners, fail to reach truce. Russia and Ukraine recently held their first direct talks in over three years in Istanbul, agreeing to a significant prisoner exchange involving 1,000 captives each. While Ukraine sought an unconditional ceasefire to halt the devastating conflict, Russia signaled a more cautious approach, agreeing only to discuss possible frameworks for peace. Both sides hinted at a potential meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin, with Turkish mediation paving the way for further written proposals. Though significant hurdles remain, this dialogue marks a tentative step toward ending the prolonged crisis.

Trump rhetoric won't harm Apple's India manufacturing. Apple Inc. is steadily expanding its manufacturing base in India, with facilities like the Foxconn unit in Sriperumbudur and new sites in Tumkur and Krishnagiri set to play a crucial role in meeting both domestic and U.S. demand. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's recent push for Apple to prioritize American production, India's competitive labor costs make it a vital part of the company's global supply chain. While Apple's U.S. commitments focus on chip manufacturing, India remains central to iPhone assembly. As the India-U.S. trade talks continue, further investments are anticipated, cementing India’s status as a crucial manufacturing hub for the tech giant .

        India among top six in 6G patent filings More than 111 research project regards 6g operations in India, and then India allocated a fund of 300 crores to the projects. This leads to India become one of the top 6 nations in 6g pattent. If the 6g implemented means we will use Tera Hertz frequency band enabling data rates upto 1 terabit per second which is 100 times faster than the 5g . Then union minister of state for telecom Chandra Sekhar pemmasani said We have a vast amount of talent pool and we have enough time. There is no reason for us not to lead in 6g .

India rolls over $50 million worth Treasury Bill to help the Maldives As the Maldives grapples with economic headwinds marked by high public debt and a widening fiscal deficit, India has extended crucial financial support. In a significant move, the State Bank of India rolled over a $50 million Treasury Bill, a gesture of continued assistance since 2019 under a unique government-to-government framework. This comes at a critical juncture as the island nation aims to leverage its tourism-driven economy, which reached a milestone of 2.05 million arrivals in 2034. However, with debt servicing obligations nearing a billion dollars annually, the Maldives faces daunting fiscal pressures. Last year, the Reserve Bank of India also stepped in, providing a $400 million currency swap to shore up reserves. As both nations work to stabilize the Maldivian economy, this partnership underscores the importance of regional solidarity in navigating economic challenges.

U.S.-China pact a mixed bag for India The recent U.S.-China trade truce has sparked debate over its impact on India. While reduced tariffs are expected to boost bilateral trade in high-value segments like electronics, machinery, and chemicals, it also presents opportunities for India. According to S.C. Ralhan, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India can strengthen exports in sectors like pharmaceutical APIs, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, organic chemicals, and IT-enabled services. However, former Director General of Foreign Trade Ajay Srivastava cautions that as the tariff gap narrows, companies that had shifted production to countries like India might move back to China, drawn by its vast manufacturing base. Additionally, this deal might increase the risk of cheaper Chinese goods flooding global markets, challenging Indian manufacturers. For India, the key will be to leverage its strengths while staying vigilant against potential setbacks, ens...

Foreign investors inject ₹14,167 crore in equities this month. Foreign investors have shown renewed confidence in India's equity market, injecting ₹14,167 crore so far this month, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. This follows a net inflow of ₹14,223 crore in April, breaking a three-month streak of withdrawals. Analysts attribute this positive trend to favorable global cues like a weakening dollar, slowing U.S. and Chinese economies, and strong domestic fundamentals, including high GDP growth and easing inflation. However, debt inflows remain subdued, reflecting cautious sentiment in the bond market. As India continues to demonstrate economic resilience, sustained FPI interest could provide a crucial boost to market stability in the coming months.

Putin dials Modi, gives full support to 'fight against terror' President Putin’s call to PM Modi after the Pahalgam attack shows Russia’s firm support for India. Calling the attack “barbaric,” both leaders agreed on the need for a tough fight against terrorism. The Indo-Russian partnership remains strong and independent of outside pressure. Together, they stand united for justice and peace. Such solidarity boosts India’s global stance against terror. It also reflects the depth of mutual trust between the two nations. Global cooperation is key in defeating cross-border terrorism.

Putin hopes to not have to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the need to use nuclear wea-pons in Ukraine had not ar-isen and that he hopes it will not. In a preview of an up-coming interview with Russian state television, published on Telegram on Sunday, Mr. Putin said Rus-sia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion." Responding to a ques tion about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territo-ry, Mr. Putin said: "There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons... and I hope they will not be required." "We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in" Vladimir Putin 2022 to a logical conclu-sion" he said." Mr. Putin signed a re vamped version of Russia's nuclear doctrine in No-vember 2024, spelling out the circumstances that al-low him to use Moscow's atomic arsenal, the world's largest That version lo-wered the bar, ...

In April, Maruti, M&M sustain sales drive in a tough market. Maruti Suzuki and M&M posted growth in April despite market headwinds, with M&M’s SUV sales up 28%. Maruti saw a 1% rise overall, though its mini car sales nearly halved. Tata Motors moved to third despite a 6% dip, while Hyundai slipped to fourth after a 12% drop. Kia, Toyota, and JSW MG Motor reported strong gains, driven by new and tech-rich models. TVS Motor also saw 7% growth in two-wheelers. The market clearly favors innovation and larger vehicles. Brands that adapt quickly will lead the road ahead.