UPA pushed India into fragile five club: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tore into the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Friday, saying it pushed the country into the Fragile Five and left it in dire straits in 2014 with its economic mismanagement by putting the "first family" first.During the UPA regime, the security of the nation was compromised, environmental clearances were delayed, and the leadership failed as it was run by a "super prime minister" and there was at least one big-ticket corruption case every year. Initiating the debate on the 'White paper on Indian economy and its impact on the lives of people of India', Sitharaman said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who put the nation first, pulling the country out of crisis and placing it among the top five economies of the world. India is now on the way to becoming the third-largest economy, she said, adding that the NDA government will make India a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.The youth should know what efforts the Prime Minister has put in to restore the country's past glory, said the FM, even as opposition members Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress Party and NK Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party moved substitute motions against the white paper. On the need for the document being presented now, the finance minister said citizens as well as government officials would have been disillusioned had the white paper been released in 2015-16."Had we done that, no investors would have invested in India and if the truth of the economy was given out at that time, people would have lost faith," Sitharaman said. She said when the NDA government took over in 2014, there was a critical shortage of ammunition and defence equipment. Bullet-proof jackets and night goggles were not available for soldiers."When you don't put the nation first, when you put your first family first, and when you have other considerations than transparency, the results are out there for you to see," Sitharaman said. "So what happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-Covid shows clearly that if the intent of the government is sincere, results will be good."    

This Week’s Hottest Two-Wheeler News Stories

The upcoming KTM 390 Adventure, based on the all-new KTM 390 Duke, has been spied testing on Indian roads for the second time. It gets an aggressive looking front-end with a beak-like high-rise fender and a sleek looking rear-end. The instrument console mounted high above the handlebar, like the consoles seen on rally bikes.The iconic Luna finally made its comeback this week as Kinetic Green launched the all-new Kinetic E-Luna in two variants: X1 and X2. It has a range of upto 100km and a top speed of 50kmph with a payload capacity of 150kg. The upcoming Ather Rizta’s seat was teased by the EV maker’s CEO, Tarun Mehta, this week. The seat is quite long and wide, an indicator of the family-oriented approach from Ather Energy with the Rizta electric scooter.The Yamaha FZ-X got updated this week but only with new colour schemes. The 150cc naked got new Chrome and Metallic Black colour options on top of the Matte Titan, Dark Matte Blue and Matte Copper already available. Bajaj launched the updated Bajaj Pulsar N160 and N150 this week. The bikes get all-new LCD instrument consoles with smartphone connectivity via Bajaj Ride Connect app and the switchgears are updated too.It seems like, in addition to the upcoming 350cc ADV, Honda might also be working on a scrambler based on the CB350’s platform. Some of the details spotted in the images were that the bike will get a split-seat setup, fork gaiters, upswept exhaust and alloy wheels.    

The Week That Was: Indian Women Empowerment News Overview

Women's empowerment is the process of establishing conditions that allow women to exercise their legal rights, take charge of their own lives, and make choices that have an impact on those lives. Giving women equal opportunities in every section of society is the ultimate objective of empowering women. Their choices should be respected and valued on an equitable basis. Indian ladies have the potential to succeed in anything they set their minds to. Regardless of their age, societal norms, or any other conditions, they are showcasing their skills to the world. This week, womenentrepreneurindia.com revealed some of the stories of these accomplished women. The woman robot astronaut, "Vyommitra" is about to set on an amazing space mission. India's space exploration activities would be significantly advanced by Vyommitra, which was designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). India's first human-manned space flight, ISRO's 'Gaganyaan' mission, will have her during the space expansion. The World Defense Show 2024, organized by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, showcases global defense advancements and provides a platform for networking, partnering, and sharing knowledge. It features women officers, promoting gender diversity and representation in the defense industry. Women officers will showcase Nari Shakti, promoting gender diversity and representation in defense, attended by top military leaders, government officials, and industry captains. U.N. Women is collaborating with Kerala to support the Safe City project and establish a gender data hub. The initiative aims to create safer urban spaces for women and girls by addressing sexual harassment and violence in public areas.U.N. Women will offer expertise and guidance to improve the Safe City project's execution. This covers methods for preventing and handling sexual harassment in public areas. Working closely with the State's gender parks, which provide forums for advancing women's empowerment and gender equality, acts as a key component of the partnership. The U.N. Women's delegation suggested that the State will look into issues about online spaces and treat them as public spaces. In order to address digital safety and ensure women's well-being, this recognition is essential. The Indian women's hockey team lost for the third time in a row in the Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24. The Indian squad dropped 3-0 against the World No. 3 Australia Women’s Hockey team in the match played in Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. India geared up with a fast start, scoring a penalty corner in the third minute but gradually lost the match. The "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)", a significant sub-scheme under the PM Matsya Sampada, has received approval from the Union Cabinet. With investments worth more than Rs 6,000 crore, this initiative seeks to regulate the fishing industry and assist small businesses throughout all states and union territories between 2023–2026.    

Leaf sheep slug takes the internet by storm

Fascinating sea creatures called the leaf sheep slug are taking the internet by storm with their fluffy appearance and quirky antics. Found primarily in the waters around Japan, the leaf sheep slug, also known as Costasiella kuroshimae, is the only sea creature in the world that can perform photosynthesis like plants.One of the most endearing features of the leaf sheep slug is its resemblance to a tiny, grazing sheep. Covered in fluffy green appendages called cerata, these slugs munch on algae, giving them their distinctive colour and helping them blend with their surroundings. It is like they are wearing a fluffy green coat. It is a type of sea slug that looks like a tiny, walking ball of green fuzz.Leaf sheep slugs can often be seen “herding” together in groups, moving gracefully through the water like a flock of sheep. Scientists believe this behaviour helps them protect themselves from predators and find the best grazing spots.Despite their small size, leaf sheep slugs are making a big impact on marine conservation efforts. Their reliance on algae makes them an important part of their ecosystem, helping to keep algae populations in check and maintaining the health of coral reefs. Leaf sheep slugs are harmless to humans, making them the perfect subject for underwater photography enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.    

Prince Harrys visit to see King Charles III amid cancer news cost him…

Prince Harry's recent meeting with his father, King Charles III, amid his cancer news, has been doing the rounds in media circles. The long journey from the US to London reportedly took him more than 10 hours, lasted than an hour, but cost him a lot of pounds. The unfortunate cancer diagnosis reunited the Duke of Sussex with his father and his homeland for the first time since September. Flying overnight from California, he landed at Heathrow alone as his wife Meghan Markle and two children stayed back in California. After stepping down from their royal posts, the nuclear family unit has lived there since 2020. It's quite likely that Harry may have spent more than £18,000 on plane tickets alone. Security and other transport charges are yet to be added to the cost. Daily Express confirmed that a flight from LA to Heathrow costs £1,317 (Economy). The rising charges for Premium Economy, Business and First Class are £2685, £7040 and £8624, respectively (as listed on the British Airways website on February 7). The return flight may cost £1,458 for Economy, £2,929 for Premium Economy, £7,284 for Business, and £8,868 for First Class. Therefore, a return First-Class ticket would have cost him a whopping £17,492 overall. On top of that, the Prince's private security cost estimation is listed as around £1.5million to £2.3million a year. This would possibly also include guards posted at Harry and Meghan's California home, and other scouting teams. Former reports from royal experts also suggest that even otherwise, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 'spending problem' vexes the Palace.  

Americans have record-high credit card debts totalling $1.05 trillion amid historic inflation

Americans started 2024 on a hopeful note, but it seems a chunk of spending landed on credit cards. The average balance per cardholder hit a record high, reaching $6,360, contributing to a total credit card balance of $1.05 trillion in the fourth quarter. Economic pressures from historic inflation and 11 Federal Reserve rate hikes led many to rely on credit cards to make ends meet, says Michele Raneri from TransUnion. Higher interest rates and elevated living costs worsened the situation. Gen Z and millennials are bearing the brunt. About 10% of those aged 18 to 29 and 8% of those aged 30 to 39 are 90 days past due on their credit cards. Subprime borrowers, with less favourable interest rates, saw balances grow by 32% to $105 billion. Serious-level delinquencies are at their highest since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. This includes both normal credit cards (2.59% delinquency rate) and private label credit cards (1.79% delinquency rate). The surge in credit card usage contrasts with a dip in credit originations, showing lenders' cautiousness amidst increasing delinquencies. However, millennials accounted for 29.6% of all new credit card originations. Over the past years, there has been a shift towards credit card reliance, especially post-pandemic. While stimulus payments temporarily eased the burden, reliance on credit cards surged afterwards leading to an increase in cardholders carrying balances month to month. The potential for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts later in the year could provide relief. Lower interest rates might make refinancing an attractive option, allowing consolidation of high-cost debt into lower-interest products. The road ahead is uncertain, but understanding the causes and trends can help individuals navigate the storm of credit card debt. Awareness, budgeting, and seeking financial advice are crucial steps towards financial stability.  

"Person Who Does Good Work Never Gets Respect": Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday raised concern about opportunistic politicians wanting to remain associated with the ruling party of the day and said such "deterioration in ideology" was not good for democracy. He also said there are leaders who stand firm in their ideology but their number is gradually declining. "I always say this jokingly that no matter which party's government it is, one thing is sure that the one who does good work never gets respect and those who do bad work are never punished," Mr Gadkari said, without taking names. The minister was addressing an event organised by the Lokmat media group here to present awards to parliamentarians for their exemplary contributions. "In our debates and discussion, differences of opinion is not our problem. Our problem is lack of ideas," the senior BJP leader said. "There are people who stand firm with conviction based on their ideology but the number of such people is declining. And deterioration in ideology, which is happening, is not good for democracy," he said. "Neither rightist nor leftist, we are known opportunists, some people write like this. And all want to remain associated with the ruling party," he added.Mr Gadkari said India is the world's largest democracy and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, India is the mother of democracy."It is because of this speciality, our democratic governance system is an ideal for the rest of the world," he added.  

Ian Lavender, the last surviving star of British sitcom ‘Dad’s Army,’ has died

LONDON (AP) — Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” has died, his agent said Monday. He was 77. Agent Hilary Gagan said Lavender had been ill for some time and died with his wife and sons at his side. Lavender was the last surviving main cast member of “Dad’s Army,” about a ragtag volunteer unit assembled to defend their seaside English town from potential Nazi invasion during World War II.Originally broadcast between 1968 and 1977, it attracted as many as 18 million viewers an episode -- a third of the British population -- and remains perennially popular in reruns. Lavender played Private Frank Pike, the youngest member of the unit and frequent butt of the epithet “stupid boy!” from commanding officer Captain Mainwaring. Another scene, in which a captured German officer demands the young private’s name and Mainwaring thunders: “Don’t tell him, Pike” is routinely voted one of Britain’s funniest TV moments.Born in 1946, Lavender was 22 and just out of the Bristol Old Vic theater school when he was cast in the show alongside a troupe of stage and screen veterans.He later acknowledged that his iconic role in “Dad’s Army” had led to him being typecast, but said he’d “be a fool to have regrets.”  

Poonam Pandey Says "Didn Die Of Cervical Cancer", Day After "Death" Post

Poonam Pandey, model and reality TV star, today announced that she hasn't died of cervical cancer. Her announcement on Instagram came a day after the model's manager announced that she had died of cervical cancer."I am alive. I didn't die of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives due to cervical cancer. I am sorry caused this tear and I am sorry to those I have hurt. My intention: to shock everyone into the conversation that we are not talking enough about - cervical cancer," she said in another post. She said that her "death" post was an effort to initiate a conversation and spread awareness about cervical cancer. "Unlike some other cancers, Cervical Cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease," she said.The model is being heavily criticised by social media users for "faking her death" to spread awareness about the disease. Yesterday, Poonam Pandey's team had put out a statement saying that the model died of cervical cancer. The announcement had shocked everyone in the entertainment industry. The reactions ranged from disbelief to scepticism as many had seen the model at an event in Goa three days ago.In 2022, she drew wide attention with a stint in the Kangana Ranaut-led reality show 'Lock Upp'. She also acted in some films. The 32-year-old shot to fame during the 2011 Cricket World Cup when she posted a video message saying she would strip if team India won. She did not, but did post a nude photo when her favourite team Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL the next year. Over the years, she has gathered a legion of social media followers with her controversial statements and was often seen in explicit videos.    

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Backward classes panel chief slams Rahul Gandhi over PMs caste remarks

National Commission for Backward Classes Chairman Hansraj Ahir on Friday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks related to the caste of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought an apology from him. Ahir alleged that Gandhi and the Congress are trying to sow the seeds of division in the country through his "mindless utterances" on castes."Crores of OBC people across India are seething with anger at the pathetic conduct of Rahul Gandhi because of his mindless utterances against our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modiji," Ahir said. The notification to include the "Modh Ghanchi" community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list was issued by the Gujarat government on July 25, 1994 after a survey, he said, adding that even the Mandal Commission had included the community in the OBC list.He said the National Commission for Backward Classes had advised the Union government to include Modh Ghanchi, the community to which the prime minister belongs, in the central OBC list for Gujarat in 1997 and a notification in this connection was issued on October 27, 1999. "When both decisions were taken, Modi held no legislative or executive position," Ahir said.It is appalling to see the hatred that Gandhi has for the OBC, he said, adding that the former Congress president has clearly inherited it from his ancestors.Ahir said Modi, while speaking in Parliament, highlighted the anti-reservation attitude of the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had opposed the Mandal Commission. "The Congress under Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi did not even want constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes," the former Union minister said.    

NHAI’s total asset monetization program crosses Rs 1 lakh crore

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised the highest ever concession value of Rs 15,624.90 crore through ’InvIT Round-3’ which includes monetizing 10 stretches with an aggregate length of about 890 km. This is spread across Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The monetized value is expected to be realized in March 2024, the ministry of road transport and highways said on Tuesday. Earlier, two rounds of InvIT with aggregate length of about 635 km worth Rs 10,200 crore were monetized. With this, NHAI’s total asset monetization program has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore which includes Rs 42,334 crore through toll-operate-transfer (TOT), Rs 26,125 crore through InvIT and Rs 42,000 crore through securitization,” it added. ET had reported on January 18 that NHAI will surpass Rs 1 lakh crore of asset monetisation in the current fiscal with the highest ever receipts in 2023-24. The monetized sections in ’InvIT Round-3’ include Chichira-Kharagpur, Orai-Bara, Rewa-Katni-Jabalpur-Lakhnadon, Kachugaon to Rakhaldubi Bus Junction and Rakhaldubi Bus Junction to Kaljhar, Kaljhar to Patacharkuchi, Lakhnadon to Mahagaon, Mahagaon to Khawasa, Hubli to Haveri, Davangere to Haveri and Davangere to Chitradurga. NHAI has adopted three modes for asset monetization which includes Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs), toll operate transfer (TOT), and project based securitization. During FY 2024, NHAI has already awarded and executed Concession Agreements for four TOT Bundles, which include TOT Bundles 11, 12, 13 and 14 for a total value of Rs 15,968 crore, which is higher than its monetization target of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal year. The success rate in TOT mode during FY’24 was 100%. At present, TOT bundles 15 & 16 are in the bidding stage and are expected to be issued by the end of FY’24. Further, NHAI has also monetized Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through project based securitization garnering Rs 4,600 crore in FY’24.  

India suspends Free Movement Regime with Myanmar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on February 8 that the Government has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along Myanmar border to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended the immediate suspension of FMR, he said. It is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders. MHA has decided that the FMR between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Mr. Shah posted on X. Under the FMR, any member of a hill tribe, who is a citizen of either India or Myanmar, and who resides within 16 km of the border on either side, can cross on the production of a border pass, usually valid for a year, and can stay up to two weeks per visit. India and Myanmar share an unfenced 1,643 km-long border and people on either side have familial and ethnic ties, which had initially prompted the arrangement. A 1968 government notification limited the free movement of people up to 40 km on either side of the border, which was further reduced to 16 km in 2004. The FMR’s provisions were last revised in 2016. In its 2011-12 annual report, the MHA observed that the FMR makes the international border extremely porous, and the hilly and inhospitable terrain provides cover to the activities of various Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs). “The unfenced Indo-Myanmar border with FMR is thus being exploited by various IIGs,” the report said. The India-Myanmar border passes through the States of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km), and Mizoram (510 km).  

SC to hear DMRC plea against arbitration award

The five-judge Supreme Court (SC) bench will on February 15 hear the Delhi Metro Rail Corp's (DMRC) curative petition seeking reversal of the apex court's 2021 judgment upholding a ₹4,700-crore arbitration award that Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAMEPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, won against the former in May 2017. At the outset, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that its tentative view is to constitute a five-judge bench to hear the case. "...Normally, the two judges who wrote the judgment have to sit (in curative). They have retired... My tentative view is we can hear in combination of five (judges)," it said. Meanwhile, senior counsel Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi said the grounds for filing the curative petition by DMRC were not met in the case, therefore, it should be rejected.Salve argued, "I am flabbergasted that no ground for entertaining a curative petition is made out. Let them state specifically the ground on which curative is sought." Rohatgi, also appearing for the RInfra subsidiary, said, "We have taken a preliminary objection to this petition. Neither violation of natural justice nor any other ground mentioned in Rupa Ashok Hurra case is made out." DAMEPL operated the Capital's airport metro service until 2013 before cancelling the contract with DMRC citing safety issues and invoked arbitration. In 2017, Delhi Airport Metro Express had won a ₹4,700 crore arbitration award against Delhi Metro Rail Corp. The arbitral tribunal had accepted the claim of the RInfra firm that running trains on the airport line wasn't viable due to structural defects in the viaduct made by Delhi Metro Rail. Since then, the amount with interest has swelled to round ₹9,000 crore.  

Mustard acreage up by 5 per cent, says trade body SEA

The acreage under mustard, the biggest oilseed crop of the rabi season has increased by 5% over the previous year, said trade body Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA). Industry and trade are expecting the cooking oil prices to soften after the harvest begins starting March. "All India mustard crop acreage was reported at 100.39 lakh hectare which is 5% more than the last year’s remote sensing-based estimate of 95.76 lakh hectare. In the current year mustard crop acreage has reduced in many states and districts due to socio-economic reasons. The farmers in many districts in Gujarat and Rajasthan have opted for other crops instead of mustard due to the price offered which is even lower than MSP," said SEA in a release. Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest year-on-year increase of 27% in area under mustard, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, which have reported an increase of 5% and 3% respectively. Rajasthan, which is the largest mustard growing state, has reported an increase of 1% in area sown under mustard that stood at 37.43 lakh hectare area under the oilseed crop. States like Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and West Bengal have reported a decline of 8% each in the mustard acreage. "We carried out an analysis in the mustard-growing districts using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Normal Crop health condition is when the NDVI value is beyond 0.45. Better moisture content in the crop canopy represents healthier vegetation and its optimal growth. Crop health was found to be optimal in states like Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan indicating good crop condition till date whereas crop condition was found to be moderate in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan," said SEA.  

Delhi Crime Branch team at Arvind Kejriwals residence to serve notice

Earlier, Police officials on Friday also came to serve notice in connection with the Aam Aadmi Party's allegation against the BJP "of trying to buy AAP MLAs" and asked him to provide evidence.A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials had arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. Delhi Police Crime Branch officials on Saturday issued notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with Aam Aadmi Party's allegation against Bharatiya Janata Party "of trying to buy AAP MLAs" and has sought a reply from the AAP supremo within three days, sources said.Earlier on Friday, apart from Kejriwal, the police officials, seeking evidence, also knocked on the doors of AAP minister Atishi's residence.However, as per sources, both the AAP leaders were not present at their respective residences.The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the BJP of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed "Operation Lotus 2.0". Atishi claimed that the BJP has approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in a bid to induce defection."BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0', and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crores each.Atishi also revealed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary."Currently, 7 MLAs have been offered by BJP; we have the recording of one of them and will release it when required," said Atishi." Arvind Kejriwal is again lying as he has done since the last seven times. Not once has been able to tell which phone number was used to contact them, who contacted them, and where was the meeting held. he just gives out statements and goes into hiding.His partners are in jail, and he is repeatedly avoiding ED summons because he knows he does not have answers to the ED questions," said BJP leader Kapil Mishra.    

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga achieves fastest 10 lakh sales milestone in India

Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the fastest MPV to reach 10 lakh sales in India, reported PTI. The three-row MPV, a strong contender against rivals like Renault Triber and Kia Carens, currently holds the title of the best-selling model in its category, boasting more than one-third of the market share among all multi-purpose vehicles sold in the country. Launched in 2012 and receiving its latest facelift in 2022, the Ertiga has played a pivotal role in driving Maruti Suzuki's sales in the utility vehicle segment. With an average monthly sale of over 10,000 units, the Ertiga, along with the XL6 and Invicto, completes Maruti's offering in the three-row MPV segment. The inclusion of a CNG version has contributed to the Ertiga's higher volume sales as the more entry-level MPV from Maruti. Reaching the 10-lakh sales milestone in just 12 years since its debut, the Ertiga has garnered praise for its modern appeal and technological advancements. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing & Sales at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, noted the Ertiga's ability to attract first-time customers, particularly younger urban buyers, with 41 percent of customers falling into this category. Furthermore, 66 percent of Ertiga buyers consider it a pre-determined choice, solidifying its reputation as a lifestyle family vehicle. As per HT Auto, Maruti Suzuki highlights the Ertiga's equal popularity in both urban and rural markets, holding an impressive 37.5 percent market share in the segment. The MPV is offered in four trims and 11 variants, featuring three automatic options (VXi, Zxi, and ZXi+) and two CNG variants, including the top-of-the-line ZXi variant. With a starting price of ₹8.69 lakh and reaching up to ₹13.03 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-end variant, the Ertiga is powered by a K-series 1.5-litre Dual VVT engine, enhancing fuel efficiency. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox, and a six-speed automatic unit replaces the previous four-speed automatic, with the added convenience of paddle shifters on certain models. Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga continues to make waves in the MPV segment, setting new benchmarks for sales and customer satisfaction.      

Car and SUV users in Bengaluru and Pune took over 27 minutes to travel 10km in CY2023

Traffic remains a challenge worldwide as life returns to pre-pandemic levels. Four Indian cities are among the 80 cities in the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index study, which found that drivers took more than 20 minutes to complete a 10-kilometre trip. The findings of the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index are out and four Indian cities – Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi and Mumbai – are among the 387 cities in 55 countries on six continents surveyed for their traffic trends. The latest and 13th edition of the global study covers metrics such as congestion, average travel time, the impact of rush-hour traffic on vehicle users and the environmental impact. What’s more, it also tracks the cost of driving which, in a world impacted by inflation, is eating into motorists’ income. Bengaluru and Pune, ranked No. 6 and No. 7 respectively have the dubious distinction to be among the Top 10 cities with the slowest traffic globally. The average travel time for a typical 10km-long-journey in Bengaluru in CY2023 was 28 minutes and 10 seconds, one minute less than it did in CY2022 – if that is of any solace to motorists in that city. As per the TomTom Traffic Index for 2023, London continues to be the world’s slowest city – average travel time for a 10km drive there was 37 minutes and 20 seconds. That’s a minute more than in 2022 and nearly two minutes more than in 2021, which indicates a gradual return to the pre-Covid-19 trend of consistently increasing traffic. It’s the same in the four Indian cities named in this survey.Dublin (Ireland), Toronto (Canada), Milan (Italy) and Lima (Peru) are ranked second, third, fourth and fifth respectively, just above Bengaluru and Pune. Meanwhile, motorists in New Delhi (ranked No. 44) took 21 minutes and 40 seconds to cover the same distance, clocking 24kph average speed in rush-hour and losing a cumulative 81 hours last year. Compared to 2022, Delhi car users saved 30 seconds on each trip. Compared to 2022, Delhi car users saved 30 seconds on each trip, owing to the rapid improvement in the national capital’s road infrastructure that is now brimming with flyovers, roundabouts, and now tunnels that aim to eliminate long snarls. New Delhi is also benefiting from other traffic-smoothening initiatives. As part of the Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative in New Delhi, the SaveLIFE Foundation tests temporary urban design interventions through Tactical Urbanism Trials. An essential component of these trials is road space redistribution to ensure modal equity, road geometrics modification, traffic channelisation, vehicular speed reduction, and addition of pedestrian and cyclist safety infrastructure. India’s financial capital Mumbai, which has an estimated vehicle population of 4.5 million units and over 1.3 million privately owned passenger vehicles, remains traffic gridlocked. The slow-traffic scenario is also exacerbated by the major road construction work underway across different parts of the city which is seeing multiple projects being implemented to reduce traffic intensity in the near future.  

Michelle ONeill, 47, Becomes Northern Irelands First Nationalist Leader

The 47-year-old Sinn Fein politician has waited patiently to take up the role of first minister since her party became the British territory's biggest after elections in May 2022.Belfast, United Kingdom: Michelle O'Neill, who on Saturday made history by becoming the first nationalist head of Northern Ireland's provincial government, embodies a new generation of progressive Irish republicans. The 47-year-old Sinn Fein politician has waited patiently to take up the role of first minister since her party became the British territory's biggest after elections in May 2022.O'Neill hailed her appointment as "historic" shortly after it was confirmed."That such a day would come was unimaginable to my parents' and grandparents' generation," she told Northern Irish lawmakers. O'Neill, whose immediate c oncerns will be tackling a budget crisis and crumbling public services, comes from a family well acquainted with the dark days of sectarian strife that began in the 1960s.Her father was jailed for being a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and a cousin was killed by members of Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) regiment. But O'Neill is from a generation that came of political age after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, also called the Belfast Agreement, brought about peace, and promises to be "first minister for all".She paid tribute to British head of state Queen Elizabeth II after her death in 2022, and attended King Charles III's coronation.Both would have been unheard of when Sinn Fein was the political wing of the IRA. O'Neill's left-wing liberalism, glamorous appearance and slick politicking have found favour with younger voters angry at the lack of secure jobs and housing since the 2008 financial crash.It is also in sharp contrast to the male-dominated and dogmatic political atmosphere during the era of violence -- and to the current unionist leadership in Northern Ireland.Instead of a singular focus on bringing about the republican dream of a united Ireland, O'Neill's party emphasised at the assembly elections policies to tackle surging inflation and encourage stability following the shock of Brexit.O'Neill was born in County Cork, in the south of the Irish republic, on January 10, 1977.