Copper prices fell from record levels, amid indications that the slowdown in Chinese demand as winter approaches could ease the severity of a looming crisis in global supplies. The industrial metal was trading at about $11,160 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange, ending a two-day wave of gains, down about 1.5% from its highest levels ever recorded in the previous session. Copper futures also fell on the US COMEX exchange. The price of copper has been high since the beginning of the year. Jinrui Futures analysts explained in a note that seasonal demand from manufacturers in China, the largest global copper consumer, saw a decline, making additional quantities of the Chinese metal available for export. In another sign of slowing demand for imported copper, the Yangshan premium, which traders pay to import the metal into China, fell to its lowest level since July. Copper, a crucial element in electricity applications and the energy transition, is still around 27% higher this year on the London Metal Exchange, the global benchmark for the price of the metal. See also: Copper hits a record high as fears of supply shortages escalate and traders seek to supply more of the metal to the United States, as prices remain higher than their levels in London amid expectations that Washington will impose tariffs on imports. Pressure on copper supplies A major copper conference, held in Shanghai last week, highlighted the pressure facing supplies amid a jump in annual premiums for cathode purchases. Chinese smelters are also engaged in difficult negotiations with mining companies to set terms for the annual supply of raw materials, in light of the shortage of raw materials after a series of sudden malfunctions in the mines. Some of these supply concerns were eased by Ivanhoe Mines’ announcement on Monday of the start-up of its Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the largest in Africa, with an annual production capacity of 500,000 tonnes of solid copper. The price of copper fell 0.8% to $11,160 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange as of 11:06 a.m. in Shanghai. The price of aluminum also fell by 0.3%, and the price of zinc also fell.

China is expected to increase its imports of US soybeans to meet a pledge to buy at least 12 million tonnes by the end of the year, according to a number of traders, in a sign that there is widespread hope in the market that the fragile trade truce between the two sides – at least in the agricultural sector – can hold. State-owned importing companies, including Cofco, will receive more shipments in the coming weeks, the traders, who are commercial buyers and government agencies, said, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. They added that these quantities would help China meet commitments made at the end of October, although the timing and size of the shipments have not yet been resolved. China’s purchases After a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump in South Korea a little more than a month ago, Washington said that Beijing had promised to reserve no less than 12 million tons of American soybeans during the current year, which would be followed by additional purchases of no less than 25 million tons annually over the next three years, in a move between the two sides of disagreement. China has not officially confirmed this goal, but it has lowered tariffs on the crop and lifted a previously imposed import ban on three US exporters. Read more: US Treasury Secretary: China will buy 12 million tons of soybeans this year. Wayne Gordon of the wealth management arm of UBS Group said that unless political obstacles arise, “there will be nothing preventing them from completing the minimum sales. Whether or not the shipments will actually be delivered is another matter.” The problem is that there is a lack of time with only a few weeks left until the end of the year. According to Bloomberg calculations based on USDA data, Chinese buyers have so far reserved only about 3 million tons — a level that is still far from the goal. To fulfill the pledge, they will need to reserve the remaining quantities in less than a month, and the erratic pace of purchases has raised concerns that bureaucracy and logistical obstacles could hamper China’s ability to fulfill its commitment even if it really wanted to. U.S. soybeans Even Bai, a director at Beijing-based consulting firm Trivium China, said: “The lack of commercial logic that prompts buyers to buy U.S. soybeans will naturally slow down the pace of purchases,” adding that the 12 million ton promise “looks almost impossible now.” See also: After the “trade truce”… China buys 14 shipments of US soybeans despite their high price. She continued: “Early in November, this target was ambitious, as buyers had to reserve a little over one million tonnes a week until the end of the year. But that didn’t happen, and to meet the target now China would have to reserve over two million tonnes a week, including Christmas week, which seems almost impossible.” However, traders expected that non-commercial entities would continue to receive shipments. They said state-owned companies, led by COFCO, would continue to carry out most of the purchases for the current year, with some amounts likely to go to government reserves. They expect bookings to be recorded before the end of the year, in line with the deal, even if the ships are loaded in early 2026, perhaps during the next US harvest season. Traders noted that through this mechanism, the total could exceed the 12 million tonne mark, even if commercial milling companies will continue to rely heavily on cheaper supplies from Brazil. COFCO did not immediately respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment. Relations with the United States China’s purchases of soybeans have attracted much attention in its strained trade relationship with the United States of America. The promise, which became clear last October, came after a months-long pause in purchasing activity, in the face of rising political tensions and Brazil consolidating its position as a dominant supplier to China. Read more: The soybean battle between China and America … challenges facing Brazil’s profits. But it is still unclear whether the recent purchases represent a real recovery in the agricultural trade relationship, or just a short-term political gesture. The broader agricultural trade between the two countries faces ongoing challenges, ranging from a changing political landscape and shifts in supply chains, to China’s increasing efforts to diversify its import sources. However, any shipments or bookings recorded this month will provide support to US farmers and help calm relations between the world’s two largest economies.

Kolkata, Dec 2 (PTI) The RBI may announce a repo rate cut of 25 basis points in its upcoming December monetary policy meeting, driven by a sharp decline in inflation and strong growth momentum, a report by credit rating agency CareEdge said on Tuesday. It said inflation fell to a decade-low of 0.3 percent in October, well below the RBI’s target threshold of 4 percent, creating policy room for rate cuts. The current repo rate stands at 5.5 percent. “Factors such as stable Brent crude prices, healthy reservoir levels supporting rabi sowing, and subdued price pressures arising from excess capacity in China should help prevent any sharp rise in inflation,” the report said. While GDP growth accelerated to 8.2 percent in the second quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal, CareEdge forecasts a moderation to around 7 percent in the second half of the financial year, as the boost from pre-loaded exports fades and post-festive consumption moderates. For the full fiscal, the report forecasts GDP growth at 7.5 percent. It said that with CPI inflation expected to average around 3.7 percent over the next 12 months, the real policy rate at current levels would be around 1.8 percent – above the estimated neutral range of 1-1.5 percent – indicating room for a rate cut. Despite external headwinds, including protracted trade negotiations with the US and geopolitical tensions, India’s external sector remains resilient with foreign exchange reserves rising by USD 27 billion to USD 693 billion as of mid-November. CareEdge expects the RBI to revise its FY’26 inflation projections to around 2.1 percent and growth forecast to around 7.5 percent in the December policy meeting.

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limited All rights reserved. Borrowing costs have also risen, making capital-intensive offshore wind much more expensive. (AFP) Summary The aggressive push to cut fossil fuels has brought an unwelcome twist: dramatically higher electricity costs that are hurting the industry and weakening political consensus. European politicians pitched the continent’s green transition to voters as a win-win: Citizens would benefit from green jobs and cheap, abundant solar and wind energy along with a sharp reduction in carbon emissions. Nearly two decades later, the promise has been largely costly to consumers and damaging to the economy. Europe has managed to reduce carbon emissions more than any other region – by 30% from 2005 levels, compared to a 17% drop for the US. But along the way, the rush to renewable energy has helped drive up electricity prices in much of the continent. Germany now has the highest domestic electricity prices in the developed world, while the UK has the highest industrial electricity rates, according to a basket of 28 major economies analyzed by the International Energy Agency. Italy is not far behind. Average electricity prices for heavy industry in the European Union remain roughly twice those in the US and 50% above China. Energy prices have also become more volatile as the share of renewable energy has increased. This hurts industry and hurts Europe’s ability to attract key economic drivers such as artificial intelligence, which requires cheap and abundant electricity. The shift also adds to a cost-of-living shock for consumers that is fueling support for anti-establishment parties, which portray the green transition as an elite project that hurts workers, most consumers and regions. Energy analysts say it makes strategic sense for a continent that lacks the abundant oil and gas wealth enjoyed by the US and some other regions to diversify its energy sources. In some cases such as Spain, blessed with plenty of sunshine, or Nordic countries, with abundant hydropower to provide energy when its wind farms fall silent, the transition looks promising. France’s dependence on nuclear energy helps it keep costs down. But in much of the region, the transition risks backfiring, contributing to economic stagnation. “We are hemorrhaging the industry,” said Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at Oxford University who has advised British governments on energy policy. The British chemical company Ineos said in October that it would close two plants in West Germany due to high energy costs. In recent days, Exxon-Mobil said it would close its chemical plant in Scotland and threatened to exit Europe’s chemical industry, saying green policies made it uncompetitive. Across the continent, demand for electricity has fallen over the past 15 years, partly because energy is so expensive. With production also declining somewhat and infrastructure lagging behind, companies looking for more power are hitting roadblocks. In Ireland, the state grid operator imposed an effective moratorium on new data centers – which support cloud computing and AI – until 2028, after existing data centers drained more than a fifth of the country’s electricity supply last year. Jerome Evans, the CEO of a German data center operator, sought to expand his two data centers in Frankfurt, Germany’s Internet crossroads. The local power supplier told him he would have to wait a decade, until 2035, for the energy to power them. Some of Europe’s high energy prices are not the fault of policymakers or the green transition. Natural gas prices rose after the pandemic and again after Europe sharply reduced gas imports from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. But a good part of the increase is due to the shift to renewable energy, business executives and some economists say. While sunlight and wind are free, harnessing them involves significant infrastructure investment, including in battery storage for when the sun isn’t shining or the wind is blowing, and large excess capacity. These additional costs, obscured by subsidies and carbon taxes, mean that energy prices in places like Germany and the United Kingdom are likely to remain higher than other countries for years, some economists say. The stubbornly high prices, Helm said, indicate that it is the overall system cost that is driving prices. Aurora Energy Research, a consultancy, estimates that a “clean power” system in the UK will not start saving bill payers money until 2044. It is a similar story in Germany. By then, the economic damage done to Europe could be severe. In some places, the political consensus on the energy transition – once driven by dire climate warnings – is beginning to crack. Even with broad support on the continent for climate change mitigation, right-wing populist parties in France, Germany and the UK opposed to renewable energy targets and subsidies are gaining support. Germany’s government recently decided to build new gas-fired power plants. Diplomatic disputes between European countries have erupted over energy policy in recent months, while Norway’s coalition government collapsed after a revolt over the adoption of proposed EU rules to boost renewable energy. High-profile net-zero projects are being delayed or scrapped, particularly those involving green hydrogen, which the EU has put at the heart of its green plans as a possible fuel for heavy industry and means of energy storage. “You cannot afford, in top global competition, to be ideologically driven in the way you decide the energy system,” said Ebba Busch, Sweden’s deputy prime minister and energy minister. Busch criticized Germany for relying too heavily on solar and wind power, meaning it siphons energy from nearby countries on dull days, driving up prices. “Without energy we have no industry, and without industry we have no defense,” she said. The ‘or’ strategy Europe followed a different strategy in its green transition than any other region. The US, China, India, Brazil and others have followed an “and” strategy: They are aggressively rolling out renewable energy while simultaneously building large-scale fossil fuel power plants. Europe largely followed an “or” strategy: it raced to replace fossil fuels with solar, wind and biomass by heavily taxing carbon, subsidizing renewable energy and closing numerous fossil fuel power plants. Britain, which pioneered the use of coal for energy, last year became the first major industrialized country to close all its coal-fired power plants. It also banned new offshore oil and gas drilling. Denmark plans to phase out gas for home heating by 2035. About one-fifth of Germany’s municipal utilities plan to shut down their gas networks in the coming years, according to an October survey by the utilities’ trade association. The effect was to cut back on a major source of energy before any others were fully up and running. Many European consumers and businesses are now stuck in the worst of both worlds. They are still at the mercy of electricity prices linked to the cost of imported fossil fuels, while also bearing huge upfront costs to retrofit networks to handle the intermittent renewable power. In the UK, the cost of obtaining and delivering electricity accounts for just over half of household electricity bills, with the rest made up of a variety of levies and carbon taxes, including subsidies to pay for renewable energy and grid upgrades. These charges have risen faster than wholesale energy costs such as natural gas over the past decade, according to the Resolution Foundation, a think tank. Polls show half of UK consumers plan to ration energy use this winter as they struggle with wholesale electricity costs 80% higher than in the US Dina Ingram, an office administrator in London, used to switch on the central heating in her four-bedroom home for long periods. Now in the winter she can only afford to wear it for three hours a day. She doesn’t heat her bedroom at all. “I’m getting angry,” says the 62-year-old, who attributes the high prices to corporate greed. Europe’s decision to reduce fossil fuel use is historically unusual, economists say. In earlier energy transitions—from wood to coal, or coal to oil—countries continued to use the outgoing fuel while adding the new fuel on top. Worldwide, wood and coal are being burned in greater quantities than ever, mostly thanks to China. The policies could even inadvertently lead to higher emissions worldwide, some economists and chemical industry executives say. If European factories close because of high energy costs, their production is likely to be replaced by imports from places like China, where the carbon footprint for those products is much higher — even before shipping is calculated, according to Oxford Economics. Broken promises It wasn’t meant to be. Former British Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised in 2020 that the country would become the “Saudi Arabia of wind”, producing clean power that he said would be cheaper than coal and gas. Britain’s Labor Party has stayed the course, promising that household energy bills will fall by £300 a year, or about $400 annually, by 2030. But energy executives recently testified to parliament that by that date electricity bills would likely rise a further 20% in real terms—even if the price of inputs such as natural gas fell. Executives cited “non-commodity factors,” such as the cost of the new network. To try to protect consumers, the British government announced last week that it would pay for a costly renewables subsidy with general taxation rather than charging it to people’s bills. Britain is also racing to expand its nuclear power capacity. It last opened a nuclear reactor in 1995. Parts of the green transition were unexpectedly expensive. When Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm opened in 2023, it was hailed as a symbol of Britain’s push into a new era of cheap, low-emission energy. But today British taxpayers spend tens of millions of pounds a year for the Seagreen wind farm not to produce electricity. Why? If the wind farm was left on continuously, it would send huge pulses of energy from northern Scotland to southern England that would fry the UK’s aging grid. Last year, the farm’s 114 turbines in the North Sea were disconnected more than 70% of the time; a gas plant in southern England fired instead to meet local electricity demand. The tab British consumers paid to “balance” the grid was £2.7 billion last year—a cost expected to rise to £8 billion by 2030. Borrowing costs have also risen, making capital-intensive offshore wind much more expensive. “The costs of the transition have very clearly never been acknowledged or recognized,” said Gordon Hughes, a professor at the University of Edinburgh and a former adviser on energy to the World Bank. “There is a massive dishonesty involved.” The continent’s cash-strapped governments now face a difficult choice: Push ahead with a rapid transition, or delay it to save money but risk prolonging the pain. Goldman Sachs Research expects that Europe will need to invest up to €3 trillion, or $3.48 trillion, in power generation and infrastructure over the next 10 years – roughly double what European countries have spent in the past decade. That’s a big ask for governments already facing tighter budgets due to an aging population, higher military spending and higher interest bills on debt. Waiting for a tipping point Proponents of renewable energy argue that high prices will be transitional. Since sunshine and wind are free and plentiful, renewable energy will eventually be cheaper once the new infrastructure is built, they say, while still costing money. s to get oil and gas out of the ground. If enough renewable energy and battery storage are implemented, fossil fuels will no longer determine the price of electricity and costs will disappear. “Energy costs in the future will be much lower,” once Europe’s renewable system is up and running, said Jacob Kirkegaard, a Brussels-based economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The problem comes at that point, Kirkegaard said. Some green entrepreneurs in the UK have begun to push politicians to ensure that the oil and gas industry can help ease the transition. Greg Jackson, founder of wind farm campaigner Octopus Energy, has called on the UK to renew offshore oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, so it does not have to ship in gas from around the world. Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity and a climate activist who previously financed the protest group Just Stop Oil, wants lower taxes for existing oil and gas projects in the North Sea. “I think the outlook is bleak if we don’t get brave and reform our energy market,” Vince said. He believes the green transition will bear fruit, but says more must be done to prevent companies building the new green grid from cutting prices. The Tony Blair Institute, the think tank founded by the former British Labor leader, is calling for carbon taxes on natural gas in the UK to be suspended for five years to help lower electricity costs. Some prominent economists and industry executives have recently cast doubt on whether renewable energy will ever be cheaper in places like Germany and the UK that are not blessed with abundant sunshine and have bet big on wind. Onshore wind turbines in Germany produce about one fifth of their total theoretical output. Solar panels in Germany and the United Kingdom only use about 10% of their total theoretical output. “I have not seen any plan that facilitates green electricity in Central Europe at competitive costs,” said Miguel López, CEO of German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp. Helm, the Oxford professor, argues renewable energy will remain more expensive than fossil fuels because the overall system is more cumbersome. The UK used to meet its electricity demand with 60-70 gigawatts of power capacity. Now the country needs twice as much capacity, 120 gigawatts, to meet slightly lower demand—not to mention the additional storage facilities and interconnection supplies to and from mainland Europe. Twenty years ago, the UK was the most competitive location globally for Huntsman, a Texas-based chemicals maker, thanks to cheap North Sea energy, chief executive Peter Huntsman said. Over the past decade, the company has sold most of its UK assets and reduced its staff there from more than 2,000 to around 70. “The whole value chain has disappeared,” Huntsman said. Write to Tom Fairless at [email protected] and Max Colchester at [email protected] Get all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download the Mint News app to get daily market updates. more topics #renewable energy Read next story

Bigg Boss 19 is heading towards its finale. Before last week, the show hosted by Salman Khan witnessed the sudden elimination of housemate Ashnoor Kaur. While Kaur was told to leave the show for violating a house rule, many viewers called the decision unfair. Ashnoor Kaur on eviction from Bigg Boss 19 In a conversation with LiveMint, Ashnoor Kaur explained why she cannot call her eviction unfair. She said: “I see people saying my eviction was unfair. Many believe it wasn’t justified, but honestly I’m still processing my emotions right now because there’s just too much going on. It was sudden for me too – the fact that my journey ended, unfortunately, just a week before the final. I went into the house with the trophy just a week away from it.” For those who may not know, Bigg Boss evicted Ashnoor Kaur after she threw a wooden plank at Tanya Mittal during a task. While Kaur maintained that it was not intentional, many viewers called it physical violence. Has Ashnoor Kaur hit on Tanya Mittal? “I still stand by it,” Kaur said of the incident. “If you watch the clips, you can clearly see that the plank was very heavy. I have always given my 100%. I tackled every task with full commitment, and in any physical task I always gave my all. In this particular task, the plank was really heavy. You can see in the clip that I was bent while holding the wooden plank; my shoulders were the first weight on me. Gaurav Khanna also had the weight, but of course he is stronger than me, when the task ended, I just wanted to lose weight because it was shown that I hit Tanya or did it on purpose, but that’s not true as I left the show. She added, “I didn’t hit Tanya because I’m not that person. I respect the house rules, and if you don’t respect the platform, it reflects your own values.” Ashnoor Kaur vs Tanya Mittal Ashnoor Kaur and Tanya Mittal have been at each other several times in the reality show. She said, “Honestly, she (Tanya Mittal) has been stabbing me for a long time. There were so many moments where I could have reacted aggressively, but that’s not who I am. Whether it was body shaming or other things, I chose to remain calm. I later realized that the audience could only see my reactions and could not see her provocation in an episode, but could not be her provocation. Lady who put me through was too much. We used to have verbal arguments, and in the last few weeks I started responding because there is a limit to everything. But physical violence was never an option for me. How has Bigg Boss 19 changed Ashnoor Kaur? She shared, “The journey changed me not only through the experiences, but also in terms of how I entered the show as a person and came out as a completely changed individual. Bigg Boss is like a condensed version of life, where you learn in just four months what might otherwise take four years. It taught me how to handle situations, how to read people, and so much more. It was truly a life-changing experience.” Kaur revealed that her mother was the first person she hugged after leaving the Bigg Boss house. Ashnoor Kaur and Abhishek Bajaj’s bond She also met fellow housemate Abhishek Bajaj outside the show. “We are best friends. He was the first person I met when I stepped out of the house. I believe jo bhi organic cheez hoti hai, that bond really translated on screen, and the audience could connect with us. I’m glad we met in the house; it’s something very precious and pure for me,” she said of her viral bond with Bajaj. Before the grand finale, Ashnoor Kaur chose her favorite. When asked who she wants to win the season, she replied, “Pranit More.” Bigg Boss 19 winner will be announced on December 7. The show is now streaming on JioHotstar and telecast on Colors TV.

New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said with the growing digitization of the economy and the emergence of new financial products, countries worldwide will have to cooperate with timely exchange of information while ensuring fairness and public trust in the tax system. Addressing the 18th Global Forum Plenary, Sitharaman said technological tools such as artificial intelligence, along with judgement, must be used to ensure that tax information exchanged between jurisdictions leads to measurable outcomes. The World Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes is a multilateral framework made up of 170 jurisdictions. It monitors and peer reviews the implementation of international standards on transparency and information exchange. Stating that confidentiality and cyber security must be maintained with great care, the minister called for joint attention and cooperation for the new challenges arising from the digitization of the economy, the emergence of new financial products and evolving structures of beneficial ownership. “These are not challenges that any one country can address alone. They demand coordination, trust and timely exchange of relevant information,” she said. The role of the Global Forum in reviewing implementation, developing standards and supporting countries remains critical, she said, adding that transparency can be both effective and fair when guided by clear rules, mutual respect and shared goals. “As work progresses, our collective task is to deepen current standards where necessary and to ensure that information exchanged translates into measurable outcomes. The focus must remain on fairness, sustainability and public confidence in the integrity of tax systems,” said Sitharaman. “We may come from different jurisdictions and traditions. But we are united by the shared goal of ensuring that legitimate economic activity is encouraged, that evasion is discouraged,” the minister added. Noting that voluntary compliance has strengthened in India over the past decade due to fairness and predictability in tax systems, the minister said India is integrating shared information with broader analyzes of compliance and risk. She said technology and artificial intelligence offer opportunities to make sense of information in a timely and efficient way, but the key is “judgement, responsibility and a respect for procedures. “Innovation must always go hand in hand with accountability. It is that balance that gives systems strength and credibility,” Sitharaman said.

Tata Safari and Tata Harrier are both available only in diesel option, while the addition of a petrol motor will enhance their appeal to a larger number of consumers. Tata Safari and Tata Harrier are both available only in diesel option, while the addition of a petrol motor will enhance their appeal to a larger number of consumers. Tata Safari and Tata Harrier, two of the homegrown automaker’s popular SUVs, are all set to receive a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. The same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine from the brand’s Hyperion range, which was showcased at the Auto Expo 2023 and debuted in the Tata Sierra SUV, will now make its way to the Tata Safari and Harrier. The petrol engine will be mated to either a dual clutch automatic or a torque converter automatic gearbox. If you’re wondering what the specs of the upcoming 1.5-litre turbocharged Hyperion petrol engine will be, here’s a quick look at the details. The 1.5-litre Hyperion turbo petrol engine featured in Tata Sierra Tata Sierra, launched on November 25, was the first car from the carmaker to receive the new 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the new Hyperion range. This four-cylinder TGDi petrol engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission in the Sierra. It produces 157 bhp of peak power at 5,000 rpm and 255 Nm of maximum torque between 1,755 rpm and 4,000 rpm. Expect the engine to deliver the same power and torque output in the upcoming Tata Safari and Harrier. Tata bets big on 1.5-litre turbo-petrol Hyperion engine Tata Motors is betting big on the 1.5-litre turbo-charged Hyprion petrol car, for its future product range. During the launch of the Sierra, the automaker claimed that this engine was developed with a focus on three philosophies – hyper performance, hyper technology and hyper quiet. The OEM claims that the power and torque output of the engine has been tuned to ensure an exhilarating driving experience, while the car has been developed using advanced technologies such as a variable geometry turbocharger, 350 bar direct fuel injection, dual variable cam timing and an intelligent lubrication system, all of which ensure sporty performance, responsiveness and efficiency. The engine is also claimed to come with minimal noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, improving the experience of the driver and other occupants. Tata Safari and Harrier: Why is the new petrol car important? Both the Tata Safari and Tata Harrier SUVs are now only available in diesel variant. Both these two SUVs use a 2.0-litre Kryotec turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, which is capable of pumping out 168 bhp of peak power at 3,750 rpm and 350 Nm of peak torque between 1,750 rpm and 2,500 rpm. This engine is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic unit. The introduction of a petrol engine to the Safari and Harrier will enhance the competitiveness of these two models against the rivals as most of the other models in this category have petrol powered variants along with the diesel options. The addition of a petrol engine will make both the Safari and Harrier more affordable for the consumers, which will ultimately help Tata Motors rake in more sales numbers. Tata Safari and Harrier: Which models do they compete with? Tata Safari competes with rivals like the Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar and Jeep Meridian, while the Harrier competes with models like the Jeep Compass and MG Hector.

Summary Many indicators point to economic weakness in America, but the downturn may be short-lived. If the US economy recovers in 2026 and the Chinese economy remains resilient, the global outlook will improve. Proceed with cautious optimism. It’s been a bumpy year for the US economy. Although there was a massive surge in artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments, uncertainties caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and other policies curtailed growth in the second half of the year, and disruptions in official employment and inflation data from America’s longest-ever government shutdown further clouded policymakers’ perceptions. The big question now is what 2026 will bring. There are three possible scenarios. In the baseline case, the US would suffer a growth recession (meaning below-trend gross domestic product, or GDP, growth) for several months, followed by a recovery and a gradual decline in the inflation rate to the US Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Think of this as ‘the Goldilocks scenario’ [referring, i.e., to an economy that’s not too hot, nor too cool]. In the second scenario, the US economy experiences a shallow recession for a few quarters, followed by a slower return to growth than in the first scenario. And the third scenario contains a ‘no-landing’ outcome in which growth remains strong but inflation does not fall to the Fed’s target rate. The Goldilocks scenario is the baseline because market discipline, good advisors and a still independent central bank (despite Trump’s periodic threats) have already forced the White House to blink and get off the high rates announced on April 2nd. Since then, the Trump administration has negotiated several trade agreements and frameworks that contain more modest tariff increases (often in exchange for commitments to invest in America). As a result, US and world growth slowed somewhat, but inflation rose only moderately. If there is a strong recovery by the middle of next year, it will be driven by several factors: further monetary easing by the Federal Reserve; fiscal stimulus still in the pipeline (most of the recent legislative spending cuts won’t happen until after the 2026 midterm elections); strong household and corporate balance sheets; easy financial conditions (due to high stock prices, low bond yields and credit spreads, plus a weaker dollar); and the headwinds of capital spending related to AI. Moreover, US inflation may peak and then begin to decline next year as the base effects of rates decline, and as technology-driven productivity gains begin to lower costs and unlock new efficiencies. While the second scenario (ie of a short, shallow recession with a slower recovery) cannot be ruled out, it is less likely than the baseline. The effects of tariffs tend to appear with a lag, meaning that US trade policies can still push up inflation, eroding real wages and further weakening consumer confidence. There is already talk of an emerging ‘K-shaped economy’ in which high-income households prosper and lower-income households struggle. Business confidence could also take a hit, especially if concerns about an AI bubble lead to a big stock price correction and softer capital spending. But even in this darker scenario, the recession will be short and shallow, as the Federal Reserve will cut rates more aggressively and fiscal authorities may step in with additional stimulus to support economic recovery. Finally, the upside, no-landing scenario cannot be ruled out, as some recent indicators suggest that the US economy is more resilient than many previously thought. For example, the apparent slowdown in hiring could be driven by a drop in labor supply — due to the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration — and early productivity gains from new or recently adopted technologies. Tight product and labor markets will lift wages and boost overall growth, and core price inflation (excluding food and energy) will remain closer to 3%. In this case, those on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) concerned about overheating will prevail, and the Fed can refrain from cutting rates as long as above-potential inflation and above-potential growth. That said, this last scenario is not the baseline (most likely) because other recent indicators do point to economic weakness. Moreover, various geopolitical headwinds – such as a worsening of Sino-US trade tensions and overall relations, or a new conflict that causes oil prices to rise – can always push the economy into the recession scenario. Fortunately, such shocks have largely been contained, and one must hope that they will remain so. If the US economy recovers in 2026 and if the Chinese economy remains resilient and maintains growth close to 5%, the global outlook will improve. Advanced economies as well as emerging markets will be on track for stronger growth compared to what we saw in 2025. Even if important downside risks remain, one can be cautiously optimistic heading into the new year. ©2025/Project Syndicate The author is Emeritus Professor of Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business and author of ‘MegaThreats: Ten Dangerous Trends That Imperil Our Future, and How to Survive Them’.

Jakarta – Dewi Astutik alias PA (43) was arrested in Cambodia after becoming a fugitive from Interpol in the case of smuggling 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine worth IDR 5 trillion. Dewi was arrested by a joint team of BNN, Interpol and BAIS. Based on photos and videos obtained by detikcom, Tuesday (2/12/2025), Dewi appeared to be wearing a white T-shirt and dark blue pants. Dewi was arrested while he was in the car. The BNN, BAIS and Cambodian National Police teams initially received information that Dewi was on his way to Sihanok Ville. At that time, Dewi was in the car on her way to a hotel. Scroll to continue content A number of people from BNN, BAIS and the Cambodian State Police then came and arrested Dewi. Dewi’s hands were then handcuffed. Another photo shows Dewi being secured in another car. Dewi is seen with glasses and short hair. Dewi was then taken to Phnom Penh City for the administrative process to return her to Indonesia. Dewi Astutik arrested in Cambodia Photo: Dok Ist Head of BNN directly leads the van Dewi is planned to be flown to Indonesia today. Head of BNN Komjen Suyudi Ario Seto directly led the operation to pick up Dewi and return her to Indonesia. There is no detailed explanation about Dewi’s arrest. BNN immediately held a press conference on Dewi’s case as soon as she arrived in Indonesia. Dewi often changes her appearance. Previously, it was reported that Dewi was known to residents as a woman who frequently changed her appearance. This was revealed from the testimony of a neighbor and eyewitness, Mbah Misiyem, a resident of Dukuh Sumber Agung. “At first, his hair was short, but it often changed,” said Mbah Misiyem, as reported by detikJatim on May 30, 2025. Based on Mbah Misiyem’s account, Dewi said goodbye to work in Cambodia after Eid in 2023. He reasoned that he wanted to work abroad because he did not have a permanent job at home. “At that time, she said goodbye after Eid, she said she wanted to work in Cambodia. I asked why she was so far away, she replied that there was no work at home. I also asked how her husband was left, she said it was okay,” added Misiyem. Before leaving for Cambodia, Dewi is known to have worked in Taiwan for decades. He briefly returned home to Ponorogo before finally leaving for Cambodia for work reasons. “You only have a month’s holiday at home, then you leave again,” said Mbah Misiyem. (knv/fjp)

Jakarta – The Ministry of Public Works (KemenPU) has deployed 310 personnel to speed up the handling of floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, including speeding up the repair of 14 bridges damaged by the disaster. The staff, consisting of the emergency response team from elements of water resources, highways and human settlements, carried out rapid responses, inspected affected infrastructure and supported emergency management under the command of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). President Prabowo Subianto has given directions for all government elements to move quickly in dealing with disasters on the island of Sumatra. PAGE TO CONTINUE CONTENT Based on the results of field inspections related to the impact of the flood and landslide disaster in Aceh province until December 1, 2025, it was recorded that 14 bridges collapsed or were cut off due to high water discharge and damage to openings at a number of points. This damage caused severe disruption to community access, logistics distribution and emergency services in several areas of Aceh. The results of inspections by the Aceh National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) noted that bridges suffered damage on average in the form of collapses, eroded openings or structures swept away by currents. Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, said the preparedness of the Ministry of Public Works’ infrastructure and resources is an important part of supporting disaster management in various regions. “We are ensuring that equipment support from technical centers can be mobilized whenever needed, including to open access and assist in the evacuation process,” Dody said in a written statement Tuesday (12/2/2025). The bridges damaged were Weihni Rongka Bridge, Oprit Krueng Beutong Bridge, Krueng Meureudu Bridge, Teupin Mane Bridge, Kuta Blang Bridge, Mushroom Ujung Bridge, Lawe Penanggalan Bridge, Timang Gajah Bridge, Train Bridge, Pelang Bridge, Titi Merah Bridge, and 3 other locations under detailed verification by the field team. The Ministry of Public Works continues to move quickly to ensure that the affected infrastructure can be brought back into operation quickly. “Connectivity is the lifeblood of society. Once a bridge is cut, the mobility of aid, public services and economic activities is also hindered. This is why the Ministry of Public Works is mobilizing all technical resources to speed up handling in Aceh,” he said. One of the strategic bridges affected is the Krueng Tingkeum Bridge on the Aceh-East Crossing, which is part of the national road network and very essential for inter-regional access. Meanwhile, several roads have been cut off, namely the North Sumatra-Aceh Boundary Road, Banda Aceh – Lhokseumawe – Langsa – Aceh Tamiang, Gayo Lues, Bireuen – Takengon, Subulussalam – Tapaktuan. access, compaction and strengthening of bridges, installation of ramparts, as well as cleaning rivers, dealing with large debris, and normalizing water channels to prevent further damage. (same/same)