Latest news with #DH
Deccan Herald
7 hours ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Indian engineered quartz stone manufacturers face unprecedented crisis amid 50% US tariff
Hyderabad: Indian engineered quartz stone manufacturers find themselves caught between the devil and the deep sea as the 50% tariff imposed by the USA delivered a severe blow to an industry still stabilizing after initial challenges. Unlike most Indian exports that have diversified international markets, engineered quartz represents the only sector with complete dependence on the American market, a singular reliance that has proven catastrophic following USA President Donald Trump's tariff announcement. All consignments are now halted at ports, creating unprecedented uncertainty for an industry that began operations less than a decade ago. The engineered quartz industry in India is relatively young, with most manufacturing units established between 2015 and 2016. This expansion aligned with America's growing preference for quartz stone over traditional granite, prompting many granite exporters to make the strategic and capital-intensive shift to engineered quartz manufacturing. However, a significant number of these units have yet to reach profitability. . "Quartz stone manufacturing started in India less than a decade ago. Roughly 20,000 people are directly employed and 60,000 indirectly dependent on this industry. We are only stabilizing now. Some units launched operations just a year ago. This unexpected 50% tariff announcement has come as a real shock to all of us," Govindaraju Krishna Rao, founder president of the Federation of Indian Quartz Surface Industries, who operates Mahi Granites Pvt Ltd on Hyderabad's outskirts told DH. "We are hoping against hope for a positive outcome in trade talks between both nations and that tariffs will be lowered. Otherwise, it's going to be disastrous for the quartz industry in the country that has just started seeing growth," he added. The industry's current scale is significant, with approximately 2,500 containers of quartz stone exported to the US monthly, generating an annual turnover of around Rs 6,000 crores. The manufacturing base comprises roughly 50 quartz stone factories concentrated mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan. Indian manufacturers face substantial challenges in shifting to other international markets, where Chinese competitors dominate through aggressive pricing enabled by substantial government export incentives. "Due to anti-dumping duties as high as 150% on Chinese quartz stones, we survived in the US market. Chinese manufacturers have turned to other countries with aggressive pricing as they receive significant government support through incentives," explained another quartz stone manufacturer in Rajasthan. "A 25% tariff could be managed—10% absorbed by exporters, another 10% by US buyers, and 5% adjusted in the supply chain. But 50% is impossible. Shipments have already been stopped at Indian ports," the Rajasthan based quartz manufacture told DH. If the 50% tariff continues, manufacturers fear an inevitable march toward bankruptcy and non-performing asset (NPA) status. "A unit can be managed for one or two months without production using past earnings. Beyond that, it's impossible if exports are totally stalled due to 50% tariffs. The government should step in as they did when helping the industry with bank repayments during Covid time," Sudheer Kumar Sidda of Jyothi Granite Exports India Private Limited in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district told DH. Sudheer established India's largest engineered quartz surfaces facility in Prakasam district during the COVID period around 2020. Global demand for engineered quartz surfaces is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% to USD 33.50 billion during 2020-2027. However, domestic demand for quartz stone remains limited. "The Indian market is marble-based, especially imports from Turkey and Italy. Only if our government imposes duties on them can local consumption of quartz pick up, which is also a long-term goal. But currently, we need an immediate solution with exports completely stalled," Krishna Rao added.
Novaya Gazeta Europe
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
The B team. A veteran diplomat explains how the upcoming Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven — Novaya Gazeta Europe
A hastily arranged summit between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is set for 15 August, in Alaska, where the two leaders will discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not attend, barring a last-minute change. The Conversation's politics editor Naomi Schalit interviewed longtime diplomat Donald Heflin, now teaching at Tufts University's Fletcher School, to get his perspective on the unconventional meeting and why it's likely to produce, as he says, a photograph and a statement, but not a peace deal. Donald Heflin Executive Director of the Edward R. Murrow Center and Senior Fellow of Diplomatic Practice, The Fletcher School, Tufts University TC: How do wars end? DH: Wars end for three reasons. One is that both sides get exhausted and decide to make peace. The second, which is more common: one side gets exhausted and raises its hand and says, 'Yeah, we're ready to come to the peace table'. And then the third is — we've seen this happen in the Mideast — outside forces like the US or Europe come in and say, 'That's enough. We're imposing our will from the outside. You guys stop this.' What we've seen in the Russia-Ukraine situation is neither side has shown a real willingness to go to the conference table and give up territory. So the fighting continues. And the role that Trump and his administration are playing right now is that third possibility, an outside power comes in and says, 'Enough'. Now you have to look at Russia. Russia is maybe a former superpower, but a power, and it's got nuclear arms and it's got a big army. This is not some small, Middle Eastern country that the United States can completely dominate. They're nearly a peer. So can you really impose your will on them and get them to come to the conference table in seriousness if they don't want to? I kind of doubt it. A t-shirt featuring portraits of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on display at a gift shop in Moscow, Russia, 16 May 2025. EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV TC: How does this upcoming Trump-Putin meeting fit into the history of peace negotiations? DH: The analogy a lot of people are using is the Munich Conference in 1938, where Great Britain met with Hitler's Germany. I don't like to make comparisons to Nazism or Hitler's Germany. Those guys started World War II and perpetrated the Holocaust and killed 30 or 40 million people. It's hard to compare anything to that. But in diplomatic terms, we go back to 1938. Germany said, 'Listen, we have all these German citizens living in this new country of Czechoslovakia. They're not being treated right. We want them to become part of Germany.' And they were poised to invade. 'History would tell us that the possibilities for a lasting peace coming out of this summit are pretty low.' The prime minister of Great Britain, Neville Chamberlain, went and met with Hitler in Munich and came up with an agreement by which the German parts of Czechoslovakia would become part of Germany. And that would be it. That would be all that Germany would ask for, and the West gave some kind of light security guarantees. Czechoslovakia wasn't there. This was a peace imposed on them. And sure enough, you know, within a year or two, Germany was saying, 'No, we want all of Czechoslovakia. And, P.S., we want Poland.' And thus World War II started. TC: Can you spell out the comparisons further? DH: Czechoslovakia wasn't at the table. Ukraine's not at the table. Again, I'm not sure I want to compare Putin to Hitler, but he is a strongman authoritarian president with a big military. Security guarantees were given to Czechoslovakia and not honoured. The West gave Ukraine security guarantees when that country gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994. We told them, 'If you're going to be brave and give up your nuclear weapons, we'll make sure you're never invaded.' And they've been invaded twice since then, in 2014 and 2022. The West didn't step up. So history would tell us that the possibilities for a lasting peace coming out of this summit are pretty low. Rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, 31 July 2025. Photo: EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO TC: What kind of expertise is required in negotiating a peace deal? DH: Here's what usually happens in most countries that have a big foreign policy or national security establishment, and even in some smaller countries. The political leaders come up with their policy goal, what they want to achieve. And then they tell the career civil servants and foreign service officers and military people, 'This is what we want to get at the negotiating table. How do we do that?' And then the experts say, 'Oh, we do this and we do that, and we'll assign staff to work it out. We'll work with our Russian counterparts and try to narrow the issues down, and we'll come up with numbers and maps.' 'The US national security establishment is increasingly being run by the B team — at best.' With all the replacement of personnel since the inauguration, the US not only has a new group of political appointees — including some, like Marco Rubio, who, generally speaking, know what they're doing in terms of national security — but also many who don't know what they're doing. They've also fired the senior level of civil servants and foreign service officers, and a lot of the mid-levels are leaving, so that expertise isn't there. That's a real problem. The US national security establishment is increasingly being run by the B team — at best. US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance (C), and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) salute during the National Memorial Day Observance in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 26 May 2025. Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO TC: How will this be a problem when Trump meets Putin? DH: You have two leaders of two big countries like this, they usually don't meet on a few days' notice. It would have to be a real crisis. This meeting could happen two or three weeks from now as easily as it could this week. And if that happened, you would have a chance to prepare. You'd have a chance to get all kinds of documents in front of the American participants. You would meet with your Russian counterparts. You'd meet with Ukrainian counterparts, maybe some of the Western European countries. And when the two sides sat down at the table, it would be very professional. 'People who understand the process of diplomacy think that this is very amateurish and is unlikely to yield real results that are enforceable.' They would have very similar briefing papers in front of them. The issues would be narrowed down. None of that's going to happen in Alaska. It's going to be two political leaders meeting and deciding things, often driven by political considerations, but without any real idea of whether they can really be implemented or how they could be implemented. TC: Could a peace deal possibly be enforced? DH: Again, the situation is kind of haunted by the West never enforcing security guarantees promised in 1994. So I'm not sure how well this could be enforced. Historically, Russia and Ukraine were always linked up, and that's the problem. What's Putin's bottom line? Would he give up Crimea? No. Would he give up the part of eastern Ukraine that de facto had been taken over by Russia before this war even started? Probably not. Would he give up what they've gained since then? OK, maybe. Then let's put ourselves in Ukraine's shoes. Will they want to give up Crimea? They say, 'No'. Do they want to give up any of the eastern part of the country? They say, 'No'. TC: I'm curious what your colleagues in the diplomatic world are saying about this upcoming meeting. DH: People who understand the process of diplomacy think that this is very amateurish and is unlikely to yield real results that are enforceable. It will yield some kind of statement and a photo of Trump and Putin shaking hands. There will be people who believe that this will solve the problem. It won't. This article was first published by The Conversation.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Arrangements in place as city awaits PM's arrival
Hello readers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Bengaluru on Sunday for the inauguration of Namma Metro's Yellow Line, a project worth around Rs 7,160 crore. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project worth over Rs 15,610 crore. In addition, the PM will flag off several Vande Bharat trains, including trains from Bengaluru to Belagavi, Amritsar to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune. Stay tuned to DH for all the updates on PM Modi's visit.
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Steeper tariffs, ‘stolen votes': Modi govt feels the heat
Greetings readers,Welcome to another edition of DH's Political Theatre where we bring you the latest developments from the political landscape of India and the world. This week, India-US ties hit a new low with President Donald Trump doubling the trouble for his 'friend' Modi by imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, taking the total to 50 per cent. Troubles continued for the ruling BJP back home as well as the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged massive 'vote chori' of one lakh votes in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha realm of politics also lost two of its leaders, former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, popularly known as "Dishom Guru", and former Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Satyapal Malik. Please remain seated as we help unpack the political developments of the week for you. Trump doubles down on India .India's strategic move to increase purchases of discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine invasion is now costing it, with US President Donald Trump imposing what he calls 'secondary' tariffs to 'punish' New issued an executive order on Wednesday imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India, for New Delhi's 'sin' of directly or indirectly importing Russian additional tariffs mean India will face the highest levy along with Brazil, putting it at a significant disadvantage against regional competitors such as Vietnam and move—which experts see as a manifestation of Trump's obsession with playing peacemaker and eventually compelling Putin to end the war in Ukraine—has upset extant geopolitical equations. China, however, has surprisingly backed India, with its ambassador Xu Feihong slamming the US as a 'bully' which, when given an inch, will take a President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also dialled PM Modi as two nations—divided by boundaries, culture, and language among other things—found unity in beating the tariff blues. While Lula did not hesitate to say that he saw no room for direct talks now with Trump that would likely result in his own "humiliation', PM Modi, perhaps haunted by his fast-evaporating MAGA-MIGA dreams, only chose to drop a veiled riposte. 'For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers, fishermen, and livestock keepers," Modi old party's 'grand theft' dogs might be having chicken and rice meals, but do they have a residence certificate like the 'Dog Babu' of Bihar?While the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is already facing questions over its integrity, with 'Dogesh Babu', 'Sonalika Tractor' and even 'Donald Trump' (not the one claiming ceasefire credit) applying for residential certificates, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has added to its woes, dropping some serious charges on the poll body. Gandhi has accused the EC of 'colluding' with the BJP and committing a 'crime' against the Constitution. He raised questions on the electoral outcome of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat, claiming that there was 'chori' (stealing) of one lakh votes in Mahadevapura Assembly segment during the 2024 elections. Rahul also termed the SIR exercise as 'institutionalised chori.' He also took out a Vote Adhikaar Rally in Bengaluru to cement his point. Soon after the LoP held a press conference to list out the allegations, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar asked Gandhi to sign a declaration or oath, which includes an undertaking that he will be punished if his 'vote theft' claim is found to be false. The BJP, meanwhile, has rubbished the claims and called Rahul's allegations 'irresponsible.'Hunt for next V-P Election Commission on Thursday issued a notification for the September 9 Vice Presidential poll, kickstarting the exercise to elect Jagdeep Dhankhar's ruling BJP-led NDA has begun internal consultations for fielding candidates for the V-P NDA has authorised PM Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda to pick the ruling bloc's V-P candidate. Top I.N.D.I.A. leaders too on Thursday night decided to field an 'eminent' candidate in a bid 'not to give a walkover' to the BJP-led NDA at a time the Constitution is 'under assault."The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is August in translation .'...nationalism is a cruel epidemic of evil that is sweeping over the human world of the present age, eating into its moral vitality.' Little did Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore know that raging nationalism would one day lead to his beloved language being labelled as foreign. A purported letter from the Delhi Police requesting for an official translator/interpreter proficient in "Bangladeshi national language" to translate the "texts written in Bangladeshi to Hindi and English", kicked up a political storm. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Delhi Police alleging that it was "insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional" to call Bangla, Bangladeshi language. "See now how Delhi Police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as "Bangladeshi" language!" Banerjee posted on her Facebook account, sharing a copy of the on podium .The Kerala Story winning two National Awards created so much buzz in both the entertainment and political circles that it almost overshadowed Shah Rukh Khan finally winning the prestigious award, 33 years into his career. While whether the King of Bollywood actually deserved it for Jawan or not could've made for great cinema think pieces, what followed the National Awards announcement was the right wing lobby hailing the awards and left wing parties slamming the jury. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that awarding national film honours to The Kerala Story can only be seen as an endorsement of attempts to misuse movies to spread communal hatred and urged the cultural and film community to oppose such moves The Kashmir Files winning big at the National Awards in 2023 and now The Kerala Story, the makers of The Sabarmati Report and even Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi (no points for guessing who the story is based on) are eagerly counting the days until the next awards. A man-made famine in wrenching stories are emerging from Gaza where Israel has clamped down on humanitarian aid. A global hunger monitor has said a famine scenario is unfolding in the densely populated city, where nearly all the territory's more than 2 million people have been displaced, often the city grapples with thirst and hunger, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan on Friday to take full control of Gaza City, a move expanding military operations in the shattered Palestinian territory despite growing criticism at home and abroad over the almost two-year-old allies in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza as part of his vow to eradicate Hamas militants, though the military has warned this could endanger the lives of remaining hostages held by the meanwhile, also said that Israel doesn't 'want to keep Gaza.' "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body," he said. That's about all the political drama that unfolded this week. DH's Political Theatre will come back again next week with more political developments from around the world. Exit Stage Left, DH Newsletters Team
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Ranjani-Gayatri Bengaluru concert: Spirituality is at core of great music, says renowned vocal duo
In the world of Carnatic classical music, a devotional song is not just sung — it is offered. Each note, each phrase, rendered with depth and clarity, has the power to quiet a room and stir the soul — something Ranjani and Gayatri have mastered over years of disciplined sadhana and spiritual surrender. Live concertRanjani and Gayatri performed in Bengaluru on Friday. The sisters took to the stage of the Chowdiah Memorial Hall with co-artists Pt. Ronu Majumdar (Flute), Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh (Veena) and L Ramakrishnan, Sai Giridhar and Anirudh Athreya. Here, they celebrated monsoon on a musical note, with soulful ragas like Megharanjani, Malhar, Des, and Varunapriya soaking audiences in the 24th year of Banyan Tree's 'Barkha Ritu' — an artistic experience of the rainy season. This comes after their live performance, organised by HCL Concerts, in the national capital last month. Notably, they have many more concerts scheduled later this year. DH's Swarna Srikanth spoke to the duo as they narrated some unforgettable memories with their guru and senior musicians, their love for devotional songs, and how classical music has evolved with time. Excerpts: Your devotional albums are energising. Do you feel blessed and experience a magical/divine vibe performing the spiritual genre?Ranjani: Yes indeed. As much as we are consciously paying attention to the details- the pronunciation, precision, sync, there will be a moment when one realises that there is magic at work. It is this grace that drives the project to completion, we believe that this divine energy is what makes every piece of music or stotra performed on global stages, how do you see India being perceived as a spiritual destination — through events like the Mahakumbh, Char Dham Yatra, Amarnath Yatra, or Tirupati Brahmotsavam? And how does music contribute to that divine experience?Gayatri: Though devotion and spiritual depth is deeply embedded in every aspect of carnatic music or South Indian classical music, this music has so many diverse aspects- from language, poetry, melody, creative improvs, spontaneity and contemporary vibes, this music is all of this and more. But the spiritual aspect is at the core of this great art, and we believe that this music is the finest and most evolved representation of that transcendence. We have seen in many concerts how even first time listeners from other countries and cultures experience this divinity. In that sense, this music is a beautiful part of the divine essence and legacy of Bharat's spiritual and cultural made you stay focused on devotional songs and not very widely explore Bollywood, cine music, or any other?Gayatri: Devotional songs are not just what carnatic music is all about- it is an entire universe that has multiple dimensions which takes lifetimes to savour, experience and understand. Though we haven't taken any stand to keep away from popular medium or cine music, life has taken us in a particular direction, and we have found infinite fulfillment in this. We have also sung a small number of film songs -- in Tamil and Telugu -- and that has been a very enriching experience many learned artists believed in limiting classical music only to temples and festivals, what's your take on this?Ranjani: Classical music has kept up with evolving social realities, and is not restricted to temples alone. We have sung concerts in a metro station and a cinema theatre, and they have been memorable, beautiful experiences! That being said, a reality show may not be an ideal space for profound immersion and authenticity which is essential for classical would like to know one of your unforgettable memories with your guru/s. Ranjani: A class that happened with our Guru TS Krishnaswami during torrential rains and power failure in Mumbai, lit only by a single candle, filled with a kinship that is inexpressible is one of our most precious memories. Sri Padma Bhushan PS Narayanaswamy playfully chiding us, when we would indulge in self criticism 'pesama paadu, ellam nannave irukku!'- don't keep analysing, just sing, you are good!- is a very dear you share with us your experience of performing with legends like Padma Vibhushan and Padma Vibhushan M Balamurali Along with absorbing their incredible music, we were inspired by how generously they shared space with us, smilingly encouraged us to spread our wings and how lovingly they made us part of their music and concert. Their large heartedness and grace will always inspire raga evokes a different feeling, is there any raga which you admire and vibe to the most?Ranjani: We vibe to every raga in a different way. Admiration? Well, it is surrender. Once we surrender to the raga, it makes us vibe, dance and lose ourselves in do you want the audience to know about classical music so they can enjoy and appreciate it better?Gayatri: An open mind and a willing heart. That is all it takes. Carnatic music is a timeless music which can be enjoyed at any level- from the uninitiated to the seasoned connoisseur, and every rasika takes from the music a different slice of it. Having said that, paying attention to the melodies- ragas and keeping beat with the tala are a couple of things the relatively new listener can do to connect with the music. Recordings vs live performances, what interests you the most and why? Gayatri: We have learnt from both. Recordings teaches us the value of precision, finesse in rendition and sensitizes us to pay attention to microscopic nuances that make a huge difference. A live performance is an all round experience- we are tested and challenged in every aspect of music- and also learn how to draw the best within us and connect that with the audience. Do you still experience goosebumps before heading to the stage?Gayatri: As we sit on stage, preparing to start the concert, it is a very intense moment where the mind and energy is fully focussed. When the concert starts, the music takes over and all the emotions or rasas dance in that space- from joy to sorrow, from excitement to repose, from exuberance to serenity, and a few goosebumps moments when the music and the emotion draws both the listener and musician in a magical web. Have you ever felt instruments take the back seat during a concert, with vocals getting the spotlight?Gayatri: If the main musician is a vocalist, the ensemble of musicians will be selected to optimally flow with and highlight the voice. If the main musician is an instrumentalist- then the spotlight will be automatically on that instrument. If not music, where would have the world seen Ranjani and Gaytri? Gayatri: Perhaps as a Dancer or an song you would dedicate to each other?Ranjani: Every song that we sing has each other's presence in it, so it is hard to single out a song.
