Jewellery, rugs & toys power growth! India’s creative goods exports rise in FY26; UAE emerges top market

India’s exports of creative goods rose in the first seven months of FY26, driven by strong demand for fashion accessories, jewellery, carpets and toys, with the UAE emerging as the largest destination, according to an ET analysis.The exports of creative goods increased 7.3% year-on-year to $12.5 billion during April–October FY26, up from $11.7 billion in…

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New BIS standard for incense sticks: Govt bans certain substances; flags ‘potential impact on human health’

NEW DELHI: The government issued a notification announcing a new Indian Standard for incense sticks (agarbatti), laying down quality norms and specifying a list of substances prohibited for use in their manufacture.The standard has been developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure safer products and promote responsible and sustainable practices in the…

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‘Santa Claus rally’: Asian markets edge higher amid thinned holiday trade; silver hits record high

Asian markets inched higher on Friday amid holiday-thinned trading, with several exchanges remaining closed for the Boxing Day holiday. Regional stocks extended gains after Wall Street ended the week at record highs, while most global markets were shut on Thursday for Christmas.Markets in Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei all posted gains. Japan’s Topix climbed to…

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Japan govt approves record 122 trillion yen budget

The Japanese government on Friday approved a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year, to pay for everything from bigger defence spending to ballooning social security costs as inflation persists.The 122.3-trillion-yen ($782 billion) budget for the fiscal year from April 2026 will include some nine trillion yen for defence spending, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi…

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