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Top of the Morning

Top of the Morning

By: Mint - HT Smartcast
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 Top of the Morning is a daily podcast hosted by Nelson John, in which we bring you all the action from the global markets and the business world to kick-start your day on a well-informed note. This is a Mint production, brought to you by HT Smartcast Economics Personal Finance Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Rupee Record Low | SpiceJet Fined Over 14-Hour Delay | SCO Backs India After Pahalgam Attack | Afghanistan Earthquake

    Rupee Record Low | SpiceJet Fined Over 14-Hour Delay | SCO Backs India After Pahalgam Attack | Afghanistan Earthquake
    Sep 2 2025
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. Quake Flattens Afghan Villages A 6.0 earthquake has left eastern Afghanistan shattered — more than 800 killed, nearly 3,000 injured. Entire villages in Kunar province are gone, with survivors describing terrifying jolts and endless aftershocks. Helicopters are the only way in as floods and landslides block roads. Hospitals in Jalalabad are overwhelmed, and the Taliban has appealed for urgent international aid. SCO Backs India on Terror At its Tianjin summit, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and backed India’s demand that “double standards” on terrorism must end. Leaders from India, China, Russia, and Pakistan signed a declaration pledging zero tolerance for terror and more cooperation against cross-border threats. The statement also condemned violence in Gaza and strikes on Iran, while urging reforms at the UN, IMF, and World Bank. India, however, refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Trump Targets India Again US President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions, calling the India-US equation a “one-sided disaster.” He claimed India has offered to cut tariffs on American goods to “nothing,” but also linked Washington’s steep 50% tariffs to India’s oil trade with Russia. New Delhi has pushed back, defending farm protections and accusing the US of moving the goalposts. Rupee Sinks to 88.33 The Indian rupee has slipped to a fresh record low of 88.33 against the dollar, pressured by US tariffs, heavy importer hedging, and foreign outflows. Analysts warn it could slide toward 89–90 if the dispute drags on, though RBI may intervene. This comes even as India’s economy logged a robust 7.8% growth last quarter. SpiceJet Fined Over Delay A Mumbai consumer court has ordered SpiceJet to pay ₹55,000 to a passenger after a 14-hour Dubai–Mumbai delay where the airline served only a burger and fries. The ruling reminded carriers that technical glitches don’t excuse neglecting passengers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 mins
  • Modi–Xi Reset at SCO | Macron Recognizes Palestine | Tokyo Bets Big on India’s Growth Story | Trump May Skip India Visit

    Modi–Xi Reset at SCO | Macron Recognizes Palestine | Tokyo Bets Big on India’s Growth Story | Trump May Skip India Visit
    Sep 1 2025
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. Dragon & Elephant Talk Peace In Beijing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping struck a rare note of harmony at the SCO summit. After years of border tensions, both leaders stressed that India and China are “partners, not rivals,” agreeing to resume direct flights and even restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Xi said it was “vital for the dragon and elephant to walk together” in shaping a multipolar world. Macron Rekindles Two-State Push In Paris, Emmanuel Macron reignited the two-state debate by recognizing Palestine, despite protests from Israel and the US. Macron argued Gaza’s humanitarian crisis demands urgent action, while critics warned recognition could embolden militants. Several Western nations may follow France’s lead at the UN next month. India’s Next Biofuel Leap New Delhi is moving its biofuel experiment off the roads and onto construction sites. Bulldozers, cranes and heavy carriers that consume nearly 4% of India’s diesel could soon run on blended fuels. The move cuts oil imports, lowers emissions, and boosts farmer incomes by using crop-based fuels. Trump Skips India Visit US President Donald Trump may cancel his India trip and skip the Quad summit after slapping tariffs on Indian goods. Beyond trade, tensions stem from Trump’s claim that he personally brokered peace between India and Pakistan — a claim New Delhi strongly rejects. India & Japan Seal $68B Pact In Tokyo, Modi and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a 10-year roadmap, with Japan pledging $68 billion in private investment into India. Both leaders called it a “golden chapter,” combining Japanese technology and Indian talent to drive growth, while reinforcing security ties in the Indo-Pacific. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    10 mins
  • Groww Clears $1 Billion IPO | 40% Women Feel Unsafe | India Rolls Out First Chip | $200M Fighter Falls From Sky

    Groww Clears $1 Billion IPO | 40% Women Feel Unsafe | India Rolls Out First Chip | $200M Fighter Falls From Sky
    Aug 29 2025
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. F-35 Crash: Ice Brings Down $200M Jet In Alaska, a $200 million F-35 fighter jet crashed after its pilot spent nearly an hour circling mid-air on a live call with Lockheed Martin engineers. The cause? Ice in the hydraulic lines that froze the landing gear and tricked the jet into “ground mode.” The pilot ejected safely, but the crash added to a tally of 15 F-35 accidents worldwide. Earlier this year, another F-35 was grounded in Kerala and one made an emergency landing in Japan—raising questions about the reliability of America’s most advanced fighter. India’s First Made-in-India Chip Rolls Out In Sanand, Gujarat, India celebrated a milestone as IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the country’s first packaged semiconductor chip from CG Semi’s pilot OSAT facility. The ₹600 crore G1 unit can produce half a million chips a day, with a much larger G2 plant set to follow next year. Together, they aim for 4.7 billion chips annually, serving electronics, auto, and EV sectors. Sanand is fast becoming India’s chip hub under the ₹76,000 crore Semiconductor Mission. 40% of Urban Women Feel Unsafe: NARI 2025 A new survey across 31 cities shows 40% of women in India’s urban areas feel unsafe. In 2024, 7% reported harassment—100 times higher than official crime data. Delhi, Kolkata, Ranchi, and Patna ranked least safe, while Mumbai and Kohima were rated safer. Only 22% reported incidents to authorities; over half were unsure if their workplaces had the legally mandated POSH policy. Groww Eyes $1B IPO Amid Investor Exodus Bengaluru-based Groww has SEBI’s approval to raise $800 million–$1 billion in an IPO. Backed by GIC, Tiger Global, and Satya Nadella, Groww heads to markets even as discount brokers lost nearly 2 million clients in 2025. Stricter SEBI rules on F&O trading have cooled retail participation. Still, Groww’s profits tripled to ₹1,819 crore, showing strength despite the turbulence. India to Be World’s No. 2 Economy by 2038: EY EY projects India’s GDP at $34.2 trillion by 2038 in purchasing power parity terms, overtaking most economies. PPP, which adjusts for cost-of-living differences, shows India’s consumer strength and competitiveness more accurately than volatile market exchange rates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    12 mins
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