In a dramatic shift for U.S. foreign aid, President Donald Trump has placed the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the control of the State Department, marking a potential end to the agency’s independent operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, now acting administrator of USAID, has delegated key responsibilities to Pete Marocco, a Trump ally accused of dismantling the agency from within.  

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently issued 21,885 pension payment orders as part of its ongoing efforts to implement higher pensions under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995. As per Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje's written response in Lok Sabha, a total of 17.48 lakh applications were submitted by pensioners and members seeking to increase their pension by making higher contributions.   The EPF

In a move that has left many Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. anxious about their future, the Trump administration has decided to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans. This policy change, effective April 2025, ends their protection from deportation and revokes their work permits.   For many Venezuelan migrants, including those living in Chicago, th

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to the United States starting February 12, where he will engage in extensive talks with US President Donald Trump. The visit will take place shortly after Modi's two-day trip to Paris, marking the prime minister's first bilateral visit to the US since Trump's second term in office. The trip will provide an opportunity to strengthen ties between India and the US and discuss key issues, including trade, security,

The Union Budget 2025 introduced a significant revision to the income tax exemption limit, raising it to ₹12 lakh. This change has sparked expectations of increased consumer spending, particularly in sectors such as automobiles and fast-moving consumer goods. With more disposable income available to middle-class taxpayers, the automotive industry is poised to see shifts in demand, with varying effects across vehicle segments. Analysts believe that while this tax policy revision may drive ov

US Senate Confirms Fracking CEO Chris Wright as Trump's Energy Secretary The U.S. Senate has confirmed Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, as the new Secretary of Energy under President Donald Trump. Wright secured the position with a 59-38 vote, gaining support from seven Democrats and one Independent.   A Leader i

President Donald Trump has announced a 30-day suspension of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, preventing a looming trade war with the two North American nations. The decision follows last-minute negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who agreed to reinforce their borders with the United States. While this move provides temporary relief, the U.S. has not backe

The integrity of the Taekwondo competition at the National Games has been questioned after allegations emerged that results were fixed in advance for 10 out of the 16 weight categories. In response to these claims, the National Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) has replaced the director of competition, T Praveen Kumar, with S Dinesh Kumar following strong recommendations made by a three-member committee formed to prevent manipulation of the event. The GTCC chairperson, Sunaina Kumari,

Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed for the ATP Rotterdam tournament, shared his admiration for Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner ahead of his first match since his quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. Alcaraz was in high spirits despite the loss, acknowledging Sinner's "crazy" form and calling him the best player at the moment. Alcaraz praised Sinner’s consistency, noting his impressive record over the past year with only a handful of losses. The Spaniard reco

Chelsea staged a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory against West Ham in their Premier League clash on Monday, climbing into the top four of the league. The match marked Graham Potter’s first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked by Chelsea in 2023. West Ham initially took the lead when Jarrod Bowen scored in the 42nd minute after a defensive error from Chelsea. Despite a lackluster first half, Chelsea bounced back after the break to level the score with a goal from Pedro Neto in the

With less than 24 hours before the Delhi Assembly elections, a police case has been registered against Chief Minister Atishi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who is contesting from the Kalkaji constituency, has been named in a disobedience case at the Govindpuri police station. The case, filed under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, stems from allegations that Atishi and her supporters refused to vacate Fateh Singh Marg despite being instructed to do so by the police, citing poll

World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4th, serves as a global initiative to raise awareness about cancer and encourage preventive measures, early detection, and better treatment. Millions of lives are affected by cancer every year, and through education, lifestyle changes, and advancements in treatments, the goal is to reduce cancer-related deaths significantly. A healthy diet plays a crucial role in cancer prevention, and certain foods have been shown to contain compounds that prot

On February 4, Indian stock markets experienced a strong rally as the Sensex and Nifty surged following positive global cues and optimism surrounding a potential rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. The Sensex opened at 77,687.60 and gained over 700 points to reach 77,952, while the Nifty 50 opened at 23,509.90 and rose nearly 1% to 23,582. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks also posted gains, contributing to an overall bullish sentiment in the market. Investor confidence was boost

A total of 205 Indian nationals who had illegally entered the United States were deported aboard a US military C-17 aircraft, which took off from Texas. Each deportee’s nationality was verified, signaling New Delhi’s involvement in the process. This is likely the first of many such deportations as part of a broader effort to address illegal immigration. The aircraft, typically equipped for larger transports, can accommodate up to 205 passengers, though it only has one toilet unles

Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, has issued a strong warning to former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, urging him to attend Assembly sessions and participate in public policy debates. RRR stressed that Jagan, as an elected representative of Pulivendula, must fulfill his responsibilities as an MLA and actively engage in legislative proceedings. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that Jagan's presence in the Assembly is necessary for him to effective

The Andhra Pradesh government has established a strong and effective relationship with the central government, which has led to significant financial support for the state. Key leaders, such as Chandra Babu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, have played a crucial role in ensuring the state receives adequate funding, especially for critical infrastructure projects. This relationship was evident in the recent 2026 b

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will begin the 2025 Class 10 and 12 board examinations on February 15. The exams will start at 10.30 am, and this year’s datesheet has been designed to help students manage both board and entrance exam schedules effectively. To reduce stress, CBSE has included sufficient gaps between exams for students taking common subjects, ensuring no overlap with Class 12 entrance exams. Preparation Tips for Students:

The US stock market saw a sharp decline on Monday following President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by over 450 points, marking a decline of more than 1%, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.5% and the Nasdaq lost 1.8%. These significant losses reflect growing concerns over escalating trade tensions and the potential negative impact on the global economy. The new tariffs, which impose a 25% duty on imports from

Paytm’s parent company, One97 Communications Ltd, saw its stock price rise by over 5% in intra-day trading on Wednesday. This surge followed an announcement regarding a $1 million investment by Paytm's subsidiary, Paytm Cloud Technologies Limited (PCTL), in Seven Technology LLC, the parent company of the Brazilian embedded finance startup Dinie. The investment aims to acquire a 25% stake in Seven Technology, marking Paytm’s continued expansion into global markets. Following th

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is inviting applications for the position of Medical Consultant (MC) on a contract basis. This is an excellent opportunity for qualified medical professionals to work with RBI. The last date to apply is February 14, 2025, at 4:40 pm.   Vacancy Details: The recruitment is for medical professionals with an MBBS degree, with a preference for those having postgraduate qualifications in General Medicine and at least two years o