The arrival of New Year’s 2025 will be celebrated across the globe, starting with the Pacific island nations and moving westward as the clock strikes midnight in each time zone. The very first to welcome 2025 will be Kiribati, specifically Christmas Island (Kiritimati), at 5:00 am EST (3:30 pm IST). This remote island, located in the Pacific Ocean, enjoys the honor of being the first in the world to c

The U.S. Treasury Department recently suffered a major cybersecurity breach attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor. The hackers gained remote access to certain Treasury workstations and unclassified documents, sparking concerns about the potential theft of sensitive information ¹.   The breach was discovered on December 8, when the Treasury Department

The US economy is facing uncertainty ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration, with the Conference Board's Expectations Index dropping to a five-month low. This decline in consumer confidence is a significant concern, as it can have a ripple effect on the US stock market and the national economy ¹.   Rising inflation and interest rates, coupled with Trump's reportedly inflationary

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away at the age of 100. The Carter Center announced that he was surrounded by his family at his home in Plains, Georgia, during his final moments. Tributes from Leaders President Joe Biden: Described Carter as a “model of what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose”

President-elect Donald J. Trump intensified his rhetoric this week, threatening to reclaim control of the Panama Canal. Trump accused Panama of permitting Chinese military presence at the canal and overcharging U.S. ships, though these claims lack evidence. He has demanded lower fees for U.S. vessels and insisted that the canal be returned to American control "quickly and without question" once he takes office next month. In a fiery statement on Wednesday, Trump announce

Beijing: China has greenlit the construction of what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam, marking the beginning of a monumental project on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. This development has the potential to impact millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh. The dam, planned for the lower stretches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is projected to generate an estimated 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, a

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United States from December 24 to 29, 2024. During this trip, he plans to engage with officials from both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration to discuss key bilateral, regional, and global issues. While specific details of his meetings have not been disclosed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that Mr. Jaishankar will chair a conference of Indian Consul Generals i

As we transition from 2024 to 2025, several global trends and findings have emerged, shedding light on the current state of the world and offering insights into the year ahead Global Happiness Rankings The World Happiness Report 2024 reveals that Finland continues to lead as the world's happiest country, followed closely by Denmark and Iceland. Notably, the United States has dropped out of the top 20 for the first time, ranking 23rd. This decline un

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with Kuwait's highest accolade, the 'Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer,' on Sunday. The award was presented by Kuwait's Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This marks the 20th international honor bestowed upon PM Modi by various nations. The 'Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' is a prestigious Kuwaiti knighthood conferred upon Heads of State, foreign sovereigns, and members of royal families as a sym

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has refuted reports claiming that his upcoming wedding to fiancée Lauren Sánchez will cost $600 million. Addressing the rumors on social media platform X, Bezos labeled the claims as "completely false" and cautioned the public against believing such misinformation.  Investor Bill Ackman also expressed skepticism, suggesting that such a sum would be implausible "unless you are buying each of your guests a house." Bezos con

China has expanded its visa-free transit policy, allowing travelers from 54 eligible countries, including the United States, Canada, and several European and Asian nations, to stay in the country for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa. This move is part of China's effort to boost international tourism and revive its economy post-pandemic. Eligibility: Passport holders from 54 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, France

A 15-year-old female student was identified as the suspect in a tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, December 16. The incident resulted in the deaths of a teen pupil and a teacher, and injuries to six others, including two students with life-threatening wounds. Details of the Incident The shooting occurred just before 11:00 AM local time at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 facility with approximately 4

Donald Trump has said he would place very high taxes (100% tariffs) on goods coming from countries in the BRICS group if they try to replace the U.S. dollar in global trade. BRICS includes countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. Why is this happening? Some BRICS countries have been discussing the idea of creating their own currency to us

Indian Americans in Silicon Valley held a solidarity rally at Milpitas City Hall to condemn recent violence against Hindus in Canada and Bangladesh. Community leaders and participants called for global attention to these incidents and urged U.S. leaders to hold the governments of Canada and Bangladesh accountable for safeguarding Hindu minority populations. The rally highlighted the attack on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, where Khalistani extremists t

At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China presented a range of cutting-edge military technology, reaffirming its growing strength in defense and its ambition to be a global leader in military innovation. The biennial event, which attracts industry leaders and military experts from around the world, was a key platform for China to display new advancements in weapons, aircraft, and naval systems. Among the highlights was the J35-A Stealth Fighter, China's second stealth fighter after the

In a new strategy to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel will pay $5 million for each hostage returned, along with safe passage for the person bringing the hostage out of Gaza. Netanyahu's offer comes as part of Israel's ongoing efforts to fulfill its promise to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas militants. Netanyahu made the announcement on Tuesday, urging Ga

Donald Trump’s allies have sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles for attacks inside Russian territory, calling it a dangerous escalation of the ongoing war. This move marks a significant policy shift with just two months left in Biden’s presidency, and it comes amid mounting tensions over the war’s direction and potential negotiations for peace. The new policy fulfills a long-standing

India has made a formal request to Canada for the extradition of Arshdeep Dalla, a key figure in the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned terror group. Dalla is accused of being involved in over 50 criminal cases including murder, terror financing, and extortion. The Indian government considers him a "proclaimed offender" and linked him to the terrorist acts of Hardeep Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani activist killed in June 2023. His arrest in Canada follows a gunfight in which he w

In a recent interview with Sky News Australia during his visit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar responded sharply to a question from Australian journalist Sharri Markson, who asked if India recognizes Australia's "angst" over its relationship w

Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance’s campaign promises to overhaul U.S. immigration policy on their first day in office have raised serious concerns, especially among Indian-American communities. Trump has vowed to curb the process of naturalized citizenship, and his pledge to introduce a sweeping immigration reform on "Day 1" could impact millions of children born in the United States to immigrant parents. Under Trump’s proposed executive order, childr