The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing crucial updates for green card applicants, with a notable focus on Indian applicants. This bulletin offers insights into the availability of immigrant visa numbers, which are vital for individuals waiting in the green card queue. The limits for employment-based preference immigrants have been set at 140,000, while family-sponsored category immigrants have a cap of

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is currently in turmoil due to the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly stated that it will not send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political issues. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not agree to the proposed hybrid model, where India’s matches are played in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament tak

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a hybrid model for next year's Champions Trophy, allowing India to play its matches in Dubai, while Pakistan will co-host the event in the UAE. The decision, reached after informal discussions between ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan's representatives, is a major step toward resolving venue concerns in international cricket. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with In

The future of the 2025 Champions Trophy is in jeopardy as tensions between India and Pakistan complicate the tournament's organization. India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan without government approval, which remains pending. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially rejected the idea of a hybrid hosting model that would allow India to play in Dubai, but recently showed some flexibility, reportedl

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the country's 2025 budget, allocating $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) to national defence, which accounts for 32.5% of the total government spending. This marks a significant increase from last year’s budget, highlighting the ongoing strain the war in Ukraine has placed on Russia’s finances. The budget sets a new record, with military spending expected to account for over 6% of Russia's GDP. In contrast, expenditu

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain the status quo on the benchmark repo rate at 6.5% in its upcoming meeting from December 4 to 6. Despite India's GDP growth slowing to 5.4% in the July-September quarter, economists suggest that inflation concerns will likely take precedence, making a rate cut unlikely in December. Retail inflation rose to 6.2% in October, exceeding the RBI’s target range of 2-6%. Though a repo rate cu

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect on his first day in office, January 20. The new tariffs are expected to have severe implications for American consumers, including higher prices on everyday products such as gasoline, produce, cars, and alcohol. Mexico, now the US’s top trading partner, and Canada, a major supplier of oil and agricultural products, will be significantly impacted by these tariffs

In a thrilling IPL 2025 Auction, Afghanistan's promising spinner Allah Ghazanfar made a big splash as Mumbai Indians secured him for a whopping Rs 4.8 crore. The 18-year-old spinner, known for his brilliant performance in recent ODIs, including a standout spell against Bangladesh, attracted intense bidding from several franchises. Kolkata Knight Riders, who were interested in bringing him back, ultimately lost out to Mumbai Indians, who won the bidding war. Ghazanfar’s ris

Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has denied speculation that his departure from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2025 auction was due to a disagreement over his retention fee. The clarification came after Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar suggested that top players, like Pant, sometimes leave their franchises to assess their true market value in the IPL auction, particularly when there are talks about retention fees. In a video shared by Star Sports before the IPL 202

US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed H-1B visa restrictions could have significant implications for India's economy. A report by the State Bank of India (SBI) suggests that while stricter visa rules might increase costs for Indian IT firms operating in the US, they could also encourage India to focus more on domestic manufacturing and economic independence. This potential shift aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative,

Arjun Tendulkar, the 25-year-old son of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, made a statement in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Plate match, picking up his maiden five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket. Arjun’s stellar bowling performance saw him claim figures of 5/25, helping bowl Arunachal Pradesh out for just 84 runs on Day 1. Starting strong, Arjun dismissed Nabam Hachang in the second over and followed up with two wickets in consecutive balls in the 12th over, leaving him on a hat-t

India's Nifty 50 index has entered the correction zone, falling over 10% from its peak in late September. This decline comes as foreign investors continue their record-level selloff of domestic stocks, triggering broad market losses. On Tuesday, the Nifty 50 dropped by 1.4%

In a significant development ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Citing security concerns, the BCCI has requested that all of India's matches be moved to Dubai instead, as confirmed by an anonymous BCCI official to the Indian Express. This stance has been consistent, and the BCCI has made it clea

As the deadline for IPL 2025 player retentions approaches, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has shared a creative puzzle for their fans, featuring nine potential player names. This fun engagement comes as franchises prepare for the mega auction, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) setting a retention deadline of October 31. The players included in RCB's puzzle are cricketing stars Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Rajat Patidar, Faf du Plessis, Cameron Green, Glenn

With just two days remaining before the IPL 2025 retention deadline, excitement is building around the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the pivotal decisions they will make. A key focus of speculation is whether MS Dhoni, the legendary captain, will return for another season. As an uncapped player since his international retirement over five years ago, Dhoni's status has generated heated discussions among fans and analysts alike. A recent post by CSK on social media, featuring cryp

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its GDP growth forecast for India to 6.8% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024-25, a decrease of 20 basis points. In its October bulletin titled "State of the Economy," the RBI attributed this revision to a slackening momentum observed in some high-frequency indicators, which were partially impacted by unusual heavy rainfall in August and September. This latest forecast is lower than the previous projection of 7% made by RBI Gov

Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman of the CII-Sorabji Green Business Centre, has expressed confidence that India can emulate the remarkable economic growth that China experienced in recent decades. Speaking exclusively on Wednesday, Godrej emphasized that achieving such growth rates, similar to China's average GDP growth of 9.91% from 1979 to 2010, is within India's reach. However, he stressed the need for enhanced coordination between Indian industries and the government in policymaking.

In a historic shift for the Ashes series, Perth will host the first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes, ending Brisbane's nearly 40-year tradition of kicking off the Australia-England rivalry. The first Test is set to take place at Perth Stadium from November 21-25, 2025. This will be the inaugural Ashes Test at the new venue, which replaced the old WACA ground, last utilized in 2017. Following the Perth Test, the second match will be a day-night affair at Brisbane's Gabba, scheduled

India's wholesale inflation experienced a notable increase in September, driven largely by rising food prices, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) climbed by 1.84% compared to 1.31% in August on a year-on-year basis. This uptick in inflation comes amidst a broader context of economic fluctuations. The inflation rate for manufactured products, which constitutes a significant portion of the index, saw a slower growth rate of 1% in

The past week was significant in shaping India's economic narrative, marked by the death of industrialist Ratan Tata and shifts in monetary policy. Ratan Tata's Passing and Noel Tata's Appointment: India mourned the loss of Ratan Tata, the revered former chairman of Tata Sons, who passed away at 86. In a board meeting, Noel Tata was appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Trusts, a pivotal moment in the continuity of the Tata legacy. Noel, wh