The year 2024 was dramatic for the US, with President Joe Biden abandoning his reelection bid after a poor performance in a debate against Donald Trump. Trump, who had been absent from the White House for four years, made a triumphant return after defeating Kamala Harris in the presidential race. His comeback marks the first time since Grover Cleveland that a president has been evicted from the White House and returned four years later. While the Biden administration exits, the Indi

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently responded to a discussion about foreign-born tech workers in the U.S., defending their contribution to the industry. The conversation began when Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, questioned whether foreign workers were truly displacing qualified Americans in the tech sector. Masad pointed out the large number of unfilled tech jobs, expressing skepticism about claims that foreign workers were taking opportunities from native-born Americans. Musk, who is origina

The Biden administration has introduced important modifications to the H-1B visa program, aimed at facilitating the hiring of highly-skilled foreign workers, particularly in the tech sector. These changes are expected to benefit thousands of Indian professionals seeking to work in the United States. The rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expands the definition of specialty occupations and introduces provisions for nonprofits and governmental research organizations t

India’s economy has consistently been a focal point for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) seeking long-term investment opportunities. With its rapid economic growth, demographic dividend, and government reforms, India offers several promising sectors for NRIs to invest in. Himanshu Kohli, an expert in wealth management, highlights the top four sectors that provide significant potential for long-term returns. 1. Real Estate The Indian real estate m

India has achieved a major milestone by surpassing $1 trillion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) since the turn of the century. Latest data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) reveals that from April 2000 to September 2024, India attracted a total of $1,033.40 billion in FDI. This surge underscores India’s growing appeal as a global investment hub. Significant contributions have come from countries like Mauritius (25%), Singapore (24%), an

In a major boost to Rajasthan's economic prospects, the Adani Group has pledged to invest Rs 7.5 lakh crore in the state over the next five years. This massive investment will fund key infrastructure projects, including the creation of four new cement plants and the establishment of a world-leading green energy ecosystem. Karan Adani, CEO of Adani Ports, shared these details at the 'Rising Rajasthan' Investor Summit 2024, where he highlighted the ambitious plans to build the world

India's foreign exchange reserves saw an increase to $658.1 billion for the week ending November 29, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This rise followed an eight-week decline, with a $1.5 billion increase from the previous week. In comparison, the reserves had dropped by $1.31 billion in the prior week, reaching $656.58 billion. Foreign investors have invested Rs 1.75 lakh crore into India's debt and equity markets in 2024. However, the month of November witness

The National Pension Scheme (NPS) Vatsalya, launched on September 18, 2023, has seen a positive response from Indian parents looking to invest in their children's future. As of November 17, 2023, the scheme has attracted 66,495 subscribers, with Maharashtra leading the pack with 9,219 accounts. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka follow closely with over 6,500 subscribers each. In total, 18 states have seen over 1,000 accounts opened, demonstrating the scheme’s growing appeal. Th

The State of Sustainability Readiness Report 2024 by IBM reveals a strong trend among Indian business leaders to significantly increase investments in IT for sustainability over the next 12 months. With 98% of respondents planning to expand their IT budgets, Indian executives view sustainability as essential for driving environmental responsibility, long-term business resilience, and improving brand reputation. The report highlights AI's transformative potential in helping busine

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the registration certificates of two non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)—Ulhas Securities Pvt. and Sikar Investment Co.. The registration of Ulhas Securities, based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was granted in December 2003, while Sikar Investment, based in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, had been registered in March 1998. The cancellation was carried out under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which allows the RBI to

A major legal battle is unfolding as Gautam Adani, the Indian business magnate, and several of his associates face a $265 million bribery charge in the United States. This indictment, which also implicates his nephew Sagar Adani and executives from an Indian renewable-energy company, is raising significant questions about the extraterritorial application of US laws, especially since those involved do not reside in the US. Prominent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra highlighted the

Donald Trump’s presidential appointments of Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz mark a decisive shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to China. Rubio, tapped as Secretary of State, and Waltz, named National Security Advisor, represent a hawkish approach to international relations, one that sharply contrasts with

That Andhra Pradesh state IT and education minister Nara Lokesh is gradually emerging as the heir apparent of his father and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is being established gradually in the TDP and also the government. The way the TDP ranks have been calling Lokesh the future chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on social media and the state government carrying his picture on the front page advertisements of the official programmes along with his father clearly indicated that Lokesh is em

The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House in 2024 raises important questions about the future of India-US relations. A second Trump presidency could bring significant shifts across several key areas, including trade, immigration, military cooperation, and broader diplomatic engagement. During his first term, Trump’s “America First” agenda and his transactional approach to foreign policy led to major policy changes such as tariffs on foreign goods

Nara Lokesh, the scion of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is currently on an extended trip to the USA, where he is actively engaging with global tech giants to attract investments to Andhra Pradesh. One of the highlights of his visit occurred in Atlanta, where he unveiled a statue of the legendary Sr NTR, commissioned by the NRI TDP workers. The unveiling ceremony was a grand affair, marked by a unique spectacle of flower petals showered from a helicopter, adding a festive atmosphere

Following former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai's criticisms of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh has extended an invitation to multinational companies (MNCs) to consider investing in the state. Lokesh emphasized that under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, Andhra Pradesh is implementing business-friendly policies that could make it a prime destination for investments as Bengaluru faces growing challenges i

During a compelling interview at the  World Summit, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar shed light on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which have faced significant strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar criticized what he termed "double standards" in diplomatic treatment, noting that while Canadian diplomat

The mutual fund industry in India reported net outflows of ₹71,114.08 crore for September 2024, as per the latest data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). This decline follows a staggering 42.8% drop in August, where cumulative inflows into mutual funds were recorded at ₹1.08 lakh crore. Equity mutual funds saw a decline in inflows by 9.9% in September, totaling ₹34,419.26 crore, down from ₹38,239.16 crore in August. The net assets under management (AUM) of

Elon Musk publicly criticized the UK government after reports surfaced that he had not been invited to an upcoming investment summit. Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his discontent, stating that the UK is releasing convicted pedophiles while imprisoning individuals for their social media comments. This response comes amid ongoing tensions in Britain following violent anti-immigration riots, where far-right groups targeted asylum seeker accommodations and mosques. The La

HDFC Bank Ltd, India's largest private sector lender, is set to sell ₹9,062.38 crore worth of car loans, amounting to 1,08,711 loans, as part of its strategy to address its increasing credit-deposit ratio. The bank will execute this sale using a financial instrument known as 'pass-through certificates' (PTCs), which provide fixed income to holders from a pool of assets like loans. According to insiders, this transaction may represent the largest PTC sale in India to date.