The clock is ticking for taxpayers who are required to file their income tax audit reports for the financial year 2024–25. The deadline has been set for September 30, 2025, and unlike in some past years, the Income Tax Department has not announced any extension. For companies, proprietorships, and firms whose accounts must be audited, filing the audit report on time is not just a compliance requirement—it is essential to avoid hefty penalties unde

India and the United States appear to be finding common ground in long-stalled trade negotiations, with sources calling the latest talks in New York encouraging. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and India’s chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agarwal met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to restart discussions on a pending agreement. According to officials, both delegations expressed commitment to moving past earlier setbacks and accelerating pr

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions to win the Nobel Peace Prize depend entirely on whether he can end the ongoing war in Gaza. Speaking to France’s BFM TV from New York, Macron emphasized that Trump is the only leader with enough influence to pressure Israel to halt the conflict. According to Macron, Washington’s role in supplying weapons and equip

Addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2025, United States President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on India, China, and even some NATO allies. In a strongly worded speech, Trump alleged that both New Delhi and Beijing are the “primary funders” of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine through their continued purchase of Russian oil. He claimed that these energy imports were a major reason why Moscow had been able to susta

Europe is once again at the center of a growing geopolitical storm, with Moldova emerging as the latest flashpoint in the NATO–Russia confrontation. Russian intelligence has claimed that NATO forces are preparing for a landing in Ukraine’s Odessa region with the ultimate goal of occupying Moldova. The warning comes just days before Moldova heads into its crucial September 28 legislative elections, a vote widely seen as a choice between pursuing clo

US President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications has triggered heated debates across global markets. While the move is designed to discourage foreign workers from entering the United States, economists warn that its long-term impact could weigh more heavily on the US economy than on India, the country supplying the majority of H-1B talent. H-1B visas are critica

A heated confrontation erupted at the United Nations Security Council after Estonia accused Russia of violating its airspace in a deliberate provocation, prompting NATO nations to rally behind Tallinn and issue strong warnings to Moscow. The incident has further heightened tensions in Eastern Europe, where concerns over Russian military activity remain high following its long-standing confrontations with neighboring countries. According to Estonian officials, three Russian MiG-31 fi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, just before the start of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace, marked their first in-person engagement since the United States announced an additional twenty-five percent tariff on India in response to Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which raised the total tariff burden to fifty percent. This face-to-face discuss

The Government of India has rolled out a historic reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system by eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs and restructuring the tax categories. The changes, which took effect today, bring relief to households as 99% of daily-use products will now fall under lower tax rates. However, in order to balance revenue and discourage harmful or luxury consumption, the government has introduced a new 40% GST slab for specific goods.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold crucial talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, September 22. This meeting, taking place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, marks the first high-level engagement between India and the United States since President Donald Trump’s sharp policy moves targeting New Delhi, including a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and a steep increase in H1-B vi

Meta and Microsoft have issued urgent advisories to their H-1B visa employees following US President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. Internal emails accessed on Saturday revealed that the two tech giants advised foreign workers not to leave the United States for at least 14 days and instructed those currently abroad to return within 24 hours to avoid possible denial of re-entry. Meta’s adviso

US President Donald Trump has stunned India with back-to-back decisions that are being described as both hostile and strategic. Just three days after wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and hailing him as a “tremendous friend,” Trump revoked the sanctions waiver for Iran’s Chabahar Port and slapped an unprecedented $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants. Analysts believe these twin moves are a calculated attempt to pressure New

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly criticised Washington’s trade and tariff threats, arguing that major powers such as India and China cannot be coerced into changing their policies through ultimatums. Speaking on a television programme in Moscow, Lavrov said that the repeated warnings from the United States to cut energy ties with Russia were not only failing but also backfiring, as they were pushing countries to diversify markets, look for alternative energy resources

US President Donald Trump has described the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom as an “unbreakable bond,” highlighting both its historical significance and present-day strength. Speaking at a business roundtable alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump emphasized that the bilateral partnership is not only rooted in history but also evolving with unprecedented trade and investment initiatives. He called the ties between the two nations &ldq

Saudi Arabia’s decision to sign a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan has stirred debates across South Asia and the Middle East. The pact, which promises that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both, resembles a NATO-style commitment. For Pakistan, struggling with economic and diplomatic challenges, this deal is seen as a significant political win and a potential deterrence against India. Yet, beneath the surface, exper

In a significant development within the corporate world, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has announced his resignation after 47 years of involvement with the company. This decision comes amid escalating tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever, over issues related to the brand’s social mission and autonomy. Greenfield's departure is rooted in a deepening conflict with Unilever, which acq

The government extended the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline for Assessment Year 2025–26 by one day, from September 15 to September 16, 2025. However, many taxpayers still missed this revised cut-off. If you are among them, there is no need to panic, as the Income Tax Department allows belated returns to be filed until December 31, 2025. A belated return refers to an ITR filed after the due date. Accord

In a rare and significant admission, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has publicly stated that India has never agreed to third-party mediation on bilateral disputes, reaffirming New Delhi’s long-standing position that issues between the two countries must be addressed directly. His comments, made during an interview, come at a time when US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, an

At the Doha emergency summit attended by leaders from over 40 Muslim countries, the idea of an Islamic Nato gained momentum, with Pakistan aggressively pitching for an Arab-Islamic task force. The meeting followed Israel’s strike in Qatar and brought together Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and others under one forum. Pakistan, represented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Is

The emergency Arab-Islamic summit held in Doha on Monday has triggered renewed calls for a NATO-style military alliance of Muslim nations. The push, spearheaded by Egypt, comes in the wake of Israel’s strike in Doha that killed Hamas operatives and a Qatari officer. While leaders differed on concrete action against Israel, the summit may have set in motion the groundwork for an Arab-Islamic defense pact. Egypt,