US Vice President JD Vance is set to visit India later this month, marking his second international trip since assuming office. Accompanying him on this visit will be Second Lady Usha Vance, who will visit her ancestral homeland for the first time in her official capacity. This visit follows JD Vance’s recent diplomatic trips to France and Germany, where he attended the Munich Security Conference and made headlines with his sharp critique of European governme

Millions of women worldwide face significant financial disparities compared to men, accumulating to hundreds of thousands of pounds less in lifetime earnings. This financial gap begins early in life and persists into retirement. Understanding these challenges and taking proactive steps can help close the wealth gap for future generations.   Childhood: The Starting Point of the Wealth Gap Research by Starling Bank shows that parents give boys

In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump has welcomed Ukraine's decision to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, urging Moscow to respond positively. Trump's statement came after Kyiv confirmed its readiness to halt hostilities following high-level negotiations in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Tuesday.   Ukraine Agrees to Ceasefire After Jeddah Talks The ceasefire development emerged after intensive discus

In a significant escalation of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow faced a massive overnight drone attack that left one person dead and three others injured. Russia's Defence Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces launched as many as 337 drones in what is believed to be the largest drone strike on Moscow since the conflict began. Of the total drones, 91 targeted Moscow and its surrounding areas, while 126 drones were intercepted over the Kursk region. The attack sparked fires across M

Ottawa: Following his decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership race, Mark Carney is set to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. With 85.9% of votes in his favor, Carney’s leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Canadian politics. Carney’s rise to power brings with it a promise to mend India-Canada ties, which reached their lowest point during Justin Trudeau’s tenure. The 59-year-old former banker has expressed his intent to rebuild diplomatic relatio

A loan against mutual funds is an effective financing option that allows investors to access funds without selling their investments. By pledging mutual fund units as collateral, individuals can secure a loan from banks or financial institutions. This method provides a practical solution for short-term financial needs while enabling investors to retain their portfolio and continue benefiting from market growth.   What is a Loan Against Mutual Funds?

The Indian stock market continues to remain volatile, leaving investors uncertain about where to invest their money. After facing a three-week losing streak, the market started positively on Monday, but gains were short-lived as Sensex and Nifty slipped into negative territory in the afternoon session. Despite this recent setback, the markets witnessed some positivity last week, marking the best weekly performance in 2025 so far. Midcap and smallcap stocks outperformed broader indices, with t

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi recently engaged in a conversation with India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal and Managing Editor Gaurav Sawant, where he shed light on critical national security concerns, especially the growing collaboration between Pakistan and China. He emphasized that India needs to fully acknowledge the high degree of collusion between the two neighboring countries, particularly in the realms of military and cyber capabilities. General Dwivedi pointed out tha

Post Office Savings Schemes remain one of the most trusted investment options in India, offering secure returns backed by the government. Many of these schemes not only provide financial security but also offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Investors can claim a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh per financial year when investing in these schemes, making them an attractive option for tax planning.However, these deductions are applicable only under the old tax reg

The Indian government has strongly condemned the security breach that took place during External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar’s visit to the United Kingdom. A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday denounced the "provocative activities" carried out by a small group of "separatists and extremists" and called on the UK government to meet its diplomatic obligations.The breach occurred when a group of Khalistani extremists gathered outsi

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called Hamas "sick and twisted" for keeping hostages and withholding the bodies of those killed. He emphasized that if Hamas fails to comply, there will be severe consequences, promising Israel full support to eliminate the group.This warning comes amid direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas regarding t

Fixed deposits have long been considered a safe and reliable investment option in India, particularly among conservative investors. However, declining interest rates and rising inflation have made it increasingly difficult for FDs to offer returns that outpace the rising cost of living. With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reducing the repo rate, banks have responded by lowering FD rates, prompting investors to explore other options that provide higher returns while maintaining financial secu

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new digital platform named "Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and Retrieval Assistant" (Mitra) to help investors track and reclaim lost, unclaimed, or inactive mutual fund investments. The initiative aims to reduce financial losses due to investor oversight, outdated KYC details, or the demise of the original investor.According to a circular issued by SEBI on February 12, 2025, an inactive folio is defined as a mutual f

China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget for 2024, raising military spending to $249 billion as the country continues its aggressive modernization efforts amid escalating regional tensions. The budget, which was revealed in a draft report submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) by Premier Li Qiang, underscores China’s strategic focus on military expansion in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and its border with India. This increase follows China’s

The stock market has been experiencing a significant downturn, declining nearly 15% since reaching an all-time high in September. As volatility persists, investors are seeking strategies to make informed investment choices and minimize risk.   Factors Contributing to the Market Decline Several key factors have contributed to the downward trend in the stock market. One of the most recent triggers has been the announcement of fresh import tarif

Tencent Holdings has expanded its stake in Kadokawa, the parent company of FromSoftware, acquiring an additional 1.11 percent of shares. This move increases Tencent’s ownership in the Japanese publishing giant from 6.86 percent to 7.97 percent. The transaction was made through Tencent’s subsidiary, SixJoy Hong Kong Limited, and was disclosed in a large shareholding report submitted to the Kanto Finance Bureau.   Tencent initially invested JPY 30 billion (appr

The Indian Coast Guard Ship Sachet set sail for Sudan on Friday, carrying over two tons of life-saving medicines, including anti-cancer drugs, as part of India’s ongoing humanitarian efforts. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the aid consignment, reinforcing India's commitment to providing relief in conflict-affected regions."Extending Humanitarian Assistance to the People of Sudan. An Indian Coast Guard Ship Sachet departed today for Sudan, carrying a consignmen

The latest round of tariff hikes by US President Donald Trump has triggered immediate countermeasures from Canada, China, and Mexico, escalating tensions in global trade. Beginning Tuesday, the US is imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada while also raising tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. In response, these nations have announced their own economic retaliations, signaling a sharp rise in trade disputes.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese officia

Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing arm of Amazon, is set to invest approximately $8.2 billion in Maharashtra over the next few years, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the investment would play a key role in job creation while strengthening India’s cloud computing infrastructure. The investment is expected to be rolled out between 2029 and 2030.AWS is also planning to introduce its own graphics processing

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs, calling them “an act of war” and warning about their economic impact. In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Buffett argued that tariffs function as a tax on consumers and ultimately drive up prices.“Tariffs are actually—we've had a lot of experience with them—they're an act of war, to some degree,” Buffett said. He added that consumers, not fore