Indian tourists may soon enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, with the new arrangement expected by spring 2025. Since August 2023, Indian travelers have already been eligible for e-visas, which are processed within four days. The upcoming visa-free travel agreement will further strengthen tourism ties between India and Russia. In 2023, Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors, placing India among the top five countries for easy travel access to Russia. Consultations between Mosc

Congress has criticized National Conference leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his changing approach to EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) allegations. This criticism came after Abdullah dismissed claims raised by Congress and other opposition parties about EVM manipulation following the Maharashtra election results. Senior Congress leader Manickam Tagore pointed out that while opposition parties like the NCP, Shiv Sena, and Samajwadi Party have questioned the integrit

Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has confirmed that general elections will likely take place by the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026. Yunus, who was appointed the country’s "chief adviser" after a student-led uprising in August toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is overseeing a temporary administration that is focused on restoring democratic institutions in the country. Yunus, 84, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance pioneer, h

Switzerland has decided to suspend the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status granted to India, which could result in higher taxes for Indian companies operating in the country. Starting January 1, 2025, Indian companies will face increased withholding tax rates on income such as dividends and royalties generated in Switzerland. The new tax rules will impose a 10% tax on dividends earned by Indian entities. This move follows a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court in October 2023, which sta

BEML Ltd. is working on an ambitious timeline to roll out India’s first indigenous bullet train by December 2026, as revealed by Chairman and Managing Director Shantanu Roy. The company has been tasked with designing and manufacturing the bullet trains for the highly anticipated Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. This project marks a significant milestone in India's railway history, with BEML focusing on building two prototypes. Roy emphasized the importance of intellectual property

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

The aftermath of the YSR Congress' landslide defeat in the 2024 general election has left the party in turmoil, with many senior leaders defecting. Prominent figures like Alla Nani, Breda Mastan, Avanti Srinivas, and Grandhi Srinivas have already parted ways with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, signaling the party’s deepening crisis. Adding to the woes, seasoned Andhra Pradesh politician and former Congress MLA Gone Prakash Rao has claimed that 4-5 more MLAs are likely to leav

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 long-debated concept of "One Nation, One Election" has taken a significant step forward as the central cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for simultaneous elections across India. The government plans to introduce a bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament to implement the plan. The proposal has sparked differing opinions among political parties. While over 30 parties support the idea, Congress has raised concerns about the practi

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been thrown into turmoil following a crushing defeat in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections, where the party secured only 11 out of 175 seats. This electoral setback, at the hands of the NDA coalition led by Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, has escalated into an existential crisis for the party, compounded by a series of defections. Two prominent former MLAs, Avanthi Srinivas and Grandhi Srinivas, resigned from the party

In a landmark energy agreement, Russia’s state oil company Rosneft has committed to supply 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day to India’s Reliance for the next 10 years, worth approximately $13 billion annually. This deal represents about 0.5% of global oil supply and strengthens energy relations between India and Russia, especially as Russia faces intense Western sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine. The deal is set to begin in January and will involve monthly deli

India's inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), moderated to 5.48% in November, down from 6.21% in October, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This easing, however, is still above the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) target of 4%, with food prices continuing to drive inflationary pressure. The food inflation rate surged by 9.04%, continuing its trend of high costs. Economists had forecast a median inflation estimate of 5.5% fo

 In light of US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariff measures on China, Canada, and Mexico, India is poised to capitalize on potential shifts in global manufacturing. With Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, manufacturers may seek alternative locations to bypass the 60% levy on Chinese goods. India, with its low-cost labor, skilled workforce, and growing tech sector, is an attractive destination for this shift. Invest

The batting form of India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been a major topic of discussion in recent months. Both have struggled with consistency, often getting out cheaply. Kohli scored a century in the first Test against Australia at Perth, but both he and Rohit failed to contribute in the second Test at Adelaide, where India suffered a heavy defeat. In the second Test, Kohli and Rohit combined for just 27 runs across four innings. Kohli was dismissed for 7 an

During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's ongoing visit to Russia, talks are progressing on a major defence agreement worth $4 billion that could significantly enhance India’s air defence infrastructure. The deal revolves around the acquisition of the Voronezh radar system, manufactured by Russia's Almaz-Antey Corporation, which specializes in anti-aircraft missile systems and radars. The Voronezh radar, with a range of over 8,000 km, is designed to detect threats such as ballisti

In December 2024, two significant initial public offerings (IPOs) are set to hit the market, aiming to raise a combined ₹6,722.92 crore. The first, from International Gemmological Institute (IGI) India, a Blackstone-promoted company specializing in grading and accreditation for diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry, will launch its ₹4,225 crore IPO on December 13 and close on December 17. The IPO consists of a fresh issue of ₹1,475 crore and an offer for sale of ₹2,750 crore by Blackstone&

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has praised the team’s captain, Pat Cummins, for leading Australia to a dominant 10-wicket win in the second Test, which leveled the five-match series 1-1 after their heavy loss in Perth. Gilchrist believes Australia was "stung" by criticism following their 295-run defeat in the opening match and noted that Cummins' controlled aggression was key to their return to form. Gilchrist highlighted Cummins' emo

Anoushka Kale's Election as President Anoushka Kale, a 20-year-old English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, has been elected as the president of the prestigious Cambridge Union Society for the Easter 2025 term. Kale won the election uncontested, receiving 126 votes. As the current Debates Officer for the society, she is recognized for her commitment to pro

As calls to bring back Mohammed Shami to the Indian team grow louder, concerns over the fitness of pacers Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana, who have failed to back Jasprit Bumrah strongly, have intensified. Shami, who has been performing well at the domestic level, is being urged by fans and experts to join the team for the upcoming Australia series. However, Indian captain Rohit Sharma remains uncertain about Shami’s inclusion. During a post-match press conference, Rohit revea

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team captain, has struggled with his form in the ongoing series against Australia. After missing the first Test in Perth due to family commitments, Rohit returned to the squad for the day-night match in Adelaide but failed to make an impact. In the second match, his poor form continued, as he was dismissed cheaply in both innings. Rohit's dismissals were concerning due to his lack of foot movement, as he was trapped in front of the stumps in both innings.