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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday honored the soldiers who played a pivotal role in India's victory during the 1971 war, known as Vijay Diwas. The day commemorates the surrender of Pakistani forces to the Indian Army, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. In a post shared on X, PM Modi paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of the soldiers who contributed to this historic victory. Modi emphasized the selfless dedication and determination of the Indian soldiers, notin

The Indian rupee opened at 84.83 against the US dollar on Monday, a depreciation of 4 paise compared to the previous close of 84.79. The decline in the rupee is largely attributed to the uncertainty following the announcement of a leadership transition at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Shaktikanta Das will be succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, sparking initial concerns in the market. However, markets quickly adjusted to the news, with experts noting that the RBI is closely monitoring banking sys

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

Efforts are underway to secure the early release and repatriation of 14 Indian fishermen, including seven from Tamil Nadu, who have been detained in a Pakistani jail since January. Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin about the ongoing diplomatic efforts. This followed a letter from Stalin, dated November 20, urging swift action for the fishermen’s release. Jaishankar stated that the Indian government had raised the matte

Australia is introducing new rules to compel large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and TikTok, to pay local publishers for news content. These companies, whose annual Australian revenue exceeds $250 million, will need to negotiate commercial deals with media organizations or face increased taxes. This move builds on the world-first law passed in 2021, which forced tech giants like Meta and Google to pay for news content shared on their platforms. The new rules aim to pressur

Sanjay Malhotra, a 1990-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan, has been appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), succeeding Shaktikanta Das. The government announced that Malhotra will take charge from Wednesday for a term of three years. With a background in computer science from IIT Kanpur and a Master's in Public Policy from Princeton University, Malhotra has had a distinguished career spanning over three decades in various sectors, including finance, taxation, pow

In a significant political move, Bangladesh is set to remove Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's image from its currency notes, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s national identity. Known as the "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bangladesh," Rahman was the iconic founding father of the country. However, recent political developments, including the student-led protests and the rise of new leadership, have led to his image being gradually erased from public life, starting wit

The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while receiving the 'India First' award at NDTV’s Indian of the Year ceremony, celebrated the crucial role of India's democracy in shaping the country's growth. He emphasized how democracy has brought forward voices from every part of the nation, not just metropolitan cities, giving equal representation to all sections of society. This inclusiveness, he argued, has been pivotal in driving India’s development. He also noted t

France's government collapsed on Wednesday after lawmakers from both left and right wings successfully passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, throwing the country into deeper political chaos. Barnier, who had served for just under three months, will now be required to resign and tender his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. The collapse marks the shortest tenure of any Prime Minister in France's Fifth Republic. The no-confidence motion wa

Brian Thompson, the CEO of US-based UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on Wednesday morning. Thompson, 50, was walking toward the hotel to deliver a keynote address at an investor conference when a gunman ambushed him. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, a white male wearing a hooded jacket and a black mask, approaching Thompson from behind and firing several shots with a semi-automatic handgun fitted with a silencer. Thompson was str

Gujarat opener Urvil Patel has made history by smashing his second T20 century in just six days, achieving the feat in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Uttarakhand at the Emerald High School Ground. Patel reached his hundred in just 36 balls, leading Gujarat to an easy eight-wicket win in 13.1 overs. His 115* off 41 balls, which included eight fours and 11 sixes, propelled Gujarat to chase down 183 with 41 balls to spare. This remarkable feat comes just a week after Patel scored

PV Sindhu, the renowned double Olympic medallist badminton player, is all set to marry Venkata Datta Sai, an executive director at Posidex Technologies, on December 22, 2024, in Udaipur. The announcement comes just days after Sindhu clinched the Syed Modi International title, marking the end of her long trophy drought. Wedding events will commence on December 20, with a reception planned in Hyderabad on December 24. Sindhu’s father, PV Ramana, explained that the fami

In a rain-affected pink-ball warm-up match in Canberra, Sam Konstas emerged as the standout performer for Australia's Prime Minister's XI, scoring a brilliant century against the Indian side. Despite India's dominance throughout the fixture, Konstas showcased his potential as a promising cricketer, drawing attention to his skills and his confidence in facing top-level bowling. Notably, India’s marquee pacer Jasprit Bumrah was rested from the practice match, meaning Konstas d

The Indian Rupee has depreciated to a record low of 84.61 against the US Dollar, marking a fresh setback for the currency. This comes after former US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they fail to continue using the US Dollar. Trump's demand for a commitment from BRICS countries not to create a new currency or back alternatives to the dollar has put additional pressure on global markets, including the Indian Rupee. Along with this geopolitical

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently made a strong statement about the importance of following parliamentary rules, declaring that any deviation is akin to sacrilege against the "temple of democracy." During a session on Thursday, he responded to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh’s question about how to "persuade the chair" by emphasizing that the chair is historically persuaded by members' adherence to the rules. Dhankhar stressed

A controversy has erupted surrounding director Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), with reports claiming that the Andhra Pradesh police are searching for him, suspecting him of evading arrest. However, RGV has strongly denied these rumors. In a recent statement, he clarified that he is not absconding but is working on film-related tasks. He went on to state that no one had attempted to arrest him and that the police had never raided his office, famously known as 'Den' in Hyderabad. Addre

A recent survey by global real estate services firm JLL reveals that Indian organisations require more office attendance compared to the global average. According to the Future of Work Survey 2024 – India Insights, 90% of Indian employers mandate at least three days of office presence per week, which is higher than the global average of 85%. Moreover, over half (54%) of Indian organisations anticipate an increase in the number of office days by 2030, surpassing the global expec

Mohammed Shami has limited time to convince selectors to include him in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with just under a week to prove his fitness. The fast bowler, who has returned to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury layoff, has impressed in his first Ranji Trophy match but now faces evaluation through Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is closely monitoring Shami's recovery, with a particular focus on his fitness