The year 2024 has been a remarkable one for Indian sports, with several athletes bringing laurels to the country, including India's T20 World Cup win and Manu Bhaker's double medal victory at the Paris Olympics. The Indian government has revealed the nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor. Among the nominees are Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, who led the team to a bronze medal at th

The Sandhya Theatre controversy continues to escalate, with no resolution in sight. The issue has caught the attention of Telangana’s Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his cabinet ministers, who are actively discussing the matter. The controversy centers around a tragic incident in which a woman named Revathi lost her life, and her son remains critically injured, after a large crowd was gathered outside the theatre during the release of Allu Arjun's film. Cinematography Min

Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has linked corruption under the UPA government as the primary cause of non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian banks. In a recent interview, Rajan explained that following the global financial crisis, several projects began facing severe delays due to corruption scandals, land acquisition issues, and other regulatory obstacles. These factors, he argued, significantly contributed to the rise of NPAs. Rajan praised the

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, announced on Thursday his intent to strengthen relations with Pakistan, a step that could further strain the already tense ties between Bangladesh and India. Yunus, who met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a summit in Cairo, emphasized the importance of addressing unresolved issues stemming from Bangladesh’s brutal 1971 war of independence. The two countries, once united, split after a violent conflict, with Bangladesh la

 Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, is increasingly becoming involved in global politics, extending his influence far beyond the business world. In recent developments, Musk has met with Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, to discuss possible financial support, with Musk considering a $100 million donation to help the party. Farage has expressed admiration for Musk's political strategies, especially his cash incentives to encourage voter turnout, a tactic

A significant drug and arms seizure took place in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, as a result of a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army and local police. The operation, based on specific intelligence inputs, was carried out in the Chinotra area of the Tangdhar sector near the Line of Control (LoC). The search led to the recovery of approximately four kilograms of narcotics, including heroin-like substances, along with four pistols, six magazines, and other ‘war-like stores.

The Pakistan High Commission announced on Wednesday that it has issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims for a visit to the Shree Katas Raj temples in Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. The pilgrimage, scheduled from December 19 to 25, will allow Hindu pilgrims to visit this sacred complex of temples, also known as Qila Katas. The temples are a significant religious site for Hindus and are linked by walkways. These visits are part of the long-standing Pakistan-India bilateral protocol on

Indian cricket team spinner R. Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. Ashwin, who played a pivotal role in India’s rise to the top of Test cricket, made the announcement during a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma, after the game ended in a draw. Ashwin, with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, is the second-highest wicket-taker for India, following only Anil Kumble's record of

Finance Minister’s View on GDP Growth: In a recent statement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the lower-than-expected growth in India’s GDP for the September quarter, calling it a "temporary blip." She emphasized her confidence that India’s economy will regain strong growth in the upcoming quarters. Despite the slowdown in the second quarter, she highligh

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

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

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

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

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

After the historic NDA victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh election, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has been increasingly active in political affairs. Highly respected by CM Chandrababu Naidu and the NDA leadership in Delhi, Kalyan has become a prominent figure. However, recent reports have raised serious concerns as Kalyan's security and administration team received alarming phone calls threatening his life. The caller issued explicit death threats, using offensive and abusive language,

In a recent statement that has ignited a political firestorm, Vijayasai Reddy, the 67-year-old Member of Parliament, made provocative remarks about Chandrababu Naidu, predicting that the 74-year-old leader would be jailed if Jagan Mohan Reddy is re-elected as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He went further, questioning whether Naidu would even be alive by then, which has been widely condemned across the political spectrum. TDP spokesperson Varla Ramaiah quickly responded, expressi

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