Baidu has unveiled two powerful new artificial intelligence (AI) models — Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1 — marking a significant advancement in the company's AI capabilities. While Ernie 4.5 is the latest foundation model designed to excel in multimodal understanding, Ernie X1 is Baidu’s first “deep-thinking” AI model focused on complex reasoning and logic. The company has also announced that its popular chatbot platform, Ernie Bot, will now be free to access without

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

In a surprising political shift, Greenland's Democrats party secured a landmark victory in the 2025 parliamentary elections, significantly altering the country’s political landscape. The centre-right Democrat party, led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, more than tripled its seats, replacing the Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party as the largest party in Greenland’s Inatsisartut (parliament). The Democrats'

The landscape of relationships in India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Gone are the days when marriage was considered the ultimate milestone and divorce carried a heavy stigma. Social values, economic independence, and individual aspirations are now redefining how Indians view commitment, family, and relationships. For generations, divorce was rare in India, and remaining single was perceived as an unfortunate outcome rather than a conscious choice. However, changing attitudes hav

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Mauritius, marking a nostalgic return to the island nation where he had previously set foot in October 1998 as the BJP general secretary. This visit brought back memories of his earlier trip when he actively engaged with the Mauritian community and participated in key cultural events.   A Historic Connection: Modi's 1998 Visit to Mauritius Mauritius, often called ‘mini India’ due t

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

The fate of TikTok in the United States has taken a new turn as US President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is actively engaged in talks with four potential buyers over the sale of the popular video-sharing platform. The news follows heightened concerns over TikTok’s data security risks and its ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Speaking to reporters, Donald Trump stated, "We're dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it ... all

In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, yet another Chinese AI model has made headlines. Following the buzz created by DeepSeek’s R1 model, a new AI system called Manus is now generating significant interest in the tech world. Developed by the Chinese startup Monica, Manus is being compared to some of the most advanced AI models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. Manus is designed to function as an autonomous AI agent capable of completing complex tasks independently. Those who have experi

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

Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus has rejected concerns over strained relations between Bangladesh and India, asserting that the diplomatic ties between the two neighboring nations remain strong despite recent tensions. Yunus acknowledged that some conflicts have emerged but attributed them mainly to misinformation and propaganda rather than any fundamental changes in the relationship.In an interview with BBC Bangla, Yunus highlighted the historical, political, and ec

Finding love is never easy, and for divorced individuals in 2025, the journey remains a challenging one. Despite evolving mindsets and growing conversations around individual happiness, societal acceptance of divorce is still far from ideal. A survey conducted by Cosmo India, covering respondents between the ages of 25 and 44, revealed that 60% of individuals are single simply because they haven’t found the right person. For divorced women, the situation is even tougher, with 38% agreei

 This Valentine’s Day, as prospective brides and grooms prepare to unite their lives, discussing financial goals and aspirations is crucial for setting a solid foundation for a healthy marriage. Honest conversations about money help align values, reduce the chances of future conflicts, and create a framework for long-term financial success. Couples should focus on shared goals such as saving for emergency funds, planning for home buying, setting a budget for yearly expenses, and ad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to France has been marked by a warm reception and significant diplomatic engagements. Upon arriving in Paris, PM Modi was greeted with chants and drumbeats from the Indian diaspora, a gesture that reflected the deep ties between India and France. At a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders embraced and expressed their mutual admiration.   Modi’s visit aligns with the co-chairing of the third

 In his address at the IIC-Bruegel annual seminar, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the growing importance of a strong and strategic relationship between India and the European Union, particularly in a world that is increasingly volatile and uncertain. He noted that amidst the ongoing geopolitical challenges, including global conflicts and regional instability, fostering a closer India-EU partnership could play a key role in stabilizing global dynamics. Jaishankar point

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to the United States starting February 12, where he will engage in extensive talks with US President Donald Trump. The visit will take place shortly after Modi's two-day trip to Paris, marking the prime minister's first bilateral visit to the US since Trump's second term in office. The trip will provide an opportunity to strengthen ties between India and the US and discuss key issues, including trade, security,

India and China recently concluded a two-day foreign secretary-level meeting where several important decisions were made, marking a step toward stabilizing and rebuilding bilateral relations. The most significant outcome was the agreement to resume the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra during the summer, which has been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption of this sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake in Tibet is expected to ease tensions and foster people-

Trump's Tariff Announcement and Border Security: President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 25% on Mexico and Canada, effective February 1, 2025, arguing that both countries are contributing to illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the US. This move, part of his broader trade policy agenda, comes after his inauguration address, where he emphasized using tariffs to strengthen the US economy. However, such tariffs could risk igniting a trade con

Afghanistan has expressed its desire to enhance diplomatic relations with India, assuring that it does not pose a threat to any nation. In a statement after the first publicly acknowledged engagement between Kabul and New Delhi since the Taliban came to power, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry highlighted its intent to strengthen ties, particularly in political and economic spheres. The meeting, held in Dubai, involved Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan M

Republican Congressman Andy Biggs has reintroduced a bill in the US House of Representatives that seeks to revoke Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally. The bill stipulates that the U.S. president should not certify this status unless Pakistan continues to take significant military action against the Haqqani Network, a militant group that has long used Pakistan as a safe haven. The bill&

A significant high-level meeting took place in Dubai between senior Indian officials and the Afghan Taliban leadership. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India, while Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi attended on behalf of the Taliban government. The meeting, which is vital for fostering stronger bilateral relations, aimed to improve cooperation across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development, trade, and security. One of the