The arrival of New Year’s 2025 will be celebrated across the globe, starting with the Pacific island nations and moving westward as the clock strikes midnight in each time zone. The very first to welcome 2025 will be Kiribati, specifically Christmas Island (Kiritimati), at 5:00 am EST (3:30 pm IST). This remote island, located in the Pacific Ocean, enjoys the honor of being the first in the world to c

Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed that a Ukrainian naval drone had successfully destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged another in the Black Sea near Crimea. The attack took place near Cape Tarkhankut, where a Magura V5 maritime drone, equipped with missiles, targeted the Russian aircraft. This incident is notable as it marks the first time a Ukrainian naval drone has downed an aerial target, underscoring the increasing use of drones in the ongoing conflict. Whil

Elon Musk, known for his online antics, caused a stir on the internet when he changed his X (formerly Twitter) account name to ‘Kekius Maximus’. Along with the name change, Musk updated his profile picture to a humorous rendition of the iconic ‘Pepe the Frog’ meme, dressed in gold armor and holding a video game controller. The meme’s association with internet culture has made it widely recognized, and Musk’s choice to feature it on his profile added fuel to

As the US tourism industry struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels, the hospitality sector has found hope in the rising number of Indian visitors. In 2024, nearly 1.9 million Indians traveled to the US, marking a 48% increase from 2019, driven by a rise in business and leisure visas. This influx is supporting the recovery of US tourism, with hotels and travel companies adjusting their offerings to cater to Indian tastes, such as providing chai and samosas in hotel lobbies and airing popula

Ringing in the new year often means refreshing our look, but 2025 is shaping up to be a year of bold transformation. Experts predict that this year's hair color trends will be all about experimentation and self-expression. As Cass Kaeding, celebrity stylist and K18 ambassador, puts it, "2025 is the perfect time to try something new and exciting with your hair color." Here are the 11 hair color t

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the media and entertainment industry, expressing his support for the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment (WAVES) 2025 summit. Shah Rukh shared a message on X, stating that the WAVES 2025 summit would “champion and foster creativity.” In response to PM Modi's tweet, Shah Rukh said, "I eagerly look forward to WAVES—a summit for the film and entertainment world to be held in

A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a historic first in the country. The Seoul Western District Court granted the warrant after an investigation into Yoon’s decision to impose martial law on December 3. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials confirmed the court's approval, making this the first time an arrest warrant

The US Treasury Department confirmed that a China state-sponsored actor was responsible for a recent cyber breach, compromising its workstations and some unclassified documents. The incident occurred earlier this month when the actor gained access through a third-party cybersecurity provider, BeyondTrust. Once the breach was detected, Treasury swiftly contacted the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and began working with law enforcement to investigate the incident and assess

The U.S. Treasury Department recently suffered a major cybersecurity breach attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor. The hackers gained remote access to certain Treasury workstations and unclassified documents, sparking concerns about the potential theft of sensitive information ¹.   The breach was discovered on December 8, when the Treasury Department

With New Year's Eve celebrations in full swing, cities across India are taking extra precautions to ensure safety and prevent road accidents. Police in major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Hyderabad, have issued detailed advisories to discourage drunk driving and manage the heavy traffic expected as partygoers head home late at night. The guidelines aim to ensure a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone, while keeping dangerous driving behaviors in check. In Mumbai

A remarkable new attraction has been inaugurated in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu: a 77-meter-long, 10-meter-wide glass bridge connecting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the 133-feet high Thiruvalluvar statue. This bridge, touted as the first of its kind in India, offers an extraordinary experience, allowing visitors to walk above the sea while enjoying panoramic views of both monuments and the surrounding waters. The project, costing Rs 37 crore, was completed by the Tamil Nadu state g

Non-Resident Indian (NRI) deposits have seen a significant surge, with inflows reaching $12 billion in April-October FY25, almost double the amount deposited during the same period last year ¹. This growth is attributed to the three main NRI deposit schemes: Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits, Non-Resident External (NRE) deposits, and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) deposits.  

Pausha Maas: Significance, Festivals, and Worship Practices Pausha Maas, the tenth lunar month in the Hindu calendar, holds great significance for Hindus. This month, corresponding to December or January in the Gregorian calendar, is marked by the shifting Lunar cycles, which cause the start and end dates of Pausha Maas to vary annually. It is a winter month associated with the Hemant Ritu (cold season

Germany's government has accused US billionaire Elon Musk of attempting to influence the upcoming February elections by publicly supporting the far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD). Musk, who is known for his support of US President-elect Donald Trump, made headlines earlier this month by claiming that "only the AfD can save Germany" on his social media platform X. He further solidified his stance with an opinion piece in a German Sunday newspaper.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recently addressed Chief Minister Atishi in a letter filled with both praise and sharp criticism directed at her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal. Saxena expressed disappointment over Kejriwal's remark calling Atishi a "temporary Chief Minister," emphasizing that such a comment disrespects the democratic principles laid out by India's Constitution. He clarified that there is no such position, calling the remark an insult to the President of In

Richest and Poorest Chief Ministers According to a recent Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report, Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is the wealthiest CM in India, with assets exceeding Rs 931 crore. In stark contrast, West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee is the poorest, with assets valued at just Rs 15 lakh. Average Assets and Comparison to National Income The report highlights

Surge in Norovirus Cases Norovirus cases in the United States have surged, with 91 reported infections in just one week this December, more than double the usual count in the past three years. The spike in cases mirrors trends in Minnesota, where infections have also been reported at more than double the usual rate for December. What is Norovirus? Often called the stomach flu, Norovirus is a highly contagi

India’s Rising Defence Exports India’s defence exports have seen remarkable growth, with a ten-fold increase over the last decade. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India’s exports now exceed Rs 21,000 crore, compared to just Rs 2,000 crore ten years ago. He outlined a vision to increase this figure to Rs 50,000 crore annually by 2029, demonstrating India’s ambition to become a global leader in defence manufacturing. Emphasis on Technologic

New Taliban Order on Women Employment in NGOs The Taliban government has declared that all national and foreign NGOs in Afghanistan must stop employing women or face being shut down. This decision follows a previous instruction to suspend female employment due to the alleged improper wearing of the Islamic headscarf. NGOs that fail to comply with this order will lose their licenses to operate in Afghanistan, as per a warning issued by the Ministry of Economy on Sunday. Impact

Pakistan's Largest Nuclear Power Plant Pakistan has received approval to construct its largest nuclear power plant, the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5), after the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) issued the construction licence. With a capacity of 1200 MWe, C-5 will be a significant addition to Pakistan’s nuclear energy infrastructure, contributing substantially to the country’s electricity supply. Design and Safety Features of C-5