On May 22, 2004, Dr. Manmohan Singh, clad in his signature white kurta-pyjama and blue turban, was sworn in as India's 14th Prime Minister at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This moment was a political surprise, as Sonia Gandhi, despite leading the Congress-led UPA coalition to victory, chose not to assume the role due to political resistance and personal reasons. Instead, she stepped aside in favor of Dr. Singh, a respected economist with no mass political base. Dr. Singh’s rise

Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was hospitalized on Monday at Georgetown University Medical Center for testing and observation after experiencing a fever. His deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, shared the news on social media, assuring the public that Clinton remains in good spirits despite the health scare. The 78-year-old former president has a history of health issues. In 2004, Clinton underwent a quadruple bypass surgery at age 58 due to extensive heart d

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

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was discharged from a Sao Paulo hospital on Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage. The 79-year-old leader made a surprise appearance at a news conference where he assured reporters, "I am here in one piece... returning home calmly." He smiled and waved as he left Hospital Sirio-Libanes, where he received treatment. The surgery, which took place on Tuesday, was necessary after Lula fell

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

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

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

This morning, an attempted assassination of Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal took place at the Golden Temple, but quick action by security personnel prevented any harm. Badal, who was performing sewadar duties after being punished by Akal Takht for mistakes during the Akali Dal's tenure, was approached by a man identified as Narain Singh. Singh, who had concealed a firearm in his pocket, tried to shoot Badal but was stopped just in time. Alert sewadar personnel noticed the sh

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm. Hunter Biden had also pled guilty to federal tax charges, admitting to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. President Biden expressed that his decision to pardon his son came after years of what he described as unfair, politically motivated prosecution. Biden stated that he had pr

A royal clash erupted at the Udaipur Palace on Monday evening, stemming from a long-standing dispute within the Mewar royal family regarding the management of royal palaces and temples. The conflict escalated when Vishvraj Singh, the newly crowned Maharana of Mewar, was denied entry into the palace by the trust managed by his uncle, Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar, and cousin, Dr. Lakshya Raj Singh. This denial led to a confrontation, resulting in three injuries and heightened security at the pala

Recently re-elected for a second term, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has suggested to House Republicans that he might consider pursuing an unprecedented third term. Known for making bold statements, Trump said, “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you (supporters) say otherwise,” stirring excitement among his audience at a Washington, D.C., hotel event ahead of his meeting with President Joe Biden. While the U.S. Constitution restricts any president to two terms, q

Gold prices have been on a downward trend since the US presidential election, with December future contracts opening lower on MCX. The price of gold fell by 0.37% to Rs 76,369 per 10 grams, while silver prices also dropped by 0.24% to Rs 90,601 per kg. In the last two days, gold prices have plummeted by Rs 2,100 per 10 grams and silver prices by Rs 4,050 per kg. According to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd (IBJA), the current prices for different carats of gold are a

Donald Trump is on track to make history as the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote in a U.S. presidential election. His victories in key swing states like North Carolina and Georgia have solidified his path to the presidency, narrowing Vice President Kamala Harris's chances of reaching the White House. If confirmed, Trump would become the first Republican since George W. Bush in 2004 to win the popular vote, marking a significant milestone in American politics.

Sri Lanka has recently elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake as its new President in a historic presidential election, marking a significant recovery from the economic turmoil experienced in 2022. Dissanayake, a leftist leader with Marxist ideology, achieved a remarkable feat, securing 42.3% of the votes despite lacking prior political experience in high-ranking positions. In the 2019 presidential elections, Dissanayake garnered less than 3% of the vote, indicating a stark contrast to hi

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff, effective September 30, 2024. This significant transition will see him succeed the outgoing Chief, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who will demit office on the same day. Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Singh brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 1984, Singh’s career spans sever

In a recent development, Mahavir Singh Phogat, the acclaimed wrestling coach, voiced his discontent with his niece, Vinesh Phogat, over her sudden shift from wrestling to politics. Vinesh, who was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a slight weight issue, has announced her retirement from wrestling and her candidacy for the Haryana Assembly elections with the Congress party. Mahavir Singh Phogat believes that Vinesh’s focus should have remained on achieving Olympic glory ra

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently unveiled a commemorative Rs 100 coin to celebrate the birth centenary of M. Karunanidhi, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The event, which took place in the presence of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, was intended to honor Karunanidhi’s significant contributions to Tamil Nadu and Indian politics. The release of the coin marks a notable tribute to a key political figure in the state’s history. However, the commemorative gesture has