As 2025 approaches, India has already begun shaping its foreign policy for the year. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to travel to the United States to meet officials from both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump team, ahead of the U.S. power transition. Jaishankar is expected to discuss the Quad Summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump may attend, and potentially seek an early date for Trump’s visit to India. In addition to the Quad Summit,

Between April and November 2024, the Indian government dispersed Rs 3.08 lakh crore in income tax refunds, reflecting a significant 46% increase compared to the same period last year. As of November 22, about 98.35% of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed have been e-verified, with a record-breaking 69.93 lakh ITRs submitted on a single day, July 31. The total number of ITRs filed by November 22 stands at 8.50 crore, a 7.32% increase from the previous year. The introduction of innovation

After much anticipation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally revealed the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The prestigious tournament, set to be played in a hybrid format across Pakistan and Dubai, will kick off with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19, 2025, in Karachi. The tournament will conclude with the final on March 9, 2025, hosted in Lahore, with a backup plan for Dubai if India qualifies for the final. India's campaign will beg

Starting January 1, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer support Android devices running Android KitKat (version 4.4) or older. Meta has made this decision as the messaging app gets updated with new AI features that demand more advanced hardware. As a result, over 20 Android devices from brands like Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, and Sony will lose access to WhatsApp. The affected devices include models such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Motorola Moto G (1st Gen), HTC One X, LG Opt

Asus is set to launch new ROG Strix gaming laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 on January 6. The company released a teaser showing a laptop with RGB lighting that wraps around the bottom, offering a more vibrant underglow than previous models. Although Asus has not confirmed the exact model, rumors suggest that the company might unveil the ROG Strix 18 Scar and the ROG Strix G16. The ROG Strix 18 is expected to be powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285 HX processor and

As India prepares for the Union Budget of 2025-26, the finance ministry has highlighted the need for flexibility in fiscal policy, given the ongoing global economic and geopolitical challenges. While the fiscal deficit for FY26 is expected to be below 4.5% of GDP, there are concerns over the ability to accurately project receipts and expenditures in the current uncertain environment. The global situation has worsened, with escalating conflicts, further complicating fiscal planning.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Donald Trump raised concerns about the growing influence of China over the Panama Canal, warning that the US would not allow the strategic waterway to fall into "the wrong hands." His remarks were sparked by rising tariffs imposed by Panama on the use of the canal, which Trump criticized as excessive. The Panama Canal, originally constructed by the US and transferred to Panama in 1999, is a critical trade route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

On Sunday, US President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author, as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Krishnan, who has held leadership roles at major tech companies such as Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snap, will work alongside David O. Sacks, who will serve as the White House AI & Crypto Czar. Krishnan's role will involve ensuring that

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 55th GST Council meeting in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on Saturday, December 21. This meeting will focus on several important discussions related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. The agenda includes deliberations on taxability issues concerning food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato, and potential changes to GST rates on products like health insurance premiums, life insurance, wristwatches, shoes, and apparel. The cou

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in office, a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before January 20, 2025, due to concerns that Trump may reinstate or expand travel restrictions. This advice follows the previous travel bans imposed during his first administration, which restricted entry to the U.S. for citizens from certain predominantly Muslim countries. Many schools, including Ivy League institu

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, with 239 people on board, remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Boeing 777, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished after its last transmission at 40 minutes into the flight. Military radar showed it veering off course and flying back over Malaysia before heading south into the Indian Ocean. Despite extensive searches, no wreckage was found, and the mystery of its final location persists. A

India introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 to simplify the tax structure and reduce the tax burden. Recent data shows that the gross GST collection for October 2024 rose by 9% to ₹1.87 lakh crore, a record second-highest figure. However, a recent proposal by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST Rates Rationalisation suggests a new 35% GST slab on products like aerated drinks and tobacco, which has raised concerns. The proposal aims to target 'sin' products such as thos

Bangladesh's interim government has accused Adani Power of breaching a multi-billion-dollar agreement related to the supply of electricity from its coal-fired plant in India. The dispute centers on Adani Power withholding tax benefits that the power plant was entitled to under the agreement. The Indian company signed a deal with Bangladesh in 2017 to supply power from the Godda plant, but Dhaka claims that Adani Power failed to pass on the tax exemptions it received from the Indian govern

 A Cessna 208 passenger aircraft, operated by Kamala Air, lost control and crashed near Honolulu Airport in Hawaii on a training flight. The crash occurred in an industrial area when the plane lost altitude rapidly, made a sharp left turn, and collided with a vacant building. The incident tragically claimed the lives of passenger Preston Kaluhiwa and 22-year-old trainee pilot Hiram deFries. Following the crash, the aircraft caught fire, and a large plume of smoke rose from the

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially released the NEET UG 2025 syllabus, providing students with the essential framework for their preparations for the upcoming medical entrance examination. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) UG 2025 is the gateway for admission into undergraduate medical courses across India, including MBBS programs at prestigious institutions such as AIIMS and JIPMER. The syllabus, which covers three major subjects&mdash

Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $107,791, surpassing its previous peak from December 5, as optimism surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s support for digital assets and MicroStrategy’s inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 Index fueled the rally. On Monday, Bitcoin surged more than 4.8%, reflecting growing market confidence. This positive momentum was amplified by MicroStrategy’s announcement that it had purchased an additional $1.5 billion in Bitcoin, further solidifying the

A New York judge recently denied US President-elect Donald Trump's request to have his conviction for covering up hush money payments to a porn star thrown out on the grounds of presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan ruled that the immunity typically granted to presidents for official actions does not apply to the conduct involved in this case, which he deemed as "unofficial." This ruling keeps Trump's felony conviction intact, despite his legal team's attempt to use

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to finalize the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy during a virtual meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Under this model, India and Pakistan will not travel to each other's countries for ICC events. The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be played in Dubai, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. T

Elon Musk’s Tesla has become one of the top employers of H-1B workers, with over 1,700 H-1B visas approved for Tesla employees in 2020. This marks a significant reliance on skilled foreign workers as Tesla continues to grow. Musk’s early career began with illegal work on a student visa in the U.S., but now Tesla’s future is intertwined with the availability of H-1B workers, a visa program that is crucial for attracting talent to the tech industry. The Trump adminis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Prayagraj on Friday, hailed the 2025 Maha Kumbh as a "mahayagya of unity" that would elevate the country's cultural and spiritual identity. Addressing a public meeting, Modi emphasized that the Maha Kumbh brings people together, transcending caste and sect divisions. He inaugurated 167 significant development projects worth Rs 5,500 crore to enhance Prayagraj's infrastructure in preparation for the upcoming Kumbh Mela.