Gavaskar's Take on Samson's Omission Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2024. Despite a stellar record and calls for his inclusion, Samson was left out of the 15-man squad, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being preferred as the designated wicketkeepers. The omission has led to widespread criticism from fans and experts

Impact of China’s Export Restrictions on Indian Manufacturing: India’s manufacturing industry is facing significant disruptions due to China’s export restrictions, which are part of the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. These curbs primarily affect industries in India that rely on raw materials, machinery, and components from China, such as the solar po

Months before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented an interim budget in February to manage the government’s immediate financial needs. After the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third term, she unveiled the comprehensive Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 on July 23. While both budgets play a significant role in the nation's fiscal planning, their objectives and scope are different. An interim budget is a temporary financi

The Union Budget for the upcoming financial year is expected to include provisions for promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in India. According to sources, a special policy package for AI is being formulated, with a focus on AI-skilling schemes and the establishment of AI centres. Additionally, the budget is likely to allocate funds to support these initiatives, ensuring measures are in place to safeguard employment in light of AI's rapid advancement. The Ministry of Finance h

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has strongly rebutted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claims regarding the 2024 Indian elections, labelling them "factually incorrect." Zuckerberg, in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, suggested that most incumbent governments globally, including India's, lost in the 2024 elections due to post-Covid dissatisfaction. However, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a decisive third term in India, securing the trust

On Friday, Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as Venezuela's president, despite widespread accusations of election fraud and a growing wave of international opposition. Having served as president since 2013, Maduro has weathered numerous crises, including a collapsing economy, US sanctions, and ongoing protests. His controversial victory in the July 2024 elections was followed by violent crackdowns, which saw over 2,400 people arrested and at least 28 killed. This marks

Blue Origin's long-awaited New Glenn rocket is preparing for its inaugural launch on Sunday, signaling a major step forward for Jeff Bezos’ space company and a potential challenge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Standing 30 stories tall, New Glenn represents a significant multibillion-dollar effort by Blue Origin to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and capture a share of the growing satellite constellation launch market. If successful, New Glenn will also enable the deployment of A

Expansion of China's Trade-In Scheme China is extending its consumer trade-in program, originally launched in March 2024, to help stimulate demand in the struggling household sector. The scheme now includes additional home appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, and rice cookers. In an effort to boost the digital goods market, subsidies are also being offered for products like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Consumers who trade in old products can receive subsidies

Infosys, the major IT company, has postponed its annual salary hike for the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25, following the last increase in November 2023. This delay highlights the ongoing uncertainties within the domestic IT sector. One of the key reasons cited for the slowdown is the lack of increased IT spending from clients, influenced by macroeconomic factors, including potential tariffs under the upcoming Donald Trump administration. Infosys is not alone in this move, as other large IT com

A court in Bangladesh has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of enforced disappearances during her time in power. The new charges, which were announced by the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Tajul Islam, involve Hasina, her military adviser, and several law enforcement officials. Over 500 people were allegedly abducted by Bangladesh's security forces under her regime, with some of them detained in secret locati

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has opened applications for the 2025-27 MBA programme. Interested candidates can apply via the official websites acad.uohyd.ac.in and uohyd.ac.in. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2025. Applicants must have a minimum of a three-year first-class Bachelor's degree, with 60% marks or equivalent, and must have appeared for CAT 2024. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a Grou

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a series of transformative development projects in New Delhi. The initiatives include the opening of 1,675 newly constructed flats for residents of Jhuggi Jhopri (JJ) clusters under the slum rehabilitation program, aimed at providing better living conditions with modern amenities. In addition, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a new Veer Savarkar College at Roshanpura, Najafgarh, which will offer state-of-the-art facilities for h

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reported an impressive Rs. 1,365 crore in Hundi donations for the year 2024. The temple saw a significant number of pilgrims, with 2.55 crore devotees visiting the holy site. A remarkable 99 lakh devotees participated in the tradition of tonsuring their heads as an offering to Lord Venkateswara. TTD also ensured the spiritual nourishment of the devotees, with 6.30 crore serving of Anna Prasadam, a free meal provided to pilgrims. In addition, 12.14 cror

On Wednesday night, a mass shooting occurred outside the Amazura nightclub in Queens, New York, injuring at least 10 people. The shooting took place around 11:20 pm near the club in Jamaica, where approximately 80 people had gathered outside the venue. Although the victims sustained injuries, none are believed to be in critical condition, and they are all expected to survive. The injured were transported to Long Island Jewish Hospital and Cohen's Children Medical Center for treatment.

On New Year’s Day, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators gathered in New York City's Times Square to rally for an "intifada revolution." The protest was organized by groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the People's Forum. Attendees waved Palestinian flags and held signs that read slogans like "Zionism is cancer" and &qu

In 2024, the collective wealth of the world’s top 500 billionaires surged to a staggering $10 trillion, marking an unprecedented milestone. The year saw tech giants Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang dominate the wealth rankings, with their fortunes significantly boosted by a rally in US technology stocks. Tesla, Meta, and Nvidia stocks performed exceptionally well, contributing heavily to the increase in wealth. Musk, the wealthiest individual, saw his fortune soar to $442.1

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has launched its recruitment drive for 89 Junior Assistant (Fire Services) positions across India. Candidates interested in applying for these positions must meet the educational qualifications, which include being a 10th pass with a three-year approved diploma in Mechanical, Automobile, or Fire disciplines, or having completed their 12th standard (regular study). The online registration for the recruitment will close on January 28, 2025, and applicants ca

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially announced the date for the SSC CPO 2024 Paper 2 examination. Scheduled for March 8, 2025, Paper 2 will be an essential part of the selection process for Sub-Inspector (SI) positions in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Candidates are advised to regularly check the SSC official website for any updates or changes to the exam schedule. The SSC CPO selection process consists of four stages: Paper 1, Physical Stan

The highly anticipated OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to launch soon as the successor to the OnePlus Watch 2, which debuted at MWC 2024. Recent reports have revealed several features of the smartwatch, but a new update has introduced the possibility of a Pro variant. According to a report, the "OnePlus Watch 3 Pro" was discovered in the source code of the OHealth app, alongside the Oppo Watch X2 series monikers. This suggests that the OnePlus Watch 3 Pro and Oppo Watch X2 could share s

As the New Year 2025 approaches, many cultures around the world celebrate with traditional foods believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness for the year ahead. From lentils to fish, these foods symbolize various aspects of wealth, health, and good fortune. Whether you're looking to add a bit of cultural flavor to your celebrations or simply want to try something new, here are some popular New Year's foods from across the globe that are said to bring good luck. 8