Indian tourists may soon enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, with the new arrangement expected by spring 2025. Since August 2023, Indian travelers have already been eligible for e-visas, which are processed within four days. The upcoming visa-free travel agreement will further strengthen tourism ties between India and Russia. In 2023, Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors, placing India among the top five countries for easy travel access to Russia. Consultations between Mosc

Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has confirmed that general elections will likely take place by the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026. Yunus, who was appointed the country’s "chief adviser" after a student-led uprising in August toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is overseeing a temporary administration that is focused on restoring democratic institutions in the country. Yunus, 84, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance pioneer, h

Ahead of Bangladesh's Bijoy Dibosh, commemorating the country's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Liberation War, deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a sharp critique of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. She accused Yunus of leading a "fascist" administration that was "secretly supporting anti-liberation extremist-communal forces" and undermining the spirit of Bangladesh's independence. In her statement, Hasina poin

The Indian rupee opened at 84.83 against the US dollar on Monday, a depreciation of 4 paise compared to the previous close of 84.79. The decline in the rupee is largely attributed to the uncertainty following the announcement of a leadership transition at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Shaktikanta Das will be succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, sparking initial concerns in the market. However, markets quickly adjusted to the news, with experts noting that the RBI is closely monitoring banking sys

Switzerland has decided to suspend the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status granted to India, which could result in higher taxes for Indian companies operating in the country. Starting January 1, 2025, Indian companies will face increased withholding tax rates on income such as dividends and royalties generated in Switzerland. The new tax rules will impose a 10% tax on dividends earned by Indian entities. This move follows a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court in October 2023, which sta

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

On Friday, Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, firing 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones, marking one of the heaviest attacks on the country’s energy sector since the invasion began nearly three years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the assault as part of Russia’s ongoing strategy to terrorize millions of people and demanded a strong global response. Ukraine's air defense systems intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 cruise miss

On Thursday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received a bomb threat via email, which was written in Russian. The threat, sent to the RBI's official website, claimed that the bank would be blown up. Following the threat, a case was registered at the Mata Rambai Marg (MRA Marg) police station in Mumbai, and an investigation has been launched. This incident comes after a similar threat was made to the RBI through its customer care number on November 16, with the caller claiming to

The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing crucial updates for green card applicants, with a notable focus on Indian applicants. This bulletin offers insights into the availability of immigrant visa numbers, which are vital for individuals waiting in the green card queue. The limits for employment-based preference immigrants have been set at 140,000, while family-sponsored category immigrants have a cap of

India has achieved a major milestone by surpassing $1 trillion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) since the turn of the century. Latest data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) reveals that from April 2000 to September 2024, India attracted a total of $1,033.40 billion in FDI. This surge underscores India’s growing appeal as a global investment hub. Significant contributions have come from countries like Mauritius (25%), Singapore (24%), an

Telugu actor Allu Arjun has been arrested in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred outside a Hyderabad theatre during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which took place last month, led to the death of a woman and left others injured. The stampede broke out after Allu Arjun made an unscheduled appearance at the theatre, causing a surge of fans. The actor's unexpected visit reportedly led to a chaotic situation, resulting in the fatal incident.

Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old deputy general manager at a private firm in Bengaluru, tragically died by suicide on December 9, leaving behind a 24-page note accusing his wife and her family of harassment. In the note, Atul claimed that his wife had filed multiple false cases against him and his family since January 2021, causing immense mental anguish. He also alleged corruption within the judicial system, with a judge demanding ₹5 lakh to settle the case. Atul's father, Pawan K

Gold has experienced a remarkable rise in 2024, reaching 40 new record highs year-to-date and appreciating by over 28%. According to the World Gold Council (WGC), this surge has made gold the best-performing asset class globally, surpassing US stocks, emerging market stocks, US bonds, and even US currency. In the third quarter of 2024, gold demand exceeded $100 billion for the first time, showcasing its robust market position. Looking ahead to 2025, the direction of the US Federal R

The long-debated concept of "One Nation, One Election" has taken a significant step forward as the central cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for simultaneous elections across India. The government plans to introduce a bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament to implement the plan. The proposal has sparked differing opinions among political parties. While over 30 parties support the idea, Congress has raised concerns about the practi

In a landmark energy agreement, Russia’s state oil company Rosneft has committed to supply 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day to India’s Reliance for the next 10 years, worth approximately $13 billion annually. This deal represents about 0.5% of global oil supply and strengthens energy relations between India and Russia, especially as Russia faces intense Western sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine. The deal is set to begin in January and will involve monthly deli

Australia is introducing new rules to compel large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and TikTok, to pay local publishers for news content. These companies, whose annual Australian revenue exceeds $250 million, will need to negotiate commercial deals with media organizations or face increased taxes. This move builds on the world-first law passed in 2021, which forced tech giants like Meta and Google to pay for news content shared on their platforms. The new rules aim to pressur

 In light of US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariff measures on China, Canada, and Mexico, India is poised to capitalize on potential shifts in global manufacturing. With Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, manufacturers may seek alternative locations to bypass the 60% levy on Chinese goods. India, with its low-cost labor, skilled workforce, and growing tech sector, is an attractive destination for this shift. Invest

On Thursday, the Indian Rupee weakened to a record low of 84.88 against the US Dollar, following a series of declines this week. The rupee had opened flat at 84.85 for the second consecutive day, and this followed a similar trend on Wednesday when it closed at 84.84 after opening at 84.85. Earlier in the week, the rupee had weakened by 12 paise on Tuesday to close at 84.85, marking a new low. The domestic currency dipped to 84.73 on Monday, continuing its downward trajectory. Expert

The potential fall of Syria’s Assad regime poses a serious challenge for Russia’s foreign policy and military strategy. One of Moscow's most prized assets from its involvement in Syria has been its naval base at Tartus, located on the Mediterranean coast. However, recent developments, including the departure of Russian warships from Tartus, signal that Moscow's long-term access to this crucial facility is at risk. This would be a major blow to Russia, which has historicall

The batting form of India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been a major topic of discussion in recent months. Both have struggled with consistency, often getting out cheaply. Kohli scored a century in the first Test against Australia at Perth, but both he and Rohit failed to contribute in the second Test at Adelaide, where India suffered a heavy defeat. In the second Test, Kohli and Rohit combined for just 27 runs across four innings. Kohli was dismissed for 7 an