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

Indian students have witnessed a significant decline in F-1 student visas issued by the United States in 2024. According to the latest data from the US State Department, the number of F-1 visas granted to Indian nationals dropped by 38% in the first nine months of the year. Specifically, 64,008 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students from January to September 2024, down from 1,03,495 in the same period in 2023. This represents the lowest number of F-1 visas granted since 2020, when the pande

US President-elect Donald Trump, known for his bold and often humorous remarks, joked about making Canada the "51st state" during a recent social media post. In the post on Truth Social, Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "Governor of the Great State of Canada." This came a week after a dinner between Trump and Trudeau at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. During the dinner, Trump raised the possibility of imposing a 25% tariff on

The Indian Rupee weakened by 13 paise, hitting a new record low of 84.86 against the US Dollar during trading on Tuesday. The currency had opened lower at 84.79, weakening by 6 paise from the previous day’s close of 84.73. This marks a sharp dip despite a recent positive momentum for the rupee last week, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held interest rates steady and announced measures to improve financial market liquidity. Monday’s announcement of Sanjay Malhotra as

The Coin’s Significance and Auction Details: A remarkable piece of history, the Roman gold aureus bearing the image of Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the assassins of Julius Caesar, is set to be auctioned in Geneva on Monday. This rare coin is expected to fetch over a million Swiss francs, with the starting bid set at 750,000 francs (approximately $852,000). Considered a numismatic treasure, the coi

On Day 1 of the second day-night Test between India and Australia in Adelaide, Mitchell Starc delivered a stunning performance, claiming three crucial wickets, including one with the very first ball of the day. India, after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss, found themselves under pressure in the opening session, ending at 82-4 by the break. The visitors were still riding high from their commanding 295-run win in the first Test in Perth, but Adelaide has been a fortress for Australi

An extraordinary series of events unfolded on Day 1 of the India vs Australia day-night Test in Adelaide, where KL Rahul was given two lifelines after seemingly being dismissed for a duck. The incident occurred when Rahul, who opened for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, appeared to have edged the ball into the hands of Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey off pacer Scott Boland’s delivery. However, it was later revealed that Boland had overstepped, and the delivery was a no-ball, granti

 The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough H-1B visa petitions to meet the annual cap. The cap includes 65,000 visas for regular applicants and an additional 20,000 for individuals holding US advanced degrees. With the lottery system in place for processing petitions once the cap is exceeded, many applicants will be notified if they were not selected. USCIS will send out non-selection notices through online accounts, with the

A major uproar occurred in the Rajya Sabha on December 5 after a bundle of cash was discovered in the seat of Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, informed the House that the cash was found by security officials during an anti-sabotage check after the House was adjourned the previous day. Mr. Dhankhar stated that the money was found in seat number 222, which is currently allocated to Singhvi, who represents Telangana. The incident has spa

Stock Market Opening and Index Performance: The U.S. stock market opened with little change on Thursday, following a strong performance the day before where all major indices hit record highs. The S&P 500 index, a broader market indicator, started flat at 6,089.03 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a slight 24.4 points, reaching 45,038.44 points. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq C

During the 15th VTB Russia Calling Investment Forum, President Vladimir Putin praised India’s economic progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, particularly the "Make in India" initiative. Putin emphasized how this initiative has helped strengthen India’s manufacturing sector and attracted foreign investments, which have significantly contributed to India’s growing global economic position. He drew parallels between India's Make in India

The Bombay High Court recently condemned the rising number of frivolous petitions filed to stall redevelopment projects, calling it the "cheapest method" to delay legitimate work. In this case, a 67-year-old tenant, Khimjibhai Patadia, filed a petition claiming tenancy rights to resist eviction from the 83-year-old Bubna bungalow in Kandivali, Mumbai. The property was set for redevelopment, with all other tenants already vacating. Patadia's claims were rejected by the court, whi

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to respond to a petition challenging the legality of the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024. The petition, filed by the All Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registrar and Kazi Association, contests the newly enacted law, which replaces the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935. The court has given the state government four weeks to respond and has stated that the issue of int

In a lighthearted yet controversial remark, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump reportedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. This came during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on November 29. The meeting followed Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada. During the discussion, Trudeau expressed concerns about the economic impact of the tariffs on Canada. In re

On Monday, the Biden administration informed Congress about its decision to approve the sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment to India, valued at approximately $1.17 billion. This move is aimed at boosting India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, enabling the country to better deter current and future security threats. The sale includes advanced systems such as Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), infrared

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, China announced on Tuesday that it would ban the export of several key materials, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States. These materials are vital for high-tech applications, including advanced electronics and military technologies. The Chinese Commerce Ministry's decision follows a recent expansion of the U.S. “entity list,” which now includes 140 Chinese companies—many based in China, though some

During a meeting at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump reportedly joked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about making Canada the 51st state of the United States. The two leaders were discussing serious issues, including trade imbalances and border security, which had become a focal point for the incoming administration. Trump had previously threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada did not address issues like illegal immigra

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has shared his insights on Marnus Labuschagne's recent dip in form, attributing it to tough conditions and strong opposition rather than any technical flaws. Gilchrist expressed confidence in Labuschagne's abilities, calling him a "class act" who has shown resilience in the face of challenges. Despite recent struggles, Gilchrist believes Labuschagne remains a top player in world cricket, having dominated for years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the country's 2025 budget, allocating $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) to national defence, which accounts for 32.5% of the total government spending. This marks a significant increase from last year’s budget, highlighting the ongoing strain the war in Ukraine has placed on Russia’s finances. The budget sets a new record, with military spending expected to account for over 6% of Russia's GDP. In contrast, expenditu

The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Tomoko Akane, strongly criticized both the U.S. and Russia for interfering with the court's investigations, accusing them of threatening the institution with economic sanctions and issuing arrest warrants for key officials. The remarks were made following the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others in connection to crimes in Gaza, which prompted backlash