The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been accused of sending over $2 billion in aid to Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, raising concerns over how U.S. foreign aid is allocated. The claims were presented during a House Committee hearing on USAID’s financial practices, bringing renewed scrutiny to the agency’s funding policies.   Additionally, reports suggest that USAID provided financial assistance to Falah-e-In

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has laid off hundreds of weather forecasters and federal employees, a move that has sparked widespread concern over public safety, disaster preparedness, and the future of extreme weather warnings in the U.S.. The job cuts primarily targeted probationary employees, including those working in National Weather Service (NWS) offices nationwide, where meteorologists provide crucial local forecasts and severe weather alerts.  

The World Bank has advised India to lower import tariffs, ease regulatory restrictions, and simplify trade processes to enhance its global trade competitiveness and attract foreign investment. In a report released on Friday titled the Economic Memorandum on India, the World Bank highlighted that high trade costs caused by import tariffs on intermediate and capital goods, as well as non-tariff barriers, are limiting India's participation in global value chains (GVCs).The report emphasized

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced major updates to the RuPay Debit Select Card, offering enhanced lifestyle benefits in fitness, travel, wellness, and entertainment. These new features will be effective from April 1, 2025, providing cardholders with complimentary airport lounge access, gym memberships, spa sessions, OTT subscriptions, and accident insurance coverage.RuPay Debit Select was introduced as a premium debit card offering exclusive privileges. In a circ

The battle between OpenAI and Meta in the artificial intelligence space has intensified with Meta’s announcement of a standalone AI assistant app. Following reports that Meta AI will soon have its own dedicated app, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to X (formerly Twitter) to react with a playful yet intriguing response.Altman reshared the CNBC report about Meta AI’s expansion and jokingly wrote, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app." He later added another remark referenci

Meta is preparing to launch a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI, which will join its existing suite of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. According to sources familiar with the development, the app is expected to debut in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant expansion of Meta AI beyond its current integrations.Meta AI was first introduced in September 2023 as a generative AI-powered assistant embedded into Meta’s platforms, enabling users to gener

Google has announced another round of job cuts, this time affecting employees in its People Operations (HR) and Cloud divisions. The move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations, reallocate resources, and focus more heavily on artificial intelligence development. This restructuring follows Google's commitment to investing heavily in AI infrastructure while simultaneously seeking cost efficiencies across different business units.According to a report by CNBC, Google has laun

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has made headlines with the launch of a bold new feature in its Grok 3 model: an uncensored AI voice interaction mode that allows users to engage in conversations with various personalities, some of which push the boundaries of ethical AI. Unlike other AI companies that impose strict content moderation, xAI is taking an open-ended approach, providing users with an experience that is largely unfiltered. This move has sparked excitement am

The Indian stock market is going through one of its worst phases in nearly three decades, with the Nifty 50 slipping 15% from its September peak. This marks its longest losing streak in 29 years, causing investor wealth to shrink by more than ₹90 lakh crore. On Friday, Nifty lost over 400 points, and the Sensex plunged by 1,400 points, sending shockwaves through Dalal Street.Investors are increasingly concerned about foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, small- and mid-cap stock de

The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, has presented a record-breaking budget for the financial year 2025-26. With an overall outlay of ₹3.22 lakh crore, this is the first time in the state's history that the budget has surpassed the ₹3 lakh crore mark. Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav introduced the budget in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, outlining major allocations aimed at boosting welfare programs, infrastructure, agriculture, and social developmen

The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a firm stand against drug peddling by introducing stringent measures under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This move comes after growing concerns regarding unchecked drug trafficking in the state during the previous administration. With the NDA-led government now in power, the authorities have made it a priority to curb the rampant drug menace that had reportedly flourished in recent years. One of the significant steps in this

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the subject-wise schedule for CUET PG 2025, with a record 4,12,024 candidates registered across 157 subjects. This year, the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduates (CUET PG) will be held from March 13 to April 1, 2025, in a computer-based test (CBT) format. The exam will take place across 43 shifts, with each day divided into three different slots.   CUET PG 2025 Exam Timings

As an 18-year-old Harvard freshman, Bill Gates had multiple job offers from major tech companies like General Electric, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and Honeywell. While these offers boosted his confidence, Gates acknowledges that accepting any of them could have altered the course of his life—potentially delaying or even preventing the creation of Microsoft, which is now a $3 trillion tech giant.Gates details this pivotal phase of his life in his new memoir, Source Code, publis

Lahore: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has set his sights on another massive victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as his team prepares to take on world champions Australia in their final group-stage match on Friday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.Coming off a thrilling eight-run victory over England, Afghanistan eliminated the defending champions from the tournament and strengthened their semi-final hopes. A win against Australia would guarantee Afghanistan a historic place i

Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his decision to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, tying them to border security concerns and trade imbalances. The tariffs, initially set for March 4, are now expected to take effect on April 2, giving businesses and trade partners a brief window to prepare.   Trump Links Tariffs to Fentanyl Crisis and Border Security During his first Cabinet mee

The family of Indian student Nilam Shinde, who is in a coma in the US following a tragic accident, has made an urgent appeal to the Indian government for a visa to be by her side.Nilam, 35, a Master of Science student, suffered severe fractures and head injuries after being hit by a four-wheeler in California on February 14. Her family in Satara, Maharashtra, learned about the accident two days later and has been struggling to secure a US visa since February 16. Vis

If you've switched jobs multiple times, there's a chance you may have more than one Universal Account Number (UAN) from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Managing multiple UANs can be confusing and may result in losing track of your provident fund savings. To avoid this, it's important to consolidate all your previous UANs into a single active account.   Why Do Employees End Up with Multiple UANs? There are

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs were stopped from entering the Delhi Assembly on Thursday after being suspended earlier this week for creating a ruckus in the House. The barricades placed at the entrance road to the Assembly complex prevented them from accessing the premises, further escalating the political standoff between the AAP and BJP in Delhi.Atishi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, condemned the move and accused the BJP-led Delhi government of dictatorial tactics. She to

Former US President Donald Trump has announced a significant shift in US immigration policy, introducing the ‘Gold Card’ visa program, which allows Indian graduates from US universities to secure jobs and eventually gain citizenship. This move is seen as a major boost for international students, particularly those from India, who have often struggled with restrictive visa policies despite their high qualifications.   The ‘Gold Card’ initiative, un

Actor-politician Posani Krishnamurali, a well-known supporter of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YCP), was arrested by Rayachoti police at his residence in Rayadurgam. Following his arrest, Posani was taken to Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh for further proceedings. His arrest has stirred political discussions as multiple cases have been registered against him in different police stations across the state.   The charges against Posani stem from his controversial r