Disease X is a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to refer to a hypothetical, yet-to-be-identified pathogen with the potential to cause a global pandemic. While no cases of Disease X have been identified, the possibility of such an outbreak raises significant concerns worldwide, especially in densely populated countries like India. With the rapid spread of diseases in today’s interconnected world, Disease X could pose a serious threat if preventive measures aren’t

Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will be contesting the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections from Jangpura, as announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Alongside Sisodia, civil services teacher Avadh Ojha has been named as the party's candidate for the Patparganj seat in East Delhi. This announcement comes with AAP’s release of its second list of 20 candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls, which are expected early next year. Last month, AAP had already released

India's foreign exchange reserves saw an increase to $658.1 billion for the week ending November 29, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This rise followed an eight-week decline, with a $1.5 billion increase from the previous week. In comparison, the reserves had dropped by $1.31 billion in the prior week, reaching $656.58 billion. Foreign investors have invested Rs 1.75 lakh crore into India's debt and equity markets in 2024. However, the month of November witness

The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed David Sacks, former PayPal COO and prominent podcaster, as the White House czar for artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. This newly created role will see Sacks guide the administration's policy on these crucial sectors, which are seen as vital for America's future competitiveness. However, the specifics of how this new role will function within the government remain unclear. Trump praised Sacks for his business acumen, intelligenc

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while receiving the 'India First' award at NDTV’s Indian of the Year ceremony, celebrated the crucial role of India's democracy in shaping the country's growth. He emphasized how democracy has brought forward voices from every part of the nation, not just metropolitan cities, giving equal representation to all sections of society. This inclusiveness, he argued, has been pivotal in driving India’s development. He also noted t

The Sanwaliya Seth Temple in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh recently witnessed an extraordinary wave of donations, making headlines for its record-breaking collection. Among the remarkable gifts were ₹23 crore in cash, a 1kg gold biscuit, and several smaller gold biscuits. Devotees also contributed unique silver items, including a silver pistol, silver handcuffs, and even a pure silver lock and key. Thes

Myntra has launched a new feature called M-Now, which enables customers to receive fashion, beauty, accessories, and home products within 30 minutes of ordering. This quick commerce initiative is available across a selection of 10,000 styles and is expected to expand to over 1 lakh styles within the next few months. The service is currently available in Bengaluru, with plans to extend it to other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune. M-Now aims to enhance the shopping experience by a

In response to improved air quality in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has eased pollution curbs. The CAQM announced the revocation of Stage-4 and Stage-3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire NCR, effective immediately. This decision comes after the Supreme Court allowed the relaxation, following consistent improvement in the air quality index (AQI) since November 29, with AQI levels falling below 300. Howev

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded senior bureaucrats in Delhi, including the Chief Secretary, for the delayed payment of dues to construction workers impacted by the city's construction ban aimed at reducing pollution. The court had ordered that workers should be compensated during the ban, which was imposed on November 18, but only partial payment had been made. The government had promised ₹8,000 to over 90,000 workers, but many had only received ₹2,000 as an immediate relie

Sri Lanka has committed to completing its foreign debt restructuring by the end of December 2023, aiming to address its $46 billion external debt. After defaulting on debt in April 2022, the country has been working on rebuilding its finances with help from an IMF bailout. Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando confirmed that debt restructuring, which has been delayed for over two years, is critical for the country's economic recovery. The restructuring includes international sovereign bo

Public health officials in California have announced a voluntary recall of all raw milk and cream products from Raw Farm, LLC after bird flu was detected in the dairy's raw milk. The recall affects all Raw Farm raw milk and cream currently available on retail shelves statewide. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued the recall after samples from the Fresno-based dairy tested positive for bird flu on November 21. This broader recall follows earlier, limited reca

India's practice sessions for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia have been closed to fans after a disruptive event during the team’s training in Adelaide. Fans, who were initially allowed to watch the training, became a source of distraction with rude comments directed at the players. The situation worsened during India’s session, where over 3000 fans gathered, overwhelming the practice facility. This caused a chaotic environment with players like

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

Devendra Fadnavis is poised to begin his third term as Maharashtra's Chief Minister, with an oath-taking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. This follows a period of suspense over the leadership of the newly-formed BJP-led Mahayuti government, which secured a sweeping victory in the recent state elections. Today, the BJP core committee officially finalized Fadnavis as its choice for Chief Minister, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding the post. Hi

In its ongoing efforts to reform public policies, the NDA government has now turned its focus on the education sector. Following changes in policies related to sand and liquor, the government is now preparing to revive an initiative aimed at reducing student dropouts in government junior colleges. IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh has announced plans to reinstate a government-funded mid-day meal scheme, initially introduced by the TDP in 2018. The program was designed to encoura

Donald Trump has said he would place very high taxes (100% tariffs) on goods coming from countries in the BRICS group if they try to replace the U.S. dollar in global trade. BRICS includes countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. Why is this happening? Some BRICS countries have been discussing the idea of creating their own currency to us

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

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing opposition lawmakers of undermining the state and threatening the stability of the nation’s governance. This move comes amid a fierce parliamentary conflict over the budget bill for the next fiscal year. The opposition Democratic Party has slashed key portions of the budget, including funds for national security, law enforcement, and Yoon's office, in a dispute that has paralyzed the legislative

In Mumbai, tensions remain high as the BJP and Shiv Sena navigate the selection of the next Maharashtra Chief Minister. Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met with outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde amidst ongoing discussions about leadership following the recent state elections. Fadnavis, widely regarded as a top contender for the position, is expected to be appointed as Chief Minister after BJP MLAs meet to choose their legislature party leader. However, the issue lies in conv