On Thursday, Syrian insurgents claimed to have entered parts of the central city of Hama after intense clashes with government forces that had lasted for three days on the city’s outskirts. While Syrian state media confirmed violent clashes in the eastern areas of Hama, they denied that insurgents had breached the city itself. The city of Hama has remained under full government control throughout the ongoing civil war, which began in March 2011. Its capture would be a significant blow t

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

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

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

Mangal, a plumber from Khairpur in Haryana’s Sirsa district, had his life transformed overnight after winning ₹1.5 crore in a lottery. His family, who had been living in a rented home for several years, erupted in celebration as Mangal returned home with the good news. Neighbors joined the festivities, with music and sweetmeats adding to the joy of the moment. For Mangal, this victory marks the realization of a dream. He has been buying lottery tickets for over five years, a

Brian Thompson, the CEO of US-based UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on Wednesday morning. Thompson, 50, was walking toward the hotel to deliver a keynote address at an investor conference when a gunman ambushed him. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, a white male wearing a hooded jacket and a black mask, approaching Thompson from behind and firing several shots with a semi-automatic handgun fitted with a silencer. Thompson was str