The City of Dallas has officially named Justin Ball as the next Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), making him the 18th person to hold the position in the department’s long-standing history. Ball, who has been serving as interim chief since June 2024, was selected from a competitive pool of 32 candidates and is set to formally take over as chief on April 23, 2025. A native of northeast England, Chief Ball brings with him nearly three decades of experience within the Dallas Fire-Rescue De

  In the early months of 2025, U.S. consumer spending on air travel, hotels, and restaurants saw a notable decline, signaling a shift in spending habits amid economic uncertainty. According to data from Bloomberg Second Measure, U.S. consumer spending on air travel dropped by 10% in February 2025, while spending on hotels decreased by 6%, compared to the same time last year. In addition, restaurant spending saw a 3.5% decrease, further highlighting

India has strongly rejected Pakistan's recent accusations of "sponsoring terrorism," following Islamabad's attempt to blame New Delhi for backing terror activities. The statement came in response to Pakistan's allegations linked to the recent Balochistan train attack, which claimed the lives of 21 passengers. However, Pakistan stopped short of directly linking India to the attack, instead shifting blame toward Afghanistan. In a firm response, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperso

IDBI Bank has announced its Recruitment 2025 drive to fill key leadership roles in the organization. The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) is inviting applications for three positions: Chief Economist, Head - Data Analytics, and Deputy Chief Technology Officer (Channels). These positions will be offered on a contract basis.   Vacancy Details and Key Roles The following posts are open for applications in the IDBI Bank Recruitment 202

Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all Texas state employees to return to the office full-time, marking a significant shift away from the remote work arrangements many have relied on since the pandemic. While Abbott has not set a strict statewide deadline, individual agencies are implementing their own return-to-office timelines, with some requiring employees to be back at their desks by March 31, 2025. This move has sparked mixed reactions among state employ

Post Office Savings Schemes remain one of the most trusted investment options in India, offering secure returns backed by the government. Many of these schemes not only provide financial security but also offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Investors can claim a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh per financial year when investing in these schemes, making them an attractive option for tax planning.However, these deductions are applicable only under the old tax reg

Fixed deposits have long been considered a safe and reliable investment option in India, particularly among conservative investors. However, declining interest rates and rising inflation have made it increasingly difficult for FDs to offer returns that outpace the rising cost of living. With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reducing the repo rate, banks have responded by lowering FD rates, prompting investors to explore other options that provide higher returns while maintaining financial secu

The Union Budget 2025 has brought a major tax relief for the middle class, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing that individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh annually will have zero tax liability under the new tax regime. Additionally, salaried individuals can claim a standard deduction of ₹75,000, effectively making income up to ₹12.75 lakh tax-free. This move is aimed at simplifying tax compliance and increasing disposable income for millions of taxpayers.  

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its latest bulletin released on February 19, stated that the tax cuts in the Union Budget 2025, along with moderating inflation, are expected to provide financial relief to the middle class and boost overall household spending. This announcement comes after the February Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, where the newly appointed RBI Governor, Sanjay Malhotra, emphasized the positive economic impact of the tax relief measur

Rajiv Kumar’s tenure as Chief Election Commissioner of India, beginning in May 2022, has seen multiple landmark elections, including the 2023 Karnataka and Telangana polls and the 2022 presidential elections. His leadership has faced ongoing scrutiny, with opposition parties alleging bias towards the ruling BJP and raising concerns about the integrity of the election process, particularly regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Despite the criticism, Kumar has defended the election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Joint Base Andrews airbase in Maryland, United States, on Wednesday (local time) for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This visit comes at a crucial time in international affairs, as both nations are looking to strengthen ties and address shared challenges on the global stage. The arrival at a key military and administrative facility underscores the significance of the trip, symbolizing not only a routine diplomatic vis

The Andhra Pradesh Excise Department recently implemented a marginal increase in the prices of certain liquor products, prompting immediate reactions from political leaders. YSR Congress Party (YCP) leaders accused the AP government of committing a major mistake by raising liquor prices. However, Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra swiftly countered these claims.   Minister Ravindra clarified that the price hike only affects hard liquor, and even then, it is a modest ₹10 in

Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy Chief Minister, has officially started his Sanatana Dharma tour following his recovery from high fever and spondylitis. After a brief medical absence, Kalyan departed from Begumpet airport this morning and landed at Kochi airport a short while ago.The tour, which will last for four days, marks his return to full health and is dedicated to visiting prominent temples across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Today, he will be visiting the Agastya Maharshi Temple in Kochi, which wil

Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara has confirmed that a meeting will be held on Wednesday to finalize the draft ordinance designed to protect borrowers from microfinance companies operating in the state. Once the draft is ready, it will be presented to the cabinet on Thursday and sent for approval to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The ordinance aims to curb the menace caused by microfinance companies, which have been allegedly using aggressive and unethical methods to rec

Inspeq AI, a Dublin-headquartered AI-safety startup, has officially launched its operations in India, opening its first office in Bengaluru. This move marks the company’s expansion into the Indian market, with plans to scale its operations by hiring 50 additional employees across engineering, operations, and client-facing roles. The Bengaluru office, which currently has 25 staff members, is Inspeq AI’s third global office, following those in Dublin and London. Founded in

K. T. Rama Rao (KTR), the former IT Minister of Telangana, has been at the center of an ACB investigation regarding allegations in the Formula E car race project. During a lengthy questioning session, KTR was asked over 80 questions about his involvement in the allocation of funds to private companies without seeking the necessary approvals from the Telangana Cabinet or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). While KTR admitted to approving the funds, he justified his actions as a quick decision, ca

On Thursday, Lebanon’s parliament elected General Joseph Aoun, the country’s army chief, as president, filling the vacant office that had remained unoccupied since October 2022. His election marks a shift in Lebanon’s political landscape and reflects a diminished influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group following the impact of the recent war with Israel. Aoun, who enjoys U.S. approval, received crucial backing from Hezbollah’s Shi'ite ally, the Amal Movement, a

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has raised serious concerns about the ongoing delays in the delivery of the Tejas fighter aircraft, calling for an urgent boost in private sector partnerships for defence product development. Speaking at the 21st Subroto Mukherjee Seminar, Singh emphasized that R&D in defence becomes irrelevant if it doesn't meet its timelines, pointing out how the Tejas project, conceived in 1984, still faces delays. Despite its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2016,

On Monday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna recused himself from hearing two significant pleas regarding the finalisation of the constitutions for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). These constitutions were drafted by former Supreme Court judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao. CJI Khanna informed the bench, which included Justice Sanjay Kumar, that he would not participate in the proceedings because of his prior involvement with the case in t

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu clarified that no action would be taken against Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) concerning allegations of bribery until concrete proof is provided. Speaking at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headquarters in Mangalagiri, Naidu emphasized the need for more evidence, especially as the case is still under investigation in the United States. He noted that the state government cannot act based on mere allegations and will await the outcome of the le