Ukraine has condemned FIFA after a map displayed during the European World Cup qualifiers for 2026 appeared to omit Crimea from Ukraine. The map, shown during the December 2024 draw for the joint-hosted tournament by the US, Mexico, and Canada, sparked backlash when it excluded Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy accused FIFA of supporting Russian propaganda and violating international law by "redrawing b

BEML Ltd. is working on an ambitious timeline to roll out India’s first indigenous bullet train by December 2026, as revealed by Chairman and Managing Director Shantanu Roy. The company has been tasked with designing and manufacturing the bullet trains for the highly anticipated Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. This project marks a significant milestone in India's railway history, with BEML focusing on building two prototypes. Roy emphasized the importance of intellectual property

Efforts are underway to secure the early release and repatriation of 14 Indian fishermen, including seven from Tamil Nadu, who have been detained in a Pakistani jail since January. Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin about the ongoing diplomatic efforts. This followed a letter from Stalin, dated November 20, urging swift action for the fishermen’s release. Jaishankar stated that the Indian government had raised the matte

Robots are increasingly becoming a part of everyday life, and in a groundbreaking development, China has introduced an advanced AI-powered spherical police robot known as RT-G. Developed by Logon Technology, the RT-G is designed to go beyond traditional surveillance and actively pursue and apprehend suspects. Unlike many Western models focused on monitoring, this robot can chase criminals, shoot nets, and even withstand falls from heights. The RT-G robot is equipped with advanced se

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized the Union Government for delaying financial assistance to Wayanad, which was severely affected by landslides in July. Nearly 400 people were killed in the disaster, and despite 100 days passing since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the affected villages, the state has not received any financial aid for rehabilitation. The Centre has been swift in helping other disaster-hit states, but Kerala’s requests for aid have been

In November, the median perception of current inflation among households increased to 8.4%, up by 30 basis points from the previous survey round in September, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Households’ Inflation Expectations Survey. Meanwhile, expectations for inflation over the next three months moderated slightly by 10 basis points, reaching 9.1%. However, households' expectations for inflation a year ahead inched up by 10 basis points to 10.1%. The survey

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 Indian Rupee has depreciated to a record low of 84.61 against the US Dollar, marking a fresh setback for the currency. This comes after former US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they fail to continue using the US Dollar. Trump's demand for a commitment from BRICS countries not to create a new currency or back alternatives to the dollar has put additional pressure on global markets, including the Indian Rupee. Along with this geopolitical

RBL Bank and Bajaj Finance Ltd. have mutually decided to stop issuing new co-branded credit cards following discussions that have taken place over the past month. While the change will not affect RBL Bank’s overall credit card business, it marks the end of a significant partnership that previously accounted for a large portion of RBL Bank’s card issuances. As of September 2023, Bajaj Finserv co-branded cards represented 41% of RBL Bank’s total credit card issuances.

As of October 2024, the Union government's fiscal deficit for the financial year 2024-25 stands at 46.5% of the total budgetary target, amounting to Rs 7.5 lakh crore. This is in line with the government's fiscal consolidation strategy, which aims to bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.9% of GDP for the year, an improvement from the previous fiscal year's target of 5.6%. The fiscal deficit gap, which represents the difference between government expenditure and revenue, is

The Finance Ministry is set to review the windfall tax on fuel exports, including petrol, diesel, and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), following the stabilization of global crude oil prices. The tax, introduced in July 2022, was implemented to address the substantial profits earned by oil refiners exporting fuel, which had an impact on domestic supplies. The review will assess the tax’s effectiveness and the revenue it has generated, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas already re

Mohammed Shami has limited time to convince selectors to include him in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with just under a week to prove his fitness. The fast bowler, who has returned to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury layoff, has impressed in his first Ranji Trophy match but now faces evaluation through Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is closely monitoring Shami's recovery, with a particular focus on his fitness

The Adani Group reported a record financial performance in the first half of the ongoing financial year and for the trailing twelve months, driven by its growing businesses in infrastructure, energy, and renewables. The group's net exposure to Indian banks stands at $11 billion, with equity now accounting for 63% of its total debt. This marks a reduction in the conglomerate's reliance on debt. The strong growth in the first half was fueled by Adani Enterprises' solar and

Recent studies by British scientists reveal that the Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving at an accelerating pace, shifting towards Russia. Over the past few decades, its movement has significantly increased from 15 kilometers per hour (kmph) between 1990 and 2005 to 50-60 kmph. This shift is particularly concerning for navigation systems like GPS, as the magnetic North Pole plays a critical role in guiding navigation tools, including compasses used by planes, boats, submarines, and smar

The Supreme Court of India today expressed grave concern over the alarming pollution levels blanketing northern India, as Punjab reported the highest number of farm fires this season, with nearly 1,000 fires detected in just one day. This came on the same day that the court scrutinized Delhi's air pollution, which had reached unprecedented levels. Hiren Jethva, an aerosol remote sensing scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, pointed out that the data collected betw

After cracking the whip on social media activists of the YSR Congress party for their alleged vulgar and obscene posts on social media against the TDP leaders and their alliance partners, the Andhra Pradesh police are now targeting film personalities who had targeted the TDP leaders during the YSRCP regime. On Wednesday, the Andhra Pradesh police served notice on ace director Ram Gopal Varma for posting derogatory comments and pictures on social media against TDP president N Chandrabab

The Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister, Payyavula Keshav, presented a Budget of Rs 2,94,427 crore for the financial year 2024-25, marking a 5.40% increase from the previous year. The budget allocation includes Rs 2,35,916 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 32,712 crore for capital expenditure. The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs 34,743 crore, with a fiscal deficit of approximately Rs 68,742 crore, accounting for 4.19% and 2.12% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) respectively.

As part of its commitment to the NDA coalition's promises made prior to the elections, the central government is actively working to halt the disinvestment process of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), commonly known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, there are ongoing efforts to ensure the plant remains operational amid concerns over financial viability and raw material shortages. Recent reports indicate that the B

Urbanization and severe traffic congestion have already contributed to poor air quality in Hyderabad, but the situation has worsened dramatically this Diwali season. The widespread use of firecrackers has led to a significant spike in air pollution, with particulate matter (PM) levels reaching alarming figures. Emissions from firecrackers have caused PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations to soar, elevating the air quality index to hazardous levels. In particular, areas like Kompally and S

Bitcoin surged past $73,000 on Tuesday, approaching its all-time peak as investors eagerly anticipated the upcoming U.S. presidential election. According to Coin Metrics, Bitcoin’s value recently climbed by 3.8%, settling around $72,333.10. Earlier, it spiked to $73,601.59, its highest point since March 14—the same day it reached its record price. This rise triggered significant short liquidations, totaling over $113 million in the last 24 hours, as reported by