A recent report by global analytics firm FICO has highlighted the increasing threat of scams in India's real-time payments (RTP) ecosystem. According to the survey, over one-third (34%) of respondents have lost money to scams, paying for goods, services, or investments that were never delivered. The report further reveals that 60% of respondents have received messages from scammers, and 54% reported that friends or family members have been scammed. Despite fewer people reporting

With the Modi government set to present its second full budget for the third term in power, the middle and lower-income groups across India are hopeful for key reforms that could alleviate their financial burdens. The anticipated reforms in Budget 2025 include tax relief measures, simplification of income tax laws, and a focus on financial literacy, insurance, and retirement savings. Key Expectations from Budget 2025 Insurance Sector Reforms:

Retirement Planning: More Than Just Accumulating Wealth Retirement isn’t just about saving money, but ensuring it lasts through the years, considering inflation, medical expenses, and market fluctuations. A 2024 survey revealed that 68% of Indians aged 45-60 feel financially unprepared for retirement. The key to a secure retirement lies in managing investments wisely. The Reality of Retirement in India A large number of retirees

Elon Musk is being sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly violating securities laws related to his purchase of Twitter shares in 2022. The SEC claims Musk waited 11 days beyond the required 10-day window to disclose that he had acquired more than 5% of Twitter’s common shares. According to SEC regulations, investors must inform the public of their significant stake

The UK government is taking decisive action to protect women and girls from the harm caused by sexually explicit deepfakes. In a new proposal, individuals who create or share these images could face criminal charges. This initiative aims to close existing legal gaps by criminalizing the taking and sharing of intimate images without consent. Under the new law, perpetrators could face up to two years in prison. Currently, sharing or threatening to share intimate images, including deep

A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a historic first in the country. The Seoul Western District Court granted the warrant after an investigation into Yoon’s decision to impose martial law on December 3. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials confirmed the court's approval, making this the first time an arrest warrant

The Indian rupee weakened by 10 paise to a record low of 85.12 against the US dollar on Monday, marking a significant decline in its value. The domestic currency opened at 84.85, according to Bloomberg data, and had closed at 85.02 on Friday. This continued depreciation comes amid rising global pressures, including an increase in Brent crude prices, which rose 0.41% to $73.24 per barrel. The rise in crude prices was partly driven by easing concerns about a potential US government shutdown and

Australia is introducing new rules to compel large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and TikTok, to pay local publishers for news content. These companies, whose annual Australian revenue exceeds $250 million, will need to negotiate commercial deals with media organizations or face increased taxes. This move builds on the world-first law passed in 2021, which forced tech giants like Meta and Google to pay for news content shared on their platforms. The new rules aim to pressur

Kim Yong-hyun, the former South Korean Defence Minister, was arrested on Tuesday after attempting suicide just before his formal detention. The former minister is under investigation for his role in the failed martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3. He attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center using his clothing, but his life is not in danger. Mr. Kim is facing charges, including insurrection and abuse of authority for obstructing rights during

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

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing a possible overseas travel ban as authorities investigate his controversial imposition of martial law last week. The ban is part of an expanding probe into potential rebellion charges after Yoon deployed special forces troops in Seoul, plunging the nation into political turmoil. South Korean police, prosecutors, and anti-corruption agencies, including the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, have requested

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

The bail hearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the Hindu priest accused of sedition in Bangladesh, has been postponed until January 2, 2025, after no lawyers appeared in court on Tuesday. This delay follows reports that a Bangladeshi lawyer defending the Hindu monk was brutally attacked at his home by Islamists and is now in the Intensive Care Unit. According to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the lawyer’s attack has made it impossible for him to rep

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

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, has strongly condemned the arrest of a Hindu priest and the violence in the country that followed. She demanded the immediate release of the arrested Hindu priest, describing the action as unjust. Hasina also spoke out about the death of a lawyer in Chittagong, who was killed during clashes related to the protest over the priest’s arrest. She condemned the rise in religious and communal violence, pointing out that temples, mosques,

A major legal battle is unfolding as Gautam Adani, the Indian business magnate, and several of his associates face a $265 million bribery charge in the United States. This indictment, which also implicates his nephew Sagar Adani and executives from an Indian renewable-energy company, is raising significant questions about the extraterritorial application of US laws, especially since those involved do not reside in the US. Prominent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra highlighted the

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

Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan recently launched a scathing attack on his cabinet colleague, home minister Vangalapudi Anitha, over the functioning of the police department. This move has sparked debate among analysts, who believe that Kalyan may have overstepped his boundaries as an alliance partner. While Kalyan's concerns about the breakdown of law and order and atrocities against women are valid, some analysts argue that he should have

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