Rohit Sharma’s future in Test cricket has come under scrutiny after the Indian opener was left out of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. Officially, Rohit "opted to rest" from the game, but this decision has raised questions about his long-term role in the format. Sunil Gavaskar, one of India's cricketing legends, speculated that this might signal the end of Rohit's Test career, suggesting that the selection committee may look to younger players who can lead t

A Russian national, Anatoly Mironov, was arrested by Gujarat police in relation to a digital arrest scam where a businessman was duped of Rs 17 lakh. Mironov, a "gatekeeper" for a cybercrime gang, was involved in laundering proceeds from the crime, converting some of the funds into cryptocurrency. He had entered India on a tourist visa and was previously involved in a similar fraud case in Pune, Maharashtra. The scam began when a city-based businessman reported being extor

Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed that a Ukrainian naval drone had successfully destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged another in the Black Sea near Crimea. The attack took place near Cape Tarkhankut, where a Magura V5 maritime drone, equipped with missiles, targeted the Russian aircraft. This incident is notable as it marks the first time a Ukrainian naval drone has downed an aerial target, underscoring the increasing use of drones in the ongoing conflict. Whil

As the US tourism industry struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels, the hospitality sector has found hope in the rising number of Indian visitors. In 2024, nearly 1.9 million Indians traveled to the US, marking a 48% increase from 2019, driven by a rise in business and leisure visas. This influx is supporting the recovery of US tourism, with hotels and travel companies adjusting their offerings to cater to Indian tastes, such as providing chai and samosas in hotel lobbies and airing popula

India has initiated anti-dumping investigations into two Chinese products—nylon filament yarn and trimethyl dihydroquinoline (TDQ). The investigations were triggered by petitions from domestic companies, such as Century Enka Ltd., Gujarat Polyfilms Ltd., and Oriilon India Ltd., for nylon filament yarn, and NOCIL Ltd. for TDQ. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is looking into whether these cheap imports from China and Vietnam have caused material harm to local industries.

Eugene Spector, a US citizen originally born in Russia, was sentenced to 15 years in a Russian maximum-security prison this week after being convicted of espionage. According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Spector passed sensitive biotechnology and biomedical information to the United States, including state secrets, for the purpose of creating a genetic screening system targeting the Russian population. Spector had been serving a separate sentence for bribery before the espi

In 2025, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is set for a profound transformation driven by innovation, research excellence, and expanded global access. With the industry projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030, India aims to become a global hub for high-quality, affordable pharmaceuticals, focusing on areas like CAR-T cell therapy, mRNA vaccines, and biosimilars. Technological advancements like AI, machine learning, and precision medicine are expected to revolutionize drug discovery, manuf

In response to Russia's Christmas Day attack on Ukrainian cities and its energy infrastructure, President Joe Biden has instructed the U.S. Defense Department to maintain its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Biden condemned Russia’s actions, which were aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s power supply and endangering the country’s energy grid during the harsh winter. The attack, which involved cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones, is part of Russia’s ong

Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist shooter, recently made headlines after reports revealed her name was missing from the list of athletes nominated for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Bhaker, the first Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games, expressed surprise over the omission, but clarified that it could be due to a lapse on her part while filing the nomination. She emphasized that awards motivate her but are not her ultimate goa

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

The year 2024 has been a remarkable one for Indian sports, with several athletes bringing laurels to the country, including India's T20 World Cup win and Manu Bhaker's double medal victory at the Paris Olympics. The Indian government has revealed the nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor. Among the nominees are Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, who led the team to a bronze medal at th

Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has linked corruption under the UPA government as the primary cause of non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian banks. In a recent interview, Rajan explained that following the global financial crisis, several projects began facing severe delays due to corruption scandals, land acquisition issues, and other regulatory obstacles. These factors, he argued, significantly contributed to the rise of NPAs. Rajan praised the

Russia is shifting its focus toward building stronger diplomatic and military ties with countries like India, China, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, as its relations with the West continue to deteriorate. According to Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff, Moscow has lost trust in the United States and other Western powers, making arms control agreements increasingly irrelevant. Gerasimov criticized the "double standards" of the West, stating that trust is esse

A significant drug and arms seizure took place in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, as a result of a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army and local police. The operation, based on specific intelligence inputs, was carried out in the Chinotra area of the Tangdhar sector near the Line of Control (LoC). The search led to the recovery of approximately four kilograms of narcotics, including heroin-like substances, along with four pistols, six magazines, and other ‘war-like stores.

The Pakistan High Commission announced on Wednesday that it has issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims for a visit to the Shree Katas Raj temples in Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. The pilgrimage, scheduled from December 19 to 25, will allow Hindu pilgrims to visit this sacred complex of temples, also known as Qila Katas. The temples are a significant religious site for Hindus and are linked by walkways. These visits are part of the long-standing Pakistan-India bilateral protocol on

Indian cricket team spinner R. Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. Ashwin, who played a pivotal role in India’s rise to the top of Test cricket, made the announcement during a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma, after the game ended in a draw. Ashwin, with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, is the second-highest wicket-taker for India, following only Anil Kumble's record of

Finance Minister’s View on GDP Growth: In a recent statement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the lower-than-expected growth in India’s GDP for the September quarter, calling it a "temporary blip." She emphasized her confidence that India’s economy will regain strong growth in the upcoming quarters. Despite the slowdown in the second quarter, she highligh

A high-ranking Russian general, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, was killed in an explosion in Moscow on Tuesday. Kirillov, who served as the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops (RKhBZ), was killed by a bomb hidden in an electric scooter. The blast occurred outside a residential building on Ryazansky Prospekt, located about seven kilometers southeast of the Kremlin. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the explosion. The attack comes as Mosc

A shocking revelation from the Financial Times has disclosed that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime airlifted around $250 million to Moscow between 2018 and 2019. The cash, including nearly two tonnes of $100 bills and €500 notes, was flown to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport and deposited in Russian banks under sanctions. This move was part of Assad's efforts to bypass Western sanctions that isolated Syria from the global financial system. During this time,

Indian tourists may soon enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, with the new arrangement expected by spring 2025. Since August 2023, Indian travelers have already been eligible for e-visas, which are processed within four days. The upcoming visa-free travel agreement will further strengthen tourism ties between India and Russia. In 2023, Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors, placing India among the top five countries for easy travel access to Russia. Consultations between Mosc