The World Bank has advised India to lower import tariffs, ease regulatory restrictions, and simplify trade processes to enhance its global trade competitiveness and attract foreign investment. In a report released on Friday titled the Economic Memorandum on India, the World Bank highlighted that high trade costs caused by import tariffs on intermediate and capital goods, as well as non-tariff barriers, are limiting India's participation in global value chains (GVCs).The report emphasized

 This Valentine’s Day, as prospective brides and grooms prepare to unite their lives, discussing financial goals and aspirations is crucial for setting a solid foundation for a healthy marriage. Honest conversations about money help align values, reduce the chances of future conflicts, and create a framework for long-term financial success. Couples should focus on shared goals such as saving for emergency funds, planning for home buying, setting a budget for yearly expenses, and ad

The chess world is embroiled in a growing feud as Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked grandmaster, leads a movement to decentralize top-level chess from the control of FIDE, the global chess federation. As Carlsen becomes the face of the rival Freestyle Chess movement, tensions have escalated further with a public spat from his rival, Hans Niemann. Niemann, the American chess prodigy who was at the center of a cheating scandal with Carlsen in 2022, openly attacked the Norwegian champ

World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4th, serves as a global initiative to raise awareness about cancer and encourage preventive measures, early detection, and better treatment. Millions of lives are affected by cancer every year, and through education, lifestyle changes, and advancements in treatments, the goal is to reduce cancer-related deaths significantly. A healthy diet plays a crucial role in cancer prevention, and certain foods have been shown to contain compounds that prot

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will begin the 2025 Class 10 and 12 board examinations on February 15. The exams will start at 10.30 am, and this year’s datesheet has been designed to help students manage both board and entrance exam schedules effectively. To reduce stress, CBSE has included sufficient gaps between exams for students taking common subjects, ensuring no overlap with Class 12 entrance exams. Preparation Tips for Students:

India’s U19 Women’s cricket team triumphed in the final of the T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by 9 wickets to win their second consecutive title. Playing in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, India showcased an outstanding all-round performance. South Africa, batting first, were bowled out for a mere 82 runs in 20 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling from the Indian team.   The bowlers made an immediate impact, taking back-to-back wickets early, which set the

In a thrilling semi-final clash at the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Parunika Sisodia’s inspiring spell has been pivotal in India’s effort to bring England back from a strong start. England, opting to bat first, had a solid beginning with Davina Perrin leading the charge. She scored 45 off 40 balls, helping her side reach 37/0 by the end of the powerplay. However, India’s spinners, led by Sisodia and Aayushi Shukla, soon triggered a dramatic collapse in t

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed immense optimism for India's future, declaring that the country has entered its golden era of economic growth. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Naidu highlighted that India's economy is poised for significant growth, predicting it will register the fastest incremental GDP growth from 2028 onwards. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and emphasized the stability provided

The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 has brought a new wave of excitement to the sport, highlighting its potential for international growth. Held in India, the event demonstrated how this traditional South Asian game is gaining traction across continents, from the United States to Brazil and beyond. The tournament not only showcased thrilling matches but also brought awareness to the possibilities for Kho Kho’s expansion, especially with low investment and minimal infrastructure requirements.

The World Bank-appointed Neutral Expert has affirmed its authority to resolve the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. India welcomed the decision, which supported its stance that all seven issues related to the two projects fall within the expert’s jurisdiction. The dispute, which centers around the technical designs of the two hydropower plants, escalated t

Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is gearing up for his highly anticipated trip to Switzerland to participate in the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF) Summit in Davos. This business-focused event is seen as an excellent opportunity to attract significant investments to the state. In a strategic move ahead of his trip, Naidu has successfully poached a key investment body executive from the neighbori

n an impressive display of skill and strategy, the Indian women's Kho Kho team dominated Bangladesh with a resounding 109-16 victory in their Kho Kho World Cup quarterfinal on Friday, securing their place in the semifinals. Captain Priyanka Ingle led the team with exceptional leadership, guiding India to their fifth consecutive 100-point game. India's performance was flawless across all four turns, with a particularly

Continuing their unbeaten streak in the Kho Kho World Cup, the Indian women's team defeated Malaysia in commanding fashion to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The match, held in New Delhi on Thursday, showcased India’s dominance with several spectacular 'Dream Runs' and tactical mastery. The match began with India's defenders Bhilar Opinaben and Monika setting the pace in the opening batch, leading to an evenly matched start with both teams tied at 6-6 by th

Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, will embark on a significant trip to Davos on January 20 to participate in the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF). This marks the return of a well-known tradition for the TDP chief, who has previously used the platform to attract global investments to Andhra Pradesh. The timing of this visit is especially important for Naidu, as it comes after a tumultuous five years under the leadership of his rival, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Redd

A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) has revealed that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously believed. The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. These findings are higher than earlier estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took around 11 minutes off a person’s life. This mea

On Day 5 of the 4th Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India was bowled out for 155, handing Australia a crucial victory and a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the lone fighter for India, scoring 84 runs before a controversial dismissal ended his innings, marking the second time in the match he fell short of a century. India’s downfall started when wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was caught while attempting a pull shot. Senio

Call of Duty: World at War, Treyarch’s World War II-themed first-person shooter, is expected to arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May 2025, according to a reliable tipster. Alongside this title, Singularity, a first-person shooter by Raven Software, will also join the service. This would mark the third Call of Duty game available on Game Pass, following Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 6. The news comes from tipster @eXtas1stv, known for ac

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

The World Bank has approved a substantial USD 800 million loan for the Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Program, which will support the development of Andhra Pradesh's greenfield capital city, Amaravati. The loan, approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank, aims to establish Amaravati as a sustainable, climate-resilient urban center that will create economic opportunities and improve the lives of its residents. The project is set to focus on building the city as

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