China, the world's second-largest economy, is working to recover from the effects of its three years of pandemic isolation. In a bid to attract more international visitors and boost its economy, China recently announced an expansion of its visa-free transit policy. The new policy, which is effective immediately, allows travelers from 54 countries, including the US, Canada, and several European and Asian nations, to stay in parts of China for up to 10 days. Previously, the visa-f

Switzerland has decided to suspend the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status granted to India, which could result in higher taxes for Indian companies operating in the country. Starting January 1, 2025, Indian companies will face increased withholding tax rates on income such as dividends and royalties generated in Switzerland. The new tax rules will impose a 10% tax on dividends earned by Indian entities. This move follows a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court in October 2023, which sta

On Friday, at least six schools in Delhi, including Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, Salwan School, Modern School, and Cambridge School, received bomb threats via email. This marks the second such incident this week, following a similar scare on December 9 when over 40 schools in the city received similar threats. The emails claimed that explosives had been planted within the school premises, warning of potential bomb blasts on December 13 and 14, particularly targeting schools with sc

On Thursday, the Indian Rupee weakened to a record low of 84.88 against the US Dollar, following a series of declines this week. The rupee had opened flat at 84.85 for the second consecutive day, and this followed a similar trend on Wednesday when it closed at 84.84 after opening at 84.85. Earlier in the week, the rupee had weakened by 12 paise on Tuesday to close at 84.85, marking a new low. The domestic currency dipped to 84.73 on Monday, continuing its downward trajectory. Expert

A heartbreaking incident has come to light involving Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who recently took his own life after allegedly being extorted by his estranged wife and her family. His family has filed a police complaint accusing his wife, her family members, and a judge of abetment of suicide. Atul, in a recorded 80-minute video and a 24-page suicide note, accused his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family of extorting crores of rupees from him, beyond his financial capacity. He

Disease X is a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to refer to a hypothetical, yet-to-be-identified pathogen with the potential to cause a global pandemic. While no cases of Disease X have been identified, the possibility of such an outbreak raises significant concerns worldwide, especially in densely populated countries like India. With the rapid spread of diseases in today’s interconnected world, Disease X could pose a serious threat if preventive measures aren’t

India's foreign exchange reserves saw an increase to $658.1 billion for the week ending November 29, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This rise followed an eight-week decline, with a $1.5 billion increase from the previous week. In comparison, the reserves had dropped by $1.31 billion in the prior week, reaching $656.58 billion. Foreign investors have invested Rs 1.75 lakh crore into India's debt and equity markets in 2024. However, the month of November witness

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

Axis Securities Ltd has entered into a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) agreeing to pay a sum of Rs. 14.62 lakh to resolve charges of front-running activities. SEBI's investigation uncovered that Vikrant Bhimrao Kadam, a dealer at Axis Securities, colluded with his associate Mandar Ulhas Bhatkar to execute trades ahead of orders from SVI Consolidated Pvt Ltd, their major client. These trades were made in both the equity and derivatives segments of the Nati

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, China announced on Tuesday that it would ban the export of several key materials, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States. These materials are vital for high-tech applications, including advanced electronics and military technologies. The Chinese Commerce Ministry's decision follows a recent expansion of the U.S. “entity list,” which now includes 140 Chinese companies—many based in China, though some

On Tuesday, a bomb threat email was sent to the regional office of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, claiming a danger to the iconic Taj Mahal. The authorities swiftly responded by deploying a bomb disposal squad, a dog squad, and other security personnel to thoroughly inspect the area. After an extensive search, no suspicious objects or threats were discovered, confirming that the email was a hoax. ACP Sayed Areeb Ahmad, who oversees Taj Mahal's security, reassured the public that the sit

Corporate governance advisory firms are urging shareholders to vote against the proposed reappointment of Gautam Singhania as the executive chairperson of Raymond Lifestyle Ltd., due to concerns regarding his remuneration package, unclear governance practices, and ongoing personal controversies. Singhania, who is currently the chairperson and managing director of Raymond Ltd., has sought a five-year term as the executive chairperson of Raymond Lifestyle starting from September 1, 2024. His pr

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm. Hunter Biden had also pled guilty to federal tax charges, admitting to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. President Biden expressed that his decision to pardon his son came after years of what he described as unfair, politically motivated prosecution. Biden stated that he had pr

Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, expressed frustration over the continued illegal rice export activities at the Kakinada port. Despite having previously vowed to take action against these operations while in opposition, he found that the illegal trade was still ongoing under the NDA government. During his inspection of the port, Pawan Kalyan discovered that illegal rice shipments were still taking place, prompting him to reprimand Kakinada TDP MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara

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

The Indian rupee opened flat at 84.24 against the US dollar on Thursday, following a slight dip of 11 paise to close at 84.45 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, it had closed at 84.34. The minor decline reflects the ongoing volatility in the foreign exchange market. The rupee had also opened weaker by 5 paise at 84.39 on Wednesday morning. Analysts predict that the rupee's range for the day will likely stay between 84.30 and 84.50. Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive dire

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect on his first day in office, January 20. The new tariffs are expected to have severe implications for American consumers, including higher prices on everyday products such as gasoline, produce, cars, and alcohol. Mexico, now the US’s top trading partner, and Canada, a major supplier of oil and agricultural products, will be significantly impacted by these tariffs

The Indian rupee opened at 84.39 against the US dollar on Wednesday, weakening by 5 paise from its previous close of 84.34. This follows a series of declines, with the rupee slipping by six paise on Tuesday. While the rupee had shown a slight recovery on Monday, gaining 17 paise, the currency continues to face downward pressure due to persistent demand for the US dollar and global uncertainties. Analysts had predicted a weaker outlook for the rupee, especially after a brief period o

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

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose new tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada, and China as part of his administration's strategy to address issues like illegal drug trafficking and border security. The move underscores a key campaign promise and signals significant changes in U.S. trade policy.   Key Details of the Tariff Plan