Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The United States on Wednesday announced fresh sanctions targeting two of Russia’s biggest oil producers, citing Moscow’s ongoing unwillingness to commit to a peace process aimed at ending the Ukraine war. The sanctions, unveiled by President Donald Trump, mark the first such punitive action against Russia during his second term in office. Posting on Truth Social, Trump shared an official statement from the US Department of the Treasury titled “Treasury sanctions major Russian oil companies, calls on Moscow to immediately agree to ceasefire.” The decision comes as Trump’s frustration with the Kremlin grows over its continued military campaign in Ukraine,…

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella received a total compensation package of $96.5 million for fiscal year 2025, marking the highest payout since he assumed the role in 2014. This represents a significant increase from the $79.1 million he earned the previous year, highlighting Microsoft’s strong performance, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. Approximately 90% of Nadella’s compensation came in the form of Microsoft shares, while his base salary stood at $2.5 million. The company’s board lauded his leadership, noting that Nadella and his team have positioned Microsoft as a global AI leader during this generational technology shift.…

 India’s exports to the United States experienced a steep decline in September 2025 after Washington implemented 50 per cent tariffs on the majority of Indian goods. Shipments fell to $5.5 billion, a 20.3 per cent drop from August, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline and erasing over $3.3 billion in trade since May, according to the Global Trade Research Institute (GTRI). Trade statistics indicate a continuous slide over the past months. Exports had peaked at $8.8 billion in May, the last month of growth, before declining to $8.3 billion in June (–5.7%), $8.0 billion in July (–3.6%), $6.9 billion…

British chess prodigy of Indian origin, Bodhana Sivanandan, has created history by becoming one of the youngest players ever to defeat a former world champion. The 10-year-old achieved the stunning feat at the European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece, where she beat Ukraine’s former Women’s World Champion, Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk. Born in London in 2015 to parents from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Bodhana has been a rising star in the chess world. In July 2025, she became the youngest player to earn a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm at just 10 years old — surpassing the previous record set by Hou Yifan,…

 Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Deepawali, is among the most revered Hindu festivals, celebrated with variations across Indian religions including Jainism and Sikhism. The festival signifies the triumph of Dharma over Adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Falling in the lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika, Diwali spans five days, beginning on Dhantrayodashi and concluding with Bhaiya Dooj. As Diwali 2025 arrives, devotees observe precise puja timings to ensure an auspicious celebration. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat, a highlight of the festival, is scheduled from 07:41 PM to 08:40 PM on October 20. Other important…

Ahmedabad witnessed a historic moment as Gujarat’s cooperative sector set a new Guinness World Record by writing over 11.1 million postcards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The massive initiative, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Cooperation, aimed to express heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for his GST reforms and other key policy measures that benefited farmers and cooperatives across the state. According to official figures, a total of 11,175,000 postcards were penned simultaneously — a feat never achieved before anywhere in the world. The grand counting ceremony took place at the picturesque Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad,…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 upward by 20 basis points to 6.6%, citing a robust performance in the first half of the fiscal year. The update was released in the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook report. The IMF also upgraded India’s FY27 GDP growth projection by 20 basis points to 6.2%, reaffirming the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals and resilience amid global challenges. This revision follows a similar move by the World Bank, which recently raised India’s FY26 growth forecast to 6.5% from 6.3%, while slightly reducing the FY27 projection to 6.3%, noting…

 During a summit of global leaders in an Egyptian city, US President Donald Trump lauded India as a “great country” and complimented the nation’s leader, without directly naming him. Addressing the gathering following a ceasefire in Gaza that ended the Israel-Hamas conflict, Trump expressed optimism that India and Pakistan would “live very nicely together.” The remarks were made while glancing at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chuckled at the mention. Earlier in his speech, Trump praised Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, referring to him as his “favorite field marshal,” and extended an invitation for Sharif to…

India and the United States are moving steadily toward finalizing the initial phase of their long-anticipated trade agreement, targeting completion by fall 2025, according to a senior Indian official. The negotiations, ongoing for several months, are designed to address pressing tariff and market access challenges while laying the groundwork for a wider, long-term trade partnership. Officials from both nations have agreed on a rigorous yet feasible timeline, with the first-phase framework emphasizing energy, technology, and essential supply chains. Multiple working groups and ministerial-level discussions are actively shaping the agreement, reflecting strong alignment on achieving a first-stage deal by next year.…

India is gearing up to establish a national stockpile of rare earth elements to safeguard its critical mineral supply chain, following China’s decision to curb exports of rare earth magnets—essential components used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and green technologies. The initiative, known as the National Critical Mineral Stockpile (NCMS), aims to ensure steady availability of these strategic materials across the country. According to senior government officials, the plan envisions creating a two-month reserve of rare earths, with active participation from private companies. “Our initial goal is to build a short-term stockpile of rare earth elements, which will later expand…