That was the central message of the Manama Declaration, issued at the close of the World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum (WEIF) held this week in Bahrain. The declaration places women at the heart of economic transformation, underscoring that empowering them within business and innovation ecosystems is essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. It […]
Fodder cutters are fearsome machines with huge circular blades spinning at high speed, powered by small generators. Operated by rural workers in several developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Kenya, they pose a constant risk – many have had hands or arms amputated following accidents. The consequences are devastating. Tasks that shape daily life – […]
Fresh waves of violence in Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan are pushing fragile communities into deeper crisis, with attacks on towns, health facilities and aid infrastructure forcing thousands to flee and leaving humanitarian agencies scrambling to respond. Over the past week, conflict has intensified in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, where more than a dozen attacks […]
A new agreement between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces in the country’s northeast is being viewed by the United Nations as a potentially significant step toward stabilising a region long shaped by conflict and competing authorities. Briefing members of the UN Security Council for the first time in his role as Deputy Special Envoy […]
A new United Nations report has documented widespread atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region, accusing fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias of carrying out mass killings, sexual violence and other grave abuses during an assault on the city of El Fasher. The findings, released by the UN human rights office, highlight what […]
Madagascar is grappling with a growing humanitarian emergency after two powerful cyclones struck the island nation within three weeks, leaving widespread destruction and pushing hundreds of thousands of people into urgent need of assistance. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says around 400,000 people are now facing acute humanitarian needs following the storms, which […]
Violence and intimidation against elected lawmakers are rising across the world, increasingly fuelled by online hostility and political polarisation, according to a new report presented at the United Nations. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), warned that the growing hostility directed at parliamentarians could have serious consequences for democratic institutions if […]
Rising conflict, humanitarian emergencies and growing concerns over critical digital infrastructure dominated recent discussions involving United Nations agencies and global leaders, with crises unfolding from South Sudan to Pakistan and new efforts launched to safeguard global communications networks. Fighting In South Sudan Displaces Thousands Renewed violence in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has triggered a large-scale […]
United Nations officials have expressed alarm over renewed Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, warning that the attacks are worsening conditions for civilians as winter temperatures continue to grip the country. Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, said he was “appalled” by the latest attacks reported in the cities of Dnipro, […]
Indian equity markets closed sharply higher on Tuesday, extending a powerful rally as investors welcomed the finalisation of the long-awaited India–US trade deal, which is expected to improve trade prospects and revive foreign investor interest. Benchmark indices posted broad-based gains through the session. The Sensex rose 2,072.67 points, or 2.54 per cent, to end at […]
Indian equity markets staged a powerful rally on Tuesday morning, surging nearly 3 per cent in early trade, as investors reacted enthusiastically to the announcement of the India–US trade deal that promises immediate tariff relief for Indian exports. By 9.25 a.m., the Sensex had jumped 2,421 points, or 2.97 per cent, to 84,088, while the […]
The announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington will cut its “reciprocal” tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% has brought immediate relief to Indian exporters and signalled a thaw after nearly a year of strained ties. The rollback also includes the removal of a punitive 25% penalty […]
The world’s digital economy depends heavily on a vast network of undersea cables stretching across the ocean floor, quietly carrying nearly all international internet traffic and enabling trillions of dollars in financial transactions every day. Despite their central role in modern connectivity, these cables remain largely invisible to the public, even as governments and technology […]
Industry body Nasscom on Sunday welcomed the Union Budget 2026, saying it firmly positions technology as a central driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth under the government’s Viksit Bharat vision. Reacting to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Budget, Nasscom described it as forward-looking and consultative, reinforcing the partnership between government and industry while […]
Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp sell-off on Budget Day, with benchmark indices sliding nearly 2 per cent after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a steep hike in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options, unsettling investor sentiment in a special Sunday trading session. The Sensex closed at 80,723, while the Nifty ended at […]
India has recalibrated its neighbourhood development assistance in the Union Budget 2026–27, increasing allocations for countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while sharply reducing aid to Bangladesh, signalling a selective realignment of regional priorities. According to Budget documents, India’s development assistance to Bhutan has been raised to Rs 2,288.56 crore, reaffirming Thimphu’s […]
• NRI equity investment limit per company doubled to 10%, aggregate cap raised to 24%.• MAT exemption announced for non-residents under presumptive taxation.• TCS on foreign education and medical remittances cut to 2%.• Property sale compliance eased; buyers no longer need a separate TAN. The Union Budget 2026–27 has marked a notable shift in the […]
Opposition parties mounted a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday, accusing the government of failing to address the concerns of ordinary citizens, farmers, unemployed youth and small businesses, even as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget in Parliament. Leaders across parties said the Budget lacked concrete relief measures, ignored […]
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026–27, outlining an ambitious growth strategy anchored in manufacturing expansion, infrastructure investment and sweeping tax reforms, while maintaining a tight fiscal framework amid global economic uncertainty. The Budget, the first to be prepared at Kartavya Bhawan, is built around three stated kartavyas—accelerating economic growth, building […]
Five years after Myanmar’s military seized power, the country remains trapped in a worsening humanitarian and political crisis marked by widespread violence, economic collapse and mass displacement, according to the United Nations. Marking the anniversary of the February 2021 coup, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the continuing suffering of the people of […]