South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday described BRICS as an important global forum, highlighting the grouping's growing demographic and economic weight and noting that its members account for around half of the world's population and 40 percent of global GDP.
Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani stressed the need for India to develop population-scale tokenisation infrastructure capable of handling billions of transactions, rather than merely focusing on issuing tokens. He highlighted the importance of interoperability, liquidity, and high volumes for tokenisation to expand across various asset classes and use cases.
The Supreme Court has highlighted the need to adapt laws to changing demographic realities, stating that laws penalising more than two children have lost relevance due to declining fertility rates. The court referred a case challenging such a disqualification to a larger bench, emphasising the importance of guarding against irreversible fertility decline and considering reproductive autonomy in the context of electoral participation.
Gautam Adani and family have reclaimed the top spot on India's rich list, surpassing Mukesh Ambani, as the nation's billionaire population reached a record 391, according to the M3M Hurun India Rich List.
India's unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 years and above saw a marginal improvement, dipping to 5.1 per cent in the July-September 2026 quarter from 5.4 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The decline was primarily driven by a fall in rural unemployment, while urban joblessness remained largely stable.
What causes the highest number of deaths in India?
How well is your country's healthcare system staffed? We compare the density of essential healthcare professionals across countries, based on figures from World Population Review.
A new study reveals significant disparities in the return on investment (ROI) of COVID-19 vaccines across countries, with high-income nations reaping far greater economic and health benefits than low- and middle-income countries. While the global investment in vaccine development and delivery was USD 79.4 billion, the benefits ranged from USD 6.43 trillion to USD 64.3 trillion, showing a massive overall ROI. However, early access and faster rollouts in wealthier nations led to disproportionate gains.
Four suspected poachers were arrested in Assam's Jorhat district during an operation by the Forest Department. One of the arrested individuals was reportedly injured by a rhinoceros. The arrests highlight ongoing efforts to protect Assam's one-horned rhinos, a critical part of the state's natural heritage.
Shuchita Patel, an Indian-American Democrat, is making a historic bid for Forsyth County Commissioner in Georgia, a region with a dark racial past. Running against a 16-year unopposed incumbent, Patel aims to bring change and stand up to what she calls a "bully" opponent, driven by a desire to create a better community for future generations amidst a deeply divided American political landscape.
The lack of faster growth in salaried jobs may well account for the degrowth in the unemployed educated population who are actively seeking jobs.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12, accompanied by his wife Dimple Yadav. This announcement, made by former SP MLA Pawan Pandey, is expected to significantly impact Uttar Pradesh politics ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. The visit marks Yadav's first to the temple since its inauguration in January 2024 and is seen as a strategic move towards "soft Hindutva" to counter the BJP's narrative.
NITI Aayog has called for a fundamental overhaul of urban governance in India, advocating for empowered city governments, directly elected mayors with five-year terms, and greater financial autonomy for urban local bodies to manage the country's rapidly growing urban population.
Candidates in the US midterm elections are actively engaging with Indian-American voters through cultural events like making dosas and visiting temples. This outreach highlights the growing influence of the Indian-American community, particularly in battleground states where their votes can be decisive. Democratic and Republican candidates are employing various strategies to win over this crucial demographic.
A three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in a dilapidated building in Mapusa, North Goa, leaving her in critical condition. Police are investigating the incident, examining CCTV footage, and searching for the unidentified accused. The incident has sparked outrage, with Goa's Tribal Welfare Minister claiming "90 per cent" of such crimes are committed by "outsiders," while the Opposition Congress has demanded a time-bound investigation and stronger measures to protect children, citing alarming NCRB data for Goa.
'The priority of the government should be to use agricultural production for human beings first, and only after that for biofuel and such things.'
Telangana's anti-narcotics unit, EAGLE Force, has arrested K Nithu Bai, 51, for her alleged involvement in an extensive ganja trafficking network operating since 2017. She had been absconding for two years, evading arrest in 13 cases. The investigation has revealed significant assets, including multiple properties, allegedly acquired through the proceeds of drug trafficking.
'China has built highways on its side and enjoys a geographical advantage. If we cannot build roads, how can we expect our forces to transport equipment and other essential supplies to defend the borders?'
'India needs to create eight-nine million jobs annually to absorb the growth in the working-age population.' 'Failure to create productive jobs could squander the demographic advantage that we enjoy right now.'
Indian-Americans have achieved significant victories in state legislative races across the US midterm elections, with several individuals securing key positions and making history in various states like Michigan, Arizona, Illinois, and Texas, further solidifying their growing political influence.
US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday announced that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has taken effect beyond Oleshky two days ahead of schedule, with the move aimed at protecting civilians and facilitating the delivery of critical humanitarian aid to the conflict-affected area.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated on Thursday evening that it is unclear who has the ability to form a government, despite Gadi Eisenkot receiving 67 recommendations and Benjamin Netanyahu 46. This uncertainty stems from mutual vetoes between and within political blocs, particularly concerning the inclusion of Arab parties due to their stance on Hamas. Herzog plans to hold personal talks with party leaders before tasking someone on Sunday.
A Vadodara family is desperately searching for their missing African grey parrot, Laddu, who flew away on October 31. They have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone who can help find their beloved pet, whom they consider a son. The family is concerned as Laddu cannot feed himself and has been missing for several days.
Two men have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district for allegedly shooting an Indian-born cheetah, KNG-22, last month. The cheetah was found injured on October 25 and died two days later. A special task force investigated the incident, leading to the recovery of the double-barrel muzzle-loading gun used in the crime and the arrest of the two siblings.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an urgent appeal to right-wing Likud voters on Tuesday, warning of high Arab voter turnout in the ongoing parliamentary election. He claimed Arab voters were "racing to the ballots" and attempting to "steal the election," echoing a controversial tactic from 2015. Netanyahu stressed the importance of every vote for the future of the "Jewish state," as Arab citizens' participation could significantly influence the political balance.
Oracle NetSuite identifies India as one of its highest-priority markets, noting that small businesses, particularly outside major metros, are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies to expand domestically and internationally. This adoption is driven by India's young, tech-native population, which is less burdened by legacy systems, allowing smaller firms to compete more effectively with larger enterprises.
Delhi experienced its most polluted Diwali in five years, but the official air quality figures are under scrutiny. Several monitoring stations reportedly went offline during the peak firecracker period on Sunday night, leading to discrepancies between government and private agency data. Experts and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the reliability of the AQI tracking, with allegations of "data fraud" and calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Flight disruptions between India and Saudi Arabia are continuing, with Akasa Air extending its service suspensions to Jeddah until November 18 and Riyadh until November 30. This follows similar suspensions by Air India and Air India Express until November 14, all due to the prevailing security situation and attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy has advised nationals to remain vigilant and is assisting affected travellers.
The Samosa Caucus, an informal group of Indian-American lawmakers, is set to expand its presence in the US House of Representatives following the recent elections. With Democrats gaining control of both the House and Senate, re-elected members like Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Pramila Jayapal will be joined by newcomers Pia Dandiya and Amish Shah, significantly increasing Indian-American representation on Capitol Hill.
Indian-born democratic socialist Nithya Raman has been elected Mayor of Los Angeles, becoming the first South Asian mayor of the nation's second-largest city. Her victory is part of a broader trend of Indian-American candidates winning in the US midterm elections, highlighting the growing political power of the community.
Indian-American Democratic lawmakers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Pramila Jayapal have been re-elected to the US House of Representatives, with Pia Dandiya making her debut, marking a strong showing by the community in the recent midterm elections where Democrats gained control of both the House and Senate.
Ladakh can be as tiring as it is fascinating -- it's not just the high altitude that takes the breath away, but the beauty in every turn of the road.
An 80-year-old woman was found murdered in her Mathura home on Sunday, with police suspecting a robbery as her jewellery was missing. The incident came to light when her domestic help discovered the body.
The Noise-Free Nations Index is created annually by an award-winning African tour company, Go2Africa by assessing countries using seven measures, covering population and visitor concentration, rural landscapes, protected areas, road traffic, airports and railways.
India is caught in a no-man's land, not cheap enough for value investors to pile in but not growing fast enough to attract growth investors either, asserts Akash Prakash.
'If you ask Prime Minister Modi prove you are Indian, as per the Election Commission's criteria, he may not be able to prove that he is an Indian.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has characterised the strategic alignment between India and the United States as "extraordinary", emphasising that both nations have an opportunity to shape the course of the 21st century through partnership.
India has strongly rejected a report by a UN human rights expert, Gina Romero, which claimed that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice. India's First Secretary Anuj Swarup labelled the report as "hearsay" based on "anonymous and unverified claims," asserting that it does a disservice to the expert's mandate. Swarup highlighted India's constitutional freedoms, independent judiciary, and government's proactive engagement with youth, citing examples like the amendment to the Public Examinations Act and the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
An Indian-born cheetah, KJP21, has given birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, increasing India's total cheetah population to 60. These cubs, fathered by a Botswana cheetah, introduce a new genetic lineage, marking a significant milestone for Project Cheetah and conservation efforts.
'What is the need for collecting so much data unless they are going to be used for some other purpose?'
