Day: April 17, 2025

Trade Tensions Rising: Can Bangladesh Really Afford a Trade War with India?

Manish Kumar

A Rift That Could Prove Costly As global eyes remain fixed on the simmering US-China trade war, a smaller but significant disruption is quietly unfolding in South Asia — between India and Bangladesh. Once touted as a model for bilateral cooperation, ties between the two neighbours are showing signs of economic strain. In April 2025, two developments indicated a chilling shift. First, India suspended the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo, a vital route for its trade with Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. In retaliation — or perhaps escalation — Bangladesh halted yarn imports from…

Starlink’s India Lift-off Nears: Talks with Piyush Goyal Signal Imminent Launch

Manish Kumar

A New Age of Connectivity on the Horizon India’s digital infrastructure may soon witness a significant leap as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service edges closer to launch. In a major development, a delegation from Starlink recently met with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, marking the first formal interaction between the company and the Indian government. This move comes amid ongoing efforts to bridge the rural-urban digital divide and enhance internet penetration in remote regions. Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, aims to revolutionize global broadband access through low Earth…

Andhra’s 99-Paisa Bet: TCS Gets Land in Visakhapatnam to Boost IT Growth

Manish Kumar

A Symbolic Deal with Strategic Vision In a bold move to transform Visakhapatnam into a major technology and innovation hub, the Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 21.16 acres of prime land to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a token price of just 99 paisa. The allocation, approved by the state cabinet on Tuesday, marks a significant step in the state’s efforts to attract large-scale IT investments and create a future-ready digital economy. Located at IT Hill Number 3 in Visakhapatnam, the land will be used by TCS to build a…

Relief with Responsibility: Supreme Court Allows ‘Untainted’ Bengal Teachers to Stay Until Fresh Hiring

Manish Kumar

The West Bengal teacher recruitment scam of 2016, one of the most controversial education scandals in recent memory, continues to unravel in the courts. At the center of the case was the Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), which oversaw the recruitment of over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff. Allegations of widespread corruption, manipulation, and fraud emerged, leading to mass terminations and a loss of credibility in the entire process. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India annulled all appointments made under the 2016 recruitment process, declaring it irreparably tainted.…

Kashmir Still the ‘Jugular Vein’: Pakistan Army Chief’s Remarks Rekindle Indo-Pak Tensions

Manish Kumar

A Conflict Rooted in History Since their bitter partition in 1947, India and Pakistan have endured a relationship marred by wars, border skirmishes, and deep-rooted ideological divides. At the center of this decades-long conflict lies the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir—claimed in full by both nations but administered separately. While New Delhi maintains that Kashmir is an integral part of India, Islamabad continues to project it as the core of its national identity. Over the years, diplomatic efforts have repeatedly broken down due to terror attacks, ceasefire violations, and…

BluSmart’s Shutdown: SEBI Crackdown on Gensol Promoters Brings EV Cab Service to a Halt

Manish Kumar

The Rise of BluSmart Launched in 2019, BluSmart emerged as India’s first all-electric ride-hailing platform, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cab services. Backed by clean mobility ambitions and investor enthusiasm, BluSmart quickly scaled operations across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The company positioned itself as a green disruptor in a space dominated by Ola and Uber, with promises of zero surge pricing, courteous drivers, and a climate-conscious fleet. But that promising trajectory came crashing down in April 2025, as the platform abruptly suspended operations following a damning order from the…

Exposing the Silent Ally: Ukraine Parades Chinese POWs, Calling Out Beijing’s Neutrality in Russia War

Manish Kumar

Cracks in China’s “Neutral” Stance Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, China has maintained a careful posture of neutrality—refusing to directly condemn Russia’s invasion while urging peace talks and calling for respect of territorial sovereignty. Beijing has repeatedly emphasized that it is neither a participant nor an instigator in the ongoing war, portraying itself as a potential peace broker. However, growing intelligence reports and battlefield discoveries have begun to tell a different story—one that suggests quiet complicity, if not active engagement. This carefully curated image of neutrality…

25 Years After a National Tragedy: Graham Staines Murder Convict Mahendra Hembram Walks Free

Manish Kumar

A Chilling Night That Shook the Nation On the cold night of January 21, 1999, a horrifying incident in the village of Manoharpur, Odisha, stunned India and drew global condemnation. Graham Staines, an Australian Christian missionary known for his work with leprosy patients, was burned alive along with his two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), as they slept inside a station wagon parked outside a church. The assailants, armed with lathis and driven by religious animosity, allegedly led by Dara Singh, surrounded the vehicle, doused it with kerosene, and set it ablaze. When the victims attempted to…

TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2025: A Global Power Map Without Indian Nationals

Manish Kumar

TIME Magazine has unveiled its annual list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025, a highly anticipated selection that celebrates individuals who have significantly shaped the world across politics, science, culture, and innovation. While the list showcases a diverse global roster—from U.S. President Donald Trump to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus—it notably lacks representation from India, marking a rare absence amid the country’s growing global influence. A Spotlight on Global Leadership The 2025 edition continues to classify honorees across six categories: Leaders, Titans, Artists, Icons, Innovators, and Pioneers. In the…

Gold, Silver Prices Today: Gold Continues to Shine on MCX; Check City-Wise Rates for April 17

Manish Kumar

In the international market, the COMEX gold price was trading at around $3,350.6 per troy ounce. The spot gold price at 10:30 am was around $3,342.08 per ounce. Mumbai: Gold Price Today, Gold MCX Rate: Gold prices in the domestic futures market continue to surge on Thursday, i.e. April 17, 2025, as safe-haven buying continues amid continued fretting over President Donald Trump’s trade war. The gold June 5 contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) opened today at Rs 95,661 per 10 grams and gained to touch the high of…