Security Financial News

Aakash Chaudhry, one of India's most successful education entrepreneurs, has secured backing from two of the country's most prominent consumer tech billionaires-Zomato's Deepinder Goyal and Zerodha's Nithin Kamath-for his new venture, Sparkl Edventure, said people in the know. Kamath's Rainmatter, a fintech and sustainability-focused fund, along with Goyal, is participating in a $4 million seed round. The round is expected to attract a few more marquee investors. In October, Chaudhry joined forces with Pavan Chauhan and Ritesh Hemrajani, founders of Meritnation.com, an edtech company acquired by his family business Aakash Educational Services Ltd (AESL) in 2020, to launch Sparkl. This comes three years after the $950 million cash-and-stock sale of AESL to Byju's in one of India's largest edtech deals till date. Despite the sale, Chaudhry retains an 11% stake in AESL. Sparkl aims to provide bespoke one-on-one online tutoring for students in grades 6 to 12, specializing in International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge curricula. The platform offers personalised classes across subjects such as mathematics, science, languages, business studies etc. With teachers already on board, Sparkl has begun enrolling students from major Indian cities such as Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, as well as Singapore and plans to grow the platform leveraging its tech interventions.

Held under the leadership of Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Arun Giri Ji, the 'Chhavni Pravesh' procession started from the local ashram of Aawahan Akhara in Madouka with a number saints marching to the cantonment area on horses and camels chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'. Mahant Gopal Giri of the Akhara said more than a dozen Mahamandaleshwars and 51 Shri Mahants, besides a large number of Naga saints, participated in the Yatra.

Central banks play a central role in monetary policymaking and a key operational role in current account management. In countries like India, with capital controls and a structural current account deficit (CAD), these roles elide. The task involves careful policy calibration and skilful deployment of a wide set of tools available for current account management, importantly exchange rate management, but also credit, trade and investment policy. This, therefore, requires a 'whole-of-government' strategy with clearly defined macroeconomic objectives. Much commentary on exchange rate policy is simplistic and polarised. At one extreme, we have those who believe in a 'strong' exchange rate, as evidence of a nation's economic testosterone. While this view is normally weird enough to be dismissed as absurd, it gains credibility because the view from the other extreme-the 'mainstream' of the economics profession-is equally doctrinaire and simplistic.

Discovery decided not to renew its contract with the streaming platform, Max, which has been its home since 2016, as mentioned in a report by People. With the fate of the show hanging in the balance, here’s what we know about Sesame Street’s future.

I2U2 Group, a groundbreaking quadrilateral partnership between India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The event, titled «I2U2: Towards a Transformative Quadrilateral Partnership», brought together distinguished experts who explored the partnership's role in reshaping international cooperation and economic integration. The event held virtually was organised by the CUTS International, a leading public policy body of India. In his opening remarks, Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International, emphasised the partnership's innovative approach, noting that «I2U2 deliberately sidesteps traditional conflict narratives. Instead of focusing on historical tensions or regional disputes, the I2U2 partnership prioritises pragmatic economic cooperation and technological innovation.»

In the afternoon, the BSF troops jointly with Punjab Police recovered two DJI AIR 3S drones one after another along with one packet of suspected heroin with gross weight- 558 and 613 grams respectively in the area of village Dal situated in district Tarn Taran. The narcotics packets were found wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and a copper wire loop attached to each, the release mentioned. The vigilant BSF troops on duty recovered one DJI Magic 3 Classic drone at about 09:45 am from a farming field adjacent to the village Rattankhurd in district Amritsar, added the release.

Haryana government has notified the procurement of 24 crops at a minimum support price (MSP), extending the list of 14 farm produces that were earlier eligible for guaranteed rates under public procurement system. The state cabinet of the previous government, which was also headed by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, already approved the proposal of buying 10 additional crops at MSP. The decision on MSP for additional crops was announced on August 5, months before the assembly polls in October. Till August, government agencies used to procure 14 crops at MSP. According the latest notification dated December 19, the then Council of Ministers, in its meeting held on August 5, decided to purchase ragi, soybean, nigerseed, safflower, barley, maize, jowar, jute, copra and summer moong at the minimum support price.

Firhad Hakim on Sunday said that the Centre should be held responsible for unabated illegal migration from Bangladesh. His assertion came in the wake of the BJP attacking the West Bengal government following the arrest of suspected Ansar-al-Islam Bangladesh members who were allegedly trying to spread the terror outfit's network in the eastern state. He was asked about reports that two of the eight arrested terrorists were working to set up a sleeper cell in Murshidabad district and one of them, a Bangladeshi national, had even procured fake identity card and passport to carry on subversive activities. «The onus lies with the Union Home Ministry which is helmed by Amit Shah. Why is he not taking steps to strengthen security along the Bangladesh border? Why is the Border Security Force not succeeding to stop infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals?

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The U.S. and China are in a high-stakes race, with the energy security of America and its allies hanging in the balance.

United States and Pakistan have escalated recently following revelations that Pakistan is developing long-range nuclear missiles capable of reaching major US locations. This includes efforts to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a move that has raised alarms in Washington. US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer disclosed that Pakistan had falsely presented its space programme as a cover for its missile development, a strategy that was eventually uncovered by the US. In response, Washington imposed strict sanctions on companies linked to Pakistan's missile programme.

Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 off 53 balls helped India snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat, and now he is back at the G, looking for another redemption act. Kohli made a bright beginning to the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia with a second innings hundred at Perth. But since then he has hit the snooze mode, producing just 26 runs over the next four innings across Adelaide and Brisbane Tests.

Indian equities this week, with a net withdrawal of Rs 976 crore amid a strengthening US dollar and steady rise in US 10-year bond yields, impacting investor sentiment. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) began the week on a positive note, investing Rs 3,126 crore in equities during the first two trading sessions (December 16-20). However, the trend reversed in the latter half of the week, with FPIs offloading equities worth over Rs 4,102 crore in the subsequent three sessions. This resulted in an overall net outflow of Rs 976 crore during the week, data from National Securities Depository Limited showed.

Authorities have now identified the suspect as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist who has been living in Germany for approximately 20 years. Following the attack, German officials condemned the act, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz calling it a «terrible, insane» tragedy, particularly just days before Christmas. Scholz visited the site of the attack in Magdeburg on Saturday, alongside other national and regional politicians, laying flowers outside the main church. A memorial service was planned at the city’s Johanneskirche church later that evening, where mourners gathered to pay tribute to the victims.

Prashant Jagtap on Sunday made it clear that his party is ready to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections solo if their alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), decides to go alone. This comes after Sanjay Raut hinted that Shiv Sena (UBT) might contest the elections solo, as party workers are demanding it. However, Jagtap emphasized that while NCP (SCP) prefers to contest in alliance, they are capable of going solo if needed. He also stressed that their primary goal is to stop the BJP from spreading its influence in Maharashtra and the country. «If Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sanjay Raut are talking differently, we are also ready to contest (the upcoming local body elections) solo or with Congress,» Jagtap told ANI.

Of these, three have been discharged from the hospital, while the Indian Mission is closely monitoring the condition of the remaining victims, sources said. The attack, which sent shockwaves across the globe, involved a car deliberately ramming into a crowd of people at the bustling Christmas market. At least five people were killed in the incident, including an adult and a toddler, according to Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff, as per reports by CNN.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Saturday slammed the Aam Admi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute him in the excise policy case. Expressing his surprise over what he felt was a delayed action, Sandeep Dikshit told ANI, «I wonder why it took so many days for the LG to give permission. They (Delhi ministers) should have been in jail by now....» «The liquor scam has nothing to do with the elections. The probe has been going on for 2-3 years. If the facts are believed to be correct, the Delhi government has suffered huge losses, and the excise policy has only benefited private contractors from South India...,» he said.

In an official press release, the MEA expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, «We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.» The statement confirmed that the Indian Mission in Germany is in contact with the injured Indian nationals and their families, providing all possible assistance. «Our Mission is in contact with Indians who are injured, as well as their families, and rendering all possible assistance,» the statement read.

Around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, when Neel Kamal set off to sail from Gateway to Elephanta island, a popular tourist destination, it was business as usual for the boat operators. Without paying much heed to rules and regulations, they overbooked ferrying 110 passengers instead of 80 that is allowed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). At 3.55 pm as the boat was nearing Karanja, a Navy craft undertaking sea trials lost control, on a collision course, it rammed into the ferry, capsizing it. Just like the roads where the traffic is monitored and regulated, the sea too has its rules. Post the 26/11 attacks where terror visited Mumbai through seas, the coordination between the multiple maritime stakeholders has gotten better and no sea attack in the last 16 years bears testimony to the same.

Johnny Zuagar says he’s tried to hide his worries about a potential government shutdown from his three boys as he weighs how much to spend on Christmas presents

National Commission for Women has sought a detailed report within 10 days from the Manipur government on the death of six individuals, including three women and three children last month. The NCW stated the Commission has received a representation from Republican Party of India (Athawale) regarding the horrifying violence that occurred in Jiribam, Manipur, where six individuals, including three women and three children, were brutally abducted on 11th November 2024 and cold-bloodedly murdered. Such egregious acts of violence are profoundly disturbing and warrant immediate and stringent action.