Social Financial News

U.S. Senate began an overnight "vote-a-rama" marathon on Friday aimed at eventually handing Republican President Donald Trump sweeping legislation to extend tax cuts and achieve budget reductions in the face of staunch Democratic opposition. Republicans and Democrats were due to vote on dozens of amendments aimed at altering a budget framework for Trump's tax, border, immigration and military agenda, with a vote to pass the resolution expected in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. Congress needs to pass the budget resolution to unlock a fast-track procedure to circumvent Democratic roadblocks and enact Trump's legislation in the months ahead. If the Senate approves the measure, it will move to the House of Representatives for consideration next week. Trump is pushing hard for Republicans, who narrowly control both chambers, to hand him what he calls «one big beautiful bill» that also would pay for additional resources for securing the U.S. border with Mexico, deporting immigrants and bolstering the military. Some Republicans said the path forward for Trump's agenda could be complicated by recession worries if financial markets continue to reel over the president's tariff policy.

Max Verstappen may have kept his public comments minimal, but his social media activity said plenty about how he really felt about Red Bull’s rapid decision to remove Liam Lawson after just two races. Verstappen showed his position on Red Bull's swift team change by quietly supporting the post from Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde, which labeled it «bullying» and a «panic decision.» The quiet online support was in agreement with the private views that Verstappen has never openly revealed.

Hailie Jade Scott has welcomed her first child with her husband Evan McClintock. The Grammy award-winning artist's daughter announced the arrival of her son, Elliot Marshall McClintock, on Instagram on Friday, People magazine reported.

In this article

The figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics today (4 April) came in above market expectations, with economists polled by Reuters expecting a 135,000 rise. US adds 151,000 jobs in February as unemployment rate ticks up Last month's numbers marked a significant increase from the downwardly-revised figure of 117,000 jobs for February this year. The healthcare sector added 54,000 jobs in March, slightly above the previous 12-month average gain of 52,000, while social assistance came in second with 24,000 jobs, higher than the average monthly gain of 19,000 over the prior ye...

Sebi has joined social media platform 'X' with its chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launching the official account on Friday. The account goes with the username @SEBI_updates. Sebi, in a disclaimer said, content posted to the social media handle is not a rule, regulation, circular, guideline or statement of the Board, but merely for dissemination of information, which may otherwise be available on the official website.

Gaurav Gogoi has highlighted the effect of social media on the mental health of the youth post-pandemic and sought a debate in Lok Sabha on the subject. Raising the issue in the House on Thursday, Gogoi also referred to the Netflix series 'Adolescence', which highlighted the issue, along with the rise of online influencers promoting toxic masculinity. Gogoi said mental health issues, exacerbated by growing dependence on online platforms post-pandemic, have become a growing concern among Indian youths. The Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha said due to the social media impact, stress has been increasing, anxiety is going up and all these have affected the mental health of the youth in a big way.

Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin, has partnered with Australian underwear brand Bonds for a new campaign launching in the US. The photoshoot features Irwin posing in underwear with snakes and lizards, leading to a controversy and online trolling. The campaign aims to promote the brand's expansion into the American market. Irwin, known for continuing his father's wildlife conservation legacy alongside his mother and sister at Australia Zoo, has been in the public eye since childhood. His latest venture into underwear modelling marks a significant departure from his previous work. Bonds, an Australian brand, chose Irwin and Australian rapper Tkay Maidza for their US launch campaign. The images feature Irwin in various poses, often with reptiles. The photoshoot has generated considerable discussion online, with many expressing surprise at Irwin's appearance. Some social media users commented on their conflicted feelings seeing him in this new light, remembering him as a child on television. “I was born in 1989. My elder eyes shan't not look upon this.”

Piyush Goyal stirred controversy while addressing the Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi. His remarks on India’s startup ecosystem, specifically his rhetorical question, «Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls? » drew mixed reactions from the entrepreneurial community. By comparing India’s startup landscape to China’s, Goyal ignited a broader debate about the country’s technological aspirations and economic growth.

multi-polar world will become a reality faster than anyone had ever expected in the wake of the new tariffs announced by the US, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said on Thursday. In a post on social media platform X, Mahindra reposted a report of South Korea, China, and Japan, agreeing to cooperate for talks to improve free trade in the region amid concerns over US President Donald Trump's import tariffs, and wrote «the new tariffs announced by the U.S are a signpost of one major geopolitical development». He further said, «The MultiPolar World will now become a reality faster than anyone had ever expected.» The US on Wednesday announced 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India — saying New Delhi imposes high import duties on American goods — as the Trump administration aims to reduce the country's trade deficit and boost manufacturing.

Blake Lively seems to be making headlines every now and then due to one reason or the other amid the Justin Baldoni lawsuit controversy. Blake Lively's recent visit to a Connecticut donut shop was intended to be a casual gesture of support for a friend. Instead, it sparked an online controversy. Given her ongoing lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, some believe the move was an untimely PR distraction. Although her supporters are rallying behind her intentions, the timing has caused further controversy.

Donald Trump's social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, filed to re-register for sale billions of dollars' worth of shares that he has in the company and that are held in a trust overseen by his eldest son, as per a report. The registration statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, permits the trust to sell shares, but that doesn't mean any sale is imminent. The nearly 115 million shares held in the trust were previously registered last summer by Trump Media, which is the parent company of Truth Social, the social media platform that Trump has used as his primary online megaphone, NYT News Service reported. A few weeks after winning the presidential election, Trump transferred his shares in Trump Media to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, which is controlled by his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. The president has said on several occasions that he had no plans to sell shares. Donald Trump is the largest single shareholder in Trump Media, controlling roughly 53 per cent of its shares. The stock, which surged after the election, has plunged more than 40 per cent this year. With the stock trading around $19, Trump's stake is worth nearly $2.2 billion. Trump Media's share price has swung wildly since it went public a year ago. Its trading patterns often seem divorced from the financials of the company, which has so far generated scant revenues and continues to post quarterly losses.

Ananya Yadav, a Class 1 student, came at the digital forefront when she rushed to save her schoolbooks during a bulldozer demolition drive that targeted her family’s home. The emotional moment, where she is seen running out clutching her schoolbag, quickly went viral, drawing attention from the Supreme Court, political leaders, and social media users alike. The incident unfolded on March 21, when Ananya returned home from her primary school to find a bulldozer arriving at her makeshift home. The district administration had brought the bulldozer to demolish what they deemed illegal structures built by Ananya’s family on government land. While her family was still in the midst of disputing the claims, Ananya noticed an adjacent hut catch fire, and without hesitation, she sprinted into her home to retrieve her most prized possession—her schoolbag. «I am the first person in my family who goes to school. I study in Class 1 in a government primary school. My younger brother Adarsh has also started going to school,» Ananya shared. Despite her parents being daily wage workers and unlettered, Ananya expressed immense pride in attending school. «Since no fee is charged, my brother and I are able to attend the school,» she explained, noting that the books were a gift from her teachers and local villagers after she excelled in tests. When asked what inspired her to dream big, Ananya enthusiastically shared, «A senior officer once visited my school. I do not know his name, but teachers told us he was an IAS officer. He became my inspiration, and therefore I too want to be an IAS,» she said, her eyes shining with determination.

Vijay Kedia thinks this will be an opportunity for a new transformation, which will pave the way for a new beginning. «A new beginning for India is unfolding. Not just economic but emotional — a renewed faith in our capacity to build, innovate, and lead,» Kedia said on social media platform X.

Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and called for urgent reforms in the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) to ensure better support for vulnerable sections of society. The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, in its eighth report on MGNREGA that was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, highlighted that delays in wage payments continue to be a significant issue, affecting lakhs of rural workers dependent on the scheme for livelihood. It noted that despite digital advancements, workers often face long waiting periods for their wages, exacerbating financial distress. The report urged the government to address systemic bottlenecks, improve fund allocation, and ensure timely payments. Additionally, the panel expressed concerns over the declining budgetary allocation for MGNREGA and the increasing demand for jobs under the scheme. It recommended revising the wage structure to match inflation and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms to protect workers' rights. The report also pointed out issues such as the lack of proper job card issuance, the need for better social audits, and the importance of including more women beneficiaries in MGNREGA employment.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In the middle of a hectic news cycle, I once managed to get about six byline credits in the newspaper I worked for. Elated, I took screen grabs of the articles that had my name and shared them with my family in the hope that the word spreads.

Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday termed the allegations levelled against him by Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha baseless, saying the remarks damaged his reputation as he dared the BJP MP to prove them or else resign. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress president said the BJP MP was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks made during the debate on the Waqf Bill in the Lower House. «But the damage has been done,» Kharge said. He also sought an apology from Thakur as well as the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, J P Nadda, over the issue. «Yesterday, Anurag Thakur hurled completely false and baseless charges at me in the Lok Sabha. When my colleagues challenged him, he was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks. But the damage has been done,» Kharge said.

The agency announced that it is «updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes.» «President Trump promised the American people a revolution of common sense, and that includes making sure that the policy of the U.S. government agrees with simple biological reality,» Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Home Depot has caused a storm online. Claims were made in a report that the home improvement giant will be soon charging for parking in its stores across the United States. The initiative was introduced to combat inflation. Media reports stated that the fees will be varying from location to location with parking costing $5 per day in Los Angeles to $2 cost for two hours in Florida. As the report started going viral, the customers were quick to express their frustration with the new policy change.

Elon Musk may quits DOGE: In an unexpected turn of events, Elon Musk may have stepped down from his involvement with DOGE and, even more surprisingly, his government role under President Trump. Reports are circulating that Musk has chosen to retreat from his governmental responsibilities, a move that has rattled Washington and sent Tesla stock soaring. But why now, and what does this mean for the future of both Musk’s business empire and his political ties to Donald Trump?

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has turned its focus on funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) amid an ongoing investigation tied to investor and philantropist George Soros, TOI has reported. This scrutiny comes as the Trump administration has time and again criticized USAID for allegedly promoting a «left, liberal and woke» agenda abroad. The ED is currently investigating three Bengaluru-based companies for purported violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, specifically regarding the receipt of Rs 25 crore from the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF). Among these companies, ASAR Social Impact Advisors has also been noted for receiving Rs 8 crore from USAID as foreign inward remittance during FY23. The central agency is particularly interested in understanding the motives and purposes behind the payments made by USAID. Notably, the Open Society Foundations was categorized under the 'prior reference category' by the home ministry in 2016 due to concerns over «undesirable activities.» This classification mandates that it must obtain prior approval from the ministry before contributing funds to any Indian non-profit organization.