President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday bestowed the highest honour of the city-state on Tarun Das, the former director general of the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).

Mr. Das was awarded the Honorary Citizen Award by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam who will start the official leg of his India tour on Thursday.

The Honourary Citizen award is given for “outstanding contribution by a non-Singaporean to the country’s growth and development,” a press note released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Singapore declared.

Indian economy is likely to grow at 6.5-6.8 per cent this fiscal and slightly higher between 6.7-7.3 per cent in FY2026, boosted by domestic consumption, Deloitte said on Sunday.

Deloitte India Economist Rumki Majumdar said the growth in the first half of the fiscal year 2025 turned out to be slower than estimated as election uncertainties followed by disruptions in activity due to heavy rainfall and geopolitical events weighed on domestic demand and exports.

However, India continues to show resilience in certain pockets that are worth noting -- be it in consumption trends, services growth, the rising share of high-value manufacturing in exports, or the capital market.

Novak Djokovic added yet another record in a career full of them when he overtook Roger Federer on Wednesday to become the player to have played the most Grand Slam matches.

In his match against Jaime Faria, which he won 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2, Djokovic leapfrogged Roger Federer by taking part in his 430th Grand Slam match, one more than the Swiss legend. He also improved on his performances in the Grand Slams with 379 wins and just 51 losses.

“Grand Slams, of course, they are the pillars of our sport. They mean everything for the history of the sport. … Definitely the most important tournaments. I’m just blessed to be making another record, I guess, today,” the Serb said.

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill severely restricting transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.

The legislation would bar transgender students from female teams at any school or university that receives federal funding, though its adoption by the Senate and passage into law is unlikely.

The bill defines sex as "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth" and restricts transgender athletes from participating in athletic activities "designated for women or girls."

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a new term on Friday (January 10, 2025), amid renewed protests and rebukes from the United States and others who believe he stole last year's vote.

Venezuela’s legislative palace, where he was sworn in and delivered a fiery speech, was heavily guarded by security forces who have become Mr. Maduro's main hold on power since last summer's disputed election. Crowds of people, many sporting pro-Maduro T-shirts, gathered in adjacent streets and a nearby plaza.

Mr. Maduro, likening himself to a biblical David fighting Goliath, accused his opponents and their supporters in the U.S. of trying to turn his inauguration into a “world war.” He said his enemies' failure to block his inauguration to a third six-year term was “a great victory" for Venezuela's peace and national sovereignty.

NATO is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region, the alliance's leader said on Tuesday.

Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that the mission dubbed Baltic Sentry would include frigates, maritime patrol aircraft and a fleet of naval drones to provide "enhanced surveillance and deterrence."

Announcing the new operation, Rutte noted that more than 95 per cent of internet traffic is secured via undersea cables, and 1.3 million kilometres (8,08,000 miles) of cables guarantee an estimated USD 10 trillion worth of financial transactions every day. (ANI/WAM)

Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has launched the second multi-purpose vessel for the Indian Navy from its Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai.

The launch of the vessel, christened INS Utkarsh, comes within three months of the launch of the first MPV INS Samarthak.

The first vessel is being readied for undergoing tests and trials prior to its delivery to the Indian Navy, L&T said in a statement on Tuesday.

The multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) are highly specialised and play multiple roles, including serving as trial platforms, for the development of next generation weapons and sensors. They will perform maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance, combat sea pollution, besides taking up launch and recovery of surface and aerial assets, etc.

Indian pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2024, following a string of extraordinary performances during India’s tour of Australia. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the accolade on Tuesday, recognizing Bumrah’s dominance over world-class opposition.

Bumrah edged out tough competition from Australia’s Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Dane Paterson to claim the award. Over three grueling Test matches, Bumrah spearheaded India’s bowling attack, scalping an impressive 22 wickets at an exceptional average of 14.22, reaffirming his stature as one of the finest bowlers in world cricket.

The Adelaide Test marked the beginning of Bumrah’s stellar run, where his four-wicket haul curtailed Australia’s lead in the first innings, keeping India in contention. His heroics continued in Brisbane, where a devastating six-wicket spell in the first innings and three more wickets in the second innings left Australia’s batting line-up in tatters. Despite rain curtailing the match, Bumrah’s performance ensured India remained alive in the series.

Uttar Pradesh is looking to privatise two of its four power distribution companies, a State government tender showed, as the country's most populous state grapples with power losses and a lack of sufficient transmission infrastructure.

The State is inviting private companies to form partnerships with or privatise state-owned Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam and Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, per the tender dated January 12.

A majority of State power distribution companies in India are suffering losses due to older power transmission systems and frequent power losses, prompting the government to bring in private players.

The Australian government has launched the first national strategy to improve the lives of people with autism. The minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth today unveiled the first National Autism Strategy, promising improved inclusion, support and life outcomes for all autistic Australians.

The 42.3 million Australian dollar plan includes 22 commitments on four key reform areas to address the barriers autistic people face in areas like education, employment and diagnosis.