Author: Virgin News

2024 has been a year that tested the resolve and resilience of nations worldwide. United Nations failure to resolve Global Turmoil & Conflicts in Ukraine & Palestine, amid escalating tensions and conflicts, the global community faced challenges that reshaped alliances and underlined the critical need for international diplomacy and collaboration. The conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2022, continued to dominate headlines in 2024. Russia’s military campaign persisted, with intense battles causing widespread devastation. The conflict’s roots lay in Russia’s opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion, but its repercussions have stretched far beyond Europe. Civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction have deepened…

The nation mourns the loss of Dr. Manmohan Singh, one of India’s most revered statesmen and economic reformers, who passed away at 92 on the evening of December 26, 2024, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned for his humility and intellectual brilliance, was admitted to AIIMS in critical condition around 8 p.m. after suffering a sudden loss of consciousness at home. Despite rigorous medical intervention, he was declared dead at 9:51 p.m., as confirmed by an AIIMS bulletin. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and three daughters. Dr. Manmohan…

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah achieves historic milestone, edging closer to surpassing Ravichandran Ashwin’s best-ever rating in ICC Rankings. On the eve of the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test, India’s ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has etched his name into the annals of cricketing history by equaling Ravichandran Ashwin’s record for the highest-ever rating points by an Indian bowler in the ICC Test Rankings. Bumrah’s phenomenal performance in the third Test against Australia at Brisbane, where he claimed a sensational 9/94, earned him an additional 14 rating points. This brought his total to 904, a number that matches Ashwin’s peak rating…

The Indian stock market began Thursday’s trading session on a strong note, buoyed by a positive rally in Asian markets and significant buying interest in blue-chip banking stocks. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty climbed substantially in early trade, reflecting renewed investor optimism amid improving economic conditions. The 30-share BSE Sensex surged 425.5 points, reaching 78,898.37 in early trading, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 123.85 points to touch 23,851.50. Leading the charge were major players such as State Bank of India (SBI), Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Power Grid, which posted notable gains. However, not…

Collaboration in defence between India and Saudi Arabia is reaching new heights as both nations explore joint ventures and partnerships across critical sectors like shipbuilding, electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. The deepening ties were highlighted during a recent defence industry seminar in Riyadh, where Indian envoy Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan emphasized Saudi Arabia’s priority status as one of India’s closest allies. The event underscored the growing importance of defence-industrial cooperation in the broader strategic partnership between the two nations. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to localize 50% of its defence spending, aligns seamlessly with India’s “Make in India”…

In a thrilling update for cricket fans, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025, with the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown set to take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This marquee clash promises to reignite one of the sport’s most intense rivalries on neutral ground, ensuring heightened excitement for global audiences. The defending champions, Pakistan, will kick off the tournament on February 19 in Karachi, facing New Zealand in what promises to be a high-octane opener. The tournament will culminate on March 9 with the final, which will be hosted…

PM Modi engaged with leading economists and sectoral experts at NITI Aayog in New Delhi on December 24, 2024, to deliberate on key economic priorities ahead of the Union Budget for 2025-26. Among the key topics discussed were job creation, agricultural productivity enhancement, and the mobilization of public and private funds for infrastructure development. The high-level meeting was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra, and several other senior officials and experts. The gathering was part of the government’s effort to solicit expert advice and chart a…

In a significant reshuffle of gubernatorial appointments, President Droupadi Murmu has named former Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla as the new Governor of Manipur. This appointment comes at a critical time, as the state has been grappling with ethnic strife between the Meitei community and Kuki tribes since May 2023. Ajay Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is recognized for his extensive experience in handling security matters. During his tenure as Union Home Secretary, he played a pivotal role in enacting key legislations, including the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. Bhalla retired in August 2024 and has been…

Actor Allu Arjun appeared at the Chikkadpally Police Station in Hyderabad on Tuesday, December 24, for questioning regarding a tragic stampede incident linked to a promotional event for his film Pushpa 2. The stampede, which occurred on December 4, resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and left her eight-year-old son critically injured. The actor arrived at the police station around 11 a.m., complying with a formal notice issued by Inspector B. Raju Naik the previous day. The notice emphasized the necessity of Mr. Arjun’s presence to clarify details of the incident and potentially visit the scene of the…

In a significant development, reports have emerged suggesting that Dhaka is seeking the extradition of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in connection with ongoing political controversies in the country. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that it has not received any formal diplomatic note or request in this regard. The reports surfaced amidst rising political tensions in Bangladesh, where Sheikh Hasina has been facing criticism from opposition parties ahead of the upcoming general elections. Allegations of political suppression and demands for her resignation have added fuel to the fire, with some international commentators suggesting that the extradition…