Trump Orders Removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
US President Donald Trump ordered the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook effective immediately, citing allegations of false statements on her mortgage agreements -- and expanding pressure on the independent central bank.
Smart City Index 2025 Rankings
The IMD Smart City Index 2025, released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), once again highlighted how cities across the world are leveraging technology, infrastructure, and governance to improve urban life. While Swiss cities continue to dominate, the Middle East has made dramatic leaps, and Indian cities remain outside the global top 20.
According to IMD, a smart city is "an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and mitigate the drawbacks of urbanisation for its citizens."
Cities are ranked based on five key parameters: Health and Safety, Mobility, Activities, Opportunities and Governance
IMD Top 10 Smart Cities in the World 2025 are Zurich, Oslo, Geneva, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Copenhagen, Canberra, Singapore and Lausanne.
Although Indian cities are progressing in the global smart city movement, they are still far from the top 20 list.
Delhi-104, Mumbai-106, Hyderabad 109 and Bengaluru -110
Aug 25, 2025
Trump Appoints Sergio Gor as US Ambassador to India
US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of his close aide Sergio Gor as the next US ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Making the announcement, President Trump said that for the most populous region of the world, he needs someone whom he can fully trust to deliver on his agenda and help make America great again.
The appointment came amid tensions between the two countries, following the imposition of punitive tariffs on India by Trump.
Gor, a trusted aide to Trump, fills the vacancy in New Delhi that has remained since January 2025, when former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after Trump assumed office in Washington, DC.
India Elected Chairman of AIBD Executive Board
India was elected as the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest number of votes at the 23rd AIBD General Conference, held in August 2025 in Phuket, Thailand.
This marks India's return to the top leadership role after last serving as AIBD Executive Council Chairman in 2016.
Founded in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) is a unique regional inter-governmental organization. It currently has 92 member organisations from 45 countries.
The conference gathered global broadcasting stakeholders to deliberate on policy exchange, content collaboration, and media development strategies.
Aug 24, 2025
Sri Lanka's Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested
Sri Lanka's former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of funds.
Wickremesinghe served as President from 2022 to 2024, stepping into the role after the country's worst ever economic crisis triggered a popular uprising caused his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee.
Aug 22, 2025
UNICEF YuWaah and SAP Launch Yutopia to Empower Youth in India
UNICEF YuWaah (the India Chapter of Generation Unlimited) and SAP launched Yutopia – an initiative that unites public, private, and civil society stakeholders to build inclusive systems that reflect, and respond to the needs and aspirations of young people, placing youth at the centre of every effort. With over 350 million young people in India, Yutopia marks a strategic step toward building youth-affirmative systems that engage young people as equal stakeholders in national development.
Yutopia seeks to co-create pathways and frameworks for institutions to engage young people not merely as beneficiaries or employees, but as active collaborators.
Aug 20, 2025
S. Jaishankar Co-chairs 26th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission Session
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the 26th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) in Moscow.
Jaishankar's visit came at the invitation of Denis Manturov, the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
The visit aimed to further strengthen the longstanding and time-tested India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.