Author: Sophia Johnson

Poland opens season strong, Ukraine stumbles in the rain, Georgia struggles, Uzbekistan stays quiet The summer blueberry season across Eastern Europe and Central Asia is already revealing deep contrasts. From Poland’s cautiously optimistic early harvest to Georgia’s rain-soaked setbacks, weather has taken center stage in shaping supply, export volume, and — perhaps most noticeably — prices. Meanwhile, Ukraine is walking a tightrope between booming production and logistical hurdles, and Uzbekistan,…

Hero Motors is back on the IPO track, but this time with a bigger ask. The auto parts player has refiled its draft papers with a revised plan to raise ₹1,200 crore — a clear signal that it’s shifting gears and eyeing serious expansion. This marks the company’s second attempt after pulling back an earlier draft citing market conditions. Now, with an upbeat tone and stronger appetite, Hero Motors wants…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading out on a whirlwind five-nation tour starting Wednesday, July 2 — and it’s shaping up to be his most ambitious diplomatic push in a decade. Over just eight days, he’ll visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, blending strategy, symbolism, and plenty of handshakes along the way. With BRICS, rare earths, and diaspora ties all on the agenda, this isn’t just another…

The countdown ends tomorrow. Nothing’s latest flagship smartphone—Phone 3—is all set to go official in India on July 1, and there’s already a storm of buzz. With leaked specs, bold pricing expectations, and a design that hints at refinement over revolution, the company is betting big on performance and polish this time around. All Eyes on the Price Tag Let’s cut to the chase—price is what everybody’s whispering about. Based…

Trump’s pressure pays off as Ottawa backpedals on digital services levy, reviving high-stakes negotiations ahead of July deadline Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are back on, but not without a sharp detour. Just days after President Donald Trump suspended negotiations in protest of Canada’s proposed digital services tax, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government folded—revoking the plan that threatened to ignite a new economic standoff. The Canadian government confirmed…

Two dead, seven missing as disaster strikes Yamunotri Highway; CM Dhami calls for statewide monsoon alert Heavy rains turned deadly in Uttarakhand this weekend, killing two labourers and leaving seven others missing after a landslide swept through a construction campsite on the Yamunotri Highway early Sunday. The incident prompted authorities to suspend the Char Dham Yatra, a major annual pilgrimage, over safety concerns. The cloudburst hit around 1 am, near…

India’s biggest NBFC IPO in years opens as retail, institutional, and grey market players scramble to decode its real worth The much-hyped ₹12,500 crore initial public offering of HDB Financial Services opened for bidding on Wednesday, setting the stage for one of the most-watched financial events of the year. It’s big, it’s bank-backed, and it’s drawing serious attention. But behind the market chatter and headline numbers, there’s plenty of nuance…

India Winds Down Evacuation As West Frets Over Short-Term Nuclear Setback The fighting has stopped—for now. After two harrowing weeks of missile barrages, airstrikes, and international brinkmanship, Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire, brokered through backchannel diplomacy led by the U.S. and Qatar. But the silence in the skies is not mirrored underground, where nuclear tensions still simmer. India, caught between diplomacy and duty, has begun wrapping up…

Arrests of top pro-Western politicians intensify protests in Tbilisi and raise fresh concerns over democracy and Kremlin influence Four prominent opposition figures are now behind bars in Georgia. That makes nearly all of the country’s pro-Western political leadership locked up — or effectively silenced — as anti-government protests continue to swell in Tbilisi. It’s been a long, hot, angry summer in the capital. And there’s little sign of it cooling…

A copper plate dug up in Andhra Pradesh has cracked open a time capsule from 1456, revealing what is likely India’s oldest written reference to Halley’s Comet — and the dread it inspired. A weathered copper plate etched in Sanskrit has just thrown open a new window into medieval India’s night sky. Found in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, and dated to 1456 CE, the inscription records the sighting of a blazing…