Most consecutive defeats for an Indian captain 6 MAK Pataudi (1967-68) 5 Sachin Tendulkar (1999-00) 4 Datta Gaekwad (1959) 4 MS Dhoni (2011) 4 MS Dhoni (2014) 4 Virat Kohli (2020-21) 4 Rohit Sharma (2024) * ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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India ranks 3rd globally with 185 billionaires in 2024, wealth up 42%: Report The collective net worth of India’s billionaires soared by 42.1% over the past year to $905.6 billion India has emerged as the third-largest hub for billionaires globally, boasting 185 individuals in 2024, according to UBS’ latest Billionaire Ambitions Report. The country ranks behind the United States, which leads with 835 billionaires, and China, which follows with 427, as per the UBS report.  The report highlights India’s rapid rise in billionaire numbers, adding 32 new names in the past year—a 21% increase. Since 2015, the country has more than doubled its billionaire count, growing by 123%, the UBS report added. Billionaire Wealth Surges in India The collective net worth of India’s billionaires soared by 42.1% over the past year to $905.6 billion, reflecting the country’s strong economic momentum. The report credits India’s economic dynamism for driving this growth, making it a key player in global wealth creation, as per the report. ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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Japan gov't mulls raising tax-free income threshold from January 2026 The government and the ruling parties are considering applying a higher income tax exemption threshold from January 2026, in a move to incentivize part-timers to work longer hours amid Japan's labor shortage, a source close to the matter said Tuesday. The schedule is expected if the government decides on raising the threshold for imposing income tax, currently set at a minimum annual income of 1.03 million, in its tax reform plan for the next fiscal year starting April. Related bills will be subsequently deliberated in the Diet for likely enactment around the spring. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner the Komeito party, which lost their majority in the powerful House of Representatives in October's general election, have agreed to accept a request from a minor opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People, to increase the nontaxable income threshold. ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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Syria, Russia Conduct Deadly Strikes To Push Back Islamist Advance The Syrian military and its ally Russia conducted deadly joint air raids on areas under Islamist-led rebel control on Monday, as they battle a lightning offensive that has wrested swathes of Syria from government control. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, both of which have confirmed they will help his army fight back after Aleppo, the country's second city, fell out of government control. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011, and the conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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Govt targets 6.5-7% GDP growth in FY25 despite slowdown: EAS Ajay Seth India's GDP recorded a 5.4% growth in the July-September quarter, its slowest in two years The Indian government is taking steps to achieve its projected gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.5 to 7 per cent for financial year 2024-25 (FY25), despite a sharper-than-expected slowdown in the second quarter (Q2), Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth said on Monday, according to a report by Reuters. The government anticipates an acceleration in economic growth during the latter half of the year. India’s GDP recorded a 5.4 per cent growth in the July-September quarter, the slowest in two years, due to subdued performance in manufacturing and mining. This marked a significant decline from the 8.1 per cent recorded in the same period last year and fell short of the 6.5 per cent projection for the quarter. ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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Unfortunate, should not have happened: Haryana CM slams attack on Kejriwal BJP MP further urged the public to punish Kejriwal through democratic means, such as voting, and demanded an inquiry to determine if Kejriwal staged the attack himself Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the incident in which a liquid was thrown at former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal, calling it "unfortunate" and underlining that such incidents should not occur. "He should fulfil the promises he made to the people of the state. Such an incident is unfortunate. This should not have happened," the Haryana CM said. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari dismissed AAP's allegation that the attacker, who threw liquid at Kejriwal during his 'padayatra', was a BJP worker. Tiwari claimed that Kejriwal orchestrates such incidents himself, alleging that he has "fallen in the eyes of Delhi." ©SHIRSENDU KARMAKAR

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