Business Finance

Nirmala Sitharaman Demands GST Cuts Reach Consumers

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said businesses must ensure that GST rate reductions are reflected in retail prices, not absorbed as extra profits. She added that the government has put in place a monitoring system to track compliance and will intervene where needed. GST 2.0 Structure The new GST framework, effective from September 22, simplifies the […]

International

Putin Calls Western Troops in Ukraine ‘Legitimate Targets’

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any Western military units deployed to Ukraine during active combat would be treated as “legitimate targets” for Russian strikes. His comments followed a Paris summit where 26 nations pledged security guarantees for Ukraine. Coalition of the Willing The pledges included the possibility of a “reassurance force” made up of […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Global Tech Rotation, Not Foreign Plots: Explaining the FII Exit from Indian IT

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

Indian equities—especially IT services—are facing outsized FII outflows and heavy index shorts, spawning a rumour that “foreign powers” are sabotaging the market. The evidence says otherwise: FY26 Q1 prints across Indian IT were soft; global consulting peers flagged cautious demand; and capital has rotated toward AI-infrastructure supply chains in Taiwan and Korea offering

International

Trump Urges Europe to Stop Buying Russian Oil

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump urged European leaders to stop purchasing Russian oil, saying the revenue is directly funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine. He pointed out that Europe’s fuel imports from Russia were worth about €1.1 billion over the past year. Pressure on China Trump also called on Europe to put economic pressure on China, arguing that […]

International

Putin Declares Western Troops in Ukraine “Legitimate Targets”

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any Western troops deployed in Ukraine during active fighting would be treated as “legitimate targets” by Russian forces. His remarks came amid ongoing discussions among Kyiv’s allies about the possibility of sending a peacekeeping or deterrence force. Western Security Proposals European leaders, including French President

Op-Eds Opinion

Dragon’s Leash: How China Uses CPEC to Discipline Pakistan

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

For years, Pakistan has boasted of its “iron brotherhood” with China, presenting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a symbol of unshakable friendship. Roads, power plants, ports, and railways—over $60 billion worth of investments—were dressed up as development miracles. Yet, in reality, these projects became lifelines for a struggling economy that no one else

International

Trump to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that will allow the U.S. Department of Defense to use “Department of War” as a secondary name. Under the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be referred to as “Secretary of War” in public communications, ceremonial events, and official correspondence. Historical Context The department was […]

International

Israel Controls 40% of Gaza City, Offensive to Grow

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

The Israeli military announced it now controls about 40% of Gaza City, including parts of the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods. The advance follows weeks of airstrikes and ground operations aimed at weakening Hamas’ hold in the area. Civilian Toll Rising Gaza health officials reported at least 53 deaths on Thursday from Israeli fire across […]

International

Trump Hosts Tech Giants, Musk Not Present

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump hosted a White House dinner for leading technology executives. The event was held in the State Dining Room after being shifted indoors due to weather. It followed a meeting of the White House Artificial Intelligence Education task force chaired by First Lady Melania Trump. Attendees included the CEOs of Apple, Meta, Google, […]

International

Afghanistan Quake Toll Tops 2,200; Aftershocks Follow

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, with its epicenter in Kunar Province near the Pakistan border. The tremor devastated villages and caused widespread destruction, making it one of the deadliest quakes in decades. Death Toll and Damage Authorities report more than 2,200 deaths and thousands injured. Nearly entire villages were flattened,