Defence National

India Approves Emergency Purchase of More Heron MK-II UAVs

By BPN News Desk December 2, 2025

India has initiated a fresh round of emergency procurement to acquire additional Heron MK-II unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the armed forces. The move expands earlier inductions by extending the high-end surveillance platform to all three services — the Army, Air Force and Navy. The decision follows the drone’s operational success and the growing need […]

Business

New Tax Bills Target Tobacco, Pan Masala as GST Cess Nears End

By BPN News Desk December 2, 2025

The Union government has introduced two key bills in the Lok Sabha to overhaul the tax structure on tobacco, pan masala and related products. The move comes ahead of the scheduled expiry of the GST compensation cess that currently applies to these items. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and […]

South India State News

Cyclone Ditwah Drenches Chennai, Schools, Colleges Shut

By BPN News Desk December 2, 2025

Chennai and its suburbs woke up to the wettest morning of the season on Monday as heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Ditwah swept across the region. The downpour disrupted traffic, flooded several neighbourhoods and prompted authorities to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. Heavy Rain and Weather […]

National

IndiGo Flight Diverted to Mumbai Amid Bomb Threat

By BPN News Desk December 2, 2025

A flight from IndiGo, en-route from Kuwait to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), was diverted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai) early Tuesday after an email warned of a “human bomb” on board. The aircraft, operating under callsign 6E1234, landed safely in Mumbai at 8:10 am. Security teams — including bomb disposal, fire and […]

International

13 Arrested in Hong Kong Fire Probe

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

Hong Kong police have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter after a massive fire tore through an apartment complex in Tai Po, marking one of the city’s deadliest residential disasters in decades. The blaze spread rapidly through multiple towers, leaving at least 151 people dead and dozens still missing as search operations continue. Unsafe […]

International

H-1B Approvals for Indian IT Firms Hit 10-Year Low

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

New H-1B visa approvals for Indian IT companies have fallen sharply, dropping to 4,573 in FY 2025 — the lowest level recorded in a decade. The figure marks a steep decline compared to both 2024 and earlier years, signalling a major shift in U.S. visa patterns affecting Indian tech firms. U.S. Tech Companies Dominate New […]

Business Industry

India’s Manufacturing PMI Falls to Nine-Month Low

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

India’s manufacturing sector lost momentum in November, with activity expanding at its slowest pace since February. The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI dropped to 56.6, down from 59.2 in October. Although a reading above 50 indicates growth, the decline shows a cooling in both demand and output. Slower Rise in Sales and Production Manufacturers reported that […]

Business Finance

Rupee Slips to Record Low of ₹89.79 Against US Dollar

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

The Indian rupee weakened sharply today, hitting a provisional all-time low of ₹89.79 against the US dollar in intraday trade. The currency opened at ₹89.45, then slid by 34 paise over the previous session’s close amid a drop in domestic equities and heavy dollar demand from importers. Key Factors Behind the Decline Traders attributed the […]

Cricket Sports

Shubman Gill to Begin Rehabilitation From December 1

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

India batter Shubman Gill will start his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from December 1 after recovering from a neck strain suffered during the first Test against South Africa. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the series and the subsequent ODIs. Light Batting Expected to Resume Soon According […]

International

US Push for Ukraine Peace Plan Faces Resistance

By BPN News Desk December 1, 2025

The United States’ latest effort to advance a negotiated peace framework for the Ukraine war is facing strong opposition as talks continue. The peace proposal, which originally contained over two dozen clauses, has been revised after concerns that some terms appeared to favour Russian strategic interests. Key Sticking Points Slow Negotiations Diplomatic sources indicate