Taxpayers opting for the old tax regime can continue to claim deductions on donations made to eligible charitable organisations under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. To clarify how such claims will be assessed and verified, the Income Tax Department issued an extensive set of FAQs on December 19, 2025, outlining both substantive…
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that he hopes the long-pending free-trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union will be signed in January, even as opposition from some EU members and protests by European farmers delay the deal, AP reported.Speaking at a summit of South American leaders in Foz do…
Government holding in Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has declined to 92.44 per cent following the completion of the offer-for-sale (OFS), with the Centre diluting a 2.17 per cent stake in the state-owned lender, the bank said in a regulatory filing on Saturday, PTI reported.Prior to the stake sale, the government held 94.61 per cent equity…
Power Minister Manohar Lal has held consultations with a panel of Members of Parliament on the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as the government seeks feedback on changes aimed at strengthening India’s power sector framework, PTI reported.MPs from various political parties in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participated in the meeting of the…
Left- AI generated reperesentative image; Right- Ruchir Sharma (File photo) The global economy has entered a phase where artificial intelligence has become the dominant force shaping growth, markets and policy, with the US now the most exposed to both its promise and its risks, according to economist and investor Ruchir Sharma.“This big factor has out-Trumped…
Nearly 70 per cent of real estate developers expect housing prices to rise by more than 5 per cent during the 2026 calendar year, driven by sustained demand, according to a sentiment survey conducted by industry body CREDAI and property data analytics firm CRE Matrix, PTI reported.The survey, conducted in November and December with responses…
Gold, one of the strongest-performing assets this year, is expected to remain “moderately to strongly positive” in 2026, while silver is also likely to retain its momentum, according to a market outlook report by financial advisory firm PL Capital, PTI reported.Gold prices have risen more than 60 per cent so far in 2026, supported by…
As the pool of skilled tradespeople continues to shrink in the US, Walmart is moving to strengthen its in-house workforce to keep its vast operations running — from conveyor belts and refrigeration systems to electrical networks and basic infrastructure at stores and distribution centres, AP reported.The world’s largest retailer and biggest private employer has revamped…
Driving the news While the political headlines from the Winter Session focused on the usual parliamentary theatrics, Parliament quietly passed a legislative package that fundamentally alters the DNA of your personal finances.In a matter of days, the rules governing how you insure your life, save for retirement, and invest in the market were rewritten. The…
Markets regulator Sebi is planning to constitute a working group to identify the next technological frontier for stock exchanges, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday, underlining the regulator’s focus on strengthening market infrastructure amid rapid technological change, PTI reported.The proposed group will examine how exchange technology should evolve over the next five to…
