With Indian markets lagging behind global competitors, many investors are rethinking how to invest fresh money. After setting aside a sufficient amount for domestic goals, the next question is: For example, how should the additional Rs 10 lakh be spread across overseas markets such as the US, China, Europe and other emerging economies? Over the past year, Indian stocks have lagged many major global markets. As of April 9, the S&P 500 gained 29.55%, the Hang Seng gained 25.27%, and the Dow Jones gained 21.70%. In comparison, the Nifty 50 index was up 4.86% and the Nifty 500 index was up 6.98%.
Diversification is key

प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी आज दिल्ली-देहरादून इकोनॉमिक कॉरिडोर का उद्घाटन करेंगे. इससे पहले पीएम मोदी ने सिद्धपीठ मां काली का आशीर्वाद लिया. अब जनसभा स्थल पर पीएम मोदी का रोड शो हो रहा है.

हम पहली बार राजधानी दून में 12 किलोमीटर का रोड शो कर रहे हैं। इसके बाद वह गढ़ी कैंट स्थित मैदान से जनसभा को संबोधित करेंगे. इस दौरान चप्पे-चप्पे पर कड़ी सुरक्षा है और बड़े पैमाने पर वाहनों के रूट डायवर्ट किए गए हैं.

पीएम मोदी: खास है डाट काली मंदिर, दिल्ली-दून एक्सप्रेसवे के उद्घाटन से पहले पीएम मोदी ने लिया मां का आशीर्वाद

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पीएम मोदी का रोड शो – फोटो : संवाद न्यूज एजेंसी

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पीएम मोदी का रोड शो – फोटो : संवाद न्यूज एजेंसी

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पीएम मोदी – फोटो : संवाद न्यूज एजेंसी

एलिवेटेड रोड पर भी पीएम मोदी ने गाड़ी से उतरकर निरीक्षण किया. यहां से उन्होंने एलिवेटेड कॉरिडोर का व्यू प्वाइंट देखा।

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जनसभा में जुटी भीड़ – फोटो : संवाद न्यूज एजेंसी

UAE extends Nafees till 2040, adds monthly salary support and unlimited child allowance / Image: File

In a significant move to strengthen Emirati employment in the private sector, the UAE announced a major extension of its flagship Nafis programme, with benefits extended until 2040. The announcement was made under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reinforcing the country’s long-term vision of empowering Emirati talents and enhancing job security.The updated plan introduces a wide range of financial and social support measures; The most notable change is the removal of any limits on child allowance. This marks a major change in the structure of family support under Nafis, especially for large Emirati families.Officials said the move reflects the leadership’s commitment to improving the quality of life by encouraging more citizens to join and remain in the private sector workforce.

UAE Nafees’ new allowance rules explained

One of the most significant changes under the revised, as well, is that the program continues to provide monthly salary top-ups that can reach up to Dh7,000 depending on eligibility and income level, along with pension contributions and unemployment assistance.Officials said the reforms are designed to better reflect real domestic needs while making private sector careers more financially viable for Emiratis. Along with expanded family-focused incentives, removing limits on child support is expected to particularly benefit larger families and improve long-term financial security, while encouraging more citizens to enter and remain in private sector roles.

Empowering Emirati women

The government is making it easier for every household member to contribute to the country’s economy. The new updates introduce a wage support program specifically targeted at children of Emirati mothers working in the private sector.Additionally, a new assistance scheme has been launched for wives of Emirati citizens working in the private sector. By broadening the safety net, the Emirates Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) aims to create a “dynamic and stable work environment” that protects family income while encouraging more citizens to switch from public office to private enterprise.

How does the Nafees Program work?

Nafis’ expansion plays a central role in the UAE’s broader Emiratization strategy, which seeks to increase citizens’ participation in private sector employment. At a high-level meeting of the Emirates Talent Competitiveness Council held at Qasr Al Watan, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the remarkable progress of the Nafees programme, revealing that it has already exceeded its initial employment targets. Since its launch in 2021, more than 176,000 Emiratis have entered the private sector, reflecting a sea change in the country’s workforce landscape. Currently, approximately 152,000 citizens across 32,000 companies actively benefit from Nafees, demonstrating the wide reach and impact of the programme.The program also supports the UAE’s economic diversification goals by encouraging citizens to contribute to key industries beyond the public sector.

What will happen next?

Sheikh Mansoor described Nafees as the “cornerstone” of national talent development. By extending the program until 2040, the UAE is sending a clear message to both citizens and the global market: Emiratization is not a temporary trend, but a permanent structural shift.Along with financial aid, the program is also doubling down on “jobs of the future.” The third cycle of the Nafees Awards introduces categories for AI, robotics and renewable energy, ensuring that the next generation is not only employed, but leading the industries of tomorrow. With more than 38,000 children already receiving support from the allowance scheme, the UAE is betting big on its people as its “greatest asset”.

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin conducted a door-to-door campaign in Vellore on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.During his campaign, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam The leader stopped at a local tea stall, where he drank tea and interacted with residents of Vellore, often called the fort city of Tamil Nadu.The DMK has fielded sitting MLA P Karthikeyan from the Vellore constituency, contesting again against SRK Appu of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). In the 2021 assembly elections, Karthikeyan defeated Appu by a margin of 9,181 votes or 5.1 percent.The Muslim community is expected to play a significant role in the constituency with a population share of 24.28 per cent in Vellore city as per 2011 census.Earlier on Monday, Stalin had said that the DMK would defeat the NDA alliance in the assembly elections, adding that the “Tamil Nadu team” would prevail over the “Delhi team”.Addressing a public meeting in Ranipet district, he alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is raising the delimitation issue to divert attention from concerns like LPG shortage and depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar.According to news agency ANI report, Stalin said, “In the democratic war of 2026, I have come so that we will defeat the Delhi team and make the Tamil Nadu team win. The BJP is now taking the delimitation issue into its own hands. People are facing trouble without gas, and the Indian rupee has gone high against the dollar. So, to divert attention, the BJP is now trying to raise the issue of delimitation. This delimitation is the biggest in Indian history. Big. If they are hiding it and trying to implement it, then definitely they are against Tamil Nadu.”She described the party’s election manifesto as a “superstar” and announced a welfare scheme for women voters. Under the proposal, the DMK plans to provide a coupon of Rs 8,000 to women to purchase new home appliances or exchange existing appliances.Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.The main contest is expected to be between the DMK-led secular progressive alliance, comprising Indian National CongressDMDK and VCK, and the AIADMK-led NDA as well as BJP and PMK. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could lead to a triangular contest.

नोएडा विरोध समाचार: नोएडा में मजदूरों का प्रदर्शन मंगलवार को एक बार फिर हिंसक हो गया. सोमवार को हुई घटनाओं के बाद स्थिति पहले से ही तनावपूर्ण थी, लेकिन मंगलवार सुबह मजदूरों ने कई जगहों पर पुलिस पर पथराव किया. सेक्टर-121 में प्रदर्शनकारियों और पुलिस के बीच झड़प हो गई, जिसमें कई पुलिसकर्मी घायल हो गए. इस दौरान कुछ बसों और गाड़ियों के शीशे भी टूट गए. हालात बिगड़ते देख पुलिस ने मोर्चा संभाला और स्थिति को नियंत्रित करने की कोशिश में जुट गई. पूरे इलाके में अफरा-तफरी का माहौल बन गया.

सेक्टर-80 और सेक्टर-70 में भी तनाव बढ़ गया
सेक्टर-80 में भी पथराव की घटना सामने आई, जिसके बाद पुलिस ने सख्ती दिखाई और भीड़ को वहां से हटाया. मजदूरों का प्रदर्शन सेक्टर-70 में भी देखने को मिला, जहां पुलिस और प्रदर्शनकारियों के बीच आमना-सामना हुआ. हालांकि पुलिस ने मौके पर पहुंचकर स्थिति को नियंत्रित किया और लोगों को शांत कराया. लगातार हो रही घटनाओं के चलते नोएडा के कई इलाकों में भारी पुलिस बल तैनात किया गया है ताकि हालात और न बिगड़ें.

Uttarakhand teachers seek relief from census, BLO duties (AI image used for representational purpose only)

Dehradun: Government school teachers in Uttarakhand have written to senior education officials seeking alternative arrangements while being deployed for census and booth-level officer (BLO) duties under the SIR exercise, warning that disengagement of teaching staff is severely disrupting classroom instruction, especially in schools operating with minimum staff.Teachers said their involvement in these additional duties, likely to continue for at least a year, could lead to prolonged gaps in teaching at a time when recovery of learning remains a priority. He has urged the department to make interim arrangements to ensure that students are not left without supervision or instruction during his absence. This concern is most acute in single-teacher schools, where any absence makes it impossible to fully care for students.In a letter, AK Gosain, a teacher from Sahaspur on the outskirts of Dehradun, wrote, “Since the undersigned is involved in teacher training and census work, a situation may arise where the school would need to remain closed for so many days.” In another school in Banjarwarla village in Dehradun district, which has around 200 students, there are six teachers, five have been assigned census and BLO duties. On April 11, the school principal wrote to senior officials seeking relief, saying, “For the sake of education of the students and smooth functioning of the school, I request you to please relieve at least two teachers from these duties.” Across the state, there were at least 3,000 single-teacher schools as of last year. The teachers said they are already engaged in several education department programmes, including census and BLO duties as well as the Pravesh Mahotsav and the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Comprehension and Numeracy (NIPUN). “Our promotions are on hold from 2025 following the orders of the apex court and transfers are also on hold due to the orders of the High Court. We are only demanding relief from BLO duty as it is not part of the right to education,” said Digambar Singh Negi, Chamoli district president of Uttaranchal State Primary Teachers Association. Dharmendra Rawat, Dehradun district president of the union, said that although teachers continue to perform the assigned duties, its impact on students is significant. “In single-teacher schools or schools with limited staff, students are being seriously impacted, which can have an impact on their future outcomes,” he said. When asked, Director of Education Deepti Singh said, “If such concerns are raised, the department informs the district election officers. However, it does not come under our purview to allot or transfer BLO duties.”

Coastal road construction reveals ancient tombs and 3,000-year-old buried secrets / Image: File

A remarkable archaeological discovery has been unearthed in Oman, where construction work along a major coastal road in the Al Batinah region unearthed tombs nearly 3,000 years old. The discovery was confirmed by Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, which immediately intervened to halt construction and secure the site for detailed excavations.Authorities say the graves date back to the Iron Age, a critical period for understanding early human settlement in the Arabian Peninsula. The burial site appears to be a structured cemetery with several graves grouped together, suggesting that an organized community once lived on Oman’s coastline.

Ancient tombs discovered in Oman

Archaeologists examining the graves found human skeletal remains along with carefully placed objects, offering a rare glimpse of the burial traditions of the time. Near the deceased were pottery, as well as personal ornaments such as beads and decorative objects, as well as stone tools, which are believed to have had ceremonial significance.Experts from Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism explained that the arrangement of these objects reflected a belief system in which the dead were buried with possessions considered important to their afterlife. Variation in burial styles within tombs may also reflect differences in status within the same community, evolving customs, or specific family traditions.This level of detail is particularly important as well-preserved burial contexts from this period are relatively rare in the region.

Oman’s role in ancient trade

Officials highlighted that the location of the graves along the Al Batinah coast is no coincidence. The region historically served as a strategic link between major ancient trade networks connecting the Arabian Peninsula with Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and parts of East Africa.According to officials, the discovery provides important evidence of early human habitation and helps archaeologists better understand how communities lived, traded and interacted in Oman. It is expected that the findings will contribute to wider research on cultural exchange and economic activities during the Iron Age.A ministry spokesperson said such discoveries continue to reinforce Oman’s historical importance as a crossroads of civilizations, where maritime trade and settlement patterns shaped early societies.

looking ahead

Excavations are still ongoing at the site; Experts are carefully documenting every detail to maintain the integrity of the findings. Construction work in the area is suspended, reflecting the government’s priority of protecting archaeological heritage over rapid development.Researchers believe the site may hold even more secrets beneath the surface, including additional burial chambers, traces of nearby settlements, and biological evidence that may reveal insights about the diet, health, and daily lives of ancient populations.The Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has indicated that the site could eventually be designated as a protected heritage area, which would ensure long-term conservation while opening the door to academic research and potential cultural tourism.

Bharatiya Janata Party On Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, promising monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for female heads of families and one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 per family.Announcing the move, Union Minister JP Nadda outlined key proposals aimed at financial assistance, security and economic empowerment of women. “The main points of the manifesto are that when we come to power under the leadership of AIADMK, we will provide monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to all women heads of families and a lump sum amount of Rs 10,000 to each family,” he said.Apart from the above promises, the party also promised to provide free LPG cylinder annually and Rs 25,000 assistance to eligible women to purchase e-scooters. It also proposed interest-free loans of up to Rs 50 lakh for women-led cooperative societies, self-help groups and MSMEs, and also ordered that 20% of procurement in manufacturing units would be made from such groups.The party has also proposed women safety measures like zero FIR reporting, victim-witness protection and special fast-track courts for heinous crimes including sexual offences, in its manifesto. The party also promised 100% blind spot-free CCTV coverage in buses, schools and universities along with better utilization of the Nirbhaya fund.For farmers, the BJP said it will increase benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi by adding a top-up of Rs 3,000 to the existing annual assistance of Rs 6,000.Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.The main contest is expected to be between the DMK-led secular progressive alliance, which has Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, which has allies BJP and PMK.