Switzerland has revoked India's 'Most Favoured Nation' (MFN) status following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling in the Nestle case. The court decided that the MFN clause in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) does not apply automatically when a country joins the OECD. As a result, Switzerland will raise the tax on dividends from 5% to 10% for Indian entities starting January 1, 2025. Experts warn this will increase tax liabilities for Indian companies in Switzerland and may affect Swiss investments in India.

Francois Bayrou, a centrist politician, has been named France's new prime minister following Michel Barnier's resignation. Barnier lost a vote of no confidence after budget disputes, leading to his resignation just 90 days into the role. Bayrou, 73, has been a key ally of President Macron for years and leads the Democratic Movement party. He faces a tough challenge in leading a divided parliament with no clear majority. Bayrou will work to navigate France's fractured political landscape and find common ground to pass important legislation, especially a critical budget.

Thousands of Syrians filled the streets of Damascus and other cities to celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. In Umayyad Square, people sang, waved opposition flags, and chanted revolutionary slogans. Rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa called it a victory for the "blessed revolution." While many celebrated, families searched for missing loved ones at a Damascus mortuary. Bodies transferred from the infamous Saydnaya prison showed signs of torture and malnourishment. Key regime buildings, including torture cells and intelligence offices, revealed evidence of decades of oppression. Syrians now hope to rebuild their nation "hand-in-hand" in freedom.

Telugu actor Allu Arjun spent Friday night in Hyderabad’s Chanchalguda Jail, even after being granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court. He was arrested over a stampede at the Pushpa 2 premiere, which left one dead and a child injured. The court stated Arjun had the "right to life and liberty" and could not be held responsible for the tragedy. However, delays in processing the bail order kept him in custody. Arjun's lawyer argued his arrest was unnecessary, citing a 2017 case where Shah Rukh Khan received relief in a similar situation. He is expected to be released Saturday.

The parents of a doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College said the “system is failing us” after two accused were granted bail. Ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and former police officer Abhijit Mondal were released as the CBI failed to file a chargesheet within 90 days. Both are accused of tampering with evidence and allowing a hasty cremation. The victim’s mother said, “We trusted the CBI, but now we wonder if justice will ever be served.” Protests by doctors and activists erupted statewide, demanding accountability. The case is under CBI investigation after initial mishandling by police.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized the Congress party over actor Allu Arjun’s arrest following a stampede at a ‘Pushpa 2’ premiere in Hyderabad. Vaishnaw accused the Telangana government of engaging in "publicity stunts" to deflect blame from the poor arrangements at the venue. He said the arrest reflected a lack of respect for the creative industry. Meanwhile, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy denied government interference, asserting the law would take its course. Allu Arjun was granted interim bail, with further hearings scheduled for January 2025. BJP leaders also condemned the arrest.

The Indian government expressed concern over the murders of three Indian students in Canada last week, calling the incidents "unfortunate tragedies." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended condolences to the victims' families and assured assistance through Indian missions in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver. The MEA issued an advisory for Indian nationals to remain cautious amid rising hate crimes. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the safety of Indian nationals in Canada remains a top priority, while rejecting reports of visa delays as misinformation.

Telugu superstar Allu Arjun was granted bail hours after his arrest over a crowd crush at the Pushpa 2 premiere in Hyderabad, which killed a 39-year-old woman and injured her son. The tragedy occurred when Arjun’s surprise appearance caused chaos among fans. Police filed charges of culpable homicide against the actor, his security team, and theatre staff. Arjun expressed condolences, pledged ₹2.5M compensation, and promised to cover the boy’s medical costs. The high court overturned a 14-day custody order. Accidents like these spotlight India’s challenges in crowd management during celebrity events.

D Gukesh, the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, expressed deep admiration for his opponent, Ding Liren, after his historic victory. At the closing ceremony, Gukesh said, “This journey has been beautiful because of the people around me. I would also love to thank my opponent, Ding Liren. He is, in my eyes, a true champion. Despite a lot of pressure, he was able to put on a huge fight. This match has been what it is because of his fighting spirit. I really admire you.'' Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also announced a Rs 5 crore reward for Gukesh’s remarkable achievement.

In 2023, 86 Indians were murdered or attacked abroad, including 12 in the US, and 10 each in Canada, the UK, and Saudi Arabia, Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh revealed in Parliament. The figure marks a sharp rise from 57 in 2022 and 29 in 2021. Singh emphasized that the safety of Indians abroad remains a priority, with missions taking prompt action and raising concerns at high levels. Additionally, 2,16,219 Indians renounced citizenship in 2023, down from 2,25,620 in 2022. A 24x7 helpline has been set up to aid Indians overseas.