Times of India🇮🇳 India
2 Jul, 05:21 amEPFO Makes Higher PF Contributions Voluntary — Here's What Changes for 8 Crore Workers
EPFO has mandated a 12% provident fund contribution on wages up to Rs 15,000 per month for its eight crore members. Any contributions beyond this statutory limit are now voluntary, meaning employees can choose to save more but employers are not obligated to match the extra amount. These voluntary contributions can be adjusted or stopped at any time.
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8 insights · curated today
🔒 Impact & source links — PremiumChina Won the Hormuz Crisis — And India Should Be Paying Attention
A new report by geopolitical consulting firm Asia Group says China is the sole Asian winner from the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Beijing's large energy stockpiles and its dominance in solar and EV industries let it ride out the global commodities shock. Now China is gaining further ground from the worldwide push toward renewables.
AI Chip Stocks Triple in Value — Asia Pacific Markets Are Surging With Them
Shares in semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers have surged in the first half of 2026, with some companies tripling in value. Investors are pouring money into hardware firms that power the AI boom, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higher. Meanwhile, some large software companies have fallen out of favour.
14 Children Dead After Tutoring Centre Collapses in Lahore
Fourteen children were killed when a tutoring centre collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan. Police are investigating whether negligence during construction work caused the building to come down. Funerals for the victims have been held.
Trump Kills Long-Term Renewal of North America Trade Deal — What It Means for Global Trade
Donald Trump refused to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on its built-in deadline, choosing instead to keep it alive through annual reviews rather than a fresh 16-year commitment. The USMCA was a deal Trump himself once championed as his signature trade achievement. The decision leaves North American trade ties in a state of ongoing uncertainty.
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China Won the Hormuz Crisis — And India Should Be Paying Attention
A new report by geopolitical consulting firm Asia Group says China is the sole Asian winner from the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Beijing's large energy stockpiles and its dominance in solar and EV industries let it ride out the global commodities shock. Now China is gaining further ground from the worldwide push toward renewables.
AI Chip Stocks Triple in Value — Asia Pacific Markets Are Surging With Them
Shares in semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers have surged in the first half of 2026, with some companies tripling in value. Investors are pouring money into hardware firms that power the AI boom, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higher. Meanwhile, some large software companies have fallen out of favour.
14 Children Dead After Tutoring Centre Collapses in Lahore
Fourteen children were killed when a tutoring centre collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan. Police are investigating whether negligence during construction work caused the building to come down. Funerals for the victims have been held.
Trump Kills Long-Term Renewal of North America Trade Deal — What It Means for Global Trade
Donald Trump refused to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on its built-in deadline, choosing instead to keep it alive through annual reviews rather than a fresh 16-year commitment. The USMCA was a deal Trump himself once championed as his signature trade achievement. The decision leaves North American trade ties in a state of ongoing uncertainty.
Sudan's RSF Accused of Ethnic Cleansing in Siege of El Fasher
Amnesty International has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group of committing crimes against humanity during its campaign to capture El Fasher. The alleged crimes include murder, torture, rape, enslavement, and sexual slavery carried out as part of a widespread, systematic attack on civilians. Amnesty says the campaign amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Venezuela Earthquake Chaos: Police Caught Looting as Rescue Effort Continues
Four Venezuelan police officers have been arrested and face dismissal after being accused of looting cash from the rubble of a collapsed building following last week's devastating twin earthquakes. Local people, volunteers, and rescue teams are still searching for survivors. The country was already in deep crisis before the quakes hit.
US Supreme Court Hands Trump Wins and Losses in Final Term Rulings
The US Supreme Court ended its term with a mixed set of decisions — upholding birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds while also ruling on trans athletes, leaving Trump with some expanded powers but also some setbacks. Trump has claimed his victories and sought workarounds for the losses.
EU and China Open Three Months of Talks to Avoid Trade War Over €360bn Deficit
The European Union and China have agreed to enter a formal three-month trade consultation in Brussels to try to prevent a trade war. The talks come after weeks of threats from China over the EU's €360 billion annual trade imbalance. It is the first joint statement issued by both sides in seven years.
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Sudan's RSF Accused of Ethnic Cleansing in Siege of El Fasher
Amnesty International has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group of committing crimes against humanity during its campaign to capture El Fasher. The alleged crimes include murder, torture, rape, enslavement, and sexual slavery carried out as part of a widespread, systematic attack on civilians. Amnesty says the campaign amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Venezuela Earthquake Chaos: Police Caught Looting as Rescue Effort Continues
Four Venezuelan police officers have been arrested and face dismissal after being accused of looting cash from the rubble of a collapsed building following last week's devastating twin earthquakes. Local people, volunteers, and rescue teams are still searching for survivors. The country was already in deep crisis before the quakes hit.
US Supreme Court Hands Trump Wins and Losses in Final Term Rulings
The US Supreme Court ended its term with a mixed set of decisions — upholding birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds while also ruling on trans athletes, leaving Trump with some expanded powers but also some setbacks. Trump has claimed his victories and sought workarounds for the losses.
EU and China Open Three Months of Talks to Avoid Trade War Over €360bn Deficit
The European Union and China have agreed to enter a formal three-month trade consultation in Brussels to try to prevent a trade war. The talks come after weeks of threats from China over the EU's €360 billion annual trade imbalance. It is the first joint statement issued by both sides in seven years.