Context: The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, and many Afghans who fled or helped foreign forces have since faced danger at home. US deportation policy toward Afghans is a continuing debate, and courts often pause such moves while cases are heard.

Context: Microsoft has cut jobs in several rounds in recent years, so many tech workers now treat buyouts as a choice between a payout and an uncertain future. Voluntary buyouts let staff leave with a payment, but they usually come with conditions to read first.

Context: The Foreign Exchange Management Act governs how money and trade move across India's borders, and the RBI issues detailed rules under it. Export Declaration Forms are the paperwork exporters file to show what they send abroad, so easing them matters for freelancers and service firms.

Context: Assam's service rules set conduct and discipline standards for state government staff, and the cabinet can amend them. Polygamy remains a sensitive social and legal topic in India, so such rule changes often draw wide debate.

Context: Apple usually releases betas to developers and public testers before the main iOS update reaches iPhones, so these features are not final yet. AI audio tools are part of a wider push by phone makers to add AI features to everyday apps.

Context: CERN, near Geneva, runs the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator. Rare decays are checked against the Standard Model, the current theory of particles, so any gap could hint at new physics.

Context: US midterms take place halfway through a president's four-year term and are often seen as a referendum on the sitting president. Control of the House and Senate decides how easily a president can pass laws and approve appointments.

Context: Most pistachios and almonds come from a few countries, so trouble in West Asia or a weak harvest in one major producer can quickly raise prices across India. Dry fruits are a common festive gift, so the rise hits household budgets.

Context: Social Security pays monthly benefits to retirees, funded largely by payroll taxes paid by workers. Its trust fund holds reserves, and when they run low, benefits must be cut unless lawmakers change the rules.

Context: The Nifty 100 covers the 100 largest listed companies in India, and independent directors are outside members meant to check the company's management. Rules on board composition and diversity have been tightened over the past decade, so progress is being tracked closely.

Context: Vice-Chancellors are the top academic heads of universities, and syndicates are their governing bodies. Vacant posts can leave a university without a head to make decisions, so courts sometimes step in to press for appointments.

Context: Solar and wind power stop when the sun sets or the wind drops, which is why countries look for steady sources. Geothermal plants use natural underground heat and already run in places like Iceland and New Zealand.

Context: Moving goods by sea and waterways is usually cheaper than by road or rail for long distances, which is why India has pushed ports and inland waterways for years. Sonowal leads the ports, shipping and waterways ministry.

Context: NASCAR is the top stock car racing series in the US. Brake-checking means slowing suddenly in front of another car, a risky move that can cause crashes.

Context: TNCCF is a Tamil Nadu consumer cooperative body that buys goods for public distribution, and onions are a staple whose prices often swing with supply. Sprouting and fungus usually point to problems with storage or harvest conditions.

Context: Internships give students hands-on work experience before they graduate, and many employers look for it when hiring. Across India, colleges face growing pressure to link courses with real jobs, which is why rules like this keep coming up.

Context: India and New Zealand are playing a five-match one-day series, and white-ball cricket refers to limited-overs games played with a white ball. The bat-and-ball balance is a long-running debate, since pitch conditions and rules shape how many runs get scored.

Context: Kannada Rakshana Vedike is a Karnataka group that campaigns for the Kannada language and local interests. Bengaluru is a major tech hub, so questions about local hiring matter to many jobseekers in the city.

Context: Rural health boards decide how local hospitals are run, and bed cuts are a common flashpoint when councils try to save money or centralise care. Residents often push back because fewer beds can mean longer journeys for treatment.

Context: Courts have earlier said that protest rights cannot justify occupying public spaces, so this case looks at the other side: the privacy of those who protest.

Context: Jantar Mantar in central Delhi has long been a common place for protests, so courts are often asked to balance the right to protest with traffic and public space. This debate has come up in court several times.

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority from Myanmar's Rakhine state, and about 700,000 fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in 2017. The ICJ is the UN's top court, and it settles disputes between countries.

Context: Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and its Arctic location has drawn US interest. US President Donald Trump has pressed for American influence over the island for months, which is why the deal matters.

Context: Foreigners who overstay in India can face criminal cases and be held in special camps while their status is checked. The X-Miscellaneous visa is one category of Indian visa, so the court's view could clarify how such cases are handled.

Context: FMGs are doctors who trained abroad and must complete further training in Indian hospitals before they can practise. Stipends are the allowances paid during that training, so pay gaps often lead to protests.

Context: Treasury bonds are loans the US government sells to investors, and their yields move with expectations about inflation and interest rates. Midterms are elections for part of Congress, held midway through a US president's term.

Context: Indian cities set zoning rules that decide which areas can host shops, offices and workshops. Converting homes in residential layouts into commercial spaces is a long-running issue in Bengaluru, which has grown quickly.

Context: The BMC runs civic services such as roads, water and drainage for Mumbai, and its commissioner is the top official. Encroachments are unauthorised structures or occupation of public land, a long-running problem in Indian cities.

ITIs, or Industrial Training Institutes, teach trade skills such as electrical and welding work, while IITs are India's elite engineering colleges. The debate reflects a wider national concern about jobs in smaller towns.

Midterms elect all 435 seats in the US House and about a third of the Senate, held two years into a president's term. Voters cast ballots in person, so weather and machine glitches can slow lines and affect turnout.

GST is India's nationwide tax on most goods and services, so cuts lower the price shoppers pay. India imports much of its almonds and pistachios, so global prices and import costs also affect shelf prices.

Context: US elections are run mainly by state and local officials, not the federal government. Courts act as a check when federal action on voting is challenged, and their rulings shape how later cases are decided.

Context: The Urban Challenge Fund is a central government scheme that helps cities pay for large public projects, and Kochi@2050 is the city's long-term plan for growth. Opposition councillors are questioning whether the money is going first to projects that earn revenue.

Context: The World Bank tracks extreme poverty using a very low daily income line and publishes reports on it from time to time. Metro and road projects are part of the government's wider infrastructure push.

Context: Sonam Wangchuk is a well-known education and climate activist from Ladakh. A No Objection Certificate is a formal permission that local authorities issue before a new activity or body can go ahead.

Prediction markets let people trade on the outcome of events, and Kalshi and Polymarket are the best-known platforms for this in the US. Election betting has been a small but controversial part of this growth, which has drawn scrutiny because of its link to public events.