WASHINGTON — As the holiday shopping season accelerates, consumer protection officials are warning residents to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated gift card scams. District Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a public consumer alert on Monday, cautioning shoppers about a growing form of retail fraud known as gift card draining, which has become more prevalent during peak gift-giving periods. According to Schwalb’s office, gift card draining differs from traditi

Culver’s has officially opened a new restaurant in northeast Columbus, marking the latest expansion of the fast-casual chain in central Ohio after several delays pushed back its original launch timeline. The restaurant began welcoming customers on December 8 at 6000 Old Hamilton Road, located within the Hamilton Quarter shopping center near the Gahanna and New Albany communities. The opening follows months of anticipation after the company initially targeted an October debut. Whil

Bay Area cities moved quickly to strengthen security measures after reports of a deadly shooting during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, where two gunmen opened fire and killed 15 people. The incident sent shockwaves through Jewish communities worldwide and prompted heightened vigilance in cities across the United States as the Festival of Lights began. The tragedy weighed heavily on members of the Bay Area Jewish community as families and congregations gathered to mark

US President Donald Trump issued a controversial response on Monday following reports of the deaths of veteran filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, as authorities in California continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The comments, posted on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, quickly drew attention for their political tone and for linking the tragedy to long-standing ideological disputes. In his statement, Trump referred

Legendary Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead inside their Brentwood residence in Los Angeles on December 14, triggering a high-profile criminal investigation that has drawn national attention. Authorities have since arrested the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, in connection with the case, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. Nick Reiner is currently in custody under the supervision of the Los Angeles Coun

Australia is mourning after a devastating terror attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening left at least 15 people dead and more than 40 injured, sending shockwaves across the nation and around the world. The attack occurred during a gathering marking the first night of Hanukkah, turning a moment of religious celebration into one of profound tragedy and grief. Emergency services responded swiftly, but the scale and brutality of the incident have deeply scarred the community an

Hundreds of Indian professionals holding H-1B work visas have found themselves unexpectedly stranded in India after US authorities postponed visa interviews that were originally scheduled for December, pushing them to March, April, or even later next year. The abrupt decision has disrupted travel plans, employment continuity and family stability for many skilled workers who were visiting India temporarily and expected to return to their jobs in the United States within weeks. The sudden uncertai

Russia’s mysterious shortwave radio station known as UVB-76, often referred to as the “Doomsday Radio” or “The Buzzer,” transmitted an unusually high number of cryptic messages this week, drawing renewed attention from military analysts and security observers across Europe. The rare surge in activity included three transmissions on Monday, eight more on Wednesday, and an extended broadcast combining faint music with long sequences of Morse code, an operational pattern that has not b

Kolkata witnessed a rare convergence of global sporting excellence and popular culture on Saturday, December 13, as legendary footballer Lionel Messi arrived in the city as part of his three-day GOAT India tour. The visit transformed the city into a focal point of international attention, with fans, sports enthusiasts, and cultural observers closely following every development surrounding the Argentine icon’s presence. The historic Yuva Bharti stadium served as the backdrop for a series of

Few figures in Hollywood history have reached the age of 100 with their reputation not only intact but warmly cherished. Dick Van Dyke reaches that milestone today, standing as a rare constant in an industry defined by reinvention and impermanence. Once known for tripping over an ottoman on television and dancing with animated penguins on film, he has outlived many of his contemporaries and even the criticisms that once followed his most famous performances. Van Dyke’s career span

In-N-Out Burger has quietly removed the number “67” from its in-store ordering system after a viral social media trend began drawing disruptive crowds of teenagers to its locations across the western United States. The decision follows weeks of incidents in which young customers gathered inside restaurants, waiting specifically for the number to be called over the intercom, often responding with loud celebrations that disrupted normal operations. Videos circulating widely on Tik

United States President Donald Trump said on Friday that the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt fighting following days of deadly clashes along their disputed border, raising hopes for a return to stability in the volatile region. The announcement came after Trump held separate phone conversations with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, as tensions threatened to escalate into a broader military confrontation. In

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Friday that roughly 2,000 Afghan nationals who entered the United States following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan are suspected of having links to terrorist organisations, raising renewed questions about the vetting process used during the large-scale evacuation effort. Her remarks added to an ongoing debate in Washington over national security risks tied to the resettlement of tens of thousands of Afghans after the collapse of

Recent calls by some US political activists to reduce or eliminate the presence of Indian professionals in American workplaces have reignited a long-running debate over immigration, national identity and economic growth. Mark Mitchell, a US pollster who has promoted what he describes as a “de-Indianisation” consultancy, has become a prominent voice in this discourse. His arguments reflect a broader strain of nativism that has surfaced periodically throughout American history, often at mom

Illinois has joined a growing number of states allowing medical aid in dying after Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation authorizing physician-assisted death for certain terminally ill patients. The governor’s office announced Friday that the measure, formally known as the Medical Aid in Dying Act, will take effect on Sept. 12, 2026, giving state health officials time to establish oversight procedures and implementation protocols. The law permits eligible adults diagnosed with termi

Crews from Veolia Water and the New Jersey Department of Transportation are continuing repair operations following a water main break that disrupted traffic along Route 17 North in Mahwah. The incident occurred near milepost 4.7, where damage to the underground water line forced the closure of two travel lanes and led to significant traffic slowdowns in the area. According to officials on scene, the left lane of Route 17 North remains heavily impacted as multiple service and support

US President Donald Trump is reported to be considering the formation of a new geopolitical grouping known as the “Core-5,” a proposed alliance that would bring together the United States, Russia, China, India, and Japan. The initiative is being explored as a potential alternative to the Group of Seven, signaling a significant shift in Washington’s approach to global leadership and alliance-building. If pursued, the Core-5 could represent one of the most powerful strategic blocs ever as

The US Embassy in India has postponed temporary work visa interviews scheduled for mid-December, triggering widespread concern among Indian professionals awaiting H-1B visa processing. The affected interviews have now been rescheduled to March and April 2026, according to communications sent to applicants and legal experts familiar with the matter. The unexpected decision has disrupted travel and employment plans for thousands of workers who rely on timely visa stamping to continue their role

Visakhapatnam has taken a significant leap toward becoming a major IT hub with Cognizant officially beginning operations at its new 1,000-seat facility in the Mahati Fintech building at Rushikonda IT Park Hill 2. Industry experts say this marks the beginning of a new growth phase for the city’s technology ecosystem. The development comes months after discussions held in Davos, where Minister Nara Lokesh met Cognizant’s leadership on January 23. The company approved its Visakhapa