In the run-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Congress has begun seeking a greater share of seats from its ally, the DMK, while simultaneously warming up to actor Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). According to sources, senior Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu have been trying to convince the party high command in Delhi to explore an understanding with Vijay, leveraging his growing popularity not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Kerala and Puducherry. The DMK, which

Delhi woke up to another morning covered in thick smog, with air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day. The Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the worsening air pollution and advised senior lawyers to attend hearings virtually, stressing that wearing masks alone would not provide sufficient protection against the toxic air. Justice PS Narsimha questioned why lawyers were appearing in person despite the availability of virtual hearing fac

The longest government shutdown in United States history has finally come to an end, but the deep wounds it has inflicted across the economy and federal systems will not heal anytime soon. Though President Donald Trump signed a funding bill to reopen the government after a record 43 days, the aftershocks continue to ripple through essential sectors. With another possible shutdown looming on January 30, the reprieve may be only temporary, leaving the nation bracing for renewed political and econo

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined the administration’s new approach to the H-1B visa programme, describing it as a targeted effort to bring in temporary foreign specialists who will train American workers rather than replace them. His remarks came during a televised interview in which he emphasised that the policy is intended to support the rebuilding of domestic manufacturing, shipbuilding capability, and semiconductor production after years of industrial decline. Bessent said the redesigned system is centred on the idea of “knowledge transfer,” where overseas experts are invited to the United States for a limited period to help restore technical capacity in critical sectors. According to him, the administration views this model as essential to equipping American workers with advanced skills that have diminished as supply chains and production moved abroad. He explained that the visa structure is meant to ensure that expertise flows into the country long enough for domestic workers to learn the required competencies before the foreign specialists return home. Addressing recurring concerns that increased reliance on foreign talent could displace American employees, Bessent maintained that the policy does not threaten domestic job opportunities. Instead, he argued that the United States currently lacks specialized talent in areas that have not been active on American soil for many years. He noted that industries such as shipbuilding and semiconductor fabrication require highly technical knowledge, which is more readily available in countries that have continued to develop those sectors. In his view, bringing in experts to train Americans is necessary for rebuilding industrial strength, not a means of outsourcing jobs. The comments followed President Donald Trump’s recent statements explaining that the country needs temporary foreign experts to accelerate the transfer of technical skills. The president said the United States does not currently have enough workers with the precision training required for advanced manufacturing, adding that it would be unrealistic to expect individuals without experience to instantly take on tasks such as missile production or microchip engineering. Both Trump and Bessent described the policy as a practical step toward reducing long-term dependence on imports by cultivating a stronger domestic workforce. Bessent also discussed broader elements of the administration’s economic agenda, including ongoing talks about a potential USD 2,000 tariff rebate for families earning less than USD 100,000 annually. He said the proposal is part of an effort to ensure that households directly benefit from trade policies designed to strengthen national competitiveness. The rebate, he added, is one component of the administration’s push to align the interests of Wall Street and Main Street, a vision he referred to as “Parallel Prosperity.” Looking ahead, the Treasury secretary predicted that 2026 could become a milestone year for the United States economy if the administration’s policy framework succeeds in restoring industrial capacity and stabilizing financial markets. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a deep and liquid Treasury market, suggesting that economic growth will depend on strong foundations that support both investment and employment. Throughout the interview, Bessent portrayed the H-1B reform as a crucial part of that broader plan, arguing that rebuilding the nation’s industrial base requires a temporary infusion of global expertise to ensure Americans can take full ownership of high-skilled jobs in the future.

OpenAI has officially launched GPT-5.1, the latest upgrade to its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The new version promises a smarter, more conversational AI with enhanced personality features. GPT-5.1 comes in two versions: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. Instant is optimized for everyday tasks like planning trips, coding assistance, and casual conversations, with a warmer and slightly cheeky tone. GPT-5.1 Thinking caters to complex or abstract questions, offering clearer, jargon-free resp

Former tennis star Sania Mirza revealed the emotional challenges she faced following her divorce from former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik. In a heartfelt conversation on her new YouTube talk show Serving It Up With Sania, the 38-year-old shared that she experienced a panic attack during one of the lowest moments of her life. She credited close friend and Bollywood director Farah Khan for being her pillar of support during this critical time. Sania recalled that without Farah

In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s industrial and energy growth, leading renewable energy giant ReNew is set to make a historic investment of ₹82,000 crore in the state. This comes after a period of corporate uncertainty under the previous administration, during which several domestic and global investors withdrew their projects. With the return of the NDA government and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s proactive leadership, Andhra Pradesh is once again emerging as a key in

​Anthropic announced plans on Wednesday to invest $50 billion in a large-scale U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative, beginning with new data center projects in Texas and New York. The company said the facilities will serve as core components of its long-term strategy to accelerate research and support enterprise clients across industries that depend on high-performance AI systems. The data centers will be developed in collaboration with Fluidstack, an AI cloud platfo

With the historic government shutdown approaching its resolution, flight delays continue to ripple across the United States as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforces a nationwide order aimed at reducing strain on air traffic controllers. The measure, while temporary, has led to extended flight times, increased rerouting, and longer wait periods for passengers and pilots alike. For the fifth consecutive day, air traffic operations have slowed as the FAA manages reduced st

The City of Austin has concluded a three-week initiative aimed at addressing homelessness through both cleanup operations and social outreach. The campaign, coordinated by the city’s Homeless Strategies and Operations (HSO) team, sought to connect unhoused residents with essential services while restoring public areas impacted by encampments. Over the course of the operation, more than 1.3 million pounds of debris were collected from nearly 700 sites across the city, marking one of Austin??

Health officials across North America are raising concerns over a growing surge in measles cases, urging travelers to remain cautious and ensure they are vaccinated. The warning follows multiple confirmed exposures at major U.S. airports, increasing fears of renewed transmission of the highly contagious disease that had been largely controlled for decades through widespread immunization. The latest alert comes after an individual infected with measles was present at Philadelphia Int

Following an overwhelming response from diners, a Houston restaurant has announced additional dates for its burlesque dinner series after its first event on November 11 drew full-house reservations and enthusiastic reviews. The concept blends gourmet dining with theatrical entertainment, creating a unique nightlife experience that merges culinary artistry and live performance. The evening’s debut featured three separate dinner seatings, each priced at $59.95 per person. Guests wer

In a notable shift from his previous hardline stance on immigration, United States President Donald Trump appeared to defend the H1-B visa program, acknowledging that the country must rely on skilled talent from abroad to fill crucial workforce gaps. The remarks came during a televised interview on Fox News, where Trump discussed the challenges of maintaining a balance between protecting American jobs and sustaining industries that depend on specialized foreign labor. When asked whe

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant threat it’s fast becoming an active part of India’s workforce. A recent Salesforce study warns that by 2027, AI could handle up to 50 percent of all tech support and customer service cases in the country. Currently managing around 30 percent, AI’s rapid expansion in the sector signals a major transformation in how companies handle customer interactions. The research suggests that while automation will replace repetitive roles, it will also

A dramatic video has surfaced online showing the shocking moment when China’s newly constructed Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan province collapsed on November 11, 2025. The 758-meter-long bridge, part of a national highway linking central China to Tibet, crumbled unexpectedly, plunging massive sections of concrete into the river below. Clouds of dust filled the air as horrified onlookers recorded the devastating scene, which quickly went viral on social media platforms. Read the full st

Students in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District now have a new way to stay active and healthy thanks to the installation of an outdoor fitness court in Monmouth County. The project, which blends physical fitness with community engagement, officially opened this week, giving students and local residents access to a modern open-air gym designed to promote exercise and wellness. The new fitness court includes seven distinct zones that offer a full-body circuit training experi

Siddhant Awasthi, an Indian-origin engineer who rose from intern to the head of the Cybertruck program, has announced his departure after more than eight years of service. His exit marks the conclusion of an extraordinary journey that began as a young engineering intern and ended with him leading one of the most ambitious vehicle projects in the electric automotive industry. Awasthi shared the news of his decision through a professional networking post, reflecting on his growth, challenges, and

Elon Musk, the founder of xAI and several other major tech ventures, has once again drawn global attention with a social media post that showcased the capabilities of his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. In a recent interaction, Musk shared an image of Lord Ganesha—the revered Hindu deity known as the remover of obstacles—and asked Grok a simple question: “What is this?” The AI’s response, detailed and culturally precise, quickly went viral, impressing users with its accuracy

An image has emerged showing a masked driver at the wheel of a white Hyundai i20 minutes before the explosion that rocked the area adjacent to the historic Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening, authorities said. The blast, which occurred in a busy public location during the evening rush hour, has so far claimed the lives of at least eight people and injured over a dozen others, according to police statements.  Initial investigations indicate that the suspected driver, identified

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of certain lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula following a multi-state investigation into a cluster of infant botulism cases. The outbreak, which spans ten states, has resulted in 13 hospitalizations since August, though no deaths have been reported. Federal health officials said the recall applies to two specific lots of ByHeart powdered formula with “use by” dates of December 1. The af