India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has sharply criticised the United Nations, saying the global body has become increasingly ineffective and paralysed by internal divisions. Speaking in New Delhi at the release of a commemorative postage stamp marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Jaishankar said the organisation’s decision-making has failed to reflect the realities of its membership or the priorities of the modern world. He emphasised that meaningful reforms are

Global funding dynamics are shifting dramatically as artificial-intelligence (AI) startups gobble up a growing share of venture-capital (VC) investments. According to recent data, AI-related companies accounted for over half of all VC funding in early 2025, marking a major turning point in the tech investment landscape. The Numbers Tell the Story

Austin, Texas — The Austin Independent School District (AISD) is confronting a budget deficit exceeding $19.7 million and the looming possibility of state intervention if it fails to stabilize its finances and improve underperforming campuses. While no final decisions have been made, district officials have begun a series of public meetings to address community concerns, explain their financial situation, and present a preliminary plan aimed at long-term sustainability. The distri

At least 20 people lost their lives and several others were injured after a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday afternoon in Rajasthan. The tragic incident occurred on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway when the vehicle, carrying 57 passengers, was engulfed in flames shortly after smoke was seen emerging from its rear section. According to local authorities, the bus had departed Jaisalmer around 3 p.m. and was en route to Jodhpur when the driver noti

Thousands of health care professionals across California and Hawaii have walked off the job in what is being called the largest strike in the history of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). Beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, more than 31,000 registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, rehabilitation therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other advanced care providers are participating in the five-day strike against Kaiser Perm

India has announced the reopening of its diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, marking a significant step in restoring engagement with the Taliban-led government. The decision, revealed during a bilateral meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi on October 10, represents the first high-level diplomatic dialogue between the two nations since the Taliban took power in August 2021. India had shut

Living in harmony as an immigrant from India in the United States requires both self-adaptation and mutual understanding. It’s a journey that blends the best of Indian values with the American spirit of individuality, respect, and community. Here’s a holistic framework—practical, cultural, and spiritual—that guides immigrants to navigate their life in the U.S. with confidence and peace. 1

Maryland, USA — The Maryland Renaissance Festival, one of the state’s most popular cultural events, has found itself in a new kind of battle — not with knights or swords, but in courtrooms. The festival is taking legal action against ticket scalpers accused of reselling entry passes for exorbitant prices, far beyond their original face value. Over the years, the festival has grown into a massive attraction, drawing visitors from across the region for its lively per

San Jose officials have approved a landmark labor agreement that will provide city police officers with a 15.7 percent pay raise spread out through 2029, a move aimed at strengthening recruitment and addressing ongoing staffing shortages. The unanimous decision by the city council ensures that officers under the new contract will receive significant wage increases over the next three years, with the financial impact to taxpayers estimated at about $46 million in raises alone, not including long-

Austin Independent School District has unveiled a sweeping consolidation and boundary change proposal that could reshape public education in the city for years to come. Facing persistent enrollment decline, a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, and accountability requirements, district leaders have laid out a plan that includes closing 13 schools, redrawing boundaries across nearly every campus, and repurposing several facilities to new academic programs. The plan, released Friday, immediately

India and the United States appear to be finding common ground in long-stalled trade negotiations, with sources calling the latest talks in New York encouraging. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and India’s chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agarwal met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to restart discussions on a pending agreement. According to officials, both delegations expressed commitment to moving past earlier setbacks and accelerating pr

Asia-Pacific markets retreated on Wednesday, following overnight declines on Wall Street after comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell unsettled investors. Powell noted that equity prices appeared to be “fairly highly valued” and cautioned that the rate-cutting outlook remained unclear, adding that the central bank faces a “challenging situation” as it navigates inflationary pressures and economic growth concerns. In Australia, the S&P/ASX

The passing of legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of millions, and today marks the final journey of the icon. A second autopsy of Zubeen Garg began at 3 am at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), four hours ahead of the originally scheduled time, following intense public demand for transparency over his tragic death in a scuba diving accident in Singapore on September 19. The results of the post-mortem a

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, just before the start of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace, marked their first in-person engagement since the United States announced an additional twenty-five percent tariff on India in response to Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which raised the total tariff burden to fifty percent. This face-to-face discuss

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold crucial talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, September 22. This meeting, taking place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, marks the first high-level engagement between India and the United States since President Donald Trump’s sharp policy moves targeting New Delhi, including a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and a steep increase in H1-B vi

At least 30 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives in a devastating airstrike carried out by the Pakistan Air Force on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the early hours of Monday. The incident took place at around 2 am when fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in Tirah Valley. The strikes triggered widespread destruction, leaving residents in shock and grief. Disturbing visuals from the site showed bodies, including chil

As the 2025 Bihar elections approach, the debate over whether AIMIM should join the RJD-led Grand Alliance has sparked heated political discussions. AIMIM’s Bihar chief Akhtarul Iman created a buzz by reaching Lalu Prasad Yadav’s residence with drumbeaters and declaring the party’s willingness to join the Opposition bloc. AIMIM even offered to contest only six seats in the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region without demanding ministerial posit

A fresh controversy has erupted after a woman accused border officials in Georgia of subjecting a group of 56 Indian tourists to what she described as “the most inhuman treatment” while they attempted to cross into Armenia. The incident allegedly took place at Sadakhlo, one of the most important crossing points on the Georgia-Armenia border, and has since drawn criticism and sparked heated debate among travellers and social media users. According to the complainant, the

Indian chess star R Vaishali etched her name in history once again by successfully defending her Women’s Grand Swiss title, becoming the first player ever to achieve this feat. The Chennai-born Grandmaster secured the crown on September 15, 2025, after holding former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi to a draw in the final round in China. This hard-fought result ensured her sole lead in the standings and confirmed her qualification for the prestig

The Delhi High Court has upheld the personality rights of Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, reinforcing that her name, image, voice, and likeness cannot be exploited for commercial purposes without her consent. Justice Tejas Karia ruled that such misuse not only causes financial harm but also damages her dignity and reputation. The order restrained multiple entities from using her personal attributes in advertisements, merchandise, or digital promotions