Indian applicants planning travel to the United States for study, employment or tourism are experiencing notable changes in visa wait times, with several US consulates across the country reporting shorter delays. According to the latest data from the US State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times portal, appointment backlogs for student, work and visitor visas now vary widely by location but show meaningful improvement compared with previous months. Applicants are being encouraged to monitor

Spotify has released its Wrapped list for 2025, offering detailed insight into India’s most-streamed artists, songs and albums over the past year. The data shows a mix of consistent favourites, resurgent classics and the accelerating influence of independent musicians and podcasts on the country’s listening habits. Arijit Singh continued his long-standing dominance as India’s most-streamed artist for the seventh year in a row. Pritam and Shreya Ghoshal followed in second and third place

In a major political development, the central government is reportedly preparing to table the Amaravati amendment bill in the parliament, a long-standing demand pushed forward repeatedly by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. For months, Naidu has been urging the centre to legally cement Amaravati as the state’s official capital in order to protect it from any future policy reversals or political disruptions. His appeal was fueled by concerns that future governments, including

A son of convicted Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the United States, marking another significant development in the government’s long-running effort to dismantle key factions of the Sinaloa cartel. Joaquin Guzman Lopez entered his plea in a Chicago federal courtroom, months after his brother Ovidio Guzman Lopez agreed to a separate deal with prosecutors. The two siblings, known in Mexico as the “Chapitos,”

A federal appeals court has ruled that Alina Habba, previously an attorney for former President Donald Trump and later positioned by the administration to continue serving as New Jersey’s acting U.S. attorney, is legally disqualified from holding the post. The decision, issued Monday by a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, upholds a lower court’s conclusion that Habba’s appointment did not comply with federal law governing interim federal prosecu

State lawmakers in Texas are preparing for a significant policy shift as dozens of new laws take effect across December and January, adding to the more than 800 measures already implemented earlier this year. The latest round of legislation, passed during the regular session and the second special session, is set to influence major areas including education, public health, redistricting, immigration enforcement and criminal justice. Each law reflects ongoing political debates in the state and

A powerful surge of arctic air is sweeping across the United States as meteorological winter begins, sending temperatures plunging far below seasonal norms and placing much of the country under a deep freeze. Weather officials report that more than 235 million people will experience below-freezing conditions through the end of the week as the cold mass pushes steadily south and east. The early-season outbreak marks one of the most widespread cold events so far this year, fueled by a dip in the j

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has delivered a strong caution that the threat of diseases and dangerous pathogens being exploited by non-state actors is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern. Speaking at a major gathering marking fifty years of global commitment to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), he warned that bioterrorism has evolved into a credible danger that the world must be fully prepared to confront. He stressed that recent scientific advancements, though beneficia

Senior advocate Sai Deepak has challenged the account presented by the Pakistan High Commission in the United Kingdom regarding a scheduled debate between Indian and Pakistani speakers at the Oxford Union. The event, which was expected to feature prominent figures from both countries, became the centre of a controversy after the Pakistan High Commission publicly claimed that Indian participants withdrew at the last moment, resulting in what it described as a walkover. Deepak rejected this ver

India has been elevated to major power status in the Asia Power Index 2025, marking a significant milestone in New Delhi’s expanding global profile. The latest edition of the Index places India third in its overall ranking, behind only the United States and China, reflecting a steady enhancement of the country’s economic strength, military capability and regional influence. The ranking signals a turning point for India, which has long sought to consolidate its role as a central player in

A warm and memorable Friendsgiving celebration brought together families from Santa Clara County’s support and advocacy programs at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, creating an atmosphere centered on unity, wellness and meaningful connection. Held on November 15, the event welcomed families participating in the Dependency Wellness Court and the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. It offered them a rare opportunity to share time together in a supportive setting designed to reduce s

The WPL 2026 mega auction in New Delhi has emerged as one of the most intense and closely followed events in women’s cricket, with all five franchises rebuilding their squads from scratch. With a massive lineup of 277 players up for bidding and only 73 slots available, including 23 coveted overseas positions, the tension inside the auction hall was palpable. The event draws even more attention as many members of India’s 2025 World Cup–winning team, such as Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Th

Actor and politician Hema Malini shared a series of touching photos on social media as she remembered her husband, veteran superstar Dharmendra, who passed away earlier this week in Mumbai. Known to generations as Bollywood’s He-Man, Dharmendra left behind a legacy that shaped Hindi cinema for decades. Malini posted intimate old photographs of their time together, captioned with simple yet moving words such as “Some memorable moments” and “Togetherness over the years — always there

Apple is on track to ship more smartphones than Samsung in 2025, marking the first time in fourteen years that the U.S. technology company is expected to lead the global smartphone rankings. The projection comes from Counterpoint Research, which reported that Apple could finalize the year with roughly 243 million iPhone shipments, surpassing Samsung’s estimated 235 million units. This shift is significant in a highly competitive smartphone market where leadership has historically alternated

Kerala BJP state president and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar triggered a heated political debate after stating that the Union cabinet has no Muslim ministers because there are no Muslim BJP MPs. Speaking at a press meet in Kozhikode, he said that the community does not vote for the BJP, and therefore the party does not have any elected Muslim representatives to induct into the cabinet. His remarks quickly ignited controversy, drawing reactions from across the political spectrum a

A fresh wave of political tension has emerged in Karnataka as Congress leaders await the high command’s final decision on a possible change of chief minister before the December 1 Parliament session. Amid growing speculation, Rahul Gandhi has finally responded to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar after a week of continuous attempts from the Karnataka leader to speak with him. According to party sources, Rahul replied through a brief WhatsApp message saying, “Please wait, I will call you

Composer Palaash Muchhal’s wedding with Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has become the centre of widespread speculation after the ceremony was unexpectedly put on hold due to a medical emergency in the family. As rumours and unverified claims began circulating online, Palaash’s cousin Neeti Tak issued a strong appeal urging people not to judge or assume the worst. Her message came at a time when several viral screenshots claiming to show alleged cheating by Palaash were shared widely on

Alibaba’s newly launched Qwen AI application has recorded exceptional early momentum, surpassing 10 million downloads within the first seven days of its public beta release. The rapid acceleration places it ahead of the early adoption trajectories of several high-profile AI platforms and highlights how competitive strategies in the global artificial intelligence sector are shifting. Unlike subscription-driven models popular among Western AI developers, Alibaba’s free-access approach embed

Local authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant as vehicle-related crimes continue to rise during the holiday shopping period. According to police, incidents of car break-ins and thefts tend to escalate across the city at this time of year, particularly in areas where crowds and increased foot traffic create opportunities for criminals. Officers say the trend is consistent annually and emphasize that these crimes are largely preventable when drivers take proper precautions.

What was supposed to be a joyous wedding weekend for cricketer Smriti Mandhana and filmmaker composer Palaash Muchhal has unexpectedly turned into a wave of rumours, online debates and viral allegations. The couple was set to tie the knot on November 23 in Sangli, Maharashtra, but their wedding was postponed indefinitely after Mandhana’s father, Shriniwas Mandhana, was reportedly admitted to a hospital with heart attack like symptoms. Just hours later, Palaash himself faced a sudden health