Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is among several international travellers stranded in the Middle East after escalating military tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States led to widespread disruption of air travel across the Gulf region. The conflict intensified after combined strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets began on Saturday, triggering retaliatory attacks from Iran across multiple locations in the region. Following the exchange of strikes, se

San Francisco’s teachers union has overwhelmingly approved a new two-year labor agreement, marking the end of a recent strike and setting the stage for changes in pay, benefits, and school funding across the district. Members of the United Educators of San Francisco, which represents about 6,000 teachers, aides, counselors, social workers, and other school employees, voted by a large margin to ratify the contract valued at approximately $183 million. The agreement follows a four-day work stopp

India remains steadfast in its fight against terrorism in all its forms, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said while addressing the High-Level Segment of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council virtually on Wednesday. He asserted that attacks on innocent civilians can never be justified under any circumstances and called for a unified global response rooted in a zero tolerance approach to terrorism. Speaking at the UNHRC session, Jaishankar urged the Unite

San Jose officials say the city’s efforts to regulate immigration enforcement activities remain firmly in place, even as a recent federal court decision temporarily paused a related California law. Local leaders emphasized that the ruling does not weaken San Jose’s existing requirements for law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves while on duty. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision Thursday that put California’s No Vigilantes Act on hold pending

A powerful blizzard swept across the eastern United States on Monday, bringing air travel to a near standstill at major airports serving New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and surrounding regions. The severe winter weather forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights, with disruptions expected to continue through at least Tuesday, placing renewed pressure on carriers during the busy tail end of the winter travel season. Large portions of the East Coast, stretching from Maryland to Maine,

Taliban’s newly introduced penal code has sparked global concern after reports revealed provisions that allow husbands to physically punish their wives and children under certain conditions. The controversial law, signed by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations and international observers, who warn that it severely undermines women’s rights and legal protections in Afghanistan. According to reports, the penal code

Veteran civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential Black political figures in modern American history, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, prompting an outpouring of tributes from political leaders and activists across the globe. He was 84. While the exact cause of death has not been officially confirmed, Jackson had been living for several years with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition that affects movement and speech. Jackson rose to national p

Russia has fully blocked access to M

Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were cancelled across Germany on Thursday after pilots and flight attendants launched coordinated strike action, disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers and straining operations at the country’s busiest airports. Aircraft operated by Germany’s largest carrier remained grounded at major hubs including Frankfurt and Munich as employees walked out in a dispute centered on pay, benefits and long-term employment conditions. The airlin

An Iranian man has reportedly taken his own life after recording and sharing a video message in which he appealed directly to former US President Donald Trump to halt any diplomatic engagement with Iran’s current leadership. The man, identified by activists and Iranian media as Pouria Hamidi, was from the southern port city of Bushehr. His death has drawn renewed attention to ongoing political tensions inside Iran and the wider international debate surrounding Tehran’s relations with Wash

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use a newly approved congressional map that is expected to benefit Democrats in upcoming elections, rejecting an emergency appeal filed by state Republicans and backed by the Trump administration. The unsigned order, issued without explanation and with no noted dissents, leaves intact district boundaries that could alter the balance of power in several closely contested House races as the country moves toward high-stakes midterm contests

Six Flags Great Adventure has announced plans to hire more than 3,000 part-time and seasonal employees as it prepares for the launch of its 2026 operating season, offering thousands of job opportunities for students, first-time workers, and those seeking additional summer income. The New Jersey theme park confirmed that its season will officially begin on March 28, with hiring efforts starting well in advance to ensure adequate staffing across attractions, guest services, entertainment, and o

A Turkish Airlines passenger aircraft carrying 236 people was forced to divert and make an emergency landing on Wednesday afternoon after its right engine caught fire shortly after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, officials confirmed. The incident triggered a brief operational halt at the airport and prompted swift coordination between air traffic control and emergency services to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. The wide-body Airbus A330-303, operati

A former sheriff’s deputy in Illinois has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Springfield woman who had called 911 seeking help after reporting a possible prowler near her home. The sentence was handed down Thursday, concluding a case that has drawn national attention and renewed debate over police use of force during emergency responses. Sean Grayson, 31, was convicted in October in connection with the July 6, 2024, shooting death of Mas

Bruce Springsteen has released a new protest song addressing recent fatal incidents in Minneapolis, using his music to respond to what he describes as escalating state violence tied to immigration enforcement. The song, titled Streets of Minneapolis, was unveiled this week and directly references the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two individuals killed during encounters involving federal immigration agents. The release comes amid heightened tensions following an immigration

Family members of two Trinidadian men killed during a U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the United States government of wrongful death and unlawful killings. The legal action, submitted Tuesday, challenges the legality of the strike and marks the first known case brought against the current administration over its expanded military campaign targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the region. The lawsuit centers on the dea

Venezuela’s interim leadership is facing mounting domestic and international scrutiny as acting President Delcy Rodríguez sharply criticised sustained pressure from the United States and provided updated figures on political prisoner releases, figures that remain contested by human rights organisations and independent observers. Rodríguez’s remarks reflect broader tensions over sovereignty, human rights and the direction of Venezuela’s transitional government following the capture of for

Seven people were killed and one crew member was critically injured after a private business jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, as a large winter storm swept across New England and much of the United States. Federal aviation authorities confirmed the fatalities and said the sole survivor was transported for emergency medical treatment with serious injuries. The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, was carrying eight people when i

Amazon is poised for a new round of layoffs, expected to affect as many as 16,000 employees, adding to the 14,000 roles eliminated in the previous round. These job cuts come as part of Amazon's broader restructuring plan, aimed at streamlining its operations and becoming more efficient, particularly in light of shifting demands in the tech industry and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. The latest wave of layoffs is set to target several core teams, including those at Amazon We

A public school district north of Minneapolis has reported that federal immigration enforcement actions in recent weeks have resulted in the detention of four enrolled students, including a 5-year-old child, prompting concern among educators, families, and community members. Zena Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, said during a Wednesday news conference that the in