Russia has merged several irregular combat units into a new Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The move has renewed concerns over the alleged use of Ukrainian prisoners of war in frontline combat, raising questions about compliance with international humanitarian law. Russia Forms Brigade Using Ukraini

Chicago storms swept across northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday, July 27, 2026, producing winds above 100 mph, large hail, flash flooding, widespread power outages, possible tornado reports and major travel disruptions. 100 mph winds sweep across the region A powerful line of Chicago storms crossed northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday, July 27, 2026, producing

The RBI introduced the US dollar-rupee swap facility on Monday, June 8, 2026. It applies to eligible fresh FCNR(B) deposits, including deposits renewed at maturity, with an original tenure of at least three years and no more than five years. Deposits must be mobilized between Monday, June 8, 2026, and Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Banks may use the RBI swap window through Friday, October 16, 2026. The swap

Chicago weekend storms remain possible as humid air stays over the region, bringing mid-80s temperatures, lakefront cooling and a stronger rain chance before 90-degree heat returns later in the week. The source forecast did not provide confirmed calendar dates, so weekday references are preserved without adding unverified dates. Thunderstorms moved through the Chicago area overnight, but by about 7 AM Central time, most of the activity had shifted south and was leaving the

AIADMK faces another political setback in Tamil Nadu as four former ministers and ex-MLAs shift to Vijay’s ruling TVK amid continuing internal trouble. Another Setback For AIADMK The political crisis inside the AIADMK has deepened further after four former ministers and ex-MLAs joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam at the party headquarters in Chennai on Saturday. The leaders who moved to TVK include Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, M C

Trump Headlines 250th Independence Day Event US President Donald Trump announced he will serve as the headline attraction for a major Independence Day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., following the withdrawal of several performers who cited political concerns. The event, part of activities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, will include speeches, cultural displays f

Raging Waves opening day 2026 is set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, as the Yorkville, Illinois water park begins its summer season over Memorial Day weekend. The park is scheduled to operate from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time on Saturday, May 23, Sunday, May 24, and Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, according to the official Raging Waves park calendar. The calendar also lists the park’s Salute to Heroes event across all three opening weekend dates. Yorkville Water Par

PM Modi received Sweden’s Royal Order of the Polar Star, taking his total global honours count to 31. The recognition highlights India-Sweden ties and adds a fresh milestone to Modi’s international award list. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Sweden’s Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross, during his visit to Gothenburg on May 17, 2026. With this award, PM Modi’s 31 global honours list has again come into focus. The honour wa

Chicago storms could bring damaging winds, heavy rain and hail on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, as forecasters warned of a stronger thunderstorm threat across the metro area. Meteorologists said some storms may produce wind gusts up to 60 mph, creating the risk of downed branches, isolated power outages and difficult travel during the afternoon and evening commute. What Areas Could Be Affected? The severe weather risk covers parts of northeastern Illi

In a significant political milestone, Himanta Biswa Sarma has been sworn in as Assam’s Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, making history as the first non-Congress leader in the state to achieve this feat. Sarma's swearing-in ceremony took place on May 12, 2026, after the BJP-led NDA secured a record victory in the Assam Assembly elections, further solidifying the party's dominance in the state. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Lakshman Prasad

TTV Dhinakaran Files Police Complaint Against Vijay’s TVK Over ‘Forged’ MLA Support Letter Tamil Nadu’s political battle over government formation intensified on Friday, May 8, 2026, after Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dhinakaran filed a police complaint against Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), accusing the party of using a forged support letter from AMMK’s lone MLA S Kamaraj. The controversy erupted in Chennai amid the ongoing st

Exit poll predicts NDA sweeping Assam with 88 to 100 seats in Assembly elections. BJP-led alliance likely to secure third consecutive term with strong vote share lead. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is poised for a decisive victory in the Assam Assemb

Paramapujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji marked a historic milestone with his 365th “Music for Meditation and Healing” concert, titled Indraprastha Raga Sagara, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (IST). Renowned violinist Dr. L. Subraman

Political tensions have intensified ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections as Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee during a campaign rally in

A military air strike in northeastern Nigeria has killed more than 100 civilians after a targeted operation against suspected insurgents struck a crowded marketplace. The incident occurred at approximately 2:46 PM WAT on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Yobe State near the border with Borno, a region long affected by extremist violence. Authorities confirmed that the strike, carried out by the Nigerian

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami has called for respect for the late M G Ramachandran (MGR), rejecting comparisons between the actor-politician and current actor-politician Vijay. Speaking at a rally in Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami emphasized that MGR should not be compared with Vijay, who heads the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He stressed that MGR was regarded as a "god" by AIADMK supporters, not only for his political leadership but also for his humanitarian work. Pa

Rajasthan Royals made a blistering start against Mumbai Indians in a rain-affected IPL 2026 clash in Guwahati, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal attacking from the outset. The match, delayed by over three hours due to persistent rain, saw the toss take place at 9:55 PM IST and play begin at 10:10 PM IST on Tuesday, though the exact date was not specified. Reduced to an 11-overs-per-side contest, the shortened powerplay did little to slow Rajasthan’s momentum. Sooryavanshi made an immediate impact, striking Jasprit Bumrah for a six on his very first delivery, setting the tone early. Jaiswal followed with an aggressive approach, scoring 22 runs in the opening over bowled by Deepak Chahar. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya opted to field first, expecting early movement under damp conditions. Despite the lively surface, Rajasthan capitalized on scoring opportunities, maintaining a high run rate in the powerplay before losing Sooryavanshi to a run-out.      

Rajasthan Royals secured a narrow six-run victory over Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League 2026 match held in Ahmedabad on Saturday, April 4, 2026 (IST). The contest delivered a high-scoring encounter, with both sides crossing the 200-run mark, but disciplined bowling in the final overs allowed Rajasthan to defend their total successfully. Rajasthan Royals: 210/6 (20 overs) Yashasvi Jaiswal 55 (36), Dhruv Jurel 75, Vaibh

Spring weather is bringing renewed storm threats to the Chicago area, where forecasters say residents could experience two separate waves of showers and thunderstorms on Friday. While uncertainty remains regarding the strength of the storms, meteorologists say changing conditions throughout the day could allow some systems to intensify. The day is expected to begin with foggy conditions across the region before the first round of showers and thunderstorms approaches parts of the western subu

A winter storm watch has been issued for the entire Chicago region as the area prepares for the possibility of significant snowfall during the weekend following Thanksgiving. Weather officials have included all of northern and central Illinois along with northwest Indiana in the alert, signaling that the system is expected to affect a large portion of the region. The watch will take effect at 3 a.m. on Saturday and remain in place through Sunday morning, covering a period during which travel con