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

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the recent dip in India’s imports of Russian oil is expected to be short-lived, adding that Moscow plans to increase the volume of supplies to New Delhi in the coming months. He stated that Russia understands the external pressures faced by India, particularly in light of tariffs and policy constraints linked to its continued purchase of Russian crude. According to Peskov, Moscow views India’s approach toward its energy partnerships as

The debate over the H-1B visa programme in the United States has sharpened significantly, exposing a deep political divide over the future of skilled immigration. The issue has grown increasingly contentious in recent months, with former president Donald Trump and several Republican leaders intensifying allegations of fraud and misuse within the system. Their claims have focused heavily on Indian applicants, with some prominent voices asserting that a vast majority of submissions from India a

An IndiGo aircraft operating on the Kuwait–Hyderabad route made an emergency landing at Mumbai Airport on Tuesday morning after authorities received an email warning of a potential bomb threat. Officials said the message, which referred to a “human bomb,” was sent to Hyderabad Airport authorities shortly before the flight was diverted. The aircraft was immediately directed to Mumbai, where it landed safely and was taken to an isolated bay for further inspection. Security agenc

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India on December 4 and 5 for the 23rd Annual Summit, marking his first visit since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India’s Operation Sindoor. The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin is expected to place significant emphasis on strengthening defence cooperation, including discussions on a potential new S-400 air defence system contract. The visit comes at a critical time, as both countries reassess the

Maruti Suzuki India Limited recorded its highest-ever monthly sales performance in November 2025, supported by robust domestic demand and the strongest export tally in the company’s history. The automaker reported total sales of 2,29,021 units for the month, reflecting continued momentum in both passenger vehicles and utility models as the broader auto sector experiences sustained growth. In the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki delivered 1,74,593 units, a sharp rise from 1,44,238 un

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK has entered a strategic partnership with the International Consultants for Education and Fairs, a long-established organisation known for its global expertise in international education services. The collaboration is intended to address growing concerns around transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in the student recruitment process, particularly for Indian students who form one of the world’s largest cohorts of outbound learners

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

An American content creator has captured widespread attention online after replacing his traditional Thanksgiving meal with an elaborate Indian feast, sparking enthusiastic reactions across social media. The creator, identified as Instagram user Conner, posted a lively video showcasing what he called his “Indian Thanksgiving,” a concept that instantly resonated with viewers who appreciated both the creativity and cultural appreciation displayed in his celebration. In the video,

Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has confirmed that entrepreneur Elon Musk will be featured in an upcoming episode of his increasingly prominent podcast, “WTF.” The announcement arrived through a monochrome teaser posted on social media, quickly drawing widespread attention and amplifying conversations across multiple platforms. The short clip offered audiences their first brief look at the two figures together, igniting immediate curiosity about what the full interview may contain.

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

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has issued a clear warning to all companies supplying military platforms and equipment to India, stating that any vendor—domestic or international—will face termination of contracts if they fail to deliver within stipulated deadlines. The announcement comes as delays in defence procurement continue to impact operational planning for the armed forces, including setbacks flagged earlier by Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh, who acknowledged that delivery

India’s economy recorded a faster pace of expansion in the July–September quarter, with official data showing that gross domestic product rose 8.2% year-on-year. The acceleration reflects a combination of stronger consumer demand, a revival in manufacturing activity, and accelerated production schedules ahead of India’s major festive season. Economists had widely expected the quarter to deliver robust growth, but the latest figure surpassed the projected 7.3% expansion for the period, e

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

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

Singer Akriti Kakar has raised strong concerns about increasing audience misbehaviour at concerts following a series of troubling incidents involving both Indian and international artistes. Known for songs like Saturday Saturday and Iski Uski, Kakar highlighted how fan misconduct has repeatedly disrupted performances and damaged India’s image on the global music stage. She referred to recent cases such as a fan throwing a T-shirt at Karan Aujla during his show and the shocking moment when A

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has put the responsibility for his future squarely in the hands of the BCCI after India suffered a crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in the Guwahati Test, resulting in a 2-0 whitewash. It was India’s worst defeat in Test cricket, and the pressure on Gambhir intensified as he faced tough questions about his coaching approach, team selections and India’s declining performance in the longest format. Responding to queries about whether he deserves mor

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