The Trump administration has ordered US consulates worldwide to pause new student visa interviews, as reported by Politico. This directive comes as part of a broader effort to implement social media vetting for all foreign students applying to study in the United States. The move is expected to create significant delays in visa processing and could also put a financial strain on US universities that depend heavily on international student enrolment. According to documents signe

As more Australians face chronic pain, a growing number are turning to medicinal cannabis. Since regulatory changes in 2016, over 700,000 product approvals have been issued with nearly half aimed at treating non-cancer-related chronic pain. Despite the increasing popularity, both patients and clinicians are asking: how effective is medicinal cannabis for chronic pain, and what are the risks? Medicinal cannabis includes products derived from the cannabis plant, such as THC (tetrahydr

Vinay Prasad, a renowned oncologist-hematologist, has been appointed as the new director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This division of the FDA is charged with overseeing the evaluation and approval of critical biologic products, including vaccines, blood derivatives, and select gene-based therapies. Prasad’s appointment comes at a time when the FDA remains under public and political scrutiny for its handling of

Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his experience and class as Al Nassr stormed into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite with a convincing 3-0 victory over Esteghlal. Ronaldo’s coolly taken penalty and a brace from Jhon Duran sealed the win for the Saudi Arabian side at Al Awwal Park on Monday night. Having been rested for the first-leg goalless draw in Iran, Ronaldo returned to the starting lineup to guide Al Nassr to a decisive win. The Portuguese forward’s opening goa

In a significant development, the CBI investigation team has arrested four individuals connected to the laddu prasadam adulteration scam. The arrested individuals include Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy (Roorkee, Uttarakhand), Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy (Poonambakkam), and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy (Dundigal).   The accused were arrested under Crime No. 470/24 and produced before the Tirupati court. Investiga

A shocking revelation from the Financial Times has disclosed that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime airlifted around $250 million to Moscow between 2018 and 2019. The cash, including nearly two tonnes of $100 bills and €500 notes, was flown to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport and deposited in Russian banks under sanctions. This move was part of Assad's efforts to bypass Western sanctions that isolated Syria from the global financial system. During this time,

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 50-year regime has ushered in a new chapter for Syria, marked by jubilation and uncertainty. In Damascus, crowds celebrated the regime's collapse, while other groups, including rebel factions, engaged in efforts to stabilize the country and fill the power vacuum left behind. Syrian journalist Abdo Fayyad attributes this shift to the 2016 opposition victories in Idlib, which laid the groundwork for today’s rebel advances. While the future

The potential fall of Syria’s Assad regime poses a serious challenge for Russia’s foreign policy and military strategy. One of Moscow's most prized assets from its involvement in Syria has been its naval base at Tartus, located on the Mediterranean coast. However, recent developments, including the departure of Russian warships from Tartus, signal that Moscow's long-term access to this crucial facility is at risk. This would be a major blow to Russia, which has historicall

US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and political fundraiser, as the next ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle, who has been engaged to Donald Trump Jr. since December 2020, has been described as a "close friend and ally" of Trump but her relationship with his son was not mentioned in the official announcement. Trump praised her for her leadership and experience in law, media, and politics, stating she was well-suited to strengthen rela

In a significant development, at least 75 Indian nationals have been evacuated from war-torn Syria, where rebel forces have overthrown President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The evacuees, including 44 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir stranded at Saida Zainab, have safely crossed into Lebanon and will return to India by commercial flights, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The evacuation follows multiple requests from Indian nationals and an assessment of the evolv

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a key Syrian rebel leader, has pledged that Syria's new government will pursue accountability for senior officials who were responsible for the brutal tactics of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, including widespread torture and abuse. After leading a successful offensive that toppled Assad, al-Jolani met with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali to discuss power transfer and services for the Syrian people. The rebel statement emphasized that the new administra

Lalu Prasad Yadav, the RJD founder, voiced strong support for Mamata Banerjee to lead the INDIA bloc, stating that Congress's objections to this leadership "mean nothing." His remarks came after Mamata Banerjee's comments earlier this month, where she hinted at taking charge of the Opposition alliance, if given the opportunity, while still operating from Bengal. This leadership dispute within the opposition has surfaced against the backdrop of the ongoing Winter Se

Rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have launched a major offensive against the Syrian government, pushing closer to Homs after capturing Aleppo and Hama in a swift military campaign. The rebels, aiming to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, are now just five kilometers from Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, which would sever the crucial connection between the capital, Damascus, and the Assad regime’s stronghold on the Mediterranean coast. This would rep

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has raised concerns over a recent court order in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which directed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque. Owaisi questioned the reasoning behind the survey, pointing out that the petition filed by the Hindu side only sought access to the mosque, not a survey. He argued that the Places of Worship Act prohibits changing the nature of religious places, including mosques, and questioned why a survey was still ordered. Ow

When everybody has almost forgotten the controversial issue of adulteration of ghee used for Tirumala laddu prasadam, the special investigation team monitored by the Central Bureau of Investigation director has quietly begun the investigation, as directed by the Supreme Court on October 3. The SIT comprises CBI joint director in Hyderabad S V Veeresh Prabhu, CBI superintendent of police (Visakhapatnam) Murali Rambha, Guntur range inspector general of police Sarvashreshtha Tripathi and Visakha

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attempting to dilute the sanctity of Waqf properties through an amendment to the Waqf Bill. Owaisi expressed his concern over the perceived discrimination against Muslims regarding their personal and religious rights, particularly in the management of Waqf assets. He welcomed the announcement from the TTD chairman, who stated an agenda to remove non-Hindus from the Board’s administration. Owa

Rapaka Varaprasad emerged as a significant figure in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh elections, being the only candidate to win on behalf of the Janasena party, while party leader Pawan Kalyan lost in both his contested seats. However, following his victory, Rapaka made a controversial switch to the YCP under Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime. Unfortunately for Rapaka, his tenure with YCP has

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy is currently facing significant backlash for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments by failing to uphold the sanctity of the Tirupati temple. The controversy erupted following a statement from current Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who raised concerns about the adulteration of the temple's famous Laddu prasadam. The sensitive issue has sparked outrage nationwide, with many Hindu

The sacred Tirumala Prasadam laddu has ignited a national debate following alarming lab reports that allegedly detected animal fat in the iconic sweets. This controversy traces back to the tenure of the YCP government, thrusting Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. This issue resonates not only with the Telugu community but also with the broader Hindu community across the nation. There is significant outcry regarding the alleged contaminatio