Ratha Saptami, also known as Surya Jayanti, is a highly auspicious festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya, the Sun God. Celebrated on the seventh day (Saptami) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Magha month, this festival is observed with great devotion by millions of Hindus worldwide. In 2026, Ratha Saptami will be observed on January 25th. The day honors Lord Surya for his life-giving energy, seeking blessings for health, prosperity, and spiritual growth. Th

The United States has begun implementing a new visa facilitation programme known as FIFA Pass as part of its preparations for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The initiative is designed to help international football fans secure visa interview appointments more quickly as demand for travel to the tournament is expected to surge in the months leading up to kickoff. According to US officials, FIFA Pass is intended to reduce long wait times for non-immigrant visas by prioritising inter

The United States State Department is preparing to pause visa processing for applicants from approximately 75 countries beginning January 21, according to an internal departmental directive. The measure instructs consular officers to deny visa applications under existing immigration law while the department conducts a broad reassessment of screening and vetting standards. The pause is described as indefinite, with only very limited exceptions expected during the review period. The c

Australia has moved India into its highest-risk category for student visa applicants, a decision that will result in stricter scrutiny and longer processing timelines for thousands of prospective students. The change, implemented under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework, takes effect from January 8, 2026, and represents an out-of-cycle reclassification driven by concerns over emerging integrity risks in the student visa system. Under the revised framework, India has bee

A significant legal challenge to the steep increase in H-1B visa fees has suffered a major setback after a US District Court ruled that the federal government acted within its legal authority. The ruling has delivered a blow to business and employer groups that argued the move would restrict access to skilled foreign talent, even as the H-1B visa programme continues to face mounting pressure from stricter regulations and prolonged processing delays across the globe. The decision was i

Canada and the United Kingdom emerged as dependable alternatives for Indian students seeking overseas education, especially as uncertainty around US work visas grew. Clear post-study work routes, predictable immigration rules, and relatively stable visa approval trends helped both countries attract hundreds of thousands of Indian students. However, policy changes in 2025 are reshaping that confidence and forcing students and families to reassess long-held assumptions about studying abroad.

India marked another defining moment in its space journey as the powerful Bahubali rocket successfully blasted off carrying the heaviest satellite ever launched by the country. The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 M6 mission lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, showcasing India’s growing dominance in heavy-lift and commercial space missions. The 43.5-metre-tall LVM3 rocket, supported by two massive S200 solid boosters, took t

Several major technology companies in the United States have advised employees working on H-1B visas to avoid international travel or return to the country immediately, as uncertainty grows around new immigration rules, higher application costs, and prolonged delays in visa interview appointments. The guidance reflects mounting concern among employers and workers about potential re-entry complications and extended periods of disruption caused by recent policy changes. In recent mont

Recent calls by some US political activists to reduce or eliminate the presence of Indian professionals in American workplaces have reignited a long-running debate over immigration, national identity and economic growth. Mark Mitchell, a US pollster who has promoted what he describes as a “de-Indianisation” consultancy, has become a prominent voice in this discourse. His arguments reflect a broader strain of nativism that has surfaced periodically throughout American history, often at mom

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday that radical Islamic movements represent a growing and consequential threat not only to the United States but to global security as a whole. Describing these organisations as revolutionary in nature, Rubio said their objectives extend far beyond holding limited territory, and instead involve expanding their influence across regions and cultures. He noted that the ideological framework guiding these groups envisions a broad reach

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

A significant privacy issue in WhatsApp has come to light after researchers revealed that a long-standing flaw exposed the phone numbers and profile photos of nearly 3.5 billion users worldwide. The discovery was made by a team from the University of Vienna, who found that WhatsApp’s contact-discovery system lacked proper rate limiting, allowing automated tools to check millions of phone numbers per hour. Through this gap, researchers were able to confirm whether a number was registered on

Leaked internal documents have exposed a shocking revelation about Meta, suggesting the company earned an estimated $16 billion annually from scam and fraudulent advertisements across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Despite publicly claiming to prioritize user safety and ad transparency, these documents show a deep conflict between Meta’s financial gains and its enforcement of ad integrity policies. According to the leaked materials reviewed by Reuters,

Vreels, developed across the USA and India, is quickly making waves in the global social media landscape. Designed as a one-stop platform for creation, communication, and commerce, Vreels (Virtually Relax, Explore, Engage, Live & Share) merges short videos, chats, voice calls, photo sharing, and even e-commerce into a single, seamless experience. Available in 22 countries and currently in its beta phase, Vreels can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app

Canada’s immigration authorities are reportedly moving toward adopting new powers that could allow them to cancel temporary visas on a large scale — a policy shift that may disproportionately affect applicants from India and Bangladesh. According to internal government documents, the initiative is part of a broader partnership between Canadian agencies and their U.S. counterparts to strengthen border controls and address rising concerns over fraudulent applications. The document

Celina Jaitly has written an emotional message expressing relief and gratitude after the Delhi High Court took up her petition regarding her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, an Indian Army veteran who was missing for nine months before being detained. After more than a year of searching for answers, her family has finally found a ray of hope as the court intervened in the matter. In her heartfelt message, Celina shared that she stood outside the Delhi High Court filled wit

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Two San Antonio police officers were shot and injured on Wednesday morning after a confrontation with an armed suspect at a motel along Highway 90 near Military Drive. The suspect, who reportedly opened fire on officers during a brief chase, was killed in the exchange, according to San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus. Authorities said the incident unfolded just before 9 a.m. when an officer and a cadet were sitting in a motel parking lot. While they were in

The city of Dallas has lost its latest battle in a long-running dispute over poker rooms. A five-member panel of the Dallas Board of Adjustment voted 4-1 to reinstate the certificate of occupancy for Champions Social Club, an upscale venue that plans to operate a poker room in North Dallas. The decision, handed down after a marathon seven-and-a-half-hour hearing, reversed the city’s April move to revoke the club’s certificate of occupancy just days after initially approv

Houston, once a leader in apartment construction, is seeing a significant slowdown in 2025. According to national apartment search site RentCafe, the city is set to deliver just 14,439 new apartments in 2025 Fan alarming 37.6% drop compared to the previous year. This comes as the city, which had seen a record 49,149 new apartments in 2023-2024, grapples with higher construction costs, rising interest rates, and flat rents.

A Dallas mother is pleading for answers and justice four months after her teenage daughter was killed by gunfire at a local park. The grief-stricken family is still waiting for someone to come forward with information, as police say dozens of people were present the night the shooting happened but not one has provided details that could help solve the case. Seventeen-year-old Angelyn Nino Herrera was spending time wit