With the BRICS summit in New Delhi approaching, uncertainty continues over whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to India for the high-profile gathering. Beijing has yet to officially confirm Xi’s participation, and there is also no announcement on a possible bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. China’s foreign ministry said it had no official information to share regarding the president’s travel plans. If Xi attends the summit, it would mark his fir

Fresh terror threats to Kashmiri Pandit employees in Kashmir have renewed concerns over employee security, an alleged data leak and the safety of PM Package employees, prompting demands for stronger protection and secure accommodation. Fresh terror threats to Kashmiri Pandit employees in Kashmir have revived serious concerns over the safety of members of the community working in the Valley under government employment programmes. Threat letters attributed t

Restaurant asset purchase vs entity purchase can significantly change what an NRI buyer acquires. Equipment, inventory, goodwill, contracts, liabilities and tax treatment must be identified before closing an existing U.S. restaurant acquisition. A restaurant advertised “for sale” does not necessarily m

PM Modi Rs 35,000-crore Vadodara projects put the Dedicated Freight Corridor, India manufacturing growth and infrastructure expansion in focus as the Prime Minister also targeted critics with his “Naraz Fufa” remark.   Dedicated Freight Corridor takes centre stage in Vadodara Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and launched development projects worth around Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, G

Female employees at the Eiffel Tower launched strike action on Monday after women were allegedly removed from their work positions and replaced by male employees during the weekend visit of an Indian religious delegation. The Eiffel Tower staff strike has since raised concerns over workplace equality, while the BAPS visit, SETE response and Paris probe have placed the incident under greater scrutiny. BAPS Visit Raises Concerns at Eiffe

The Texas Bullion Depository provides insured, segregated storage for approved gold, silver and other precious metals in Leander. Account holders retain ownership of their metals, while HB 1056 could give the facility a larger role in Texas payments beginning in 2027. The Texas Bullion Depository has gained new attention following Texas' recognition of qualifying gold and silver specie as legal tender. The broader

Social Security is not expected to disappear in 2032, but retirees could face reduced payments if Congress does not address the funding gap. Seniors can prepare by reviewing income sources, home equity, debt and retirement timing. What the 2032 Social Security Projection Means The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays retirement

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra have received a clean chit from the Special Investigation Team probing alleged theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. According to an official statement cited on August 18, the Uttar Pradesh Home Department submitted the SIT's final report and forwarded it to the temple trust for further consideration.

Iran's foreign influence bill has moved forward in parliament, potentially expanding criminal penalties for contacts with foreign media, universities, embassies and organisations. The proposal comes amid heightened security concerns in Tehran and could significantly affect journalists, academics and civil society. Foreign media law could expand criminal penal

India will celebrate India Independence Day 2026 on Saturday, August 15, marking the country's 80th Independence Day and 79 completed years of freedom. The national ceremony at the Red Fort in Delhi will highlight Vande Mataram, Viksit Bharat and India's freedom history while looking toward the country's future. 80th Independence Day: Why India Completes 79 Y

The University of Michigan pass/fail pilot will begin in fall 2027 for first-year LSA students, replacing first-semester grades on external transcripts with pass or no-credit marks while retaining regular grades internally. Grade-covering pilot begins in fall 2027 The University of Michigan will introduce a first-semester grade-covering

Parliament disruptions in India have repeatedly interrupted the Monsoon Session. While protests can spotlight important issues, they also weaken Question Hour accountability and parliamentary bill scrutiny, leaving Opposition MPs with fewer opportunities to challenge the government.  

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the government is ready for a detailed discussion in Parliament over the July 20 student protest and the police response in Delhi. He said Home Minister Amit Shah is prepared to respond, even as Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders continue to demand accountability and a court-monitored investigation. Rijiju Says Government Ready for Discussion

IIIT Dharwad graduate Aditya Arepalli moved from a software engineering role at Riverbed Technology in Bengaluru to an AI master’s at the University at Buffalo before joining AWS in Seattle. A social media post claims his compensation is worth ₹1.5 crore. From IIIT Dharwad to software engineering Sai Venkata Aditya Arepalli, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, has built a technology career spanning I

Tamil Nadu teen wins Brown University scholarship reportedly worth Rs 3.55 crore. Erode student Pranav Ilango will study Public Health and Applied Mathematics after years of academic preparation, mentorship and global recognition.   Seventeen-year-old Pranav Ilango from Erode, Tamil Nadu, is set to begin his undergraduate studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. According to the published report, he has received financial support valued at Rs 3

Large bank deposits in Canada study permit applications may require explanation when they do not match the account’s normal activity. Indian students should connect recent transfers to reliable records, sponsor income and a realistic plan covering tuition, living and travel costs. Do large deposits cause study permit refusal? A large or recent bank deposit does not automatically lead to refus

US Healthcare Costs Force Insured Americans to Delay Care  US healthcare costs are pushing insured patients to delay medical care, skip appointments and reduce prescription use. Young adults and women report greater financial pressure, while medical debt and high out-of-pocket expenses weaken the protection offered by insurance. Delayed medical care remains widespread

Tarrant County polling-site cuts triggered protests at a Fort Worth commissioners meeting, where Judge Tim O’Hare ordered spectators removed. The proposal would reduce Election Day locations from 316 to 176 and early-voting sites from 50 to 42 for November 2026. Judge orders spectators from meeting Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare ordered spectators removed from a commissioners court meeting

The Chicago Divvy ridership record passed 1 million trips in July 2026, including a new single-day high. Five lakefront stations have opened near beaches, downtown parks and Lincoln Park Zoo as the city expands bike-share capacity and tests more orderly parking. Chicago’s Divvy bike-share system recorded more than 1 million trips in July 2026, its first million-ride month since launching in 2013. Riders also completed mo

Pakistan’s criticism of Al Jazeera over its coverage of election-related violence in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir has exposed a deeper issue: the dispute appears less about religion and more about scrutiny. The episode has renewed concerns about media freedom and digital censorship. PoJK unrest raises difficult questions The controversy followed unrest and allegations of electoral irre