Varalakshmi Vratam 2025 will be celebrated on Friday, August 8, by millions of Hindu women across India and abroad. This sacred festival, observed on the Friday before the full moon in the Shravana month, is considered highly auspicious for seeking the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the deity of wealth, fortune, and well-being. This vratam is especially popular in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,

O Panneerselvam (OPS), a three-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and leader of the AIADMK, has announced his decision to quit the BJP alliance ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This decision is a significant blow to the BJP’s election plans in the state, particularly as OPS holds substantial sway in the influential Thevar community from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The decision follows OPS’ exclusion from high-profile meetings

Sravana Masam 2025, one of the most spiritually powerful months in the Hindu calendar, begins on Friday, July 25, 2025, and ends on Saturday, August 23, 2025. It is considered highly sacred for performing various vratams, pujas, and devotional practices. The month is devoted to both Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi, with devotees performing rituals with great faith and discipline. Women, in particular, observe multiple vratams d

Tito's Handmade Vodka, a popular Austin-based brand, has launched a limited-edition Summer Variety Pack designed to elevate your summer beverage experience. This new product is aimed at encouraging Tito’s fans to enjoy their favorite drinks in style, while also supporting a good cause. The pack includes six shatterproof cups, including a stemless martini glass, stemless wine glass, rocks glass, collins glass, and two shot glasses. However, it’

Gita Gopinath, the renowned Indian-born economist and current First Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is set to leave her position at the IMF at the end of August. She will return to Harvard University to take up the prestigious role of the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics in Harvard's Department of Economics. This move marks a new chapter in Gopinath's illustrious career, one that began at the I

A wildfire sparked by a lightning strike is continuing to burn through a remote and ecologically sensitive bird sanctuary on the Bolivar Peninsula, located near Port Bolivar, Texas. The blaze, which started Friday evening, has now spread across approximately 160 acres of brush and marshland and remains active several days later. Emergency responders are currently monitoring the fire closely but are not attempting direct suppression due to the remote nature of the affected area. The fire has so f

India’s Greco-Roman wrestling squad made a strong comeback on the final day of the ‘Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial’, part of the 4th Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary. After a disappointing start, where no Indian wrestler reached the medal rounds, the final day saw Sumit and Anil Mor earning silver and bronze medals, respectively, marking a significant improvement in the squad’s performance.

COVID-19 is making an unexpected resurgence in California, with San Francisco showing some of the highest levels of the virus detected in wastewater surveillance since the previous winter season. According to newly released data from the California Department of Public Health, the virus is present at moderate levels across most of the state, but certain areas, especially the Bay Area, are recording alarming spikes. In San Francisco specifically, six out of nine wastewater testi

A fatal crash early Monday morning shut down all eastbound lanes of State Highway 114 in Irving, Texas, disrupting thousands of commuters and drawing an active police investigation. The accident happened near the intersection of SH 114 and Ester Boulevard, where emergency responders arrived to find a major collision resulting in at least one confirmed death. According to local authorities, the crash forced a complete closure of eastbound lanes, and traffic was being rerouted at Fr

Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has shared his candid opinion on the recent controversy involving actress Deepika Padukone and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga regarding the debate over fixed working hours in the film industry. RGV remarked that the issue has been unnecessarily exaggerated by the media. He emphasized that decisions about work schedules are purely a personal agreement between an actor and a director, and that such matters should not be sensational

On the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan, a deep spiritual energy enveloped the city of Varanasi as lakhs of devotees thronged the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to perform Jalabhishek and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The sacred city, long revered as one of India’s most prominent pilgrimage destinations, transformed into a vibrant hub of devotion as the month of Shravan began with elaborate spiritual celebrations. The atmosphere was charged with emotion and reverence as th

In the spirit of patriotism and unity, volunteers in Irving, Texas, are busy planting 40,000 American flags as part of the 2025 Great Flag Caper. This annual tradition brings together hundreds of residents to decorate the streets and show their love for the country, just in time for the Fourth of July. The flags will be placed in front of homes, businesses, and places of worship, spanning almost 11 miles of MacArthur Boulevard.

Former world number ones Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka both moved into the second round of the Bad Homburg Open on Monday, sharpening their games ahead of Wimbledon. Osaka edged Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic in a tight contest, winning 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4), while Azarenka cruised past German wildcard Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-2. Osaka, who entered the main draw as a wildcard, fired 16 aces in the two-hour match,

Atletico Madrid bowed out of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, despite securing a 1-0 win over Brazilian side Botafogo in their final Group B match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal in the 87th minute, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Diego Simeone’s side from an early exit as Botafogo advanced to the last 16 on goal difference. The Spanish giants entered the must-w

In a special meeting held on Monday night, the Santa Clara City Council confirmed two important appointments to its local commissions, signaling a continued effort to bring engaged community members into public service roles. The meeting focused on selecting candidates for the Historical and Landmarks Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission, with each appointment lasting through June 30, 2029. Kaushal Varshney was appointed to serve a full five-year term on the Historic

Four schools from India have been named among the top 10 global finalists for the 2025 World's Best School Prizes, hosted by UK-based T4 Education. These annual awards celebrate schools making extraordinary contributions in education, innovation, health, environment, and community development. This year's Indian finalists represent the states of Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, each standing out in one of the five prize categories.

Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court is at the center of a major controversy following the discovery of a large pile of unaccounted currency at his Delhi residence. A Supreme Court-appointed internal inquiry panel has found compelling evidence pointing toward the judge's questionable conduct after a fire in March this year revealed stacks of Rs 500 notes some of them charred inside his official government accommodation.

In a deeply tragic incident, five teenage boys from Hyderabad drowned in the Godavari River near Basara on Sunday, June 15, while performing a ritual bath before visiting the Gnana Saraswathi temple. The group of around 20 devotees had traveled to Basara for religious purposes. As part of the temple tradition, five boys entered the river for a holy dip. Unfortunately, a sudden surge in the river’s water level created a powerful current, sweeping the tee

India is currently witnessing a rise in Covid-19 cases driven by new sub-lineages of the virus. However, according to top Indian biologist Dr. Vineeta Bal, these emerging variants are not causing severe illness or deaths on the scale seen during earlier waves like Delta in 2021. Dr. Bal, a former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, explained that widespread vaccination and natural infections have created

In a dramatic policy move, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order suspending the entry of foreign nationals into the United States who intend to study or conduct research at Harvard University. The decision, announced as part of a broader effort to protect national security, comes amid growing concerns over Harvard’s alleged failure to comply with federal reporting obligations related to international students. The White House emphasized that participation i