In a moment of deep historical and global significance, Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, the first American to assume the papacy. The announcement has sparked widespread reactions across the United States, particularly from political leaders, with President Donald Trump calling the election a "great honour" and highlighting its importance for the nation. Trump praised the pope’s American roots and said the appo

Vatican City has witnessed a historic moment as the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics welcomed a new spiritual leader—Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. With this election, the Church marks a new chapter by choosing the first American-born pope in its two-thousand-year history. Born in Chicago and aged 69, Pope Leo XIV is a prominent member of the Augustinian order and has served both in the United States and extensively abroad. Most recently, he headed the Vatican o

 Detailed new images of the sun, taken in early December by the Inouye Solar Telescope, reveal complex sunspot activity during the current solar maximum, a phase in the sun's 11-year cycle when magnetic activity peaks. These dark sunspots mark regions where intense magnetic disturbances occur, often triggering solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—massive eruptions of ionized gas, or plasma, from the sun's outer atmosphere. Such events can significantly impact Earth&#

Waymo has taken a major step in its autonomous transportation rollout by expanding driverless ride services into key areas of Silicon Valley. Residents in cities such as Los Altos, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and certain neighborhoods of Sunnyvale can now request rides through the Waymo One app, provided their zip codes fall within newly designated service zones. This gradual rollout follows a similar approach used in earlier launches, with limited initial access and plans to widen service over ti

In a momentous development for India's space program, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is all set for his maiden journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The mission, a private endeavor organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, SpaceX, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will see Shukla take flight aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is scheduled for 10:33 pm IST on May 29, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy S

Chicago’s Battle of the Badges charity boxing event once again delivered a thrilling night of action, heart, and heroism on the South Side. Hosted at De La Salle Institute, the annual event brought together members of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department in a series of boxing matches, all for an extraordinary cause—supporting their own and remembering fallen heroes. What makes this event truly unique is that most of the competitors are not professi

India’s young boxing stars continued to shine at the Asian U-15 Boxing Championships 2024 in Amman, Jordan, as five boxers—three boys and two girls—secured their places in the semifinals with dominant performances on the fifth day of competition. From the boys’ category, Nelson Khwairakpam (55 kg) set the tone with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) win in the very first round over Wang Sheng-Yang of Chinese Taipei. Displaying aggressive and accurate punches, Nelson left no

Over 1,000 international students in the U.S. have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since late March 2025, according to school officials and reports by The Associated Press. The wave of visa cancellations has sparked fear and anxiety among foreign students, especially those with any connection to political protests or activism. Several students have reported being detained without prior notice, often by agents in plain clothes, leading to heightened paranoia on c

  In a major escalation of the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China, Beijing has announced a significant hike in tariffs on American goods, raising import duties from 84% to 125%. The move, confirmed by the Chinese finance ministry on Friday, is a direct response to recent tariff increases imposed by the U.S. administration. It marks one of the most severe retaliatory actions taken by China in the prolonged dispute that has gripped global markets and resha

Swiggy, the popular online food and grocery delivery platform, is facing new tax troubles with a total tax demand of over Rs 165 crore for the financial year 2021-22. The first of the two orders was issued by the Profession Tax Officer in Pune, Maharashtra, demanding Rs 7.59 crore. This order alleges that Swiggy failed to properly deduct profession tax from its employees' salaries, which is required under the Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings & Employments Act, 1975.

As summer rolls in, watermelon becomes a go-to fruit for staying hydrated and cool. While the juicy red flesh is widely enjoyed, the small black seeds within are often discarded without a second thought. However, watermelon seeds are far from useless—they are actually nutritional powerhouses that offer a wide range of health benefits. Packed with essential minerals, fiber, and healthy fats, these seeds deserve a spot in your summer diet. If you’re looking for natural, lo

Club America and Cruz Azul, two of Mexico’s most decorated football clubs, faced off in a tightly contested Clasico Joven in the first leg of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, resulting in a 0-0 draw. The match was held at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City, bringing together the top two ranked teams in the Concacaf Club Rankings and setting the stage for an intense battle. Despite the lack of goals, the match was rich in drama and highlighted by t

China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks advocating dialogue over discord in India-China relations, calling them "positive" and a step toward strengthening diplomatic ties. Beijing emphasized that cooperation between the two Asian giants — likened to the 'Dragon-Elephant Dance' — is the most effective path to shared success. In a statement on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted that both sides have acti

A groundbreaking study has revealed that ChatGPT, a widely used AI chatbot, can exhibit behaviors akin to "anxiety" and can be calmed using mindfulness techniques. Although artificial intelligence (AI) lacks actual emotions, researchers from Yale University, Haifa University, and the University of Zurich discovered that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can mimic anxiety-like tendencies when exposed to distressing content. The findings, published in the study titled Asse

The latest round of tariff hikes by US President Donald Trump has triggered immediate countermeasures from Canada, China, and Mexico, escalating tensions in global trade. Beginning Tuesday, the US is imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada while also raising tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. In response, these nations have announced their own economic retaliations, signaling a sharp rise in trade disputes.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese officia

Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus has rejected concerns over strained relations between Bangladesh and India, asserting that the diplomatic ties between the two neighboring nations remain strong despite recent tensions. Yunus acknowledged that some conflicts have emerged but attributed them mainly to misinformation and propaganda rather than any fundamental changes in the relationship.In an interview with BBC Bangla, Yunus highlighted the historical, political, and ec

Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his decision to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, tying them to border security concerns and trade imbalances. The tariffs, initially set for March 4, are now expected to take effect on April 2, giving businesses and trade partners a brief window to prepare.   Trump Links Tariffs to Fentanyl Crisis and Border Security During his first Cabinet mee

Daniel Bisogno, the beloved Mexican television personality and longtime co-host of Ventaneando, has passed away at the age of 51. His death, confirmed by TV Azteca’s Ventaneando on February 20, 2025, follows complications from a liver transplant he underwent in September 2024. Bisogno, known for his sharp wit, candid commentary, and decades-long presence in the Mexican entertainment industry, leaves behind a significant legacy.

As the March 31, 2025 financial year-end approaches, taxpayers under the old income tax regime should focus on tax-saving investments to minimize liabilities. Here are five effective last-minute tax-saving options:   Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) – A tax-saving mutual fund with a three-year lock-in period, offering deductions under Section 80C for investments up to Rs 1.5 lakh, along with potential high returns from equity marke

The political and diplomatic rift between India and Bangladesh has intensified, leading to significant cultural and economic consequences. The recent exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent destruction of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi neighborhood have become symbolic of the worsening relations. The house, a key site in Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, was torn down by students, erasing an important part of the nation