Articles

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has sharply criticised the United Nations, saying the global body has become increasingly ineffective and paralysed by internal divisions. Speaking in New Delhi at the release of a commemorative postage stamp marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Jaishankar said the organisation’s decision-making has failed to reflect the realities of its membership or the priorities of the modern world. He emphasised that meaningful reforms are

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued long-awaited guidance on October 20, 2025 clarifying the applicability of the newly introduced USD 100,000 one-time fee on certain H‑1B visa petitions, bringing much-needed clarity for international students, employers and visa applicants. The fee, initially announced in a presidential proclamation on September 19, 2025, had triggered widespread uncertainty about whether it would apply across the board.  The origina

The White House has become the center of national debate following the announcement that its East Wing will be demolished to make way for President Donald Trump’s proposed new ballroom. The decision, confirmed earlier this month, has sparked outrage among historians, architects, and preservationists who consider the East Wing an integral part of America’s architectural and political heritage. For over a century, the East Wing has served as both a ceremonial entrance and the offi

United States President Donald Trump has once again defended his administration’s tariff policies, claiming that the strategy has played a major role in strengthening the U.S. economy and boosting the stock market. Since returning to office for his second term, Trump has emphasized a renewed focus on economic nationalism, arguing that countries trading with the United States must pay tariffs determined by the government to protect American interests. In his latest remarks, Trump a

Global competition in the satellite internet market is intensifying as Europe and China prepare to launch large-scale projects aimed at rivaling Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The developments mark a significant shift in the global communications landscape, with governments and private aerospace firms seeking to establish independent systems to reduce reliance on the American provider. Europe’s leading aerospace manufacturers have reached an agreement to combine their satellite p

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency have confirmed that eight Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks and abductions from the Nova music festival were killed in a series of targeted strikes in the Gaza Strip earlier this year. The announcement, made Thursday, comes weeks after two Israeli hostages, Avinatan Or and Eitan Mor, were released from Hamas captivity under a ceasefire agreement, and months after the rescue of Noa Argamani in a special ID

Mayor Eric Adams has officially endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming New York City mayoral race, a move that reshapes the city’s political landscape and intensifies the already heated contest. Adams made the endorsement Thursday during a public appearance alongside Cuomo at the New York City Housing Authority’s Carver Houses, declaring his support for the former governor’s bid to lead the city. “I’m fighting for the family of New York, that’s wh

HOUSTON, Texas — A new statewide survey conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University reveals that Texans remain deeply divided over former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. According to the findings, 51 percent of registered voters said they approve of the administration’s immigration approach, while 49 percent disapprove, reflecting an evenly split electorate on one of the state’s most politically charged issues. The survey highlights a

The Texas Education Agency has announced that it will assume control of Fort Worth Independent School District, marking one of the state’s most significant education interventions in recent years. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed Thursday that a board of managers will be appointed to replace the district’s elected school board, citing chronic academic underperformance as the driving factor behind the decision. Under state law, the appointed board will have the same powers

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Maryland’s request for federal disaster relief following the devastating floods that struck Allegany and Garrett counties in May. The decision, which also rejected an appeal filed by Governor Wes Moore, leaves residents and local governments in the state’s western panhandle without anticipated federal recovery funding. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes, roads, and public infrastructure, prompting state and loca

The redistricting process in Dublin City Schools has ignited a wave of frustration, division, and public outcry, as hundreds of parents filled auditoriums Wednesday to voice their discontent. At a series of “listening tour” sessions organized by the district, many parents expressed that they had lost faith in how officials have managed plans to redraw high school boundaries for the next academic year. The sessions, held across three venues in Dublin, drew parents carrying handma

The streets of Chicago’s Little Village turned tense on Thursday morning as heavily armed federal agents clashed with residents during an enforcement operation near the Discount Mall at 26th and Troy. The scene unfolded amid growing public concern over the expanding presence of federal officers in local neighborhoods. Witnesses reported the use of chemical irritants, including tear gas and pepper bullets, while helicopters hovered overhead and residents recorded the confrontation on their p

San Jose’s cooling pipeline for conventional homebuilding has put unusual emphasis on one small-scale format that continues to deliver results: accessory dwelling units. Backed by a wave of California legislation that curbed local barriers and clarified property rights, ADUs—once a niche backyard project—have evolved into a central element of the city’s growth strategy. Because they are constructed on existing lots and typically require fewer discretionary approvals than multifamily p

More than a century after its discovery transformed the study of ancient Egypt, the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun is facing its most serious threat yet. Archaeologists and geological experts have issued urgent warnings that the 3,300-year-old burial site in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings is showing signs of severe structural instability. The tomb, officially catalogued as KV62, was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 and remains one of the most celebrated finds in

A social media post by an Australian woman has triggered widespread outrage after she described Diwali decorations in a Sydney neighbourhood as a “threat” to Western culture. The remarks have sparked an intense online debate over cultural coexistence, diversity, and the meaning of multiculturalism in modern Australia. The controversy began when Kobie Thatcher, an Australian resident, posted a short video on X (formerly Twitter) showing several homes in Nirimba Fields, a suburb i

In a significant policy reversal, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, marking one of the most consequential economic measures against Moscow since the escalation of the war in Ukraine. The decision immediately triggered a 5% surge in global oil prices and prompted India, one of Russia’s biggest energy buyers, to reconsider its import strategy. The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, target companies

Anna Chapman, once dubbed Russia’s most glamorous secret agent, is back in the spotlight more than a decade after her dramatic exposure and expulsion from the United States in a high-profile spy swap. The former undercover operative has been appointed as the head of the newly launched Museum of Russian Intelligence, a state-linked institution associated with President Vladimir Putin’s foreign intelligence service. The move marks her return to the inner circles of Russia’s security and i

The Indian television industry has witnessed one of its most unexpected and talked-about crossovers as Microsoft co-founder and global philanthropist Bill Gates made a surprise cameo in the reboot of the iconic soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The brief appearance of one of the world’s most influential figures alongside one of India’s most beloved television characters has sparked a wave of astonishment and admiration across viewers and social media users alike.

Saudi Arabia has officially abolished the long-standing Kafala system, a major labour reform hailed as a landmark shift for millions of migrant workers across the Gulf region. The decision marks a new chapter in the kingdom’s ongoing transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, an ambitious roadmap to modernize the economy, attract foreign investment, and improve the country’s global image. The Kafala system, which governed the relationship between empl

A Diwali celebration in New Jersey turned into an online controversy after a video of Indian students bursting fireworks on a public street drew criticism from social media users. The short clip, uploaded by 20-year-old Mukul Verma, showed a group of young people celebrating the festival of lights when local firefighters arrived and began spraying water on the fireworks. What was intended to be a joyful cultural celebration soon became a subject of heated online discussion over safety, legali