Tranding Indian News Blog

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the updated policy guidelines for international students' eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.  The revised guidelines, effective from August 27, offer clarity on rules concerning online study, school transfers, grace periods, and study abroad programmes. These will apply to all pending and future requests. OPT duration extended for STEM students As per USCIS, international students in STEM will now enjoy up to three years of OPT, compared to one year for the students of non-STEM fields. This will allow students to gain more work experience in the country. Online Study Allowances Eligible students will now be able to count one class or up to three credits per academic session towards their full course of study, without violating the F1 visa terms. It must be noted that the class is taken online or via distance learning, meaning ...

A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight had to make an emergency landing at the Kolkata airport minutes after take-off on Friday night due to an engine failure, a senior official said. Flight 6E573 from Kolkata to Bangalore, which became airborne at 10.36 pm on Friday, made an emergency landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport at 10.53 pm after failure of its left engine, he said. However, no fire or spark was reported, the Airports Authority of India spokesperson said on Saturday. The full emergency declared at 10.39 pm was withdrawn at 11.08 pm, he said. Both the runways at NSCBI airport were handed over to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to make those available for the plane to land back safely, the spokesperson said. "It was learnt that the left side engine of the aircraft failed after take-off as a result of which it had to come back to Kolkata," he said. The airline in a statement said the flight returned to origin after take-off "due to ...

The Union Women and Child Development Minister has responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's second letter, seeking a stringent law and exemplary punishment on heinous crimes such as rape and murder. Ms Banerjee in her second letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought a mandatory provision for time-bound disposal of rape and murder cases. The two letters came amid the CBI investigation into the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The BJP had called her a "liar" over her letters, and questioned her over why she has not done anything to ensure implementation of existing "stringent" rules and regulations to protect women in her state. "With regard to the information contained in your letter about the status of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) and exclusive POCSO courts in West Bengal, I may mention that according to information received from the Calcutta High Court, West ...

A French retiree goes on trial Monday accused of recruiting dozens of strangers online to rape his wife after he drugged her into unconsciouness, in a case that has horrified the country. Fifty other men are also on trial in the southern city of Avignon alongside the main suspect, a 71-year-old former employee at France's power utility EDF. They are accused of raping the woman who, her lawyers say, was so heavily sedated that she was not aware of the abuse. The trial will be "a horrible ordeal" for the woman, now in her 70s, and who does not wish to be identified, said Antoine Camus, one of her lawyers. "For the first time, long after the fact, she will have to live through the rapes that she endured over 10 years," he told AFP, adding that his client had "no recollection" of the abuses which she only discovered in 2020. The woman could have asked for the trial to be held behind closed doors but didn't, because "that's what her attack...

A wife is succeeding her IAS officer husband as the Chief Secretary of Kerala, a first in the state's history. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pointed to this rare occurrence on Friday during the farewell ceremony organised for outgoing Chief Secretary V Venu, who will retire from government service on August 31. Venu will be succeeded as Chief Secretary by his wife Sarada Muraleedharan, who currently holds the post of Additional Chief Secretary. Mr Vijayan recalled many instances in the state where couples, both of whom were in the civil service, have transferred the duties of Collector from one to the other. He said that there have also been instances where both husband and wife have headed departments and become chief secretaries at different times. "However, this is the first time in the history of Kerala that the post of Chief Secretary has been handed over by the husband to his wife," he said. On this rare transition in the state's bureaucratic history, Mu...

Abdul Ghafoor Noorani, eminent constitutional expert, lawyer and author, died today at the age of 93. A noted scholar on Jammu and Kashmir, his absence is being felt in the Union Territory, where many are mourning him. An alumnus of Mumbai's Government Law College, his unwavering commitment to justice and legal acumen brought him accolades and helped him blaze a trail from the Bombay High Court to the topmost court of the land. In the courts, Noorani played a critical role at a difficult time, defending some of the leading lights of the day -- including Sheikh Abdullah during his detention and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. In recent days, he emerged as a sharp and incisive commentator on legal issues, including key judgements of the Supreme Court. With an overview of British India -- he was born in 1930 -- and the post-Independence ideologies, he was a stern critic of what, in his opinion, was a gradual degeneration of the legal system.   These opinions were e...

The India Meteorological Department has forecast of extremely heavy rains in isolated parts of districts in Saurashtra on Thursday. With the latest spell, Gujarat has so far received 105 per cent of its average annual rainfall, the State Emergency Operations Centre has said. Twenty-nine people have died in rain-related incidents since the deluge started on Sunday. Around 18,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Water from the Ajwa and Pratappura Reservoirs was released into Vishwamitri River, causing floods downstream. Parts of Vadodara and other cities and villages along the river have been under 10 to 12 feet of water. Vadodara grappled with floods as the Vishwamitri river, flowing through the city, breached its banks and entered residential localities, inundating buildings, roads and vehicles. An official release said 140 reservoirs and dams, and 24 rivers in the state were flowing above the danger mark. Besides the National and State Disaster relief forces, the Army, the...

Our social media feeds often feature bizarre cooking experiments. From trying viral food hacks to making treats at unusual locations, these posts stand out for a range of reasons. You may have come across videos of people cooking complicated dishes in their cars. Recently, a vlogger took this idea to the next level, by making bread dough on a plane. In a reel shared on Instagram, she documented the process from scratch and also explained how she spent part of her time while flying. Also Read:   Viral Video: Woman Cooks Seafood Meal Inside Her Car, Internet Reacts The now-viral video begins with the text, "Making sourdough bread on my flight to Spain." This is followed by the baker stating, "I want to surprise my sister with a fresh loaf of bread." To this end, she starts by adding water, starter, flour and salt to a large bowl/ vessel. She mixes the ingredients to make a dough, kneads it and applies pressure as required. She covers the bowl and allows it to rest ...

Over 21 million Shia Muslims took part in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq this year, marking the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed and a founding figure in Shia Islam. The event culminated on Sunday, with attendees expressing their solidarity with Gaza. Indians were among those who travelled to Karbala to pay homage to Imam Hussain. The Arbaeen Yatra saw millions walking from Najaf to Karbala, a distance of 80 km, to visit the shrine of Imam Hussain. Imam Hussain, revered by millions, was martyred on the land of Karbala nearly 1,400 years ago after enduring three days of hunger and thirst under the rule of Yazid I, the second caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate. His martyrdom, along with that of 72 of his companions-including his six-month-old son, Ali Asghar-remains a pivotal event in Islamic history. A significant number of Indians participated in the Arbaeen Walk, with thousands reaching Karbala. Along the 80 km route, food, dr...

From fake digital arrests to courier fraud, cybercriminals have become crafty. After several instances of fraudsters impersonating policemen, messaging and calling people to dupe them of their hard-earned money, a fake message from the 'CJI', seeking money to book a cab, is now going viral. According to a screenshot of the post on the microblogging platform X, the impersonator, who claimed to be Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, was stranded at Connaught Place (CP). "Hello, I am CJI and we have urgent meeting of the collegium and I am stuck at Cannaught Place can you send 5000rs for cab," read the screenshot of the post riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. "I will return the money once I reach the court," assured the fraudulent message. The Supreme Court has now taken note of the viral post and filed a complaint of cyber fraud on the instructions of the Chief Justice. Several cases of cyber fraud have emerged in the recent past where pe...

An Ohio woman and her boyfriend have been arrested following a shocking incident in which her 6-year-old son was handcuffed as a form of "corporal punishment" before being attacked by a pit bull, according to police. Angelina Williams, 27, of Cleveland, and her boyfriend, Taylor Marvin-Brown, now face charges of endangering children and obstructing justice. In a release, the Ashland County Police said, "On Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 5:06 pm the cops received a 911 call for a squad to be sent to 23 Chapel Street, Savannah, Ohio. Dispatchers were told that a Pitbull had bitten a 6-year-old child on the neck and ear. When the squad members and deputies arrived, the child was in serious condition, and Life Flight was called. Deputies identified the mother as Angelina Williams of Cleveland, Ohio, who was living with a family member of Robert Michalski, who was the owner of the house and dog. Robert had left the house with Pitbull prior to deputies arriving." Detect...

A Bangladeshi student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Silchar, Assam, has been 'sent back' to her home country on Monday after she allegedly liked an anti-India post on social media, police sources told NDTV.  The student from Bangladesh, who joined NIT Silchar in 2021, was criticised by many for liking an anti-India post on Facebook by a former student who also hails from Bangladesh.  The issue was raised by a former student of Assam University Silchar last week. He shared screenshots of Alphi's social media posts, following which several complaints against her were filed in Silchar and other areas of Assam. The student was taken to the India-Bangladesh international border in Karimganj on Monday morning, where she crossed the border under adequate security arrangements at around 11 am. However, NIT Silchar authorities said the student expressed a desire to go back home for a while and had applied for leave on Sunday. Around 70 students from Banglades...

The First Information Report against Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College - has cleared the decks for his eventual arrest. Ghosh -- who is in the eye of the storm over the rape-murder of a young doctor in the hospital premises - has not been named in the rape-murder case. But the corruption charges against him are non-bailable, meaning once arrested, he will not be out easily. The corruption case was filed after the Central agency took over the investigation on Saturday on the orders of the Calcutta High Court.   While the initial corruption allegations against him were levelled by former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Hospital Akhtar Ali, the push came after the rape-murder case, which has sparked massive public outrage.  There were questions whether the rape-murder was linked to the alleged corruption at the institution under the stewardship of Sandip Ghosh.  As protests spread over the rape-murder, Akhtar Ali had filed an appeal i...

NASA, on Saturday, announced that Boeing's Starliner capsule will return empty from the International Space Station (ISS), citing ongoing propulsion system problems. This latest development adds to Boeing's woes, with estimated losses in the Starliner program exceeding $1 billion, reported CNBC . Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will now return on Elon Musk's SpaceX's Crew-9 vehicle in February 2025, after a six-month extended stay on the ISS. The original nine-day test flight was delayed due to issues with Starliner's thrusters. A "technical disagreement" between NASA and Boeing led to the decision, with NASA prioritising safety and choosing SpaceX for the return mission. "Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Saturday. "We want to further understand the root causes and understand the design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will ...

An adventurer paddling solo across the Atlantic Ocean had an unexpected encounter with a massive pod of pilot whales, an experience that left him both exhilarated and alarmed. Tom Waddington, on his journey from Newfoundland to England, found himself surrounded by long-finned pilot whales after a morning drizzle on July 7, as he shared on Instagram. In a video, Waddington expressed his amazement: "This is so cool. A pod of whales is circling the boat and playing around it. I love it, but I'm worried they might hit my rudder. They're so close, see?" He continued, "I can hear them blowing bubbles. Wow, that is so cool. What a special treat. I've seen many whales before, but they're just here to say hello." The situation took a frightening turn when one of the whales bumped into his boat, causing him to drop the camera and pause filming briefly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Waddington (...

A man who claims that he has never been to Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district in his car, has been slapped with a fine of Rs 1,000 by Noida police for driving the vehicle without a helmet.  Tushar Saxena initially received a text message informing him about the fine but he ignored it, thinking it to be a mistake. However, things became serious when this was followed by an email and another message. The car owner - who lives in Rampur district, some 200 km from Noida - contacted the traffic police and was told that he was fined for driving his four-wheeler vehicle without a helmet.  Police told him that if he fails to pay the amount then he will have to appear in court. "The challan was issued on November 9, 2023. If you are violating traffic rules, then it is common to receive a fine but that is not my case. I have never driven my car to the NCR area. And if there's any rule that says we have to wear a helmet inside a car, then the authorities must give this...

The Haryana unit of the ruling BJP has written to the Election Commission requesting a brief postponement of the assembly poll slated for October 1, citing holidays before and after the election date that could lead to a lower voter turnout. While the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the BJP, claiming that the ruling party was panicking as it could sense defeat, Abhay Chautala's INLD too sought the deferment of polls. A Haryana BJP leader on Saturday said the letter was sent by the party's state unit chief Mohan Lal Badoli to the poll panel. Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed that the commission received a copy of the communication on Friday over email. "We have received the communication from state BJP and forwarded it to the Election Commission," Agarwal told PTI. Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP's state election management committee, said, "We have reasoned that the Assembly election date of Octob...

NASA today picked Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring back Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from space next year. Eighty days ago, the two astronauts arrived at the International Space Station aboard Boeing's Starliner for an 8-day mission. They were forced to extend their stay because of major technical issues with the Boeing capsule. The astronauts are expected to return in February next year, after spending a total of eight months in orbit, on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft due to launch next month as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission. NASA chief Bill Nelson said Starliner's propulsion system is too risky to carry its first crew home. Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew and attempt to return to Earth as it would have with astronauts aboard. The space agency's decision to pick Boeing's top space rival marked a fresh setback to the Starliner test mission. Boeing had hoped the mission would redeem the troubled program after years of development...

China's 'Made in China' products have already established a firm foothold in the international market, surpassing the expansion of any other nation in history. Manufacturers all over the world are under tremendous pressure due to the flood of cheaper Chinese goods. China is now focussing more on exporting in an effort to take the lead in the world's manufacturing sector. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal,  Chinese President Xi Jinping has increased his focus on the manufacturing sector, with a high percentage of production going to export, in response to the slow economic development that his government is facing in recent past. China is once again ramping up its massive export machinery, giving rivals little opportunity to survive in the market. The impact of China's manufacturing dominance is evident in various sectors. For instance, a Massachusetts startup called CubicPV betting on silicon wafers, a high-tech component in solar panels. Buoyed by ...

"Following the visit, we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade, and continued military-technical cooperation," said the Ukrainian President, whose country is at war with Russia. PM Modi's office in the joint India-Ukraine statement said both leaders reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. "They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard," the joint statement said. PM Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning on a special train on the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian Prime Minister after the former Russian state became independent in 1991. In his talks with Mr Zelenskyy that took place under the shadow of the conflict, PM Modi said India is ever ready to play an "active role" in every effort to restore pea...

India's double Olympic medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to compete at the Diamond League meet in Lausanne. Battling from a groin injury, Neeraj claimed a silver at the recently-concluded Paris Olympics 2024. He had won a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. In just two weeks after his glory at the Paris Games, Neeraj will be seen in action again. He will be competing at the big meet in Lausanne that will have the likes of Anderson Peters and Jakub Vadlejch. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who bagged a gold medal in Paris Olympics, would not be a part of this meet. Neeraj needs to finish in the top-six of the Diamond League Meetings series to qualify for the season finale that is set to take place in Brussels. When will Neeraj Chopra's Men's Javelin Throw Event at Lausanne Diamond League take place? Neeraj Chopra's Men's Javelin Throw Event at Lausanne Diamond League will take place on Friday, August 23 (IST). Where will Neeraj Chopra's...

Bangladesh's interim government revoked the diplomatic passport of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina on Thursday, after she fled a student-led uprising by helicopter to India earlier this month. The move to cancel Sheikh Hasina's documents leaves the former autocratic leader in potential limbo, and comes on the same day that a United Nations team arrived in Dhaka to assess whether to investigate alleged human rights violations. More than 450 people were killed -- many by police fire -- during the weeks leading up to Sheikh Hasina's ouster, as crowds stormed her official residence in Dhaka and ended her iron-fisted 15-year rule. The interior ministry said in a statement that Sheikh Hasina's passport and those belonging to former government ministers and ex-lawmakers no longer in their posts "have to be revoked". It also poses a diplomatic dilemma for Sheikh Hasina's current host, regional powerhouse India. 'Disproportionate force' Post the revolt a...

Former Indian head coach and skipper Rahul Dravid opened up on Australian batter Travis Head 's counter-attacking knock against Men in Blue in the ICC Cricket World Cup final last year, which shattered the country's dreams of lifting the trophy at home. Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Awards on Wednesday, Dravid said that the Indian bowlers managed to beat Travis's bat around 15 times, but he did not touch a single ball, highlighting that sometimes, one just needs a bit of luck even though cricket is largely a skill-based game. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dravid said, "I remember whatever it was, we beat Travis Head's bat 15 times -- he did not touch a single ball. You know, things can go your way sometimes, but you have to stick to the process. I have had time to reflect on it. I have had time to reflect on a lot of things we have done. You do realise, sometimes, you have to do a lot of these things, you have to do the process, you have to do everything right,...

Actor-cum-politician Suresh Gopi said on Wednesday that if he is removed as Union Minister of State for acting in films while holding his ministerial post, he would consider himself "saved". Mr Gopi also said that he has requested permission to commence shooting for the film 'Ottakomban', but has not received it yet. "But I will start shooting for it on September 6," he said. The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism said that there were 20-22 films he really wished to do after hearing the script, and has agreed to act in them. When he sought permission from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to act in the films, he was asked how many. "I said around 22. On hearing that, Amit Shah set aside my request letter. But he said permission will be given. Anyways, I will be here on September 6," Mr Gopi said while speaking at an event held here by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. He said that he will bring three or four officia...

This is not an era of war, reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian community in Poland, two days before his much-anticipated visit to Ukraine where he has pledged to campaign for a peaceful resolution of Russia's invasion. "India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear - this isn't an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues," PM Modi said. PM Modi, 73, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to make a Ukraine trip and is the first in 45 years to travel to Poland - Kyiv's close ally and a key transit for foreign leaders heading to its war-torn neighbour. PM Modi, who will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 23, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict. His visit to Kyiv comes ...

A superyacht which belonged to the family of UK businessman Mike Lynch sank off Italian island Sicily yesterday. Six people including Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and their wives, have been missing since the yacht sank. Mike Lynch was hosting his friends and family on the 56-metre luxury yacht called "Bayesian" to celebrate his win in a big US fraud case when the tragedy happened, according to news agency AFP. A total of 22 people were aboard the boat. Mike Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is among the fifteen people who were rescued before the yacht sank. Here are 5 facts about UK tycoon Mike Lynch:  Mike Lynch was born in 1965 and was raised in Chelmsford town near London. His mother was a nurse and father was a fireman.  Mike Lynch went to Cambridge University where he studied physics, mathematics and biochemistry. He then went on to research signal processing for hi...

Reliance Jio is making it easier for its subscribers to watch TV on multiple devices, with the launch of the JioTV+ app on Android , Apple and other TVs powered by Amazon's Fire OS. The app was previously accessible exclusively via the Jio set-top box (STB) that came bundled with the Jio Fiber and Jio Air Fiber connections. The telecom operator has now announced that subscribers can now watch over 800 digital TV channels across multiple languages and genres via a single login using the JioTV+ app. JioTV+ App Now Available on Android TV, Apple TV and Amazon Fire OS In a press release, Reliance Jio announced that its JioTV+ streaming app is available on all leading smart TV platforms. It features a single login for over-the-top (OTT) apps, modern guides, smart remote compatibility, and personalised recommendations. Users can also browse through content using language and category filters. JioTV+ user interface Photo Credit: Jio The JioTV+ app offers access to 800 digital TV ch...

The much-awaited Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry has recorded explosive accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of female professionals, and has alleged that a "criminal gang" was controlling the industry where unyielding women are squeezed out. The panel report also alleged there was a "power nexus" consisting of a handful of producers, directors, actors and production controllers. The Kerala government constituted the panel after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema. The report released on Monday sheds light on the widespread and persistent sexual harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry, with many alleging they were subjected to unwanted advances even before commencing work. The women actors who are ready to compromise are given code names, and those who are not ready to yie...

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his claim that the government was trying to bypass the reservation system through lateral entry, reminding the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was made the finance secretary in 1976 through the lateral entry route. The minister also dismissed as "baseless" Rahul Gandhi's allegation that RSS people will be hired as public servants through this mode and pointed out that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made the system of lateral entry methodical by giving the mandate to UPSC for framing rules. Earlier, he pointed out, there was no formal system in place for such entry into governance. "Whatever appointments or recruitments or selections are to be done, UPSC will do it. Where is the issue of BJP, RSS in this? Baseless allegations are being made," Arjun Meghwal told PTI Videos in Bikaner. He said that RSS is an organisation that promotes cultura...