Author: Rahul M

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) As US President Donald Trump tightens H-1B visa rules and introduces a $100,000 annual fee, the Congress on Saturday criticised the move, stating that it is not a new development and blamed the Centre’s policies for the worsening relationship between the two countries. Speaking to IANS, Congress MP Manoj Kumar said, “This is not new. They have already imposed tariffs. Now, Trump is doing this. The whole of India knows what Trump is doing, what his desires are, and what actions he is taking. “On one hand, you say our Prime Minister is great and…

A violent Muslim stormed into the B Division police station in Godhra town of the Panchmahal district in Gujarat on Thursday (18th September) and pelted stones on police police personnel. The police had to use lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the mob. Several police personnel were injured in the stone pelting. As per reports, the incident occurred after the police brought a Muslim social media influencer to the police station to counsel him. The Muslim influencer used to post provocative reels on social media, some of which went viral. The police cautioned him against posting religiously sensitive content as…

Philippines posts $359 million BOP surplus in August Manila, Sep 20 (IANS) The Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP), which accounts for the transactions of the country with the rest of the world, registered a surplus of 359 million US dollars in August 2025, higher than the 88 million dollars recorded in August 2024, the Philippine central bank said. In a statement issued Friday night (local time), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the surplus reflected income from its investments abroad and helped narrow the year-to-date deficit to 5.4 billion dollars from 5.8 billion in January-July. The deficit was mainly…

Venezuela calls on UN to stop US military moves in Caribbean Caracas, Sep 20 (IANS) Venezuela has called on the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate halt to US military operations in the Caribbean. In a post on the social platform Telegram on Friday (local time), Foreign Minister Yvan Gil shared a video of a related speech at the UN by Venezuela’s permanent representative Alexander Yanez, saying the appeal was made on behalf of President Nicolas Maduro. In the video, Yanez told the Security Council that his country has been the target of “systemic harassment” by Washington, including…

EU unveils tougher sanctions package against Russia under US pressure Brussels, Sep 20 (IANS) The European Commission has presented its 19th package of sanctions against Russia for approval by the European Union (EU) member states, following a one-week delay prompted by pressure from the United States for tougher measures. “We can confirm that the commission has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 19th package,” European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said at a press conference in Brussels on Friday (local time). The new package will target “Russian banks, crypto assets, and energy imports,” European Commission President Ursula…

Yashasvi Jaiswal has finally opened up after being excluded from India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Although the youngster found a place in the reserve list, many felt he deserved a spot in the main squad following his strong individual performances. Despite Rajasthan Royals enduring a poor IPL 2025 season where they finished second-last on the points table, Jaiswal was their standout performer. He emerged as the team’s brightest star and scored 559 runs in 14 matches, finishing as the seventh-highest run-getter of the tournament. His consistency with the bat was one of the rare positives for the…

Deepika Padukone confirms her role alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the upcoming film ‘King’, marking their sixth collaboration, after stepping away from ‘Kalki 2989 AD’ sequel.Actress Deepika Padukone confirmed her participation in Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film ‘King’, sharing an emotional post on social media. She reflected on her long-standing collaboration with SRK, recalling the lesson he taught her 18 years ago during Om Shanti Om: that the experience of making a movie and the people involved matter more than its success. This marks their sixth film together.Also Read:Yash wraps Mumbai schedule of ‘Toxic’; Bengaluru shoot to begin soonThe announcement…

During the recent Monsoon Session of Parliament, President’s Rule in Manipur was extended for another six months. An analysis shows that since Independence, President’s Rule has been invoked 135 times, starting with 1953, and that after its revocation, the party in power before its imposition was dethroned 87 times. Of these, 69 times followed fresh elections. In other words, nearly two-third of the time, a new party came to power after revocation of President’s Rule. Punjab (including when parts of it were known as the Patiala and East Punjab States Union or PEPSU) has seen the most instances of the…

The festive spirit of Karnataka’s renowned Nadahabba Dasara has brought cheer to schoolchildren, as the Education Department has announced the commencement of Dasara holidays from September 20. The order, issued by the state government, applies to all government schools, marking the start of an extended festive break.Also read: NewsFirst turns 5: Celebrating fearless, unbiased journalism that echoes people’s voiceThis decision is aimed at allowing children to experience the cultural grandeur and heritage of the world-famous Mysore Dasara Mahotsav. The annual celebrations, deeply rooted in Karnataka’s tradition, will formally begin with the inauguration of the festival at the Chamundeshwari Temple on…

In collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation, Karnataka govt introduces the Deepika Student Scholarship to financially empower girl students pursuing higher education from 2025–26.The Karnataka government, in collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation, launched the Deepika Student Scholarship to empower girl students pursuing higher education. The programme offers Rs 30,000 per year to female students who have completed PU from government colleges and enrolled in general degree, professional degree, or diploma courses.Also Read:Balagere–Panathur stretch becomes nightmare: Three school buses stuck in a week, parents outragedThe scholarship, set to benefit over 37,000 girls starting from the 2025–26 academic year, aims to eliminate financial…