Indian-Americans have achieved significant victories in state legislative races across the US midterm elections, with several individuals securing key positions and making history in various states like Michigan, Arizona, Illinois, and Texas, further solidifying their growing political influence.
A survey by Indian American Impact reveals that 25% of South Asian Americans who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election plan to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Key issues driving voters include cost of living, healthcare, jobs, and education, with discrimination also a significant concern. The survey highlights the potential influence of this demographic in closely contested states like Michigan and Texas.
Democrats are projected to reclaim control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, paving the way for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to potentially become the first African American Speaker of the House, marking a historic political transformation in the United States.
American singer Mary Millben has become a prominent figure in Indian political discourse due to her outspoken support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using social media to defend him against critics and appeal to young Indians, despite her musical career being less known in the country.
US missions across West Asia have issued a security alert advising American nationals to "exercise heightened vigilance" due to Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the potential for Iran and its allies to target US interests. The advisory warns of potential travel disruptions and escalating hostilities, linking the Houthi actions to Iran's regional network and the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
United States special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in St. Petersburg. The aim of the meeting was to advance proposals to end the war in Ukraine and establish a pathway towards broader negotiations.
Trump seems to have made up his mind that a pliant Pakistan will be more useful than India. We cannot expect a change in Trump's policy towards India in his post midterm poll tenure as America's president, observes Ambassador T N Sreenivasan.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is reportedly planning to expand to 12 teams from 2028, with preliminary talks underway with private equity firms for new franchises in cities like Pune and Vadodara. This expansion comes amidst high interest and record media rights deals, with new teams potentially valued at over $1 billion.
The United States has evacuated American aircraft from an air base in the UK following a threat from Iran, according to people familiar with the matter, raising fresh concerns over the security of US military assets amid the ongoing conflict.
Iran's powerful secretary of the supreme national security council Major General Mohsen Rezaei has issued a warning to the US after Donald Trump indicated that the war is unlikely to resume.
US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday announced that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has taken effect beyond Oleshky two days ahead of schedule, with the move aimed at protecting civilians and facilitating the delivery of critical humanitarian aid to the conflict-affected area.
Far-right activists, led by Jake Lang, stormed Diwali celebrations in Seattle, displaying racist placards and sparking widespread condemnation from US lawmakers and community leaders.
US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will end approximately $4 billion in annual assistance to Israel by the end of this year, saying that the country no longer requires American financial support, while Israel's Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan, belonging to the Anti-Netanyahu bloc, criticised the proposed move, calling it a severe blow to the country's security.
President Donald Trump says he was joking when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could become White House press secretary. His social media post had also proposed bringing UFC fighters on board as assistants to help defend his administration against the political left.
The US midterm elections saw the Democratic Party gain control of Congress and key gubernatorial posts, leading international affairs experts to view the outcome as a referendum on President Donald Trump's policies. Analysts suggest the results signal a desire for change in his behaviour and could prompt a more pragmatic approach in his remaining term, with potential implications for global politics and India-US relations.
Following the midterm elections, attention is already turning to the 2028 US presidential polls. Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna is seeing early support for a potential bid, with allies launching a group to build momentum. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed reports of his own presidential aspirations, affirming his commitment to the current administration.
Following a challenging midterm election night, former US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Republican candidates and media outlets for the party's political reversals. His reactions, shared on Truth Social, ranged from balanced observations to angry outbursts, including accusations against Fox News and Texas Governor Gregg Abbott. Trump initially blamed candidates despite his extensive campaigning, then suggested he would become a political pundit, and later indicated a willingness to work with Democrats despite earlier hints of using executive orders.
Social media erupted with memes and witty one-liners featuring Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following Donald Trump's Republican Party's significant losses in the US mid-term polls. These memes humorously suggested Kumar's intervention could have prevented Trump's defeat, drawing parallels to an ongoing "vote chori" controversy in India. The widespread losses for Trump's party were attributed to public anger over his policies.
Democrats are projected to gain control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a significant shift in the balance of power and delivering major victories in traditionally Republican states like Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.
The United States has reportedly conducted a clandestine military operation targeting Iran's Qeshm Island, part of a series of limited attacks against Tehran. This strike occurred on Monday, shortly after US President Donald Trump suggested a deal with Iran was possible, despite ongoing military actions. US officials indicate these strikes are kept minimal and secret to avoid escalating to a wider military campaign. The incident follows previous US actions and Iran's report of capturing a US drone.
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his administration's hardline immigration policies may have contributed to the Republican Party's setbacks in the November 3 midterm elections, admitting that the deportation drive targeting undocumented immigrants, including those with long-established jobs and lives in the country, may have been "too tough".
Bollywood actor Imran Khan, an American citizen holding an OCI card, has been issued a 'Leave India' notice by Mumbai Police for participating in a protest, sparking debate over OCI cardholder rights and political expression.
US President Donald Trump has publicly defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, calling him a 'very high-quality person' amidst allegations of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy and an ongoing FBI probe. Trump stated that Huang denied any knowledge of the woman's alleged ties to Chinese intelligence, and the President believes him.
Dhinidhi Desinghu, a 16-year-old swimming prodigy, aims to revolutionise Indian swimming by bridging the significant gap with leading nations. She emphasises preparation, technique, and mental belief over genetic ability, drawing insights from her international competitions. Desinghu, who has already competed at the Asian Games and Paris Olympics, is focused on rigorous training, academic balance, and inspiring future generations to achieve global swimming success.
Vance was sceptical about the war against Iran and was the only figure in Trump's circle who refused to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu's bid for re-election as prime minister, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kick-started a three-day visit to India on Tuesday to advance bilateral ties in energy, trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, and exchange views on the West Asia crisis.
American tennis star Coco Gauff has revealed she received an "insane" amount of racial abuse on social media following her controversial win over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran at the China Open, where a replayed point sparked an online backlash.
The UN Human Rights office has condemned the online racist abuse directed at American tennis player Coco Gauff following a replayed point at the China Open. Gauff revealed she received significant racist messages, prompting the WTA to offer support and monitor the abuse. The UN called for unity against racial and sexist abuse in sports.
US President Donald Trump stated that the US still needs to address "one or two targets" in Iran, specifically mentioning a site like Pickaxe Mountain, claiming it could be done in 10 minutes. This comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of an "unrestricted" response to any US or Israeli missteps. Despite the tough talk, diplomatic channels remain open, with both sides acknowledging ongoing talks, though Trump expressed skepticism about Iran's reliability in negotiations.
'We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And a tremendous friend and man. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.'
Rajasthan Police arrested Wasim Hussain in Gurugram for his alleged role in a cyber fraud case. A Jaipur resident was swindled out of Rs 22 lakh after fraudsters, posing as an American citizen, promised a job abroad for his son and demanded various clearance fees. Hussain allegedly provided mule bank accounts used to receive part of the defrauded amount.
US Vice President J D Vance has labelled the H-1B visa programme as "completely broken" and expressed support for its total abolition. He argues that corporations exploit the system to replace American workers with cheaper international staff, rather than bringing in elite talent. Vance also defended the controversial $100,000 levy on certain H-1B petitions, viewing it as a deterrent against cost-cutting exploitation.
Modi's cautious response, omitting the public invite from his telephonic conversation summary, suggests India's reluctance to be drawn into Israel's internal politics, points out M R Narayan Swamy.
Former US President Donald Trump revealed he considered renaming the Atlantic Ocean but was dissuaded by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who warned of international repercussions. Trump also mentioned renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake of America" and toyed with renaming rivers, while recently advocating for New Mexico to be renamed.
Social media sensation Niharika NM is poised to make a Bollywood debut in Bhai Tera Star Hai alongside Raghav Juyal.
A 19-year-old alleged white supremacist, Alexandros Paporakis, was arrested in Aurora, Illinois, for plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple. Authorities found a manifesto detailing plans to kill Indians and other minorities, along with firearms and ammunition. Paporakis faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons.
Actor Imran Khan, an American citizen, has been served a notice by Mumbai Police directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating immigration laws. This comes after his participation in recent political protests. His lawyer plans to challenge the decision in the Bombay High Court.
Eutelsat OneWeb, a satellite communications company, is awaiting approvals from the Indian central government to launch its services, as confirmed by Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Enterprises, the largest shareholder in the Eutelsat group.
Katie Zacharia has been relieved of her duties as White House Press Secretary after just five days, following a rocky debut and questions over her legal credentials.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised unnamed foreign leaders, including Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, for making "stupid comments" and exploiting recent domestic unrest in France for their own political campaigns. Speaking in Doha, Macron condemned the use of misinformation and AI-generated content to misrepresent the situation, asserting there was no foreign interference in the events but manipulation of information afterwards. He specifically called out Trump's claims about France being "under siege" and Netanyahu's assertion of an "invasion of extremist Islam."
