Sandy Spring Friends School, a long-standing independent Quaker institution in Montgomery County, Maryland, announced on Monday that it will permanently close at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The school’s leadership, including Board of Trustees members and top administrators, shared the difficult news in a letter addressed to families, faculty, students, and the local community. In the letter, school officials cited an unsustainable financial situation as the drivi

A growing number of parents are expressing outrage and concern over reports that some child care centers have been giving melatonin supplements to children without parental consent. This controversial practice has come to light in Maine, where multiple families claim their children were administered melatonin at a Falmouth day care center, Apple Blossom Childcare, sparking state investigations and public alarm. Laura Putnam, a mother of two, said she trusted Apple Blossom Childcar

A former California police officer, Ashley Cummins, has been awarded $10 million in damages after a San Diego jury ruled in her favor in a workplace harassment and discrimination lawsuit. Cummins, who served with the National City Police Department (NCPD), alleged that she endured a hostile work environment, systematic discrimination, and repeated harassment based on her gender and sexual orientation. The case, filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, highlighted allegatio

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is at the center of a major political storm as it is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today amid mounting opposition from the INDIA bloc. The bill, intended to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, is being promoted by the government as a long-overdue reform aimed at improving the administration and efficiency of waqf property management. However, critics argue that several of its provisions threaten the very autonomy of Muslim religious endowments, making it a dee

In 2014, former U.S. Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia were asked whether undocumented immigrants are entitled to the rights outlined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedoms such as religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Both justices agreed that these rights apply to anyone present in the United States, regardless of their immigration status. Ginsburg explained that the Constitution does not limit its protections to cit

Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of billionaire philanthropists Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, has ventured into the podcasting world with her new show titled The Burnouts. The podcast, launched on April 1, is co-hosted by Gates and her former Stanford University roommate, Sophia Kianni, who has made a name for herself in the business world as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. In The Burnouts, the two young women aim to provide business advi

This month, a University of Minnesota graduate student was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking significant concern and protests among students and faculty. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the student's involvement in campus protests, federal officials confirmed that the detention was related to a prior criminal history, specifically a DUI arrest, and the subsequent revocation of the student's visa by the U.S. Department of State. The Department of Ho

Bank of America has issued essential guidelines for customers to help them avoid their accounts being labeled as abandoned property. Accounts that show signs of inactivity for extended periods, often more than three years, are at risk of being classified as abandoned and subsequently turned over to the state. This process is called escheatment, and it can result in the loss of access to your funds if not managed properly. However, the bank provides several proactive steps for customers to kee

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has launched a political offensive against the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, calling it a direct assault on federalism. In an unprecedented move, he has written letters to the chief ministers of all South Indian states, along with West Bengal, Odisha, and Punjab, urging them to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to oppose the move. A Nationwide Political Outreach The letter marks a major political

The ongoing debate over Hindi imposition and Tamil language rights has once again fueled a major political clash between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and BJP state president K Annamalai. The two leaders engaged in a heated exchange on X, where Stalin accused the BJP of prioritizing Hindi and Sanskrit over Tamil, while Annamalai defended the Modi government’s commitment to Tamil culture.Stalin strongly criticized the central government’s language policies, urging the BJP to

A federal judge in Maryland has issued an injunction against immigration enforcement in houses of worship, marking a significant legal victory for religious groups challenging the Trump administration’s revised deportation policy.The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chang, temporarily halts immigration operations targeting Quaker congregations, Baptist churches, and a Sikh temple, following a lawsuit that argues the policy change violates religious freedom.  

The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark ruling on February 17, 2025, stating that an employee’s gratuity can be forfeited on the grounds of moral turpitude, even in the absence of a criminal conviction. This ruling expands the interpretation of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, allowing employers to withhold gratuity from employees dismissed for unethical or fraudulent actions.Previously, in a 2018 Supreme Court ruling in the Union of India vs. Ajay Babu case, the court had st

 Amitabh Bachchan’s Apartment Sale in Oshiwara Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has recently sold his luxurious apartment in Oshiwara, Mumbai, for Rs 83 crore. The property is part of The Atlantis, a premium residential project located in the bustling Oshiwara area, known for its vibrant lifestyle and strategic location in western Mumbai. Pr

The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the significant increase in executions in Iran, with reports indicating at least 901 people were executed in 2024, including a particularly high number in December. UN rights chief Volker Turk called the situation "deeply disturbing" and urged Iran to take action to end the rising tide of executions. Iran remains one of the leading countries in carrying out the death penalty, following only China, where reliable figures a

India has officially declared 2025 as the "Year of Defence Reforms" with the goal of modernizing its military and enhancing synergy between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlined a nine-point reform plan that includes the creation of integrated theatre commands to improve collaboration and resource utilization among the three services. These reforms will ensure a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of operating across multiple domains

In a significant change to school education, the Centre has scrapped the 'no-detention policy' for classes 5 and 8 in schools under its control. This means that students who fail the year-end exams will no longer automatically be promoted. Instead, they will have the chance to retake the exam after additional coaching within two months of the results. If they still fail, they will be held back in the same grade. This move follows amendments to the Right to Education Act (RTE

The property dispute between YS Sharmila and her brother, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, has escalated into a major public conflict. During a press conference, Sharmila revealed that Jagan's group is willing to give her her rightful share of the family assets, but only if she agrees to stay silent and stop speaking against his leadership and political actions. Despite the offer, Sharmila made it clear that she is no longer interested in the property, as her primary goal

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has raised concerns over the whereabouts of seven social media activists affiliated with the YSR Congress party who were reportedly arrested by the police for posting abusive messages against political rivals. The court admitted arguments on six habeas corpus petitions filed by the activists' family members and requested CCTV footage from the relevant police stations to determine the activists' status between November 4 and November 7. The state

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India addressed the State's power to requisition private property for public welfare under Articles 31C and 39B of the Constitution. In an 8-1 majority decision led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the court ruled that while privately owned property can theoretically qualify as community resources under Article 39B, not all private property falls under this category.The bench outlined specific factors to consider when determining if a resource

In the upcoming US presidential election, the issue of abortion rights is emerging as a significant factor that is influencing Indian American women's voting preferences. This demographic group, part of the second-largest immigrant community in the United States, is showing a strong inclination towards supporting candidates who advocate for reproductive rights. Meeta Damani, an Indian American documentary filmmaker in New Jersey, emphasizes the interconnected nature of reproductive rights