February 2, 2026

Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Hike Hits Indian Tech Workers Hard, Shakes US-India Relations

Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee shocks Indian tech professionals and firms. This policy strains India-US ties and disrupts careers, travel, and global innovation.

February 2, 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Presents Union Budget 2026 on Weekend for First Time

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the historic Union Budget 2026 on February 1, the first weekend budget. An 85-minute speech was brilliantly summarized through witty cartoons by Soumyadip Sinha, making complex policies easy to understand for everyday Indians.

February 2, 2026

UAE Weather Feb 2: Morning Fog, Pleasant Heat, Chance of Light Rain

UAE experiences foggy mornings, warm days up to 27°C, and a chance of light rain on February 2, 2026. Coastal winds stay moderate with calm seas, offering good outdoor conditions.

February 2, 2026

Dubai to Launch Joby S4 Electric Air Taxis With Vertiports by 2026

Dubai is set to launch Joby S4 electric air taxis in 2026. New vertiports will connect key city hubs. Travel time from the airport to Palm Jumeirah will drop to 10-12 minutes.

February 2, 2026

Giant Rat Leads Balloon Parade to Launch Venice Carnival 2026

Venice Carnival 2026 began with a floating parade led by a huge paper-mâché rat called “Pantegana.” This colorful two-week festival lights up the city with music, dancers, and boats riding its famous canals.

February 2, 2026

Saudi Arabia Suspends 1,800 Foreign Umrah Travel Agencies for Poor Service

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj suspends contracts of 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies due to service and compliance failures. Pilgrims with valid visas remain unaffected. Agencies have 10 days to comply or face further action.

February 2, 2026

India’s Deadly Snakebite Crisis Claims 50,000 Lives Annually Amid Antivenom Shortage

India loses around 50,000 people each year to snakebites, half of the global toll. Poor rural healthcare and lack of antivenom worsen the crisis, experts warn. A new government plan aims to cut deaths by half by 2030.

February 2, 2026

Delhi Govt Delays 2025 Act Fee Rules for Private Schools to Next Academic Year

Delhi government will not enforce the 2025 Act regulating private school fees from the 2025-26 academic year. The Supreme Court welcomed this delay, calling early enforcement 'rushed'. The High Court will now hear legal challenges.

February 2, 2026

US Shifts Gear to Engage West African Juntas Amid Russia’s Growing Grip

The US is changing its approach to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, backing their military governments despite coups. Washington aims to counter Islamist insurgents and balance growing Russian influence by working closely on security and economic ties.

February 2, 2026

Photographer Lalo de Almeida Captures Devastating Pantanal Fires and Wildlife Crisis

Brazil’s Pantanal wildfire crisis repeats with fierce intensity. Photographer Lalo de Almeida returns to document the burning forests, dead animals, and heroic firefighters risking lives amid suffocating smoke and fire.