Indian Students Abroad 2026: What the Latest Official NITI Aayog Data Shows

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Sridhar P

India has emerged as one of the world’s largest sources of international students, with more than 1.8 million Indians studying overseas by 2025, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. Yet the headline figure conceals a critical distinction: the number of students living and studying abroad at a given time is not the same as the number leaving India in a particular year.

The distinction matters for families weighing overseas education, universities assessing demand and policymakers examining the financial implications of international student mobility.

The Economic Survey says the number of Indians studying overseas increased from 685,000 in 2016 to more than 1.8 million by 2025. It also notes that, in 2024, 28 Indian students went abroad for every international student who came to India.

The figures underline India’s growing role in the global education market. They also raise questions about affordability, the capacity of Indian institutions to attract foreign students and the employment opportunities that overseas qualifications ultimately deliver.

More Than 1.8 Million Students Abroad, but the Measures Differ

India’s Ministry of External Affairs publishes country-level information on Indian students overseas. Its dataset dated January 1, 2025, separates students enrolled in schools from those attending universities and other tertiary institutions.

That distinction is important because overseas Indian students are not exclusively postgraduate students or aspiring technology professionals. The population includes schoolchildren, undergraduate students, postgraduate candidates and others pursuing formal education.

A separate NITI Aayog study, Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: A Temporal Overview, provides a historical series of outbound student numbers and destination-country estimates.

According to the study, 1,335,878 Indian students went abroad in 2024, compared with 1,318,955 in 2023. The figure was substantially higher than the 684,823 recorded in 2016.

The series shows that international student mobility has grown considerably over the longer term, but not in a straight line. The number fell in 2018, remained relatively subdued around the pandemic period and then increased sharply as international travel and education resumed.

The NITI Aayog report records 1,158,702 students going abroad in 2021, followed by 907,404 in 2022. It subsequently rose to more than 1.3 million in each of 2023 and 2024.

These numbers should not be confused with the estimated stock of more than 1.8 million Indians studying overseas by 2025. The two measures cover different concepts and periods.

Canada, the US and UK Remain Major Destinations

The distribution of Indian students across destinations has changed considerably over the past decade.

NITI Aayog’s study identifies Canada as the largest destination for Indian students in its 2024 series, with approximately 427,000 students. The United States followed with 337,630, while the UK had 185,000. Australia accounted for 122,202 and Germany for 42,997.

In 2016, the United States was the leading destination in the same series, with 423,863 Indian students, while Canada had 94,240. The comparison points to a major change in the geography of Indian student mobility.

The UK also recorded a substantial increase, from 16,559 Indian students in 2016 to 185,000 in 2024. Germany’s figure rose from 10,820 to 42,997 over the same period.

These historical figures offer useful context, but they should not be read as a current ranking for October 2026. The underlying series has a 2024 reference year, and newer administrative data may use different definitions or reporting dates.

The destination mix also reflects more than academic reputation. Tuition costs, living expenses, language requirements, access to employment after graduation and the possibility of remaining in the host country can influence student decisions.

Canada’s expansion, for example, coincided with a period in which its international education and immigration pathways attracted substantial demand. Subsequent changes to student permit policies mean that historical growth cannot automatically be extrapolated into the future.

Germany, meanwhile, has become a more prominent option for students considering public universities, comparatively moderate tuition at many institutions and routes into the European labour market. The trade-offs include housing availability, language proficiency and competition for suitable jobs.

The numbers establish the scale of these destinations, but they do not independently prove why students selected them. That requires additional research into admissions, household finances, course choices and immigration outcomes.

Overseas Education Has a Significant Financial Footprint

The Economic Survey 2025-26 says outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme category for studies abroad reached $3.4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.

A NITI Aayog report also cites estimates of overseas education expenditure that include academic fees, accommodation and living expenses. Its analysis of four major destinations, Canada, the United States, the UK and Australia, estimates combined spending of approximately $34 billion in 2023-24.

For households, the cost extends beyond tuition. Rent, food, transport, health insurance, travel, visa charges and currency movements can materially change the total amount required.

Students financing their education through loans face another consideration: repayment begins according to the loan agreement, not according to when a graduate finds a job or secures permission to remain abroad.

The foreign-exchange impact is also relevant to India, although it needs to be considered alongside the longer-term benefits of international education, including skills, research links, professional networks and potential business connections.

(Stay tuned for sequential coverage of Study Abroad).

Maxwell’s Demon Finds a Way to Use Hidden Information

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

For more than 150 years, the concept of Maxwell’s demon has challenged and shaped scientific understanding of the connection between information and energy. The hypothetical microscopic gatekeeper uses information about individual particles to generate work on a larger scale. Initially, the idea appeared to contradict a fundamental law of thermodynamics by suggesting that work could be extracted from a system in thermal equilibrium. Scientists have since resolved this paradox by establishing that information has thermodynamic value and can serve as a physical resource for generating work. This principle has driven growing interest in information engines, microscopic machines powered by information rather than temperature differences, unlike conventional heat engines.

To understand how Maxwell’s demon converts information into work, imagine a small door separating two compartments containing gas molecules. By tracking the movement of individual molecules, the demon opens the door selectively, allowing faster molecules to pass in one direction and slower ones in the opposite direction. As a result, one compartment gradually heats up while the other cools, creating a temperature difference that can power a machine and generate work. Crucially, the demon produces this imbalance not by supplying energy directly, but by using information about the movement of microscopic particles.

How Hidden Information Can Help Generate Work

In real-world conditions, however, the demon cannot access complete information. Even when dealing with a single particle, its position and velocity cannot be measured with absolute precision. Furthermore, microscopic machines are often expected to function in complex environments beyond simple liquids such as water, including polymer solutions, biological fluids and other structured materials. The internal molecular structures of these environments influence particle movement but remain inaccessible to the demon through direct observation. Consequently, some relevant information stays hidden, restricting the efficiency with which microscopic machines can generate work under these conditions.

In a combined experimental and theoretical study, physicists at the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen have now shown that such hidden information can be exploited as a valuable thermodynamic resource. In the experiments, a microscopic particle is confined by a tightly focused laser beam inside a complex liquid. Unlike a simple fluid, this medium forms a dynamic, spaghetti-like network of microscopic structures that continuously rearrange and interact with the particle.

As the particle moves, it deforms this network, which in turn exerts forces back on the particle and influences its later motion. While the particle itself can be tracked with high precision, the internal dynamics of the surrounding network cannot be observed directly. From the demon’s perspective, the environment is therefore only partially visible: some of the information relevant for optimal control remains concealed in the medium. Without access to this hidden information, the demon’s actions cannot be perfectly aligned with the state of the system, reducing the amount of work that can be extracted.

A Double-Measurement Strategy Unlocks Hidden Information

To partially recover this missing information, the researchers use a double-measurement strategy. Instead of relying on a single observation, they measure the particle position twice, separated by a controlled time delay. By comparing two measurements separated in time, the researchers obtain indirect information about the hidden state of the surrounding medium. In this way, the demon gains indirect access to otherwise hidden environmental dynamics, extending its knowledge beyond a single snapshot in time. By carefully tuning the delay between the two measurements, the researchers show that energy stored in the hidden dynamics of the environment can be harvested and converted into useful work. Under suitable conditions, exploiting this hidden information allows the demon to extract more work than would be possible from a single measurement.

The results demonstrate that information encoded in hidden environmental degrees of freedom can be partially recovered and exploited as a thermodynamic resource. By exploiting temporal correlations and environmental memory, it becomes possible to harness energy from degrees of freedom that remain inaccessible to direct observation. More broadly, the current study represents an important step toward cyclic microscopic information engines that, unlike conventional heat engines, can operate without requiring a temperature difference or other macroscopic energy gradient. This is particularly relevant at microscopic length scales, where maintaining stable thermal gradients becomes increasingly difficult. Instead, such engines would use information about microscopic fluctuations as a genuine thermodynamic resource.

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Microplastics Can Be Chemically Active and May Cause Biological Harm

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

Plastics are generally considered chemically stable, which is why they are widely used in food packaging, water bottles and children’s toys. Their perceived safety is largely based on this property.

However, when larger plastic objects break down into microplastics and nanoplastics, their surface area increases significantly in proportion to their volume. This exposes much more of the material to the surrounding environment.

A new study conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley, has found that these newly exposed surfaces may not be chemically harmless. The researchers also identified chemical mechanisms that could explain their potential to cause harm.

“As plastic fragments into smaller and smaller particles, its surface area increases enormously. Then microplastics change the water that surrounds them, generating high-energy, reactive radicals (reactive oxygen species, ROS) that very likely contribute to biological damage that we see in animals and potentially in humans as a result of microplastic exposure,” said Wei Min, a Columbia professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering.

The work challenges the common view of microplastics as largely passive fragments of inert material and contributes to a growing understanding of why their widespread presence is a cause for concern. The research was published in the journal Nature.

This is particularly noteworthy for human health because human blood is largely made up of water. The new research suggests that microplastics entering the bloodstream or cells could remain chemically active in this water-rich biological environment.

How Microplastics Interact with Water to Generate Reactive Oxygen Species

Min’s group at Columbia University also led a 2024 study that developed a laser-based microscope technology. The researchers found that, on average, a litre of bottled water contained around 240,000 detectable plastic fragments, mostly nanometre-sized plastics known as nanoplastics. This was 10 to 100 times more fragments than previously estimated.

That study contributed to growing recognition that microplastics and nanoplastics exist throughout the food system.

The group’s 2024 research on nanoplastics attracted widespread media attention, and tackling microplastic pollution has become a public health priority. This year, the US federal government launched a $144 million programme to combat toxic microplastics in the human body. The US Environmental Protection Agency has also added microplastics to a federal list of contaminants that may pose a concern for drinking water, marking the first time microplastics have appeared on the list.

Subsequent research in prominent journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine and Nature Health, has found links between microplastic and nanoplastic exposure and heart attack, stroke, dementia and brain tumours. However, given their presumed inertness, the mechanisms through which microplastics could contribute to these illnesses had remained unclear.

The new study identifies a previously overlooked mechanism that could help bridge this gap.

“Our research found that when microplastics interact with water, as they do when they’re in bottled water, or when they’re absorbed into our bloodstream, they spontaneously generate what we call reactive oxygen species (ROS),” said Naixin Qian, a postdoctoral researcher in Wei Min’s lab who helped lead the research. “ROS are textbook examples of the kinds of molecules that can damage animal and human tissue.”

Explaining the role of water in the process, Min said: “Water is a key active player here, rather than just a spectator. It’s integral to making these microplastics reactive. Water molecules become chemically active when they come into contact with plastic, which is hydrophobic. Contact between the water and plastic creates an environment that facilitates electron transfer, and the formation of reactive radicals. When plastics fragment into smaller particles, their increasing surface-to-volume ratio creates more of these chemically active areas.”

The Columbia team conducted the chemical and biological experiments, while collaborators in the laboratory of Professor Teresa Head-Gordon at the University of California, Berkeley, developed theoretical calculations and dynamical simulations to identify how microplastics interact with water.

Head-Gordon’s laboratory led the theoretical work showing that hydroxide ions promoted into the immediate water layers near the hydrophobic microplastic interface can more easily lose an electron, creating hydroxyl radicals.

“Our fundamental work that the most hydrophobic microplastics interacting with water can drive chemical reactivity could ultimately lead to new engineering solutions by redesigning the chemistry of these commodity plastics to reduce the toxic outcomes on health and the environment,” said Head-Gordon.

What the Findings Could Mean for Human Health and the Environment

The researchers say the findings have implications for both environmental and human health, particularly because microplastics can form in everyday settings and enter aquatic environments.

“This work has significant implications for environmental and human health,” said co-author Beizhan Yan of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. “In certain environments, such as discharges from plastic manufacturers and laundromats, microplastics can form and enter aquatic environments. This work also indicates that radicals can form on hydrophobic plastic surfaces in water, which could affect ecosystems and human health following exposure. In addition, various uses and processes in our daily lives can generate microplastics, including microwave heating, sunlight exposure of bottled water during storage. This foundational work provides a potential pathway for understanding their health impacts.”

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The Hidden Force Linking Cancer Growth and Immune Cell Fitness

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

Colorectal cancer has emerged as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among people under 50. Its most common forms are often difficult to treat, with limited success from conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and newer approaches like immunotherapy.

A new study from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), published in Nature Immunology, could eventually offer hope to people with colorectal cancer and other diseases that currently lack effective treatments. The findings indicate that a transcription factor, which typically supports cancer growth, could potentially be repurposed to help the immune system fight cancer.

In the fight against disease, doctors have long considered physical fitness a major factor influencing patient outcomes. However, for CSHL Assistant Professor Semir Beyaz, fitness extends beyond physical condition. “We hypothesized that the fitness determinants of cancer and our immune cells may not be so different,” he said. “They’re in the same universe. They’re constrained by the same chemical and physical rules. So, it’s not surprising they’d end up evolving the same way.”

How PPARD Could Turn Immune Cells Against Cancer

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARD) helps orchestrate fat burning inside human cells. To investigate this transcription factor’s role in health and disease, Beyaz’s lab first focused on a mouse model of colorectal cancer. The team found that while cancer cells have their own PPARD, activating PPARD on the immune side turns a pro-cancer tumour environment into an anti-cancer arena.

“It’s all about cell fitness,” Beyaz explains. “What cells eat affects who they are. When immune cells burn more fat, they become more fit for fighting cancer.”

But could these “leaner” immune cells kill diseased cells in human colorectal cancer? To find out, the lab activated PPARD in synthetic immune cells called CAR T cells. They then tested the PPARD-activated CAR T cells on organoids, miniature tumours grown from patient tissue samples. They also ran tests on human cancer cells in a dish and those implanted in mice.

In each case, Beyaz’s team found that PPARD-activated CAR T cells slow or stop tumour growth. Notably, CAR T cells are already used in some cancer immunotherapies.

Potential Applications Beyond Colorectal Cancer

The team initially focused on colorectal cancer because of how many young people die of it each year. However, they validated their results in other tumour types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma. Beyaz believes their findings are the “tip of the iceberg” in opening new inroads to make cancer immunotherapy more effective.

“Boosting immune cell fitness may also help with other conditions where the immune system fails to clear diseased cells,” Beyaz says. His lab is now applying this approach to endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting one in 10 women. Like colorectal cancer, it lacks effective treatment.

In a sense, Beyaz says, PPARD is not unlike “the force” from Star Wars. It can promote disease, like Darth Vader carrying out the will of the Emperor. Or, like Anakin Skywalker, it can see the light and kill the disease.

“It’s the classic fight between good and evil,” Beyaz says. “How can good ultimately prevail? Activating PPARD in immune cells could be the way.”

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Chicago Man Charged With Murder of Estranged Wife, Arrested at Airport

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

A 31-year-old Chicago man of Indian origin was arrested at O’Hare International Airport while attempting to leave the United States for India, hours after his estranged wife was found fatally stabbed in an apartment, according to police and prosecutors.

Ankur Patel faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of the 32-year-old woman, who was found in an apartment in Chicago’s Albany Park neighbourhood in August. Prosecutors allege that Patel had arranged for her to travel from Louisiana to Chicago by promising that she could see their five-year-old daughter.

According to the prosecution’s account, the child had already been sent to India to live with Patel’s parents. The woman, who had separated from Patel and begun a relationship with a former colleague, travelled to Chicago with her new partner believing she could collect their daughter.

The allegations were detailed in a court filing and presented by Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara. Patel’s charge has not been established as a conviction.

Prosecutors Allege Patel Arranged Meeting Before Fatal Stabbing

The couple separated in May, according to prosecutors. The woman subsequently began dating a former colleague who had worked with both of them.

After pressure from family members, she briefly returned to live with Patel in Wisconsin, but the reconciliation did not last. She moved out again, allowing their daughter to remain with him, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege that Patel later threatened to kill both his estranged wife and her new partner. He also stopped allowing the woman to speak with their daughter, according to the prosecution’s account.

About two weeks before the fatal encounter, Patel moved in with relatives in Chicago and sent the child to India without informing his estranged wife, prosecutors said.

On August 7, he contacted the woman, who had relocated to Louisiana with her partner, and invited her to Chicago to collect the child.

Investigators subsequently reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Patel buying a small folding knife before the encounter. Prosecutors said the footage captured him making stabbing and slicing motions with the weapon.

The following evening, Patel met his estranged wife at an apartment on North Avers Avenue, according to the prosecution’s account. Pekara said surveillance footage recorded an argument in which Patel expressed a desire to reconcile. Patel also allegedly recorded portions of the exchange on his phone.

Prosecutors allege that Patel later produced the knife and stabbed the woman in the neck. An autopsy found multiple defensive wounds, including a deep cut to her left arm, according to evidence described in court.

The woman’s partner was waiting outside the building and repeatedly messaged her. When she did not respond, he called 911.

Chicago police attempted to contact both Patel and the woman but could not reach them. Officers went to the building but left after the partner was unable to identify the apartment she had entered, according to the prosecution’s account.

The woman was discovered later that night after Patel failed to meet friends as planned. The friends went to the apartment looking for him and found her near a washing machine before calling emergency services.

Airport Arrest Followed Attempt to Leave for India

Prosecutors allege that Patel went to O’Hare International Airport after the stabbing and tried to purchase a ticket to India. The ticket counter was closed, preventing him from buying one that night.

He subsequently checked into a nearby hotel and allegedly disposed of the knife. Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from a Target store where Patel used his debit card to purchase new shoes and clothing, according to the prosecution’s account.

Patel returned to O’Hare the following day and bought a ticket to India. Federal authorities had already been alerted to the possibility that he would attempt to leave the country, prosecutors said. He was arrested at the airport before departing.

During questioning, Patel said he had not intended to kill his estranged wife but had “finished her” after she told him she would remain with her new partner and would not return to him, according to Pekara’s account of the interview.

Patel was charged with first-degree murder and ordered detained pending trial, according to local reporting.

The case remains a criminal prosecution. The allegations about the meeting, the stabbing and Patel’s subsequent movements are the prosecution’s account and should not be treated as findings of guilt.

Applications Open for 2027 SLAS Graduate Fellowship Grant Until November 9

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is inviting applications for its 2027 Graduate Education Fellowship Grant. The programme continues the organisation’s decade-long effort to support emerging scientists by funding innovative graduate-level research. It offers up to $100,000 over two years to graduate students conducting research in life sciences, including quantitative biosciences, drug discovery and laboratory technology.

Established in 2015, the fellowship supports SLAS’s mission to advance laboratory science and technology by giving graduate researchers the resources and flexibility to pursue meaningful scientific discoveries. As uncertainty surrounding future research funding continues to affect the scientific community, the programme remains a valuable source of financial support for early-career researchers.

Grant Funding and Eligibility Criteria

SLAS will award one fellowship to an eligible educational institution on behalf of a selected graduate student. The grant provides up to $50,000 annually for a maximum of two years. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate degree programme related to high-throughput screening, quantitative biosciences or drug discovery.

Applications are evaluated based on the quality and originality of the research, its relevance to laboratory automation and screening, and the institution’s ability to support the student’s work.

Past recipient Benjamin David of the University of Michigan highlighted the flexibility the fellowship provided throughout his research journey.

“As I progress through this project, if I find an interesting aspect of the research, I have the freedom to pause and explore that new area. That wouldn’t be possible with other types of grants tied to specific work.”

Application Deadline and Who Can Apply

Applications are due Monday, November 9, 2026.

Graduate students, faculty members and educational institutions are encouraged to share this opportunity and apply.

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Indian Engineers Face Greater H-1B Scrutiny Despite Chinese Talent Returns Home

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

An engineering manager at DoorDash has offered a personal account of how the composition of the technology workforce in the United States has changed over the past decade, arguing that Indian professionals have become more visible as some Chinese engineers have returned to China for senior positions.

Karthik Hariharan said that when he was hiring software engineers in San Francisco about 10 years ago, Indian and Chinese engineers were represented in roughly equal numbers among the H-1B workers he encountered. The balance has since shifted towards Indian professionals, he said, potentially making them more exposed to criticism from opponents of immigration.

Hariharan shared the observation amid growing scrutiny of employment-based immigration under US President Donald Trump, whose administration has intensified its focus on foreign-worker programmes and employer-sponsored green cards.

His comments, reported by The Times of India, offer an individual perspective on the changing workforce. They do not establish the relative numbers of Indian and Chinese H-1B workers across the United States, for which broader immigration data would be required.

Why Indian and Chinese Engineers Followed Different Paths

Hariharan attributed part of the change to differences in the career choices of the two groups.

He said several Chinese engineers he had hired had subsequently returned to China and progressed into senior leadership positions, including vice-president and chief technology officer roles in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

He suggested that language barriers in the United States may have influenced some of their decisions, while opportunities to advance professionally in China made returning home attractive.

By contrast, he said, many of the Indian engineers he had hired remained in the United States and progressed into senior engineering management and director-level positions.

That difference, in his assessment, has contributed to the greater visibility of Indian professionals in the American technology workforce.

However, the explanation remains anecdotal. Establishing whether language, domestic career opportunities, immigration constraints or other factors account for the different trajectories would require additional evidence from workers, employers and immigration statistics.

Hariharan also pushed back against attempts to explain differences in workplace performance through ethnicity.

Responding to a comment about the quality of Indian technology workers, he argued that similar patterns could be observed among engineers from Eastern Europe, Latin America and other parts of East Asia.

He said the more relevant factors were hiring standards and performance expectations, rather than ethnicity or culture. His response placed the emphasis on how companies recruit, assess and manage employees instead of treating national origin as a reliable indicator of professional ability.

US Green Card Restrictions Add to Immigration Uncertainty

The discussion comes as the Trump administration has tightened scrutiny of employment-based immigration.

On October 8, the US Department of Labor announced the suspension of new and pending Permanent Labor Certification, or PERM, applications involving eight technology and IT services companies: Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.

The administration cited alleged misuse of employment-based immigration programmes and concerns about protecting American workers. Those allegations should not be treated as established violations without supporting findings.

PERM is a key step in the process through which employers sponsor eligible foreign workers for many employment-based green cards. The suspension affects that route to permanent residency but does not, by itself, cancel existing H-1B visas.

The distinction is important for Indian technology professionals. An H-1B visa permits eligible foreign workers to take specified employment in the United States, while a green card provides permanent resident status. The two processes are related for some workers but are not interchangeable.

The restrictions could create additional uncertainty for employees whose permanent residency plans depend on employer-sponsored labour certification. The consequences for individual workers will depend on the status of their applications and any subsequent developments in the policy.

Infosys said in a statement filed with Indian stock exchanges on October 10 that it did not anticipate a material impact on the organisation from the suspension. The company also said it remained committed to working with US authorities and complying with applicable laws.

The wider debate over skilled immigration therefore involves several distinct questions: how employers recruit foreign professionals, whether immigration rules are being followed, how workers advance in their careers and how the United States balances its demand for technical expertise with domestic employment priorities.

Hariharan’s account adds a workforce perspective to that debate. It suggests that the visibility of Indian engineers may reflect not only recruitment patterns but also decisions about where professionals choose to build their careers. It does not, on its own, establish why the overall H-1B workforce has changed or demonstrate that Indian workers are being targeted because of their growing numbers.

Trailblazing Technique Uncovers Real Shape of Scorching-Hot Exoplanet Atmospheres

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

Until now, exoplanets with extremely hot atmospheres have been portrayed as having circular shapes. However, new research suggests that their atmospheres are not perfectly symmetrical spheres but instead have irregular, distorted contours.

The study, jointly led by Cornell University in the US and the University of Bristol in the UK, marks the first use of an innovative technique known as ‘transmission strings’. Developed at Bristol by astrophysicists Dr David Grant and Dr Hannah Wakeford, the method uses observations from JWST, the largest space telescope, to reveal the uneven outlines of an exoplanet’s atmosphere for the first time.

Published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the findings indicate that the atmosphere is broadly circular but asymmetrical, with one side extending farther than the other. These variations reveal how extreme temperatures and powerful winds shape the atmosphere of WASP-17b, a ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanet located approximately 1,300 light-years from Earth.

Lead author Dr Lili Alderson, a Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, embarked on the exoplanetary investigation at the University of Bristol, where she gained her doctoral degree in Physics.

Dr Alderson said: “This is proof of concept that planets are in fact 3D objects, and that consistently, as they go around their star, what we predict should be happening is happening. To move beyond computational exercises and see it for real is a different matter.”

The findings about WASP-17b’s atmospheric chemical composition and temperature shifts, from the equator to the poles and between permanent day and night sides, are consistent with theoretical predictions and other modelling techniques. Together, they create one of the most comprehensive 3D views of an exoplanet’s atmosphere and provide an important benchmark for comparison with the more than 6,000 other exoplanets confirmed to date.

Co-author Dr Hannah Wakeford, Associate Professor in Astrophysics at the University of Bristol, said: “Planets are temperamental, their atmospheres complex and chaotic. The fact that all of these numbers came together and showed us this very structured, dynamical picture of this giant world over 1,000 light-years away was just really exciting.”

How the Transmission Strings Technique Reveals Exoplanet Atmospheres

Previous research has used JWST’s game-changing sensitivity to pioneer a technique called eclipse mapping, which measures changes in light as an exoplanet swings behind its host star. The new ‘transmission strings’ method, also called transit mapping, tracks the planet as it crosses in front of the star, capturing the composition of light around the edge of the planet’s atmosphere, or limb, from different angles. By contrast, traditional modelling extracts a spectrum only as an average across the entire limb.

“Rather than assuming your atmosphere is a circle with the same radius all the way around, our technique allows you to pull out different distances from the centre to the edge of the planet,” Dr Alderson said. “We’re able to go around the edge. So, we’ve gone from a ring to understanding where on the ring the gemstones are, so to speak.”

The researchers revealed a “gem” where theory and previous modelling indicated one should be on WASP-17b, on the “evening” side of its equator. There, jets of wind transport heat from the planet’s permanently illuminated day side around towards the permanently shadowed night side, inflating the atmosphere relative to the equator’s cooler “morning” side. Transit mapping verified other characteristics of WASP-17b.

Dr Alderson added: “Theory predicts that the morning and the evening sides should have a strong temperature difference, and WASP-17b fits really nicely in that trend – pretty much bang-on what we thought it would be.”

New Research Opens the Way to Mapping Weather Patterns on Distant Planets

This successful demonstration of transmission strings on WASP-17b paves the way for mapping many more candidates. The process is starting to differentiate conditions across exoplanet latitudes, beyond just day and night sides, and providing a first step towards mapping weather-scale patterns in exoplanet climates.

Dr Wakeford said: “Having this very robust mathematical model that we can apply to this state-of-the-art data is incredibly exciting. The results are a really beautiful demonstration of the dynamics that are going on in these multidimensional and multifaceted worlds.”

The research analysed data collected by the JWST Telescope Scientist Deep Reconnaissance of Exoplanet Atmospheres through Multi-instrument Spectroscopy (TST DREAMS) Guaranteed Time Observations programme. It was funded by NASA, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and the Klarman Fellowship.

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Cockroach Janta Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke Detained Ahead of Delhi Tiranga Protest

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Sridhar P

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday ahead of a planned national-flag protest in the capital’s Connaught Place business district, escalating a confrontation over the Election Commission’s revision of electoral rolls and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Live video posted on the movement’s Instagram account showed police officers stopping Dipke as he left a residence and taking him towards a police vehicle following a brief argument. An officer could be heard telling him, “We are detaining you right now.”

“I have not broken any law right now… how can you detain me,” Dipke asked as police took him away, according to the video. Police had warned him earlier against proceeding with the proposed demonstration but had not immediately commented on the detention, Reuters reported.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS🚨

Delhi Police have detained Abhijeet Dipke as he was heading alone to Central Park to hoist the Tricolour. https://t.co/vOmjevM4vi

— Neha Bora Team (@NehaAisa) October 16, 2026

The detention came as authorities stepped up security across central Delhi ahead of the CJP’s “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest, called in solidarity with two party leaders, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were sent to five-day judicial custody after a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

The movement and its supporters had urged people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday evening to wave and hoist the national flag. Police advised people against joining the gathering, while the New Delhi Municipal Council announced that Central Park would remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons.

Police said they could facilitate a small group carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem at a suitable location, but the wider demonstration faced restrictions. The Delhi High Court had declined on Thursday to stop the proposed protest, recording police assurances that the gathering would be regulated.

SIR Row Drives Protests Against Election Chief

The latest confrontation is part of a wider campaign by the youth-led CJP, opposition groups and student organisations demanding Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Critics allege that the revision risks disenfranchising eligible voters and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. The Election Commission has denied political bias, saying the exercise is intended to correct electoral rolls and that voters whose names were wrongly removed can re-enrol. The BJP has accused opposition parties of undermining democratic institutions by questioning the process.

More than 130 million voter names have reportedly been deleted during the revision, according to Reuters. The scale of the changes has intensified scrutiny of the process, although the total number of deletions does not by itself establish how many involved eligible voters wrongly excluded from the rolls.

The controversy has expanded from questions about electoral procedures into a broader dispute over political accountability, protest rights and the limits of police restrictions. The CJP has made the demand for Kumar’s resignation the centrepiece of its campaign, while opposition groups have joined demonstrations challenging the conduct of the revision.

The movement has also drawn attention through its use of the cockroach as a symbol of resilience, turning an online youth campaign into a street-level protest mobilisation.

Heavy Security and Traffic Restrictions in Connaught Place

Authorities deployed additional personnel and increased surveillance around Connaught Place, Central Park and nearby public areas. Police also warned that traffic movement across central Delhi could be disrupted as the proposed rally approached.

The security measures affected a major commercial and shopping district, prompting concerns among traders about business losses and access to the area. Traders have challenged the proposed demonstration, arguing that the gathering could cause serious disruption.

The developments place the authorities in a difficult position. Police must manage public safety and traffic in a crowded commercial district, while ensuring that restrictions on peaceful political assembly remain lawful and proportionate.

For the CJP, Dipke’s detention is likely to intensify its confrontation with the administration. The movement has portrayed its campaign as a defence of democratic rights and electoral accountability, while authorities have emphasised restrictions on gatherings and the need to maintain public order.

The immediate question is whether the protest can proceed under the restrictions imposed by the authorities. The larger dispute concerns the transparency of electoral-roll revisions and the extent to which demonstrations against the Election Commission can be conducted without repeated confrontations with police.

With the CJP demanding the election chief’s resignation and the BJP rejecting allegations of bias, the dispute has become a test of both institutional accountability and the handling of political dissent in the national capital.

Flip Flop: Sridhar Vembu Trolled Over Zoho Appraisal Freeze Days After Urging NRIs to Return to India

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu is facing criticism on social media after announcing that the company will suspend its usual annual salary increases this year, just days after urging Indian technology workers facing US immigration uncertainty to return to India and build businesses at home.

The controversy centres on the timing of Vembu’s two messages. His appeal to non-resident Indians came amid reports that the US administration had suspended green-card processing involving eight major technology companies, raising concerns among Indian professionals pursuing permanent residency. Four days later, Vembu disclosed that Zoho was cutting costs and would not provide its usual pay increases to employees this year.

Vembu attributed the decision to rising artificial intelligence-related expenses, higher server prices and an uncertain geopolitical environment. He said Zoho was cutting its marketing budget and trying to avoid mass layoffs, adding that the company had not increased its employee count for 18 months.

The announcement prompted some social media users to question whether India could readily offer returning professionals the employment opportunities and financial security they might lose by leaving established jobs in the United States.

“If Zoho itself has been struggling with the business outlook for 18 months, hasn’t increased headcount, and is unable to offer regular salary hikes, how easy is it going to be for returning NRIs to find opportunities and build here?” one user asked.

The user argued that patriotism alone could not substitute for a strong business environment, access to capital, customers and sustainable employment opportunities.

AI Costs and Uncertain Software Outlook

Explaining the appraisal freeze, Vembu said the software industry’s outlook had become uncertain as AI adoption increased operating expenses.

“The business outlook for software is uncertain and AI has raised costs dramatically with a) massive 4-fold increase in server prices which we need for data centers b) AI usage increasing rapidly, leading to much higher expenses, which we are trying to control,” he said.

He also cited the challenging geopolitical backdrop and said Zoho had reduced marketing expenditure.

“We have also told our employees that we cannot have our usual pay increase this year. I have apologized for not being able to avoid this. We will work hard to avoid mass layoffs but the outlook for software jobs in general is grim,” Vembu said.

He described the company as being in the middle of a reinvention, adding that the next three to five years would determine how successful that process proved to be.

“Please pray for us,” he wrote, a remark that also attracted criticism online.

However, other users defended Vembu, arguing that openly acknowledging business pressures was preferable to concealing them. One commenter praised him for discussing the difficulties facing the company and questioned whether critics understood the challenges involved in running a business.

The reactions highlight the tension between employees’ expectations of annual pay increases and the financial decisions companies make when costs rise or growth becomes uncertain.

‘What Is the Alternative? Beg Them to Allow Us to Stay?’

Vembu responded to criticism of his appeal to returning Indians by arguing that professionals should not assume they can remain in another country indefinitely if its immigration policies change.

“When another country tells you to go home, you come home. What is the alternative? Beg them to allow us to stay? Stay illegally?” he said.

He added that India offered numerous opportunities to build businesses and create value, even if the software industry became saturated or underwent major changes.

His response reframed the debate around India’s capacity to provide opportunities for returning professionals rather than Zoho’s immediate compensation decision.

The two issues, however, are related but distinct. A company can face genuine cost pressures while a country can still offer opportunities for entrepreneurs and skilled workers. Equally, an appeal to return home does not establish that suitable jobs, competitive salaries or funding will be available to everyone affected by immigration restrictions.

For Indian professionals weighing a return, the practical considerations include employment prospects, savings, family responsibilities, immigration status and the long-term value of overseas residency.

Vembu’s comments have brought those questions into sharper focus. His appraisal announcement concerns Zoho’s employees and business outlook; the wider debate concerns whether India’s technology sector can create enough sustainable opportunities for professionals who may be compelled or choose to return.

The episode also illustrates how the rapid adoption of AI is reshaping the technology industry’s cost structures and employment expectations, even as companies encourage innovation and reinvention.

Lonely Indian Nurse in Australia Considers Returning Home Over Racism

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

An Indian nurse working in Australia has sparked an online discussion about migration, racism and the emotional costs of living abroad after revealing that she wants to return to India despite having a secure job and being potentially two years away from permanent residency.

The 24-year-old woman, describing her experience in a Reddit post, said she feels lonely in Australia, misses her friends and family in India, and has encountered racism while working in healthcare. She also expressed concern that her future children could face similar discrimination.

Her decision is complicated by the prospect of securing Australian permanent residency (PR), which could provide her with greater long-term flexibility. She said she was considering obtaining PR before returning to India for three to four years to determine where she wants to build her future.

The nurse also has a personal reason for wanting to return. Her father died when she was a teenager, leaving her particularly conscious of the need to be close to her widowed mother.

“All my friends live in India and I feel quite lonely here. And working in healthcare I have faced a lot of racism. I also worked as a school nurse and Indian kids in general face horrible racism. I feel scared that my kids probably will face it too,” she wrote.

She added that she preferred dating in India and believed she would have a better chance of finding a partner there. However, friends and relatives have advised her to remain in Australia, with some reportedly calling her decision to return unwise.

Redditors Recommend Securing Permanent Residency First

Responses to the post largely separated the question of whether she should return to India from the question of whether she should give up the opportunity to obtain Australian PR.

Several commenters argued that she did not need to regard returning home as a failure, but advised her to secure permanent residency before making a final decision.

One commenter argued that an Australian passport could offer future opportunities for her children, while earning in Australian dollars could help her support her mother in India. The comment also highlighted the differences in earning potential between nursing jobs in Australia and India.

Others suggested exploring whether her mother could spend extended periods with her in Australia before she made an irreversible decision about her future.

Another commenter cautioned that discrimination exists in different forms in both countries, pointing to caste, religion, colour and social status in India. The argument was that moving home might address loneliness and proximity to family without necessarily eliminating every form of discrimination.

These responses reflect competing priorities rather than a definitive answer. Permanent residency, financial security, family responsibilities and emotional well-being can pull migrants in different directions.

The Emotional Cost of Building a Life Abroad

The nurse’s account highlights a dimension of migration that can be overshadowed by discussions of salaries, career advancement and residency rights. A stable overseas job does not necessarily translate into a satisfying personal life.

For migrants who move abroad in their early twenties, the separation from established friendships, family networks and familiar social environments can become increasingly difficult over time. The pressure may be especially acute for those who have responsibilities toward ageing parents in India.

Her concerns about racism also extend beyond her own experiences. Her reference to Indian children facing discrimination while she worked as a school nurse suggests that her doubts involve the environment in which she might eventually raise a family.

However, one person’s account cannot establish how widespread racism is across Australia’s healthcare or education systems. Her experience is a personal account shared online, and the allegations have not been independently verified.

The practical decision also requires more than a comparison between Indian and Australian lifestyles. Before returning, she would need to consider the precise conditions attached to her PR pathway, the time she must spend in Australia to maintain residency rights, her career prospects in India and the financial arrangements required to support her mother.

The Reddit discussion ultimately highlights a dilemma faced by some overseas Indians: whether the promise of a more secure future abroad outweighs the value of family proximity, cultural familiarity and a stronger sense of belonging at home.

For the nurse, securing permanent residency before deciding where to settle may preserve options. But the final choice is personal. A migration decision cannot be judged solely by income, citizenship prospects or the opinions of relatives when the person living abroad feels increasingly isolated.

US Lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthy Warns of Deadly Anti-Indian Hate After Alleged Hindu Temple Shooting Plot

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Srinivas Chakravarty

US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has warned that anti-Indian hatred and white supremacist ideology can lead to deadly violence after police arrested a 19-year-old man accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a Hindu temple in the Aurora area of Illinois.

Krishnamoorthi condemned the alleged plot, saying authorities and communities must take threats against Indian Americans seriously before they result in deaths. He also thanked the individuals who alerted law enforcement and the officers who intervened.

“I am horrified that a white supremacist allegedly attempted to massacre Indian Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora,” Krishnamoorthi wrote.

“This is where the poison of anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy can lead, and we cannot wait until innocent people are killed to take it seriously,” he added.

The lawmaker stressed that every American should be able to practise their faith without fear and called for unity against hatred and extremism.

Police Uncover Alleged Shooting Plan

The investigation began on October 11, when the Palatine Police Department received information from the Mount Prospect Police Department about concerning electronic communications allegedly sent by Alexandros Paporakis.

Investigators said Paporakis had shared a document describing a proposed mass shooting at a Hindu temple. He had also circulated images of a rifle, ammunition magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.

The FBI examined electronic communications and a document attributed to the suspect titled “Why I Fought: A K A: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)”. According to investigators, the material contained white supremacist and extremist views, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.

Detectives believe the suspect may have been preparing to carry out an attack on October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. Police contacted Hindu places of worship within their jurisdiction to alert them to the threat.

Weapons and Tactical Equipment Recovered

Police arrested Paporakis as he was leaving his residence. A subsequent search of his home led detectives to recover a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment.

Investigators also found a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch bearing imagery associated with white supremacist extremism, according to ANI.

Paporakis faces one count of making a terrorist threat, a Class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of weapons. Following a detention hearing on Wednesday, a judge ordered him to remain in custody.

The alleged plot has renewed concerns about the safety of Hindu temples and other religious institutions in the United States. Krishnamoorthi’s warning underscores the importance of reporting credible threats early, investigating extremist communications and ensuring that communities can practise their faith without intimidation.

The allegations remain subject to the judicial process. Authorities have not established in court that the suspect carried out or completed the alleged plan.

Why Workers Show Worst Workplace Behavior Fearing AI Replacement

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Workers who fear artificial intelligence is threatening their occupation are more likely to slack off on the job, swipe a co-worker’s lunch or engage in other counterproductive workplace behavior, a new study finds.

This is especially true in occupations where AI is likely to have the greatest impact.

The study, led by Washington State University researchers and published in the journal Occupational Health Science, evaluated the effects of looming AI adoption on worker attitudes and behaviors across 18 industries.

The findings suggest that concerns over AI can harm workers and businesses, and employers should pay attention to how they discuss and implement the technology in order to keep employees engaged and supported.

“Counterproductive workplace behaviors are harmful to the interpersonal relationships within an organization,” said Tahira M. Probst, a professor of psychology at WSU Vancouver and lead author of the study. “If you’re not showing up, that puts more work on your co-workers. If you’re doing things that impact your ability or your co-workers’ ability to get their work done properly, or if you’re wasting organizational resources, there’s a lot of potential harm to an organization, not just to the bottom line, but to the effective functioning of the organization.”

Research has shown that as the use of AI-based technologies such as intelligent robotics, automated systems and algorithmic management increases, workers may feel insecure about their jobs. The resulting stress can lead to burnout, reduced job satisfaction and engagement, and worse physical and mental health.

Probst and her co-authors wanted to examine a broader concern: what happens when AI-related concerns make workers worry that their entire occupation will become obsolete?

“If you’re a bartender and the bar that you’re working for goes under, you can get another job as a bartender somewhere else,” Probst said. “That profession is not going away. That’s not necessarily the case with occupations that are affected by AI. If you’re in a profession like medical transcriptionists, for example, where a lot of that coding and transcription can now be fully automated, that’s not something where if you are let go, you can just go find work in another organization.”

The researchers examined the effects of that occupation insecurity and industry-level AI exposure — the potential that AI could displace tasks — on two outcomes: moral disengagement and counterproductive workplace behaviors. They used an existing, objective database of AI exposure, the AI Industry Exposure index, to identify which industries were facing the most potential disruption from AI, and surveyed workers across a variety of industries about their attitudes and behaviors. Workers in finance and insurance had some of the highest levels of exposure, while those in agriculture and forestry had the least.

Overall, workers who were worried about the future of their occupation were more likely to morally disengage at work, meaning they were more likely to justify behaviors they would normally consider inappropriate. In turn, those employees self-reported more counterproductive behaviors such as surfing the web or coming in late for a shift.

“Moral disengagement is basically a way of justifying bad behavior,” Probst said. “We know what’s right and wrong. We know what organizational policies say we can and can’t do. Moral disengagement is a way of reframing that behavior as something that is acceptable.”

Those effects, however, were less pronounced in industries expected to face fewer future AI changes, such as forestry and construction, but were magnified in industries such as insurance and finance that are more heavily exposed to AI disruption.

The study’s authors argue that when employees feel their occupation is at risk, they may come to view workplace norms and expectations differently, rationalizing behaviors such as cutting corners or undermining others as necessary to protect themselves or to compensate for perceived injustice.

Why Millions Of Americans Turn To AI For Medical Advice—Before, After, And Instead Of Doctor Visits

Reversing age by reprogramming gene expression networks

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified “hallmarks of aging” that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are also thought of as levers that, if successfully targeted, could help turn back the aging clock and result in tissue rejuvenation.

In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka’s Nobel prize-winning discovery that the over-expression of four genes, the “Yamanaka factors,” can reprogram most mature cell types back to an undifferentiated, pluripotent ground state was a milestone in aging research. Interestingly, when expressed only in short bursts, the Yamanaka factors can also partially reprogram old cells back to a more youthful state, reversing multiple hallmarks of aging while maintaining their specialized functions. This and other insights showed that aging does not need to be a one-way street and that aging cells retain a latent capacity for rejuvenation.

Unfortunately, the therapeutic use of Yamanaka factors is causing concern for some researchers because their overexpression also raises the risk of cancer formation. Researchers have therefore been hunting other factors for rejuvenating aging tissues in safer and more controllable ways. However, “in reprogramming, there is a fundamental tradeoff between rejuvenation and cell identity; achieving one without losing the other requires walking a fine line,” said Alex Plesa, Ph.D., the first co-author on a study presenting a new potential avenue to solving this challenge.

In the study, which was led by George Church, Ph.D., Core Faculty member Wyss Institute at Harvard University and spearheaded by Wyss Institute Scientist Plesa, in collaboration with the computational biology group of Antonio del Sol, Ph.D. at CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, the Basque Research and Technology Alliance in Spain, the team first developed a novel age predictor. Specifically, they designed a machine learning algorithm trained on gene expression (transcriptomic) profiles across multiple aging processes in human skin fibroblast cells spanning a wide age range. This predictor accurately pinpointed the “transcriptomic age” of skin cells obtained from several donors.

Leveraging this age predictor as a scorable readout then enabled the team to screen a focused collection of genes that were predicted to affect aging processes in one way or another. The goal was to identify candidates that, when over-expressed, could shift the originally assigned aging score of old fibroblast cell lines to a more youthful score. The top-scoring gene, encoding an RNA processing factor known as SRSF1, was indeed able to reduce features that corresponded to several hallmarks of aging, such as a biological process where damaged cells stop dividing but do not die (cellular senescence), disruptions in the normal balance and turnover of proteins (proteostatic stress), and chronic low-grade inflammation (also dubbed “inflammaging”). Importantly, when delivered to aged mice, where it primarily accumulated in the liver, SRSF1 reduced the animals’ rate of aging and extended their lifespan by 14%, highlighting SRSF1 as a “geroprotective” target. The findings are published in Nature Aging.

“It has been a long-standing goal of my lab to devise clinically useful de-aging strategies by identifying genes that, when engineered in the genome for under or over-expression in aging target tissues, extend human health-span. Our platform and findings on SRSF1 are an important step on that quest,” said Church, who is also Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. “Aging research is transiting an inflection point where the exponential progress of biotech is impacting the core aging processes which would otherwise kill 90% of us.”

Predicting cell age through gene expression

“The most prominently used ‘aging clock,’ the epigenetic aging clock, assesses chemical modifications to the genome that occur with age as one of the hallmarks of aging. But it doesn’t scale well to screening approaches because of high costs and challenges with interpreting its widespread changes,” said Plesa. “The idea of predicting the age of cells based on their gene expression made a lot of sense since every rejuvenation process inevitably has to manifest itself in altered gene expression programs that lead to the recovery of more youthful cell functionalities,” said Plesa.

Following this instinct, Church and Plesa collaborated with del Sol, an Ikerbasque Research Professor, and Sascha Jung, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow and co-first author of the study, to develop a machine learning-driven algorithm that predicts age based on changes in the expression of genes involved in different processes, comparable to odometers for different parts of a car. Integrating the changes across all processes in a transcriptomic aging model provided an accurate overview of cells’ health and age. This novel predictor accurately reported shifts in transcriptomic age in three fibroblast cell lines derived from donors 55, 65, and 79 years of age after the team treated them with different experimental lifespan-changing interventions, including the Yamanaka factors and others.

Envisioning rejuvenating gene therapy

Taking full advantage of their transcriptomic age predictor, the researchers then designed a focused library of genes that were predicted to impact aging and could be over-expressed in aged fibroblast cell lines. “We were working on the premise that over-expressing a single gene with validated rejuvenation outcomes could eventually be advanced into an organ or tissue-specific gene therapy if combined with the right delivery system,” said Plesa.

The team scored all library genes using their novel age predictor and analyzed their effects on specific aging features. Coming out on top of this extensive campaign was a gene encoding the RNA processing factor SRSF1, which shifted multiple aging processes toward more youthful states. These rejuvenation effects registered on the epigenetic aging clock and extended to functional hallmarks, reducing cellular senescence, inflammatory signaling, and proteostatic stress, while restoring DNA repair programs. Importantly, the rejuvenated fibroblasts maintained their identity: they kept their specific spindle-shaped morphology, continued the expression of genes that encode typical fibroblast functions and didn’t induce the pluripotency programs that Yamanaka factors turn on.

From rejuventating cells to rejuvenating a whole organism

Finally, the team wanted to see if the observed rejuvenation effects resulting from SRSF1 over-expression also carried over into a much more complex in vivo system. Very intriguingly, when they packaged the SRSF1 gene in a liver-tropic adeno-associated virus (AAV) and used it to treat mice, they observed liver rejuvenation and systemic benefits: SRSF1-treated animals grew frail more slowly and lived longer, with median lifespan extended by 14% compared to controls.

The most prominent role of SRSF1 is that of an “RNA splicing factor” that helps include protein-coding, so-called alternative exon sequences in a subset of mature messenger RNA molecules (mRNAs). These can then be translated by protein-synthesizing ribosomes into proteins, many of which have altered functions. “We observed a strong trend of alternatively spliced mRNAs, but we are only just starting to understand how these changes bring about the multi-faceted rejuvenation program in tissues,” said Plesa. “It is also very likely that primarily targeting the liver can reverse aging processes in other organs and tissues and that rejuvenation programs can be communicated and thus amplified within the body.”

The authors think that SRSF1 is a promising anti-aging target, since it works through machinery that all cells already use, instead of overriding their identity. Solving delivery and dosing could turn this geroprotective gene into a rejuvenation therapy, and further research into SRSF1’s systemic effects in vivo could uncover new insights, additional targets and viable rejuvenation strategies.

Could oral health be affecting female fertility?

Prashant Bhushan’s ‘Regime Change’ Call Echoes BJP’s ‘Parivartan’ in 2013-14, Escalates Row

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Sridhar P

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan has openly declared that the protests against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are now a fight for “regime change”, intensifying a political confrontation that began with demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

“Yes, we want regime change,” Bhushan said at a press conference on Thursday evening, flanked by All India Students’ Association (AISA) activist Neha Bora and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke. He argued that expressing disaffection against a government is not a crime in a democracy and accused the authorities of escalating the confrontation through their response to the protests.

BJP leaders have argued that the electoral-roll controversy is being used as a pretext for a campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The opposition, meanwhile, has maintained that its challenge concerns the integrity of elections and the treatment of protesters demanding accountability from the Election Commission.

The dispute now extends beyond the merits of the SIR exercise. It has become a test of how far opposition groups can mobilise against a constitutional authority, how the government and police respond to demonstrations, and whether the political objective of removing an elected government is being conflated with allegations of electoral wrongdoing.

Bhushan’s Declaration Gives BJP a Political Opening

Bhushan’s statement marks a shift in the public framing of the agitation. The immediate demand has centred on Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The declaration that the movement seeks regime change broadens that objective into an explicit challenge to the government.

The controversy has also revived scrutiny of Narendra Modi’s own pre-2014 campaign rhetoric. A review of his speeches from 2013 and 2014 suggests that he generally framed political change through terms such as “Parivartan” and calls to uproot the Congress-led government in Delhi, rather than using the specific phrase “regime change” as a description of his political programme.

The BJP has now circulated old campaign clips to counter Prashant Bhushan’s declaration, arguing that a change of government in a democracy must be secured by winning public support through elections, not by creating disorder through street protests. The comparison exposes a central distinction in the current confrontation: whether “regime change” means replacing an elected government through constitutional means or is being used to suggest a more disruptive political objective.

Bhushan’s statement alone does not establish the latter, but it has given the BJP an opportunity to challenge the opposition’s intentions while shifting attention away from the substantive allegations surrounding the SIR exercise.

The BJP has seized on the distinction. Party spokesperson Pradip Bhandari has argued that the SIR issue is a smokescreen for Rahul Gandhi and the opposition’s wider political agenda. The party has also invoked Bora’s comments about the youth-led movement in Bangladesh, which led to the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to question whether sections of the protest movement want to reproduce that political upheaval in India.

But the political significance of Bhushan’s statement requires a distinction between opposing a government and seeking to overthrow it unlawfully. In a parliamentary democracy, campaigning to defeat an incumbent government, mobilising public opinion against it and demanding fresh political accountability are legitimate forms of political activity. A declaration favouring regime change does not, by itself, establish a conspiracy to seize power outside constitutional processes.

The crucial question is what the protesters mean by the term and what methods they intend to employ. Bhushan has framed the objective as a struggle against what he describes as a dictatorial government, arguing that continued suppression of demonstrations could deepen public resistance. The BJP interprets the same statement as confirmation that the movement’s real purpose extends beyond electoral-roll reform.

Neither interpretation settles the underlying dispute over SIR. That requires evidence about the revision process, the rules governing additions and deletions, the handling of objections and the safeguards available to affected voters.

The declaration nevertheless creates a political challenge for the opposition. Leaders who want to build a broad coalition around electoral integrity must explain how the demand for regime change relates to the specific grievances raised against the Election Commission. Otherwise, the BJP can argue that the original issue has been displaced by a wider campaign to remove the government.

SIR Dispute Moves Beyond the Election Commission

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become the central institutional issue behind the protests. Critics have alleged that the exercise risks disenfranchising eligible voters and have questioned the manner in which names are scrutinised or removed. The Election Commission’s position is that electoral rolls must be revised to maintain their accuracy and remove ineligible entries.

The distinction between correcting a voter list and improperly excluding eligible citizens is central to the controversy. Large-scale revisions require transparent procedures, clear communication with voters and an effective mechanism for challenging deletions. The political dispute cannot be resolved by allegations alone; it requires scrutiny of the relevant electoral data and the procedures followed in individual cases.

Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have challenged the Election Commission over SIR, bringing the controversy into the courts. The Supreme Court issued notice to the Election Commission, the chief election commissioner and the other election commissioners on petitions concerning the exercise, according to reports published on October 15. The judicial proceedings provide a separate channel for examining the legal issues, even as protests continue on the streets.

The controversy also raises a broader question about institutional accountability. The Election Commission must be able to revise electoral rolls without political interference, but its decisions must also withstand scrutiny where voters allege that the process has affected their rights. Demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner is a political demand; establishing whether the revision has violated electoral law is a separate legal question.

A Test of Political Credibility and Democratic Accountability

Bhushan’s “regime change” declaration has shifted attention from the technical questions surrounding SIR to the broader political ambitions of the movement. That shift may help the BJP portray the agitation as an opposition campaign against Modi rather than a focused effort to improve electoral transparency.

Yet political motivation does not automatically invalidate a complaint. Opposition parties can seek electoral advantage while raising legitimate questions about public institutions. Equally, a legitimate grievance does not exempt its proponents from scrutiny of their claims, methods and objectives.

The decisive questions remain whether eligible voters have been improperly excluded, whether the Election Commission has followed the law, whether the courts identify grounds for intervention and whether police restrictions on demonstrations are necessary and proportionate.

For the BJP, the opportunity is to answer the substantive questions about SIR rather than rely solely on the opposition’s political language. For the opposition, the challenge is to demonstrate that its allegations are supported by evidence and that its campaign seeks change through constitutional and democratic means.

Bhushan has made the movement’s political ambition explicit. What remains unresolved is whether that declaration will strengthen public mobilisation or allow the BJP to shift the debate away from electoral-roll accountability.

The confrontation is no longer only about the resignation of one election official. It is now a contest over the credibility of electoral institutions, the limits of protest regulation and the opposition’s ability to turn allegations of procedural wrongdoing into a persuasive national political campaign.

FAQs

Why did Prashant Bhushan call for regime change?

Bhushan said the agitation had become a fight to replace what he described as a dictatorial government, amid protests over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the police response to demonstrations.

What is the BJP’s response to the statement?

The BJP argues that the SIR controversy is being used as a pretext for a wider campaign against the Modi government, citing the statement as evidence that the agitation extends beyond electoral-roll reform.

Has the CJP received permission to protest?

Mumbai police have authorised the CJP’s rally at Azad Maidan on October 16. In Delhi, police have offered to facilitate a group of 11 people at a suitable location in Central Park, while restrictions and security measures remain in force.

Does calling for regime change amount to an illegal act?

Not by itself. Seeking to replace an elected government through elections, peaceful protest and other constitutional means is part of democratic politics. The legality of any specific action depends on its conduct and the applicable law.

What is the central issue in the SIR controversy?

The dispute concerns whether the Election Commission’s revision of electoral rolls is being conducted accurately and fairly, and whether eligible voters are adequately protected against wrongful exclusion.

Three Children, Teacher Killed in Oregon School Shooting; Gun Control Debate Rekindled

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Sridhar P

Three children aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher are killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, as a 16-year-old suspect opens fire inside the school before being shot dead by a community member who confronts him, police say.

The attack at Silver Rail Elementary School leaves two other people, including a seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher, critically injured, according to local reporting. The suspected shooter is a 16-year-old resident of Bend. Authorities are investigating how he obtained the firearm and what led to the attack.

Police respond to emergency calls shortly before 1 p.m. local time, initially receiving reports of a gunshot fired into a car before further calls report an active shooter inside the school. Officers arrive within minutes and subsequently learn that the suspect has been shot and killed by a community member who pursued him into the building.

The school, which serves approximately 450 pupils from kindergarten through fifth grade, is placed under lockdown. Authorities escort children by bus to a separate location where parents can reunite with them. Bend-La Pine Schools has cancelled classes, activities and sporting events across the district on Friday as the community grapples with the deaths.

The shooting puts the spotlight back on America’s continuing struggle to prevent gun violence, particularly attacks involving children. It also raises questions about how existing restrictions work when a teenager gains access to a firearm.

Nearly 45,000 Gun Deaths in One Year

The scale of America’s firearm problem extends well beyond school shootings. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s analysis of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 44,447 people died from gun-related injuries in 2024, a decline of about 5% from 2023. The total included 27,593 firearm suicides and 15,364 firearm homicides.

That amounts to more than 121 gun-related deaths a day on average. Although the national total fell for the third consecutive year, the number remains among the highest annual figures on record, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of CDC data.

Mass-shooting figures also depend on how incidents are defined. The Gun Violence Archive counts an incident as a mass shooting when at least four people are shot or killed, excluding the perpetrator. This broader definition includes incidents that do not necessarily involve a school, a public place or multiple fatalities.

The distinction matters when comparing school attacks with the wider gun-violence epidemic. A school shooting is a specific category of incident, while national firearm mortality figures also include suicides, domestic violence, accidental shootings and other homicides.

Oregon Has Gun Safety Laws, but Access Remains Easy

Oregon has several firearm restrictions that are intended to reduce the risk of gun violence. These include background checks covering firearms, requirements to secure guns when they are not under an owner’s immediate control, and extreme-risk protection orders that allow law enforcement and family or household members to seek temporary restrictions on a person’s access to firearms when there is evidence of a serious risk.

State law also establishes minimum purchase-age requirements, while federal law generally prohibits licensed dealers from selling rifles and shotguns to people under 18 and handguns to people under 21, subject to the applicable statutory rules and exceptions.

The Oregon attack nevertheless raises a critical question:

How did a 16-year-old obtain a firearm, and were any existing legal safeguards breached?

Those questions cannot be answered until investigators establish the weapon’s ownership, the circumstances in which the teenager obtained it and whether any laws were violated. The fact that the suspect was a minor does not, by itself, establish that the firearm was acquired illegally.

Oregon’s experience also illustrates the difference between having gun safety laws and ensuring they work in practice. Background checks govern covered transactions, while secure-storage rules are intended to prevent unauthorised access. Extreme-risk protection orders depend on warning signs being recognised and the relevant legal process being initiated.

No single measure can guarantee that a shooting will not occur. But determining how the teenager obtained the weapon could help establish whether existing safeguards failed, whether enforcement was inadequate or whether additional measures merit consideration.

A Recurring American Debate

The shooting is likely to intensify familiar divisions over gun control. Advocates of stricter laws argue that stronger checks, secure storage, restrictions on access by minors and effective intervention when people pose a danger can reduce the likelihood of firearm violence. Opponents of additional restrictions argue that lawful gun ownership is constitutionally protected and that security, enforcement and the actions of individuals must also be considered.

The policy debate is complicated by the different forms of gun violence. Measures aimed at preventing a child from accessing a household firearm may address a different risk from those intended to prevent public mass shootings or reduce firearm suicides.

For families in Bend, the immediate concern is the loss of three children and a teacher, alongside the recovery of those critically injured. For investigators, the priority is establishing the sequence of events and tracing the weapon.

The wider question for policymakers is whether existing laws, school security procedures and mechanisms for identifying risks are sufficient to prevent similar attacks. With nearly 45,000 people dying from gun-related injuries in the United States in 2024, the consequences of that question extend far beyond one school or one community.

CJP Gets Mumbai Police Nod for Tiranga Rally, Delhi Tightens Security With CCTVs

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Sridhar P

Mumbai police have granted the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) permission to hold its “Lehra Do Tiranga” rally at Azad Maidan on Friday, October 16, allowing the party to stage a demonstration in support of its leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were sent to five-day judicial custody following a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

However, the permission is restricted to Azad Maidan, a designated protest venue, with the rally scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The approval in Mumbai contrasts with the restrictions facing the party in New Delhi, where authorities have tightened security around Connaught Place ahead of a proposed Tiranga march. The CJP has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, turning the dispute into a wider confrontation over electoral accountability, protest rights and the policing of demonstrations.

Arrest of Das and Ranka Triggers Fresh Row

The arrests of Ranka and Das followed their alleged entry into Jantar Mantar, where they raised slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation. The Union Home Ministry had withdrawn Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site a day before the incident. The two leaders were subsequently sent to judicial custody on Wednesday, according to reports published on October 15 and 16.

In Mumbai, police said the organisers had agreed to confine the demonstration to Azad Maidan. The decision allows the protest to proceed at an officially designated site while keeping it separate from public roads and other areas. The party has appealed to supporters to bring the national flag to the gathering.

The Delhi administration, meanwhile, has taken a more restrictive approach. The New Delhi Municipal Council has announced that Central Park in Connaught Place will remain closed on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons. Police have invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area, imposing restrictions intended to prevent gatherings that could threaten public order.

More than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel have reportedly been deployed in the capital ahead of the proposed demonstration, with CCTV surveillance and additional security measures around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk. Police have also warned against unauthorised gatherings, while indicating that any permitted activity would be subject to restrictions. The arrangements have raised concerns among local traders about disruption to commercial activity in one of Delhi’s busiest shopping districts.

SIR Turns Sour

The political dispute is rooted in the CJP’s opposition to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The exercise has become a contentious issue in Indian politics, with critics questioning its implementation and potential effects on voters, while election authorities maintain that electoral roll revision is necessary to improve accuracy and remove ineligible entries.

The party’s campaign has increasingly centred on the national flag as a symbol of its claim that peaceful protest and political dissent are democratic rights. Its immediate demand is linked to the arrests of its leaders, but its broader political challenge concerns the space available for demonstrations against constitutional authorities.

The contrasting decisions in Mumbai and Delhi highlight how the location and legal status of a protest site can determine whether a demonstration proceeds. Mumbai police have authorised a time-bound rally at a designated ground, while Delhi authorities have restricted access to the proposed venue and strengthened security around the capital’s commercial centre.

The immediate test for the CJP is whether it can mobilise supporters while complying with police conditions.

US Midterms: A Democratic House Could Put Trump’s India Agenda Under Scrutiny

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

The November 3 US midterm elections could determine how much room President Donald Trump has to advance his domestic and foreign policy agenda, with potential consequences for Indian professionals, technology companies, exporters and the wider Indian-American community.

Democrats are seeking to regain control of Congress as concerns over living costs, energy prices and the administration’s policies shape the election campaign. Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin generic congressional ballot tracker put Democrats ahead by 8.6 percentage points on October 14. However, a national polling lead does not automatically translate into control of either chamber.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are being contested. The results will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress, Democrats win one chamber or the opposition gains control of both.

For India, the central question is whether a change in congressional control would increase scrutiny of Trump’s tariffs, trade negotiations, immigration measures and foreign policy. A Democratic majority could investigate administration decisions and challenge policies politically, but it would not automatically have the power to reverse every executive action.

How a Democratic House Could Affect India

A change in control of the House would allow Democrats to lead committees, hold hearings, issue subpoenas where legally authorised and demand documents from administration officials. These powers could increase scrutiny of trade policy, immigration restrictions and the broader direction of US foreign relations.

The implications for India would depend on which issues congressional leaders prioritise and whether they can secure support beyond their own party. The president would retain executive powers and could veto legislation, while the Senate’s composition would influence whether bills and nominations could advance.

Trade is one important area. US tariff policy has been central to the administration’s economic agenda and has affected the calculations of trading partners, including India. A Democratic-controlled House could hold hearings on the economic impact of tariffs, the administration’s legal authority and the consequences for American businesses and consumers.

However, greater congressional scrutiny would not necessarily lead to an immediate reduction in tariffs. Many of the administration’s tariff measures have been pursued through executive authority. Changing them could require presidential action, successful litigation or legislation that passes both chambers and survives a potential veto.

India-US trade negotiations could also face closer examination. Any bilateral agreement requiring congressional approval could attract questions about market access, the treatment of American industries and the balance of concessions. The precise implications would depend on the agreement’s terms and the legal mechanism used to implement it.

Foreign policy could become another area of disagreement. Democrats may seek to scrutinise the administration’s approach to the Iran conflict, sanctions and relations with other major powers. Such scrutiny could shape political debate around US policy, although control of the House alone would not give Democrats complete authority over diplomacy or military decisions.

The election also matters to the Indian-American community, which includes technology workers, students, business owners, researchers and families affected by immigration rules. Their concerns include work visas, green-card processing, family immigration, tuition costs and the broader treatment of skilled foreign workers.

H-1B Fees and Green-Card Uncertainty Remain Key Concerns

The Trump administration’s proposed $100,000 charge connected to new H-1B workers hired from outside the United States has become a major concern for employers and skilled professionals, many of whom are Indian nationals.

The legal position requires careful distinction. On September 30, a federal judge in California blocked federal agencies from enforcing guidance implementing the charge, finding that the policies could not be enforced until the required notice-and-comment rulemaking process had been completed.

The administration appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on October 9 and sought a stay.

As of the latest reporting available on October 14, the fee-related guidance remained blocked. The appeal and request for a stay mean the dispute has not been finally resolved. Workers and employers should not treat the announced charge as a settled, currently enforceable requirement without checking for subsequent court orders or official guidance.

A Democratic-controlled House could hold hearings on the effects of immigration policy on employers, universities, hospitals and technology companies. Lawmakers could also press the administration to explain how its measures affect US competitiveness and the recruitment of skilled workers.

However, congressional hearings would not, by themselves, cancel an executive immigration policy or determine the outcome of pending litigation.

The green-card process is another concern for Indian workers. Separate restrictions affecting employer-sponsored labour certification at several major technology and IT services firms have raised questions about how affected employees can pursue permanent residency. These cases involve different legal and administrative issues from the H-1B fee dispute and should not be conflated.

For Indian-American voters, the midterms will also be shaped by domestic issues such as inflation, healthcare, housing, energy costs and employment. These concerns may influence voter turnout and party preferences alongside immigration and foreign policy.

The latest generic-ballot figures suggest Democrats have a national advantage, but the election outcome remains uncertain. Electoral geography, candidate quality, turnout, campaign spending and the distribution of competitive districts can all influence how a national polling lead translates into congressional seats.

For Indian readers, the key takeaway is that the midterms could change the level of congressional scrutiny facing Trump’s policies, but they will not automatically rewrite US immigration or trade rules. For H-1B workers, green-card applicants, students and businesses, court decisions, formal agency notices and the text of legislation will matter more than campaign predictions alone.

Precautions for Indians in the US amid reported attacks, threats against Hindu temples

Saudi Arabia Security Alert: What Indians Must Check Before Flights, Work and Travel

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shelton Rozario

Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia have been advised to remain calm, stay vigilant and move indoors in the event of an aerial attack amid heightened security concerns and flight disruptions. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is operating a 24-hour control room to assist members of the Indian community.

The embassy has also urged Indians not to circulate or repost videos and news related to the ongoing events. Nationals have been advised to maintain regular contact with their airlines and verify flight status before travelling to airports.

The advisory is particularly relevant to Indian workers, business travellers, families visiting relatives and pilgrims whose journeys involve Saudi Arabia or neighbouring Gulf countries. Travellers should not assume that a confirmed booking guarantees that a flight will operate as scheduled during a period of disruption.

In an update on Indians injured in the October 10 attack on Riyadh airport, the embassy said four people remained in intensive care, four were receiving treatment in a regular hospital ward and three had been discharged.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation had earlier reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries in the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport, according to a report carried by India’s public broadcaster.

What the Indian Advisory Tells Nationals to Do

The embassy’s instructions emphasise the importance of remaining calm, exercising vigilance and staying indoors in the event of an aerial attack. Indians should follow directions issued by Saudi authorities and avoid approaching affected locations or gathering around security incidents.

The warning against circulating videos and news is also significant. During a security emergency, old footage, misleading captions and unverified reports can spread quickly. Sharing such material can create confusion and make it harder for people to distinguish official instructions from speculation.

Indians planning to travel should check airline notifications directly and contact their travel agents where necessary. Those using connecting flights should confirm the status of every leg of their journey rather than checking only their departure from Saudi Arabia.

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has separately urged Indian nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims travelling through Jeddah and Madinah, to check their flights regularly and remain in contact with travel agents and Umrah service providers. The consulate has also established a 24-hour control room to assist affected Indians.

The embassy has said that people who need to leave Saudi Arabia urgently may consider flights from airports in neighbouring Gulf countries, including Qatar and Bahrain. However, travellers must confirm entry and visa requirements and verify whether flights are operating. Such an option should not be treated as an automatic or unrestricted evacuation route.

What Indian Workers, Families and Pilgrims Should Do Now

Indian residents should keep their passports, residency documents, essential medicines and emergency contact details accessible. Families should agree on a reliable way to communicate if phone networks or travel arrangements are disrupted.

Workers should follow instructions issued by their employers and local authorities, particularly if their workplaces provide transport or accommodation. They should avoid travelling towards airports or potentially affected areas without confirming that the journey is safe and necessary.

Pilgrims and other visitors should contact their airlines and authorised travel providers before leaving their hotels or accommodation. Those travelling in groups should ensure that group leaders have accurate passenger details and a reliable way to contact all members.

People already at an airport should follow instructions from airport staff and local security personnel. They should avoid relying on rumours about closures, alternative routes or the availability of seats on other flights.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on October 14 that it had expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, including an attack on the headquarters of Saudi Aramco. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India stood with the Saudi government and people in defence of their sovereignty and hoped that peace and normalcy would return to the region.

For Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, the central message is to remain alert without panicking, follow local instructions, verify travel information through official channels and avoid spreading unconfirmed material. Security conditions and airline operations can change quickly, making current official guidance more useful than older posts or forwarded messages.

Indians in Saudi Arabia Told to Stay Indoors During Aerial Attacks; Embassy Opens 24×7 Helpline

Precautions for Indians in the US amid reported attacks, threats against Hindu temples

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Sridhar P

An alleged mass-shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Illinois has renewed concerns about anti-Indian hostility in the US. For Indian students, professionals and families living overseas, personal safety increasingly requires situational awareness, digital discretion, emergency preparedness and community support.

Keeping a low profile can reduce avoidable exposure, but it must not become a surrender of identity, religious freedom or the right to live without fear. Moving abroad is often presented as a journey towards professional success, better education and a higher standard of living. For millions of Indians, the decision involves years of preparation, substantial financial investment and expectations of a more secure future for their families.

Yet the responsibilities of living in a foreign country extend beyond finding employment, understanding immigration rules and managing living expenses. They also include learning how to navigate unfamiliar social environments, recognise warning signs and protect personal information without compromising the freedom to live normally.

The alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, brings this question into sharp focus.

Safety measures for Indian nationals and temple visitors

1. Follow official security advisories: Monitor updates from local police, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the relevant Indian consulate. Follow instructions issued by temple management and emergency services.

2. Check temple alerts before visiting: Look for official notices about closures, security restrictions, suspicious activity or changes to worship schedules. Contact temple management if an alert raises concerns about an upcoming visit.

3. Report suspicious behaviour: Notify temple security or local police about specific threats, unattended suspicious objects, attempts to enter restricted areas or individuals making credible threats. Do not confront a potentially dangerous person.

4. Keep a low profile around sensitive events: Avoid unnecessary public arguments or confrontations over religion, race or politics, particularly around demonstrations or contentious displays, rallies, or public gatherings.

5. Strengthen temple security: Temple administrators should review entry procedures, visitor access, CCTV coverage, emergency exits, staff training and communication systems. Any credible threat should be shared promptly with law enforcement.

6. Use social media carefully: Avoid circulating unverified allegations, graphic material or messages that identify vulnerable worshippers. Preserve screenshots, links and timestamps of credible threats and report them to the relevant platform and police.

7. Prepare for emergencies: Know the nearest exits, establish a meeting point for family members and keep emergency contacts accessible. In the US, call 911 for an immediate threat to life or safety.

8. Coordinate with community organisations: Indian associations, student groups and religious organisations should share verified safety information and maintain emergency contact lists without spreading panic.

9. Report suspected hate crimes: Document threatening messages, property damage or targeted harassment and report them to local police. Victims can also seek assistance from civil-rights organisations and relevant state agencies.

10. Contact the Indian Consulate: Indian nationals needing consular guidance can contact the Consulate General of India in Chicago, which says it is monitoring the Illinois case and staying in touch with the Indian community.

What Indian families should remember

There is no need to avoid temples or cancel routine activities solely because of the Illinois case.

The appropriate response is informed vigilance, attention to credible warnings and cooperation with law enforcement. If a specific threat emerges, avoid the affected location and follow police instructions.

For temple administrators, the immediate priority should be a documented security review and a clear procedure for reporting threats before they escalate.