Author: Akancha Mishra

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged the recent update by the US Embassy requiring visa applicants to disclose their social media handles. While addressing a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that visa assessments for Indian citizens should be handled purely on a merit basis. “Visa and immigration processes are sovereign matters of individual nations. However, we have noted the US Embassy’s guidelines mandating the submission of social media identifiers,” Jaiswal stated. “Our belief is that Indian visa applications should be judged objectively and fairly,” he added. He reaffirmed that India is in active dialogue with the…

India experienced a significant boost in net foreign direct investment (FDI) in April 2025, with inflows reaching US$3,900 million, more than double the figure from April 2024, which stood at US$1,900 million, according to new data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The sharp uptick was largely due to a considerable slowdown in capital repatriation. Gross FDI inflows surged to US$8,800 million in April, rising from US$5,900 million in March 2025 and US$7,200 million a year earlier. Meanwhile, capital repatriation—or foreign investors pulling out funds—dropped to US$1,700 million, down from US$4,100 million in April 2024. Despite the monthly…

At the 2025 NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes Awards, held on June 24 at The Palace at Somerset Park, two exceptional healthcare leaders were recognized for their unwavering commitment to the people of New Jersey. Dr. Rupen Parikh, Chief Medical Officer, was honored as Health Care Professional of the Year, while Dr. Tushar Patel, President of Health Camp of New Jersey (HCNJ), received the Public Health Hero Award. Both physicians have played pivotal roles in shaping community health through HCNJ, a nonprofit founded in 1999 that provides free health services to underserved residents across New Jersey. Their work has impacted over 13,500…

On June 23 and 24, 2025, the sixteenth session of the India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues (INBCGSI) took place in Pune, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The Indian team was headed by Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), while the Nepali side was led by Gahendra Rajbhandari, Joint Secretary (South Asia). Both delegations included officials from the defense and foreign ministries, as well as army representatives. The two-day discussion covered a wide spectrum of security-related topics such as military training, joint exercises, disaster response, weapons supplies, and personnel exchanges. The Nepali delegation also toured prominent public and…

History is being made today as Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla launches into space aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, becoming only the second Indian to do so since Rakesh Sharma’s legendary spaceflight in 1984. The launch, scheduled for 12:01 PM IST today, June 25, is taking place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Shukla is part of a four-member international crew embarking on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Alongside him is mission commander Dr. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Director of Human Spaceflight…

NASA has officially confirmed that the long-anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is now slated for liftoff on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The launch is scheduled for 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST) from the historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This milestone mission will carry a globally diverse crew to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, using the Dragon spacecraft. Among the crew is Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will make history as the mission’s pilot. Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission organized by Axiom Space in collaboration…

US President Donald Trump has lauded the recent air offensive on Iran’s nuclear installations as a flawless military triumph, declaring that the operation caused enormous structural damage to Iran’s deeply buried nuclear assets. The mission, titled “Operation Midnight Hammer,” took place on Saturday evening and marked a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions. Key targets included Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, all of which were struck using 14 heavyweight bunker-busting bombs, each weighing approximately 15 tons. These precision-guided munitions were delivered by B-2 stealth bombers, making it the first known use of such weaponry in an…

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Piyush Goyal took center stage at the India Global Forum 2025 in London, articulating India’s forward-looking economic approach in the wake of the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with the United Kingdom in May 2025. Speaking during the headline plenary titled “From Agreement to Action: The UK–India FTA,” Goyal presented the trade deal as a milestone in aligning two democracies through mutual growth and innovation. Joined by the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, and moderated by global journalist Mark Barton, the session highlighted both nations’ intent…

In a heartfelt evening held in Parsippany, New Jersey, the Gandhian Society, alongside the Rotary Club of Parsippany and the Zakir Husain Study Circle, came together to host a tribute evening in honor of Vivek Tankha, an esteemed Member of Parliament in India and a lifelong Rotarian. The occasion recognized his extensive contributions to public service, especially in the areas of rural healthcare, education, and development. Tankha was celebrated not only for his legal acumen as a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and his role as a Rajya Sabha member, but also for his hands-on humanitarian efforts…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s groundbreaking visit to Croatia has opened new avenues for strategic cooperation between India and the Central European nation. This landmark trip, the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister, underscores India’s growing diplomatic outreach to Central and Eastern Europe, with a focus on enhancing ties in defense, trade, technology, and culture. During this high-level engagement, four pivotal agreements were signed — covering agriculture, science and technology collaboration, a renewed cultural exchange program, and the continuation of the Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb until 2030. These steps aim to reinforce cultural diplomacy and academic linkages. PM…