Author: Akancha Mishra

A revered Hindu place of worship in Utah, the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple near Spanish Fork, has become the apparent target of a disturbing series of late-night shootings, which temple leaders are calling a hate crime and possibly an act of domestic terrorism. Over multiple nights, 20 to 30 bullets were fired from outside the property, damaging key parts of the temple, including irreplaceable architectural features and a window in the main prayer room. Some bullets reportedly traveled through the worship area, lodging in opposite walls. A Krishna Radio Station building, also located on the temple’s grounds, was hit…

President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a bipartisan Senate bill that could place a massive 500% tariff on goods entering the United States from countries continuing to trade with Russia. The proposal, according to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, aims to penalize nations like India and China, which he claims arepropping up Russia’s war economy through large-scale oil purchases. Speaking in a televised interview with ABC News, Senator Graham explained the bill’s rationale, stating, “If you’re trading with Russia while turning your back on Ukraine, expect your products to be taxed heavily when they enter the United States.”…

PM Modi Embarks on Historic 5-Nation Tour to Strengthen Global Ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday embarked on a five-nation international tour, beginning with Ghana, marking a significant diplomatic outreach across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The visit aims to reinforce India’s strategic partnerships and deepen cooperation with the Global South and key multilateral organisations. The tour includes official visits to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. In a departure statement, PM Modi highlighted the importance of these nations in India’s foreign policy, citing historical, cultural, and economic linkages. In Ghana, PM Modi is expected to…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reflected on the decade-long journey of the Digital India initiative, launched to democratize technology access and promote inclusive digital development. In a LinkedIn post titled “A Decade of Digital India,” Modi emphasized that the government chose to trust citizens’ tech abilities, shifting from a past of skepticism to one of empowerment. Since 2014, India has witnessed a massive digital revolution. Internet connections have skyrocketed from 250 million to over 970 million. More than 42 million kilometers of optical fiber have been laid, reaching even the remotest villages and military outposts in places like Ladakh and…

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY has announced a significant leadership update to its foundation’s board of directors, aimed at reinforcing its mission of delivering accessible, world-class journalism education. Vivek Shah, the Chief Executive Officer of Ziff Davis, has been appointed as the new chair of the Newmark J-School Foundation board. Shah, a recognized figure in the media industry, brings a wealth of experience in digital innovation and strategic leadership. Prior to his current role, he held senior executive positions at Time, Inc., including Digital Group President and President of the Fortune/Money Group. Shah takes over from…

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for the financial year 2024–25 surged to a record ₹22,080,000 million, reflecting a 9.4% year-on-year increase, the government announced on Monday. The average monthly GST collection during the year stood at ₹1,840,000 million, showcasing robust momentum in revenue generation. The government noted that GST revenues have more than doubled in the past five years, signifying expanding economic activity and improved tax compliance. For context, in FY 2020–21, total GST collections were ₹11,370,000 million, with an average monthly inflow of ₹950,000 million. The steady rise in collections reflects the strengthening of India’s indirect tax…

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…