Author: Akancha Mishra

Dr. Rahul Sharma, a prominent Indian-American physician and healthcare innovator, has been appointed Chair of the New York State Board for Medicine after completing two years as the board’s Vice Chair. His new leadership role places him at the forefront of discussions surrounding medical licensing, physician education, professional standards, and public health in New York. Sharma currently serves as the Barbara and Stephen Friedman Endowed Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He also holds the position of Emergency Physician-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian–Weill Cornell Medical Center. In addition to his clinical and academic responsibilities, he founded the Center…

Yami Gautam Dhar has been honoured with the Best Actress award at the 72nd National Film Awards for her performance in Article 370, marking a significant milestone in her acting career. The actress attended the National Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, alongside her husband, filmmaker Aditya Dhar. Speaking about the honour, Yami described the National Award as one of the highest forms of recognition an artiste can receive in India. Despite years of experience in the industry, she said the achievement brought back the excitement and emotion of a newcomer experiencing a major career moment. Yami credited Article 370 with…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have renewed their longstanding partnership, extending their cooperation agreement for another five years through January 8, 2032. The updated framework also introduces new areas of collaboration, including human and robotic space exploration, space weather and the sustainable use of outer space. The agreement was formalized through an exchange of letters signed in Paris on September 10, 2026, on the sidelines of the International Space Summit. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher represented the two agencies during the renewal process. The expanded partnership reflects…

Dr. Nilesh Soni, founder and CEO of Dynamic Physical Therapy, recently took part in a community health fair organized by the Gujarati Samaj of New York. The event gave local residents an opportunity to receive physical therapy guidance and learn more about maintaining mobility and overall health as they age. As a specialist in geriatric physical therapy, Soni provided information and practical guidance to community members dealing with mobility challenges, pain, balance concerns and rehabilitation needs. His participation focused particularly on helping older adults understand ways to remain physically active and maintain independence. During the health fair, Soni also discussed…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reached New York to represent India at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, as world leaders and senior officials gather for the annual high-level meetings. His visit places India’s diplomatic engagement at the center of discussions taking place during the General Assembly’s High-Level Week. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar will head the country’s delegation during the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly. He is scheduled to deliver India’s address at the high-level session on September 26, outlining the country’s perspectives on key international issues and its…

Six Indian American students have received national recognition through the 2026 Davidson Fellows Scholarship program for conducting research aimed at addressing complex challenges across science, technology, medicine and engineering. Their achievements demonstrate how young researchers are applying advanced scientific methods and emerging technologies to develop solutions with potential real-world applications. The Davidson Fellows program, established by the Davidson Institute, honors students under the age of 19 who have completed significant work in eligible fields. Selected recipients receive scholarships worth $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000, depending on the evaluation of their projects. The program recognizes original contributions rather than relying solely…

India has reached a significant milestone in its semiconductor manufacturing drive, with five semiconductor units now built and operating in production, according to S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Speaking about the country’s progress, Krishnan described 2026 as an important year for India’s semiconductor ambitions. The government’s focus is now moving beyond establishing individual manufacturing facilities toward creating a broader ecosystem capable of supporting different stages of the chip value chain. The next phase, known as the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, is expected to build on the manufacturing capabilities developed during the mission’s initial phase.…

India’s merchandise exports recorded strong growth in August 2026, rising 26.1% year over year to $43.8 billion, according to data cited by IBEF. The pace of expansion was higher than the 19.6% growth recorded in July, signaling stronger momentum in the country’s external trade. At the same time, slower growth in imports helped reduce India’s merchandise trade deficit. The gap narrowed to $26.9 billion in August from $32 billion in July and approximately $27.2 billion during the same month a year earlier. Exports excluding oil, gems and jewelry also performed strongly. Core exports increased 22.7% in August, compared with 14.9%…

Optima Global Solutions is celebrating a major milestone as the New Jersey-based IT consulting and solutions company enters its 25th year of operations. The company, led by President and CEO Mahesh Yadav, has also secured its fourth appearance on the Inc. 5000 list, which recognizes some of the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the United States. Based in Hamilton, New Jersey, Optima placed No. 4,525 nationally on the 2026 Inc. 5000 ranking. The company was one of 147 businesses from New Jersey included on this year’s list and among nine organizations recognized from the Princeton and Hamilton region. The ranking…

Kapil Sharma is preparing to bring his signature comedy back to Netflix as The Great Indian Kapil Show returns for its fifth season on September 26. The upcoming season is set to arrive just ahead of the festive period, promising a mix of comedy, celebrity appearances and entertainment for audiences around the world. Sharma said the return marks another opportunity for the team to create new moments of humor for viewers. According to the comedian and actor, each season leaves the team feeling that they have already delivered plenty of fun, only for them to discover that there is still…