On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard in Washington, DC. Their discussion centered on strengthening India-US relations. The meeting took place shortly after Gabbard was sworn in as DNI in a White House ceremony. PM Modi extended a warm greeting to Gabbard, congratulating her on her new role. Sharing the encounter on social media, he wrote, “Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard, in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation and discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, a cause she has always strongly supported.” The visit marks PM Modi’s…
Author: Akancha Mishra
Akancha Mishra
Akancha has been a journalist for about twenty years, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Honors and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She and her husband and children Supriya and Alok currently call New York City home.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in France for a two-day visit, where he was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. During a formal dinner, PM Modi met US Vice President JD Vance and congratulated him on his electoral victory. This marked PM Modi’s first meeting with JD Vance under the new Trump administration. In a video shared by Macron, PM Modi can be seen shaking Vance’s hand and saying, “Congratulations. Great, great victory.” Macron welcomed both leaders, stating, “Welcome to Paris, my friend @NarendraModi! Nice to meet you dear @VP Vance! Let’s get to work!” PM…
Despite the bitter cold and dense morning fog in northern India, 12-year-old Ashleen Khela, Australia’s youngest female published author of Indian descent, is determined to bring warmth to underprivileged children in Punjab. Using funds raised from her books, 17 Stories and Journey Through Her Jersey, she donates laptops, cash, warm clothing, socks, and nutritious food to students in schools lacking heating facilities. While classrooms remain icy in the freezing January mornings, her cheerful words and inspiring speeches fill young minds with hope and joy. Ashleen’s deep connection to her Indian heritage stems from her family’s annual visits to Punjab. She…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Paris for a two-day visit, receiving a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora. Expressing their excitement, members of the community hailed PM Modi’s frequent visits and India’s growing ties with France. During his visit, PM Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit, a gathering of global leaders and tech CEOs to discuss AI’s role in innovation and public welfare. He will also review progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership with French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit includes a trip to Marseille, where Modi and Macron will inaugurate the…
The 2016 romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane, has made an unexpected comeback at the box office. Re-released after nine years, the film is now achieving the success it initially missed. According to industry sources, the movie’s two-day earnings have already exceeded its lifetime revenue from its original run. On its opening day, the film grossed approximately $510,000, more than tripling its initial box office debut in 2016. By the second day, it saw an impressive 15% rise, bringing in another $600,000. This pushed the total earnings from its re-release to around $1.1 million, surpassing…
Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, stirred controversy by playfully challenging Elon Musk in the wake of the USAID shutdown. In a bold post on X, he quipped, “Considering raising $500B from USAID. Funding secured. Stop me if you can @elonmusk,” taking a direct jab at the Tesla and SpaceX chief. This remark followed a drastic move by the Trump administration, which ordered the largest dismissal in USAID history, citing corruption as the main reason. The agency, which once employed over 10,000 individuals worldwide—two-thirds of them stationed outside the US—saw thousands of employees let go. Reports indicate that…
Former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is moving closer to becoming the next director of national intelligence under President Trump. On Feb. 4, the Senate Intelligence Committee approved her nomination with full Republican support, while every Democrat opposed it. With a 9-8 Republican majority, Gabbard now awaits a full Senate vote on Feb. 13, where she is expected to be confirmed despite strong opposition from Democrats. Meanwhile, Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, faces delays in his confirmation process. The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Patel’s vote after Democrats demanded a second hearing, citing concerns about his past statements and transparency.…
Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant has alleged that her India visa application was rejected three times without explanation, while her husband was granted an emergency visa to visit her ailing mother. In a series of posts on X, Sawant stated that officials at the Indian consulate in Seattle informed her that her name was on a “reject list” but refused to provide any reasons. She and members of the activist group Workers Strike Back staged a peaceful demonstration at the consulate, demanding an explanation for the repeated denials. The Indian consulate, however, claimed that Sawant and others engaged in “aggressive and…
BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, is significantly increasing its workforce in India, planning to hire 1,200 professionals across its support centers in Mumbai and Gurugram. This expansion will boost BlackRock’s current workforce in these locations by about one-third, adding to its existing 3,500 employees, according to a report by Moneycontrol. The company’s hiring spree is focused on enhancing its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and expanding its innovation hubs, known as iHubs. These centers manage key functions such as investment research, financial engineering, business operations, risk management, and data analytics. BlackRock is particularly looking for engineers and data specialists…
Luxury shopping in India is witnessing a significant shift, with smaller towns emerging as key growth drivers, thanks to the rise of online retail. A report by Tata Cliq Luxury reveals that cities like Botad in Gujarat and Asansol in West Bengal are now fueling demand for premium brands, moving beyond traditional metropolitan markets such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. This trend is largely driven by the “Henry” demographic—high earners who are not yet wealthy but have rising disposable incomes. These consumers, primarily working professionals, are actively investing in luxury goods, with notable growth in footwear, watches, clothing, and accessories.…