Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Artificial intelligence commentator Dwarkesh Patel and digital marketing entrepreneur Shama Hyder have secured places on the TIME100 Creators 2026 list, an annual recognition honoring influential individuals who are shaping conversations, industries, and online culture through digital platforms. At just 25 years old, Patel has built a strong reputation through the Dwarkesh Podcast, where he hosts detailed discussions on artificial intelligence with leading experts and innovators. Based in San Francisco, Patel has interviewed prominent figures such as AI researcher Andrej Karpathy and Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang. According to TIME, each episode attracts an average audience of more than 1.8…

Puri, Odisha, is witnessing one of India’s largest religious celebrations as the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra begins with thousands of devotees gathering in the temple town despite heavy rainfall and unfavorable weather conditions. Nearly 200,000 pilgrims have already reached Puri to participate in the grand festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. During the historic procession, the three decorated chariots carrying the deities will travel along the Grand Road from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple, located around 2.6 kilometers away. The traditional journey is considered one of the most significant events in Odisha’s…

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have introduced a comprehensive transportation initiative designed to create a faster, more dependable, and more accessible bus network across the city. Named “Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service,” the program represents a joint effort between the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to significantly improve the daily commuting experience for millions of residents. The city has committed approximately $254 million in operational funding and $628 million in capital investments over the next five fiscal years to implement the project.…

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has held a series of high-level discussions with European Union officials and Belgian leaders in Brussels to strengthen India’s economic and strategic partnerships with Europe. The meetings focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, clean energy, technology, and sustainable industrial development. During his discussions with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, Goyal explored ways to deepen collaboration in the agri-food sector following the successful conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Both sides discussed opportunities to create stronger agricultural supply chains, improve food security, and encourage sustainable growth…

India’s export sector maintained strong growth momentum during the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, with combined merchandise and services exports increasing significantly compared with the previous year. According to government data, total exports during April-June 2026 reached $232.73 billion, reflecting an annual growth rate of 11.37%. Merchandise exports recorded particularly strong performance, rising 15.92% to $129.32 billion during the quarter. Non-petroleum exports also showed steady expansion, growing 12.44% to $106.30 billion, indicating broad-based growth across manufacturing and value-added industries. In June 2026 alone, India’s merchandise exports stood at $40.41 billion, contributing to total monthly exports of $73.45 billion. The…

The Indian Heritage & Cultural Association of New Jersey (IHCA-NJ) successfully concluded the 11th Annual Natya Darpan Multilingual Short Play Festival on July 11, 2026, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. The annual event brought together playwrights, directors, performers, and theater lovers from different communities to celebrate the power of storytelling and promote meaningful conversations through performing arts. The festival featured five original productions presented in Marathi, Hindi, English, and multilingual formats. Each performance explored important social themes while highlighting the creativity and dedication of artists from diverse backgrounds. The event was inaugurated by Consul Upendra…

Sunita Kanchinadam has made history by becoming the first woman to serve as president of TiE Boston, marking a major milestone for the entrepreneurship organization in its nearly 30-year journey. She officially assumed the role on July 1 and will serve a two-year term, succeeding former president Purnanand Sarma. As the new president, Kanchinadam will oversee one of the largest entrepreneurship networks in Massachusetts. TiE Boston plays a key role in supporting startups by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and mentors throughout the New England region. The organization is widely recognized for fostering innovation, mentorship, and business growth. Kanchinadam…

Members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand have expressed excitement ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Many community members said they had been waiting for the visit for years and believed it could bring positive developments for both India and New Zealand. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit New Zealand for two days from July 10 to 11 at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The visit will mark the first time an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to…

Pranavam School of Dance is commemorating a decade of promoting Indian classical dance with the debut of an original Bharatanatyam production titled “Gaanapathyam.” The anniversary performance is scheduled for July 25 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Jersey and highlights the school’s continued dedication to cultural education, artistic excellence, and community engagement. Designed as a theatrical presentation rather than a traditional annual recital, the production brings together nearly 80 performers representing multiple age groups, from young children to adult dancers. The show narrates the story of Lord Ganesha through an engaging blend of Bharatanatyam, original choreography, music,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has transformed its economic DNA over the past 12 years by embracing the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, or continuous improvement, while highlighting the country’s emergence as one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations for Japanese businesses. Addressing the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, recording a GDP growth rate of 7.7 per cent in the last financial year. He noted that sustained reforms and a commitment to continuous improvement have strengthened the country’s economic foundation and enhanced its…