Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s accelerating economic and technological advancement could soon make it a defining “third pole” in an increasingly multipolar world, said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former foreign secretary and current Rajya Sabha member. Speaking at the Pune International Centre, Shringla cautioned that India must not allow its strategic influence to diminish, particularly as global power equations appear to be shifting toward a G2 model led by the United States and China. He pointed out that the idea of a G2 framework—where Washington and Beijing jointly steer major international issues—was earlier hinted at by former US President Donald Trump before his meeting with…

Republican Congressman Rich McCormick, who co-chairs the India Caucus, has called for a renewed and stronger partnership between India and the United States. Speaking at the Hudson Institute, McCormick emphasized that collaboration between the world’s largest and oldest democracies could usher in “another generation of global peace and prosperity.” Highlighting the deepening strategic ties, McCormick urged former President Donald Trump to keep India close, describing it as a vital friend in shaping a peaceful and prosperous world order. “When you combine the oldest democracy with the largest, it creates a partnership that can drive development and ensure global stability for…

Deepti Sharma delivered a once-in-a-generation performance as India claimed its first-ever 50-over Women’s World Cup title, ending decades of anticipation. The final, played on November 2, 2025, at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, will be remembered for Sharma’s brilliance with both bat and ball — a display that defined India’s triumph and secured her place in cricketing folklore. Coming in after a strong opening partnership, Sharma steadied the innings during a tense middle phase. Her composed 58 off 58 balls came at a time when India needed calm and control. With her steady presence, she rebuilt the innings and helped…

India’s digital economy reached new heights this festive season as Unified Payments Interface (UPI) emerged as the most preferred mode of payment, recording transactions worth $200 billion. The Bank of Baroda report revealed a sharp jump from last year’s $170 billion, signaling strong consumer confidence and widespread digital adoption during the Dussehra and Diwali shopping period. According to the data, UPI transaction values rose 2.6% month-on-month in September 2025, underscoring its role as the backbone of India’s cashless ecosystem. Debit card transactions also saw impressive momentum, climbing to $7.37 billion, up from $3.11 billion a year earlier — reflecting a…

Nikita Bhalerao, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at UMass Chan Medical School, has been honored with the 2025 Rising Star Award by the National Pancreas Foundation and a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance (PCA). Her research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Pitarresi, focuses on unraveling the complex biological mechanisms behind cancer cachexia, a condition marked by severe and uncontrollable weight loss that affects nearly 80% of pancreatic cancer patients. The Rising Star Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional promise, innovation, and compassion in advancing the understanding and management of pancreatic diseases. The PCA fellowship…

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday directed the state’s public universities to “pull the plug” on hiring employees through H-1B visas, a move that could end the employment of hundreds of international faculty and researchers across Florida’s higher education system. DeSantis made the remarks during a speech at the University of South Florida, criticizing the H-1B program as a system that allows universities and tech firms to hire cheaper foreign labor instead of Americans. He called the visa holders “indentured servants,” urging universities to prioritize Florida residents and U.S. citizens. “Why do we need to bring someone from China to…

India has officially risen to become the fourth-largest producer of renewable energy in the world, achieving an installed capacity of 257 gigawatts (GW) — a remarkable threefold increase from 81 GW in 2014, according to Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi. Speaking at the eighth International Solar Alliance Assembly, the minister highlighted India’s unprecedented progress in the clean energy sector, particularly in solar power generation and manufacturing. Joshi noted that the nation’s solar capacity skyrocketed from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 128 GW in 2025, reflecting rapid growth driven by government-backed initiatives and private investments. On the…

During his Asia tour, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and New Delhi are close to signing a long-awaited trade agreement. Speaking before Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) business leaders in South Korea, Trump said discussions between the two nations had advanced significantly, signaling renewed momentum in strengthening bilateral trade relations. Expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump described him as “the nicest-looking guy” and “tough as hell,” praising their strong rapport. While addressing the forum, he also revisited his claim of helping broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May—a statement New Delhi has…

In a move likely aimed at easing trade tensions with the Trump administration, India has significantly increased its crude oil imports from the United States. According to Kpler data, imports in October have surged to 540,000 barrels per day (bpd) as of October 27 — the highest since 2022. A PTI report indicated that this increase reflects India’s strategy to diversify its energy sources beyond Russia while addressing recent trade challenges with Washington. Energy analyst Sumit Ritolia of Kpler attributed the surge to favourable market conditions, including widened price differentials between Brent and WTI, reduced Chinese demand, and improved arbitrage…

In celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of India’s Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) in Chicago hosted a Unity Walk, drawing over 60 attendees despite the brisk 50°F (10°C) weather. The event symbolized Patel’s enduring legacy of strength and national unity. Several prominent figures graced the occasion, including FIA Trustees Kantibhai N. Patel, Dr. Rashmi Patel, Rakesh Malhotra, and Hina Trivedi, along with Executives Amar Upadhyay, Joy (Dipen) Shah, and Anil Singh. Community leaders such as Haribhai Patel, Sanjay Vora, Manish Patel, Vandana Jhingan, and Anurag Awasthi also participated, emphasizing Patel’s timeless message of…