Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has officially signed the House of Worship bill (HB 2594) into law, a bipartisan initiative introduced by Delegate JJ Singh to enhance safety measures at religious institutions. The legislation, which takes effect July 1, outlines proactive practices for preventing and responding to hate crimes directed at places of worship, aiming to create secure, welcoming environments for people of all faiths. Delegate Singh, the first turbaned Sikh elected to a U.S. state legislature, emphasized the bill’s importance in safeguarding the right to worship freely and without fear. “This is a critical step toward protecting our communities and…

Dr. Nandita Shah, a physician and the founder of SHARAN India (Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature), recently conducted a day-long seminar highlighting how whole food plant-based (WFPB) nutrition can help prevent and even reverse chronic illnesses. The event drew a large, engaged audience eager to learn how dietary choices can impact conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity. The seminar opened with a live green smoothie demonstration, offering participants a practical, dairy-free, and nutrient-dense breakfast alternative. Dr. Shah underscored the nutritional superiority of whole, unprocessed foods over heavily processed products that are stripped of…

In the 2025 consolidated local elections in Naperville, Illinois, three Indian Americans emerged as projected winners, securing key roles in local governance. Supna Jain, an incumbent and experienced educator, won re-election to the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board, securing 20% of the votes. With a background in academia, she is committed to enhancing education and has played a vital role in addressing remote learning challenges, strategic planning, and facility assessments during her tenure. Ashfaq Syed made history by becoming the first Indian American elected to the Naperville City Council. A finance and banking professional, Syed has a strong record…

The highly anticipated trailer for “Kesari Chapter 2” has finally been released, featuring Akshay Kumar in a commanding role as Sir C. Sankaran Nair. The film, set against the tragic backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, delves into Nair’s relentless fight for justice against the British Empire, promising an intense, historically significant, and emotionally charged narrative. The makers unveiled the gripping trailer on social media, captioning it, “This is a wound. This is a roar. This… is #KesariChapter2! Trailer out now. Link in bio. In cinemas 18th April, worldwide.” The trailer begins with a powerful courtroom exchange, where Akshay Kumar’s…

Indian American scientist Dipanjan Pan, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, has received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a synthetic blood substitute that mimics the functions of human red blood cells. A press release from Penn State on March 31, 2025, highlighted that blood loss remains the leading cause of death among trauma patients aged 1 to 46. Limited access to safe blood supplies often results in preventable fatalities, prompting Pan and his research team to explore a breakthrough solution—freeze-dried synthetic blood. Holding the Dorothy Foehr Huck & J. Lloyd Chair in…

Indian-origin astrophysicist Anirudh Karambelkar has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship, a highly competitive program designed to support outstanding early-career researchers in astrophysics. The fellowship, which had over 650 applicants this year, provides up to three years of research funding at a US institution and aims to nurture future leaders in the field. The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) is divided into three categories based on key cosmic questions: Einstein Fellows focus on fundamental physics, Hubble Fellows explore cosmic origins, and Sagan Fellows investigate the potential for extraterrestrial life. Karambelkar was selected as a Hubble Fellow for his work on…

Despite facing challenges in finalizing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) ahead of President Trump’s April 2 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, the US administration remains optimistic about a “golden age” in US-India relations. This optimism is conveyed through statements from high-ranking officials, including US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who reached out to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss trade and other issues. Although the negotiations between the two countries, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, showed progress over several days of intense talks, they were unable to reach a final agreement. Trump, who previously criticized India’s…

Umesh Mishra, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), has been awarded the 2025 Central Coast Innovation Award. The honor, presented at the annual Pacific Coast Business Times event at the Santa Barbara Hilton, recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to semiconductor technology and power electronics. The Central Coast Innovation Awards celebrate emerging technology and entrepreneurship in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Hosted in collaboration with UCSB’s California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the event highlights the region’s role as a hub for innovation. Mishra, a leading expert in gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, has…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to lower the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) in its upcoming April policy meeting, as projected by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). This adjustment is expected to be part of a broader reduction totaling 75 bps during FY26. According to Ind-Ra, headline inflation for FY25 is estimated to decline to 4.7%. However, if US retaliatory tariffs have a greater-than-expected impact, the RBI may introduce further monetary easing measures. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI is set to convene six times in FY26, with its initial meeting scheduled between…

India and the United States have had a “very open and active discussion” on trade, leading to an agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to finalize a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall this year, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Speaking at an event in Delhi on Wednesday, Jaishankar highlighted ongoing trade negotiations and recalled Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to the US in February. He noted that defense cooperation has seen notable progress, with the US showing greater openness in sharing technology and strengthening security partnerships. The proposed BTA comes as the…