Author: Bhakti Sharma

US Vice President James David Vance is currently in Jaipur with his wife Usha Vance and their three children, soaking in the city’s royal legacy during a multi-day diplomatic visit to India. After meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a spiritual stop at Akshardham Temple in Delhi, the family landed in Jaipur late Monday and checked into the historic Rambagh Palace. On Tuesday morning, Vance and his family arrived at the grand Amer Fort. Traveling in an open-top jeep from Hathi Stand, they admired architectural marvels along the route, including Maotha Lake and the Kesar Kyari Garden. To ensure…

In celebration of its 100th year, the Guggenheim Foundation has announced the 2025 recipients of its prestigious fellowships. Among the 198 selected from nearly 3,500 applications across 53 disciplines, four Indian American professors stand out for their exceptional contributions to science, society, and storytelling. Swarat Chaudhuri, a computer science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence in mathematics. His AI tool Copra predicts theorem steps using large language models, and with his fellowship, he plans to create AI agents that generate new math problems and evaluate their creativity. His ultimate vision: AI…

Forbes has released its 2025 World’s Billionaires List, with several Indian Americans making their mark among the global elite, despite none reaching the top 200. These individuals have built fortunes across industries such as technology, cybersecurity, aviation, and finance, showcasing the expanding global impact of Indian-origin entrepreneurs. Among the most prominent is Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, who has amassed $7.5 billion through decades of innovation in Silicon Valley, particularly in AI and green tech. Jay Chaudhry, CEO of cloud security firm Zscaler, appears on the list with a net worth of $8.3 billion.…

Maryland took a major step forward in the fight against the opioid crisis with its first-ever Substance Use Awareness Advocacy Day on April 2. The event, held at Lawyer’s Mall, brought together community advocates, government officials, and public health leaders to spotlight progress and ongoing challenges in addressing substance use across the state. Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller and Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller led the day’s efforts, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to saving lives. “The battle is tough, but determination and action are making a real difference,” Miller said. “With support from our General Assembly partners, we’re…

French carmaker Renault Group announced on Monday that it will acquire the remaining 51 per cent stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), currently held by Nissan Motor Corp, thereby becoming the sole owner of the company. This move marks a significant restructuring within the Renault-Nissan alliance, impacting both companies’ operational strategies in India. Despite selling its stake in RNAIPL, Japanese automaker Nissan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian market, with a focus on strengthening its presence and expanding market coverage. The company emphasized that RNAIPL would continue producing Nissan vehicles, including the new Nissan Magnite, ensuring…

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has recognized Congressman Ami Bera, MD (CA-D), with the 2025 Legislative Champion Award for his bipartisan dedication to advancing nuclear medicine research. The award was presented at SNMMI’s Hill Day on March 26, 2025. Congressman Bera played a crucial role in securing language within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Fiscal Year 2024 funding legislation, emphasizing the importance of nuclear medicine research in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). His efforts have contributed to enhancing medical outcomes for service members while helping reduce the DoD’s financial strain related to cancer treatment.…

In August 2024, Google lost a major antitrust lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), with Judge Amit Mehta declaring the company a monopolist that has acted to maintain its dominance. A key point in the case was Google’s $20 billion annual payment to Apple to remain the default search engine. As part of its proposed remedies, the DOJ is pushing Google to sell its Chrome browser, which holds nearly 90% of the global market share, exceeding that figure on mobile devices. A revised filing by the DOJ states, “Google must divest the Chrome browser… to allow a new…

Indian-origin US Second Lady Usha Vance has been chosen to lead the presidential delegation to the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy, as announced by President Donald Trump’s office. The prestigious event will take place in Turin, with the opening ceremony scheduled for March 7. According to the White House statement, the official delegation will comprise key officials, including Shawn Crowley, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Italy and San Marino, Trent Michael Morse, Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, Riley Barnes from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and Douglass Benning, Consul General at the US Consulate…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that a shifting global power structure toward multipolarity aligns well with India’s strategic interests. Speaking at Chatham House in London, he stated that many of the priorities set by the Trump administration benefited India, particularly in energy stability and technological advancements. Jaishankar noted that while the world is embracing multipolarity, this does not extend to currency. Dismissing claims of an anti-dollar stance within BRICS, he clarified that India has no policy to replace the dollar as the global reserve currency. Instead, he stressed that economic stability relies on the dollar’s availability, adding that many…

Born in a small village in India, Sam Maddula faced immense challenges from birth—poverty and legal blindness shaped his uncertain future. His fate changed in 1987 when his parents discovered an Eye Camp run by the Eye Foundation of America (EFA) in Andhra Pradesh. This organization not only secured him a visa to the United States but also connected him with Dr. VK Raju, who performed dual corneal transplants at no cost when Maddula was just two years old. “That surgery transformed my life,” he recalls, expressing deep gratitude for the foundation’s role in his journey. Speaking at an Eye…