Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Indian-American executive Srini Gopalan has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile, taking the helm from November 1, 2025. The announcement comes amid growing concern over recent changes in US H-1B visa policies, including the unprecedented $100,000 fee for new visa applications introduced by President Donald Trump. This policy shift has generated widespread apprehension among Indian professionals working in the United States. Gopalan, who currently serves as T-Mobile’s Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Mike Sievert, the company’s CEO since 2020. Under Sievert’s leadership, T-Mobile has expanded its 5G network and strengthened its market position, and Gopalan is expected…

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump share a “very positive relationship” despite recent tensions in India-US ties, according to a senior U.S. State Department official. The official confirmed that a bilateral meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place soon, along with ongoing efforts to schedule the next Quad Leaders summit, either later this year or early next year. “I’m confident you’ll see Modi and Trump meet. They maintain a very strong rapport,” the official said, noting that multiple developments are underway in the India-US relationship, promising continued positive momentum. The official also indicated that discussions…

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, began a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka with high-level engagements aimed at strengthening defence and maritime partnerships. On Tuesday, he met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo, where discussions centred on enhancing naval cooperation, operational collaboration, and regional maritime security. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a long-standing naval partnership through deeper training exchanges, capacity-building initiatives, and joint participation in multilateral maritime platforms such as MILAN, the International Fleet Review, and the Admiral’s Cup Regatta. Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasised the need for collective regional efforts to secure…

Indian-American organisations have strongly criticised President Donald Trump’s recent order imposing a one-time $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, calling it a reckless and xenophobic move that threatens both America’s economy and immigrant communities. The Trump administration announced the measure on September 19, 2025, sparking widespread concern among foreign professionals and families already dealing with emergencies abroad. Indian American Impact, a leading advocacy group, described the decision as a deliberate attempt to weaponise immigration rather than protect American jobs. “This isn’t about safeguarding employment opportunities—it’s about pushing a xenophobic agenda,” said Chintan Patel, Executive Director of Indian American Impact. He added…

As India celebrates the vibrant festival of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt wishes to citizens, hoping for health, prosperity, and happiness across the nation. In a letter shared on X, the Prime Minister also announced the launch of the Next Generation GST reforms starting September 22, marking the start of the nationwide ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ or ‘GST Savings Festival.’ The new GST framework simplifies taxation and directly benefits all sections of society, including farmers, women, youth, low-income groups, middle-class families, traders, and MSMEs. The revised structure features two main tax slabs—5% and 18%. Essentials such as food, medicines,…

 JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, has instructed its H-1B visa holders currently outside the country to return before September 21, following President Donald Trump’s new order that places an annual $100,000 fee on companies for each skilled foreign worker employed under the H-1B program. The directive, which came into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on September 21, has sent ripples through the technology and banking industries, particularly Indian IT firms that are heavily dependent on these visas to deploy engineers and consultants to American clients. According to Reuters, JPMorgan’s external immigration counsel sent a precautionary email…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that India’s greatest obstacle is not any external adversary but its deep reliance on foreign nations. Addressing a gathering in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, he emphasized that dependence undermines strength, dignity, and global standing. “We have no significant enemy worldwide. Our only true enemy is dependence on others,” Modi said. “The larger our reliance, the greater our national failure. The future of 1.4 billion Indians cannot be left in foreign hands.” The Prime Minister linked his remarks to the broader vision of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), highlighting it as the foundation for India’s progress. According to him,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a gathering in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh on his 75th birthday, praised the Indian armed forces for their decisive strike in Operation Sindoor. He highlighted how the offensive left Pakistan-backed terror groups shaken, with a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander admitting the devastating impact of the May 7 operation. The Prime Minister referred to a recently surfaced confession video in which senior JeM figure Masood Ilyas Kashmiri revealed that the Indian military destroyed their Bahawalpur base, inflicting heavy casualties on the family of the group’s leader, Maulana Masood Azhar. Modi said, “Just yesterday, the nation and the…

India and the European Union are set to hold the 14th round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement in Brussels from October 6 to 10. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal affirmed that both sides are committed to forging a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement in the near future. While acknowledging that not all issues may see immediate consensus, Goyal expressed confidence in reaching a “very good agreement” through the ongoing discussions. Intense negotiations between Indian and EU teams have been underway to address key trade and investment matters, with the 13th round having been conducted from September…

Kashyap Pramod Patel, who took charge as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2025, has been thrust into the spotlight for his role in the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His appointment to this position reflects a career marked by years of experience across criminal defense, prosecution, national security, and political advising. Patel’s trajectory provides an extraordinary look at how law, intelligence, and politics converge at the highest levels of American power. Born in Garden City, New York, in 1980, Patel’s upbringing was deeply influenced by his family’s history. His father, a Ugandan refugee…