Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The Italy–India Business Forum 2025, hosted in Mumbai during the official visit of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, marked a major milestone in strengthening the economic ties between the two nations. The forum served as a platform where senior government leaders, industry representatives, and over 150 companies from both sides gathered to explore fresh opportunities in trade, technology, and long-term collaboration. A diverse set of sectors dominated the discussions—including automotive innovations, waste-to-energy solutions, renewable energy systems, agri-food advancements, sports technology, industrial connectivity, and next-generation manufacturing capabilities. The event emphasized not only trade growth but also the creation of sustainable…

Menka Soni has created a historic milestone in the United States by becoming the first Indian-American woman to take her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita after being elected to the Redmond City Council in Washington state. Speaking to ANI, Soni explained that she wanted her swearing-in ceremony to reflect her values, cultural heritage, and spiritual beliefs. “I am deeply spiritual, and I maintain a small temple at home. I am a vegetarian and celebrate festivals like Navratri, Holi, and Diwali. Spiritually, we have never really left India,” she said. She added that taking the oath on the Gita…

Two of the most prominent Indian American voices in the U.S. Congress—Representative Ami Bera and Representative Pramila Jayapal—delivered some of the most forceful and substantive remarks during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on the US-India strategic partnership. Both lawmakers pushed for a steadier, more principled, and aspiration-driven roadmap for the relationship between Washington and New Delhi. Bera, a California Democrat and one of the longest-serving Indian American members in Congress, emphasized that support for India spans administrations and political parties. He pointed to a bipartisan resolution recently introduced by 24 lawmakers, outlining three decades of U.S. strategic engagement with…

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will arrive in India on Wednesday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening political, economic, and strategic cooperation between the two countries. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Tajani will hold discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi before travelling to Mumbai for a series of meetings and official engagements on Thursday. He is scheduled to depart from Mumbai on Friday. The visit comes amid renewed momentum in India–Italy relations, highlighted by the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on…

 US President Donald Trump has signaled that new tariffs on certain agricultural imports may be imminent, focusing particularly on rice from India and fertilizer from Canada. The announcement came during a White House event where he introduced a $12 billion farm assistance plan aimed at supporting American farmers, even as trade negotiations with India and Canada show little progress. Trump emphasized that these measures are critical to protecting domestic producers from what he described as unfair foreign competition. Trump stated that imports from India are putting US farmers at a disadvantage. During the discussion, Louisiana rice producers were highlighted, noting…

Russia has reiterated that India will continue purchasing fuel where it finds the best economic advantage, underscoring New Delhi’s sovereign right to determine its own trade priorities. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said India conducts foreign trade in line with national interests and is expected to maintain the same approach following President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to New Delhi. He described the visit as highly successful and said Moscow fully understands India’s position on sourcing energy competitively. Peskov’s remarks aligned with President Putin’s assurances that Russia remains one of India’s most dependable energy suppliers. After talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,…

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has announced that Dr. Gurpreet S. Dhillon will become the next dean of the College of Business Administration starting January 12, 2026, pending the final approval of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Dr. Dhillon is widely recognized for his scholarship and global leadership, and he currently holds the G. Brint Ryan Endowed Chair in AI and Cybersecurity at the University of North Texas. With more than twenty years of academic and administrative experience across several continents, Dr. Dhillon brings an extensive portfolio of research, innovation, and institutional leadership to his new role.…

India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, recently hosted a high-level bipartisan delegation of US Senators in Washington, DC, marking another step forward in the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. The meeting took place at India House, where leaders exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in defense, energy, and trade — three pillars central to the evolving India–US relationship. The visiting group included Senators Lindsey Graham, Dan Sullivan, and Markwayne Mullin from the Republican Party, alongside Democratic Senators Peter Welch, Richard Blumenthal, and Sheldon Whitehouse. Their presence underscored strong bipartisan support in Washington for deepening engagement with…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted how the ascent of C P Radhakrishnan—from a modest rural upbringing to becoming the Vice President of India—demonstrates the true spirit and strength of Indian democracy. He expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan’s experience, humility, and long-standing commitment to public service would help foster productive debates and constructive leadership in the Rajya Sabha. Elected in September as India’s 15th Vice President, Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan assumed the role of the ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. As the Winter Session of Parliament began, Modi extended warm congratulations and said he hoped the Upper House, under…

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University has announced that Siddharth Pandey, a location intelligence manager at Deloitte, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS). His selection adds new industry expertise to the alumni leadership body. The GEMS Board consists of 16 individuals, including 15 elected members and the immediate past president. Established in 1994, the board supports the GEMS Alumni Society by shaping its initiatives, strengthening alumni engagement, and promoting professional development opportunities. Board members are nominated and elected by the wider GEMS membership…