Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Taapsee Pannu takes center stage in Gandhari, an ambitious thriller that combines child abduction, human trafficking, revenge and mythology. While the Netflix film has several ingredients needed for an engaging suspense drama, its crowded screenplay and uneven storytelling prevent it from becoming as emotionally powerful as its premise suggests. Directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon, Gandhari follows Bani, played by Pannu, whose five-year-old daughter, Mishty, is abducted from the fictional West Bengal town of Joypurra. As Bani and her husband Gokul, portrayed by Ishwak Singh, search desperately for their child, they become connected to a…

India has expressed strong support for the United States’ priorities during its G20 presidency, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting economic growth, global imbalances and financial literacy as areas where New Delhi and Washington share significant common ground. Speaking after the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville, Sitharaman said India welcomed the agenda being advanced by the US presidency. According to her, economic growth remains a central concern for the G20 financial track, while global imbalances require open and meaningful discussions among major economies. She also emphasized that financial literacy has received special attention under the US leadership, an issue…

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has reached an agreement with the US over drug pricing, securing a two-year reprieve from tariffs while making additional commitments regarding the prices of its medicines. The arrangement is expected to provide the Indian pharmaceutical major with greater certainty as it expands its presence in the US market. The agreement represents a trade-off for Sun Pharma. While the company receives temporary protection from tariffs, it has agreed to extend its pricing commitments to Medicaid and apply the arrangement to medicines that it launches in the future. The move reflects the growing pressure on pharmaceutical companies to balance…

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has called on members of the Bharatiya diaspora in the United States to remain committed and loyal to the country they live in while continuing to uphold the values inherited from Bharat. Speaking at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York, Bhagwat described Bharat as the janma bhumi, or land of birth, of the diaspora, while referring to their country of residence as their karma bhumi, where they have responsibilities and duties to fulfill. Addressing members of the Indian diaspora, Bhagwat said that those living, working and earning in the…

Two Indian-American aerospace researchers are set to take part in an unprecedented space research effort in 2027, with a mission focused on understanding how menstruation and menstrual products behave in microgravity. The project aims to address a long-standing gap in human spaceflight research and could provide valuable information for future missions. Manju Bangalore, 28, and Priya Abiram, 22, are expected to lead Operation Period-01, a suborbital research flight being developed by the nonprofit Operation Period through its Redshift Lab. The mission is planned to fly with Virgin Galactic and could make the researchers some of the youngest South Asian women…

India’s private space sector has reached a significant milestone, with Skyroot Aerospace becoming the first Indian private company to place payloads into orbit using a domestically developed launch vehicle, according to a recent report. The achievement marks a major development in India’s growing commercial space industry and places the country among an expanding group of nations competing in the global private launch market. Skyroot Aerospace successfully deployed multiple payloads into low Earth orbit using its Vikram-1 rocket. The development has drawn attention in Europe, where several private launcher projects are yet to provide operational orbital launch services. A report by…

National India Hub in Schaumburg became the center of a major Indian American community celebration as more than 100 organizations gathered for INDIA FEST 2026 on August 15. The event brought together community leaders, volunteers, elected officials, cultural figures and families for a day focused on Indian heritage, unity and service. The celebration featured several prominent guests, including Indian dance and film icon Prabhu Deva, journalist Chitra Tripathi and Lt. Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon. Sixteen elected officials also participated, underscoring the growing civic and community presence of the Indian American population in Illinois. A major highlight came when Illinois State Senator…

Vivek Ramaswamy received a significant endorsement for his campaign to become Ohio’s next governor when Vice President JD Vance publicly backed the Republican candidate during an appearance in Middletown on August 21. Vance praised Ramaswamy as a strong candidate and said he believed his fellow Republican would become the state’s next chief executive. The endorsement came during an event at a Cleveland-Cliffs steel facility, where the company announced a $1 billion investment in its operations. Vance used the occasion to connect Ramaswamy’s campaign with themes central to the Trump administration, including domestic manufacturing, American workers and economic nationalism. Vance, who…

India is positioning itself as a major technology hub by building on its strengths in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, electronics, and renewable energy. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the country’s biggest advantage in AI is its applications layer, where India’s established information technology industry and experience in solving enterprise challenges provide a strong foundation for innovation. The country’s startup ecosystem is increasingly embracing artificial intelligence. Nearly 80% of startups emerging in India are reportedly working on AI-driven solutions, reflecting the growing role of the technology across industries. The focus on practical applications could allow Indian companies to develop solutions tailored…

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has indicated that Washington could reconsider its travel guidance for Jammu and Kashmir following his first visit to the region since taking up his diplomatic post. His comments came during a two-day trip covering Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, signaling potentially closer U.S. engagement with the Union Territory. The current U.S. State Department advisory places Jammu and Kashmir under its highest-risk travel category, warning American citizens against visiting most of the region because of concerns related to terrorism and civil unrest. The guidance makes an exception for eastern Ladakh and Leh. Gor arrived in…