Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The Association of Indians in America–New York (AIA-NY) is preparing to welcome families and communities to its 39th Annual Deepavali Festival on October 3, 2026, at Overlook Beach in Babylon, Long Island. The celebration will bring together Indian Americans and visitors from across the New York metropolitan region for a day dedicated to culture, tradition and community spirit. Scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the event will offer free admission and parking, making it accessible to families and guests of all backgrounds. Organizers are inviting attendees to experience the Festival of Lights through music, dance, food, art and…

The United States is preparing to deploy its advanced F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets for joint combat drills with the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Tarang Shakti 2026, marking the aircraft’s first participation in a military exercise on Indian soil. The development represents a notable expansion of operational engagement between the two countries’ air forces. The multinational air exercise is scheduled to take place at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 26 to October 12. Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit confirmed the F-35’s planned participation while indicating that certain operational details may…

Starbucks is preparing to expand its technology footprint in India with the establishment of a new technology hub in Chennai, marking a significant step in the coffee giant’s efforts to strengthen its global digital and business operations. The company confirmed the location on September 21, following earlier plans to establish an Indian technology center during fiscal year 2027. The upcoming Chennai facility will function as part of Starbucks’ international Technology organization, supporting business requirements across the company’s global network. Its teams are expected to collaborate with technology and business professionals based in the United States and other international locations, including…

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., during the 11th JPMorgan India Investor Conference held in Mumbai on September 21. The meeting brought together two prominent figures from India’s financial and global banking sectors amid continued discussions about the country’s economic growth and investment potential. According to the Ministry of Finance, Dimon spoke with Sitharaman on the sidelines of the conference, which featured investors, policymakers, and business leaders examining India’s economic trajectory and opportunities across various sectors. The gathering served as a platform for discussions on market developments, investment prospects,…

NEW DELHI: The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on October 20, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. India and New Zealand signed the trade agreement on April 27, with the pact aimed at expanding bilateral trade in goods and services while creating greater opportunities for investment between the two countries. “I’m delighted that we are taking forward the next important milestone in our bilateral economic partnership: the entry into force of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which will come into force on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra on 20th of October,…

NASA’s Indian-American senior official Amit Kshatriya has highlighted the growing capabilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), expressing optimism about expanding collaboration between the two space agencies in scientific research and human spaceflight. Kshatriya, who serves as NASA’s Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer, described the existing relationship between NASA and ISRO as an important partnership. Speaking during an interaction at New York’s Intrepid Museum, he acknowledged India’s progress in developing advanced space missions and its increasing involvement in human space exploration. He specifically pointed to the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission as an example of successful…

India and Bhutan have reaffirmed the strength of their longstanding partnership, reviewing a broad range of bilateral, regional and international matters during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Bhutan. Jaishankar traveled to Bhutan from September 16-18 at the invitation of Bhutanese Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Lyonpo D. N. Dhungyel. During the visit, both sides assessed progress across multiple areas of cooperation and welcomed continued momentum in their relationship. A joint statement issued on September 18 highlighted advances in development cooperation under the leadership of Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India…

Agimol Pradeep, an Indian-origin nurse based in the United Kingdom, has been named the recipient of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026. The award comes with a $250,000 prize and recognizes her work in transplant nursing, organ donation and stem cell donor awareness. Originally from Kottayam, Kerala, Pradeep decided at an early age that she wanted to pursue nursing. She completed her nursing diploma at CSI Hospital in Bengaluru before undertaking additional training in dialysis and gaining experience at Manipal Hospital. She moved to the UK and began working as a transplant nurse at a Manchester hospital in 2001.…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked leaders of BRICS member countries for contributing to a productive and outcome-oriented summit hosted by India in New Delhi. Modi shared a video on his social media platforms highlighting key moments from the two-day gathering, held on September 12 and 13. The video also featured excerpts from his summit address, in which he emphasized India’s efforts to strengthen friendship, partnership and cooperation through the BRICS grouping. The summit brought together leaders and senior representatives from the expanded BRICS membership, reflecting the grouping’s growing international footprint. Among those attending were Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese…

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga is set to join an influential gathering of international leaders, business executives, philanthropists and social advocates at the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2026 Annual Meeting in New York. The two-day event is scheduled for September 22 and 23 and will bring together prominent voices to explore practical approaches to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The 2026 meeting will be centered on the theme “How Do We Get It Right?” and is expected to examine issues spanning technology, economic opportunity, public health, humanitarian action, climate resilience and democratic institutions. The event aims to encourage…