Author: Malavika Subramanyan

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…

India, currently the world’s fourth-largest economy, is steadily moving toward becoming the third-largest by 2030, with projections placing its GDP at US $7.3 trillion. Recent economic indicators highlight strong momentum. In the second quarter of FY 2025-26, India’s real GDP grew by 8.2%, a sharp rise from 5.6% in the same period last year. Growth in the first quarter also remained robust at 7.8%, compared with 6.5% in the previous financial year. The expansion has been broad-based across sectors. The primary sector recorded a growth rate of 3.1%, the secondary sector expanded by 8.1%, and the tertiary (services) sector surged…

India expects to conclude the first tranche of its bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States by the end of 2025, as “most issues have already been resolved,” Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday. Speaking at FICCI’s 98th AGM, he emphasized that New Delhi remains committed to completing the initial phase of the pact within this calendar year. The India–US discussions span two tracks — a broader trade pact and a tariff framework addressing reciprocal duties imposed by Washington. The first tranche will focus on tariff-related matters, including levies on standard goods and petroleum products. Agrawal noted that…