Author: Malavika Subramanyan

India has taken a significant step in boosting regional security cooperation by assuming the role of lead country for security sector collaboration within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This development was underscored during the Senior Officials’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, which was held to prepare for the upcoming 4th Meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs. The gathering in Myanmar’s capital aimed to strategize and coordinate efforts to tackle common security challenges faced by BIMSTEC member states. “The Indian delegation attended the Senior Officials’ Meeting to lay the groundwork for the 4th Meeting…

The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, has been defaced with hateful and anti-India graffiti amid growing Hinduphobia in the country. The Consulate General of India in Vancouver condemned the vandalism of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, emphasizing the need for Canadian authorities to investigate and address the incident swiftly. The BAPS organization, which oversees the temple, has yet to respond to the incident. No official action has been reported regarding the vandalism that occurred on Monday morning. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, stated, “Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir was vandalized with paint, displaying hateful…

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recently honored Indian-American doctors and philanthropists Kiran C. Patel and Pallavi Patel with the Presidential Citation. This accolade recognizes their substantial contributions to the osteopathic medical field and their dedication to enhancing healthcare. The AOA Presidential Citation, one of the association’s most prestigious honors, is given to individuals who exhibit outstanding leadership, commitment to advancing osteopathic medicine, and a significant influence on patient care and medical education. “Drs. Patel are prominent figures in the osteopathic field due to their support for education, research, and philanthropy. Their efforts have enabled many osteopathic medical students to achieve…

Prominent Indian-American figures have lauded President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, acknowledging the difficulty of his choice but recognizing it as a move to prioritize the nation. At 81, Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee. Ravi Batra, a distinguished attorney based in New York, commended Biden for his selflessness, comparing his decision to the sacrifices made by soldiers. He noted that Biden’s move was aimed at preserving American values and exceptionalism. Al Mason, a well-known global real estate advisor and…

When Senator JD Vance was named Donald J. Trump’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, it also marked a historic moment: Usha Vance, an Indian American and practicing Hindu, is now poised to become a vice-presidential spouse. This development underscores a significant reality: at this moment, a woman of Indian descent will either remain in the White House or become the second lady. This milestone is part of the Indian American community’s growing political influence over the past decade. Kamala Harris made history in 2021 as the first person of Indian descent, and also the first woman and Black…

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), June 2024 saw India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments soar to US$ 2.14 billion, a significant rise from US$ 1.14 billion in June 2023. Although this was a slight dip from the US$ 2.22 billion recorded in May 2024, the upward trend highlights the growing confidence in India’s international investment strategies. For the April-June 2024 period, total outward FDI reached US$ 3.16 billion, comprising US$ 1.94 billion in equity and US$ 1.21 billion in debt, with no guarantees reported. Outbound FDI includes equity, loans, and guarantees. Equity investments in June 2024…

Harmeet Dhillon, an Indian American attorney and prominent figure in the Republican Party, delivered a solemn ‘Ardas’ prayer at the Republican National Convention in the presence of former President Donald Trump. The ‘Ardas’ prayer, a traditional Sikh invocation seeking divine guidance and protection, underscored values of humility, truth, courage, service, and justice. During her invocation, Dhillon expressed gratitude for what she termed the ‘Chardikala’ spirit embodied by President Trump—a resilient and uplifting spirit in the face of adversity, akin to the perseverance of America’s founding fathers. She praised Trump’s fearlessness (‘nirbhay’) and absence of hate (‘nirvir’) in the face of…

In a touching tribute to tradition, a viral video from Radhika Merchant’s vidai ceremony showcases her poignant transition into the Ambani family. The video shows Radhika engaging in the emotional ritual of tossing rice over her shoulder, signifying her goodbye to her family and the blessings she carries into her new life with Anant Ambani. Dressed in a magnificent sindhoori red lehenga crafted by Manish Malhotra, Radhika looked every bit the regal bride. The lehenga, adorned with intricate gold work and featuring a long, elegant train, complemented her look perfectly. Her hair, styled in a bun adorned with a white…

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved a significant milestone by becoming the most followed global leader on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), amassing over 100 million followers. This places him far ahead of other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden with 38.1 million followers, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed with 11.2 million followers, and Pope Francis with 18.5 million followers. Expressing his gratitude, Modi posted on X, stating his happiness to be part of such a vibrant medium and appreciating the discussions, debates, insights, people’s blessings, constructive criticism, and more. He looks forward to continuing this engaging interaction…

Alia Bhatt was astonished to realize that her romantic comedy ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’ has already reached its tenth anniversary.. To commemorate the occasion, she shared a special clip on Thursday. On her Instagram story, Alia posted a compilation of her memorable scenes from the film, captioning it with “#10YearsOfHumptySharmaKiDulhania.” She also reposted director Shashank Khaitan’s nostalgic post and added, “Can’t believe it.” Shashank Khaitan shared a throwback photo featuring himself, Alia, and Varun Dhawan, marking the milestone with gratitude, stating, “10 Years … Wow … Only Gratitude… Thank you Universe…” Varun also celebrated the film’s anniversary by sharing its…