Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Sonia Fernandes, an Indian American, assumes the position of global chief human resources and diversity officer at Politico, a Washington-based digital newspaper focused on politics. Politico announced her appointment on Feb 1, emphasizing her role in centralizing talent functions worldwide for the first time in the publication’s 17-year history. Based in Politico’s Rosslyn, Virginia headquarters, Fernandes, educated in Mumbai, will commence her duties on Feb 8. Her responsibilities include harmonizing talent functions across Politico’s seven newsrooms, spanning two continents and seven time zones. As chief diversity officer, Fernandes reflects Politico’s dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace amid its…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the critical role of women-led development in India’s overall progress, stressing its integral position within the narrative of Viksit Bharat’s development. He acknowledges that women-led development isn’t confined to specific programs but is interwoven into the nation’s growth story, reaffirming a strong commitment to advancing this cause. Responding to a social media post by Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, the Prime Minister’s Office echoed the government’s dedication to promoting development through women’s leadership. The statement underlines, “Our government is firmly committed to advancing development under the guidance of women leaders.…

The Indian American community warmly received the recently appointed Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, during a meet-and-greet event held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA. This organization, active since 1981, promotes Indian culture, including Hindi, Sanskrit, and classical dances. Consul General Pradhan, addressing the community, encouraged them to provide feedback on the consulate’s operations and the government of India. He emphasized that such input would aid in enhancing their performance during his tenure, expressing the importance of community support for effective consulate service. Having served as the High Commissioner of India in Tanzania, Pradhan commended the…

The Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) declared Dr. Deepan Kishore, DVM, MS, DAVBP (Canine & Feline), Founding ER Fellow, as the Veterinarian of the Year during its annual conference in late January. Dr. Kishore, the first Indian-Origin Veterinarian to receive this accolade in Oklahoma, completed veterinary school in India at Madras Veterinary College (MVC) in 2007 and pursued a Master’s Degree at the University of Missouri in 2010. His clinical rotations in 2011-2012 at Oklahoma State University (OSU) Veterinary College, particularly at Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma City, guided his career path. Dr. Kishore’s mentorship from hospital founder Dr. Tina…

Krystle Kaul, a Virginia-based entrepreneur and former high-ranking government official at the Department of Defense (DoD), recently wrapped up the first quarter of her congressional campaign with an impressive fundraising total of $567,000. This financial achievement stands as the highest among all candidates in the race, according to a statement from her campaign. Despite initial skepticism about a first-time candidate competing with career politicians, Kaul remains undeterred. She expressed determination, stating, “I’ve been told ‘you can’t do that’ many times in life – it didn’t stop me then – and it certainly won’t now. Most Virginians are tired of career…

Apollo Cancer Centre has introduced the first AI-Precision Oncology Centre (POC) in Bengaluru, India, pioneering a significant advancement in oncology care. Utilizing AI, the center delivers personalized and timely results for oncologists, patients, and caregivers, offering a range of services from accurate diagnosis to real-time insights, cancer risk assessment, treatment protocols, and ongoing care. The patient-centric focus extends to identifying individuals eligible for targeted therapy and immunotherapy, with the added use of conversational AI to educate patients and families about diagnosis, treatment FAQs, and connections to support groups. Dinesh Gundu Rao, State Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Karnataka, expressed…

The University of California Merced (UC Merced) has recently appointed Ronak M. Jani, an executive from the Jani Group of Companies, to its External Advisory Board (EAB). The EAB, associated with UC Merced School of Engineering, collaborates with the dean of Engineering to foster strategic partnerships, enhance responsiveness to engineering needs, and drive crucial development initiatives aligned with the school’s long-term academic and professional objectives. In his new role, Ronak M. Jani leverages his extensive financial sector expertise to provide strategic advice and guidance, aiming to enhance the university’s leadership. Expressing enthusiasm about joining the UC Merced External Advisory Board,…

India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has expanded its influence to almost two-thirds of the country’s states, enhancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prospects for the upcoming national elections. The BJP, either independently or in coalition, now governs 17 of India’s 28 states, encompassing a population of 720.6 million and representing about 55.24% of parliamentary seats. While state-level control doesn’t guarantee national support, it strengthens the BJP’s position, especially as the opposition alliance (I.N.D.I.A.), created to challenge Modi, faces setbacks. The recent inclusion of Bihar in the BJP’s domain has disrupted the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, characterized as a fragile structure…

Anuj Christian, a seasoned DevOps engineer residing in the United States for over 14 years, is challenging the discriminatory country cap on employment-based immigration, particularly affecting Indian foreign workers. Anuj has traveled to 45 states, sharing insights and experiences, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals like him and garnering support for the cause. The country cap on legal permanent residency, as per U.S. rules, disproportionately impacts immigrants from India, leading to an astounding wait of 200 years for the Green Card. This extended wait is widely criticized as “discrimination” and incompatible with the principles of a merit-based immigration system. Anuj…

The U.S. government agency has unveiled significant changes to the H-1B visa annual lottery system, set to take effect for the fiscal year 2025 starting March 6. The H-1B visa, crucial for U.S. tech companies in hiring skilled foreign workers, will undergo modifications aimed at improving fairness. The revamped system will involve individual evaluations for each application, preventing potential abuse where a person submits multiple applications for different companies. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduces new rules to enhance integrity, reduce fraud, and streamline the application process. The registration period, from March 6 to March 22, requires employers…