Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Indian American psychiatrist and healthcare leader Dr. Anitha Iyer has been selected to receive the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award from Columbia University’s Teachers College, recognizing her outstanding contributions to mental healthcare, academic leadership, and public service. The prestigious honor is among the institution’s highest recognitions for graduates who have demonstrated exceptional professional accomplishments and lasting impact in their fields. The award will be presented during the Teachers College Alumni Awards ceremony on October 3 as part of the university’s annual Alumni Day celebration in New York. Dr. Iyer currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a series of rail and road infrastructure projects valued at approximately $637 million during a visit to Jalandhar, Punjab. The initiatives are aimed at improving transportation networks, enhancing passenger facilities, and supporting economic growth across the region. Among the major announcements was the inauguration of 75 modernized railway stations spread across 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Redeveloped at an estimated cost of $183 million, the stations now feature upgraded passenger amenities while incorporating architectural elements inspired by local culture, heritage, and regional traditions. Four of these stations are located in…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot held the first India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue in Brussels, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, defense, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and mobility. The discussions highlighted new opportunities for collaboration in ports, maritime connectivity, semiconductor development, and efforts to build more resilient global supply chains. Both leaders also exchanged views on international developments, including the evolving situation in West Asia, while emphasizing the importance of deeper cooperation between India and Belgium. Following the meeting, Jaishankar said the India-Belgium partnership has expanded significantly in…

Lyft has appointed Senthil Padmanabhan, a former eBay technology executive, as its new Chief Technology Officer as the ride-hailing company focuses on expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities and improving the technology infrastructure behind its services. Padmanabhan will officially join Lyft on July 20 and will report to Chief Executive Officer David Risher. In his new role, he will lead the company’s engineering organization and oversee the development of the core technology systems that support Lyft’s products, services, and future innovation plans. The leadership change comes as Lyft increases its investment in artificial intelligence, with a focus on creating better experiences…

India’s food services industry is set for significant growth, with the market expected to reach $150 billion by FY31, according to a report by Redseer Consulting. The sector is projected to expand from $90 billion in FY26, supported by increasing consumer spending, changing eating habits, demand for convenience, and the rapid rise of online food delivery platforms. The report highlights that India’s food services market has witnessed strong growth over the past five years, increasing from $56 billion in FY21 to nearly $90 billion in FY26. This expansion has been driven by evolving consumer preferences, greater acceptance of dining out,…

India and Slovakia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors, with both nations focusing on expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, defence, energy, and innovation. India’s Ambassador to Slovakia, Apoorva Srivastava, recently met Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar during a farewell meeting, where she expressed appreciation for his support and cooperation during her tenure. The meeting also highlighted India’s continued commitment to further developing the friendly partnership between the two countries. The Indian Embassy in Slovakia stated that both sides remain confident about deepening their relationship and expanding collaboration across…

India is moving closer to launching its first high-speed rail service as the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor enters its final stages of development. The project marks a major milestone in the country’s transportation modernization efforts and is expected to serve as the blueprint for a wider national bullet train network. According to the Ministry of Railways, the 508-kilometer corridor has been designed to operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph, with maximum design capabilities reaching 350 kmph. Once fully operational, the line will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes, connecting…

President Donald Trump pointed to India’s strong economic performance as an example of the level of growth the United States should strive to achieve. Speaking during an interview with CNBC, Trump argued that the US has the capacity to expand at a much faster pace and should not allow inflation concerns or interest rate policies to limit its economic ambitions. Trump highlighted India as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, noting that the country continues to post annual growth of around 7% to 8%. He questioned why the United States should be satisfied with more modest targets, insisting the…

American Eagle Outfitters has announced the appointment of Ravi Thanawala as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He will officially assume the position on Aug. 3, 2026, succeeding longtime finance leader Mike Mathias, who is moving into a strategic advisory role after more than two decades with the retailer. Mathias, who has served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer since 2020, will remain involved through the rest of fiscal 2026 to support a smooth leadership transition. In his new capacity as a full-time non-executive strategic advisor, he will work closely with Thanawala to ensure continuity across the…

India and Japan have reinforced their Special Strategic and Global Partnership by announcing a wide-ranging set of agreements focused on defense, artificial intelligence, economic security, healthcare, clean energy, and emerging technologies. The initiatives were unveiled during the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her first official visit to India. During a joint press briefing, Modi described Japan as one of India’s most reliable partners, emphasizing that decades of mutual trust have laid the foundation for a stronger future. He noted that the latest agreements represent the beginning…