Author: Nupur Rohila

Across the world’s most powerful boardrooms, Indian-origin executives are steering some of the most influential companies in technology, finance, and luxury. Their paths to leadership reveal the enduring strength of combining rigorous Indian education with exposure to top global universities, creating leaders who can bridge diverse markets and ideas. Satya Nadella – Microsoft Armed with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 after working at Sun Microsystems. Over two decades, he shaped the…

Harvard University is set to inaugurate two new dedicated prayer spaces this fall, fulfilling long-standing requests from Muslim and Hindu students for adequate worship facilities. For years, these students had limited access to proper areas, often relegated to cramped basement rooms in dormitories that could not accommodate larger gatherings. The new arrangements will place a permanent musallah for Muslim students on the second floor of the Smith Campus Center, replacing temporary prayer locations at Sever Hall and Canaday Hall. Meanwhile, the Hindu student organization, Harvard Dharma, will take over the existing Canaday Hall space, which will be modified to better…

India’s proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union could open the door to a massive $875 billion market while aligning tariff structures with ASEAN nations, according to Boston Consulting Group (BCG) India head Rahul Jain. This follows last month’s landmark FTA with the United Kingdom, which is expected to increase annual bilateral trade by $34 billion and offer tariff-free access to 99% of Indian exports. Jain noted that the global trade landscape is being reshaped by shifting geopolitical dynamics and rising economic nationalism, with preferential market access and supply chain realignment becoming as crucial as cost efficiency. These…

In a major development in global trade policy, U.S. President Donald Trump has enforced a steep 50% tariff on Indian imports. The first tranche, initially set at 25%, was announced on July 30, followed by another 25% levy revealed on August 6. Trump also imposed a “penalty” on Indian imports tied to oil purchases from Russia, signaling heightened trade tensions between the two democracies. These tariffs are not paid by Indian exporters directly but by U.S. importers, making Indian goods substantially more expensive in American markets. As a result, many Indian products may lose their competitive edge, especially when stacked…

Trump’s claim appears aimed at drawing a sharp contrast with President Joe Biden, whose previous administration, according to Trump, allowed global conflicts to escalate. Trump emphasized that he intends to “end Biden’s war,” without specifying which conflict he meant — though analysts suggest he was referencing the ongoing situations in Ukraine or the Middle East. This marks the first time Trump has directly claimed credit for de-escalating a near-war situation involving India and Pakistan. During his earlier presidency, he offered to mediate between the two nations, but India had firmly rejected third-party involvement, stating the matter must be resolved bilaterally.…

During a joint press briefing in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and announced that India and the Philippines have decided to elevate their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. The announcement came during President Marcos Jr’s official five-day state visit to India and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. PM Modi emphasized that India and the Philippines are “friends by choice and partners by destiny,” citing shared values that span from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. He praised the deep cultural ties that predate modern…

A powerful photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent UK visit has gone viral — not just for the diplomatic moment it captures, but for the groundbreaking figure in the background. Standing firm behind the PM is Inspector Adaso Kapesa, the first woman ever to be posted in the Prime Minister’s Special Protection Group (SPG), India’s most elite security unit. Adaso hails from Kaibi village in Senapati district of Manipur, a remote area with limited access to resources. From humble beginnings, she charted an exceptional path into India’s top-tier security service. Her story is now resonating across the…

In a significant push for global collaboration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India and the United Nations have officially rolled out the first phase of their joint Global Capacity-Building Initiative. This phase encompasses four distinct development projects across nine countries: Zambia, Laos, Nepal, Barbados, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and South Sudan. The announcement was made on August 1 in New Delhi by Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The event saw the presence of UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp, diplomats, ITEC representatives, and officials from key UN and Indian institutions. The…

In a bold and personal move, US President Donald Trump has penned letters to the CEOs of 17 major pharmaceutical firms, demanding that they take immediate steps to slash drug prices for Americans. Amongthose contacted was Indian American Vasant Narasimhan, the MD and CEO of Novartis. Trump’s letters were revealed at a White House press briefing on July 31, 2025, by press secretary Karoline Leavitte, and gave the companies a hard deadline — September 29 — to match drug prices in the US with those in Europe and other advanced economies. Leavitte emphasized that Americans currently pay more than three…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed strong admiration for External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s impactful address in Parliament regarding Operation Sindoor, calling it a vital moment that showcased India’s foreign policy effectiveness. Modi shared Jaishankar’s speech on social media, praising it as a powerful articulation of India’s position on terrorism, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Through a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi emphasized how India’s stance has brought the international community together against terrorism. He described Jaishankar’s remarks as “outstanding,” noting they clearly conveyed how the world has embraced India’s firm anti-terror…