Author: Nupur Rohila

January is not only a time for new beginnings but also a moment to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who championed equality and nonviolence. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peace, King believed that justice and compassion should guide communities toward unity. In Aurora, Illinois, youth volunteers from SewaDiwali, representing organizations like HSS, Sewa, HUM, Aaina, and CAA, were recognized for their dedication to service. The city’s mayor, Richard Irvin, presented them with the MLK Service Above Self Award for their outstanding contributions. Each year, SewaDiwali organizes a nationwide food drive around Diwali, mobilizing communities to…

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in partnership with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), has introduced a comprehensive strategy to fortify India’s telecom network against natural disasters. The newly released Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) report outlines strategies for reducing disaster-related risks and ensuring telecom infrastructure remains operational during crises. The study spans Assam, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, focusing on localized risks and resilience measures. DoT collaborated with state authorities, telecom service providers, and infrastructure firms to collect critical data. Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) and Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), emphasized India’s…

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar recently revisited the joy of India’s historic 2011 World Cup victory, expressing his desire to relive that moment. During an event at Rashtrapati Bhavan Vimarsh Shrinkhala, he described the triumph as the pinnacle of his career. Tendulkar, accompanied by his wife Anjali and daughter Sara, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the nation’s capital. Reflecting on the journey that began in 1983, Tendulkar shared how multiple attempts at winning the coveted title ended in disappointment, but he never lost hope. His perseverance finally paid off when India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in…

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, US Congressman Ro Khanna outlined key topics expected in discussions between PM Modi and President Donald Trump, including immigration, trade, and security concerns. On immigration, Khanna emphasized humane deportation processes, stating that those deported should be treated with “appropriate dignity.” His remarks come in light of the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals, with a US Air Force plane carrying deportees landing in Amritsar on February 5. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured that India is engaging with US authorities to prevent mistreatment of deportees. Regarding trade, Khanna…

Anil K. Agrawal, the Herbert G. Kayser Professor of Civil Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY), has been awarded the 2025 Moisseiff Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He was honored for his paper, “Reliability-Based Framework for Structural Robustness Evaluation of Bridges,” published in the April 2024 issue of the ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering. The study introduces a new framework for assessing bridge robustness across short, medium, and long spans, evaluating their safety in both intact and damaged conditions. This approach is expected to guide critical design and retrofit decisions for infrastructure. The…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States on February 12-13 for a high-level meeting with President Donald Trump and key US officials. This marks Modi’s first trip to the US since Trump’s second presidential term began. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that Modi’s visit, happening just weeks after the new administration took office, underscores the significance of the India-US relationship. Speaking at a media briefing, Misri emphasized that the trip reflects strong bipartisan support for this partnership in Washington. “At President Trump’s invitation, Prime Minister Modi will make an official working visit to the US on…

A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals has landed in Amritsar, marking a significant move under the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown. This operation is part of Trump’s broader strategy to use military resources for mass deportations, a policy he has strongly advocated. The deportees, the first to be transported to India via military aircraft, were flown from San Antonio, Texas, to the northern Indian city. This development comes just days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington. Modi has previously expressed admiration for Trump, and both leaders reportedly discussed immigration policies during a recent…

India has maintained its third position in the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual ranking of the top 10 countries and regions for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in 2024. The ranking, released on Thursday, highlights the global progress in sustainable building design and operations outside the United States. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) oversees LEED certifications in India, promoting the adoption of sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure nationwide. In 2024, India saw 370 projects certified under LEED, covering 8.50 million gross square meters (GSM) (91.5 million square feet) across various buildings and spaces. China topped the rankings…

India is fast becoming a major player in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasizing its growing role in global AI advancements. Over the past year, the number of Indian users on OpenAI’s platforms has tripled, reflecting the country’s increasing engagement in AI-driven innovation. During a conversation with India’s Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Altman commended India’s broad AI strategy, covering everything from chip development to advanced AI applications. He stressed that India should be at the forefront of the AI revolution, particularly as global competition intensifies…

Nalanda Roy, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Georgia Southern University, has been honored with the prestigious Noam Chomsky Global Connections Shining Star Research Award for her outstanding contributions to global affairs, international relations, and maritime security in South and Southeast Asia. Reflecting on the honor, Roy humbly attributed her success to the support of her family, emphasizing the sacrifices made during countless sleepless nights to achieve this milestone. She echoed Malcolm Gladwell’s words, “Who you are cannot be separated from where you have been,” acknowledging her roots and the key figures in…