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Global Celebrations: Ayodhya Temple Inauguration from New York to Sydney

As the much-anticipated ‘pran pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches, Indians abroad are fervently celebrating. In Times Square, the Indian community in New York brightened the surroundings with sizable depictions of Lord Ram. Events across the United States, including Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, coincide with the ceremony in India. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindus across the US erected over 40 billboards in 10 states, conveying messages about the ceremony at Ram Lalla’s birt ..... Read More

TiE Global Appoints Amit Gupta as Chairman of the Global Board

Amit Gupta has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for TiE Global in 2024. Hailing from Singapore, Gupta, an experienced entrepreneur and impact investor, is the Group CEO and Founder of Ecosystm Group. Alongside his role, he actively engages in angel investing and co-chairs the MIIM Blended Finance Fund, emphasizing support for women entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and sustainability in Indonesia and India. Gupta aims to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and positive change as the global chair of TiE. Murali Bukkapatnam, the foun ..... Read More

History in Making: The Grand Inauguration of Ram Mandir By Dr. Mohini Shinde

  On January 22, 2024, the city of Ayodhya in India will witness a historic event that has been long-awaited by millions of Hindus all over the world. It is the grand opening of the Ram Mandir, a temple dedicated to Lord Ram, the revered deity of Hinduism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to open the Ram Temple for devotees in a grand inauguration ceremony. This momentous occasion holds great significance not only for devotees but also for the country as a whole. Let me give you a glimpse into the future and learn about the histor ..... Read More

Ayodhya: CM Advocates Planned Visits, Discourages On-foot Arrivals

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during his visit to Ayodhya, assessed preparations for the upcoming Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22. He termed the event as “historic” and highlighted its significance in reaffirming India’s faith and pride. Adityanath appealed to the public to plan their visits with patience, ensuring a well-organized and secure event. He announced that the entire Cabinet would offer prayers at the temple on February 1, emphasizing the widespread enthusiasm for the consecration ceremony. Addressing devotees’ eage ..... Read More

US Congress Honors Indian-Americans, IIT Graduates for Shaping America

The US Congress recently approved a resolution acknowledging the significant contributions of the Indian-American community and graduates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in the United States. Subramanian Raja Krishnamoorthi, the US representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district, successfully introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives. Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the presence of Indian-American residents enriches the United States, recognizing the valuable and substantial contributions made by the Indi ..... Read More

India Forms Global Coalition for Women’s Empowerment, Gender Equality

India achieved a significant milestone at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos by establishing the “Global Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality.” The announcement, made in the presence of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, saw the participation of India’s Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Hardeep Puri during a gathering of prominent Indian businessmen hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This alliance aims to advance women’s empowerment and ..... Read More

Donald Trump excludes Nikki Haley as his 2024 running mate

Former US President and Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, has chosen to keep his Vice Presidential pick undisclosed for the 2024 election, eliminating Indian-American rival Nikki Haley from consideration. Trump addressed this decision during a rally in Concord, asserting that while Haley is “OK,” she lacks the presidential qualities he seeks in a running mate. The former President’s remarks suggest that Haley is unlikely to be selected as the Vice Presidential candidate. Trump emphasized the impact of certain statements on a candidate’s el ..... Read More

Sanjay Virmani Assumes Role as Special Agent in Washington DC Counterterrorism Division

Sanjay Virmani, a seasoned FBI official, has been appointed by Director Christopher Wray as the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division at the Washington field office. Formerly the deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, Virmani brings extensive experience to his new role. Beginning his career as a special agent in 2003, Virmani worked on terrorist and cyber cases at the FBI’s San Francisco field office. His dedication led to his promotion to supervisory special a ..... Read More

Indian-origin Professor Lands $500k Grant for Research Endeavors

An assistant professor at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering has secured a $505,286 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for a three-year research initiative. The grant will support advanced research on digitizing bridges using robots, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) to address intricate safety issues related to highway bridges. Vedhus Hoskere, assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, emphasized Texas’s unique challenge of overseeing 55,000 bridges, more than ..... Read More

Blavatnik Awards in the UK Recognize Achievements of Three Indian Scientists

Rahul R. Nair (L), Mehul Malik (Centre) and Tanmay Bharat (Right) / Blavatnik Awards The 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK have honored nine outstanding scientists, distributing a total of £480,000 (US$608,000). Notably, three Indian scientists—Rahul R. Nair, Mehul Malik, and Tanmay Bharat—are among the laureates. Rahul R. Nair, a materials physicist at The University of Manchester, will receive £100,000 (US$127,000) for his pioneering work on novel membranes using two-dimensional materials, addressing challenges in water f ..... Read More

PM Modi’s Modest Rituals: Floor Sleep, Coconut Water for Ram Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meticulously adhering to a prescribed set of rules and rituals in preparation for his participation in the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple scheduled for January 22. According to sources, PM Modi is rigorously following the “Yam rules,” an 11-day regimen that involves penance, purification of the mind and body through meditation, and adhering to a special “satvik” diet that excludes items like onion and garlic. In line with these practices, the Prime Minister has chosen to sleep on the floor with ..... Read More

Union Minister Smriti Irani Affirms India’s Digital Delivery Capabilities at WEF Davos

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) hosted the CII-Deloitte Breakfast Session on “Digital Public Infrastructure and India’s Impact on Global Technology Value Chains.” This session showcased India’s capabilities as a vibrant democracy proficient in delivering digital solutions. Union Minister Smriti Irani emphasized India’s success in providing technology-driven solutions to its massive population, exceeding a billion. She highlighted the country’s digital capabilities and the substantial demand ..... Read More

IMD Introduces Special Webpage for Ayodhya’s Weather Predictions

As the much-anticipated consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has unveiled a dedicated webpage offering weather-related details for the event and surrounding areas. The webpage provides forecasts for temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind patterns from January 17 to January 24 in various languages, including Hindi, English, Urdu, Chinese, French, and Spanish. Specifically, on the main ceremony day, January 22, the IMD predicts a minimum temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsiu ..... Read More

Jaishankar to Lead Indian Delegation at 19th NAM Summit in Uganda

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is set to lead the Indian delegation at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, on January 19-20. Preceding the summit, there will be deliberations at the Ministerial and Senior Officials levels. Meanwhile, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh is representing India at the NAM Foreign Minister’s meeting, while MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan will attend the G-77 Third South Summit in Kampala on January 21-22. The theme of the 19th NAM S ..... Read More

Jayapal Champions $12M Funding to Green Washington Ports, Slashing Emissions

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) has revealed a substantial $12,000,000 allocation from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to benefit the Northwest Seaport Alliance. The aim is to facilitate the creation of collaborative electric truck charging hubs, specifically tailored to enhance port operations in Seattle and Tacoma. These funds, championed by Jayapal through her affirmative vote for the Infrastructure Law, hold the potential to alleviate air pollution burdens in nearby communities by reducing emissions. Expressin ..... Read More

Gautam Rupak Heads Research Project Awarded $500k Grant

A research team from Mississippi State University (MUS) has been awarded a substantial grant of over $550,000 by the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear physics program to delve into the burgeoning realm of quantum computing. This initiative, entitled “Three-body Interactions on a Quantum Computer,” will unfold over a three-year period and is spearheaded by Professor Gautam Rupak from MSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Quantum computing, an interdisciplinary domain merging computer science, physics, and mathematics, exploits the princi ..... Read More

Santhosh Ananthakrishnan Appointed Chief Business Officer at ThoughtFocus

Santhosh Ananthakrishnan appointed CEO / (Image: ThoughtFocus) ThoughtFocus Inc, a digital services and technology company based in the United States, has appointed Santhosh Ananthakrishnan, an Indian American, as its chief business officer. In his new role, Ananthakrishnan will take charge of defining the company’s agenda and growth strategies, overseeing strategic change initiatives, and creating long-term value for stakeholders. He will report directly to the CEO, Shylesh Krishnan. Expressing his pleasure about the strong customer relation ..... Read More

Goyal unveils Trade Connect, linking Indian exporters globally

Union Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the second meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade in New Delhi, announcing the initiation of the Trade Connect ePlatform. This intermediary platform aims to connect Indian exporters with international stakeholders, providing support for new exporters, market information, and insights into free trade agreements (FTAs). Mr. Goyal stressed utilizing FTAs, promoting Startup/MSME exports, and enhancing the service sector. The session aimed at reaching the $2 trillion export goal by 2030 and deliberating on p ..... Read More

Modi and Putin engage in discussions to enhance defense and trade relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a telephonic discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reviewing the progress of bilateral cooperation. The leaders explored avenues for further collaboration in trade, energy, defense, and other sectors. Emphasizing the positive developments in bilateral relations, they committed to crafting a roadmap for future initiatives to reinforce the India-Russia Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM Modi extended best wishes for Russia’s Presidency of BRICS in 2024, assuring India’s full support ..... Read More

Nikki Haley Sees Herself as Crucial Against Trump-Biden Challenges

Indian American Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley acknowledged her third-place finish in the Iowa caucus but claimed to be the “last best hope of stopping Trump-Biden nightmare.” Haley asserted that her performance made the Republican primary a head-to-head race with Trump. She criticized both Trump and Biden, emphasizing their shared lack of vision for the country’s future. Heading to New Hampshire, Haley positioned herself as an alternative to the potential Biden-Trump rematch, highlighting the disapproval of both candidates by th ..... Read More

India Sets the Pace: A Guiding Light for America, Affirms Eric Garcetti

U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, commended India’s strides in finance, health, and technology, considering the nation a trailblazer for the United States. His remarks were made during his attendance at the University of South Carolina’s India-Innovation Summit in Mumbai on January 16, 2024. Emphasizing that India is not merely producing generics, Garcetti highlighted the country’s leadership role in these crucial sectors. He suggested that strengthening ties between institutions like USC and their Indian counterparts could propel the U. ..... Read More

Tara Sreekrishnan Enters the Race for California State Assembly

Tara Sreekrishnan, a prominent member of the Indian American community and current Santa Clara County Board of Education member, has officially announced her candidacy for the California State Assembly in District 26. Emphasizing Silicon Valley’s innovative spirit, she acknowledges the pressing challenges faced by residents, including housing affordability, climate change, traffic congestion, and an education system in need of strengthening. Sreekrishnan’s motivation to run for State Assembly stems from a commitment to efficiently address these ..... Read More

USISPF forum delves into the significance of SMEs

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) recently hosted a roundtable discussion in New Delhi featuring Ambassador Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative (USTR), to underscore the significance of small and medium-sized enterprise companies (SMEs) in the US and India. The focus of discussions revolved around the vital role played by SMEs in fostering economic relations between the two countries. Companies like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Meta, and others, along with their SME partners, actively participated in the session. The conversation high ..... Read More

Bhargav Bhatt and Karuna Mantena Honored with Infosys Prize 2023

Bhargav Bhatt and Karuna Mantena / (Image / Princeton University)/(Image / Columbia University) Indian-American professors Bhargav Bhatt and Karuna Mantena were among the six recipients of the Infosys Prize 2023, acknowledged during a ceremony in Bangalore on January 13 by the Infosys Science Foundation (ISF). Bhatt, a joint professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University, received the prize in mathematical sciences for his exceptional contributions to arithmetic geometry and commutative algebra. His collaboration with ..... Read More

Ayodhya Ram Temple Initiates Seven-Day Consecration with Pomp and Rituals

On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for the Ayodhya Ram temple. This seven-day consecration event, starting on Tuesday, will culminate in a grand ceremony attended by numerous VVIP guests. The construction of the Ram temple commenced after the Supreme Court resolved the long-standing dispute in November 2019. Thirty-three years ago, Lal Krishna Advani initiated a rath yatra to build the temple, and among those accompanying him was Narendra Modi, now the Prime Minister. Advani expres ..... Read More