Must Read News

Indian-American doctor commits $4M for Hinduism advocacy in the U.S.

Dr. Mihir Meghani, a prominent Indian-American physician, emphasizes that Hinduism is not just a religion but a way of life. He has committed $4 million to support Hindu advocacy and awareness causes in the U.S. As the founder of the Hindu America Foundation (HAF) two decades ago, Dr. Meghani pledged an additional $1.5 million at the Silicon Valley gala, making his total contributions $4 million over 20 years. In an interview, Dr. Meghani clarified that his donations come from a sense of duty, as he and his wife are not high earners. The commi ..... Read More

IIT Guwahati startups advance renewable energy with floating solar tech

Quant Solar Technologies Private Limited, a clean technology startup incubated at IIT Guwahati, is at the forefront of advancing floating solar technologies in India. This innovation, emerging as a third pillar alongside rooftop and ground-mounted solar installations, involves placing solar panels on water bodies like dams and reservoirs. This approach not only taps into solar energy but also addresses environmental concerns by reducing water evaporation by up to 70%, contributing to national solar goals. Incubated at IIT Guwahati’s Technology ..... Read More

Nikki Haley gains prominence as a key alternative to Trump

Nikki Haley, a prominent Indian American Republican presidential candidate, has emerged as the primary alternative to Donald Trump, surpassing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, according to the Washington Post. While Trump maintains a substantial lead in state and national surveys, Haley’s ascendancy is evident in Iowa, New Hampshire, and her home state of South Carolina. Backed by well-received debate performances, she has attracted attention from wealthy donors and emphasizes broad appeal and unity within the Republican Party. However, Haley fa ..... Read More

11-year-old Ashleen Khela, Australia’s youngest author, debuts with ’17 Stories’

An 11-year-old of Indian origin, Ashleen Khela, has made history as Australia’s youngest female author with her debut book ’17 Stories.’ Despite financial support from her parents, Khela independently published the compilation of her works from 2022 and 2023. Over two years, she diligently collected and recycled items, such as plastic and glass bottles and soft drink cans, at recycling stations in NSW to fund her book. Additionally, she engaged in online sales and cultivated various plants in her backyard to raise the necessary funds. Express ..... Read More

Advani secures World Billiards Championship victory

Pankaj Advani secured his 26th title by defeating Sourav Kothari in the IBSF World Billiards Championship final on November 21. This victory marked a rematch of their previous year’s final in Kuala Lumpur, where Advani emerged victorious with a score of 1000416. The significance of this championship dates back to 2005, when Advani clinched his inaugural global title. Over the years, his dominance in billiards has been evident with nine “long format” championships, eight “point format” championships, and one World Team Billiards Championship. ..... Read More

Ash Kalra assumes the role as Chair of California’s Judiciary Committee

On November 21, Speaker Robert Rivas appointed Ash Kalra, California’s Indian American Assemblymember, as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. This committee oversees family law, product and tort liability, Civil Code, and Evidence Code, excluding criminal procedure. Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Kalra emphasized the critical role of the Judiciary Committee in safeguarding civil rights and ensuring a just legal system. With seven years of prior experience on the committee, he acknowledged the leadership of past chairs ..... Read More

Commerce Ministry Teams Up with E-commerce for District Export Boost

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is joining forces with various e-commerce entities to advance the Districts as Export Hubs initiative and foster e-commerce exports from the nation. This strategic move is geared towards empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and propelling e-commerce exports. In an inaugural partnership, DGFT has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amazon India. This collaboration will entail concerted efforts t ..... Read More

More than 52% of Indian gamers view gaming as a career: HP India study

As revealed by the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023, over 52% of Indian gamers now view gaming as a viable career option, owing to improved gamer salaries in 2023 compared to the previous year. Approximately 40% of serious gamers reported annual earnings ranging from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh in 2023. The study highlights sponsorships and e-sports competitions as significant sources of revenue for gamers. Mr. Vickram Bedi, Senior Director of Personal Systems at HP India, emphasized the potential for Indian youth not only to excel in the gl ..... Read More

Trudeau collaborate with the US and India on the Pannun issue

During a virtual G20 summit hosted by Indian PM Narendra Modi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised concerns about upholding the “rule of law.” Although Trudeau’s office didn’t directly address the reported threat to the life of Gurpatwant Pannun, a US-Canadian dual citizen and the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, it emphasized the importance of the rule of law. Trudeau, when questioned about the alleged threat, stated that Canada has been working closely with allies, including the US. The reported plot involved Indian agents and ..... Read More

Surya Ganguli secures prestigious Schmidt Science Program prize

Surya Ganguli, an associate professor of applied physics and associate director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, has earned a spot in the 2023 Schmidt Science Polymaths Program cohort. This prestigious recognition comes with an annual grant of $500,000 for up to five years to support Ganguli’s interdisciplinary research. Utilizing the awarded grant, Ganguli aims to delve into an interdisciplinary research program, focusing on understanding interactions among nonlinear elements in neural networks. This research spans both biolog ..... Read More

India triumphs in 1st T20I vs Australia as Rinku seals thrilling chase, winning by 2 wickets

In his debut match as captain, Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl after winning the toss as Australia, despite resting several World Cup winners, managed to reach a formidable score of 208/3, propelled by Josh Inglis’ explosive 110 off 50 balls. While Steve Smith made a strong start, his partnership with Matthew Short was disrupted by Ravi Bishnoi. However, Inglis took charge, forming a formidable second-wicket partnership with Smith and contributing to a total of 130 runs off 66 balls. Smith departed on 52 off 41, but Inglis continued his onslaugh ..... Read More

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Spotlights Remarkable Surge in Indian Exports to Nordic Nations

Union Minister Piyush Goyal disclosed notable surges in exports to Finland and Norway, exceeding 100% and 80%, respectively, during his address at the CII India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave 2023 in New Delhi. Emphasizing the Nordic-Baltic region’s emergence as a promising market for Indian products, Goyal reported a 39% increase in exports between 2018-19 and 2022-23. He extended an invitation to Nordic-Baltic companies to invest in India, underscoring the nation’s potential for economic expansion. Goyal urged the Nordic region to leverage ..... Read More

PM Modi at G20: Insists AI safety amid deepfake concerns

During the G20 virtual summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concerns about the negative use of AI, particularly highlighting the dangers posed by deepfakes. He called for global regulations on artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need to ensure that AI reaches people while being safe for society. PM Modi’s remarks underscored the growing worldwide apprehension regarding the adverse impact of AI and the importance of collaborative efforts to address these concerns. Under India’s presidency, the virtual G20 Summit was convened foll ..... Read More

Nikki Haley securing ‘Never Trump’ backing: Politico report

Nikki Haley, a prominent Indian American Republican, is emerging as a key figure challenging former President Donald Trump, garnering substantial support from skeptical Republicans. Serving as the first Indian American in a presidential cabinet under Trump as the US ambassador to the UN, Haley’s momentum is evident as she attracts donors and organizers across early voting states. Notably, donors with ties to critical Trump figures, such as hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, are endorsing Haley’s candidacy. This surge in support has positioned ..... Read More

Indian-origin students excel in Purdue’s Pitch challenges, securing top honors

Purdue University students recently engaged in the Moonshot Pitch Challenge, a platform for ideation where they delivered concise two-minute pitches proposing solutions to intricate issues both in space and on Earth. Notably, two students of Indian descent, Suryansh Panwar and Ayush Karkare, secured first place in their respective categories, earning $1,500 each in cash prizes. Suryansh Panwar, an applied statistics student in the College of Science, clinched the top spot in the Moonshot category and Best Pitch. His project, Empyrean Energy, f ..... Read More

Indian American lawmakers applaud Israel-Hamas ceasefire discussions

In response to the recent four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar, and Ro Khanna expressed their support for the development. The agreement involves the release of hostages taken by Hamas militants on October 7, along with the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Representative Bera emphasized the hope that the Biden administration can leverage this pause to advance negotiations for a more secure future for Israelis and a life of dignity for Palestinians. He acknowledged the urgent need for ..... Read More

India hits 839M mobile broadband users

India’s mobile broadband (MBB) users have surged to 839 million, marking a significant rise from 7.2% in the previous year, with accelerated additions in August driven by the affordability of Reliance Jio’s 4G phones. The challenge remains in convincing feature phone users to switch to pricier plans, but industry leaders anticipate continued growth in 4G subscriptions during the festive season and the fiscal year. Telecom data reveals a 16% decrease in non-MBB (2G) users to 309 million in the 12 months through August. The 12% drop in 4G smartph ..... Read More

Kohli nearing top ODI rank: Aiming for pinnacle

Virat Kohli’s pursuit to reclaim the top spot in the ODI player rankings has gained momentum following his outstanding performance in the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Kohli, who scored 765 runs, secured the tournament’s best batting performance, elevating him to third place in the latest MRF Tyres ODI Player Rankings. This achievement brings him within 35 rating points of teammate Shubman Gill, who currently holds the top position with 826 rating points, closely followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam at 824. Kohli’s remarkable World Cup disp ..... Read More

Indian-origin MP urges crackdown on Khalistani radicals

In response to escalating threats and attacks by Khalistani supporters on Sikhs and Hindus in Canada, Member of Parliament Chandra Arya took to social media, specifically X, to advocate for action against the perpetrators. Arya shared a video where a Khalistani supporter threatened to disrupt activities at the Laxmi Narayan temple in Surrey on November 26. Expressing concern over the incidents, Arya urged Canadian authorities to intervene, citing the misuse of freedom of speech as a guise for such actions. Highlighting the targeted nature of t ..... Read More

AIM-NITI Aayog launches an accelerator for Indian, Australian circular economy startups

A new accelerator program, the Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE), has been launched by AIM, NITI Aayog, focusing on enhancing collaboration between Indian and Australian startups and small to mid-sized companies (SMEs) in the circular economy sector. Developed in partnership with the Australian national science agency, CSIRO, and India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the RISE Accelerator aims to assist circular economy entrepreneurs from both nations. Tamara Ogilvie, Director of CSIRO, highlighted the program’s emphasis on startup ..... Read More

Australia’s Victory: Raina Points to Cummins’ Strategic Leadership

In the aftermath of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final, Suresh Raina, a former Cricket World Cup winner for India, highlighted the pivotal role played by Australian skipper Pat Cummins’ astute captaincy. Cummins’ bold decision to send India into bat proved advantageous as Australia successfully limited the hosts to a modest total of 240, securing a six-wicket victory fueled by Travis Head’s brilliant century. Raina commended Cummins not only for the strategic toss decision but also for his shrewd bowling rotations and tactical maneuvers aga ..... Read More

PM Modi convenes a virtual G20 summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to host a virtual G20 leaders’ summit, focusing on the execution of the Delhi Declaration as India’s presidency concludes. The upcoming virtual meeting is anticipated to have a similar participation of global leaders as witnessed during the in-person summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 9-10. Sherpa Amitabh Kant emphasized the rarity and exceptionality of holding a virtual G20 summit after a physical one, signifying a unique effort to translate the guidance provided by participating leade ..... Read More

Ranbir Kapoor admires Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh; shares why he chose Animal

Ranbir Kapoor discusses his role in “Animal,” emphasizing its uniqueness despite sharing traits with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s past protagonists. Scheduled for release on December 1, the film features Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Bobby Deol. When questioned about accepting the role and if he watched Vanga’s previous films criticized for misogyny, Kapoor expressed being drawn to the script’s intensity and uniqueness. Although he acknowledges watching “Arjun Reddy” and “Kabir Singh,” his decision to take on “Animal” was based on the script, ch ..... Read More

India to rank third globally in media within five years – Anurag Thakur

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Anurag Thakur, predicts that India will ascend to the third position in the global media and entertainment sector within the next five years. Speaking at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji, he not only highlighted this projection but also announced a groundbreaking move – the introduction of the best web series OTT award at the festival, acknowledging the transformative role played by original content creators in the country. Emphasizing the continuation of innovat ..... Read More

Suhas Subramanyam vying for Congress in Virginia

Days after securing a position in the Virginia Senate, Suhas Subramanyam, an Indian American state assembly member, has declared his candidacy for the US Congress in Virginia’s 10th District. He voiced concerns about the Republican leadership’s MAGA agenda, citing its impact on democracy, abortion rights, and social programs. Highlighting the significance of the community where his family has deep roots, Subramanyam emphasized the need to prioritize local interests over political agendas. His campaign has gained early traction, raising over $1 ..... Read More