Americas

India-West Staff Reporter SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) lost her father, M.P. Jayapal, on January 20. The congresswoman will temporarily step away from her duties to be with her family in India during this time of mourning. “My beloved

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) is spearheading a new legislative effort to repeal the TikTok divestiture law with the introduction of the Repeal the TikTok Ban Act. The bill, co-sponsored by Khanna and U.S. Senator Dr.

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) has been reappointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the 119th Congress by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The committee is responsible for overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA,

India-West Staff Reporter HONOLULU, HI –The Consulate General of India in San Francisco, in collaboration with VFS Global, held its inaugural “Consular Camp” on January 18. The event, organized in partnership with the Indian-American Friendship Council (IAFC) Hawaii Chapter and the

India-West Staff Reporter PLEASANTON, CA – Volunteers from the global non-profit Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan (DSNDP) January 18,  participated in an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup at the intersection of Highway I-580 and Santa Rita Rd here. In collaboration with the California Department of

WASHINGTON, DC (Reuters) – The new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed irregular migration concerns on January 21, the U.S. State Department said. The talks come as President Donald Trump, who took office on

Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barri India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - Indian Americans, along with other immigrant communities, have found themselves at the heart of a seismic shift in U.S. immigration policy, following President Donald Trump's Executive Order on January 20, titled "Protecting the

India-West Staff Reporter SACRAMENTO, CA - Covered California has announced a special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where a state of emergency has been declared due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires that have destroyed over 12,000

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC -Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk, the White House confirmed this just hours after Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term. Ramaswamy’s departure follows mounting tensions

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - For years, both India and Indian Americans have focused on their community’s achievements, often sidestepping the complexities surrounding US immigration policies. However, with Donald Trump now in power, the repercussions of his administration's stance on immigration and

Photo: news.yale.edu India-West News Desk NEW HAVEN, CT – Yale astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan has been awarded the 2025 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics in recognition of her groundbreaking research in black holes and dark matter. The Heineman Prize, presented by the American

NEW DELHI (ANI) - In his farewell message, Eric Garcetti, the outgoing US Ambassador to India, reflected on the strong ties forged between the two nations during his tenure. As the 26th US Ambassador to India, Garcetti expressed deep gratitude

India-West Staff Reporter LOS ANGELES, CA - The inaugural USC India Conference, themed "India Rising," will take place at the University of Southern California on January 25. The event aims to explore India's growing influence across various global industries. Featuring a lineup of

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to implement new rules aimed at modernizing and improving the H-1B and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs. The rules will take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, just

India-West Staff Reporter BERKELEY, CA –The Vedanta Society of Berkeley, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, has announced a year-long celebration marking the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s visit to the Bay Area. The celebrations will begin

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) - The India Global Forum (IGF) officially launched in the U.S. with a high-profile delegation of Indian business leaders engaging in exclusive, closed-door discussions with members of the incoming U.S. administration and key policymakers. The delegation featured influential

India-West News Desk FREMONT, CA — On January 15, California Congressman Ro Khanna called for a "full and transparent" investigation into the death of Suchir Balaji, the OpenAI whistleblower who gained national attention last year for alleging that the company violated

India – West News Desk BENGALURU -The United States has inaugurated its fifth consulate in India here. fThe ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Garcetti described

India-West Staff Reporter INDIANAPOLIS, IN - On World Hindi Day, January 10, the International Hindi Association (IHA) – Indiana hosted a webinar titled “The Economics of Hindi in a Global Perspective.” The event featured a thought-provoking presentation by Prof. Mithilesh Mishra from Darbhanga,

India-West Staff Reporter FORDS, NJ - On January 12, over 450 music enthusiasts filled Royal Albert’s Palace for a Centennial Tribute to the legendary Showman of Indian Cinema, Raj Kapoor, alongside a dedication to the late Shobhna Patel on her first

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY – Teach For America (TFA) has named Indian American Aneesh Sohoni as its next chief executive officer, effective April 15. A Teach For America alumnus and a dedicated advocate for educational equity, Sohoni will take

India-West Staff Reporter BALTIMORE, MD - A newly identified genetic disorder causing rapid aging has been named Garg-Mishra Progeroid Syndrome (GMPGS) in honor of its discoverers, Dr. Abhimanyu Garg and Dr. Prashant Mishra. This rare condition is linked to a mutation

India-West News Desk  PALO ALTO, CA – In 1974, Steve Jobs was living on a farm between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, immersed in a period of self-reflection. During this time, he penned a handwritten letter to his childhood friend Tim

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - As the swearing-in of Donald Trump approaches, US employers are bracing for potential changes to the H-1B visa program. In response to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the visa process, many companies are opting to

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is ramping up technology investments in North America, buoyed by positive trends in the banking and financial services sector and anticipating growth from retail and manufacturing clients. The company, one

India-West News Desk NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rutgers University's decision to reject caste as a separate protected category under its anti-discrimination policies, the advocacy group CasteFiles hailed as a "mature and well-thought-through decision." On January 13, Rutgers stated that its existing policies,

India-West News Desk SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has joined an elite group of Silicon Valley executives in bidding for a London-based cricket team, sources reveal. The consortium, led by Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora and Satyan Gajwani,

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate January as Tamil Language and Heritage Month, to celebrate the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Tamil, one of the world’s oldest languages. Tamil

India-West Staff Reporter CHINO HILLS, CA — As the Palisades, Eaton and other fires continue to devastate communities across the Los Angeles area, the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir through its charitable arm BAPS Charities, stepped forward to provide critical relief and

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC- In a significant development for US-India relations, the United States has taken steps to enhance civil nuclear cooperation by removing three major Indian entities from its restricted list. The decision was announced on January 15, and it aims

Photo: senatedemocrats.wa.gov India-West Staff Reporter OLYMPIA, WA — On January 15, State Senator Manka Dhingra, alongside students from Lake Washington High School, introduced a bill aimed at addressing drink spiking in bars and nightclubs. The proposed legislation requires establishments that sells alcohol

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI - The Enquiry Committee set up by the Indian government in response to information from US authorities to look into inputs provided by the US on an alleged plot to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - Indian space tech startup Pixxel has achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of three out of six of its hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket on January 14 from Vandenberg Space

India-West Staff Reporter SEATTLE, WA – Microsoft is pushing forward its AI initiatives, with CEO Satya Nadella announcing that Jay Parikh will join the company’s senior leadership team. Parikh, formerly the global head of engineering at Facebook (now Meta) and most recently

Photo: Rutgers University India-West Staff Reporter NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rutgers University has decided to maintain its stance on caste discrimination, affirming its commitment to preventing such behavior on campus, but opting not to make "caste" a separate protected category within its

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - Donald Trump announced plans on January 14, to establish the External Revenue Service, a new agency aimed at collecting tariffs, duties, and revenue from foreign entities benefiting from trade with the US. Criticizing the nation's reliance

India-West News Desk PRAYAGRAJ - Swami Kailashanand Giri, the head of the Niranjani Akhara, where Laurene Powell Jobs is staying, told the media that she is currently resting at his camp after developing an allergic reaction during her visit to the

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) took to Twitter to strongly oppose the Laken Riley Act and then later went on television calling it a “highway to mass deportation.” Her remarks came after the bill, which targets crimes committed by

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI - The Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Information Technology, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has announced plans to summon Meta officials after company owner Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about elections in India. Dubey called Zuckerberg’s statement “alarming”

Photo: Amit Shiwalkar and his wife Mukta were among those who lost their home to the Pacific Palisades fire. The charred remains of their condominium complex. By REENA RATHORE With inputs from Bhartti Kumar LOS ANGELES, CA — As the infernos ravage Los Angeles and its

Photo: Ed Krassen/Ethnic Media Services Cal OES (Governor’s Office of Emergency Services)Website: www.news.caloes.ca.govThe California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is the state agency responsible for coordinating California’s response to natural disasters, emergencies, and other major incidents. Its primary mission is

NEW DELHI (ANI)- US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, on January 13, praised the Indian diaspora and emphasized the deepening bond between India and the United States. He expressed that both nations are stronger when united, highlighting the importance of

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent the Indian government at the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20. During his visit, Jaishankar is scheduled to

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India is looking forward to strengthening its economic relationship with the United States by engaging with the incoming Trump administration, India's trade minister Piyush Goyal told reporters here recently. "We are looking forward to a very deep and

Photo: Reuters/Ringo Chiu. India-West Staff Reporter LOS ANGELES, CA - As multiple wildfires continue to ravage Southern California, leaving devastation in their wake, several Indian American organizations have mobilized to provide critical aid to the affected communities. These have been actively reaching

India-West Staff Reporter OAKLAND, CA - In the final weeks of 2024 and continuing into the new year, a new billboard campaign across the Bay Area is calling attention to the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. The campaign, titled

BHUBANESHWAR, (ANI) - Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, emphasized the importance of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, highlighting how it both recognizes the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora and encourages them to stay connected to their roots. He stressed the

India-West Staff Reporter FREMONT, CA - Mitu Walia was crowned as the winner of Mrs. Bharat USA, Classic 2024, and Mrs. Bharat California 2024 at the prestigious Miss Bharat USA pageant, held in New Jersey on December 8, 2024. The event

India-West News Desk MUMBAI - As U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti’s term in India nears its conclusion, the former Los Angeles mayor delivered a poignant policy address at the Taj Colaba in Mumbai on January 9. Eric Garcetti, who described his time

India-West Staff Reporter COLUMBUS, OH - Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio has signed HB 173 into law, which includes an amendment by former State Senator Niraj Antani designating October as "Hindu Heritage Month" in Ohio. In response, former Republican State Senator Antani