‘Blue Boy’ writer Rakesh Satyal and producer Nik Dodani and ‘Nice Indian Boy’ director Roshan Sethi, actor Karan Soni, and discussion moderator Warren Etheredge. Photo by Beena Sarwar

Amplifying South Asian narratives, empowering region's filmmakers

The power of storytelling shone through at the Tasveer Film Festival, a key player and pivotal stakeholder in the global South Asian film market. Since its inception in 2002, the festival has consistently amplified South Asian narratives and boosted their visibility on the world stage.

Hostile protests in London symptomatic of a larger problem plaguing Pakistan

When small groups of individuals abroad resort to violent or disruptive protests, it tarnishes the collective image of the Pakistani community. These actions reinforce negative stereotypes about Pakistanis being politically volatile, emotionally charged, or prone to extremist behavior.

Of cultural unifiers and peacemongers: Bridging the subcontinental divide

There was a consensus on the importance of allowing people to meet across borders, revive dialogue and sporting ties -- including cricket -- as well as SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and cooperate on all matters, especially the environment.

Caribbean Hindus face calls to unite in face of challenges

The celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, has gained much national and international prominence in Trinidad, where the annual Divali Nagar at Chaguanas sees over 100,000 people thronging the nine-nights carnival spread over a 27-acre site from all over the Caribbean, the United States and beyond.

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US state of Georgia deplores academic attacks on Hinduism, condemns Hinduphobia

On the contribution of Hinduism, the resolution said, “Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions”. 

Ratan N. Tata awarded the 2022 Hoover Medal

Tata was recognized as the 74th recipient of the Hoover Medal in a private award ceremony in January at Somerset House in Mumbai.

With strong bipartisan support for the relationship, US to finally have an ambassador in India

But there is also a point of potential friction in ties with India: the human rights issues as perceived by some in the US, which is a touchy issue for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that hearing, Garcetti said, “Respect for human rights and strong democratic institutions are key elements of our strategic partnership and values enshrined in our constitutions, and if confirmed, I will engage closely and regularly with the Indian government on these issues”.

Senior US official visiting Pakistan to discuss energy security

In Lahore, Pyatt will visit the Lahore University of Management Sciences' Electric Vehicle Labs to highlight technological advances made through US-Pakistan cooperation. 

US intelligence report foresees ‘current calm’ continuing in India-Pakistan relations; China threat has the ‘potential to escalate’, it warns

“The expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between two nuclear powers that might involve direct threats to US persons and interests, and calls for US intervention,” it said.

Biden nominates Ajay Banga, a turbaned Sikh, to head World Bank with climate change mandate; Indian Americans applaud

Ajaypal Singh Banga, whose turban marked his Sikhism in gatherings of the highest echelons of US and international business, was born in Pune in western India to a family that has roots in Jalandhar in Punjab. He received his bachelor’s degree from St Stephens College, Delhi and a postgraduate qualification in management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He had worked for Nestle, PepsiCo and CitiBank before landing at MasterCard, where he worked his way up from chief operating officer, to president and chief executive officer, and finally to executive chairman.

India weaponises humour as it ridicules Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue in UN Ukraine debate

India has lampooned Pakistan as having a “Pavlovian response” for raising Kashmir regardless of the topic under discussion at the UN.

Caste becomes hot politics in US tech city; caste discrimination ban is opposed by Hindu rightwing groups

Caste discrimination as a cultural and social phenomenon is practised in India and other countries, even beyond South Asia, by members of many religions, including Christianity and Islam.

Indian American community leaders see in Haley candidacy leadership aspirations of Indian-origin people

A sign of the growing political involvement of Indian Americans is that in the 2020 general elections over 300 from the community ran for city, state and federal offices, Rangaswami said.

India’s diplomatic influence rose in 2022 due to leadership, says Australian think tank; China displacing India as South Asian investor

The index also cited what it asserted was India’s “displacement by the United States and China as a top investor and trade partner for several South Asian neighbours in recent years”.It noted that the US displaced “India as a top investor in two South Asian economies: Bangladesh and Nepal”.  Pakistan ranks 15 on the Index, Bangladesh 19, Sri Lanka 21, and Nepal 25.

Pro-Pakistan Democratic Party Representative critical of India ousted from US Congress panel

During her visit to Pakistan, she had gone close to the Line of Control and complained that Kashmir was not “being talked about to the extent it needs to in Congress but also with the administration”.

US official to hold talks in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal; Afghanistan also to figure in regional consultations

Although the US and India have been drawing closer together, India's apparent neutrality in the Ukraine war and its continued purchase of oil from Russia remains a sticking point, although Washington's diplomats gloss over it.

Now an Indian American aspires to lead the Grand Old Party

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, who immigrated to the US as a child, drew national attention when she said a Sikh prayer at the opening of a session of the Republican National Convention in 2016 – the first time a non-Abrahamic religion figured in a national party convention. Her Sikh religion has come up in the campaign for the chair with accusations that there has been a whispering campaign about her faith.

India ‘great example’ of countries US discussing arms purchases to wean it away from Russia

India has been diversifying its defence sourcing and purchases from the US have increased ten-fold between 2016 and 2021, according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute.

Indians 'represent some of the best citizens we have in America', says Congressman

A Republican lawmaker has praised the contributions of Indian Americans, who he said pay 6 per cent of taxes despite being 1 per cent of the population, as a model community who “represent some of the best citizens we have in America”