Three Indian satirists and poets delivered a captivating blend of insightful humor and artistic expression at a recent event in Falls Church, Virginia event highlighting the enduring relevance and impact of Hindi literature and comedy. The poets delivered thought-provoking commentary on society, politics, and culture, showcasing the profound power of comedy to reveal truths and spark meaningful conversation at the May 17 event organized by the International Hindi Association (IHA). Founded in 1980 in Roselyn, Virginia, the IHA was established with the aim of safeguarding and celebrating the ri ..read more

Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, has become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission, that lifted off from West Texas to the edge of space on Sunday. Also on board was the first US Black astronaut candidate from the 1960s -“I am ecstatic,” Ed Dwight, who at age 90 years and eight months became the oldest person in space, said upon landing. “Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive,” according t ..read more

Three 18-year-old Indian American students were killed in a single-vehicle crash in Alpharetta last week, Georgia, while two other 18-year-olds were injured, including the driver of their Honda Accord, according to police. University of Georgia students Sriya Avasarala and Anvi Sharma and Alpharetta High senior Aryan Joshi, are being remembered for their contributions to two performing groups and a high school cricket team, by their classmates, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Avasarala was a member of the UGA Shikaari dance team, and Sharma sang with UGA Kalakaar, an a capella g ..read more

By getting the right coverage, visitors can protect themselves from financial losses and enjoy their travels with less worry. Traveling is an exciting adventure that offers unique experiences and memories to last a lifetime. However, unexpected events such as illness, accidents, or logistical complications can quickly turn a dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial for US tourists to understand the importance of travel insurance. This article provides a comprehensive guide on what every US tourist should know about travel insurance, ensuring a safe and smo ..read more

Four companies founded by Indian Americans are features on CNBC’s 12th annual Disruptor 50 list which highlights the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence in the business landscape. Zum, Tala, AlphaSense and Glean are among Indian American disruptors in industries ranging from cybersecurity to agriculture. “It’s fair to say that AI is all over the CNBC Disruptor 50 list,” says the channel noting, “Roughly two-thirds of the 50 companies making the Disruptor 50 list describe artificial intelligence as ‘critical’ to their businesses. And it starts at the very top: for the first time ever ..read more

Indian American IT leader Kuldip Mohanty has resigned as North Dakota’s chief information officer effective May 31, after leading the North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) department for 15 months. Mohanty who has served as the state’s CIO since Feb 23, 2023, cited family reasons for his resignation. He brought nearly 30 years of private sector experience in IT, most recently as CIO of HUB International Limited in Chicago, spearheading technology modernization and transformation for the world’s fifth-largest global insurance brokerage, according to a media release. As North Dakota’s CIO ..read more

Indian American professor Madan Annavarjula will become the next Dean of the Charlton College of Business at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Sep 1. “In our ongoing commitment to excellence, I am pleased to add another world-class Dean to the campus leadership,” said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian, announcing his appointment. “Dr. Madan Annavarjula brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and vision to this role, making him an exceptional choice to guide our Charlton College of Business into the future,” he said. READ: Manoj Malhotra named Dean for Lehigh’s College ..read more

Indian American Nikki Haley is posing a warning sign to former President and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as she’s still going strong in the Republican primaries despite suspending her presidential campaign in March. On Tuesday, Haley received 20% of the vote in Maryland, 17.9% in Nebraska and 9.4% in West Virginia. In the Indiana primary last week, Haley garnered 21.7% of the vote, USA Today reported. While Trump handily won the states, receiving 80.2% of the vote in Nebraska, 80% in Maryland, 88.4% in West Virginia and 78.3% in Indiana, Haley’s sizable tally indic ..read more

Vice President Kamala Harris wants more Indian Americans to take part in the electoral process of the United States as the community’s representation in the corridors of power was not reflective of their growing population. “Over the years, we’ve had so much more participation by Indian Americans in the electoral process running for office. But the numbers are still not reflective of the size of the growing population,” she said at the annual ‘Desis Decide’ summit organized by Indian American Impact, a political advocacy organization. “And therefore what will happen, invariably it’s happened t ..read more

Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams’ third journey to the International Space Station on the highly anticipated first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been delayed at least another week. The launch was expected on May 17 after a previous delay, but teams found a small helium leak in the service module of the spacecraft, according to a release from Boeing. Starliner teams traced the leak to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster, where helium is used to allow the thrusters to fire. “The teams now are targeting a launch date of no earlier than 4:43 pm EDT ..read more