By Gulshan Singh AUSTIN, TX — On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Dell Jewish Community Center (JCC) was transformed into a powerhouse of cultural unity, artistic performance, and philanthropy. The 13th annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt (BMBB) Gala, hosted by HC4A in partnership with Shalom Austin, marked a historic milestone for Central Texas. This year’s event was defined by an intentional alignment: bridging Austin’s Indian and Jewish communities under a unified mission of serv

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC – India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has received the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), recognizing the mission’s achievements in lunar exploration.US Election Coverage The award was presented May 21 during the AIAA ASCEND 2026 conference here, where India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, accepted the honor on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

By: Shibhany Nandhakumar and Siya Dighe This month, we are proud to highlight one of our remarkable teen volunteers, Siya Dighe who shares her experience with SAIVA. Siya Dighe has made a meaningful impact during her time with SAIVA, and her experience reflects the power of intergenerational service and the positive impact she made. “South Asian International Volunteer Association has been much more than an organization for many volunteers. Since the very beginning, SAIVA has

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump, whose businesses,including Mar-a-Lago have long relied on seasonal foreign labor, has moved to restore the H-2B visa quota, underscoring how his own use of the program contrasts with broader immigration crackdowns affecting other industries. While sectors dependent on high-skilled H-1B visas continue to face tighter scrutiny and restrictions, a report by The Wall Street Journal shows that policy around the lower-wa

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY – Seven Indian American women have been named to Barron’s 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, reflecting their presence in senior roles across major financial institutions. The executives recognized on the list hold leadership positions across banking and asset management firms, overseeing investment portfolios and global strategy. Anu Aiyengar, global head of advisory and mergers and acquisitions at J.P. Morgan, is a

By Gulshan Singh AUSTIN, TX — In a city known for its eclectic spirit, one event is breaking traditional boundaries to proves that “Unity in Diversity” is more than just a slogan. On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the 14th annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt (BMBB) gala will transform the Dell Jewish Community Center into a vibrant crossroads of culture, all to ensure local students have the tools to succeed. Hosted by HC4A in partnership with Shalom Austin, this year’s gala marks a h

NEW DELHI- India on March 20 delivered a 2.5-tonne consignment of emergency medicines, medical disposables, kits and equipment to Afghanistan to support the treatment of those injured in Pakistan’s recent attack on a hospital in Kabul.India business insights Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India will continue to provide humanitarian support to Afghanistan in this difficult time. India delivered assistance to Afghanistan after a Paki

WASHINGTON, DC – Indian American households reported a median annual income of about $151,200, far above the US median of roughly $83,700, and ranked first among all major ethnic groups in the country, a new report has said. Pew Research Center findings said that Indian American households earn roughly $67,000 more per year, or nearly 80 percent higher than the typical American household. Indian Americans, roughly 4.8 million people, make up a relatively small portion of the

The South Asian International Volunteer Association (SAIVA) recently participated in a community research initiative exploring how fitness technology can motivate older adults to stay active. The study, “Gamification and Motivation in Older Adults: An Analysis of Fitness Device Use and Sentiment,” was conducted by Ayan Malpani under the guidance of Dr. Harlan Beverly at Texas State University. SAIVA volunteers helped connect researchers with older adults in the community, as

Gulshan Singh, Feb 2026 AUSTIN — The US-India Chamber of Commerce (USICoC) Austin Chapter recently hosted its third annual AI Impact Summit 2026, signaling a major milestone for the local Indian American professional community. Held at the Austin Central Library, the event highlighted how Texas is transforming from a regional tech hub into the global “factory floor” for artificial intelligence. With a growing network of enterprise executives, founders, investors and technolo

Bala Kumar Independently Published (2025) ISBN: 979-8311443241 Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (12/2025) Bala Kumar’s non-fiction health guide, America’s Lifeline for Better Health: Preventive Care, challenges readers to focus on using his 21-Day Program, with ten simple steps, to focus on healing their lives from the common health issues that are facing Americans today. These issues are based on people making poor lifestyle choices. He quotes some sobering statist

By Neel & Anisha Hiremath Cedar Park, TX – What started as a small, student-led idea has grown into a community movement. SOCK: It to Diabetes, a youth-run nonprofit project, is helping children and families understand the importance of balanced meals, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices in preventing diabetes. High school siblings Neel Hiremath, 16, and Anisha Hiremath, 15, are the driving force behind the initiative. Their motivation is personal: diabetes runs in their

Austin, TX - Austin City Council member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri brought forward a resolution recognizing January as Muslim Heritage Month and encouraging City Staff to identify ways the City can support other heritage months observed throughout the City. Events scheduled throughout the month are aimed at cultivating appreciation for the contributions of Muslims to Austin. Council Member Qadri had the following to say about Item 55: “I’m proud that Austin is recognizing Muslim Herit

A new year is a chance to embrace a wallet-friendly mindset and make a fresh financial start. But what changes will make the most impact? CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals are sharing their favorite resolutions for 2026: Calculate spending: Before any other money planning in 2026, you need to calculate your spending. Did you end 2025 with more money than you had at the beginning of the year? If so, your budget is likely in good shape and you can thoughtfully leverage

WASHINGTON, DC-India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located strategically at the mouth of the Strait of Malacca, are emerging as a pivotal strategic asset for US–India maritime cooperation, experts told American lawmakers. During a hearing on the US–India strategic partnership before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia on December 10, Jeff Smith of the Heritage Foundation stated that the islands constitute “an extremely valuable asset for any coun

WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration on November 19 cleared roughly $93 million in military sales to India, underscoring the growing defense ties between the two countries. The State Department approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and related equipment valued at an estimated $45.7 million, and Excalibur Projectiles for an estimated cost of $47.1 million. According to a statement by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, an agency within the Department

Austin’s rapidly growing Indian-American community will soon see a major milestone with the arrival of ShantiNiketan, a premier senior living community designed specifically around the cultural, dietary, and social preferences of Indian seniors. With successful communities already established in Florida, ShantiNiketan is now preparing to bring its unique model of wellness, culture, and belonging to the Greater Austin area. An in-person information and booking session has been