By: Yuktha and Shibhany (Teen Leadership Committee) On August 28th, SAIVA (South Asian International Volunteer Association) helped host an event partnering with IDIA USA. A teen volunteer Yuktha, one of the leads for the healthcare committee shares her thoughts: “The purpose of the Stories in Our Hands event is to create a connection between seniors and teens by creating a space for teens to listen and learn from their elders. Seniors will share personal stories shaped by cou

A vibrant new community initiative is taking shape in Central Texas with the launch of Lohana Samaj of Austin (LSA), an organization dedicated to bringing together individuals and families of Lohana heritage while celebrating and preserving the community’s rich cultural traditions. LSA recently marked its launch with a summer gathering that welcomed more than 60 community members for an evening of connection, culture, and camaraderie. The event combined engaging games and a d

Anupam Kher brings Jaane Pehchaane Anjane to the historic State Theatre for an evening about connection, relationships and the people we sometimes fail to see. There is something almost contradictory about loneliness in 2026. We can reach almost anyone, instantly. We carry hundreds of contacts in our phones, follow the lives of people we have never met and spend much of our day connected to screens. And yet, for millions of Americans, one of the hardest questions remains surp

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI-Jaipur has been named one of the world’s happiest cities in Time Out’s 2026 rankings, with the Rajasthan capital securing the sixth spot. Chicago was the only U.S. city to feature in the top 10, ranking seventh. The annual survey drew responses from more than 24,000 people worldwide, asking residents how they feel about life in their cities. Participants rated factors such as culture, green spaces, neighborhoods, street life, food, art and nigh

In Observance of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, HC4A Awarded Federal AmeriCorps Grant via 9/11 Day to Mobilize 500+ Students, Distribute 150 Laptops to Veteran Families, and Advance Digital Inclusion in Central Texas Staff Reporter, July 21, 2026 — Marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, HC4A today announced it has been awarded a federal AmeriCorps Youth Engagement Grant by the national non-profit 9/11 Day to host the Youth-Led Civic Tech Mobilization & “AI with All” Hac

Large-Scale Bollywood Musical Features 130 Dancers, 9 Dance Pieces and 12 Choreographers WHO: Agni Foundation for the Arts and Agni Katha WHAT: RAAS LEELA: AN EAST SIDE STORY WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 21 & Saturday August 22, 2026 WHERE: Dell Hall at The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr TICKETS: Starting at $42 and available at agniartsfoundation.org Austin, TX–A classic love story g

NEW YORK- US-based global investment bank Goldman Sachs has raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.8 per cent for calendar year 2026 from 6.5 per cent earlier, following the US-Iran peace deal that has led to lower global oil prices and eased supply chain disruptions. Goldman Sachs has also raised its FY27 GDP growth forecast for India by 40 basis points to 6.5 per cent. In its latest report, Goldman Sachs said it had revised its forecasts after the sharp decline in crude oi

MUMBAI – India has emerged as a key growth and innovation hub for US-based e-commerce giant Amazon, with the company’s ‘Amazon Now’ service becoming its fastest-growing ecommerce business in the country, Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy said on June 24. Sharing his experience after visiting an Amazon Now micro-fulfillment center in one of Mumbai’s busiest neighborhoods, Jassy said the service is witnessing rapid growth as customers increasingly opt for deliveries within mi

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Trump administration has effectively closed the United States to asylum seekers and will continue expanding deportations, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said, outlining the administration’s hardline immigration agenda that could affect migrants seeking protection in the U.S. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Miller said the administration has entered into agreements with other countries to receive people seeking asylum instead of

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