Hyderabad, Nov 5 (IANS) Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi scripted history by winning the Virginia Lt Governor race to become the first Muslim, the first South Asian American, and the first Indian-origin woman to hold the post.Six years after making history with her election as Virginia state Senator, the 61-year-old Democrat set another record by defeating Republican John Reid in the Virginia Lt Governor’s race.She will succeed Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the first woman to hold the post.Ghazal…

New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Hinduja Group Chairman Gopichand P. Hinduja passed away in a London hospital on Tuesday. He was 85.Known as GP in business circles, he took over as Chairman of the Hinduja Group following the death of his elder brother Srichand in May 2023. He is survived by his wife, Sunita, sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter, Rita.The 2025 edition of the Sunday Times Rich List recently ranked Gopichand Hinduja’s family the richest in the UK with a net worth of 32.3 billion pounds.Gop…

Dubai, Oct 31 (IANS) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s dream of a confident, united India now finds reflection in India’s partnerships with other nations, particularly in the Gulf, where mutual trust, cultural empathy, and shared opportunity are the foundation of one of the world’s most stable relationships, a report highlighted on Friday as India celebrated ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’, or National Unity Day, to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of the leader who brought together a divided subcontinent …

Port Louis, Oct 28 (IANS) Chhath Puja was celebrated across Mauritius and Australia on Tuesday with utmost devotion and festivities, as people marked the conclusion of the four-day auspicious festival. One of the most significant Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja, is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also celebrated in parts of Nepal and among Indian communities worldwide.Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, on Tuesday joined in the Chhath M…

Washington, Oct 26 (IANS) Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, spoke exclusively to IANS, extending Diwali wishes to Indian citizens and members of the diaspora community. He made the remarks on Saturday during a special Diwali celebration hosted at his residence for members of the Indian diaspora in Washington, DC.”It gives me great pleasure, on my behalf and on my Embassy’s behalf, to wish everybody a very, very warm, healthy, prosperous Diwali. At the onset of festive season, it’s a gre…

Nairobi, Oct 23 (IANS) India’s High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika met Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle on Thursday, discussing bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, Adarsh Swaika and Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle also spoke on developments in Kenya. The meeting between two officials comes a week after Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) Kirti Vardhan Singh met State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia Ali Mohamed Omar on the sidelines of the 19th Mid-Term Min…

Bratislava, Oct 23 (IANS) The Indian Embassy in Slovakia on Thursday presented a collection of books to the Slovak Television and Radio Library in Bratislava for creating an ‘India Corner’. “The Embassy of India presented a diverse collection of books to the Slovak Television & Radio Library in Bratislava to create an ‘India corner’, enriching its collection with volumes on Indian Architecture, Culture, Music, Politics etc,” Indian Embassy in Slovakia posted on X.On Wednesday, members of…

Port Louis, Oct 23 (IANS) Reaffirming the longstanding friendship between India and Mauritius, a Diwali celebration was organised by students at the Work Club of the University of Mauritius.A Diwali celebration was organised by the students of the University of Mauritius, reaffirming the longstanding friendship between India and Mauritius.Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius Anurag Srivastava participated in the event and also extended heartfelt greetings to the people present, reflecting on th…

Washington, Oct 23 (IANS) Indian-American security expert Paul Kapur was officially sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, marking a key appointment of the Trump administration for the region. The State Department Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs posted on Wednesday on X, “Welcome to @State_SCA, Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur! This morning Dr. Kapur was officially sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Cen…

Los Angeles, Oct 22 (IANS) Highlighting the India-US friendship and celebrating cultural harmony, the Los Angeles City Hall hosted an event for members of the Indian diaspora and the Consulate General of India on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.The celebration featured the lighting of traditional lamps, music and dance performances, and the handing over of the Diwali proclamation.During the celebration, India’s new Consul General in Los Angeles, K.J. Srinivasa, was welcomed by city council mem…