University of San Diego appoints Indian-origin associate prof as Computer Science Department Chair

The University of San Diego has appointed an Indian-origin associate professor as the Chair of its Computer Science Department.

Nikhil Yadav, PhD, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Computer Science department at the University of San Diego’s (USD) Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, effective January 1, 2025. This promotion comes shortly after Dr. Yadav joined USD as an associate professor in the Fall of 2024, bringing expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

Modi to discuss energy, defense with Trump during visit on Feb 12, 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss cooperation and collaboration in energy and defense sectors with President Donald Trump during his U.S. visit on February 12 and 13. Modi is also scheduled to interact with senior leaders of the U.S. administration during his visit. This will be the first visit of Modi to the U.S. since the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

RBI projects 6.4% GDP growth for FY25, anticipates economic pickup in H2

On Friday, February 7, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected real GDP growth of 6.4% for FY25, anticipating that economic activity will pick up in the second half of the year, driven by improvements in agriculture and manufacturing.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, announcing the results of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, also forecasted GDP growth for FY26 at 6.7%. The quarterly breakdown for FY26 is as follows: Q1 at 6.7%, Q2 at 7.0%, Q3 at 6.5%, and Q4 at 6.5%.

Trump signs executive order targeting ICC, accuses court of unfair actions

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of unfairly targeting the United States and Israel. The sanctions include financial and visa restrictions on individuals who help with ICC investigations into American citizens or allies.

Trump signed the order while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington. The ICC had previously issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.

Indian lawmaker demands explanation from MEA on deportation of Indian nationals by the U.S.

Indian lawmaker Manickam Tagore on Thursday submitted an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States government.

The Congress MP, in his notice, expressed his shock over the deportations, describing the treatment of the Indian nationals, identified as illegal immigrants, as a violation of human rights. He also raised concerns over the lack of significant intervention from the Indian government in the matter.

Second federal judge rules against Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order

A federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship on Wednesday, February 5, marking the second such ruling against the president as legal challenges to his directive mount across the country, reported CBS News.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by President Joe Biden, granted a preliminary injunction sought by immigrant rights organizations following a hearing on the case.

Parents of OpenAI Whistleblower File Lawsuit for Son’s Police, Toxicology Reports

The parents of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, have filed a lawsuit seeking access to police and toxicology reports related to their son’s death. Balaji was found dead in a San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26.

Petitioners Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy state in court documents that they have been living “every parent’s worst nightmare” since their son’s death. The lawsuit alleges that the City and County of San Francisco are illegally withholding public records, violating the California Public Records Act (CPRA).

Delhi records 57.70% voter turnout as polling for assembly elections ends

Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections concluded on Wednesday at 6 pm across all 11 districts of the National Capital Territory. The Election Commission of India (ECI) confirmed that voters who were in line by the closing time were allowed to cast their ballots.

The results of the high-stakes election, a three-way contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress, will be announced on February 8, when the vote counting takes place.

Indian man sentenced in Vermont for conspiring to distribute opioids and controlled substances

A 33-year-old Indian man was sentenced on February 3 in Vermont for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and distributing controlled substances, including the opioids Tapentadol and Tramadol, in connection with his involvement in an international drug trafficking operation.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont identified the person as Nitin Mishra, 33, of Jaipur, India.

Indian citizens deported from U.S. arrive in Amritsar amid tightened immigration laws

A U.S. Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens, who were allegedly living in the U.S. without proper documentation, landed in Amritsar, Punjab, on Wednesday, February 5.

Earlier, on Tuesday, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson confirmed the deportation, stating that while specific details could not be disclosed, the United States is actively enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson added that the deportation serves as a strong message that “illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman lauds India’s AI vision, says willing to collaborate

As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, India has rolled out an ambitious strategy to develop a comprehensive AI ecosystem, with OpenAI expressing willingness to collaborate on this mission.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Electronics and IT Minister, shared this development on Wednesday after meeting OpenAI Co-founder and CEO Sam Altman in the national capital.

U.S. withdraws from UN Human Rights Council

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders, reinstating the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, withdrawing the U.S. from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and cutting funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), according to Fox News.

Trump expressed mixed emotions about signing the order, admitting he was “torn” and “unhappy” to do so, acknowledging the severity of the sanctions against Iran. “Hopefully, we’re not going to have to use it very much,” he told reporters on Tuesday, February 4.

Delhi polls: AAP seeks 3rd term; BJP, Congress gear up for fierce contest

Polling for Delhi’s 70 Assembly seats began on Wednesday morning (local time) amid tight security measures. Voting started at 7:00 am and will continue until 6:00 pm.

Delhi has a total of 15,614,000 registered voters, including 8,376,173 males, 7,236,560 females, and 1,267 third-gender voters. Among them are 239,905 first-time voters (aged 18-19), 109,368 elderly voters (85+), and 79,885 persons with disabilities.

Indian-origin Akash Bobba’s appointment in Musk’s DOGE ignites controversy over security risks

Akash Bobba, a 22-year-old engineer of Indian descent, has quickly become the focal point of a major controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s newly launched Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The agency, which has already sparked intense debate, hired six engineers between the ages of 19 and 24, granting them unprecedented access to critical government systems—an action that has raised serious concerns among national security experts, as per reports.

IndiaCon 2025: USC pioneers first-ever conference exploring U.S.-India ties and innovation

In a landmark event for South Asian professionals, students, and business leaders, the University of Southern California (USC) hosted the first-ever IndiaCon, a conference dedicated to exploring the growing economic, technological, and cultural ties between India and the United States.

With over 250 attendees ranging from entrepreneurs, investors and policy experts to other professionals and students, IndiaCon emerged as a pivotal platform for thought-provoking discussions on India’s global rise, innovation, and diaspora-driven impact in the U.S.