Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS August 7, 2026 C onnecticut Governor Ned Lamont on Thursday, 30 July 2026, marked the establishment of the Con- necticut–India Trade Commission at a ceremonial bill-signing event held at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford. The initiative creates a formal mechanism to promote trade, investment and institutional cooperation between Connecticut and India. The ceremony was attended by India’s Consul General in NewYork, Ambassa- dor Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, as well as Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz , Representative Stephen Meskers, Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commerce Committee; Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox; and members of the Indian American community. Governor Lamont highlighted Con- necticut’s expanding engagement with India and said the Commis- sion could help strengthen commercial, technological, educational and cultural links between the two sides. He also referred to Connecticut’s economic development mission to India in early 2025, when he led a delega- tion of state officials and business leaders to Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai from February 23 to March 1, holding meetings with government officials and corporate executives to explore investment and business opportunities. Ambassador Pradhan welcomed the creation of the Commission as a platform for identifying and advancing areas of co- operation between India and Connecticut. He highlighted opportunities in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, information technology, cybersecurity, clean energy, healthcare, higher education and innova- tion. The Commission was established un- der Public Act 26-78 following approval by both the Connecticut Senate and House of Representatives. The July 30 ceremony marked the formal establishment of the Commission, a press release said. The Commission will comprise 27 specified members, with provision for additional members as considered neces- sary by the chairpersons of the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee. Its membership will include legislative appointees and Commerce Commit- tee members, gubernatorial appointees, representatives of public higher education and a chamber of commerce, and mem- bers of Connecticut’s Indian-American communities. Under the law, the Commission will work to advance bilateral trade and investment, promote business and academic exchanges, encourage mutual economic and infrastructure investment, and initiate cooperation on policy issues of shared interest. It will also explore new opportunities for collaboration in tech- nology and the arts. Connecticut joins neighboring New Jersey in establishing a dedicated mecha- nism to strengthen relations with In- dia. The New Jersey–India Commission was created by then- Governor Phil Murphy through Executive Order No. 354 on February 6, 2024, to promote trade, invest- ment, economic development, educational cooperation and cultural ex- changes. The Connecti- cut Commission is expected to provide businesses, universities, policymakers and community organizations with a continu- ing forum for developing economic and institutional partnerships between the state and India. Connecticut Establishes India Trade Commission To Deepen Economic Ties By a StaffWriter Governor of Connecticut Ned Lamont signing the formal creation of the Connecticut-India Trade Commission July 30, 2026, as India’s Consul General in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, left, looks on. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, and India’s CG Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, speaking at the July 30, 2026 event. Other speakers at the event. PHOTOS:CGI NEWYORK G overnor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced August 4, 2026, that more than 2,000 children are receiving of- fers to join NewYork City’s inaugural 2-K class. They also announced that following the City’s first-ever 2-K application season, more than 5,700 families applied for just over 2,000 seats, a press release from the Mayor’s office said. This, the administrations said, was a clear indication of the need in all five boroughs of NYC. “Each free 2-K seat will save NewYork City families an average of $26,000 a year,” the press release said. Among families receiving initial offers, 82% are matched with one of their top three choices, and more than half are receiving their first-choice program. 99% of all offers are to a program listed on a family’s application. The majority of seats will be full-day and full-year. “Thousands of families across NYC are applying for childcare for their two-year-olds, making clear that this is the kind of opportunity that families have been wait- ing generations for,” Governor Hochul said. “Starting a family while working full-time was nearly impossible for me, which is why I’ve made it my mission to make sure no parent has to choose between their career and their children. I’m proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani in delivering these first 2-K seats, and I’ll continue putting NewYork on a path to universal childcare, supporting families across the state.” “The overwhelming demand for 2-K shows what families across the city have known for years: NewYorkers need free, universal child care, and they need it now,” said Mayor Mamdani. “More than 5,700 families applied because affordable child care allows NewYork families to stay in the city they love. From our 2K for 2-K race in Fort Tryon Park to building sandcastles with families in the Rockaways, our administration travelled across the city to ensure families had the information they needed to apply. That’s how government should work, and this is only the beginning. Together with Governor Hochul, we’ll keep expanding 2-K until every family that wants a seat can get one.” NY Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Extend 2-K Offers To More Than 2,000 Children By a StaffWriter