The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to four Indian Americans, granting them membership to the esteemed organization comprised of over 10,000 global artists and professionals in the film industry who have played a pivotal role in advancing the arts and sciences of motion pictures. Among the invitees for the year 2023, which includes a total of 398 individuals, are renowned composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia, Netflix executives Bela Bajaria and Girish Balakrishnan, and producer Shivani Rawat. Rafiq Bhatia is a versatile musician, composer, guitarist, and producer, having released three solo albums titled ‘Yes it Will,’…
Author: Akancha Mishra
Akancha Mishra
Akancha has been a journalist for about twenty years, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Honors and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She and her husband and children Supriya and Alok currently call New York City home.
India achieved a significant milestone in its defense exports for the fiscal year 2023, reaching a historic high of approximately $2.13 billion (INR 16,000 crore). This impressive growth represents an increase of over 10 times since the fiscal year 2017 when defense exports amounted to $205 million (INR 1,521 crore). According to the Ministry of Defence, India exports various major platforms such as the Akash missile, BrahMos, Pinaka, Dornier-228, thermal imagers, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), radars, simulators, body armours, and mine-protected vehicles. Additionally, there is significant interest and demand for platforms like the Light Combat Helicopters, Aircraft…
Ajay Bhutoria, an Indian American and member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders, has put forth a recommendation to recapture all unused green cards in the family and employment categories since 1992. This suggestion holds the potential to benefit numerous Indian Americans who have been awaiting their green cards. The proposal entails recapturing over 230,000 unused employment-based green cards from 1992 to 2022, processing them in a phased manner in addition to the annual limit of 140,000 for this category. The objective of “Recapture unused Green cards and prevent future Green card waste”…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated the commencement of various essential infrastructure development projects in Telangana, collectively valued at $810 million. The event took place in Warangal, where the projects include National Highway developments spanning 176 kilometers, amounting to over $738 million, and the establishment of a Railway Manufacturing Unit in Kazipet with a budget exceeding $68 million. During the ceremony, PM Modi also visited the Bhadrakali Temple for darshan and pooja. Addressing the large gathering at the foundation stone laying function for the Mancherial-Warangal section of the Nagpur-Vijayawada Corridor, PM Modi emphasized the significance of these projects in enhancing…
The Assembly Judiciary Committee of California recently held a hearing for Senate Bill 403 (SB403), aiming to address caste discrimination, as reported by ABC10. If approved, California would be the first state in the US to explicitly outlaw caste-based discrimination by including caste as a protected category under the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, fair housing laws, and employment laws. The bill has been successfully passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee and will now progress to the Appropriations Committee. If it also receives approval from the Appropriations Committee, the bill will move to the Assembly floor for a comprehensive vote.…
Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, representing the Republican Party, has launched a scholarship program with the aim of revitalizing patriotism among young individuals amidst a decline in national pride. Ramaswamy, a hopeful candidate for the 2024 election, has committed $250,000 in scholarship funds to promote patriotism. The scholarships, amounting to $25,000 each, will be awarded to 10 high school students this year. To participate in the scholarship program, students are required to submit a two-minute video answering the question of what it means to be an American. A panel will select the recipients, who will have the freedom to utilize the…
Concerns arise among immigrants, prospective citizens, and advocates as the US citizenship test undergoes updates. There are worries that the changes will create a disadvantage for individuals with lower levels of English proficiency. This is significant because the naturalization test is a crucial step toward citizenship, following a lengthy process that includes years of legal permanent residency. In December, US authorities announced the revision of the test after 15 years, with the new version expected to be introduced later this year. The proposed change by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services involves the addition of a speaking section to assess…
Actor Sanjay Mishra’s Hindi short film ‘Giddh’ (The Scavenger) has achieved success at the prestigious Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2023 by winning the Asia International Competition. Notably, Mishra himself was honored with the ‘Best Actor’ award at the festival. This recognition has qualified ‘Giddh’ to compete in the Oscars, positioning it as a strong contender in the short film category. Sanjay Mishra expressed his gratitude for the film’s overwhelming global reception, describing the journey as unforgettable, and praised the incredible crew he collaborated with. ‘Giddh’ serves as a raw social commentary, fearlessly reflecting on challenging societal realities that…
On July 2nd, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd. This MoU marks the collaboration for the construction and commissioning of a gallery centered around the theme “Evolution of Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard” at the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in GANDHINAGARA. The signing ceremony of the MoU was attended by notable dignitaries, including Sarbananda Sonowal, the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of Health & Family Welfare and…
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a health advisory concerning spices from an Indian brand, which tested positive for Salmonella on June 30, 2023. Consumers who purchased these products in certain U.S. states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, are being cautioned. The flagged products include Everest Garam Masala, Everest Sambhar Masala, and Maggi Masala ae Magic. These items were bought at retail stores in India, imported, and then distributed in the U.S. since March 16, 2023. They are currently being recalled. Notably, the products…