Author: Akancha Mishra

Harini Krishnan, a well-known Indian American community organizer for the Democratic Party in the Bay Area, has been working tirelessly in support of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Presidential campaign. After President Joe Biden exited the race, Krishnan and her team quickly transitioned their efforts from supporting Biden to rallying behind Harris. This shift has energized the campaign, resulting in thousands of volunteers joining within just ten days. Krishnan, who co-directs the South Asians for Harris initiative, has a deep connection with Harris, having supported her since her days as California’s Senator, Attorney General, and District Attorney. Krishnan has been instrumental in…

Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted significant progress in India’s healthcare sector during a Lok Sabha discussion on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 2024-25 budget. Since 2014, the number of medical colleges in India has surged from 387 to 731. This expansion has also led to a substantial increase in medical education opportunities, with undergraduate seats rising from 51,348 to 112,000, a 118% increase, and postgraduate seats growing by 133%. Nadda emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s health sector has seen major improvements, including the largest health scheme globally and a 164% increase in the…

Recruiters have observed a notable increase in inquiries from Indian expatriates, including those at the CXO level, who are considering relocating to India from countries like the US, UK, and Canada over the past year, according to Randstad India. The recruitment agency did not provide specific figures on this surge. The manufacturing sector is projected to expand significantly over the next five years, potentially growing from 2.5 to 3 million employees to about 5 million by 2030, as stated by Yeshab Giri, Chief Commercial Officer at Operational Talent Solutions, Randstad India. The government’s focus on major incentives and the “China…

Hamsa Balakrishnan has been appointed as the associate dean of the MIT School of Engineering, starting August 1, 2024. A professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), Balakrishnan is known for her impactful research in air transportation systems. Her work involves designing and analyzing control and optimization algorithms for complex cyber-physical systems, focusing on areas such as airport congestion management, air traffic routing, and machine learning applications for weather forecasting and flight delay predictions. In her new role, Balakrishnan will be responsible for enhancing the recruitment, retention, and support of academic talent within the School of Engineering. She…

Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has been making waves in his career recently. This week, he surprised his fans by revealing a teaser for his forthcoming track, “Muhammad Ali,” which features a collaboration with American rapper NLE Choppa. The teaser showcases both artists grooving to vibrant beats, hinting at a new anthem that blends different musical styles and genres. Diljit’s 2024 has been marked by significant achievements. His performance in the Netflix biopic “Amar Singh Chamkila” received widespread acclaim, with a soundtrack composed by the acclaimed A.R. Rahman. Additionally, his latest film, “Jatt and Juliet 3,” has already earned…

A team of researchers at the Florida Agricultural and Medical University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering has developed an artificial intelligence tool set to revolutionize surgical training. Spearheaded by Suvranu De, an Indian American professor and the Google-endowed dean of the college, this innovative project focuses on improving surgeons’ skills through a sophisticated AI-powered video assessment tool. The video-based assessment network (VBA-Net), created under De’s guidance, employs state-of-the-art deep learning models to evaluate surgical abilities. This research, recently published in JAMA Surgery, a medical journal of the American Medical Association, holds significant promise for enhancing surgical education and patient outcomes. De…

India has claimed the leading position worldwide in terms of the total number of initial public offerings (IPOs) and issuances, as reported by Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). During her address at FICCI’s 21st Annual Capital Markets Conference 2024 in Mumbai, which focused on “Capital Market Reforms 2.0 for Viksit Bharat,” she highlighted Sebi’s initiatives to streamline IPO documentation and filing processes. To support the listing of startups, Sebi is updating key performance indicators and is developing a simplified IPO document with fill-in-the-blank sections to clarify uncertainties. She also mentioned that…

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently urged citizens to join the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, emphasizing its role in honoring India’s freedom fighters. He highlighted that the tricolor flag embodies sacrifice, dedication, and peace, and that this campaign is a way to remember those who fought for independence. Shah noted that the initiative, which has gained momentum over the past two years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, is fostering a renewed sense of unity among Indians. Shah invited people to participate by displaying the national flag at their homes from August 9 to August 15 and sharing their selfies…

President Droupadi Murmu kicks off two-day Governors’ conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In her opening remarks, President Murmu emphasized that the conference’s agenda had been carefully selected to address key issues essential for achieving national objectives. She expressed confidence that the discussions would enrich the participants’ roles and enhance their effectiveness. The conference also featured addresses from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Each leader highlighted the importance of Governors fulfilling their constitutional duties, including raising awareness about social welfare schemes and showcasing the development of the past decade. Prime Minister Modi urged…

Indian American and former Arizona state Representative Amish Shah has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. This district encompasses parts of northeastern Phoenix and three affluent suburbs. Shah’s primary win paves the way for a highly contested election in November, where he will face off against seven-term incumbent Republican David Schweikert. Shah, who entered the Democratic Primary to represent Arizona’s 24th Legislative District in 2018, had to overcome several contenders, including ex-news anchor Marlene Galán-Wood, former state party chair Andrei Cherny, former regional American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer, orthodontist Andrew Horne, and investment banker…