Author: Bhakti Narayanan

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised the current state of U.S.-India relations, describing them as stronger than ever before. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two nations, particularly in the co-production of armored vehicles. During his address at Asia’s premier security summit, Austin elaborated on the longstanding initiative to enable India to build jet engines for fighter aircraft domestically. He noted the significant strides made in co-producing both fighter jet engines and armored vehicles with India. Austin emphasized the positive momentum in the U.S.-India bilateral relationship, citing it as an…

Indian pharmaceutical companies, with a strong presence in the U.S. market, are projected to maintain their revenue growth in fiscal 2025 due to ongoing drug shortages in the United States, according to Mumbai-based India Ratings and Research. As a major hub for bulk generic drug manufacturing, Indian firms such as Dr. Reddy’s, Cipla, and Sun Pharma generate a significant portion of their revenue from markets in both the U.S. and Europe. The U.S., the largest pharmaceutical market globally, is experiencing its highest level of drug shortages in a decade, as reported by India Ratings and Research, which referenced data from…

As individuals age, their natural movements tend to slow down, which researchers attribute to factors such as a slower metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and decreased activity levels over time. Recent studies from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that older adults may move slower because it requires more energy for them compared to younger adults. This discovery, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, holds promise for developing diagnostic tools for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. To delve into this phenomenon, researchers conducted a study involving 84 participants spanning different age groups. They observed that older adults adjusted…

In anticipation of International Yoga Day, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus participated in a yoga session at the ‘Walk the Talk’ event in Geneva. This event, organized by India, the United Nations Geneva, and WHO, saw senior officers from the Indian delegation joining the Health Secretary and WHO Director General in performing yoga asanas at the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare shared a post on X, stating, “For the upcoming occasion of International Yoga Day, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, DG WHO…

The CA vs. Hate program’s inaugural report, released on May 22, highlighted that in California, anti-Hindu incidents ranked as the second most common religion-related hate crime reported to a state-sponsored hotline over the past year. Administered by the California Civil Rights Department, the hotline, with support from organizations advocating for minority groups, received 1,020 hate crime reports. Of these, 36.9% targeted Jews, 14.6% Muslims, and 23.3% Hindus. The data, while shedding light on concerning trends, is limited in its representation of all hate acts in the state, caution officials. Despite being a new initiative, CA vs. Hate has offered Hindu…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 10 years of leadership, has significantly altered India’s global image and established himself as a prominent global leader, according to an eminent Indian-American community leader. Dr. Bindukumar Kansupada, a cardiologist from Philadelphia, stated in an interview with PTI that Modi has been instrumental in changing how Indians are perceived worldwide. Dr. Kansupada believes that Modi is reviving Indian pride, culture, and ancient knowledge such as yoga, mindfulness, and Ayurveda. Dr. Kansupada attended the two-day annual summit Desis Decides of Indian-American Impact, where Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke. An alumnus of IIT, he serves…

Australia’s diverse culture owes a debt to the Girmitiyas – indentured laborers who left their homelands during colonial times for better prospects. Despite facing exploitation, they shaped Australia’s social, economic, and cultural fabric. The term “Girmitiya” stems from “Girmitya,” the agreement these individuals signed under the indenture system. From the 19th to 20th century, thousands from the Indian subcontinent, especially Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Fiji, were recruited for work in Australian sugarcane plantations and other industries. Their journey was marked by extreme hardship and exploitation, enduring appalling conditions at sea and harsh plantation labor upon arrival. Yet, they…

During the first four phases of the 2024 general elections, voter turnout significantly increased compared to the 2019 elections. According to data from the Election Commission, 451 million voters participated in 2024, compared to 426 million in 2019, reflecting an increase of 25 million voters. A domestic brokerage firm, SBI Research, analyzed this data, excluding postal and army ballots, and found an overall increase of 19 million voters. Within this increase, female voters rose by 9.36 million, while male voters increased by 8.47 million, highlighting the growing importance of women in Indian politics. This translates to approximately 110 female voters…

Four companies founded by Indian Americans have been featured on CNBC’s 12th annual Disruptor 50 list, showcasing the significant impact of artificial intelligence in various sectors. The companies—Zum, Tala, AlphaSense, and Glean—highlight the diverse areas of innovation led by Indian American entrepreneurs, from cybersecurity to agriculture. According to CNBC, AI is a dominant theme on the Disruptor 50 list, with around two-thirds of the companies emphasizing AI as crucial to their operations. For the first time, a company, OpenAI, has retained the top position on the list. Zum, ranked 31st, is transforming the $50 billion student transportation industry to be…

Voters in 49 constituencies across 6 states and 2 Union Territories are casting their ballots, determining the political futures of numerous prominent leaders, including Union Ministers and party heads such as Smriti Irani, Rahul Gandhi, Chirag Paswan, and Omar Abdullah. Here are the highlights of the Lok Sabha Election Phase 5 Voting: – Voting took place in various seats across Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. – This phase marks the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra and Ladakh, with an average turnout of 56.7% recorded by 5 pm. – Simultaneously,…