Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Pop star Taylor Swift has yet to publicly endorse a presidential candidate this election season, but her dedicated fanbase, known as Swifties, is actively supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. Recently, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with singer-songwriter Carole King, joined around 15,000 others on a video conference to launch “Swifties for Kamala.” During the call, participants shared their favorite Taylor Swift songs, including Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts, who mentioned “Snow on the Beach.” The Zoom event raised over $113,000, a number notably significant since Swift revealed in July that 113 is her favorite number during an Eras…

Indian-American entrepreneur and prominent Republican figure Vivek Ramaswamy recently shared an intriguing video of him engaging in a game of tennis with legendary player Andre Agassi. Reflecting on his past, Mr. Ramaswamy disclosed that he once served as a ball boy for the former World Number 1, and now, they’ve become hitting partners. “I used to be a ball boy for @AndreAgassi, and today we were hitting partners,” he remarked, emphasising the significance of the moment. The 39-year-old Ramaswamy also conveyed some insightful wisdom imparted by the tennis icon. He shared Agassi’s wisdom: “The greatest gap lies between your mind…

Upon arriving in Kyiv via a special train from Poland, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister, highlighting the importance of this visit amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Modi presented four BHISHM Cubes to the Ukrainian government, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for this humanitarian aid, noting that the BHISHM Cubes would play a crucial role in speeding up the treatment of the injured and saving lives. PM Modi described the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) as a…

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amidst the ongoing conflict in the country. The two leaders shared an emotional moment as they paid tribute to the fallen children at the Martyrologist Exposition in the Ukrainian capital. PM Modi embraced Zelenskyy, offering a comforting hand on his shoulder as the Ukrainian President became visibly moved by the occasion. This poignant gesture set the tone for their high-level discussions, which were closely watched for Modi’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war. This visit marks the first high-level diplomatic engagement…

In a powerful address at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, former President Barack Obama expressed confidence in a new era of leadership under Kamala Harris. He emphasized that the United States is primed for a fresh start with Harris at the helm, stating, “America is ready for a new chapter, and Kamala Harris is prepared to lead us into it.” Reflecting on his own journey, Obama noted, “It has been 16 years since I accepted this party’s nomination for President. I can unequivocally say that one of my most crucial early decisions was choosing Joe Biden as my…

For Sumathi Madhure, feeling out of place in a new country was just part of the experience. Arriving in Nashua, New Hampshire, at the age of 20, she often felt the sense of difference during long drives to find an Indian restaurant or while navigating the aisles of a grocery store. She humorously recalls, “When I spotted another brown person in the supermarket, it was such a rarity that I’d invite them over for dinner.” Madhure underscores the importance of actively building a sense of community, noting, “Creating a sense of belonging doesn’t just happen; it requires effort.” Decades later,…

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara recently convened with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for the third round of the India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting. This significant dialogue underscored the strengthening ties between the two nations amid a challenging global environment, as detailed in a press release from the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Prime Minister Modi extended a warm reception to the Japanese ministers and emphasized the importance of the 2+2 meeting in enhancing the strategic partnership between India and Japan. Discussions focused on potential areas for deeper cooperation, such as critical…

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended a warm welcome to Arzu Rana Deuba, Nepal’s Foreign Minister, marking her first official visit to India in her current role. Jaishankar shared a photo with Deuba on X, expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming discussions: “Welcome @Arzuranadeuba of Nepal on her first visit to India as Foreign Minister. Looking forward to our talks.” Deuba arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a five-day visit, following an invitation from Jaishankar. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that this visit is part of the ongoing tradition of high-level exchanges between India and Nepal.…

Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to facilitating a shift towards an inclusive and pluralistic democracy. He emphasized the importance of creating a conducive environment for free and fair elections while speaking at the Third Voice of Global South Summit, which was hosted virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Yunus, an 84-year-old Nobel Laureate, reflected on the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh, highlighting the mass uprising that took place on August 5, 2024, referred to as the ‘Second Revolution.’ This movement, led by courageous students and supported by the broader population,…

India has the potential to become a US$ 55 trillion economy by 2047 if both state and central governments implement policies to boost the nation’s growth rate from its historical average of 7% to 8% (in rupee terms). This perspective was shared by Krishnamurthy V Subramanian, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), during the launch of his book, “India @100,” at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad. While he acknowledged that this target may appear ambitious, he emphasized that it is within reach. Subramanian noted that in 2020, India’s private credit to GDP ratio stood at…