Author: Bhakti Narayanan

A historic number of British Indian politicians secured seats in the House of Commons this week as the Labour Party staged a comeback after 14 years. Notably, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several new faces from the Conservative Party managed to survive despite a tough electoral outcome. Kerala-born Sojan Joseph made headlines by becoming the first Labour candidate to win the Ashford constituency in its 139-year history. In total, 28 British Indians were elected to Parliament, with the Labour party leading the charge. Veteran MPs like Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) and Lisa Nandy (Wigan) retained their seats, while…

India’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is poised to receive significant policy support as the government plans to expedite three crucial initiatives within its initial hundred days. These include earmarking 10 GWh capacity under the PLI ACC to boost local production of advanced batteries and implementing a payment security mechanism to promote wider adoption of electric buses. Additionally, the rollout of FAME 3, backed by a budget of US$ 1.2 billion (Rs. 10,000 crore), will be accelerated. These measures are aimed at hastening India’s transition towards cleaner mobility solutions and achieving net-zero emission targets. The government has already received seven bids…

Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, the United States has maintained ongoing dialogue with India regarding joint efforts to hold Russia accountable, as stated by U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti on July 4. In an email interview with The Hindu, Garcetti highlighted shared objectives between India and the U.S., including preventing the escalation of the conflict, fostering stability in the Middle East, and supporting the establishment of a future Palestinian state. Acknowledging India’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Garcetti underscored the strategic partnership’s strength in coordinating responses to global challenges. He emphasized ongoing discussions on imposing consequences on Russia for…

Within a few days of its release, the Netflix series Kota Factory has been well received by both critics and audiences. The black-and-white series portrays some new points in the third season. The teacher, Jeetu Bhaiya, who acts as a brother-like guide to his students, suffers from depression following the suicide death of his favorite student. He goes to therapy to get out of his depression. However, the coaching classes continue. This season delves deeper into the crises of both students and teachers, focusing on many of the fundamental premises of these exams and their preparation.  Jitendra Kumar’s portrayal of…

On Wednesday, Indian American politician Nikki Haley took a swipe at prominent American journalist George Stephanopoulos. He had previously questioned her assertion that President Joe Biden would not complete his first term, suggesting that a vote for him was essentially a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. Haley made these comments during an interview with Stephanopoulos on ABC News last year while she was a Republican primary candidate. Although she has since suspended her campaign, she revisited the issue by sharing an edited clip of that interview on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption, “Believe…

Hardam Tripathi, a leader in the Indian-American community and a practicing attorney, has been selected as an alternate delegate for the forthcoming Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. Scheduled for later this month, the convention aims to officially nominate former US President Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Trump, aged 78, is set to contest against the Democratic Party’s incumbent, 81-year-old President Joe Biden. The convention, organized by the Republican National Party (RNP), will take place in Milwaukee from July 14 to 18. Tripathi, a lifelong Republican and representative of Florida’s 15th Congressional District, expressed…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims beginning their journey on the sacred Amarnath Yatra on Saturday. This year’s annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine commenced today and will span 52 days, concluding on August 19. PM Modi expressed his sincere wishes to all pilgrims embarking on the sacred Amarnath Yatra, highlighting the spiritual significance of worshiping Baba Barfani and wishing prosperity to all devotees. The Baltal base camp in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, welcomed its first group of Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims on Friday. One pilgrim expressed his excitement about being in the first group,…

President Droupadi Murmu assured the nation that significant economic and social policies, along with landmark initiatives, would be unveiled during the upcoming Parliament sessions, particularly in the Union Budget. She emphasized the stability of the government with a strong majority, a rare occurrence in six decades, and highlighted the trust shown by the electorate in the current administration for the third consecutive term. The 18th Lok Sabha, she noted, holds historical significance, coinciding with the early years of what she termed the “Amrit Kaal” era and marking the 56th anniversary of the adoption of India’s Constitution. Looking ahead to the…

The Indian government completed its second 5G spectrum auction, generating around US$ 1.35 billion (Rs. 11,300 crore) through 7 rounds held over slightly more than a day. Bharti Airtel emerged as the primary bidder, focusing its investments on acquiring spectrum in crucial bands such as the sub-GHz 900 MHz, alongside the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. In contrast, Reliance Jio’s participation was more conservative, concentrating mainly on the 1800 MHz band to enhance its existing 4G and future 5G network capacities. Vodafone Idea (Vi) also secured spectrum across multiple bands, aligning its acquisitions with renewal requirements and strategic enhancements…

The magnificent reclining Vishnu statue from Western Mebon, Angkor’s largest bronze sculpture, has arrived in France for an extensive study before its scheduled exhibition in 2025. This artifact is one of the prized possessions of the National Museum of Cambodia and highlights the outstanding collaboration between France and Cambodia over several years, aimed at restoring the Western Mebon temple at the Angkor archaeological site. Discovered in 1936 by French curator Maurice Glaize, this 11th-century sculpture originally measured over 16 feet in length and nearly 15 feet in height. It stands out as a unique masterpiece of Khmer art, captivating researchers…