Author: Bhakti Narayanan

On Monday, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs, announced that maritime security discussions will be a key topic during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore. In a special briefing about the upcoming trip, Mazumdar highlighted that both India and Singapore share similar views on maritime security and safety. Mazumdar emphasised that discussions on maritime security, particularly concerning the South China Sea, will be part of the agenda. He noted that Singapore, like India, values the safe and secure maintenance of sea lines of communication. While he could not specify the extent of the discussion, Mazumdar…

During her visit to Taiwan, former US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, expressed her support for Republican nominee Donald Trump, urging her party to reject isolationism and stand by America’s allies. Having previously competed against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, Haley emphasized the importance of backing countries such as Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan—a region Beijing asserts as its own and has threatened to seize by force if needed. “An isolationist approach isn’t healthy,” Haley emphasised in Taipei, stressing that the U.S. cannot afford to believe it won’t be impacted by global events. Despite the U.S. not formally…

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump criticized his opponent Kamala Harris following her first significant interview since entering the election after Joe Biden’s exit. “I just saw Comrade Kamala Harris’ response to a very poorly framed question. It seemed more like a defensive gesture than a genuine inquiry, but her answer was disjointed and lacked coherence, stating that her ‘values haven’t changed…'” Trump made a comment on his social media platform, Truth. “On that point, I agree—her values haven’t changed. The border will stay open, not closed. Trump plans to provide free healthcare for illegal immigrants, maintain…

The Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS), a prestigious publication in the information systems domain, has announced the appointment of Indian-American scholar Monideepa Tarafdar as its new editor-in-chief, beginning September 1, 2024. Tarafdar will take over from Dorothy E. Leidner, who has held the position since 2018. In her new role, Tarafdar will oversee the journal’s operations, including managing submissions, pre-prints, copy editing, and production. She will also spearhead updates to the journal’s logo, page template, website, and manuscript review system, among other responsibilities. Reflecting on her upcoming role, Tarafdar expressed, “I see my role as a steward,…

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,…