Author: Bhakti Sharma

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Bhakti has been working as a journalist for about twenty years. She holds a postgraduate degree in mass communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Delhi.

Following Donald Trump’s re-election to a second term, several prominent Indian-American figures extended their congratulations, emphasizing their eagerness to work with his administration to advance the US-India relationship. Trump won the 2024 presidential race with 295 electoral votes, surpassing his 2020 performance, securing key swing states, and improving his reach in both red and blue states. Among those celebrating Trump’s victory was Vivek Ramaswamy, an ally of the president, who praised Trump’s resilience. He described Trump as “not an ideologue or a policy expert, but an American badass,” pointing to the many challenges the president has faced, such as legal…

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Vice President Kamala Harris’s connection with the Indian-American community seemed like a guaranteed win. Her Indian heritage made her an appealing figure for a group traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party. However, the 2024 election revealed a surprising shift in loyalties, contributing to former President Trump’s decisive victory. Indian-American voting behavior is mirroring a broader trend across the U.S.: dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s increasing emphasis on progressive social issues at the expense of more practical concerns like economic growth, national security, and family values. Recent exit polls from November 5 reflect a clear rightward shift in Asian-American voters. According…

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In the latest US elections, the Indian American community has made significant strides, with six members now serving in the House of Representatives, a historic increase from the previous five. Among the newly elected is Suhas Subramanyam, who has made history as the first Indian American to represent Virginia, as well as the entire East Coast, in the US House. A lawyer and Virginia State Senator, Subramanyam triumphed over Republican Mike Clancy in a closely contested race for the 10th Congressional District. His victory is part of a larger trend of Indian Americans making waves in American politics. Joining Subramanyam…

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The Indian stock market responded strongly on Wednesday to the US election results, with Sensex and Nifty 50 both rising over 1% as former President Donald Trump appeared poised for re-election. Sensex closed 901.50 points higher at 80,378.13, while Nifty gained 270.75 points to settle at 24,484.05. Market optimism reflects anticipation of a Trump presidency, though his protectionist economic stance could bring mixed effects for India. Analysts expect Trump’s economic policies to impact US Federal Reserve interest rate strategies, likely curtailing planned rate cuts. This could affect foreign investment flows into India, potentially slowing capital market growth and complicating India’s…

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The White House is set to welcome its first-ever Indian American and Hindu second lady, Usha Vance, following Ohio Senator JD Vance’s upcoming role as vice president. This historic milestone follows Doug Emhoff’s role as the first second gentleman and the first Jewish individual in the position. After major networks projected Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, JD Vance expressed his gratitude to his wife, Usha, for her support in achieving this role. At 38, Usha Vance will be the youngest second lady since Jane Hadley Barkley in 1949, during the Truman administration. Born to Indian immigrant parents,…

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Ayodhya’s transformation into a global spiritual and economic powerhouse has been sparked by the construction of the Ram Mandir, an iconic project in modern Bharat’s history. The completion of the temple, marked by the Pran Pratishtha ceremony led by PM Modi earlier this year, has not only revived the spiritual importance of this ancient city but also revolutionized its economy. In the first half of 2024, Ayodhya saw an influx of 110 million tourists, highlighting its burgeoning status as a major pilgrimage and tourist destination. The temple’s development has driven significant economic growth, creating new job opportunities, fostering business expansion,…

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The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently revealed the appointment of two distinguished Indian American members to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Gene L. Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of GAO, made the announcement. These new appointees, Henish Bhansali, MD, FACP, and Krishna Ramachandran, MBA, MS, will serve on the committee until 2027. The PTAC is an important body that provides advice to the Department of Health and Human Services on optimizing the use of Medicare funds, which total around $1 trillion annually. Dodaro emphasized the committee’s vital role in shaping value-based…

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The Indian retail sector is experiencing a significant surge in leasing activity across its top seven cities, reflecting the ongoing attraction of prime retail locations fueled by increasing consumer spending. A recent study by JLL India indicates that total gross leasing of retail spaces in major urban centers like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad is anticipated to surpass 6.5 to 7 million square feet by the end of 2024. This comes after recording over 5.3 million square feet in the first three quarters of the year. Although new retail space additions have been somewhat limited, totaling…

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On October 29, a series of transformative healthcare projects worth around $1.53 billion (Rs. 12,850 crore) were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. This inauguration coincided with Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day. A notable aspect of the event was the extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income, marking a significant advancement towards affordable healthcare for everyone. In his efforts to expand the Ayush sector, Modi inaugurated Phase II of the AIIA, which…

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India’s manufacturing sector demonstrated a notable recovery at the start of the third quarter of the financial year, as the HSBC final India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.5 in October, up from an eight-month low of 56.5 in September. This improvement was attributed to a stronger influx of new orders and international sales, with companies reporting better sales performance driven by new product launches and effective marketing strategies. Significantly, new export orders experienced considerable growth after a modest increase in September, propelled by demand from regions such as Asia, Europe, and the US. The survey indicated that…

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