Author: Malavika Subramanyan

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended India’s strides in the green energy sector, noting the country’s milestone of being the first G20 member to meet its Paris Agreement targets. Speaking at the inaugural International Solar Festival held at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, Modi highlighted the dramatic expansion in solar energy as pivotal to this success. Modi emphasized that India’s solar capacity has surged 33 times over the past decade, a testament to the nation’s commitment and progress. This rapid advancement, he explained, will be instrumental in achieving the goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. The solar…

TIME Magazine has revealed its prestigious ‘TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024’ list, highlighting the trailblazers shaping the future of artificial intelligence. This year’s roster includes a remarkable number of Indian-American leaders and innovators making substantial impacts in the field. Among the standout names are Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; and Rohit Prasad, Senior VP and head scientist of Artificial General Intelligence at Amazon. Other influential figures on the list include Aravind Srinivas, CEO of the AI answer engine Perplexity; Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology; Divya Siddharth,…

India has designated 8,606 metric tonnes of sugar for export to the US under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) scheme, as outlined by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). This allocation pertains to the US fiscal year 2025. Under the TRQ scheme, sugar exports (HS Code 17010000) to the US and EU are currently categorized as ‘Free,’ subject to specific conditions. According to the DGFT notification, a Certificate of Origin may be required for preferential exports to the US. This certificate will be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade in Mumbai, based on recommendations from the…

As the November 5 U.S. presidential elections approach, an Indian diaspora organization is spearheading a campaign to boost the influence and engagement of Indian-American voters. The initiative, named “Indo American Votes Matter,” is launched by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), aiming to highlight the crucial role this community can play in shaping the nation’s future. FIIDS emphasizes that with around 4.5 million Indo-Americans residing across the U.S., their votes are increasingly pivotal in the 2024 elections. Concentrated in key swing states like Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the Indo-American electorate holds the potential…

The Royal Australian Air Force has made its debut deployment of combat aircraft to India for the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise, according to a statement from Australia’s Defence Department. This marks Australia’s first participation in Exercise Tarang Shakti, India’s largest multilateral air exercise, which is currently underway at Air Force Station Jodhpur from August 30 to September 13. The exercise, named ‘Tarang Shakti 24,’ features participation from Australia, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and the United States, alongside a number of observer nations. Australia has sent three EA-18G Growler aircraft and up to 120 personnel for the event. Chief…

Kamala Harris, the United States’ first female Vice President, is renowned for the diverse background that enriches her public persona. Beyond her well-documented political career and achievements, her Indian heritage plays a significant role in shaping her identity. This connection to her Indian roots comes through her maternal lineage, primarily influenced by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, Kamala’s mother, was a remarkable figure in her own right. Born in Chennai, India, she moved to the United States in the early 1960s to pursue higher education. At the University of California, Berkeley, Shyamala earned a Ph.D. in endocrinology…

Nokia is gearing up to create the world’s largest fixed network testbed in Chennai, a major leap forward in the realm of ultra-high-speed internet technology. This project, which entails an investment of approximately US$ 54.07 million (Rs. 450 crore), will concentrate on pioneering advancements in 10G, 25G, 50G, and 100G passive optical networks. The new facility will be situated at the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu in Siruseri and is poised to become a key research and development hub for Nokia. The formal agreement for this initiative will be signed in San Francisco, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister…

A recent survey revealed that venture capitalists backing Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign prioritize women’s reproductive rights, climate change, and a more startup-friendly environment. The survey, released on August 28, gathered insights from 225 of the 800 venture capitalists who signed an open letter supporting Harris, detailing their reasons for endorsing her and highlighting the policies they find most important. Nearly all respondents strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, recognizing its impact on women, particularly in the workplace. Leslie Feinzaig, CEO of Graham & Walker and initiator of the pledge, emphasized that these are not just…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), highlighting it as more than just a policy—it’s a mission to ensure that every Indian has access to formal banking. Reflecting on the situation in 2014 when he assumed office, Modi described how access to banking services was a distant dream for nearly half of the country’s households, who kept their savings at home, exposed to loss and theft, and often faced predatory lending practices. In a LinkedIn post, Modi noted that while today having a bank account might seem basic and taken…

Kamala Harris hasn’t been a well-known figure to many, and her role as Vice President has often been underestimated and dismissed. With just over two months left in the election cycle, the Democrats are facing the challenge of familiarizing the public with their candidate while simultaneously pushing their campaign machinery into high gear. The party has rallied behind Kamala, offering her its full support to build the necessary momentum. The convention was meticulously planned to highlight themes of democracy, patriotism, unity, hope, and optimism. The lineup of speakers was exceptional, offering something for everyone in the audience. The speeches varied…