Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Over 0.45 million pilgrims have participated in the ongoing Amarnath Yatra over the past 29 days, surpassing last year’s record. According to officials from the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the annual pilgrimage, more than 0.45 million pilgrims have had ‘Darshan’ inside the holy cave since the Yatra began on June 29. This surpasses last year’s record of 0.445 million pilgrims who completed the Yatra throughout its entire duration. On Saturday, approximately 8,000 pilgrims visited the cave shrine, and another group of 1,677 pilgrims departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Valley on Sunday. “This…

Governor Newsom taps Raj Bhutoria for California Youth Empowerment Commission. Bhutoria, who is from Fremont, boasts a diverse and accomplished background. Currently, Bhutoria serves as the Chief of Staff at Snappr, a role he has held since 2023. Previously, he worked as a Strategy Analyst at Accenture from 2022 to 2023 and as a Researcher at the Financial Economics Institute from 2019 to 2021. He also served as an Appel Writing Fellow in 2019 and worked as a Business Strategy Specialist for BYTON Electric Cars the same year. In 2018, Bhutoria was a Legal Assistant at the Office of the…

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama have thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris in her run for the presidency. On Friday, Barack Obama shared their endorsement on Twitter, writing, “Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend Kamala Harris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic president of the United States and that she has our full support. In this crucial time for our nation, we will do everything possible to ensure she secures a victory in November. We hope you’ll join us.” He also posted a video of their conversation.…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has applauded Abhinav Bindra, the acclaimed shooter and IOC member, for being honored with the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Bindra, who made history in 2008 as the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event, will receive this prestigious award during the Paris Olympic Games starting Friday. The Olympic Order is awarded for outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement and its values. Prime Minister Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express national pride, saying, “Every Indian is proud that @Abhinav_Bindra has been awarded the…

India has taken a significant step in boosting regional security cooperation by assuming the role of lead country for security sector collaboration within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This development was underscored during the Senior Officials’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, which was held to prepare for the upcoming 4th Meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs. The gathering in Myanmar’s capital aimed to strategize and coordinate efforts to tackle common security challenges faced by BIMSTEC member states. “The Indian delegation attended the Senior Officials’ Meeting to lay the groundwork for the 4th Meeting…

The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, has been defaced with hateful and anti-India graffiti amid growing Hinduphobia in the country. The Consulate General of India in Vancouver condemned the vandalism of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, emphasizing the need for Canadian authorities to investigate and address the incident swiftly. The BAPS organization, which oversees the temple, has yet to respond to the incident. No official action has been reported regarding the vandalism that occurred on Monday morning. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, stated, “Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir was vandalized with paint, displaying hateful…

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recently honored Indian-American doctors and philanthropists Kiran C. Patel and Pallavi Patel with the Presidential Citation. This accolade recognizes their substantial contributions to the osteopathic medical field and their dedication to enhancing healthcare. The AOA Presidential Citation, one of the association’s most prestigious honors, is given to individuals who exhibit outstanding leadership, commitment to advancing osteopathic medicine, and a significant influence on patient care and medical education. “Drs. Patel are prominent figures in the osteopathic field due to their support for education, research, and philanthropy. Their efforts have enabled many osteopathic medical students to achieve…

Prominent Indian-American figures have lauded President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, acknowledging the difficulty of his choice but recognizing it as a move to prioritize the nation. At 81, Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee. Ravi Batra, a distinguished attorney based in New York, commended Biden for his selflessness, comparing his decision to the sacrifices made by soldiers. He noted that Biden’s move was aimed at preserving American values and exceptionalism. Al Mason, a well-known global real estate advisor and…

When Senator JD Vance was named Donald J. Trump’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, it also marked a historic moment: Usha Vance, an Indian American and practicing Hindu, is now poised to become a vice-presidential spouse. This development underscores a significant reality: at this moment, a woman of Indian descent will either remain in the White House or become the second lady. This milestone is part of the Indian American community’s growing political influence over the past decade. Kamala Harris made history in 2021 as the first person of Indian descent, and also the first woman and Black…

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), June 2024 saw India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments soar to US$ 2.14 billion, a significant rise from US$ 1.14 billion in June 2023. Although this was a slight dip from the US$ 2.22 billion recorded in May 2024, the upward trend highlights the growing confidence in India’s international investment strategies. For the April-June 2024 period, total outward FDI reached US$ 3.16 billion, comprising US$ 1.94 billion in equity and US$ 1.21 billion in debt, with no guarantees reported. Outbound FDI includes equity, loans, and guarantees. Equity investments in June 2024…