Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has announced significant concessions aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among women and MSMEs, including an 80% reduction in licensing fees for women entrepreneurs and a 50% reduction for MSMEs. These incentives, as detailed in a press release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, are expected to spur greater participation and innovation within these sectors. Under Minister Goyal’s leadership, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry recently hosted a Stakeholder Consultation in New Delhi, emphasizing the delicate balance between industry compliance and public safety. The consultation, organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),…

Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar has expressed strong support for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. As a first-term Congressman from Michigan’s Detroit area, a critical battleground state, Thanedar’s endorsement is particularly noteworthy. Among the five Indian American Congressmen in the House of Representatives – Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Shri Thanedar – Thanedar is the first to publicly endorse Biden following his recent debate setback in Atlanta. The debate resulted in a dip in Biden’s approval ratings and increased calls from within his party for him to consider withdrawing from the race. A win for Biden…

Jay Bhandari, an influential Indian-American leader and president of GOPIO Virginia, has been elected as a national delegate to the Democratic Convention in Chicago. The convention, scheduled from August 19 to August 21, will officially endorse Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. As the presumptive Democratic candidate for the upcoming presidential election, Joe Biden has endorsed Bhandari’s election. Jay Bhandari secured his position as a national delegate during the state convention in Richmond, Virginia, where he received a majority vote. Bhandari mentioned that the selection process will be finalized through votes cast by Democratic delegates nationwide. A…

Isro chairman S Somanath emphasized the necessity of international collaboration to develop a planetary protection system against asteroids, noting that no single country can tackle this challenge alone. Speaking at Isro’s inaugural workshop on planetary defense for students in Bengaluru, he highlighted India’s desire and qualifications to be part of global missions studying asteroids. During the event, Somanath stressed the dual nature of asteroids as both potential threats and opportunities for scientific exploration. He pointed out that studying asteroids can provide valuable insights into the universe’s formation and the origins of life on Earth. Expressing India’s interest in global asteroid…

In June 2024, India’s wholesale numbers for domestic passenger vehicles (PV) saw a 3.7% year-on-year increase to 340,784 units, buoyed by the launch of new models despite challenges such as elections and heat waves. For the first half of 2024, PV sales grew by 7.6%, totaling 2.168 million units compared to 2.015 million units in the same period last year. Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the largest carmaker in the country, reported a 3% year-on-year rise in domestic PV wholesales to 137,160 units in June 2024, with total sales for the April-to-June quarter reaching 419,114 units. MSIL also achieved a significant…

GLP-1 medications designed for diabetes management are highly effective in facilitating weight loss, with users often achieving up to a 15% reduction in their initial body weight within a year. These medications, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, and liraglutide, mimic the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone naturally produced in the gut. By doing so, they reduce hunger sensations, increase feelings of fullness after eating smaller amounts, and slow down the stomach’s digestion process. Of these medications, only Wegovy and Zepbound have gained FDA approval specifically for weight loss. Others like Ozempic, Rybelsus, Saxenda, and Trulicity are prescribed off-label for the same purpose. A…

When comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the T20 World Cup finalists, India and South Africa, it’s clear that both teams balance each other perfectly, much like the scales held by Lady Justice. Both teams remain unbeaten, share similar strengths and weaknesses, and each features a left-arm wrist spinner. Both are eager to secure an ICC trophy: India has not won a major title since their 2011 World Cup victory, while South Africa has often seen success slip away despite their talented roster. The phrase “carpe diem” seems particularly fitting for this final showdown in Bridgetown. One of the most…

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller praised India’s Lok Sabha elections, describing them as the “largest exercise of democracy in the history of the world” and lauding it as an “extraordinary achievement.” During a press briefing, Miller emphasized that the US government does not take sides regarding the election outcome, leaving the decision to the Indian people. Responding to queries about alleged efforts from certain groups in the US to influence India’s democracy by funding opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Miller stated he couldn’t confirm specific reports but reiterated the US government’s clear stance on celebrating India’s democratic process.…

Afghanistan’s cricket journey has been nothing short of remarkable since their debut in 2004. From their inaugural appearance in the Asian Cricket Council Trophy to now reaching their first-ever World Cup semi-final in just two decades, Afghanistan has defied expectations. Their rise is attributed not only to raw talent but also to enhanced skills, cultivated through exposure to global T20 competitions. Led by captain and star spinner Rashid Khan, hailed as one of the top T20 players globally, Afghanistan boasts a formidable lineup. Alongside Rashid, Noor Ahmad mirrors his spin prowess, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz adds firepower as an aggressive opener.…

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, carrying astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday for a test mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Sunita Williams, 58, an Indian American astronaut, made history as the first woman to pilot a spacecraft on its maiden voyage. This mission represents her third journey into space. Moments before liftoff, Williams radioed mission control with the message, “Let’s go, Calypso. Take us to space and back,” referring to the Starliner capsule by name. The spacecraft is set to dock with the ISS around 9:45…