Author: Nupur Rohila

On Thursday, India signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, commonly referred to as the “High Seas Treaty.” This significant move enables India to strengthen its strategic presence in areas outside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the agreement on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The BBNJ is an international treaty governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, aimed at addressing the growing concerns regarding the long-term protection of marine biodiversity in the…

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has labeled China as a “major threat,” asserting that stronger ties between India and the United States could help mitigate China’s influence. In an exclusive interview with Times Now, Ramaswamy expressed confidence that Republicans will win the upcoming election, though he acknowledged it will be a competitive race until November. He pointed out the border disputes India faces with China and discussed India’s position regarding Taiwan. “China presents a major threat to both India’s future security and the long-term security interests of the U.S.,” he stated, adding that enhancing production and trade relationships between…

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, 59, is set to visit the US-Mexico border on Friday, marking her first visit as the Democratic nominee, according to a White House announcement made Wednesday. Harris plans to travel to Douglas, Arizona, where she will discuss border security issues and advocate for what her campaign labels as “the toughest bipartisan border security plan in a generation.” Immigration has emerged as a critical topic for both major political parties in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election. During the first debate, candidates engaged in heated exchanges on this contentious issue. A…

The 2024 American Association for Cancer Research’s Cancer Progress Report reveals significant strides in cancer research, with a 33% reduction in the overall cancer death rate in the U.S. from 1991 to 2021. This progress stems from factors like effective tobacco control, early cancer screenings, and advanced treatments. Despite these gains, the report highlights concerns about barriers to prevention tools, such as limited vaccine access and unhealthy lifestyle habits, which may contribute to over 2 million new cancer diagnoses projected in 2024. A key finding shows that 40% of cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption,…

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, has taken a commanding lead in the fundraising competition against her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. In August, Harris raised an impressive $189.6 million, nearly $150 million more than Trump, who collected only $44.5 million. Recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings indicate that Harris’s campaign, which has taken over from President Joe Biden’s following his withdrawal from the race, has garnered a total of $678.2 million from January 2023 to August 31, 2024. In comparison, Trump’s campaign raised $309.2 million during the same period. As of the end of…

According to recent national polls reported by Bloomberg, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is leading her opponent, former President Donald Trump, in the upcoming presidential race. The NBC News poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters, shows Harris at 49% compared to Trump’s 44%, although this lead is within the margin of error. Similarly, a CBS/Ipsos poll conducted with over 3,000 registered voters shows Harris leading Trump 52% to 48%. These poll results come at a pivotal moment, as early voting has already commenced in various states ahead of the November 2024 elections. Notably, Harris’s favorability has surged since she officially…

More than 24,000 Indian-Americans have signed up to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s highly anticipated event in New York, which is set to take place on Sunday, September 22. The event, titled ‘Modi and US: Progress Together,’ will be held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, a venue with a seating capacity of 15,000, as per a report from indiandiaspora.org. The overwhelming number of registrations has come through 590 community organizations, referred to as ‘Welcome Partners.’ This occasion marks PM Modi’s return to New York to address the Indian diaspora, a decade after his historic speech at Madison…

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his visit to New York from September 21 to 23, members of the Indian diaspora in the U.S. are expressing excitement and admiration for his leadership. Madhav Sumani, a diaspora member, highlighted Modi’s accomplishments, including the bullet train initiative and electrification of the railway network, noting the positive changes in India. During his visit, Modi will participate in the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by President Joe Biden, and address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mohini Agarwal, another member of the Indian…

Al Mason, a close advisor to former President Donald Trump, asserted early Thursday that the Indian-American community in the US largely credits Trump with strengthening relations between the US and India. Mason emphasised the “warm relations” and “strong bond” between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Trump’s presidency. Mason noted that Indian Americans remember Trump’s efforts to reinforce the historical relationship between the two nations and his personal outreach to the Indian-American community during his tenure. According to Mason, Trump’s presidency marked a period where Indian Americans felt notably acknowledged and respected. A meeting between Trump and PM Modi,…

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Mr. Hardeep Puri, during his US visit, lauded the strong collaboration between India and the United States in the field of sustainable energy. In meetings with US Secretary of Energy, Ms. Jennifer Granholm, he stressed the importance of their ongoing bilateral discussions, which form part of the US-India Strategic Energy Cooperation. This partnership encompasses annual meetings and focuses on various sectors such as power, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Minister Puri spotlighted India’s notable strides in biofuel blending, having surpassed the 10% blending target ahead of time, with a goal of reaching 20% by…