Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s resounding success in three of four states in recent Indian state elections, New York-based supporters gathered to commemorate the victory. Despite stiff competition, the ruling party retained Madhya Pradesh and secured victories in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Telangana, the main Opposition party, Congress, emerged triumphant. Jagdish Sewhani, President of the American India Public Affairs Committee in New York, hailed the results as a “reflection of the country’s mood,” attributing the wins to people voting for good governance and performance. He emphasized the trust in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, foreseeing India becoming a $40 trillion economy…

Dr. Samir Shah, an experienced media executive born in India with over four decades of involvement in UK broadcasting, has been selected by the UK government as its preferred choice for the role of the new chair of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). A recipient of the CBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 for his contributions to television and heritage, the 71-year-old is poised to take over from Richard Sharp, who stepped down amid scrutiny of his interactions with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Dr. Shah currently holds the position of CEO and owner of Juniper, an independent television…

In the fourth Republican Presidential Debate, Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy strategically aimed to impede the growing influence of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. The debate featured a competitive face-off among four candidates—entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Vivek Ramaswamy initially took the lead in speaking time, while Nikki Haley, although relatively silent, became the focal point for attacks from her fellow candidates. Ron DeSantis engaged in a close contest with Ramaswamy, emphasizing that speaking time alone shouldn’t be the sole metric for evaluating a candidate’s capabilities. The debate underscored the…

The preview for Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film, ‘Dunki,’ has generated a mix of acclaim and critique on social media. Despite the heightened expectations stemming from Shah Rukh’s earlier triumphs in 2023 with ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan,’ the response to the ‘Dunki’ trailer is diverse. Directed by the accomplished Raju Hirani, renowned for several successes, there is considerable anticipation surrounding this project. However, a shift in sentiment is evident on social media, where ‘Dunki’ has become a topic of concern for some users who view the trailer as less than impressive. Some criticisms focus on the noticeable VFX on Shah Rukh…

Two Indian Americans featured on Forbes’ 100 most powerful women in the world 2023 list are US Vice President Kamala Harris and Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria. The list spans various industries such as technology, banking, media, entertainment, politics, and philanthropy. US Vice President Kamala Harris, ranking third for the second consecutive year, is recognized for her contributions to politics and policy. Harris made history as the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian-American to become Vice President on January 20, 2021. Born to Indian parents, she grew up in Oakland, California, achieving milestones in her career.…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for collective efforts and innovation to materialize the vision of ‘Inevitable India.’ Using the X social media platform, Modi shared an opinion piece from Mint titled ‘Inevitable India rings especially true in the sphere of technology,’ authored by Debjani Ghosh. The article recounts the author’s experiences in the United States and Europe, highlighting India’s remarkable global ascent. Ghosh praises India’s pivotal role in international discussions, alliances, and partnerships across various sectors, from governments to CEOs. The piece delves into India’s digital transformation, commending initiatives like Aadhaar, which provides digital IDs to nearly 1.4 billion…

Indian American Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal, along with Georgia Republican Rich McCormick, have jointly introduced a bipartisan bill called H.R. 6542, known as the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023. This legislation is aimed at reforming the U.S. immigration visa system by eliminating the Green Card country cap, fostering economic growth, and addressing the green card backlog. According to Krishnamoorthi, who is the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the bill is designed to revolutionize the employment-based visa system. Currently, this…

Nikki Haley launched her debut TV ad for the GOP presidential primary, urging voters to move beyond past chaos. Titled “Moral Clarity,” the ad aligns with her campaign’s $10 million advertising plan across Iowa and New Hampshire. As Haley gains traction in the GOP primary, she competes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to challenge current front-runner, former President Donald Trump. The Koch network recently endorsed Haley, while DeSantis, though losing ground in polls, disputes their accuracy, emphasizing voter sentiment. AFP Action polling reveals a shift from DeSantis to Haley in both New Hampshire and Iowa, with Trump maintaining a lead.…

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, clinched victories in three pivotal state elections in India ahead of the looming general elections. The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and secured wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the main opposition Congress claimed victory in Telangana. With more than 160 million eligible voters, these outcomes were closely watched, but their significance in predicting Modi’s chances in the general elections is limited. State elections often revolve around regional concerns, distinct from the national issues addressed in general elections. Despite Congress winning key states in 2018, the BJP later swept the…

Gita Gopinath, an esteemed economist, was recently awarded the Bernhard Harms Prize by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy during the Geoeconomics Conference at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Moritz Schularick, the institute’s president, hailed her as a leading figure in international finance and macroeconomics, while Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, a professor at the University of Maryland, commended her as both a superb scholar and influential policy maker. Currently serving as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gopinath previously held the position of the fund’s chief economist. In this role, she played a pivotal role…