Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Apoorva Mehta, Instacart’s co-founder, has concluded his 11-year tenure with the online grocery-delivery giant, amassing a $1.3 billion fortune as the company went public. Mehta, who transitioned from CEO to executive chairman in August 2021, has now left his board position, passing the torch to current CEO Fidji Simo. The company’s value surged from $7.9 billion to $13.7 billion, making Mehta a billionaire in 2020, owning a 10 percent stake, according to Forbes. Instacart, known as Maplebear Inc., had an IPO at $30 per share, giving it a $9.9 billion valuation. The company raised $660 million in its initial public…

Indian American Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is positioning the 2024 White House race as a head-to-head battle with Indian American Vice President Kamala Harris. Haley is cautioning voters that the key objective of the 2024 election is to ensure that Democratic President Joe Biden’s running mate, Harris, doesn’t quietly ascend to the presidency, according to various media reports. Haley has been actively sounding this warning through campaign events, social media, and television appearances. She argues that Biden, at 80 years old, won’t survive a second four-year term and is poised to pass the Oval Office to Ms. Harris. This…

Indian American cancer physician Kamal Menghrajani has been named one of the 15 “exceptional young leaders” chosen for the 2023-2024 class of White House Fellows. This prestigious program offers these individuals the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government. Kamal Menghrajani, based in New York, specializes in treating patients with leukemia. She has been assigned to the Executive Office of the President at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, with a specific focus on health outcomes and cancer health policy, as announced by the President’s Commission on White House Fellows on September…

Shahid Kapoor, a veteran actor whose career spans two decades, recently enjoyed significant success with his debut OTT series, “Farzi.” Throughout his journey in the world of cinema, he has experienced both remarkable highs and challenging lows. Notably, some of his most outstanding work has emerged from his collaborations with director Vishal Bhardwaj. In a recent interview, Shahid Kapoor disclosed a remarkable detail about his involvement in Bhardwaj’s 2014 film, “Haider.” During the conversation with Film Companion, Shahid Kapoor revealed an astonishing fact: he did not receive any financial compensation for his role in “Haider.” In fact, he emphasized that…

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once regarded as a significant competitor to former President Donald Trump, is facing a decline in popularity in the latest Republican polls conducted in the crucial early primary state of New Hampshire, as per a CNN survey. In the CNN/University of New Hampshire poll, Trump remains the preferred choice of 39 percent of potential GOP primary voters in this state, a performance somewhat trailing his national support, where he routinely garners a majority of Republican backing. Notably, the drop in DeSantis’s standing is raising eyebrows. He has slipped behind two Indian-American candidates, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and…

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly commenced with the arrival of Heads of State and numerous global leaders at the UN headquarters in New York. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, addressed the assembly during this high-level session. She emphasized India’s commitment to addressing crucial issues for Global South countries as the current President of the G20, following India’s successful hosting of the high-level G20 Summit in New Delhi. Kamboj underscored India’s dedication to key concerns, including climate action, finance, and sustainable development goals, as part of its G20 leadership role. She also highlighted…

In his address to the Central Hall of Parliament on September 19, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the thriving state of India’s banking industry, positioning it as a focal point of national discourse. He commended his government’s efforts in restoring the country’s financial well-being, resulting in India gaining recognition for the strength of its banking sector. Subsequently, during a Rozgar Mela where he virtually distributed appointment letters to more than 70,000 recruits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored that a significant number of these recruits had previous experience in the banking industry. Statistical data reveals that the Public Sector Undertaking…

Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi received the 2023 Roosevelt Leadership Award during an event near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. This honor, presented by the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange and the Ripon Society, draws inspiration from President Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy and is bestowed upon leaders who embody qualities reminiscent of the 26th president. Krishnamoorthi expressed gratitude for the award and highlighted the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing the nation’s challenges. He emphasized that shared American values unite the country, and progress is achievable through working together. In addition to Krishnamoorthi, three congressional colleagues, namely U.S. Reps Joyce Beatty,…

The national initiative known as ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh,’ which celebrates India’s land and valor as a unified tribute to the nation’s journey towards freedom and progress, is gearing up for its second phase. In this upcoming phase, Amrit Kalash Yatras are being organized all over India. This nationwide outreach program aims to reach every household in the country. Soil and rice grains are being collected from over six lakh rural villages and urban wards across India. By the end of October, it is anticipated that more than 8500 pots filled with soil from various parts of India will arrive…

Michigan State bills 4446 and 4449, introduced by Indian American Representative Ranjeev Puri, designating Diwali and Vaisakhi as State Holidays, have been officially passed by the state house on September 13. Representative Puri expressed excitement on social media about the passage of the bills, highlighting that they acknowledge Michigan’s cultural diversity. The House of Representatives emphasized the importance of recognizing diverse cultures and religions in Michigan through these holidays. House Bill 4446 establishes Diwali as a state holiday, a significant Hindu celebration symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, celebrated globally over five days. House Bill…