Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

JLL has unveiled its ‘Global Real Estate Transparency Index, 2024,’ revealing a significant milestone for India’s tier-I markets, which have now entered the ‘transparent’ category for the first time, achieving a composite score of 2.44. India now holds the 31st position out of 89 countries surveyed. According to the report, India’s advancement in transparency is attributed to the institutionalization of the commercial real estate market and enhanced access to a wide range of real estate data. JLL emphasized that India has made substantial progress, becoming the top global improver in the 2024 index, particularly in transaction processes and market fundamentals.…

As the new school year begins, many children look back fondly on their summer camp experiences—whether it was making arts and crafts, playing dodgeball, or performing in talent shows. However, for the kids who attended this year’s Hindu Heritage Youth Camp (HHYC) in the Houston area, the memories were about much more than just the usual camp activities. For the first time, the camp was held on its own 52-acre Texas Hindu Campsite, where children engaged in traditional practices like surya namaskar (sun salutations), singing bhajans (devotional songs), and participating in aartis (lamp rituals). Abhimanyu Aggarwal, a 27-year-old former HHYC…

On Friday, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi raised alarms about China potentially backing Republican Donald Trump in the November presidential race. During his speech at the Democratic National Conference in Chicago, Krishnamoorthi suggested that China is strategically aiming to weaken the United States by fostering internal divisions. Drawing attention to a book titled “America Against America” by a senior Chinese official, Krishnamoorthi pointed out that China’s belief is that the U.S. can only be defeated if Americans turn against one another. He also cautioned that Trump’s policies, such as igniting trade wars and slashing worker training programs, could serve China’s interests…

The Indian mission in Dhaka is currently undergoing a major overhaul. Just a week after Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s long-time leader, departed the country abruptly, India’s diplomatic and security teams have initiated efforts to engage with the new interim government. Pranay Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, promptly met with Mohd Yunus, who assumed leadership of the interim government on Thursday night. India’s interest in an ‘inclusive’ advisory council supported by the military aligns with its strategic goals, as opposed to a government led solely by a political party like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or a BNP-led coalition with the…

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk engaged in a delegation-level meeting in Warsaw, Poland. Modi’s visit began with a grand ceremonial reception at the Federal Chancellery, where he was warmly welcomed by Tusk. This visit marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has traveled to Poland in 45 years, signaling a significant boost to the India-Poland partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that this visit is poised to infuse new energy into the bilateral relationship. During his trip, Modi announced a new social security agreement between India and Poland, aimed at strengthening…

Krishnamurthy Subramanian, executive director at the International Monetary Fund, has projected that India could evolve into a $55 trillion economy by 2047. Speaking at the BT India@100 event in Delhi, Subramanian outlined his vision for India’s economic trajectory, likening its potential growth to the rapid expansions witnessed by Japan and China. As the 17th Chief Economic Advisor, Subramanian envisions a 15-fold increase from India’s current $3.3 trillion economy. This forecast contrasts with the more dramatic growth seen in Japan and China, which experienced 22 to 25-fold expansions during their transformative periods. He emphasized that achieving a sustainable 8% annual real…

Villanova University has announced the appointment of Tej Patel, an accomplished Indian-American IT specialist, as its new Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective September 9. In his new role, Patel will be at the helm of shaping Villanova’s technology strategy, focusing on enhancing support for teaching, research, and operational needs. He will collaborate closely with various university stakeholders to assess technological requirements and opportunities, with the goal of streamlining IT services and ensuring a seamless, user-friendly experience across the board. Expressing his enthusiasm for the position, Patel shared, “I am thrilled to join Villanova and…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with a special event at his official residence in Delhi, joined by “young friends.” Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a traditional Hindu festival honoring the relationship between brothers and sisters. Modi took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to share moments from the event, posting pictures of the festive occasion with school girls at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, his official residence. He expressed his joy in celebrating Raksha Bandhan with his young friends, calling it a “special” event. Earlier in the day, Modi extended his wishes to the nation, emphasizing the…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that the government is actively working to position India as a global manufacturing hub. During his Independence Day address, he highlighted the need for improving the quality of products and services to meet international standards. He advocated for a focus on “Design in India, Design for the World,” urging the creation of products that cater to both domestic and global markets. Modi stressed that India is renowned for its quality, but now it must aim to ensure that Indian standards align with international benchmarks. He believes that once Indian standards are globally recognized, it…

The United States has voiced its support for India’s involvement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly praising India’s efforts to promote peace between the two nations. Vedant Patel, the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, made this statement during a press briefing on Wednesday. Patel addressed questions about the possibility of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveling to Ukraine later this month, although he refrained from confirming any specifics. “I will let the Indian Prime Minister’s office speak to any of his own travels.” I don’t have anything to offer there,” Patel commented during the daily…