Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has voiced strong concerns about Kash Patel, an Indian American nominated to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In a speech on January 22, Durbin questioned Patel’s experience, temperament, and judgment for the role, arguing that the FBI director must be impartial and reliable. Durbin highlighted Patel’s political loyalty and controversial past, which he believes could undermine the agency’s ability to protect Americans from various threats. Durbin’s concerns came ahead of Patel’s confirmation hearing, scheduled for January 29. Durbin and other senators worry that Patel, a staunch Trump ally with extreme views, may focus on…

India’s domestic air passenger traffic saw a 6.12% increase in 2024, reaching 161.3 million passengers, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This growth follows a substantial 23.36% rise in 2023, fueled by the recovery after the pandemic. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, maintained its market dominance, boosting its share from 60.5% in 2023 to 61.9% in 2024, transporting nearly 100 million passengers. In contrast, SpiceJet’s market share dropped from 5.5% to 3.7%, with just six million passengers flown domestically. The Air India Group, which includes Air India, Air India Express, and Vistara (merged into Air India in…

Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has stepped down from co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Ramaswamy, who plans to announce a run for Ohio Governor, expressed his support for DOGE’s mission to streamline government processes. In a post on X, Ramaswamy said, “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed. I’ll have more to say about Ohio soon.” The decision comes amid reported tensions between Musk and Ramaswamy, fueled by a divide over H1-B visa policies. Ramaswamy’s criticism…

Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, the Indian diaspora organisation, Indiaspora, extended its congratulations, celebrating the growing political engagement and influence of Indian Americans in the US. The organisation highlighted key Indian-American appointments in the Trump administration, including Harmeet Kaur Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Vivek Ramaswamy as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Kash Patel as FBI Director nominee, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Sriram Krishnan as Senior AI Advisor. Founder and Chairman of Indiaspora, MR Rangaswami, expressed optimism for strengthened…

Five Indian American educators and a mentor have been awarded the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). These honors celebrate their outstanding contributions to STEM education and mentorship. The winners, recognized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation, will receive a $10,000 award, a certificate signed by the President, and an invitation to recognition events in Washington, D.C. Indian American PAEMST Winners: Vivekanand Balija of New Jersey, an experienced middle school science teacher and…

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, alongside US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, inaugurated the new US Consulate in Bengaluru, marking a significant milestone in India-US relations. Emphasizing the consulate’s importance, Jaishankar also announced India’s plans to open a consulate in Los Angeles, Garcetti’s hometown. “Bengaluru’s prominence made it imperative to establish a permanent US diplomatic presence here. This has been a long-awaited step,” Jaishankar stated, adding that consulates play a critical role in fostering travel and collaboration. In his speech, Jaishankar stressed the evolving India-US partnership, highlighting Bengaluru’s role in maximizing the relationship’s potential. He expressed hope for more countries…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the $8th Pay Commission, a landmark move to revise the salaries of 5 million central government employees and enhance allowances for 6.5 million pensioners. This decision is expected to stimulate consumption and improve living standards for millions of government workers across India. Sharing the development on social media, PM Modi praised government employees for their contributions toward building a “Viksit Bharat” and emphasized how the new pay panel will positively impact quality of life and consumption patterns. The announcement was made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who stated that the chairman and…

India and the U.S. have announced a groundbreaking partnership to co-produce sonobuoys, advanced technology used for detecting submarines underwater. These systems will be assembled in India, with the aim of establishing an operational production line by 2027, according to Ultra Maritime (UM), the U.S. company involved in the project. The final assembly of these U.S.-specification sonobuoys will be conducted in India, with co-production efforts carried out in partnership with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a state-owned defense company. This groundbreaking partnership was announced following the visit of U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to India last week. The announcement highlights the…

NASA has postponed the launch of SpaceX Crew 10, which was originally scheduled for February 2025. The new expected launch date is now late March 2025. This delay impacts the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were supposed to come back to Earth as part of the SpaceX Crew 9 mission. Williams and Wilmore, who launched into space on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, have been stuck in space for months after NASA decided to replace the faulty Starliner with a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The two astronauts are now expected to return only after…

Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have seen a 43% increase in average loan disbursal amounts over three years, rising from $406.47 to $580.67, as per IIFL Capital’s Financial Stability Report. However, concerns remain regarding borrower delinquencies, particularly for those with multiple loans or significant credit exposure. Nearly half of unsecured loan borrowers also carry a live retail loan, frequently a high-value one. During FY23, 11% of borrowers with personal loans exceeding $580.67 had overdue payments, and over 60% had taken out more than three loans. By Q2 FY25, nearly 60% of personal loan recipients had multiple active loans at origination, adding to…