Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

A newly established organisation representing Asian communities suggests that Indian Americans are likely to base their votes in the upcoming U.S. presidential election on candidates’ actions rather than their heritage or race. According to the group, Republican candidate Donald Trump has a stronger record compared to his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris, at 59, is the first presidential candidate of Indian heritage at the top of a Democratic ticket, which has stirred considerable excitement within the Indian-American community, numbering around five million. However, Holly Ham, co-founder of Asians Make America Great Again (MAGA), told PTI that Indian Americans…

In a significant strategic move, India has commissioned its second nuclear-capable submarine, INS Arighaat, on Thursday in Visakhapatnam. As the second vessel in the Arihant-class series, INS Arighaat follows the commissioning of INS Arihant in 2016. These submarines are equipped with four missile silos, each housing three K-15 ballistic missiles with a range of 400 nautical miles, and are capable of accommodating K-4 missiles with a range of 1,900 nautical miles. Additionally, the Arihant-class submarines are armed with torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare. The nuclear triad, which includes land-based and submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well as aircraft capable of carrying nuclear…

US Vice President Kamala Harris faced backlash for her use of a new accent during a Labour Day rally in Detroit, Michigan. While addressing union members at a high school in Detroit, Harris attempted to connect with the crowd by adopting a more animated tone, which led to noticeable changes in her accent. Her comments, including statements like, “You better thank a union member for the five-day work week…,” were particularly criticized for the change in her accent. Some detractors even likened her speech to that of Foghorn Leghorn, a character from Looney Tunes. The Trump campaign highlighted that Harris…

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, known for his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump, recently stirred up a debate on social media. Cuban launched a poll on X (formerly Twitter) to gauge his followers’ opinions on whether Kamala Harris or Trump would serve as a better role model for children. The poll drew significant attention from both Trump supporters and X owner Elon Musk. Cuban’s poll attracted responses from a broad audience, including 804,173 participants. The results revealed that approximately 68.9% of respondents preferred Trump as a role model for their children, while 31.1% leaned towards Harris. The poll sparked…

On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted significant improvements in the Indian economy, noting its transformation from being one of the ‘Fragile Five’ to joining the ranks of the ‘Fabulous Five’ since 2014. Addressing the ‘Manorama News Conclave 2024’ in Thiruvananthapuram, Singh praised the Indian economy as one of the fastest-growing large economies globally. He emphasized the strides made in enhancing the ease of doing business, mentioning that the government has drastically reduced the time needed for environmental clearance from 600 days to under 75 days. Additionally, Singh pointed out that over 40,000 regulatory compliances have been either eliminated or…

Jio Platforms (JPL), the parent company of Jio and other digital ventures under the Reliance umbrella, has distinguished itself as one of India’s top 12 companies. In its first quarter of FY25, JPL reported a substantial 11.7% year-over-year increase in net profit, reaching $684.7 million (Rs. 5,698 crore), thanks to robust subscriber growth. At the announcement, Jio Platforms CEO, Mr. Ambani, revealed that the telecom giant has completed its nationwide 5G rollout, signaling a forthcoming decline in related capital expenditures. The company now boasts over 130 million 5G users, with its network encompassing more than 85% of the country’s 5G…

India is poised to become a hub of industrial innovation with the recent landmark decision by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, the committee approved 12 new projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), with an impressive estimated investment of USD 34.3 billion. This initiative is set to revolutionise India’s industrial landscape by creating a network of advanced industrial nodes and cities, significantly enhancing economic growth and global competitiveness. The new industrial nodes will span across 10 states and be strategically situated along six major corridors. These locations include Khurpia…

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) recently announced that InMobi will take on a leading role as a co-chair of their newly established AI Task Force. This partnership underscores USIBC’s commitment to promoting cutting-edge AI principles and fostering collaborative innovation between the United States and India. Jacob Gullish, the USIBC Executive Director for the Digital Economy, expressed excitement about InMobi’s involvement, highlighting the company’s impressive history in AI-driven solutions. He noted that InMobi is well-positioned to spearhead initiatives aimed at strengthening U.S.-India collaboration in AI research and development. USIBC leaders emphasized the significance of InMobi’s appointment, acknowledging…

Kriti Sanon, known for her openness about both her personal and professional life, recently discussed her background and career on Nikhil Kamath’s YouTube podcast, WTF. Reflecting on her middle-class upbringing, Kriti shared that her current ability to choose projects stems not from financial necessity but from a place of privilege. She emphasized that despite coming from a middle-class family, she never felt financial pressure to work, as her parents were financially stable and made sure she never felt a lack of resources. During the interview, Kamath humorously noted that mentioning a middle-class background often leads to trolling. Kriti responded by…

India’s organized gold loan market is expected to double in the next five years, reaching approximately $169.07 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.85%, according to PwC India’s report, *Striking Gold: The Rise of India’s Gold Loan Market*. In fiscal 2023-24, the market saw substantial growth, valued at $84.59 billion. Indian households hold around 25,000 tonnes of gold, worth about $1.50 trillion. Despite this growth, the sector might experience slowed expansion due to stricter regulations on loan-to-value (LTV) ratios and auction processes, along with the absence of the second-largest market player in FY25. The Reserve Bank of…