Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

With the fourth Republican presidential debate on the horizon, all eyes turn to Indian American figures Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. This debate, featuring a reduced field of five contenders and Donald Trump’s persistent dominance in polls, becomes a pivotal moment for candidates like Haley. Enjoying support from influential Republicans, Haley aims to position herself as a unifying force within the party, leveraging her diplomatic experience at the United Nations. On the other side, Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and political commentator, seeks to reclaim lost momentum after an impactful performance in the first debate. Known for his sharp and unconventional…

On the way to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, R Vaishali sought advice from Srinath Narayanan, expressing frustration at being stuck around the 2450 rating. Drawing from his experiences, Srinath shared insights. This conversation proved pivotal, as Vaishali, in a late-night match, strategically moved her queen to c7, compelling her opponent Tamer Selbes to resign. This win propelled her rating beyond 2500, securing her the coveted Grandmaster title. Notably, Vaishali’s recent victories include earning a spot in the Candidates tournament after triumphing in the Grand Swiss following her participation in the Asian Games. In the aftermath of reaching this milestone,…

Forbes Asia has recognized fifteen individuals, including three Indians, as Heroes of Philanthropy for their dedicated contributions to noble causes over the past year. Among these philanthropists are Kushal Pal Singh, Nandan Nilekani, and Nikhil Kamath. Nikhil Kamath, the youngest Indian billionaire and co-founder of Zerodha, recently joined the Giving Pledge, a global initiative encouraging wealthy individuals to commit a significant portion of their wealth to charitable causes. Kamath, 37, expressed his commitment to building a more equitable society, aligning with the foundation’s goals in energy, education, health, and climate change. He follows in the footsteps of Indian business leaders…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to his selfie with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at the COP28 summit in Dubai, expressing delight in meeting friends. Modi shared the photo on X (formerly Twitter), while Meloni had posted it earlier, referring to them as “Good friends at COP28 #Melodi.” Modi had previously highlighted his meeting with Meloni during the COP28 Summit, emphasizing joint efforts for a prosperous and sustainable future. Currently attending the summit in Dubai, Modi launched the ‘Green Credit Initiative’ and proposed India as the host for COP33 in 2028. Engaging with global leaders at the summit, including Isaac Herzog,…

Soma Venkat, the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Cooper Standard, has been honored with a 2023 Michigan ORBIE Award. The accolade was presented at The Henry in Dearborn, Michigan, as part of the Michigan ORBIE honors ceremony. Venkat received recognition in the Global ORBIE Award category for enterprises with yearly revenue exceeding $2 billion and multinational operations, acknowledging his contributions at Cooper Standard. As the CIO, Venkat is responsible for formulating and executing the company’s global IT strategy. He oversees all aspects of the company’s IT initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives, promoting digital transformation, and…

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican presidential candidate of Indian American descent, is facing a setback as one of his key aides, Brian Swensen, resigns to join Donald Trump’s campaign. Swensen, who served as the national political director for Ramaswamy, is set to contribute to Trump’s political operations in early-voting states, particularly Nevada, as reported by CNN. Despite being only months away from the primary elections, Swensen’s departure is seen as a significant shift. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Ramaswamy campaign, expressed good wishes for Swensen’s new role, stating that his exit is deemed beneficial for both campaigns. In the realm…

India and the United States are set to collaborate on launching a joint microwave remote sensing satellite, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), for Earth observation in early 2024. Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister, disclosed this development after a meeting with a delegation from NASA led by Administrator Bill Nelson. The satellite, designed to operate on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will provide data for studying land ecosystems, solid earth deformation, mountain and polar cryosphere, as well as sea ice and coastal oceans on a regional to global scale. Administrator Bill…

Shivinder Singh, an Indian American entrepreneur, has declared his candidacy for the Yorba Linda City Council in northeastern Orange County, California. Currently serving as the chair pro tem of the Yorba Linda planning commission, Singh aims to leverage his extensive leadership and community involvement to uphold Yorba Linda’s reputation as the “Land of Gracious Living.” Singh’s priorities encompass preserving local government authority, property and equestrian rights, parental rights, public safety, economic development, accountability, and openness. His vision includes fostering community engagement through empowerment and education. With a commitment to uniting residents and safeguarding Yorba Linda’s heritage, Singh strives to maintain…

In October, Indian engineering exports witnessed a significant uptick to 18 key markets, with positive growth recorded in countries such as the UK, the US, and the UAE, as per the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) India. Notably, the US experienced a 2.2% increase in engineering exports, reaching $1391.5 million compared to $1361 million the previous year. Germany also displayed robust growth with a 20% surge, totaling $342.7 million in October. Conversely, countries like China, Italy, Singapore, and Indonesia reported a decline in engineering shipments. The engineering exports to the UAE saw a 2.9% annual rise, reaching $348.6 million. Overall,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Indian American entrepreneur Balaji S Srinivasan’s post on X, acknowledging the optimism within the entrepreneurial community about India as an investment destination. Srinivasan, emphasizing India’s potential as a global investment hub, highlighted its emergence as an attractive start-up destination. Expressing appreciation for Srinivasan’s positive outlook, PM Modi welcomed global investment in India, emphasizing the innovative spirit of the Indian people. In response to Srinivasan’s investment, Modi affirmed, “India won’t disappoint.” Srinivasan, known for co-founding Counsyl, a genetic testing company, and holding roles as the former CTO of Coinbase and a former general partner at…