Must Read News

India-US CEOs Elevate Commercial Ties in Forum Discussions

India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, virtually reviewed the India-US CEO Forum. Goyal highlighted the growing convergence of perspectives and strategic interests between the two nations, emphasizing the role of initiatives like QUAD and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). He encouraged collaboration through platforms such as the Semiconductor Supply Chain, Innovation Handshake, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and Global Biofuels Alliance. Key topics ..... Read More

Krishnamoorthi, Jayapal propose bill to remove 7% Green Card cap

Indian American Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal, along with Georgia Republican Rich McCormick, have jointly introduced a bipartisan bill called H.R. 6542, known as the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023. This legislation is aimed at reforming the U.S. immigration visa system by eliminating the Green Card country cap, fostering economic growth, and addressing the green card backlog. According to Krishnamoorthi, who is the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between ..... Read More

Haley and Ramaswamy in high-stakes face-off at GOP debate

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 commentat ..... Read More

Bill Gates praises an Indian-American author as a leading science writer

Bill Gates has commended Indian-American author Siddhartha Mukherjee as a prominent science writer, particularly praising Mukherjee’s latest work, “The Song of the Cell.” Gates reflects on his early disinterest in biology during high school, suggesting that Mukherjee’s enlightening book could have sparked his passion for the subject at an earlier age. “The Song of the Cell” delves into the intricate world of cellular biology, emphasizing the interconnectedness of cells and their crucial role in health and disease. Mukherjee, a Pulitzer Prize-wi ..... Read More

Nikki Haley unveils 2024 TV ad in campaign kickoff

Nikki Haley launched her debut TV ad for the GOP presidential primary, urging voters to move beyond past chaos. Titled “Moral Clarity,” the ad aligns with her campaign’s $10 million advertising plan across Iowa and New Hampshire. As Haley gains traction in the GOP primary, she competes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to challenge current front-runner, former President Donald Trump. The Koch network recently endorsed Haley, while DeSantis, though losing ground in polls, disputes their accuracy, emphasizing voter sentiment. AFP Action polling re ..... Read More

Vaishali, India’s third female GM, creates history alongside brother Praggnanandhaa

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 triu ..... Read More

India leads in the global assembled phone industry

Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, and Railways, announced India’s global standing as the second-largest mobile phone producer. An impressive 99.2% of mobile phones in the country are now “made in India,” surpassing 2 billion units shipped between 2014 and 2022. Mobile phones constitute a significant 43% of all electronics produced in the fiscal year 2021-22, contributing to India’s decline in mobile phone imports by nearly 60% from 2017-18 to 2021-22. Consequently, India has transitioned in ..... Read More

India aims for Global South leadership, pitching to host COP in 2028

During a speech in Dubai at the climate change conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed India as the host for the 2028 Conference of the Parties (COP). This announcement aligns with India’s strategic positioning as a leading advocate for the Global South, emphasizing climate compensation for emerging nations based on the “polluter pays” principle. Prime Minister Modi’s historic opening address at the COP’s High-Level National Statement section solidifies India’s pivotal role in climate discussions. Led by the Ministry of Environment, ..... Read More

Modi’s re-election bid gains momentum with state poll triumphs

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, clinched victories in three pivotal state elections in India ahead of the looming general elections. The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and secured wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the main opposition Congress claimed victory in Telangana. With more than 160 million eligible voters, these outcomes were closely watched, but their significance in predicting Modi’s chances in the general elections is limited. State elections often revolve around regional concerns, distinct fro ..... Read More

Forbes Asia hails 3 Indians as 2023 Philanthropy Heroes

(From left to right) K P Singh, Nandan Nilekani and Nikhil Kamath 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 caus ..... Read More

Biden nominates Deven Parekh for IDFC board

President Joe Biden has put forth the nomination of Deven J. Parekh, a prominent Indian American venture capitalist, for a renewed three-year term on the Board of Directors of the US International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC). The nomination, sent to the Senate, follows Parekh’s initial appointment by President Donald Trump in June 2020. As the Managing Director at Insight Partners, a New York-based growth equity investment fund, Parekh has made over 140 investments globally in enterprise software, data, and consumer internet busines ..... Read More

Gita Gopinath honored with Kiel Institute’s Bernhard Harms Prize 2023

Gita Gopinath, an esteemed economist, was recently awarded the Bernhard Harms Prize by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy during the Geoeconomics Conference at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Moritz Schularick, the institute’s president, hailed her as a leading figure in international finance and macroeconomics, while ?ebnem Kalemli-Özcan, a professor at the University of Maryland, commended her as both a superb scholar and influential policy maker. Currently serving as the first deputy managing director of the International Moneta ..... Read More

India excels in land, sky, sea, and space, says Vice-President

On November 30, 2023, India’s Vice-President, Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar, emphasized India’s prominent position among “Front leagues of nations” in land, sky, sea, and space domains. He highlighted indigenous defence systems’ development and the INS-Vikrant launch as pivotal achievements. Speaking at the 49th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) in Delhi, Dhankhar traced India’s transformation from the “Fragile Five” to the “Big Five.” He projected India’s economy, currently the fifth largest globally, to rise to the thir ..... Read More

Modi enjoys meeting friends, reacts to selfie with Italian PM Meloni

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 Indi ..... Read More

Deepika’s London getaway with friends; Ranveer’s response uncovered

Deepika Padukone shares glimpses of her winter vacation in London with friends Sneha Ramachander and Divya Narayan. The pictures capture the trio’s joy after a delightful meal, showcasing Deepika’s stylish yet cozy outfit. Ranveer Singh, expressing admiration, drops heart emojis in response, continuing his trend of leaving affectionate comments on Deepika’s posts. The images depict Deepika in monochrome attire, sporting a long tan fuzzy coat with her hair pulled back. One selfie, taken by Deepika, radiates fun vibes, while another, presumably ..... Read More

Modi Applauds Effective Fulfillment of Promises

In a recent address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored that his guarantees have transformed into a trustworthy commitment, urging citizens to consider his delivery of promises as a basis for re-electing him in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Modi emphasized a redefined caste categorization, focusing on the youth, women, poor, and farmers as his priority for empowerment. Termed as “Modi guarantees,” this commitment contrasts with opposition promises, labeled as mere guarantees, highlighting the BJP government’s track record of fulfilling assur ..... Read More

Cooper Standard’s Soma Venkat recognized with Michigan ORBIE Award

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 st ..... Read More

AI poses risks: Chopra cautions against power concentration

Rohit Chopra, the Indian American director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has expressed concerns about the potential concentration of power in the hands of a few entities due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized the transformative impact of massive consumer data aggregation on the economy and its consequences for Americans, particularly highlighting the “winner-take-all” aspect of AI. Chopra, speaking at the Axios AI+ Summit, voiced worries about the unprecedented simulation of human interaction b ..... Read More

Jayapal strongly rejects extending FISA authorization, emphasizing privacy concerns

US Representatives, namely Pramila Jayapal, Warren Davidson, Zoe Lofgren, and Andy Biggs, have collaboratively drafted a letter articulating their opposition to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) within the scope of the National Defense Reauthorization Act (NDAA). Addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, the letter emphasizes their collective concerns about privacy issues. Rep. Jayapal underscores the significance of prioritizi ..... Read More

Ramaswamy’s key aide leaves for Trump: report

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, expr ..... Read More

India’s IT industry aims for US$ 350 billion by 2030, says Kris Gopalakrishnan

Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, remains optimistic about the growth of India’s Information Technology (IT) industry, projecting it to reach US$ 350 billion by 2030 despite global economic challenges. Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, he highlighted the industry’s consistent 9% growth last year, emphasizing its resilience as a high-growth sector. In the face of a slowing global economy, Gopalakrishnan anticipates sustained growth for the Indian IT industry in the medium to long term. He underscored the transformative impact ..... Read More

Alia Bhatt victimized in the latest wave of deepfake videos

In a disturbing pattern linked to deepfake technology, actress Alia Bhatt joins a growing list of celebrities victimized, including Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and Sara Tendulkar. A circulating deepfake video portrays a girl resembling Alia Bhatt engaging in explicit gestures, causing widespread concern on social media. Closer examination reveals the girl isn’t Alia Bhatt; her face has been digitally superimposed on another person’s body. This incident follows Rashmika Mandanna’s earlier concern about a deepfake video. A similar di ..... Read More

India’s bioeconomy grows 12 times in 10 years, Dr. Jitendra Singh

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for various portfolios, declared on November 30, 2023, that India’s Bioeconomy has witnessed a remarkable 12-fold increase over the past decade. Inaugurating the ‘National Plant Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Facility’ at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, he noted that the bioeconomy, which stood at approximately US$ 10 billion in 2010, has surged to US$ 120 billion. He anticipates a further growth to US$ 300 billion by 2030, attributing this success to Prime Minister Narendra M ..... Read More

India and the US unite for remote sensing satellite launch

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 deformatio ..... Read More

Koch support strengthens Nikki Haley’s campaign

Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential hopeful of Indian American descent, received a significant endorsement from the Americans for Prosperity Action, a network associated with billionaire Charles Koch. This support positions her as an alternative to former President Donald Trump and may reshape the Republican landscape just seven weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The Koch-backed group, known for its vast resources and conservative activist network, chose Haley over other contenders like North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Indian American entrepr ..... Read More