Must Read News

Strong US-India ties; co-producing vehicles: Sec. Austin at Shangri-La

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised the current state of U.S.-India relations, describing them as stronger than ever before. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two nations, particularly in the co-production of armored vehicles. During his address at Asia’s premier security summit, Austin elaborated on the longstanding initiative to enable India to build jet engines for fighter aircraft domestically. He noted the significant strides made in co-producing both figh ..... Read More

Raj Chetty receives honorary doctorate from Wesleyan University

Raj Chetty, a renowned Indian American economist, was recently honored with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts institution in Middletown, Connecticut. During his speech to the Class of 2024 at Wesleyan’s 192nd Commencement ceremony, Chetty highlighted his research on how opportunity disparity affects social mobility. He commended Wesleyan for its leadership in expanding access to higher education. “When a child moves to a neighborhood with better schools or attends a high-quality college, ..... Read More

Indian elections a miracle, world record 642M voters: CEC

On the eve of vote counting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced on Monday that the Lok Sabha elections in India have achieved the highest voter turnout in the world. He described the Indian elections as a “miracle” during a press conference. During the press briefing, CEC Rajiv Kumar applauded the voters who participated in the Lok Sabha elections. He highlighted the record-breaking participation of 642 million voters, marking a historic achievement. This figure represents 1.5 times the combined voter base of the G7 cou ..... Read More

Editorial – June 1, 2024

India is at the beginning of a new era, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to lead the nation for an unprecedented third consecutive term. This historic achievement reflects the faith of millions of Indians in Modi’s vision and leadership. The election results, which defied the predictions of numerous pollsters, underscore the widespread support and confidence in his governance. A series of transformative initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Indian economy, improving infrastructure, and enhancing India’s global standing have ..... Read More

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead India for an unprecedented third consecutive term in office. All of India’s pollsters predicted

Local exit polls in India suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely win a legislative majority, putting him on track for an unprecedented third consecutive term in office. His alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party is driving this campaign. Several pollsters, including India Today (Axis My India), Today’s Chanakya, Times Now (ETG), C-Voter, and CSDS-Lokniti, have released their exit poll forecasts for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The local news channel NDTV published an exit poll summary, predicting the BJP-led Nationa ..... Read More

Florida 12-year-old wins 96th Scripps National Spelling Bee

Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Florida, triumphed in the 96th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night. He outlasted seven other finalists and secured victory by defeating his final competitor in the competition’s second-ever spell-off. During this intense round, Bruhat correctly spelled 29 words, while his rival, 12-year-old Faizan Zaki from Texas, managed to spell 20 words. After Bruhat was declared the champion, the two competitors shared a congratulatory handshake. The spell-off is a special round that comes into play when ..... Read More

Thousands of Pilgrims Stranded Near Sitapur en Route to Kedarnath

With a significant influx of pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, a video depicting chaos near the Sitapur area has gone viral on the Internet. Due to the overwhelming crowd, offline registration for the Char Dham Yatra has been suspended until May 31. The viral video captures over a thousand pilgrims trapped in heavy traffic in the Sitapur area, with most of them on foot. The footage shows vans stuck in a narrow lane, and a voice can be heard saying, “If you want to come to Kedarnath, please watch this video. This is just S ..... Read More

Drugmakers to see FY25 revenue boost in US market: India Ratings

Indian pharmaceutical companies, with a strong presence in the U.S. market, are projected to maintain their revenue growth in fiscal 2025 due to ongoing drug shortages in the United States, according to Mumbai-based India Ratings and Research. As a major hub for bulk generic drug manufacturing, Indian firms such as Dr. Reddy’s, Cipla, and Sun Pharma generate a significant portion of their revenue from markets in both the U.S. and Europe. The U.S., the largest pharmaceutical market globally, is experiencing its highest level of drug shorta ..... Read More

Large Indian banks to improve asset quality this fiscal: S&P

India’s largest banks are expected to enhance their asset quality this fiscal year, driven by record-breaking net incomes that are bolstering their balance sheets and improving underwriting standards, as reported by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The combined nonperforming loans (NPLs) of the three largest private and three largest public banks declined to $41.76 billion (Rs. 2.48 trillion) for the 12 months ending March 31, representing an 11% reduction from the previous year’s $33.47 billion (Rs. 2.79 trillion). This improvem ..... Read More

PM Modi begins 45-hr meditation at Kanyakumari’s Vivekananda Rock

With the conclusion of campaigning for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a 45-hour meditation session at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Thursday. Upon arriving in the evening, Modi first offered prayers at the Bhagavathy Amman Temple before proceeding to the memorial. Modi’s meditation at Dhyan Mandapam, where Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision of ‘Bharat Mata,’ will last from Thursday evening until the evening of June 1. Due to his vis ..... Read More

India hosts Geneva event; commits to proactive health actions

India, in collaboration with Norway, UNICEF, UNFPA, and PMNCH, organized a side event in Geneva focusing on the health and wellbeing of women, children, and adolescents. Held during the 77th World Health Assembly, the event underscored India’s dedication to proactive measures in addressing the health needs of these demographic groups. Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, led the Indian delegation, highlighting the progress and initiatives undertaken by India in this domain. The event aimed to share emerging evidence and insights, foste ..... Read More

Pramila Jayapal: Navigating Immigration’s Labyrinth

Reflecting on her personal immigration journey from India to the US at the age of 16, Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal renews her advocacy for immigration reform. In a video shared as part of the #SpreadAAPILove campaign initiated by STOP AAPI Hate during Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Jayapal recounts navigating the intricate immigration system. Arriving in the US with $5,000 from her parents to pursue her American dream, Jayapal spent 17 years navigating the complexities of immig ..... Read More

Archika Dogra: 2024 Spirit of Princeton Winner

Archika Dogra, an Indian American, is among the eight students awarded the 2024 Spirit of Princeton Award, which celebrates Princeton University undergraduates for their positive contributions to campus life. Established in 1995, the award honors students who exhibit dedication to various aspects of the undergraduate experience, including student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life, and the arts. Dogra, a senior majoring in computer science from Bellevue, Washington, has actively engaged in campus activ ..... Read More

Campaigning for Final Phase of Lok Sabha Elections Hits Peak

With only three days remaining for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, campaigning has reached its peak. This phase will see voting for 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and a Union Territory on June 1.In this phase, there are 904 candidates competing in total. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior leader of the BJP, addressed a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district in support of the Barasat and Basirhat Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. During his speech, Modi emphasized his administration’s zero tole ..... Read More

Research explains aging’s impact on movement speed

As individuals age, their natural movements tend to slow down, which researchers attribute to factors such as a slower metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and decreased activity levels over time. Recent studies from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that older adults may move slower because it requires more energy for them compared to younger adults. This discovery, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, holds promise for developing diagnostic tools for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. To delve into this ph ..... Read More

India growth broadens: Morgan Stanley predicts 6.8% for 2024

Morgan Stanley, in its recent report titled ‘2024 Global Economic Midyear Outlook,’ suggests that India’s robust growth, already evident and accelerating, may become more widespread across both consumer and business spending sectors. The firm attributes India’s strong growth to three key megatrends: global offshoring, digitalization, and energy transition. The investment bank forecasts a growth rate of 6.8 percent in 2024, slightly below the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 7 percent, and anticipates a grow ..... Read More

Krishna Rao joins AI startup Anthropic as CFO

Indian American strategic finance leader Krishna Rao has taken on the role of chief financial officer at the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. His appointment is expected to be instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and operations, particularly as it aims for international expansion. The company announced Rao’s appointment on May 21, highlighting his nearly two decades of experience as a strategic finance leader for prominent, customer-focused brands and as an investor. Anthropic emphasized that Rao would ..... Read More

Maldives Adopts India’s RuPay Service to Boost Economy

The Maldives is poised to implement India’s RuPay payment system, a significant move expected to bolster the Maldivian Rufiyaa. While the exact launch date remains undisclosed, this initiative is viewed as a critical step toward enhancing the nation’s financial stability. Maldives’ Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, noted that India and China have agreed to use their local currencies for bilateral trade. This approach aims to decrease dependence on the US dollar and promote regional financial integration. Recen ..... Read More

Cannes 2024: Anasuya Sengupta Wins Best Actress in Flea Market Outfit

Anasuya Sengupta has made India proud as the first Indian actress to win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She received this prestigious accolade for her portrayal of Renuka in the film “The Shameless.” Interestingly, Anasuya revealed on Instagram that the outfit she wore for the award ceremony was a last-minute purchase from a flea market in Cannes. In her post, she shared a series of photos from the event, including one where she is dressed in a white outfit paired with chunky gold jewelry. Other photos feature h ..... Read More

Janhvi Kapoor on Sridevi’s Death: Influence on Religious Beliefs & Superstitions

Janhvi Kapoor’s journey in the film industry reflects her resilience and dedication, positioning her as one of the most hardworking actresses of her generation. Known for embracing challenging roles, she continually hones her craft, refusing to shy away from risks. However, her career ascent was shadowed by the untimely demise of her mother, Sridevi, just before Janhvi’s debut film, “Dhadak,” hit the screens. In coping with her mother’s passing, Janhvi found solace in certain superstitions inherited from Sridevi ..... Read More

University of Southampton names Lord Patel as Chancellor

Lord Patel of Bradford and Justine Greening have been named as the new Chancellors of the University of Southampton, marking the first occasion the university has appointed two individuals to this position. They succeed Ruby Wax, the comedian, in this ceremonial role. The Chancellor serves as the primary lay officer of the University, with significant responsibilities including presiding over graduation ceremonies. This ambassadorial role is crucial for the ceremonial aspects of the university. Lord Patel’s career began in social work bef ..... Read More

WHO Chief, Union Health Secy perform yoga in Geneva for Yoga Day

In anticipation of International Yoga Day, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus participated in a yoga session at the ‘Walk the Talk’ event in Geneva. This event, organized by India, the United Nations Geneva, and WHO, saw senior officers from the Indian delegation joining the Health Secretary and WHO Director General in performing yoga asanas at the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare shared a post on X, statin ..... Read More

India’s ‘new working class’: outearning parents twofold

India’s burgeoning “new working class” is propelling the nation towards its ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. At the forefront of this movement is Gaurav Chaudhary, popularly known as “Technical Guruji,” who wields significant influence across various social media platforms, capitalizing on India’s digital revolution. With access to inexpensive digital data, India’s population exhibits a voracious appetite for content consumption, a trend that Gaurav has adeptly tapped into by offerin ..... Read More

Ankur Gupta’s breakthrough at CU Boulder: 1-minute laptop charging

An innovative study led by Ankur Gupta and his team of CU Boulder scientists suggests a potential revolution in charging technology. Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, hails from Delhi, India, and began his academic journey at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, followed by a stint at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned his MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sc ..... Read More

Harleen Marwah joins WH Environmental Justice Council

Harleen Marwah, a Pediatric Resident Physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, holds the role of Founding Chair for Medical Students for a Sustainable Future. This group, comprising medical students, is dedicated to mitigating and tackling the health impacts associated with climate change. Marwah’s efforts in this regard were recognized when she received the 2020 Emerging Physician Leader Award from Health Care Without Harm. This accolade acknowledges individuals, like Marwah, who demonstrate a fervent dedication to susta ..... Read More