Page 5 - Indian Americans

Punit Renjen in line to succeed Hasso Plattner as chairman of SAP

With an impeccable track record, Renjen is highly qualified to join the Supervisory Board of SAP and would be an excellent candidate to eventually take the chair, the company said

Biden made an inspired choice by nominating Banga says Indian Americans

US President Joe Biden has made an inspired choice by nominating Ajay Banga to the crucial position of the World Bank President, eminent Indian Americans said Thursday and described him as a global leader in technology, data, financial services and innovating for inclusion. Biden on Thursday nominated Indian-American business leader Banga, 63, to lead the World Bank. If confirmed by the World Bank Board of Directors, Banga would be the first-ever Indian-American and Sikh-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In nominating him to this position, the President has made an inspired choice, Indiaspora founder and chairman M R Rangaswami said after the White House announcement. Especially relevant, given recent commentary around the Bank's mission and objectives, is that Banga brings a sharp focus on climate resiliency and environmental sustainability, said Rangaswami, a venture capitalist and ...

Indo-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2024 presidential bid

Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has launched his 2024 presidential bid with a promise to put merit back and end dependence on China, becoming the second community member to enter the Republican Party's presidential primary after Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy, 37, whose parents migrated to the United States from Kerala and worked at a General Electric plant in Ohio, made the announcement during a live interview on Fox News's prime time show of Tucker Carlson, a conservative political commentator. He is the second Indian-American to enter the Republican presidential primary. Earlier this month, two-term former governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Haley announced her presidential campaign. She announced that she will contest against her former boss and ex-US President Donald Trump for the Republican Party's nomination. We are in the middle of this national identity crisis, Tucker, where we have celebrated our differences for so long tha

Rise in Indian-American influence in US: Philanthropist M R Rangaswami

Entrepreneur and venture capitalist M R Rangaswami has claimed that there has been a dramatic rise in the influence of Indian Americans in the US and stressed the need for the community to be "more high profile" about philanthropy. The founder of Indiaspora -- a non-profit organization which aims at transforming the success of the Indian diaspora into meaningful impact worldwide -- Rangaswami said the Indian American community has grown in all spheres, including politics, government, entrepreneurship, the medical profession as well as academics. "It (influence and impact of Indian Americans) has been dramatic. Even recently there was an article from a Jewish American author who said, the time has now come for Indians to take over from the Jews. "So it was almost another community kind of saying, time is now for the Indian community," he told PTI in an interview. Rangaswami, however, said that the community needs to do more on the philanthropy, service, and charity fronts. "We need

Nikki Haley accused of plotting a bid to become Trump's vice-president

Nikki Haley, the Indian-American Republican who is eyeing a bid for the White House in 2024, has been accused of plotting to become former US President Donald Trump's Vice-President

Indian-American Usha Reddi sworn in as Senator in Kansas state of US

Reddi has served on the Manhattan City Commission since 2013 and served twice as mayor

Indian-Americans make up 1% of US population, pay 6% of taxes: Congressman

Indian-Americans who make up about one per cent of the US population pay about six per cent of the taxes, a Congressman said, noting that this ethnic community does not cause problems and follows law

Biden renominates several Indian-Americans to key administration positions

US President Joe Biden has renominated at least half a dozen Indian Americans to key administration positions which could not be confirmed by the Senate in the last Congress. The 118th Congress kicked off on Tuesday with the swearing-in of Senators and the start of the process of election of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Among those renominated by Biden and sent to the Senate were Richard Verma (54), to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, and Dr Vivek Hallegere Murthy (45), to be Representative of the US on the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation. Verma, who served as a former US ambassador to India from January 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017, is currently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard. Murthy was confirmed by the US Senate in March 2021 to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the country. He previously served as the 19th Surgeon General under former President Barack Obama. Biden also sen

Biden renominates several Indian Americans to key administration positions

US President Joe Biden Tuesday renominated at least half a dozen Indian Americans to key administration positions which could not be confirmed by the Senate in the last Congress. The 118th Congress kicked off on Tuesday with the swearing-in of Senators and the start of process of election of Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Among those renominated by Biden and sent to the Senate were Richard Verma, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, and Dr Vivek Hallegere Murthy, to be Representative of the US on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. Biden also sent to the Senate the renomination of Anjali Chaturvedi to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, Ravi Chaudhary to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Geeta Rao Gupta to be Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, and Radha Iyengar Plumb to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. All these key administration positions were nominated by Biden in the last Congre

Indian-American convicted of making illicit profits worth $7.3 million

An Indian-American former IT professional has been convicted of four counts of securities fraud in California for using a publicly traded company's confidential inside information

3 Indian Americans die after falling in frozen lake in Arizona: Officials

In a tragic incident, three Indian nationals, including a woman, have drowned after they fell through the ice while walking on a frozen lake in the US state of Arizona. The incident occurred on December 26 at 3:35 p.m. at Woods Canyon Lake in Coconino County, Arizona. "The missing men are located deceased and identified as Narayana Muddana, 49 and Gokul Mediseti, 47. The female victim has been identified as Haritha Muddana (age unknown). The three victims resided in Chandler, Arizona and are originally from India," Coconino County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) said in a statement on Tuesday. Chandler is a suburb of Phoenix. Officials said they were able to pull Haritha from the water soon after and administered life-saving measures but were unsuccessful and she died at the scene, it said. Crews then began searching for Narayana and Mediseti, who had also fallen into the lake. The two men were found dead on Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff's office said. All the three bodies have been ...

Indian-Americans secret weapon for economic growth: Congressman Jim Himes

Indian-Americans are a "secret weapon for economic growth", Congressman Jim Himes said showering praises on the thriving community, which is the highest-earning ethnic group in the US.

Hundreds of Indian Americans celebrate Chhath at over dozen places in US

Hundreds of Indian Americans worshipped the Sun God on Sunday evening and Monday night at several places in the country, ranging from the Potomac river in a suburb of this city and Query Lake front in Fremont, to a makeshift pond in Connecticut and Donaldson Park in New Jersey. In New Jersey, India's Consul General in New York Randhir Singh Jaiswal and his spouse Dr Abha Jaiswal joined the Morning Arag or the worship of the rising sun at Donaldson Park, Highland, along with nearly a thousand Indian Americans from the New York and New Jersey area. Organised by the Bihar and Jharkhand Association of North America and Bihar Foundation, one of the largest Chhath celebrations in the US saw the participation of families of top corporate leaders. In his brief remarks, Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the diaspora community in celebrating Indian festivals thousands of miles away from the country of their origin. Pushpa Mishra from New Jersey celebrated Chhath with friends and family

'Big day,' say Indian Americans as Rishi Sunak becomes British PM

Indian Americans on Tuesday celebrated the swearing-in of Indian origin Rishi Sunak as the United Kingdom's Prime Minister and said it was a big day for the overseas Indian community. This was a big Diwali present for the diaspora. Rishi was already on the Indiaspora government leaders list and we welcome him and wish him well as he takes office! Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami said. It's a special Diwali this year as the UK has its first prime minister of Indian origin. Congratulations, Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Dr Sampat Shivangi, who chairs the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health, hailed Sunak for scripting history. What a proud moment for an Indian to see Rishi occupying the highest seat of power just 75 years ago, Britons were the rulers of colonial India, he said. Dr Shivangi said he has known Rishi and his family personally for several years as their relatives hail from ..

Indian Americans help light our way forward, says Jill Biden on Diwali

As the United States charts its way forward, Indian Americans help light the path with courage, kindness, persistence and love, First Lady Dr Jill Biden has said. The Bidens had invited more than 200 Indian Americans from across the country for the largest-ever White House Diwali party of the current administration. Addressing a jam-packed East Room of the White House, the first lady appreciated the role of Indian Americans in enhancing the US' socio-economic fabric. As we chart our path toward the future, this community helps light our way forward with courage and kindness, with persistence and faith, with love. I'm grateful that today these diyas have guided you to this home, a home that belongs to all of you: The White House, Jill Biden said in her remarks on Monday. Quoting Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, she said, The sky is flushed with the dawn and my path lies beautiful. Ask not what I have with me to take there. I start on my journey with empty hands and an expected ..

Indian-American groups launch voting campaigns ahead of midterm elections

Ahead of the midterm elections early in November, two Indian American groups on Wednesday launched a voting campaign for their community. Indian Americans account for over one per cent of the country's population and have one of the highest per capita incomes among ethnic groups. While they are concentrated in some of the major states like New York, New Jersey, California, and Texas, their votes might turn out to be decisive in case of close races in the states of Florida, Atlanta, and Pennsylvania. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), a US-based non-profit institution for policy research and awareness, launched the #IndoAmericanVotesMatter campaign to increase the participation of American voters in the US 2022 elections. On this launch, Professor Ved Nanda, a distinguished law professor at Denver University and a FIIDS advisor said: As an immigrant minority, it is not only a civic duty, but it is also imperative for Indo-Americans to vote in the elections

US lawmakers call for strong ties with India, hail Indian-Americans' help

: Top Senators and influential Congressmen have advocated for a strong India-US tie and underscored the contribution of the Indian-American community in this matter. At the Indian Independence Day celebrations event at the US Capitol on Wednesday, Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, recalled his visits to India and seeing "the greatness of the largest democracy in the world in full action". "Had it not been for the Indian community that came to West Virginia to provide their services, most of rural West Virginia would not have health care today," he said while observing that a major section of healthcare service in the rural US is provided by Indian-American doctors. The event was organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in association with the American Hindu Coalition and the Federation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith stressed the importance of having strong relations between India and the United ...

US confirms Indian-American Shefali Duggal as new envoy to the Netherlands

Shefali Razdan Duggal, an Indian-American political activist, has been confirmed by US Senate as the country's next envoy to the Netherlands. Razdan Duggal, 50, was confirmed by the US Senate by a voice vote along with two other confirmations to senior administrative positions. A Kashmiri Pandit, Razdan Duggal was born in Haridwar and moved with her family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the age of two. Thereafter she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of five, where she grew up. She graduated from Miami University and earned her master's from New York University. I was born in India, but I was made in the United States, Razdan Duggal told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing in July. Razdan Duggal is an experienced political activist, women's rights advocate, and human rights, campaigner. She is a former presidential Appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council and continues to serve as a Western Regional Advisor.

130 Indian-Americans in key positions of Biden administration: White House

US President Joe Biden has appointed 130 Indian-Americans to key positions in his administration so far, a senior White House official has said, the best representation from the community that makes up around one per cent of the American population. Representing the Biden administration at an event to celebrate 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava' at the US Capitol, Raj Panjabi, who is currently serving as Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefence on the White House National Security Council, read out a list of top Indian Americans in the US Government. Panjabi said that US President Biden has appointed 130 Indian Americans in his administration. This is something to be proud of, he said in his address to Indian Americans. As many as 75 Indian American organisations have come together to observe the historic milestone of India's journey after 1947. Prominent among these organisations include US India Relationship Council, Sewa International, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, Hindu

75 organisations to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at US Capitol

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of India's Independence, 75 Indian-American organisations have announced to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava' at US Capitol from September 14. This unique US Capitol event will be a hallmark in the festivity of India's independence, bringing 75 organisations together and showcasing India's unique culture and diversity, Jashvant Patel, CEO, US-India Relationship Council and chairman of the organising Committee, said. The Indian diaspora organisations will use this opportunity to remember India's rich tradition, its heroes, people, and their achievements, said Patel who is also the president of Sardar Patel Fund for Sanatan Sanskruti. The Indian-American community has significantly contributed to the US in the past 75 years. The achievements include advancements in healthcare, technology, human rights, sustainability, environmental health, among others, the organisers said in a statement. Innovation is at the forefront, and the US and India --