Academic highflyer and successful lawyer Usha Vance, the child of Indian immigrants, is the wife of Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance.

Villagers had offered prayers for Donald Trump’s win (File)

Vadluru: 

Far from Republican festivities as Donald Trump claimed US election victory, residents of a sleepy Indian village celebrated that their descendant would be the next “Second Lady”, hoping to benefit from her success.

Academic highflyer and successful lawyer Usha Vance, the child of Indian immigrants, is the wife of Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance.

While 38-year-old Usha Vance was born and brought up in suburban San Diego, those in the village of her paternal ancestors in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state prayed that historic ties would bring improvements to their land.

“We feel happy,” said Srinivasa Raju, 53, a resident of Vadluru, a village of white-washed homes scattered amongst palm trees, more than 13,450 (8,360 miles) from the White House in Washington. “We support Trump.”

Villagers had offered prayers for a Trump win, and Hindu priest Appaji said he hoped Usha Vance would do something in return.

“We expect her to help our village,” the 43-year-old priest said, dressed in flowing saffron robes, after lighting a candle at the idol of Hindu elephant-headed deity Ganesh for Trump.

“If she can recognise her roots and do something good for this village, then that would be great.”

‘Very fine’

Usha Vance’s great-grandfather moved out of Vadluru and her father Chilukuri Radhakrishnan — a PhD holder — was brought up in the Indian city of Chennai, before going on to study in the United States.

“Every Indian — not just myself, every Indian — we feel proud of Usha, because she is of Indian origin,” said 70-year-old Venkata Ramanayy. “We hope she will develop our village.”

She has never visited the village, but the priest said her father came around three years ago and checked on the temple’s condition.

“We have already seen the governance of Trump — very good,” Ramanayy said. “Indian and American relations were very fine during the presidency of Trump.”

Little is known about Radhakrishnan’s initial years in the United States, but the film of J.D. Vance’s memoirs, Hillbilly Elegy, refers to him coming to the country with “nothing”.

Millions of Indians have made similar journeys as the Chilukuris, and according to the most recent US census, Indians have become the country’s second-largest Asian ethnicity, growing 50 percent to 4.8 million in the decade to 2020.

Usha, a practising Hindu who studied at Yale and Cambridge Universities, married J.D. Vance in Kentucky in 2014. They have three children.

‘Inspiring’

But the story was different around 730 kilometres (454 miles) to the southwest, in Thulasendrapuram, once home to Kamala Harris’s grandfather.

T.S. Anbarasu, 63, said the Democrat’s “struggle” had encouraged girls to stay in school.

“She is inspiring this village,” he said. “Any school in the surrounding area, students know about Kamala Harris.”

Harris, 60, was born in California, but was often taken to India by her mother.

“If she comes here, we’ll treat her like the president of the United States,” Anbarasu said.

“We are still proud of her. She is like family to us. If our family members fail, we don’t discriminate against them, or treat them as a loser, right?”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

source/content: ndtv.com (headline edited)

Apple Inc’s iPhone exports from India jumped by a third in the six months through September, underscoring its push to expand manufacturing in the country and reduce dependence on China.

The US company exported nearly $6bn of India-made iPhones, an increase of a third in value terms from a year earlier, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named as the information is private. That puts annual exports on track to surpass the about $10bn of fiscal 2024.

Apple is expanding its manufacturing network in India at a rapid clip, taking advantage of local subsidies, a skilled workforce and advances in the country’s technological capabilities. India is a crucial part of the company’s effort to lessen its reliance on China, where risks have grown along with Beijing’s tensions with the US.

Three of Apple’s suppliers — Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp, and homegrown Tata Electronics — assemble iPhones in southern India. Foxconn’s local unit, based on the outskirts of Chennai, is the top supplier in India and accounts for half of the country’s iPhone exports.

Salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group’s electronics manufacturing arm exported about $1.7bn in iPhones from its factory in Karnataka state from April to September, the people said. Tata acquired this unit from Wistron Corp last year, becoming the first Indian assembler of Apple’s bestselling product.

The dollar figure refers to the devices’ estimated factory gate value, not the retail price. Representatives for Apple declined to comment. Pegatron also declined to comment, while Foxconn and Tata spokespersons didn’t respond to requests for comment.

IPhones account for the bulk of India’s smartphone exports and helped the product category become the top export to the US at $2.88bn in the first five months of this fiscal year, according to federal trade ministry data. Five years ago, before Apple expanded manufacturing in India, the country’s annual smartphone exports to the US were a meagre $5.2mn.

Still, Apple accounts for just under 7% of India’s smartphone market, which is dominated by Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo. And while still a small market for iPhones globally, Apple is making big bets.

The subsidies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration helped Apple assemble its pricey iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, with better cameras and titanium bodies, in India this year. It’s also seeking to open new retail stores, including in the southern tech hub of Bangalore and western city of Pune.

Last year, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook launched Apple’s first shops in the financial hub of Mumbai and capital New Delhi.

The grand openings, the marketing blitz around the new stores, an aggressive online sales push as well as a rapidly growing middle class that aspires to own Apple products boosted its annual India revenue to a record of $8bn in the year through March.

India sales could reach $33bn by 2030, we calculate, fuelled primarily by rising middle-class purchasing power and a greater use of payment plans, say Anurag Rana and Andrew Girard, analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Apple’s rising star in India contrasts with its flagging fortunes in China, whose economy has stuttered following harsh Covid-19 lockdowns and a property crisis. To be sure, Apple relies on China for a bulk of its manufacturing and sales, and India’s unlikely to become its top market anytime soon.

Apple assembled $14bn of iPhones in India in the fiscal year through March 2024, doubling production and accelerating its drive to diversify beyond China. Of that, it exported roughly $10bn worth of iPhones.

source/content: gulf-times.com (headline edited)

Tawang, In 1951, an assistant political officer of the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency and the present-day Arunachal Pradesh carried out an audacious operation to bring Tawang under the Indian Union.

Seventy-three years later, a museum of valour has been inaugurated in Tawang in memory of the unsung hero, Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing.

The museum was inaugurated virtually by Defence Minster Rajnath Singh on Thursday from Tezpur in Assam as he could not fly to Tawang due to bad weather.

Khathing, who was a Naga from Manipur, was given the order by the then Assam governor Jairamdas Daulatram to march towards Tawang with 200 soldiers of the Assam Rifles and 400 porters on January 17, 1951, from Chariduwar, near Tezpur.

Before World War II, Tawang was under the administrative control of the then independent Tibetan government. Despite several attempts, the British could not annex it.

According to the historical accounts of the NEFA, when Khathing and his men arrived in Tawang, he called a meeting on a high ground near the Tawang Monastery with local tax officials, village elders and prominent people of Tawang.

He used his diplomatic skills to win over the locals and soon realised that the Monpa community was reeling under harsh taxes imposed by the Tibetan administration.

He told the local people about India and its democracy and assured them that India would never impose unjustified taxes on them. Soon, with the Assam Rifles men, Khathing took control of Tawang. The Tricolour was hoisted in Tawang and Bumla, and the area became part of India.

The idea of setting up the museum to honour Khathing, about whom very little is known in the country, was the brainchild of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik, Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and several state ministers attended the inauguration of the museum on October 31. Khathing’s family members were also present at the function.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and several top military officers were virtually present along with the defence minister in Tezpur.

At the event, Rajnath Singh also virtually dedicated to the nation ‘Desh ka Vallabh’, a statue of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at Tawang.

Paying homage to Khathing, Rajnath Singh said he was an extraordinary figure who made invaluable contributions to the northeast region and national security.

“Major Khathing not only led the peaceful integration of Tawang into India but also established essential military and security frameworks, including Sashastra Seema Bal, Nagaland Armed Police, and Naga Regiment,” he said.

Rijiju said due recognition has been given to Khathing, who had been neglected so far.

During his lifetime, Khathing donned many hats. He was a student leader, an Army major, part of the team which brought Hyderabad under the Indian Union, a civil servant, an MLA, a minister in Manipur and India’s ambassador to Myanmar, said Rijiju, the MP from Arunachal West, the Lok Sabha constituency under which Tawang falls.

“I have never seen such a person in history who played so many roles in his lifetime. But unfortunately, the people of the country hardly know about Bob Khathing. Without Bob Khathing, Tawang would not have been part of India,” he said.

Chief Minister Khandu said the inauguration of Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing Museum of Valour is a tribute to the iconic role played by a true son of ‘Maa Bharati’, his bravery and sacrifice.

“This museum will serve as a lasting inspiration for future generations, helping them appreciate the sacrifices and valour that have paved the way for our present,” he said.

Khandu said Khathing’s expedition in 1951 secured Tawang and established Indian administration in this remote region and in a final gift to the country, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel directed the then Assam governor to take the necessary steps to bring Tawang under Indian administration.

The museum also beautifully showcases the rich culture and heritage of the local Monpa community, along with compelling narratives of the 1962 India-China war.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

India’s first Mars and Moon analog mission at Leh in Ladakh to simulate life in an interplanetary habitat has been inaugurated.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), AAKA Space Studio Pvt. Ltd, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council have collaborated in this endeavour.

Collaborative effort

ISRO on Friday posted on X (formerly Twitter), “India’s first analog space mission kicks off in Leh! A collaborative effort by Human Spaceflight Centre, ISRO, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and supported by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, this mission will simulate life in an interplanetary habitat to tackle the challenges of a base station beyond Earth.”

Aastha Kacha, founder of AAKA Space Studio Pvt. Ltd said this mission is designed to simulate extraterrestrial conditions on Mars and the Moon, enabling India to enhance its human spaceflight capabilities.

“The mission site, located in Ladakh, was chosen for its unique environment that closely resembles Martian and lunar surfaces, offering a natural laboratory for testing habitat sustainability, life support systems, and the human experience of isolation. For the next 21 days, an analog astronaut from AAKA Space Studio will reside within the habitat, conducting essential research to support India’s human spaceflight aspirations,” Ms. Kacha said.

AAKA Space Studio further said that the mission centres on testing a human-centred habitat prototype developed by it.

Designed to support both physical needs and psychological well-being, the habitat integrates a range of innovative technologies like airlock and Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVA zone), Circadian lighting system, hydroponics, environment monitoring system and stand-alone power system.

According to AAKA Space Studio, the Airlock and EVA Zone is a dedicated space for preparing for EVA while maintaining habitat integrity; the Circadian lighting system simulates natural daylight cycles to support astronauts’ sleep-wake patterns, the hydroponics and food preparation area supports sustainability and fresh food production, the stand-alone power system utilises renewable energy to ensure uninterrupted power and the environmental monitoring system tracks habitat conditions to support optimal functioning.

Why Ladakh was chosen

AAKA Space Studio said that Ladakh was chosen for its unique environmental characteristics, which closely mirror those of Mars and the Moon.

“The Diurnal shifts from 15°C to -10°C, which simulate the thermal challenges of extraterrestrial environments, enabling testing of the habitat’s thermal insulation. Situated over 3,500 meters above sea level, Ladakh’s oxygen levels are only 40% of sea level, allowing researchers to test life support systems for low-pressure conditions similar to Mars,” AAKA Space Studio said.

It further said that the region’s sandy, rocky soil resembles Martian and lunar regolith, ideal for research on rover mobility and in-situ resource utilisation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India’s top military exports go to U.S., France, and Armenia, boosting domestic production and global presence.

Amid a growing push to increase exports of indigenous defence equipment, the U.S., France and Armenia have emerged as the top three customers for Indian military exports.

“India is presently exporting military equipment to more than 100 nations across the world. The top three countries in the last financial year include the U.S., France and Armenia,” official sources said on Sunday (October 28, 2024).

The Defence Ministry has been pushing defence exports and manufacturing in the country to improve domestic production of these equipment to meet internal and international requirements.

The sources said the exports to the U.S. include a significant number of parts of aircraft and helicopters manufactured by Indian firms for global defence majors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The exports to France include a lot of software and electronic equipment, while the exports to Armenia include ATAGS artillery guns, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, Swathi weapon locating radars and other important systems.

Official sources said that the Defence Industrial Base has been expanding with the presence of 16 Defence public sector units, 430 firms with licenses along 16000 medium and small-scale enterprises. Sources said the value of defence production in the country has gone up significantly since 2014-15.

“There has been a around three-fold increase in the value of production since 2014-15. While the Indian firms produced equipment worth ₹46,429 crores in 2014-15, it has come to ₹1.27,265 crores in the last fiscal,” they said.

The contribution of the private sector in this value of production is 21%. The major defence platforms produced in the country include the LCA Tejas fighter jets, aircraft carriers, warships, submarines, Dhanush artillery gun system, MBT Arjun, advanced towed artillery gun system, high mobility vehicles, weapon-locating vehicles, weapon-locating radar, 3D tactical control radar, software-defined radios, and Akash missile system.

India’s Defence Exports (in Cr.)

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Speaking at the same event, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu reiterated the government’s ambition to design and manufacture commercial aircraft in India, and said that Airbus has a role to play in that endeavour.

European aerospace giant Airbus expects its component and services sourcing from India to nearly double to $2 billion annually over the next couple of years as the company’s engagement with the country is “gaining a new momentum” at a time when the aerospace and defence industry is taking off in India, Airbus India and South Asia President & Managing Director Rémi Maillard said Thursday. Airbus currently sources components and services worth 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) from India.

India is the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and also among the fastest-growing major aviation markets globally. With Indian airlines having over 1,200 commercial aircraft on order—a bulk of those with Airbus—the country is slated to emerge as a global aviation hotspot over the coming years. The country is also pushing the allied sectors of domestic aerospace and defence manufacturing.

“In the next couple of years we will further grow our sourcing footprint and touch the $2-billion mark, Airbus direct employment numbers will cross 5,000, we will set up a second pilot training centre in a JV (joint venture) with Air India, we will invest in setting up a 5,000-seater Airbus Campus in Bengaluru, we will deliver the first Make in India aircraft from the private sector—the C295 (and) we will deliver the first Make in India helicopter from the private sector—the H125—both programmes in partnership with Tata,” Maillard said at the inauguration of Airbus’s new India and South Asia headquarters.

Airbus currently sources components and services from dozens of Indian suppliers and service providers. It currently employs around 3,500 people in India, where it also operates an engineering centre. Airbus has also tied up with the Tata group to set up final assembly lines (FALs) for the C-295 military aircraft and the H-125 helicopters in India.

Speaking at the same event, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu reiterated the government’s ambition to design and manufacture commercial aircraft in India, and said that Airbus has a role to play in that endeavour.

“We are actively pursuing the dream (of designing and manufacturing commercial aircraft in India), and we feel that Airbus has a very big role to play. They have already been doing their bit over the years, expanding their footprint in manufacturing the important components that go into manufacturing aircraft,” Naidu said.

Last month, Naidu had said that the government plans to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to devise and build a roadmap for development and manufacturing of an indigenous commercial aircraft in India, and is looking to involve multiple stakeholders including large planemakers like Airbus and Boeing.

“We are actively pursuing the dream (of designing and manufacturing commercial aircraft in India), and we feel that Airbus has a very big role to play. They have already been doing their bit over the years, expanding their footprint in manufacturing the important components that go into manufacturing aircraft,” Naidu said.

Last month, Naidu had said that the government plans to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to devise and build a roadmap for development and manufacturing of an indigenous commercial aircraft in India, and is looking to involve multiple stakeholders including large planemakers like Airbus and Boeing.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

OpenAI has appointed renowned economist Aaron Chatterji as its first Chief Economist, who is an Indian-American. He aims to ensure that the economic advantages of AI are widespread and that the transition to AI-driven systems is smooth. Here is everything you need to know.

In Short

He aims to ensure that the transition to AI-driven systems is smooth

OpenAI has appointed renowned economist Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji as its first chief economist

He is an Indian-American, who will be looking at how AI can reshape industries

OpenAI has appointed Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji, a business and public policy professor from Duke University, as its first-ever Chief Economist. This move comes as the company aims to explore the economic implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on global markets, job creation, and growth across industries. Chatterji brings vast experience from both academia and government, having served under the Obama and Biden administrations.

Chatterji’s role will involve leading research into how AI is reshaping the economy, particularly focusing on its impact on employment and long-term productivity. With his experience, he is expected to guide both businesses and policymakers in navigating the opportunities and challenges posed by AI technology.

Prior to joining OpenAI, Chatterji played a key role in the Biden administration as the CHIPS coordinator, managing the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act. His background includes serving as Chief Economist for the US Department of Commerce and contributing to economic strategy on President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. Given his strong expertise in innovation and economic development, his appointment is seen as critical to OpenAI’s ambitions.

OpenAI’s hiring of Chatterji comes at a time when the company is ramping up efforts to understand how AI can drive sustainable growth across multiple sectors. As AI continues to evolve, concerns about its effect on jobs and industry shifts are growing. A study co-authored by OpenAI suggested that up to 80 per cent of U.S. workers might see AI affect at least 10 per cent of their job tasks, and a significant portion could face more disruptive impacts. Chatterji’s work will be essential in addressing these issues and helping businesses adapt.

In addition to Chatterji, OpenAI has made other prominent appointments recently, including Chris Lehane, a former White House lawyer, as Vice President of Global Affairs, and Paul Nakasone, a retired four-star US Army general, to boost its leadership team.

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)