Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has minimized his policy differences with fellow Republican contender Donald Trump. In an interview, Ramaswamy stated he and Trump were the two "America first" options in the 2024 race. He said they align on policy "90-plus percent of the way," with only "very small differences." Ramaswamy outlined some slightly more hardline stances he would take on issues like affirmative action and education. But overall he emphasized building on the "very good foundation" laid by Trump's agenda. Despite competing for the nomination, Ramaswamy framed himself and Trump as united by a shared patriotic vision for America.

A recent study by the Cato Institute reveals that a staggering 1.07 million Indians are caught in the Green Card backlog for employment-based categories (EB-2 and EB-3), facing an estimated wait time of 134 years for processing. The employment-based Green Card backlog has reached a record high of 1.8 million cases this year, with nearly 134,000 Indian children aging out before obtaining a Green Card. New Indian applicants in these categories face a lifetime wait, and approximately 424,000 employment-based applicants, mostly Indians, are projected to pass away while waiting. [photo: istock]

Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, was elected Singapore's new president with 70.4% votes, replacing the nation's first female head Halimah Yacob. Shanmugaratnam, the former deputy PM, resigned from the ruling PAP and Cabinet to contest the first competitive presidential polls in over a decade. The ceremonial role oversees reserves, vetoes appointments, approves probes against PM's will. The outcome signals support for PAP despite scandals as Indian-origin Shanmugaratnam is establishment-linked. Voting was compulsory for 2.7 million voters. PM Lee's PAP has ruled since 1959 but saw worst performance in 2020. Shanmugaratnam's significant win reflects enduring trust despite controversies.

Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan have joined India in firmly rejecting a map released by China's Ministry of Natural Resources, which asserts territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea region. These nations categorically disputed the legitimacy of China's claims depicted on the map. Malaysia's foreign ministry stated that it does not recognize China's claims in the South China Sea outlined on the map, and the map has "no binding effect" on Malaysia. The Philippines called on China to adhere to international law, while Taiwan emphasized that it is "absolutely not a part of the People's Republic of China." India had previously lodged a strong protest against the map for depicting Indian territories as Chinese territory.

An Indian-American, Manoj Yadav, was arrested in New Jersey for his role in a technical support scam that defrauded over 7,000 victims of more than USD 13 million, announced US Attorney Philip R Sellinger. Yadav faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The scam involved deceiving victims into believing they were dealing with a legitimate tech support company linked to a major software firm, then charging excessive fees for unauthorized services. If convicted, Yadav could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a significant fine.

Donald Trump has offered unique praise for his Indian-American 2024 presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy, saying he would make a "very good" vice president. In an interview, Trump called the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur "very, very intelligent" with "good energy." Ramaswamy recently hinted he may run as Trump's VP if he loses the nomination. However, Ramaswamy said he is only interested in being president to reunite the country. Though nearly half Trump's age, he said he would appoint Trump as his top White House adviser given his experience. Trump's remarks signal Ramaswamy's rising stature as an alternative for Republicans.

A senior police officer in Lahore, Pakistan is being investigated for involvement in cross-border drug smuggling to India using drones. Lahore Deputy Inspector General Imran Kishwar said a Deputy Superintendent of Police was aiding the operation. The method was drones dropping drug bundles in India's Punjab, then returning for gangs in Pakistan to collect them. Payments were made in the UAE. The racket emerged when a drone carrying drugs crashed near Lahore. Despite making seizures, the accused DSP Mazhar Iqbal. allegedly enabled trafficking into India for years while heading the anti-narcotics wing. [Photo courtesy: Dawn]

In a significant embarrassment for host Pakistan, the Pakistan vs Nepal Asia Cup 2023 match on Wednesday witnessed nearly empty stands at Multan stadium. Despite Pakistan batting first, the Multan International Cricket Stadium had sparsely occupied stands, denting PCB's co-hosting aspirations. The contrast to expectations for a high-profile home match was stark. While heat might have played a role, online trolls targeted PCB and questioned splitting the Asia Cup from UAE. The turnout, or lack thereof, casts doubt on the move's justification.

Indian-American Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy advocates a stronger US-India alliance to reduce reliance on China. He wants India to commit to closing the Malacca Strait if a Taiwan conflict erupts. Following a breakout debate performance, Ramaswamy outlined his foreign policy vision, stressing the need to vigorously defend Taiwan due to its semiconductor dominance. He aims to counter China through enhanced partnerships with India, South Korea, and Japan. The entrepreneur-turned-politician favours strategic clarity against conventional Republican ambiguity. By urging an Indian role in Asian security, Ramaswamy signals ambitions to redefine US-India ties beyond the current cooperation.

The Queen unveiled a portrait of heroic WWII British spy Noor Inayat Khan at the RAF Club on Tuesday. Khan, an Indian princess, was the first woman infiltrated into Nazi-occupied France to aid the Resistance, before being executed at Dachau in 1944. She relayed crucial messages to Britain while evading capture. Camilla attended the portrait unveiling, renaming the room the Noor Inayat Khan Room. She praised the "very brave woman" painted posthumously. The portraitist faced challenges due to scarce photos of the undercover agent. But Khan's cousin called it an excellent likeness capturing her personality. Khan was awarded the George Cross in 1949 for her valour and sacrifice. The portrait honours the pioneering spy's remarkable legacy of courage.