Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

IMPACT raises voting rights, immigration issues with Biden

IMPACT raises voting rights, immigration issues with Biden

IMPACT, the leading Indian American civic and political organisation has raised issues related to expanding voting rights and immigration reforms at the White House last week.

IMPACT executive director Neil Makhija along with 13 Asian American civil rights leaders met with the US president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris last Thursday (5).


This was the first in-person meeting with national South Asian and AAPI political leaders with both the president and vice president.

Makhija said: “Last week’s meeting was a significant step towards recognising Indian American and AAPI voices as we work towards building a multi-racial democracy that works for us all.

“I discussed the importance of protecting the right to vote, a bedrock issue that affects every other policy impacting our community. I urged the president to reform our immigration laws by abolishing green card caps and quotas, and including 200,000 children of long-term visa holders in efforts to protect all dreamers.”

Around 100,000 employment-based green cards in the US are at the risk of being wasted in less than two months, as the federal agency in charge of their issuance faces historic application backlogs amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This has caused a lot of resentment among Indian IT professionals who are working in the US.

“The President acknowledges that our communities are essential to the fabric of America, but our current laws undermine these values,” Makhija said.

More For You

How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Inside Netflix’s 50% surge: the regional creators and stories driving Southeast Asia’s global rise

AI Generated

How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Highlights:

  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
  • Premium VOD revenue in the region reached £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore) last year, with 53.6 million subscriptions.
  • Netflix holds more than half of the region’s total viewing and remains its biggest investor in originals.
  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

Keep ReadingShow less