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Bhagyashree Garekar

US Bureau Chief

Bhagya is US bureau chief at The Straits Times. She was foreign editor at the newspaper from 2020 to 2023 and served as its US correspondent during the Bush and Obama administrations. She produced ST’s first e-book, Myanmar Sunrise, which won an award in 2013 from the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association. In 2015, she wrote Living History, an e-book marking the 170th anniversary of ST and Singapore’s 50th anniversary. Bhagya began her career at India’s top financial daily, The Economic Times, with positions in New Delhi and Mumbai. She is a Jefferson Fellow. 

Latest articles

American diplomats to ramp up efforts to help sell AI in the Indo-Pacific

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What happens to affordability? Trump ignores it, forsakes middle ground despite slide in popularity

In his State of the Union speech, US President Donald Trump claimed to have “solved” the affordability crisis created by the Democrats.

Tariffs on Singapore expected to stay unchanged even as Trump imposes new 10% global levies

Under IEEPA, a baseline tariff of 10 per cent was charged on goods from Singapore in April 2025.

US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs

US President Donald Trump (left) with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announcing his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April 2025.

Singaporean tech founders on building global companies in US

In this episode, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with Jasmin Young and Anthony Chow about how they established successful businesses in the US.

Possible US attack on Iran could derail Trump’s Gaza plans announced at Board of Peace forum

President Donald Trump at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington Feb 19, 2026. PHOTO: TIERNEY L. CROSS/NYTIMES

In Texas, Republicans make syariah a focal point of election campaigns

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law banning syariah compounds In Texas.

S’pore will remain a trusted hub for global supply chains: Vivian at US-led critical minerals meeting

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other government officials pose for a family photo on the day of the Critical Minerals Ministerial, at the State Department in Washington D.C., U.S., February 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

US-India trade deal may repair commerce but not strategic rupture

President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at the White House in Washington, on Feb 13, 2025.

Trump has no qualms weighing in on all matters. So why is he silent about Xi’s military purge?

China’s top generals Zhang Youxia (foreground) and Liu Zhenli (standing, second from left) were ousted on Jan 24.