Author: Akancha Mishra

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Akancha has been a journalist for about twenty years, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Honors and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She and her husband and children Supriya and Alok currently call New York City home.

India ranks third in the rate of growth for women researchers, according to a report from Elsevier, a leading scientific information provider. Despite this achievement, the report highlights that global gender equality in research remains significantly distant. Over the past decade, India has seen a two percent annual increase in the proportion of women among active researchers, placing it behind only Egypt and The Netherlands. The report, titled “Progress Towards Gender Equality in Research and Innovation – 2024 Review,” indicates that women now comprise 33 percent of active researchers in India, compared to 22 percent in Japan and 30 percent…

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Highlighting the growing space collaboration between India and the United States, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that the US space agency is advancing the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) alongside its Indian counterparts. This collaboration includes a joint mission involving an ISRO astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Nelson stated that NASA is continuing to build on the foundation laid during his visit to India last year. He emphasized that the United States and India are expanding their space partnership through the iCET initiative, which aims to benefit humanity. The upcoming joint effort at the ISS with…

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress, led by Congressman Michael McCaul, during their current visit to India. The delegation includes former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who joined the group today. Previously, they had a meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. Pelosi shared her thoughts on the meeting via a social media platform, expressing that it was an honor to join a bipartisan Congressional delegation to meet with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, in Dharamsala, India. She emphasized the delegation’s strong reaffirmation of Congressional…

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The “Samosa Caucus,” representing Indian-Americans in the US Congress, may soon welcome another member. Suhas Subramanyam emerged victorious in the Democratic primaries in Virginia, setting the stage for his potential election to the House of Representatives in the upcoming November general election. This district, a Democratic stronghold, encompasses suburbs of Washington, D.C. Subramanyam’s Political Journey State Senator Suhas Subramanyam triumphed over 11 competitors in a contentious primary, where his main opponent faced serious allegations of sexual harassment. Subramanyam enjoyed the endorsement of outgoing House member Jennifer Wexton, who secured the seat for Democrats in 2018 and was re-elected twice, securing…

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India’s seafood exports soared to an all-time high in volume during FY24, overcoming numerous challenges in major markets like the USA, EU, and the UK. The country exported 1,781,602 metric tons (MT) of seafood, valued at $7.26 billion. This marked a 2.67% increase in export volumes compared to the previous fiscal year when 1,735,286 MT of seafood worth $7.67 billion were exported. The Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Mr. D V Swamy IAS, proudly highlighted this achievement. Frozen shrimp led the export market, generating $4.80 billion and constituting 40.19% of the total quantity and 66.12% of…

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Indian professionals are gaining prominent positions within Global Capability Centres (GCCs), highlighting their increasing impact on global teams. The leadership structure in India’s GCCs has evolved notably, with a rising number of global leaders based in the country spearheading process management and strategic initiatives. Growing Influence of Indian Leaders in GCCs Pari Natarajan, CEO of the management consultancy Zinnov, notes a significant increase in global roles within India’s GCCs, from just 115 in 2015 to an anticipated 30,000 by 2030. These roles are crucial in driving digital transformation across various industries, utilizing advanced capabilities and data-driven insights. Indian GCC leaders…

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During Prime Minister Modi’s two-day visit to Srinagar for International Yoga Day celebrations, Srinagar has been designated as a ‘temporary red zone’ by local police, as reported by news agency ANI. This designation under the Drone Rules, 2021, mandates permissions for the use of drones and quadcopters in the area. This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the commencement of his third term in office. The preparations for the International Yoga Day event, scheduled at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, are underway, according to officials quoted by PTI. Leading up to the event, PM Modi’s social…

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On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden revealed a comprehensive immigration initiative that grants legal status and a streamlined route to US residency and citizenship to about half a million undocumented immigrants married to American citizens. Under this Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy, these individuals can apply for work permits and deportation protections if they have lived in the US for at least a decade and meet specific criteria. This program requires applicants to complete the necessary paperwork, pass a criminal background check, and it does not apply to future immigrants. During his announcement at the White House, President Biden…

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The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh has introduced a novel initiative to enhance accessibility and spiritual experience by offering a virtual reality Darshan lasting 11 minutes and 50 seconds. This allows devotees to bypass long queues and the heat, enabling them to experience the temple’s sacred atmosphere and rituals from anywhere in the world. Currently in a trial phase, temple administration plans to implement the service permanently based on feedback from devotees. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, highlighted the use of 3D virtual reality technology previously implemented at temples like Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and Mata Vaishno…

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India and the US have announced a broadened collaboration in quantum science and technology, as well as the development of a joint strategic framework for enhancing biopharmaceutical supply chain optimization. Following the second meeting of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in New Delhi, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan, a joint Fact Sheet was released outlining their collaborative efforts. The Biden administration committed to reducing barriers for US exports to India in high-performance computing and source code technologies. Both countries aim to promote partnerships between India’s Bharat 6G Alliance…

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