Author: Akancha Mishra

Dr. Aparna Sridhar, a respected clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Kaiser-Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching. This accolade is presented to educators who have shown exceptional commitment to advancing medical education and shaping future physicians. Dr. Sridhar was chosen for this honor due to her consistent dedication to teaching excellence, her innovative approach to medical education, and her leadership in fostering collaborative learning across departments at UCLA Health and its partner hospitals. Her ability to combine deep clinical knowledge with empathy has made her…

The political showdown between Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican leaders has reached new heights, drawing national attention. Ohio-based GOP figure Vivek Ramaswamy has now entered the fray, using Mamdani’s rise to energize his own campaign for Ohio Governor. After clinching victory in New York City’s Democratic primary on July 1, Mamdani has faced intense criticism from conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump. Trump labeled him a “Communist Lunatic” and promised to use his power to stop Mamdani from “destroying” New York City, asserting on Truth Social that he holds “all the levers and cards.” Ramaswamy, a biotech…

President Donald Trump has indicated that India may soon finalize a new trade agreement with the United States, potentially resembling the deal Washington recently struck with Indonesia. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said negotiations are underway to provide US businesses greater entry into the Indian market. Referencing the Indonesia pact, Trump explained that the US will impose a 19% tariff on goods entering the country from Jakarta, while Indonesian imports of US products will be exempt from such duties. He noted, “India basically is working along that same line. We’re going to have access into India.” Negotiators from both…

The Indian rupee is expected to open on a weaker note Monday as renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump have triggered a fresh wave of risk aversion in global markets. Concerns over escalating trade tensions are putting downward pressure on Asian currencies, including the rupee, as investors pull back from riskier assets. Early indicators suggest the rupee may open in the 85.90 to 85.94 range, compared to Friday’s close at 85.80. Market participants are closely watching the 86 to 86.10 level, which has so far acted as a critical support zone for the rupee. According to a Mumbai-based…

The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has appointed Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, to its Executive Committee, marking another milestone in strengthening U.S.-India economic collaboration. The announcement, made on Friday, underscores Birla’s influential role in bridging transnational business ties. Expressing his appreciation for the appointment, Birla remarked, “It’s a privilege to be part of the USISPF Executive Committee. In a short span of time, the Forum has become a key player in enhancing the strategic and commercial relationship between India and the United States.” He praised USISPF’s ongoing work in nurturing trust and collaboration between the…

India has officially become the fastest digital payments economy in the world, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the center of this financial revolution, according to a new note by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Titled “Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability,” the IMF’s paper highlights India’s tremendous growth in digital transactions, moving decisively away from traditional cash and card-based systems. Launched in 2016 and developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI now facilitates over 18 billion transactions each month. This staggering volume has made UPI the world’s largest and most active retail fast…

In a rare public exchange between two tech giants, Google CEO Sundar Pichai extended his congratulations to Elon Musk for the launch of Grok 4, the latest conversational AI model from Musk’s company, xAI. Pichai responded to Musk’s post on social platform X, formerly Twitter, with a brief but impactful message: “Congrats on the launch, impressive progress!” To this, Musk simply replied, “thanks 🙏.” While short, the interaction reflects growing mutual recognition in the ever-intensifying AI race. Musk’s Grok 4 is being promoted as a bold advancement with multimodal capabilities, quicker processing, and tight integration into X’s premium offerings. The…

In Pleasanton, California, a young prodigy is reshaping the future of space exploration through artificial intelligence. Bhavishyaa Vignesh, just 14 years old, is developing an advanced AI model aimed at preventing Mars rovers from getting stuck on the Martian surface—a problem that once ended the mission of NASA’s Opportunity rover in 2017. Currently a student at The Knowledge Society (TKS) in San Francisco, Bhavishyaa is turning heads for her ambitious approach to solving real-world space challenges. Her interests shifted from dreaming of space travel to crafting solutions for space missions after a breakthrough moment: winning the top prize in the…

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Alvorada Palace in Brasília to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for official talks. He received a warm cultural welcome, marked by a performance of the Ram Bhajan by local artists—an expression of Brazil’s recognition of cultural ties with India. The two leaders held a concise yet impactful meeting focused on enhancing and diversifying bilateral trade between the two major economies. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the moment on X, noting the spiritual welcome with the bhajan, symbolizing the warmth of Brazil’s hospitality. During the visit,…

Dr. Shekhar Bhansali, a globally respected expert in electrical engineering, will take on the role of Chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering starting July 1. He will also hold the prestigious Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair. Bhansali joins Vanderbilt with a track record of influential leadership and pioneering research. He previously held top academic roles at Florida International University (FIU), where he served as Distinguished University Professor and the CALA-Lucent Technologies Distinguished Professor. His reputation extends beyond academia, having directed the Division of Electrical, Cyber, and Communications Systems at the National Science…