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.

Subra Suresh, the Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering Emeritus at MIT and president of the Global Learning Council, a platform focused on educational innovation, begins his tenure as a trustee at Caltech this month. In addition to his role at Caltech, Suresh holds positions as Brown University Professor at Large, serves on the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences, the Board of Overseers of Koç University in Istanbul, and the Board of Directors of the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Formerly the director of the National Science Foundation, Suresh is known for creating the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program,…

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India plans to spotlight the issues of the Global South during its participation in the G7 Summit in Italy, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend.  Following its recent G20 presidency, India has established itself as a strong advocate for the Global South. Modi is expected to emphasize these issues during his interventions at the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, according to sources from the Economic Times.  In 2023, at the Hiroshima G7 Summit, Modi attended his fourth G7 meeting and participated in three plenary sessions.  Italy took over the G7 presidency for the seventh time on January 1, 2024.…

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Laapataa Ladies, a simple and poignant movie, achieved a great milestone by beating the blockbuster 2023 Animal on Netflix’s OTT platform. While Animal had its OTT release on January 26, 2024, Laapataa Ladies was released on Netflix on April 26 and captured the attention of viewers.  The simple story of two brides getting lost during a train journey had enough strength to beat a blockbuster in Bollywood! It seems unbelievable, but it is true. ‘Laapataa Ladies’ directed by Kiran Rao beat ‘Animal’ directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor in terms of OTT viewership. With 13.8 million viewers…

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According to the 2024 IPL Brand Valuation Study by American investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) business value has increased by 6.5% year-on-year to US$ 16.4 billion, while its stand-alone brand value has risen by 6.3% to US$ 3.4 billion. This growth can be attributed to a US$ 6 billion media rights deal with Disney Star and Viacom18 in 2022 and a US$ 300 million title sponsorship deal with Tata Sons in 2023. Harsh Talikoti, Senior Vice President of Corporate Valuation Advisory Services at Houlihan Lokey, noted that the IPL has solidified its position as a premier…

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US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to meet at the G7 Summit in Italy, as confirmed by the White House on Wednesday. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted their recent conversation where Biden congratulated Modi on his reelection for a third term as Prime Minister. During a press briefing, Sullivan mentioned, “President Biden spoke with President Modi by phone while we were in Paris to congratulate him on the election outcome and his third term as Prime Minister.” He expressed expectation that Modi would attend the summit, pending formal confirmation from India, indicating an anticipated…

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Panneer Selvam, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas, has achieved the distinction of being named a Fellow of the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI). This esteemed honor is given to individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to engineering mechanics and have shown exceptional leadership in the field, as highlighted in a press release by the Engineering Mechanics Institute. Selvam, who has been a part of the University of Arkansas faculty since 1986, is recognized for his pioneering work in computational mechanics, wind engineering, and structural dynamics. His university profile underscores his reputation as a leading expert in…

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Renowned spiritual leader Rajinder Singh will host an event in Toronto to spread joy, impart spiritual wisdom, and foster community connections. This anticipated gathering offers residents of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) a chance to directly experience his transformative teachings. Scheduled for June 29 and 30, the event includes an English public talk on ‘Meditate to Experience Spiritual Love’ and a Hindi public talk with English translation focusing on meditation techniques. Both sessions will be held at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport. Participants can anticipate spiritual enlightenment and learn a simple yet potent meditation method suitable for people…

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The Association of Indians in America (AIA) NY chapter hosted its Annual Gala led by Dr. Jagdish K. Gupta, aiming to raise funds for the 37th Deepavali Fest and the ‘AIA-Educational Project.’ The Gala gathered 200 community members, including past presidents and Advisory Board of Trustees members, on June 2, 2024, at Leonard’s Palazzo Exquisite Banquet Hall. Honorable Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer graced the event as Chief Guest of Honor, lauding India-US ties and recognizing Indian contributions to education and healthcare. New York State Assemblyman David Weprin, an esteemed guest, highlighted his support for the Indian community and cultural…

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JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) taps former PayPal executive Sri Shivananda as its latest CTO, with a focus on maximizing its $17 billion technology budget. Shivananda, set to begin later this month, replaces A.J. Lang, who is retiring. He will report to Lori Beer, the bank’s global chief information officer (CIO), who is also a member of the operating committee. Beer stated that Shivananda’s history of business growth and innovation positions him well to address JPMorgan’s complex technological challenges. Additionally, Beer recently brought in two senior leaders from Amazon: Manoj Sindhwani as CIO for the chief data and analytics office in April,…

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In accordance with India’s enduring commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the ‘SAGAR’ vision, leaders from neighboring nations and the Indian Ocean region have been invited as distinguished guests to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. These dignitaries include heads of state from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that they have all accepted the invitations. The ceremony, scheduled for June 9, 2024, follows the General Elections 2024. The MEA highlighted the event’s significance, stating it underscores India’s priority to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. In…

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