Author: Akancha Mishra

History is being made today as Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla launches into space aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, becoming only the second Indian to do so since Rakesh Sharma’s legendary spaceflight in 1984. The launch, scheduled for 12:01 PM IST today, June 25, is taking place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Shukla is part of a four-member international crew embarking on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Alongside him is mission commander Dr. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Director of Human Spaceflight…

NASA has officially confirmed that the long-anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is now slated for liftoff on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The launch is scheduled for 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST) from the historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This milestone mission will carry a globally diverse crew to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, using the Dragon spacecraft. Among the crew is Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will make history as the mission’s pilot. Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission organized by Axiom Space in collaboration…

US President Donald Trump has lauded the recent air offensive on Iran’s nuclear installations as a flawless military triumph, declaring that the operation caused enormous structural damage to Iran’s deeply buried nuclear assets. The mission, titled “Operation Midnight Hammer,” took place on Saturday evening and marked a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions. Key targets included Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, all of which were struck using 14 heavyweight bunker-busting bombs, each weighing approximately 15 tons. These precision-guided munitions were delivered by B-2 stealth bombers, making it the first known use of such weaponry in an…

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Piyush Goyal took center stage at the India Global Forum 2025 in London, articulating India’s forward-looking economic approach in the wake of the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with the United Kingdom in May 2025. Speaking during the headline plenary titled “From Agreement to Action: The UK–India FTA,” Goyal presented the trade deal as a milestone in aligning two democracies through mutual growth and innovation. Joined by the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, and moderated by global journalist Mark Barton, the session highlighted both nations’ intent…

In a heartfelt evening held in Parsippany, New Jersey, the Gandhian Society, alongside the Rotary Club of Parsippany and the Zakir Husain Study Circle, came together to host a tribute evening in honor of Vivek Tankha, an esteemed Member of Parliament in India and a lifelong Rotarian. The occasion recognized his extensive contributions to public service, especially in the areas of rural healthcare, education, and development. Tankha was celebrated not only for his legal acumen as a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and his role as a Rajya Sabha member, but also for his hands-on humanitarian efforts…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s groundbreaking visit to Croatia has opened new avenues for strategic cooperation between India and the Central European nation. This landmark trip, the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister, underscores India’s growing diplomatic outreach to Central and Eastern Europe, with a focus on enhancing ties in defense, trade, technology, and culture. During this high-level engagement, four pivotal agreements were signed — covering agriculture, science and technology collaboration, a renewed cultural exchange program, and the continuation of the Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb until 2030. These steps aim to reinforce cultural diplomacy and academic linkages. PM…

India is rapidly emerging as a major global destination for AI infrastructure, data centers, and semiconductor production, according to Moody’s Analytics. In its latest report titled AI Is Beating the Odds, the agency notes that while global cross-border investments are experiencing a general slowdown amid geopolitical uncertainty, capital inflow into AI-related infrastructure is rising swiftly. This spike is attributed to the growing need to bridge the widening gap between exploding demand for AI technology and limited global supply capabilities. Moody’s highlights that the United States remains the primary source of outbound AI investments, with leading American tech companies fueling international…

In a powerful demonstration of continuity and strategic foresight, the Indian Army launched a two-day leadership conclave, ‘Chiefs’ Chintan’, bringing together current Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and several former Army chiefs. Held in the wake of Op Sindoor, this structured engagement aims to harness the collective wisdom of past leadership to guide the Army’s evolving strategy and modernization efforts. General Dwivedi extended a warm welcome to the attending veterans, emphasizing the vital role their experience plays in refining the Army’s long-term vision. A central theme of the conclave was a detailed operational review of Op Sindoor, a…

India is moving swiftly toward finalizing an interim trade agreement with the United States, potentially before July 9, 2025. According to government officials, the ongoing bilateral trade talks are on track and are expected to result in a comprehensive deal by fall this year. This development comes as India’s trade deficit narrowed significantly in May, dropping to $21.88 billion due to a seasonal upswing in exports and a decline in imports. Despite high tariffs imposed under US President Donald Trump’s administration, Indian exports to the US saw notable growth. In the April-May period, exports reached $17.25 billion — up from…

Dr. Tanya N. Mayadas has been named Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and the first Director of the newly founded Institute for Immunological Sciences. She officially begins her dual role on August 1, 2025. This marks a return to her academic roots for Mayadas, who earned her bachelor’s in Biology in 1983 and a PhD in Biochemistry in 1989 from the University of Rochester. She later completed postdoctoral training at both MIT and Tufts University. Since 1993, she has served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, becoming a…