Author: Akancha Mishra

US Congressman Ro Khanna has called for stronger safeguards against the potentially catastrophic consequences of advanced artificial intelligence, warning that neither the United States nor China would benefit if humans lost control of increasingly powerful AI systems. He has asked three major Chinese technology companies to explain their plans for developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence, while seeking intelligence assessments from US agencies on the associated risks. Khanna, the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, sent letters to DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng, Alibaba CEO Eddie…

Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy has praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and passengers aboard an Israel-bound flight for their actions during a reported midair cockpit attack. Speaking to ANI on October 1, Levy said the incident could have resulted in catastrophic consequences had the crew and passengers failed to intervene. He described the episode as a suspected terrorist attack and compared its potential impact to the September 11 attacks in the United States. These characterizations reflect Levy’s assessment; the incident remains under investigation. According to Levy’s account, the flight’s Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Machchhar while the aircraft was…

India’s passenger vehicle wholesale volumes surged 29 per cent during the first five months of fiscal 2027, but growth is expected to moderate to 4-6 per cent for the full financial year, according to a report by ICRA. The strong performance during April-August was supported by robust demand and favourable market conditions. However, the ratings agency expects growth to slow from the elevated base as the financial year progresses. Recent price increases announced by original equipment manufacturers could weigh on demand, while a weaker-than-expected monsoon could affect rural sentiment and limit volume growth during the second half of FY2027. Retail…

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped protect more than 170 people during a serious mid-air emergency, has received praise from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his actions during the incident. The RSS praised Captain Smit for what it described as exceptional courage and timely action in the cockpit. Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the organisation, said the pilot’s actions helped protect more than 170 lives and wished him a full recovery. Captain Smit was flying flydubai flight FZ1073 when the aircraft faced a major in-flight crisis. According to the account cited…

Apple Pay has begun rolling out in India with Axis Bank as its initial banking partner, bringing Apple’s contactless payment service to one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. The initial rollout supports eligible Axis Bank credit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. RuPay cards are not supported at launch, limiting the service’s initial reach among Indian cardholders. Apple Pay’s availability also depends on whether individual merchants and payment terminals have enabled the service. As a result, users may find that Apple Pay works at one payment terminal but is unavailable at another, depending on the payment infrastructure…

India plans to expand its steelmaking capacity to 600 million metric tonnes by 2047 under a new policy framework designed to guide the sector’s development over the next two decades. The proposed policy also outlines measures to reduce emissions, strengthen access to key raw materials and support the steel industry’s long-term growth as domestic demand increases. India’s steelmaking capacity stood at about 220 million tonnes in fiscal 2026. The proposed target would therefore require capacity to increase by roughly 380 million tonnes over the next two decades. The policy aims to reduce the steel industry’s average carbon emission intensity to…

Bengali culture will take center stage in New York’s Times Square when the Mahalaya and Durga Puja Festival returns for its second annual edition on October 10 and 11. The two-day gathering will bring together families, artists and cultural organizations for a program combining religious ceremonies with traditional music, dance and community celebrations. The festival is designed to showcase Bengali heritage in one of New York City’s most recognizable public spaces. Organizers have planned a range of activities, including Mahalaya Chandipath, Durga Puja rituals, Gita recitation by children and teenagers, Dhunuchi dance and musical performances. Artists from the United States,…

The race for Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District has emerged as a closely contested contest between Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya and Republican candidate Casey Askar. Recent polling and a change in the Cook Political Report’s race rating have drawn increased attention to the open-seat election ahead of the November 3 general election. A House Majority PAC poll conducted by Impact Research from August 24 through August 31 found Dandiya leading Askar 46% to 44% among likely voters in an initial head-to-head matchup. After respondents were provided information about both candidates, Dandiya’s support increased to 49%, compared with 44% for…

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held discussions with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation on India-US relations, recently enacted sanctions legislation targeting Russia and Iran, energy security and other international issues. The delegation was led by Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. Representative Shri Thanedar and other US lawmakers were also part of the delegation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions covered the recently enacted Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act and the future trajectory of India-US bilateral relations. The two sides also exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern, energy security, counter-terrorism and…

Actor and digital creator Bhuvan Bam has reflected on his journey from YouTube content creation to establishing himself as an actor and entertainer. His experiences on the digital platform, including the criticism and doubts he faced early in his career, played an important role in shaping his outlook and approach to entertainment. Bam recalled that when he began creating content for YouTube, some people around him questioned whether the platform could provide a sustainable career. At a time when online video creation was still an emerging field, he chose to continue following his interests despite the skepticism. For Bam, content…