Author: Akancha Mishra

At the inaugural session of the India-Japan Forum, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar noted that while India and Japan share a problem-free history, positive sentiment alone is insufficient for fostering robust cooperation. He stressed the importance of translating goodwill into actionable plans for deeper engagement. EAM Jaishankar highlighted the rise in Indian tourists, mentioning, “Our passport issuances are increasing by 10 to 15% annually, with around 13 to 15 million passports issued every year, valid for a decade. Foreign travel is on the rise, with Indian tourists flocking to destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Gulf, and Europe. However,…

Bumble has appointed Neil Shah as its first Chief Business Officer, a newly created role, to oversee the company’s strategic transformation. Shah, appointed on December 3, 2024, will be responsible for driving Bumble’s revenue model, pricing strategy, and partnerships in his new role. Shah, an Indian American, brings extensive experience from his previous role as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Operations at Slack, where he spent eight years overseeing strategy, data, and business operations. Shah, who started his career as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., later held strategic roles at Twitter. He holds a BSE and MSE…

The BBC has unveiled its prestigious list of 100 inspiring and influential women for 2024, recognizing the contributions of women across various fields globally. This year’s list includes several remarkable Indian women, such as social activist Aruna Roy, who co-founded the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and played a pivotal role in securing transparency and fair wages for rural communities in India. Her tireless advocacy helped bring about a landmark law in 2005, empowering citizens to demand accountability from the government. Pooja Sharma, honored in the Culture and Education category, has been recognized for her compassionate work in Delhi, where…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch the PSLV-C59 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on December 4, 2024. The mission involves deploying satellites weighing approximately 550 kilograms into a highly elliptical orbit. This mission carries ESA’s PROBA-3, an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission showcasing international cooperation. ISRO announced the launch on social media, emphasizing the PSLV-C59’s engineering excellence and its role in strengthening global space partnerships. The liftoff is scheduled for 16:08 IST, marking a significant milestone in India’s space journey. PROBA-3 comprises two spacecraft—the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter…

Jay and Jyoti Chaudhry, prominent Indian-American entrepreneurs, have established the Chaudhry Family Scholarship Fund with a generous $4 million donation to the University of Cincinnati (UC). The fund will assist first-generation, Pell-eligible students in UC’s Gen-1 1MPACT House, a residential community that provides support and resources to these students. Jay, CEO of Zscaler, a leader in cloud security, and his wife Jyoti co-founded several successful companies before Zscaler, including AirDefense and CipherTrust. Hailing from a small village in Himachal Pradesh, Jay is a first-generation student himself. He earned two Master’s degrees and an MBA from UC, as did Jyoti. This…

The Uttar Pradesh government and the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism are collaborating to transform Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj into a global cultural spectacle, aiming to attract over 400 million devotees. Spanning from January 13 to February 26, the 45-day event will feature an array of artistic installations, murals, and decorations throughout the city. Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam, symbolizes spiritual purification through immersion in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. This festival is believed to guide devotees toward moksha (spiritual liberation). The upcoming Maha Kumbh will narrate its history…

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections saw an 8.5% increase in November 2024, reaching over $21.74 billion. This growth was primarily driven by higher revenues from domestic transactions. The detailed breakdown of collections includes Central GST at $4.08 billion, State GST at $5.15 billion, Integrated GST at $10.97 billion, and cess at $1.58 billion. In comparison, November 2022 saw collections of $21.05 billion. Revenue from domestic transactions grew by 9.4% to $16.73 billion, while import tax revenues rose by about 6% to $5.09 billion. Refunds in November amounted to $2.30 billion, showing an 8.9% decrease compared to the previous…

Indian-American Kashyap “Kash” Patel has been nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In his announcement, Trump referred to Patel as a “brilliant lawyer and investigator,” emphasizing his loyalty and “America First” dedication. Patel expressed his deep connection to India, stemming from his upbringing as a Hindu and his Gujarati heritage. Born in New York in 1980, Patel’s parents migrated from East Africa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond and later earned a law degree and a certificate in International Law from University College London. Patel began his legal…

Indian American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a festive meal featuring smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and apple cobbler. The celebration, observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S., honors the year’s blessings and harvest. In a video message from space, Williams, along with fellow astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, extended Thanksgiving wishes to those on Earth, expressing gratitude for their support. The crew plans to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while enjoying a special meal provided by NASA, which includes…

Allu Arjun is receiving widespread praise for his relentless efforts to promote Pushpa 2: The Rule. The promotional journey began with a spectacular event in Patna, where he impressed North Indian fans with an engaging speech in Hindi. Following this, he continued the momentum with “Wildfire” events in Chennai and Kochi, where he connected closely with local audiences, showcasing his charm and dedication. In Mumbai, Allu Arjun took the excitement up a notch by performing the Sooseski song on stage, alongside his co-star Rashmika Mandanna. This lively performance highlighted his dynamic approach to promotions, creating immense buzz. His enthusiastic presence…