Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor recently expressed his admiration for Conclave, the book-to-screen adaptation that has earned eight Academy Award nominations. Reflecting on the film’s success, Kapoor shared his appreciation for literary adaptations, emphasizing their ability to transport audiences to new worlds and evoke deep emotions. He also mentioned his excitement to watch Conclave and described the achievement of receiving eight Oscar nominations as “phenomenal.” Kapoor voiced his belief that well-crafted adaptations continue to inspire cinema, underlining the growing influence of literature in film storytelling. Conclave—which delves into the mysterious and sacred event of electing a new Pope—has been nominated for…
Author: Akancha Mishra
Akancha Mishra
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.
According to a report by Jefferies, the Union Budget 2025-26 has increased the income tax exemption threshold to $13,775, which is likely to fuel demand for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. The tax reductions are set to benefit middle-class taxpayers, collectively saving around $11.48 billion. This financial relief is expected to enhance discretionary spending, especially in urban areas. The analysis estimates that roughly 35 million taxpayers will receive an annual tax benefit of $344 each, significantly influencing automobile purchases. With the passenger vehicle market anticipated to reach 4.3 million units and two-wheeler sales projected at 21 million in FY25, increased consumer…
Chandrika Tandon, an Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur, clinched a Grammy Award for her album Triveni in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant category during the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The competition included notable albums like Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej and Opus by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Tandon’s Triveni represents a unique fusion of artistic traditions, featuring South African flutist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese-American cellist Eru Matsumoto. The album combines ancient Sanskrit mantras with global instrumental melodies, creating a soundscape focused on healing and tranquility. The collaboration blends Tandon’s rich South…
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced key tax reforms in Budget 2025, impacting non-resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign investors. To enhance tax clarity for non-residents, the government introduced a presumptive taxation regime for foreign entities providing services to Indian electronics manufacturers. A safe harbour provision was also introduced for non-residents storing components for supply to designated electronics manufacturing units. Additionally, the budget proposed aligning long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax rates for NRIs and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) with those of resident taxpayers when transferring capital assets. Sitharaman highlighted in her Budget speech that the government aims to ensure tax parity between…
A recent report by Redseer Strategy Consultants, titled The Big Bite: Scaling Success in India’s Food Services, projects India’s food services market to expand significantly in the coming years. Valued at approximately $80 billion in 2024, the sector is expected to reach between $144 billion and $152 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 10-11%. The report highlights how multi-brand food businesses and cloud kitchens are positioned to capitalize on this booming market. These innovative models offer scalability and flexibility, transforming the traditional dining experience. According to Redseer partner Rohan Agarwal, cloud kitchens are proving to be a…
During an interactive session at Delhi University’s Hansraj College on Thursday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar underscored the strong bilateral relations between India and the United States, describing President Donald Trump as an “American nationalist.” In response to a question about whether Trump is a friend or adversary to India, Jaishankar emphasized the evolving landscape of global diplomacy and India’s approach to it. Jaishankar shared that he attended Trump’s oath-taking ceremony and felt that India was treated positively. He noted that while Trump’s policies could bring notable changes to global affairs, India would continue to base its foreign policy…
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has announced that Prabhakar Raghavan, Chief Technologist at Google, has joined its Board of Directors, marking the first board appointment of 2025. With deep expertise in AI, search algorithms, and digital transformation, Raghavan is expected to play a key role in enhancing US-India tech collaboration. As Chief Technologist, Raghavan works closely with Google CEO Sundar Pichai to uphold the company’s culture of technical excellence. A renowned expert in Search, he has co-authored two widely used graduate textbooks and holds 20 patents, including pioneering work in web search and link analysis. Welcoming Raghavan, Dr. Mukesh…
Sam Altman, the CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is expected to visit India next week, marking his first trip in two years, according to sources familiar with the matter. His visit comes at a time when OpenAI is facing legal disputes in India. According to sources, Altman is likely to travel to New Delhi on February 5, with discussions involving government officials potentially on the agenda. However, the itinerary has not been finalized, and plans could still change. OpenAI, India’s IT ministry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the visit. India is OpenAI’s second-largest…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone with the launch of its 100th rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15). The rocket carried the NVS-02 satellite, which will enhance India’s Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC), also known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). The launch took place at 6:23 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Strengthening India’s Navigation Capabilities The addition of the NVS-02 satellite increases the number of operational satellites in the NavIC constellation from four to five, improving positioning accuracy across India and its surrounding regions. ISRO’s Space…
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 has returned to Prayagraj after a 144-year hiatus, drawing millions of devotees from around the world. Social media is buzzing with visuals of the event, showcasing devotees performing the sacred “Amrit Snan” at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers to seek salvation and cleanse sins. Yet, a unique perspective of this massive congregation has now emerged—from space. NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, part of the Expedition 72 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has shared breathtaking photographs of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest human gathering, as seen from space. “2025…