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.

During a Fox News town hall with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Donald Trump shared that he had received a “very nice call” from Democratic rival Kamala Harris just days after surviving an assassination attempt at his golf club in Florida. Trump described the call from Harris as appreciative, aligning with his sentiment that there is a need to “take back our country” and make America great again. Earlier, President Joe Biden also reached out to Trump to offer his support and discuss Secret Service protection. The White House characterised Biden’s call as “cordial and brief,” noting that Harris’s call…

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Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, recently commended India’s efforts in tackling malnutrition, awarding the country an ‘A’ for its dedication. Speaking with PTI, Gates noted India’s candid recognition of its nutritional challenges and its proactive measures to address them, such as utilizing public feeding programs and the Midday Meal System to distribute fortified foods. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that there remains substantial room for improvement. Gates emphasized the complexity of malnutrition, particularly highlighting the role of gut health in both physical and mental development of children. He pointed out that deficiencies in essential vitamins and proteins can lead to…

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India’s renewable energy ministry has secured an impressive $386 billion in investment commitments from banks and financial institutions, aiming to accelerate the country’s decarbonization efforts. This announcement was made by the Renewables Minister, Pralhad Joshi, during the RE-Invest conference held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The investment pledges are intended to help India achieve its ambitious goal of more than doubling its clean electricity capacity by 2030, with a target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by the decade’s end. Minister Joshi highlighted the urgency of scaling up clean energy production, as the country needs to add around 44 gigawatts of…

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The Vattikuti Foundation, renowned for its innovations in robotic surgery, is set to revolutionise neurological care in India with a $2.8 million (INR 24 crore) donation. This funding will establish the Vattikuti Institute of Advanced Neurotechnology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. The new facility aims to address the pressing needs of patients with movement disorders and neuro-psychiatric conditions by providing advanced, accessible healthcare. AIIMS will be the first public institution in India to host such a high-tech facility. Founded by Indian American entrepreneur Raj Vattikuti and his wife, Padma, the foundation is known…

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During a recent meet-and-greet session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, two-time Paralympic silver medalist Yogesh Kathuniya expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of para-athletes. “You are the Prime Minister for every citizen, but for para-athletes like us, you are our ‘param mitra,’” Kathuniya said, acknowledging Modi’s unwavering support and encouragement. The Indian para contingent recently returned from the Paris Paralympics, bringing home a historic 29 medals, including 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze. This achievement marked the highest medal tally for India in its Paralympic history. On their return, the athletes were honored by Prime Minister Modi,…

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India has been at the forefront of promoting South-South cooperation, a key approach for strengthening ties among nations of the Global South. Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, highlighted the nation’s unwavering commitment to this cause during the UN Day for South-South Cooperation. Harish emphasised that through such cooperation, countries in the Global South could foster mutual growth and effectively address shared challenges. Harish pointed out that India’s approach is deeply rooted in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the belief that the world is one family. He stressed that in an increasingly interconnected world, international…

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At the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the global scientific community to collaborate in shaping policies for the green hydrogen sector. He emphasised India’s pioneering role, noting that the country was the first among G-20 nations to fulfil its Paris Agreement commitments on green energy, achieving this milestone nine years ahead of the 2030 target. India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity surged by 300% and solar energy capacity by over 3000% over the past decade. PM Modi highlighted the importance of green hydrogen in decarbonizing sectors that are challenging to electrify, including refineries, fertilisers,…

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The US Department of State has teamed up with India’s Semiconductor Mission, part of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, to explore opportunities for expanding and diversifying the global semiconductor ecosystem. This partnership, supported by the CHIPS Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, aims to build a more secure and resilient semiconductor supply chain. Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, highlighted that the collaboration is a cornerstone of the US-India Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET) partnership. This initiative focuses on accelerating cooperation in cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors, space, and artificial intelligence. Campbell emphasised the strategic importance…

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India’s manufacturing sector, particularly in electronics, is gaining momentum, with mobile phone exports to the US soaring from $2.2 billion in FY22-23 to $5.7 billion in FY24. Apple has significantly contributed to this growth, assembling 14% of global iPhones in India during FY24, and has seen India improve its global electronics export ranking by four positions. In a notable development, the Made-in-India iPhone 16 series will be available globally within days of its launch. Apple plans to unveil the new iPhones on Monday, with sales set to begin within 10-12 days. Foxconn has already started production of the iPhone 16…

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On Monday, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed four significant agreements, marking a substantial enhancement of their strategic partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan engaged in discussions to advance cooperation across various sectors, including energy, nuclear technology, and food security. Key Agreements Include: 1. Long-Term LNG Supply: The agreement between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) secures a long-term supply of one million metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum. This deal is the third such contract…

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