Author: Bhakti Narayanan

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has carried a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for US President-elect Donald Trump, according to news sources. Representing PM Modi as his special envoy, Jaishankar will attend Trump’s inauguration in Washington DC. This event marks a historic milestone as Trump becomes the 47th President of the United States, regaining office after a four-year interval. Trump is only the second US president, after Grover Cleveland, to reclaim the presidency following an electoral defeat. The tradition of Indian ministers attending presidential inaugurations abroad continues with this visit. Previously, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended Nigeria’s presidential…

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has undertaken extensive measures to guarantee safe and hygienic food for the millions attending Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. Partnering with Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety and Drug Administration, FSSAI has deployed 10 Mobile Food Testing Labs (Food Safety on Wheels) and stationed food analysts across the event. These mobile labs perform on-the-spot tests for food adulteration and spoilage while educating food vendors and visitors about proper food safety practices. The event is divided into five zones and 25 sectors, with 56 Food Safety Officers (FSOs) monitoring hygiene and food quality. Each…

California Congressman Ro Khanna has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the death of Suchir Balaji, a whistleblower who accused OpenAI of violating federal copyright laws. Balaji’s allegations had gained national attention last year, making him a controversial figure in the tech world. Khanna’s statement followed the preliminary findings by the San Francisco County Medical Examiner, which ruled Balaji’s death as a suicide. The 26-year-old was discovered deceased in his San Francisco apartment nearly two months ago. However, his family has raised doubts about the cause of death and commissioned an independent autopsy, with results still pending. Expressing…

India has joined an elite group of nations by achieving successful space docking, becoming the fourth country globally to accomplish this milestone. On Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the success of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), marking a historic achievement in India’s space program. The SpaDeX docking process involved precise manoeuvres from a 15-metre distance to a 3-metre hold point, resulting in the successful capture of two spacecraft. Following this, retraction and rigidisation were smoothly completed, ensuring stability for the docked spacecraft. ISRO announced, “Following docking, the control of both satellites as a single entity has been…

The catastrophic wildfires raging through Los Angeles have caused widespread destruction, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The Pacific Palisades area, home to many, was among the hardest hit. Amit Shiwalkar, a local resident, recounts his harrowing escape. On January 7, 2025, the situation escalated rapidly as he and his wife fled their home, grabbing only essential items like wedding photos and sacred relics, unsure of their fate. “We thought we’d return, just like after the 2019 fires, but this time was different,” said Shiwalkar, who now faces a future uncertain of where to begin again. His property was among many…

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a global phenomenon, with international guests marveling at its efficiency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during a podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. PM Modi emphasized that India has set a global benchmark for democratizing technology in the fintech sector. During the podcast, titled People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath, By WTF, the Prime Minister discussed India’s advancements in innovation and digital payments. Highlighting UPI’s capabilities, PM Modi said, “In just 30 seconds, I can transfer funds directly to 100 million farmers or send subsidies to 130 million…

As Mahakumbh Mela 2025 begins on January 13, Indian Railways has implemented extensive measures to manage the travel needs of 450 million devotees heading to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Over 10,000 trains, including 3,300 special services, have been planned for the mega religious event, which concludes on February 26. To accommodate the massive crowds, color-coded waiting and holding areas for unreserved passengers have been set up at major stations. Security arrangements include systematic queue management led by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) officers. The commercial department has also deployed numerous Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to assist passengers…

Effective January 1, 2025, Indian American Kevan Parekh has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Apple, succeeding Luca Maestri. Parekh, who has been with Apple for over 11 years, previously served as the Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. His promotion to CFO is part of Apple’s executive restructuring, which was first announced in 2024. Throughout his career at Apple, Parekh has held various leadership positions, including overseeing Financial Planning and Analysis, G&A and Benefits Finance, Investor Relations, and Market Research. He also led the financial functions for Worldwide Sales, Retail, and Marketing Finance. Earlier,…

On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Vijah Ramjattan as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC). Ramjattan, who brings over a decade of experience in community engagement and mental health counseling, will oversee efforts to prevent hate crimes and support victims through community-based programs. Alongside Ramjattan, Erica Ware will serve as the deputy executive director, and Jelissa Thomas will take on the role of senior project manager at OPHC. In his announcement, Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of having a leader with the right expertise to tackle hate crimes across…

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha celebrated 50 years of spiritual and community service in North America, marking the anniversary of its first mandir in Flushing, New York, inaugurated in 1974 by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Thousands attended the event, held over two weekends, which highlighted BAPS’s journey from a small group of devotees to a major Hindu organization with over 115 mandirs across North America. The celebrations included an interactive exhibition showcasing BAPS’s history and contributions. Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3) honored BAPS with a U.S. Capitol flag, recognizing its 50 years of service. BAPS’s roots in North America can be traced…