Author: Bhakti Narayanan

In the forthcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election, slated for November 5, the 60th quadrennial event, voters will elect a president and vice president for a four-year term. Joe Biden, the incumbent Democratic President, seeks re-election. Republican Donald Trump, his predecessor, vies for a non-consecutive second term. This electoral anticipation is generating interest in India, where four Indian Americans have announced their candidacy. 1. Nikki Haley Nikki Haley, born as Nimrata Randhawa Haley in 1972 in South Carolina, represents the Republican Party. Daughter of Sikh immigrants from Punjab, she declared her campaign in February 2023. Haley’s political journey commenced as a…

Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State overseeing Science and Technology, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, has revealed plans for 45 international capacity-building initiatives aimed at training 1,750 international civil servants in the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24. Responding in writing to an inquiry in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh detailed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has allocated a total of Rs. 17,60,26,500 (equivalent to US$ 2,128,653.26) to facilitate the capacity-building of 1,425 international civil servants hailing from countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Gambia. The allocation also covers multi-country…

Thousands of Shia Muslim mourners in Srinagar held a massive procession on the 8th of Muharram to honor the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain, Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, in the historic Battle of Karbala, Iraq. This event marked the first time in 34 years, since August 1988, that the authorities permitted the 8th of Muharram mourning procession on its traditional route, thanks to the instructions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after consultation with the Government of India. The procession, which covered a distance of 3 kilometers, began from Gurubazar, near the Civil Secretariat, and passed through Jehangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Central…

An offshoot of Foxconn, the prominent Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, is apparently preparing to allocate approximately $200 million for the establishment of an electronic components plant in Chennai. As per a report from Reuters, CEO Brand Cheng and other representatives from Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII) held discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other government officials about this potential investment in the southern state. According to sources, FII has presented a proposal to the state authorities to make an initial investment ranging from $180 million to $200 million for the facility. The company, headquartered in Taiwan, has set a…

Renowned lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar expressed high praise for Christopher Nolan’s biopic “Oppenheimer,” which centers on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atomic bomb.’ The film has been met with widespread acclaim globally, and it received a positive response during its opening weekend in India. One particular scene involving lead actors Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh generated significant attention. Javed Akhtar shared his review of the Hollywood film, stating that it is not just good but a great film. When someone questioned him about the term “isotope,” he responded by explaining that an understanding of…

Stephen Devassy, an exceptional Performing Artist and Music Composer hailing from India, has been captivating the nation with his extraordinary talent. Renowned for his remarkable versatility and seamless blending of various musical genres, Stephen’s journey as a musician began as a keyboard player, eventually soaring to become one of India’s most sought-after musical icons. His music is a harmonious fusion of Western and Indian classical melodies, jazz, blues, and rock, painting a vibrant canvas of musical brilliance. Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in the Indian music industry, such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahab,…

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar has been honored with the prestigious Atticus Award by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) in recognition of her bravery, leadership, and dedication to social justice. The award was presented to Rajkumar by NYSTLA President David Scher during the NYSTLA’s New Lawyer Committee event held on July 14. In response to receiving the award, Rajkumar expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve the public and be a voice for those in need. She took to Twitter, stating, “It was a true honor to receive the ‘Atticus Award for Courage, Leadership and Social Justice’ from…

The official poster for “Dream Girl 2,” the sequel to the movie starring Ayushmann Khurrana, was unveiled by the makers on Tuesday. The poster gives audiences a first glimpse of the actor and his alter ego, Pooja, portrayed in the film. Ektaa R Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures, along with Ayushmann Khurrana, shared the poster on social media. Khurrana took to Instagram and added a playful caption: “Yeh toh sirf pehli jhalak hai. Objects in the mirror are more khoobsurat than they appear.” “Dream Girl 2” continues the story from the 2019 comedy-drama, where Ayushmann’s character captivated attention by impersonating Pooja…

Scientists from the University of Verona in Italy have conducted laboratory experiments showing that Espresso coffee can prevent the aggregation of the tau protein, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In their study, they tested a complete espresso extract and various isolated compounds found in the coffee, such as caffeine, trigonelline, and genistein, to observe their interactions with the tau protein tangles known as fibrils found in Alzheimer’s patients. The results indicated that caffeine and genistein prevented the formation of long strands of tau protein clumps (fibrils) and inhibited them from intertwining into larger sheets that disrupt brain function, leading…

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, unveiled a new policy brief on July 20, presenting his vision for a stronger multilateral framework to enhance global peace and security in today’s ever-changing world. The policy brief, titled The New Agenda for Peace, includes a comprehensive and ambitious set of recommendations that acknowledge the interconnected nature of various challenges, as emphasized by Guterres. It is grounded in the fundamental principles of trust, solidarity, and universality, which form the basis of the UN Charter and a stable global order. Outlined in the brief are twelve action-oriented proposals across five priority areas. Guterres highlighted the…