Author: Bhakti Narayanan

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…

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India has successfully transformed into a key player in smartphone manufacturing, now recognized worldwide as a “mobile exporter.” Speaking at the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024 in New Delhi, Modi highlighted the remarkable growth from just two mobile manufacturing units in 2014 to over 200 today. India, once an importer of mobile phones, now produces six times more phones domestically. Reflecting on his decade-old vision for a digital-first India, Modi pointed out that achieving lower phone costs was only possible through local manufacturing. The government’s “Make in India” initiative,…

Renowned composer AR Rahman has created a 30-minute performance video to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, expected to significantly enhance her presidential campaign as the November 5 elections approach. At 57, Rahman is the first major international artist from South Asia to back Harris, who has Indian and African heritage. Shekar Narasimhan, the chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund, stated, “With this performance, A R Rahman has joined a group of leaders and artists advocating for progress and representation in America.” He emphasized that this initiative goes beyond music, serving as a rallying cry for communities to become engaged and…

The Indian subsidiary of South Korean automaker Hyundai is set to launch a $3.34 billion initial public offering (IPO), the largest in the country’s history, aiming to deepen its presence in the Indian market. Hyundai is set to list one of its subsidiaries outside of South Korea for the first time. The IPO will be available for public subscription from October 15 to October 17, with anchor investors able to submit bids on October 14. Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), stated that after 26 years in India, the company believes it is the right time to…