Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Rice University and Houston Methodist have jointly appointed Indian American leader Pothik Chatterjee as the inaugural executive director of their newly established Digital Health Institute. The announcement was made earlier this week, and Chatterjee officially stepped into the role on May 1, 2025. The institute, formed in December 2024, aims to transform the future of healthcare through cutting-edge digital innovation. In his new position, the 41-year-old Chatterjee will oversee strategic planning, operations, innovation programs, and partnerships for the institute. His appointment is expected to strengthen the institute’s mission of merging advanced engineering and artificial intelligence capabilities from Rice with Houston…

India has initiated a significant shift in its rare earth export strategy by instructing Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a government-run entity, to suspend rare earth shipments to Japan. This decision comes under a 13-year-old trade deal, but the focus has now turned toward preserving resources like neodymium—an essential material in electric vehicle (EV) motors—for domestic use. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently met with key auto industry leaders and emphasized the urgent need to secure critical minerals amid tightening global supply chains. In 2024, India exported over 1,000 metric tonnes of rare earth elements to Japan, roughly…

The Imagindia Institute, a New Delhi-based policy and leadership think tank, has announced the launch of the Trump Study Circle (TSC)—an international initiative designed to help Indians understand the evolving landscape of American politics. Unveiled on Thursday, this non-partisan, educational platform focuses particularly on those whose lives and futures are closely intertwined with the United States, including students, working professionals, and families. The initiative’s broader goal is to elevate what it calls the “Global Quotient” (GQ), a term denoting civic awareness, strategic thinking, and global understanding. According to the institute, Indian youth and families often find themselves overwhelmed by shifting…

xPrime Minister Narendra Modi met with the sole surviving passenger of the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash just a day after the Boeing 787-8 jetliner disintegrated mid-air and crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad. The accident claimed 241 lives onboard and caused additional casualties on the ground. The aircraft plunged into a hostel within a medical college complex minutes after departing from the airport. Authorities are still searching for the critical black boxes — the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder — which are essential for understanding what caused the disaster. Aviation safety expert James Healy-Pratt…

Paul Kapur, the Biden administration’s pick for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, emphasized the United States’ commitment to advancing a strategic and secure partnership with India. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 10, Kapur underscored mutual goals between Washington and New Delhi — particularly in maintaining an Indo-Pacific that remains open, inclusive, and free from growing Chinese influence. Kapur laid out his strategic roadmap, which includes boosting bilateral trade, improving energy access, and deepening collaboration in technological innovation. If confirmed, Kapur would assume a pivotal diplomatic role overseeing US policy in a…

Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX), a global platform for immersive gaming and digital creation, has named Naveen Chopra as its next Chief Financial Officer, effective June 30, 2025. With over 25 years of experience, Chopra is expected to bring strategic financial leadership and deep operational insight as Roblox continues its global expansion in the tech-entertainment space. In his new role, Chopra will lead all aspects of Roblox’s financial ecosystem—including accounting, treasury, internal audit, investor relations, financial planning and analysis, and business operations. His track record of scaling high-growth tech companies and guiding entertainment businesses through major transitions is seen as a…

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, a pivotal figure in India’s recent military engagements, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), while continuing in his existing role as Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO). The Ministry of Defence confirmed the dual-role appointment on Monday, marking a major step in strengthening India’s high-level defense leadership. The position of Deputy Chief (Strategy) was introduced in 2020 to centralize command over key military divisions, including operations, logistics, intelligence, strategic planning, and information warfare. This role plays a crucial part in shaping long-term defense strategy within the evolving command framework of the Indian…

At just 14 years old, Siddharth Nandyala, an Indian American from Frisco, Texas, has created an innovative smartphone app capable of detecting heart disease in under seven seconds. His app, Circadian AI, uses artificial intelligence to analyze heart sounds recorded via smartphone, filters out background noise, and scans for signs of arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and valve disorders. According to the American Heart Association, around 121.5 million adults in the U.S. — nearly 48% — suffer from cardiovascular disease, the world’s top cause of death. Siddharth’s app aims to shift the paradigm of early detection, where timely alerts…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third consecutive term on June 9, 2024. Despite BJP’s campaign optimism promising over 400 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the party fell short of a majority, prompting Rahul Gandhi to confidently claim the Modi government’s days were numbered. Critics pointed to BJP’s reliance on fickle allies such as TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar, alongside disappointing results in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, to predict political instability. However, as Modi’s government completes its first year of the third term and eleventh overall, the prime minister projects…

On June 6, 2025, India hosted the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue in Delhi, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated the event alongside top Central Asian leaders. The delegation included Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. This high-level dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening the longstanding diplomatic and cultural ties shared between India and the Central Asian region, often regarded as each other’s ‘Extended Neighbourhood.’ The relationship has deep roots stretching back…