The historic Bali Jatra festival, marking Odisha’s ancient maritime heritage, was celebrated for the first time in the UK on November 30 at Townley Grammar School in Bexley. Organized by the Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (OSUK), the event attracted over 500 attendees, including prominent dignitaries and cultural icons from both the UK and India. The festival began with the Boita Bandana ceremony, where miniature illuminated boats were launched to honor Odisha’s historical maritime trade with Southeast Asia. The celebrations were officially inaugurated by Dr. Bhargava Vasudevan, Deputy Lieutenant of Gravesham, and Manoj Panda from the Indian High Commission,…
Author: Deepika chandrasekar
Deepika chandrasekar
Deepika is on her way to becoming an influential figure in the world as a young writer with a big voice and a big heart. Deepika has always possessed the highly sought-after attribute of empathy. She attended the University of Madras and graduated with a BA and MA in English. She has her mother and daughter living with her in Chennai, while she is a single parent.
On International Cheetah Day, two male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, were reintroduced into the wild at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. The release, conducted in the Palpur East region across the Kuno River, marked a crucial advancement in India’s initiative to restore cheetahs, a species that has been extinct in the country for almost 70 years. This project aims to enrich the region’s biodiversity by bringing back the world’s fastest land animal. A steering committee, led by Chairman Rajesh Gopal, had reviewed the final arrangements during a visit to Kuno on December 3rd. They confirmed that all…
Ms. Caoimhe Carlos, Vice President of Global Customer Success at Udemy, recently praised India’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling during her visit. She highlighted that 2025 would be a pivotal year for Udemy in India, with plans to hire a head of customer success, expand its research and development (R&D) center, and introduce new AI features. Carlos observed a shift in how employees interact with generative AI (GenAI), from technical training to practical applications aimed at improving productivity. She highlighted the rising demand for soft skills such as communication and critical thinking, particularly among Gen Z workers who might…
Power consumption in November FY24 saw a 5.14% increase, reaching 125.44 billion units (BU), up from 119.30 GW during the same month in FY23, according to government reports. This growth in consumption was accompanied by a slight uptick in peak power demand, which climbed to 207.42 GW in November FY24, compared to 204.56 GW the year before. The highest peak demand recorded thus far was in May FY24, when it reached about 250 GW, surpassing the previous record of 243.27 GW set in September FY23. Earlier projections by the Ministry of Power had estimated peak demand to be 235 GW…
India Concerned Over Rising Extremism, Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh India has expressed deep concern over the escalating extremist rhetoric and violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety and security of all minorities. The MEA’s statement comes amidst growing tensions in Bangladesh, marked by the recent arrest and imprisonment of prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. Das, a spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagaran Jote, was detained on charges of sedition and is currently incarcerated. The Bangladesh government has…
The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) marked an unforgettable weekend with its annual Literary Festival and Renaissance Gala, held on November 9-10. These events brought together leading figures from literature, arts, and culture to celebrate and honor the rich contributions of the Indian diaspora. The two-day Literary Festival featured captivating sessions with renowned authors, poets, and cultural icons. Ambassador Lakshmi Puri discussed her new book, Swallowing the Sun, in a lively exchange with Roopa Unnikrishnan. Culinary expert Asma Khan and tea entrepreneur Brook Eddy shared their experiences as global ambassadors of Indian cuisine, engaging the audience with inspiring stories. Anshul Chaturvedi…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Rome emphasized strengthening India’s strategic partnerships through a series of significant bilateral meetings. During his participation in the 10th Mediterranean Dialogues Conference (MED) and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Outreach Session in Fiuggi, he engaged with leaders from the UK, France, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Croatia. In his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the focus was on deepening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, addressing key areas such as technology, green energy, trade, and mobility. Both leaders also discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Jaishankar highlighted the steady progress in their…
The results of the 2024 Maharashtra elections have delivered a resounding victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, securing a commanding majority. The coalition, which includes Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and the NCP (Ajit Pawar), is expected to win over 200 of the 288 assembly seats, marking its best-ever performance in Western India. The BJP, contesting in 149 seats, is on track to win 132 seats, achieving an extraordinary strike rate of approximately 88.59%. This surpasses their previous best of 122 seats in the 2014 elections. In contrast, the BJP’s performance in the 2019 Maharashtra elections saw them win 105 seats…
After appointing former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly as the Brand Ambassador to promote tourism in the state, the Tripura government is set to host a series of ‘Tourism Promo Fest.’ The event will feature performances by renowned artists and celebrities, including the popular singer Shreya Ghoshal. Tripura’s Tourism Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, announced that the festival will be organized across four locations in the state, taking place from December 3 to 14. Ghoshal, who was named the first Indian Equal Global Ambassador for Spotify, will be one of the headline performers. The fest’s grand finale in Agartala will be…
The newly established NGO, the Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM), was officially launched on Friday at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland. The organization aims to unite and advocate for the welfare of minority communities within the Indian American diaspora. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored posthumously with the esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for his contributions to minority upliftment. This award, jointly presented by AIAM and Washington Adventist University, recognizes his efforts toward inclusive development and the welfare of minority communities. Jasdip Singh, a prominent Sikh philanthropist, was appointed as…
