The White House stated on Monday that India is a vibrant democracy, and anyone visiting New Delhi can witness this firsthand. The comments seemed to downplay concerns about the state of democracy in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for a state visit to the United States later this month. John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, emphasized that India is a strong partner of the United States across various domains. He highlighted defense cooperation, economic trade, India’s membership in the Pacific Quad, and its role as a friend and…
Author: Deepika chandrasekar
Preparations are underway for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, a 62-day pilgrimage that will take place from July 1 to August 31, 2023. Devotees of Lord Shiva embark on this challenging annual journey to the sacred Amarnath cave shrine to offer prayers to the Ice Lingam. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has initiated the task of clearing the pathways leading to the shrine. To ensure a safe and incident-free Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir, a coordinated security response involving multiple security agencies will be implemented in light of the potential threat from terrorists. The Ministry of Home Affairs will convene a crucial…
UCF is a step closer to establishing the Indian Community Endowed Chair for The India Center thanks to a generous gift of $250,000 from Ramesh and Neena Chopra, residents of Port Orange, Florida. This donation emphasizes the significance of studying India at UCF, where over 3,000 students from 149 countries, including 460 students from India, enrolled in Fall 2022. To further support this cause, the university will match the Chopra’s gift with an additional $50,000 through the UCF Challenge, a program that matches funds from the transformative $40 million donation made in 2021 by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. With the contribution…
A 17-year-old Indian-American student named Saathvik Kannan, studying in Missouri, has been awarded the prestigious Regeneron Young Scientist Award worth $50,000 for his research on the increased infectivity of the mpox virus. Kannan, a student at David H Hickman High School in Columbia, utilized biocomputational methods to investigate the factors contributing to the heightened infectivity of the mpox virus after its re-emergence in 2022. Using a combination of machine learning and 3-dimensional comparative protein modeling, Kannan identified the mutations in the virus that lead to increased infectivity and antibiotic resistance. He attributed his groundbreaking research to the guidance and mentorship…
A widow lives in the cherished memories of her late husband but feels profoundly lonely. Seeking to satisfy her sexual needs, she seeks the guidance of a psychiatrist (portrayed by Guru Somasundaram). However, she faces challenges as she must navigate her own mental trauma and the delicate male ego. The essence of ‘Neeraja’, the Malayalam adaptation of the 2018 Kannada film ‘Nathicharami’, which garnered five awards at the 66th National Film Awards, lies in the unfolding of her journey. The film presents an intriguing premise by delving into the sexual desires of a widow (played by Shruti Ramachandran). While her…
Saathvik Kannan, a 17-year-old Indian American senior at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, has been awarded one of the two Regeneron Young Scientist Awards worth $50,000 in the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF). Kannan’s achievement in the world’s largest global pre-college science and engineering competition was based on his use of biocomputational methods to investigate the heightened infectivity of the mpox virus, which reemerged in 2022. Through his approach called Bioplex, Kannan utilized machine learning and three-dimensional comparative protein modeling to analyze the structures enabling virus replication. His work led to the identification of mutations…
The emergence of “ethnic enclaves (organized by religion)” that caused “territorial tensions and localized majoritarianism,” according to an on-the-ground study into the extraordinary communal violence that occurred in Leicester, the UK, between August and September 2022, is to blame. Fact-finding in the investigation Rashmi Samant and Chris Blackburn performed research for the Centre for Democracy, Pluralism, and Human Rights (CDPHR) and wrote the report Leicester Violence 2022: The Rise of Territorial Majoritarianism and Hinduphobia. As gangs of youngsters from neighboring towns went to Leicester to incite violence and tensions, the city of Leicester saw protest marches, the vandalization of Hindu…
According to IMA India’s 2023 Global Operations Benchmarking Report, the nation is becoming a more popular choice for MNCs. According to a survey of 100 CEOs, the majority of whom work for global B2B firms, India is the country that multinational corporations are most interested in as a replacement for China. According to the report, 88% of CEOs of businesses with a presence in India picked India over China as their preferred alternative because of China’s increased geopolitical assertiveness, questionable trade and commercial practices, and rising labor costs. Due in part to diversification away from China, international MNCs have grown…
Actor Harish Pengan, who was undergoing treatment for liver disease, has passed away. He was admitted to Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam due to minor abdominal pain, where he was diagnosed with liver disease. Despite his twin sister Sreeja’s willingness to donate her liver, the required treatment demanded a significant amount of money. Given Harish’s critical condition in the intensive care unit, friends and colleagues came together to seek assistance. They revealed that the doctors had stressed the urgent need for a liver transplant. Throughout his career, Harish Pengan had delivered remarkable performances in various films, including Maheshinte Prathikaaram, Shefeekkinte Santhosham,…
Nikhil Bhatia, an Indian American residing in the United States, has recently declared his candidacy for the US Congress, representing Illinois’ 7th congressional district. Currently employed as a middle school teacher, Bhatia has launched a campaign called “Change can’t wait” with the aim of securing a brighter future for the upcoming generation. According to Bhatia’s campaign website, his decision to move from India to the US was driven by the desire to provide his children with abundant opportunities. Having dedicated his professional life to education in urban communities, he is committed to ensuring that students from under-resourced backgrounds receive the…