Author: Malavika Subramanyan

With only three days remaining for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, campaigning has reached its peak. This phase will see voting for 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and a Union Territory on June 1.In this phase, there are 904 candidates competing in total. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior leader of the BJP, addressed a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district in support of the Barasat and Basirhat Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. During his speech, Modi emphasized his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption. Modi criticized the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, claiming they do…

Lord Patel of Bradford and Justine Greening have been named as the new Chancellors of the University of Southampton, marking the first occasion the university has appointed two individuals to this position. They succeed Ruby Wax, the comedian, in this ceremonial role. The Chancellor serves as the primary lay officer of the University, with significant responsibilities including presiding over graduation ceremonies. This ambassadorial role is crucial for the ceremonial aspects of the university. Lord Patel’s career began in social work before he transitioned into academia and government roles focused on health, education, and social care. In recognition of his contributions…

In May, PBS platforms will debut “America’s First Guru,” a documentary directed by Raja Choudhury and produced by A Thousand Suns Academy. The film delves into Swami Vivekananda’s influential journey, introducing Yoga and Vedanta to America in the late 19th century. At the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Vivekananda’s profound teachings on Yoga, Vedanta, and Hinduism captured hearts, igniting a spiritual revolution. His impact extended beyond the Parliament, as he established the first Hindu ashram in America and shared transformative practices across the nation. Vivekananda’s legacy permeates American culture, with over 55 million practitioners of Yoga today. He…

At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, India made a significant impact with Chidananda S. Naik’s film “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know…” winning the top prize in the La Cinef section. Naik, originally a doctor from Mysuru who transitioned to filmmaking, created this award-winning film during his year-long course at the Film and Television Institute of India’s television wing in Pune. The winning films will be shown at the Cinéma du Panthéon on June 3 and at the MK2 Quai de Seine on June 4. The Cannes Festival provides grants of €15,000 for the First Prize, €11,250 for the…

Anima Patil-Sabale’s fascination with space exploration, ignited by books on the Apollo-era space program during her childhood in India, led her to dream of becoming an astronaut. Despite initially aiming to pursue a career as a fighter pilot, she redirected her path due to the Indian Air Force’s restrictions on female combat roles until 2015. Opting for degrees in physics and computer applications, she embarked on a journey that saw her transition from a software engineer in Mumbai to a software consultant in San Jose, California, where her proximity to NASA’s Ames Research Center fueled her aspirations further. Driven by…

Nikesh Arora, an India-born CEO of Palo Alto Networks, has been ranked second on The Wall Street Journal’s list of highest-paid US chief executives for 2023. His compensation package, predominantly equity-based, amounted to $151.43 million last year, placing him just behind Hock Tan of Broadcom, who earned $162 million. Palo Alto Networks announced that for the first three quarters of its fiscal 2024 year, it generated almost $5.84 billion in revenue and nearly $2.22 billion in net income. Arora’s ascent to prominence began at the Air Force Public School in Delhi before he moved to the US. He gained international…

In response to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s comments about his father’s doubts about his success as an entrepreneur due to their modest background, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that in India, hard work matters more than one’s family name. Modi praised Goyal’s journey and highlighted that his story inspires many young people to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for startups in a message on X, sharing a video posted by Union Minister Hardeep Puri. In the video, Deepinder Goyal recounted how his father, skeptical of his startup ambitions due to their…

In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, held on Monday, May 20, voter turnout in 49 constituencies across eight states and Union Territories was estimated at 60.48% as of Tuesday, May 21. The final turnout figures are expected to be released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) by Friday, May 25. On Monday night, the ECI reported an approximate turnout of 60.09% following the day’s polling. This figure was expected to rise as reports from all polling stations were verified and added. By Tuesday noon, the ECI’s Voter Turnout app indicated the turnout had increased to…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at an election rally in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, expressed strong confidence that his party, the BJP, will secure a third consecutive term in power. Modi declared, “The Modi government will score a hat-trick,” emphasizing his belief in continued success. During his speech, Modi pledged to prioritize the welfare of the poor, youth, women, and farmers if re-elected. He stated, “In the new government, I have to take many big decisions for the poor, youth, women, and farmers,” highlighting his commitment to these groups. Addressing the ongoing Gaza conflict, Modi mentioned that he had sent an…

As the Lok Sabha elections loomed, over 350 individuals were granted Indian citizenship on Wednesday through the newly enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, as reported by various news outlets. Initially, a group of 14 individuals received citizenship in the capital city, while the remainder were digitally awarded citizenship across other regions of the nation. Notably, some applications were processed prior to the official notification of the rules in March of the current year, according to officials cited by the Economic Times. Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally presented citizenship certificates to the initial 14 recipients in the national…