Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK have honored nine outstanding scientists, distributing a total of £480,000 (US$608,000). Notably, three Indian scientists—Rahul R. Nair, Mehul Malik, and Tanmay Bharat—are among the laureates. Rahul R. Nair, a materials physicist at The University of Manchester, will receive £100,000 (US$127,000) for his pioneering work on novel membranes using two-dimensional materials, addressing challenges in water filtration and separation technologies. Mehul Malik, a quantum physicist at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, is set to receive £30,000 (US$38,000) for his contributions to quantum internet, promising unparalleled information security and laying the groundwork for high-capacity…

As the much-anticipated consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has unveiled a dedicated webpage offering weather-related details for the event and surrounding areas. The webpage provides forecasts for temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind patterns from January 17 to January 24 in various languages, including Hindi, English, Urdu, Chinese, French, and Spanish. Specifically, on the main ceremony day, January 22, the IMD predicts a minimum temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 22.2 degrees Celsius, while Ayodhya recorded 11.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The webpage also extends weather information for cities…

ThoughtFocus Inc, a digital services and technology company based in the United States, has appointed Santhosh Ananthakrishnan, an Indian American, as its chief business officer. In his new role, Ananthakrishnan will take charge of defining the company’s agenda and growth strategies, overseeing strategic change initiatives, and creating long-term value for stakeholders. He will report directly to the CEO, Shylesh Krishnan. Expressing his pleasure about the strong customer relationships built by the firm, Ananthakrishnan highlighted the culture of excellence fostered by the founders. He sees a significant boost with the latest round of growth investment from H.I.G. Capital. CEO Shylesh Krishnan…

U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, commended India’s strides in finance, health, and technology, considering the nation a trailblazer for the United States. His remarks were made during his attendance at the University of South Carolina’s India-Innovation Summit in Mumbai on January 16, 2024. Emphasizing that India is not merely producing generics, Garcetti highlighted the country’s leadership role in these crucial sectors. He suggested that strengthening ties between institutions like USC and their Indian counterparts could propel the U.S. forward in various industries. Garcetti underlined India’s central position in leading global industries, asserting that collaborations could elevate both nations, especially…

Indian-American professors Bhargav Bhatt and Karuna Mantena were among the six recipients of the Infosys Prize 2023, acknowledged during a ceremony in Bangalore on January 13 by the Infosys Science Foundation (ISF). Bhatt, a joint professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University, received the prize in mathematical sciences for his exceptional contributions to arithmetic geometry and commutative algebra. His collaboration with mathematician Peter Scholze introduced innovative concepts and powerful approaches to the field, particularly in prismatic cohomology. Meanwhile, Mantena, a political science professor at Columbia University, was honored in social sciences for her groundbreaking research on the…

Shyam Batra, a 62-year-old Indian-origin property entrepreneur, has joined the London mayoral race scheduled for May 2, 2024. He is committed to addressing issues stemming from a defunct police system and endeavors to restore London to its rightful place. Acknowledging the anticipated challenges, Batra expresses determination to create a safe and thriving London with the crucial support of its residents. He sees himself not merely as a political candidate but as someone who wishes to fix London and give people a voice. A key focus for Batra is the improvement of the transport system, with plans to replace old buses…

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allocating more than $26 million to Zūm as part of the Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. This funding is instrumental in Zūm’s mission to transition its school bus fleet to 100% electric vehicles, aligning with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Additionally, the grant will support the expansion of Zūm’s AI-driven technology platform, crucial in the company’s broader goal to decarbonize the school bus industry and address climate change. Founded by Ritu Narayan, an immigrant and mother, Zūm is transforming traditional school bus systems, with partnerships established across the nation, including major…

India has formally requested the reinstatement of its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status under the US program, a privilege revoked in 2019 by the Trump administration. During the India-US Trade Policy Forum, co-chaired by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Goyal emphasized India’s interest in GSP restoration. Ambassador Tai acknowledged this could be considered based on US Congress-defined eligibility criteria. India, the leading GSP beneficiary in 2017, exported $5.7 billion duty-free goods to the US, covering 1,900 products like engineering goods and chemicals. The ministers highlighted the significant role of professionals, students, investors, and business…

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American student from California, secured a place on the ‘world’s brightest students’ list by Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth (JH-CTY). Among 16,000 students from 90 countries taking the JH-CTY test in Summer 2023 as a Grade 3 student at Warm Spring Elementary in Fremont, Preesha excelled in verbal and quantitative sections, reaching the 99th percentile of advanced Grade 5 performances and earning Grand Honors. This achievement qualifies her for over 250 JH-CTY courses, covering subjects like mathematics, computer programming, chemistry, physics, reading, and writing. At six, Preesha obtained a lifetime membership in the Mensa Foundation,…

On the second day of the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendra Patel reiterated Gujarat’s steadfast commitment to becoming a prominent hub for the semiconductor industry, a vision initiated in 2022. Established by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in 2003, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit has evolved into a flagship event for significant announcements and strategic initiatives. Addressing the audience, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendra Patel emphasized the growing importance of technology in India, particularly in the semiconductor and electronic sectors. He highlighted Gujarat’s proactive embrace of advanced technologies like AI, shaping everyday life and…