Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday, where he was greeted by a massive crowd lining his route. Expressing gratitude, the Prime Minister waved to the enthusiastic onlookers from his vehicle. Following the warm welcome, Modi proceeded to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, India’s largest temple compound dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This historic temple, constructed during the Vijayanagara period, is revered as one of the world’s most significant religious complexes. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, often referred to as the abode of Lord Ranganatha, holds immense spiritual importance. The Chief Priest, Sundar Bhattar, extended a special welcome to the Prime Minister,…

Amit Gupta has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for TiE Global in 2024. Hailing from Singapore, Gupta, an experienced entrepreneur and impact investor, is the Group CEO and Founder of Ecosystm Group. Alongside his role, he actively engages in angel investing and co-chairs the MIIM Blended Finance Fund, emphasizing support for women entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and sustainability in Indonesia and India. Gupta aims to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and positive change as the global chair of TiE. Murali Bukkapatnam, the founder and CEO of Volksy Technologies, has been named Vice Chairman. Originally from Hyderabad, India, Bukkapatnam has…

India achieved a significant milestone at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos by establishing the “Global Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality.” The announcement, made in the presence of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, saw the participation of India’s Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Hardeep Puri during a gathering of prominent Indian businessmen hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This alliance aims to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality globally by consolidating best practices, facilitating knowledge sharing, and attracting investments in women’s education, health,…

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…