Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The Indian and US naval forces convened aboard INS Jalashwa for the commencement of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, a joint initiative aimed at bolstering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) preparedness. In a statement on X, the US Pacific Fleet highlighted the partnership, stating, “Strength in Unity: US and Indian forces unite aboard INS Jalashwa to kick off Exercise #TigerTriumph2025, boosting humanitarian aid and disaster response readiness.” Scheduled from April 1 to April 13 in Visakhapatnam, this is the fourth iteration of the India-US amphibious exercise. Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, commander of the US Navy’s Task Force 70, highlighted the…

The Indian stock market made a strong recovery on Wednesday, with both the Sensex and Nifty closing in positive territory, just ahead of the deadline for reciprocal tariffs set by US President Donald Trump. The rally was largely driven by a resurgence in banking and IT stocks, which helped the indices bounce back after recent fluctuations. The Sensex recorded a substantial gain of 592.93 points, or 0.78 per cent, to settle at 76,617.44. Throughout the trading session, the index moved between an intra-day high of 76,680.35 and a low of 76,064.94, reflecting a volatile yet optimistic market sentiment. Similarly, the…

Acclaimed filmmaker Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar is set to achieve a remarkable feat in Indian cinema, as two of his directorial projects—Ground Zero and Devmanus—are slated to release simultaneously on April 25, 2025. This rare occurrence marks a significant milestone, as both films present distinct storytelling styles across different languages and genres. Devmanus, a riveting Marathi thriller, is produced by Luv Films and boasts an ensemble cast featuring Mahesh Manjrekar, Renuka Shahane, and Subodh Bhave. The film delves into the life of a devout priest, whose serene existence takes a dramatic turn after a moral transgression places him in a…

Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to take the spotlight at the 27th annual AREC property industry conference in May, marking her first speaking engagement in Australia. Harris, who lost the 2024 U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump, will participate in a moderated discussion at the event. The conference, founded by property expert John McGrath, will take place from May 25 to 26, featuring a diverse lineup of 32 speakers. Among them are Buying in Beverly Hills star and real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky, entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, sports coach Tim Grover, and Olympic gold medalists Emma McKeon and…

A recent social media tribute post, shared by an Ivanka Trump fan account, has sparked a wave of reactions after mistakenly featuring an altered image of Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone instead of Usha Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance. The post praised Usha as a “brilliant and accomplished attorney” and showcased an elegant white saree with intricate pearl embellishments. However, keen-eyed internet users quickly recognized that the image was a digitally altered version of Deepika Padukone’s striking 2022 Cannes Film Festival look. The resemblance was remarkable, but her signature statement pearl blouse, dramatic ruffled drape, and sleek, middle-parted hairstyle—created…

An Indian-American student and activist has raised concerns over the content of a Hinduism course offered by the University of Houston, alleging that it promotes “Hinduphobia” and misrepresents India’s political landscape. According to a report by an Indian television channel, the university has acknowledged the concerns raised by the student, Vasant Bhatt, and is currently reviewing them. The course in question, titled Lived Hindu Religion, is an online offering that features weekly video lectures delivered by Professor Aaron Michael Ullrey. Bhatt, who is pursuing a degree in political science at the university, has filed a formal complaint with the Dean…

Bounteous, a global digital transformation consultancy, has announced the appointment of Sudarshan Mandayam as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2025. His appointment follows the successful merger of Bounteous and Accolite Digital, marking a new phase of innovation and AI-driven digital transformation for the company. Mandayam brings extensive global leadership experience, having worked in senior roles at Cognizant, Infosys, L&T Infotech, JPMorgan, and Citi. Before this role, he served as President, Americas at Bounteous, where he played a key role in integrating the merged companies and refining their strategic focus. “I am honored to lead Bounteous into…

The US Senate has confirmed Jay Bhattacharya as the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford School of Medicine, secured the position with a 53-47 vote in the 119th Congress. US President Donald Trump had previously nominated Bhattacharya for the role, citing his extensive expertise in health policy and economics. Currently a professor at Stanford University, he is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a senior fellow at multiple Stanford research institutions, including the Hoover Institution. Bhattacharya has played a significant role in public health debates and…

Indian Railways has implemented an advanced AI-based system to safeguard elephants and other wildlife from train collisions. The AI-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) utilizes Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) to detect animals on railway tracks and promptly notifies train pilots of their presence, enabling preventive measures. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently addressed the Upper House of Parliament, emphasizing the railway’s commitment to protecting elephants and other wild animals. He detailed the IDS technology, explaining that it includes optical fiber components, hardware, and pre-programmed signatures of elephant-prone areas. The system promptly alerts train pilots, station masters, and control rooms when animals are…

After spending over nine months in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth. Their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) was initially planned for just eight days, but unexpected challenges prolonged their stay significantly. Despite spending far more time in space than originally intended, reports confirm that the two astronauts will not receive any overtime pay, sparking public discussion and prompting a response from former President Donald Trump. Unlike employees in other industries, NASA astronauts are considered federal government workers, meaning their salaries follow the General Schedule pay scale. According to NASA regulations,…