Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Indian Americans Bela Bajaria and Mindy Kaling have secured positions on The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100’ list, acknowledging their contributions to Hollywood’s resurgence and record-breaking success at the box office. Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer since 2016, has played a pivotal role in the platform’s triumphs, overseeing a $17 billion annual content budget and managing global teams. Notable successes include popular shows like ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘The Queen’s Gambit,’ ‘Lupin,’ and ‘Cobra Kai.’ In the past year, she delivered hits such as ‘The Night Agent’ and ‘Wednesday,’ the latter becoming Netflix’s most-watched English-language original and earning three Emmy…

Pranesh Aswath, an Indian American, takes on the role of provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Texas State University (TXST). With 33 years of academic and administrative experience at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Aswath served in various capacities, including vice provost and interim provost. His responsibilities at TXST involve evaluating academic structures, policies, and resource allocation, aligning efforts to meet the university’s goals, and efficiently implementing academic priorities. Aswath, recognized for his contributions, expresses enthusiasm about joining TXST and aims to enhance the academic experience through collaboration and innovation. Aswath’s distinguished career includes honors…

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s recent film, “Animal,” stirred intense online discussions and became a topic in Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan’s powerful speech in the Rajya Sabha. Despite a remarkable global box office earnings of 6.78 million dollars in its first week, the film faced controversy over its portrayal of violence and misogyny. Ranjeet Ranjan emerged as a vocal critic during a parliamentary debate, expressing concerns about the film’s potential impact on the youth. She recounted a distressing incident involving her daughter and other children, leading her to leave the theater midway. Ranjan urged the entertainment industry to recognize its societal responsibility…

Rijul Maini, a 24-year-old medical student and model from Michigan, achieved the title of Miss India USA 2023 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey. The event also crowned Sneha Nambiar as Mrs India USA and Saloni Rammohan as Miss Teen India USA. This marks the 41st anniversary of the pageant, the longest-running Indian pageant outside of India, initiated by Dharmatma and Neelam Saran under ‘Worldwide Pageants.’ Maini, aspiring to be a surgeon, aims to serve as a role model for women globally. Greeshma Bhat (Virginia) and Ishita Pai Raikar (North Carolina) were declared first and second runners-up, respectively.…

A team of researchers from Pennsylvania State University, led by Suvrath Mahadevan of Indian descent, has identified a planet beyond our solar system that challenges conventional wisdom. This newfound celestial body, named LHS 3154b, defies expectations by being excessively massive in relation to its host star. With a size equivalent to 13 Earth masses, its discovery prompts a reassessment of existing theories on planetary formation. LHS 3154b’s distinctiveness arises from its proximity to an ultracool dwarf star, marking the first instance of such a massive planet orbiting a low-mass star. Mahadevan highlighted the significance of this discovery, emphasizing the limited…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again achieved the highest global leader approval rating, securing an impressive 76 percent in a survey conducted by Morning Consult, a US-based consultancy firm. The ‘Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker’ indicates that 76 percent of Indians approve of PM Modi’s leadership, while 18 percent disapprove, with 6 percent withholding an opinion. These ratings, collected from November 29 to December 5, 2023, serve as a substantial boost for Modi and the BJP, especially as they approach the general elections in 2024, seeking a third consecutive term. Morning Consult calculates approval ratings based on a seven-day…

Professor Brajesh Singh, an Australian-based microbiology expert of Indian descent, has been bestowed with the 2023 Dorothy Jones Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to microbiology. This prestigious accolade acknowledges his significant role in advancing our understanding of terrestrial life and preserving the global ecosystem. The award ceremony took place at the BMA House in London last month, highlighting the international recognition of Singh’s achievements. As a renowned specialist in microbial functional ecology at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, located within Western Sydney University, Singh’s pioneering work goes beyond the laboratory. His research delves into crucial global challenges, such as…

Ravi Bishnoi’s stellar performance in India’s 4-1 T20I series win against Australia propels him to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, surpassing Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner’s remarkable rise includes nine wickets in five matches, securing the number one spot with 699 ratings points. Bishnoi, since his T20I debut in February 2022, has consistently taken 34 wickets in 21 matches, contributing to his meteoric ascent. Among bowlers, Axar Patel makes a significant jump to 11th place, Mukesh Kumar climbs 45 slots to 104th, Avesh Khan rockets 125 places to 176th, and Australia’s Aaron Hardie ascends 341…

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) achieves global recognition, securing the second position among solar PV developers, according to the Annual Global Report by Mercom Capital Group. The report, covering July 2022 to June 2023, highlights AGEL’s substantial contribution to the renewable energy sector. AGEL, with an impressive 18.1 GW of total solar capacity, closely follows France-based TotalEnergies, ranked first with 41.3 GW. Canada-based Brookfield Renewable Partners claims the third spot with 18 GW. AGEL’s notable position underscores its significant impact on the global solar energy landscape. The top 10 global solar developers, collectively contributing 145 GW to operational, under-construction, and…

Krystle Kaul, a national security expert of Kashmiri origin, has announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Her campaign, rooted in the Democratic Party, prioritizes key issues like public safety, education, and healthcare. If successful in the 2024 elections, Kaul would be the second Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives, following Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. Notably, Susheela Jayapal, Pramila’s sister, has also entered the race for Congress from Oregon’s third Congressional District. Fluent in eight languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Dari, Urdu, and Arabic, Kaul is the first Kashmiri-origin individual to run for Congress.…