Author: Malavika Subramanyan

On January 1, the Town of Brighton welcomed its inaugural Indian-American criminal judge, Vikram Vilkhu, who assumed the role as a Justice in the Brighton Town Court. Born to Indian immigrants in the U.S., Vilkhu, a Democrat, also made history as the first Sikh to be elected in New York State. Indian American Senator Jeremy Cooney applauded Vilkhu’s candidacy in December 2023, emphasizing the importance of expanding representation for the rapidly growing Asian American minority in New York. Cooney highlighted the significance of cultural diversity in elected officials, especially for the younger generation to witness faces that resonate with their…

On the inaugural day of 2024, India celebrated the successful launch of its X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) in a momentous event at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58 carried XPoSat and 10 experimental payloads, marking ISRO’s first space mission on January 1. The XPoSat, designed for polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions, achieved an excellent orbit at an altitude of 650 km. Post XPoSat deployment, the rocket’s fourth stage will serve as an orbital platform for experiments, emphasizing sustainability by avoiding additional space debris. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the mission’s success, emphasizing the precise orbit accomplishment…

Rujul Gandhi, a scholar of Indian origin associated with the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, is actively involved in pioneering investigations that explore the intersection of computer science and linguistics. During her undergraduate years at MIT, Gandhi initiated the exploration of this interdisciplinary fusion and has since become a crucial figure in projects poised to transform communication between humans and artificial intelligence, as reported by MIT. Her primary focus lies in developing a parser designed to translate natural language instructions into machine-compatible formats. When dealing with robots or interactive AI systems tasked with understanding and executing commands, the challenge is to…

Hyundai Motor India has enlisted Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone as its global brand ambassador, as announced by the South Korean automotive company on Friday. In a welcoming post on social media platform X, Hyundai India expressed excitement about having Deepika join their family, stating, “We welcome the global icon @deepikapadukone to the Hyundai family. Fasten your seatbelts for an ultimate drive!” Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor India Ltd., expressed the company’s excitement by stating, “We are delighted to welcome the exceptionally talented global Indian icon Deepika Padukone as our brand ambassador.” Garg highlighted the alignment of Deepika’s…

Indian Americans Aditya Grover, Bharath Kannan, and Aditi Raghunathan have earned recognition on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for their contributions to science. Aditya Grover, currently an assistant professor at UCLA, has assumed diverse teaching roles, including the creation of a unique course on AI and climate change in 2022. This year, he spearheaded the development of ClimaX, the first AI-based weather and climate model, tailored for tasks like weather forecasting and climate pattern prediction. Heading the Machine Intelligence group, Grover focuses on crafting AI systems capable of independent interaction and reasoning. Bharath Kannan, co-founder of Atlantic Quantum, concentrates on…

In the spotlight as Forbes India’s power couple for 2023, Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni Konidela are basking in accolades from their inner circle. Chiranjeevi, Ram’s father, lauds their accomplishments, highlighting their progressive mindset and unwavering support for each other. He singles out Ram’s on-set dedication, noting his ability to exceed expectations. Alia Bhatt, Ram’s co-star in RRR, commends his kindness, warm demeanor, and skillful portrayal of intricate scenes. Suneeta Reddy applauds Upasana’s impactful work at the Apollo Foundation, portraying her as a free spirit driven by a profound sense of purpose. The year 2023 unfolds as a transformative chapter…

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has honored Ashok Gadgil, an Indian-American professor at the University of California, Berkeley, as a fellow, recognizing his outstanding contributions as an inventor. Gadgil, a renowned civil and environmental engineering professor, has dedicated his career to developing affordable solutions to meet the needs of underserved communities globally. Notable inventions include UV Waterworks, a portable water purifier, and ECAR, an arsenic removal technology. His innovations have positively impacted over 100 million people across four continents. Gadgil’s recent accolades include being named the 2023 R&D leader of the year and receiving the National Medal of Technology…

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) predicts that the inauguration of Shri Ram Temple on January 22 will generate around $602.41 million in business across the country. CAIT’s secretary general, Praveen Khandelwal, highlighted the historic significance of the consecration, anticipating a surge in enthusiasm leading to increased purchases related to the Shri Ram Temple. Traders nationwide are gearing up for heightened demand, reflecting the deep roots of the Sanatan Economy in India. In response to the event, Khandelwal and CAIT National President BC Bhartia have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare January 22 as “Ram Rajya Diwas,” emphasizing…

Satya Nadella, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, has been honored as the CNN Business CEO of the Year 2023 for his adept navigation of evolving technological landscapes, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). Microsoft’s distinctive embrace of AI set Nadella apart from other contenders, such as Jamie Simon of Chase, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Nadella, originally from Hyderabad, joined Microsoft in 1992 during its ascent to prominence. Assuming the CEO role in 2014, he led the company through acquisitions like LinkedIn and ventures such as the Bing search engine. Under his steadfast leadership, Microsoft evolved…

Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate, is narrowing the gap with former US President Donald Trump in the contest for the Republican nomination in New Hampshire, as indicated by recent polls. According to the American Research Group Inc. poll released last week, Haley secured 29% support compared to Trump’s 33%, falling within the survey’s 4% margin of error. This trend is not limited to New Hampshire, as Haley has been steadily climbing in national polls since July, currently holding the third position, just below Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The former South Carolina governor has also gained popularity in Iowa and…