Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Governor Tina Kotek has designated Dr. Sejal Hathi as the head of the Oregon Health Authority, effective January 16. In this capacity, she assumes responsibility for ensuring equitable healthcare access and overseeing behavioral and public health systems throughout the state. Governor Kotek expressed gratitude, noting Hathi’s unique qualifications—ranging from frontline medical experience to policy shaping in the White House and founding non-profits focused on women and girls’ leadership. Previously, Hathi served as the state health officer in New Jersey and deputy health commissioner for public health services. During her tenure at the White House, she played a pivotal role as…

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman, of Indian origin, stirred controversy with her comments, referring to living on the streets as a “lifestyle choice,” particularly for some British residents, including many from abroad. Minister Braverman shared her apprehension on a social media platform, articulating, “The British populace is known for their compassion. We stand ready to assist those truly experiencing homelessness. However, we cannot tolerate our streets being dominated by lines of tents, inhabited by individuals, many of whom are from foreign backgrounds, who have chosen street living as a preferred lifestyle.” Her comments were made in the context of the…

Vicky Kaushal is all set to portray the iconic character of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, known for his close association with former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. The film teaser, released a few weeks ago, offered a glimpse into Manekshaw’s world. Now, the trailer launch date for the biopic, titled “Sam Bahadur,” has been finalized for November 7, giving audiences a more comprehensive look at the film. On Monday, the producers of “Sam Bahadur,” RSVP Movies, made the official announcement on social media regarding the impending trailer release. They emphasized that the movie narrates the…

The contest between South Africa and India at the 2023 World Cup was anticipated to be a clash of cricket heavyweights. However, the outcome of the match exposed a significant gap between the host nation, India, and the other teams participating in the tournament. Just three days after India’s dominant performance against Sri Lanka, where they bowled out their opponents for a mere 55 runs and secured a massive 302-run victory, India’s batting and bowling displayed excellence once again at Eden Gardens. India’s Virat Kohli’s century and Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul played pivotal roles in India’s commanding 243-run victory over…

Businessman Raj Kundra made his acting debut in the film ‘UT69,’ which portrays his 60-day experience in Arthur Road Jail during a pornography case. Despite receiving a mixed-to-positive response from film critics, ‘UT69’ struggled at the box office. It earned a mere Rs 10 lakh on the opening day, with the second day showing similar results. According to Sacnilk, the film collected only Rs 20 lakh on the second day, doubling its initial earnings but still falling short of extraordinary success. Billed as a true story, ‘UT69’ is directed by Shahnawaz Ali and explores Raj Kundra’s time at Mumbai’s Arthur…

On November 6–7, religious leaders from across the globe will convene in Abu Dhabi for a conference hosted by UN Environment and COP28. The primary topics of discussion encompass the climate change crisis, ongoing conflicts in Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine, and the global issue of religious intolerance. The conference’s concluding day will witness the formulation of a collective statement exploring solutions to the pressing global predicaments. Among the notable participants is Acharya Lokesh, the founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti and a peace ambassador. Pope Francis will also be in attendance. As indicated in a release by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, Acharya…

Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, has announced her candidacy for Congress in Oregon, aiming to succeed the retiring Democrat Earl Blumenauer in representing Oregon’s 3rd congressional district. In her announcement, Susheela expressed her commitment to continuing Blumenauer’s legacy and defending progressive values against MAGA ideologues. Susheela’s campaign platform includes defending abortion and reproductive rights, addressing climate change and environmental issues, promoting democracy, ensuring accessible healthcare, providing living wages and jobs for workers, and increasing federal funding for affordable housing, shelters, and treatment facilities. She also emphasizes making quality education affordable and enhancing community safety. Prior…

Uma Sengupta, a prominent Indian American educator, activist, and community leader who passed away in March of the previous year, has been posthumously recognized with a street sign in her honor in Queens, New York. The street co-naming ceremony took place on October 16 at the intersection of 152nd Street and Union Turnpike in the Briarwood neighborhood of Queens, attended by elected officials, friends, family, and admirers of Uma Sengupta. Among the notable attendees was New York Attorney General Letitia James, who expressed her pride in commemorating Uma’s dedication to social, racial, and economic justice. City Council member James F.…

Shanya Gill, a 12-year-old Indian American student from San Jose, California, clinched the prestigious $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award in the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. This competition, co-organized by Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Society for Science, showcased the exceptional talents of Indian American students in middle school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Shanya’s remarkable achievement was joined by three other Indian American students who also secured top prizes, underscoring their growing influence in STEM. In addition to these top awards, an impressive six Indian American students claimed first and second place in various STEM…

India’s strong run in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has taken a major blow as star all-rounder Hardik Pandya remains sidelined due to an ankle injury, rendering him unavailable for the tournament’s remainder. The injury was sustained during a World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune last month, and despite recovery efforts, the 30-year-old has been unable to return to the campaign. Replacing Pandya in the Indian squad is Prasidh Krishna, a relatively inexperienced fast bowler who received approval from the tournament’s Event Technical Committee. Krishna boasts just 19 white-ball appearances for India and last featured at the international…