Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined a set of ambitious goals for the India-ASEAN partnership, aiming to deepen the alliance’s influence on the global stage. Addressing the India-ASEAN conclave in the Indonesian capital, PM Modi identified five key pillars that would underpin India’s comprehensive strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian group. Firstly, he emphasized the need for India and ASEAN to collaboratively establish new rules for a post-Covid world order. PM Modi’s proposal highlighted that the end of the pandemic marked the beginning of a new era where the traditional division between the Global North and Global South was becoming…

A professor of Indian descent has recently assumed a faculty role at Harvard University’s Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Kanaka Rajan holds the distinction of being the inaugural faculty member appointed within the newly established Kempner Institute, where she will serve as an institute investigator. In addition to her role at the Kempner Institute, Rajan will also hold a concurrent position within the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Her appointment is geared towards fostering collaboration between the HMS Department of Neurobiology and the Kempner Institute, with the shared goal of advancing research,…

Hitachi Payment Services, a subsidiary of Japan’s Hitachi Limited, has unveiled India’s first UPI-ATM, called the Hitachi Money Spot UPI-ATM, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This ATM offers cardless cash withdrawals, eliminating the need for physical cards. Users can withdraw cash from various accounts using the United Payments Interface (UPI) app. White Label ATMs (WLAs) like this are operated by non-banking entities. The introduction of this UPI-ATM aims to promote financial inclusion, especially in areas where traditional banking infrastructure and card usage are limited. NPCI expressed its satisfaction in providing this cutting-edge ATM transaction upgrade,…

In a poorly lit room, an overwhelming sense of heaviness bears down from every direction. The walls appear to be closing in, each inch of space stifling, as if the air itself thickens. Uncontrollable thoughts race, each one darker than the last, spiraling into a bottomless pit of despair and anxiety. On the nightstand, a bottle of pills beckons as a hasty escape, while the phone remains buzzing, harboring ignored calls and messages from concerned loved ones. It’s a struggle, a silent battle waged behind closed doors, where even the simplest tasks, like getting out of bed, become monumental challenges.…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with the recipients of the National Teachers’ Award 2023 in advance of an award ceremony. This interaction was part of the lead-up to Teachers’ Day celebrations, and it included the presence of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other high-ranking officials. The National Teachers’ Award recognized the outstanding contributions of 75 teachers nationwide. In a social media post, the Prime Minister expressed admiration for these exceptional educators who received the National Teachers’ Awards. He lauded their unwavering dedication to nurturing young minds and their commitment to educational excellence. He highlighted how these teachers are shaping a…

Addressing the International Aerospace Conference in Gwalior, Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia shared a promising vision for India’s aviation sector. He projected that by 2035, the country could see a substantial increase in air passengers, reaching 425 million, a significant rise from the current level of 145 million. This exponential growth potential presents an enticing opportunity for international players in the aviation industry to explore. Minister Scindia emphasized the role of regional air connectivity in democratizing civil aviation within India. This expansion has led to the emergence of four regional carriers, underscoring the sector’s vibrancy and accessibility. The minister…

As per an announcement on the official Twitter account of the central bank, Mr. Shaktikanta Das, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has been awarded an A+ rating in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards for the year 2023. Notably, Mr. Das has achieved the highest rating and stands atop the list of just three central bank governors who have been conferred with an A+ rating. The Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards, an annual publication established since 1994, undertakes the assessment and grading of the performance of central bank governors across 101 significant countries, territories, and…

Indian-origin Claire Coutinho has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, succeeding Grant Shapps, who assumed the role of defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle orchestrated by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Claire Coutinho, elected as a Member of Parliament for East Surrey in December 2019, marks the first promotion to the cabinet from that year’s cohort. Her prior position involved serving as a junior minister in the education department, overseeing matters related to children, families, and wellbeing. At the age of 38, Claire Coutinho had previously held the position of Parliamentary Under Secretary…

Indian Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra secured second place in the men’s javelin event at the Wanda Diamond League 2023, with a final throw covering a distance of 85.71 meters. During the competition, Chopra executed three valid throws of 80.79m, 85.22m, and 85.71m, while his other three throws were fouls. He found himself behind Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who clinched the gold with an 85.86m throw. It’s worth noting that Vadlejch had previously won bronze at the World Championships. Chopra’s performance had its ups and downs. He began with a modest 80.79m throw, initially placing him second. However, two…

Pranysqa Mishra, a talented nine-year-old Indian-origin singer, gained recognition when she sang the US national anthem at the US Open’s inauguration. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her gratitude towards her role model, Priyanka Chopra. The official X page of the US Open Tennis shared Mishra’s impressive performance, captioning it, “That’s how you start a night session. 9-year-old Pranysqa Mishra nailed the National Anthem.” In response, the young singer thanked Priyanka Chopra for being an inspiration to young girls with similar backgrounds. Mishra’s tweet read, “Thank you @priyankachopra for being a role model for all the brown girls.…