Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Veteran journalist Mitali Mukherjee has been named the new director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. With more than two decades of experience covering political economy across TV, print, and digital media in India, Mukherjee is widely respected for her influential journalism and editorial leadership. Before joining the Reuters Institute, Mukherjee served as the consulting business editor at The Wire and was widely recognised for her YouTube show, which explored pressing economic and political issues. She moved to Oxford to pursue her work at the institute, where she had been serving as…

On Monday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks to advance the ongoing India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations. Their conversation followed a major development—US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs, including a 26% duty on all Indian imports to the US. The new tariffs are being implemented in two phases: a 10% base rate started on April 5, and the remaining 16% will come into effect on April 9. These sudden changes have shaken global financial markets, with India’s Sensex and Nifty plunging over 3% on Monday. A statement…

On April 4, the U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in a 52-45 vote, mostly along party lines. Only Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska broke from the Republican bloc to oppose the nomination. Dhillon, a staunch ally of Donald Trump and a prominent conservative legal figure, will now oversee the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, which handles hate crimes, voting rights, and civil liberties enforcement. Trump had announced her nomination in December 2023, praising her efforts to challenge Big Tech, support Christians during COVID-19, and fight so-called “woke” workplace policies. Her…

President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs, announced on April 2, are making headlines—not just for their economic impact, but for the geography they cover. Among the list of affected regions is the Heard and McDonald Islands, a group of uninhabited, sub-Antarctic volcanic islands that are home primarily to penguins and seals. The islands, situated over 2,000 miles southwest of Perth, Australia, are officially Australian territory—which technically subjects them to the 10% U.S. import tax now levied on certain goods. The catch? There are no human residents, just wildlife and icy winds. The odd mention quickly caught attention online. Congressman…

India is rapidly emerging as the leader in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in South Asia, backed by a highly skilled workforce of 1.25 million AI professionals, according to a report released on Thursday. The report, published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), highlights that AI is no longer just an emerging technology but has become a transformative force, significantly impacting key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. The findings suggest that India’s increasing focus on AI-driven solutions is set to revolutionize these industries by addressing existing challenges and enhancing efficiency. AI’s Growing Role in Healthcare The healthcare sector in India…

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…