Author: Malavika Subramanyan

India emphasized its significant contributions to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resources during an interactive dialogue at the UN. Petal Gahlot, India’s First Secretary for the Second Committee of the UNGA, highlighted this during her address on Tuesday. She noted that during India’s G20 Presidency, the UNDP served as a knowledge partner on Digital Public Infrastructure. Gahlot also underscored the collaborative efforts between India and the UNDP on the localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the multidimensional poverty index in India. She shared on social media that her participation in the dialogue involved discussions on these key partnerships…

The latest trends suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to make a significant impact in the Odisha state assembly elections, with the party leading in a substantial number of seats. As per the current trends, the BJP is ahead in 77 out of 145 seats, while the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is leading in 53 seats. The Congress party is trailing behind, with only 12 seats under its control. If the current trends continue, the BJP may form the next government in Odisha, bringing an end to Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year rule in the state. Patnaik,…

President Marcos Jr. of the Philippines marked a historic moment by becoming the inaugural Philippine leader to present the keynote speech at the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Manila on Friday. He emphasized that ASEAN Centrality remains a fundamental component of the Philippines’ foreign policy. In his speech, Marcos Jr. described India as a valued ally and expressed Manila’s intention to continue its collaborative efforts with New Delhi. He expressed, “We will fortify our ties with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, and all other ASEAN member states.” Additionally,…

With a significant influx of pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, a video depicting chaos near the Sitapur area has gone viral on the Internet. Due to the overwhelming crowd, offline registration for the Char Dham Yatra has been suspended until May 31. The viral video captures over a thousand pilgrims trapped in heavy traffic in the Sitapur area, with most of them on foot. The footage shows vans stuck in a narrow lane, and a voice can be heard saying, “If you want to come to Kedarnath, please watch this video. This is just Sitapur, 40 km from…

With only three days remaining for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, campaigning has reached its peak. This phase will see voting for 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and a Union Territory on June 1.In this phase, there are 904 candidates competing in total. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior leader of the BJP, addressed a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district in support of the Barasat and Basirhat Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. During his speech, Modi emphasized his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption. Modi criticized the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, claiming they do…

Lord Patel of Bradford and Justine Greening have been named as the new Chancellors of the University of Southampton, marking the first occasion the university has appointed two individuals to this position. They succeed Ruby Wax, the comedian, in this ceremonial role. The Chancellor serves as the primary lay officer of the University, with significant responsibilities including presiding over graduation ceremonies. This ambassadorial role is crucial for the ceremonial aspects of the university. Lord Patel’s career began in social work before he transitioned into academia and government roles focused on health, education, and social care. In recognition of his contributions…

In May, PBS platforms will debut “America’s First Guru,” a documentary directed by Raja Choudhury and produced by A Thousand Suns Academy. The film delves into Swami Vivekananda’s influential journey, introducing Yoga and Vedanta to America in the late 19th century. At the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Vivekananda’s profound teachings on Yoga, Vedanta, and Hinduism captured hearts, igniting a spiritual revolution. His impact extended beyond the Parliament, as he established the first Hindu ashram in America and shared transformative practices across the nation. Vivekananda’s legacy permeates American culture, with over 55 million practitioners of Yoga today. He…

At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, India made a significant impact with Chidananda S. Naik’s film “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know…” winning the top prize in the La Cinef section. Naik, originally a doctor from Mysuru who transitioned to filmmaking, created this award-winning film during his year-long course at the Film and Television Institute of India’s television wing in Pune. The winning films will be shown at the Cinéma du Panthéon on June 3 and at the MK2 Quai de Seine on June 4. The Cannes Festival provides grants of €15,000 for the First Prize, €11,250 for the…

Anima Patil-Sabale’s fascination with space exploration, ignited by books on the Apollo-era space program during her childhood in India, led her to dream of becoming an astronaut. Despite initially aiming to pursue a career as a fighter pilot, she redirected her path due to the Indian Air Force’s restrictions on female combat roles until 2015. Opting for degrees in physics and computer applications, she embarked on a journey that saw her transition from a software engineer in Mumbai to a software consultant in San Jose, California, where her proximity to NASA’s Ames Research Center fueled her aspirations further. Driven by…

Nikesh Arora, an India-born CEO of Palo Alto Networks, has been ranked second on The Wall Street Journal’s list of highest-paid US chief executives for 2023. His compensation package, predominantly equity-based, amounted to $151.43 million last year, placing him just behind Hock Tan of Broadcom, who earned $162 million. Palo Alto Networks announced that for the first three quarters of its fiscal 2024 year, it generated almost $5.84 billion in revenue and nearly $2.22 billion in net income. Arora’s ascent to prominence began at the Air Force Public School in Delhi before he moved to the US. He gained international…