Author: Nupur Rohila

As global condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensifies, India is under growing pressure from Western powers to reduce its oil imports from Moscow. The latest warning came from US Senator Lindsey Graham, who said a future Trump-led administration would slap 100% tariffs on oil-linked imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian crude—including India, China, and Brazil. Graham, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, claimed that these three nations collectively account for around 80% of Russia’s crude exports, a lifeline funding the war in Ukraine. Speaking on Fox News, he accused them of financially supporting the conflict. “If…

India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned from his constitutional post on July 21, during the opening day of the Monsoon Session in Parliament. The announcement, citing health issues, was made public shortly after Dhankhar visited Rashtrapati Bhavan to personally hand over his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. Though he cited medical advice as the reason, the sudden nature of his exit has triggered widespread speculation and debate. Dhankhar, 74, had assumed office in August 2022 and was set to serve until August 2027. Despite appearing active and spirited in public, sources indicate he had been facing persistent health concerns…

The European Union has rolled out a new sanctions package, placing restrictions on Nayara Energy’s refinery in Gujarat—India’s second-largest oil refinery—due to its links with Russian oil. The refinery, located in Vadinar, is partly owned by Russian state oil company Rosneft, which holds a 49.13% stake. Nayara Energy produces 400,000 barrels per day and operates over 6,300 fuel stations across India. The decision aligns with a broader EU effort to tighten the noose around Russia’s energy revenues amid the Ukraine conflict. This marks the first time the EU has sanctioned a refinery outside Russia for refining Russian crude oil. EU…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a significant two-nation diplomatic tour to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the visit on Sunday, highlighting its importance for India’s trade and regional security agendas. During his visit to the UK, Prime Minister Modi is expected to formally announce the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a major bilateral economic pact initially confirmed by both nations on May 6. The trade deal, which faced delays due to frequent leadership changes in the UK since negotiations began in 2022,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reflected on the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, describing it as a moment that jolted the entire global community. Addressing the media ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Modi emphasized how the attack transcended political divides within India, leading to a rare display of national unity. According to Modi, elected representatives from across party lines came together, setting aside political rivalries to represent India’s stance on terrorism worldwide. Following the April 22 attack, where civilians lost their lives in Pahalgam, seven all-party delegations were sent to 33 countries to advocate for India’s…

Las Vegas became the backdrop for a historic achievement in Indian chess as 21-year-old Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi reached the semifinals of the prestigious Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. By doing so, he became the first Indian player ever to make it this far in the tournament’s history. Currently ranked World No. 5, Erigaisi advanced to the final four after a dominant performance against Uzbekistan’s World No. 7 Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the quarterfinals. He clinched the first rapid game and held a draw in the second, sealing a 1.5 – 0.5 victory under a format that emphasizes originality and creative strategy…

Dr. Pratibha Sharma, a globally recognized leader in biomedical engineering and a transformative figure in heart failure research, has joined the South Asian Community Health Initiative (SACHI). Her appointment marks a pivotal step in strengthening mentorship, innovation, and research in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Dr. Sharma has built an impressive career at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where her work has revolutionized how congestive heart failure (CHF) is detected and managed. By combining advanced computational tools like machine learning, wavelet analysis, and sophisticated signal processing, she has developed groundbreaking techniques to identify early warning signs of CHF through…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returned from his groundbreaking journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla participated in the Axiom-4 mission, spending nearly three weeks in space and becoming the first Indian to visit the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Shukla and his crewmates splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 3:00 PM IST on July 15, 2025, after a 22-hour return journey. The crew undocked from the ISS on July 14 after completing a series of complex scientific operations. In a message shared on X, Prime Minister Modi…

In a groundbreaking moment for global cybersecurity, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed on July 15 that the tech giant’s AI system, known as Big Sleep, has successfully intercepted and neutralized a cyber exploit before it was launched. This achievement represents the first-ever case where artificial intelligence actively prevented a cyberattack from happening. Pichai shared the update on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “Our AI agent Big Sleep just helped us stop a cyber exploit before it could even start. We believe this is a first for AI in cybersecurity—but certainly not the last.” This event signals a pivotal change in the…

After completing a groundbreaking 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) team are now headed home. The crew, traveling in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, is set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 2:31 a.m. PT on July 15, 2025. This translates to 3:01 p.m. IST for audiences back in India. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, confirmed that Dragon will signal its imminent arrival with a sharp sonic boom just before hitting the water. After detaching from the ISS on July…