Author: Nupur Rohila

Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla, recently named the ‘Prime’ astronaut for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, has been selected to pilot Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), set for Spring 2025. This mission, commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, marks a significant milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, as it will be each country’s first government-backed human spaceflight in more than four decades. Other crew members include ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. Shukla will become the second Indian astronaut to travel to space since 1984. His journey began in June 2006 when he was commissioned into…

In 2024, Brazil secured the fourth spot in global aviation with a load factor of 81.9 percent, just ahead of Australia at 81.8 percent and Japan at 78 percent. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation sector recorded 163 million domestic air travelers in 2024. Globally, both domestic and international aviation demand reached all-time highs, with the total international traffic for 2024 growing by 13.6 percent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, capacity increased by 12.8 percent. Overall, global air travel, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), grew by 10.4 percent in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels…

Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, kicked off the new year by selling 228,645 shares of the company’s Class A stock for approximately $9.23 million. According to Investing.com, the shares were sold on January 3 at an average price of $40.37 per share. This sale was executed through Bhatt’s Living Trust under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, leaving him with no remaining Class A shares, though he still holds significant Class B shares. Founded in 2013 by Bhatt and Vladimir Tenev, Robinhood revolutionized trading with its commission-free model and user-friendly platform. In Q3 2024, the company reported a 36% revenue…

The Consulate General of India in Seattle celebrated India’s 76th Republic Day, with Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson and Microsoft Chairman & CEO Satya Nadella as distinguished guests. The event, held on Tuesday, brought together over 500 Indian American community members, US lawmakers, and city officials. Governor Bob Ferguson, recently elected as Washington’s 24th Governor, praised India’s contributions to the world and expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with the Indian Consulate in Seattle. Satya Nadella, addressing the audience, highlighted the deep ties between India and the United States, calling himself a “product of the bond that exists between the…

Kangana Ranaut has officially started filming for her upcoming movie, reuniting with her Tanu Weds Manu co-star R Madhavan. The announcement follows the release of her recent film, Emergency, where she portrayed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In her latest Instagram Story, Kangana shared a glimpse of the clapperboard from the yet-to-be-titled movie, expressing her joy of being back on set with the caption, “Nothing is more delightful than being on a film set.” Directed by Vijay and produced by R Ravindran of Trident Arts, the film marks a new chapter for the actress. Kangana had previously hinted at the…

President Donald Trump has selected two Indian Americans for prominent roles within his administration. Ricky Gill has been named Senior Director for South and Central Asian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC). His responsibilities include managing relations with India and regional affairs. Gill previously held roles such as Director for Russia and European Energy Security at the NSC and Senior Advisor at the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. After departing the NSC, Gill founded Gill Capital Group, where he served as Principal and General Counsel. He also advised on energy policies concerning Europe and Asia at TC…

A report by Wood Mackenzie forecasts that India, the United States, and West Asia will collectively add 100 Gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity by 2025, marking a significant contribution to the global solar market. The report notes that after a period of declining solar panel prices due to global overcapacity, prices are expected to rise in 2025, helping to recover losses faced by solar manufacturers. India, the US, and West Asia are emerging as key players in solar manufacturing, with these regions set to play a major role in the global expansion of solar capacity. The report also highlights the…

During a recent meeting in Washington, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar discussed the growing significance of US-India relations, especially under the Trump 2.0 administration. This was Dr. Jaishankar’s first official engagement with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marking a key moment in reinforcing bilateral ties. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Quad meeting, where both parties reaffirmed their shared vision to address regional and global challenges. Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the Trump administration’s desire for India to play a central role in major global initiatives, citing the strong foundation laid by the first Trump administration.…

Syracuse University has named Professor Shikha Nangia as the permanent Department Chair of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering (BMCE) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Nangia, who has served as Interim Department Chair since August 2024, will officially lead the department through summer 2028. Expressing her gratitude, Nangia stated, “It’s an honor to lead this department, which is rooted in innovation and collaboration. My focus is on fostering diversity, creativity, and knowledge while shaping future biomedical and chemical engineers.” Since joining Syracuse University in 2012, Nangia has earned recognition as a leading expert in computational modeling, particularly in tackling…

The petrochemical sector plays an essential role in India’s economic growth, fueling industries like plastics, textiles, and automobiles. With a market value of $220 billion, this sector contributes around 6% to the nation’s GDP. However, despite its size, India still imports nearly 45% of its petrochemical intermediates, showing a reliance on external suppliers. To change this, the country is focusing on a comprehensive strategy that includes over $124 billion in planned investments. The goal is to cut down on imports and strengthen domestic production by implementing key initiatives such as rationalizing tariffs, improving infrastructure, and introducing production-linked incentives (PLIs). Achieving…